Clinical Services
The equine team at the AHT is wide and diverse. Work in the clinic consists of referrals for lameness (see Orthopaedics), Poor Performance, and cardiorespiratory disease. The clinic is made up of world experts in both lameness and Imaging, allowing both 2nd opinion cases to be seen and evaluated, as well as a direct referral service for imaging alone. The Centre for equine studies has one of the most advanced imaging facilities in the country, being the only institute in Europe to offer both low field, and high field MRI. Alongside current and previous groundbreaking research into imaging, orthopaedics and poor performance, this allows for accurate diagnosis and prognosis and instils confidence in both referring vets and owners alike.
Not only can horses be evaluated on standard surfaces, but the experts can also assess the horse on a high-speed treadmill, for which the AHT has the only facility in the local area or in one of a number of enclosed paddocks and fields owned by the trust. This allows for evaluation of horses during conditions as close to those at which the horse may work or compete, allowing poor performance conditions to be accurately assessed.
Alongside diagnosis of clinical conditions, the AHT can offer both surgical and medical treatment options. Full theatre facilities allow for general Anaesthesia, and the centre boasts a state of the art hospital yard with 7 full time experienced equine yardstaff, a fully qualified Equine nurse and 2 qualified equine interns allowing around the clock care and treatment of horses in our care.
Physiotherapy can also be offered by our qualified (ACPAT) physiotherapist, allowing treatment of primary or secondary musculoskeletal conditions, which is crucial to the rehabilitation of many of the cases that we see.
The centre also accepts both Dermatology, Ophthalmology, and Oncology referrals in conjunction with the centre for small animal studies using board certified staff. The AHT is now the second centre in England, and the only centre in the south of the country to offer iridium wire treatment for equine neoplasia (cancer).
The team at the AHT also undertakes equine Disease Surveillance, which is incredibly important to the Equine industry and pleasure owners in the UK. Without the ongoing surveillance of the trust, diseases would not be sufficiently monitored, controlled and restricted. Many diseases and conditions in the horse such as strangles, and influenza, are under research and surveillance in order to advance the way in both treatment and preventative care, such as novel vaccinations. Many horse owners are unaware of the control and restrictions put in place by the AHT team when notifiable and novel diseases hit the UK, highlighting the importance of the unit here.
The majority of staff at the Centre for Equine Studies own and train their own horses. This helps the staff understand emotions from an owner’s perspective. Being a small but highly qualified team, allows for excellent communication
and constant attention to detail, and consistent and personalized attention to horses and owners under our care. We feel this is an important and unique feature of the Centre for Equine Studies.
The AHT Equine team is pleased to accept referrals at both an early (minimal work up by primary veterinary surgeon), and later stage (2nd/3rd and 4th opinion). The team is also delighted to accept any size, shape or type of horse, ranging from Shetland ponies to elite competition horses. We would also like to thank owners and veterinary surgeons for their continued support of the AHT. Without you, the continued advancement in equine veterinary Medicine and Surgery could not continue. We would also like to remind prospective clients that the trust is a charity organization, aiming to help and treat horses presented to them, but in turn using clinical knowledge from their cases to advance the knowledge of veterinary surgeons, owners and trainers in diagnosis and treatment of Equine disease.
