Equine Facilities
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Clinic | Riding Arena | Imaging Facilities | Treadmill | Operating Theatre | Diagnostic Laboratory Services
Clinic
The Animal Health Trust Clinical Yard is situated in the grounds of a 140-acre estate. The purpose built Clinical Yard was opened in 1997 to accommodate the ever-growing clinical caseload.
A team of dedicated, professional, staff members run the Clinical Yard. Every member of staff plays an integral part in running the yard, from our Receptionist to our Clinicians, our Nurse to our Radiographer. We have 8 members of Yard Staff, all of whom are fully trained to a high level in the duties they perform on the yard. The aim is for one groom to stay with the horse throughout its stay with us at the clinic, so the horse can feel confident in its surroundings by seeing a familiar face each day. This groom is then able to get to know the horse’s temperament, and assess and advise on the level of sedation for the horse throughout different examinations, maximising benefits to the horse. Yard staff can be recognised by the green overalls they wear. Those in blue overalls are clinical staff i.e. Clinicians, Interns, Radiographer, Nurse and Imaging Technicians.
There are many facilities that the AHT Clinical Yard offers. Patients may use one, a few or most of them during their visit.
General
- Car and Lorry Park, with loading ramps
- Stables of different sizes to suit your horse. These are generally bedded on shavings or paper
- Pharmacy
- Claydon horse walker
- Paddocks for turnout
Diagnostic areas
- 20 x 60 Charles Britton Arena with Geltrack surface
- Sato 1 high speed treadmill
- Straight trot up area
- Hard lunge area
- Specially designed boxes for diagnostic investigations and treatments; all with rubber floors.
Diagnostic Imaging
- X-ray with computerised radiography
- Hermes Nuclear Scintigraphy system
- Standing Hallmarq MRI system
- High field GE Signa Echospeed MRI system for assessment under general anaesthesia
Treatment areas
- Operating theatre
- Fully padded recovery boxes
- Isolation yard/ Isolation paddock
Using these facilities, the Animal Health Trust aims to supply the highest level of care to inpatients and outpatients.
Riding Arena
We have a full size 20m x 60m riding arena installed by Charles Britton and surfaced with Martin Collins Geltrack. The surface is maintained regularly by harrowing and levelling to ensure it is in optimum condition. There is also a riding paddock, which can be used in the summer months for general exercising.
Riding plays an important role as part of the diagnostic services we offer here at the AHT. The main objectives for seeing a horse ridden are for subtle lameness, back pain and poor performance evaluation; which may include problems such as resistance, lack of impulsion or loss of rhythm. These problems may be the result of pain, or they could be training related, a physical limitation of the horse, or rider related. As riders, the equine team here at the AHT are able to appreciate such problems, having all worked in professional yards, owned, and competed or ridden horses at high level.
For these types of problems, the horse is often ridden at the initial evaluation, which may be by the owner or an AHT rider. The response to diagnostic test can be assessed by riding particular movements that show up a problem assess whether there is a significant improvement. If the horse stays for further evaluation or management, then one of the skilled AHT riders is available for riding.
Imaging Facilities
The Animal Health Trust has advanced imaging capabilities to maximise diagnosis of horses with subtle injuries. It is the only equine clinic worldwide using both high field MRI and standing MRI for diagnosis of equine patients. The considerable scientific investigation and validation of all the imaging equipment at the AHT means that the team can provide a top class service based on knowledge of what the images actually represent for each patient.
Computerised radiography (X-ray) and quality ultrasonography are routinely used for initial diagnostic investigation where necessary. More in-depth investigation may require scintigraphic imaging, which can be done for any part of a patient. If indicated, subtle bone, joint, tendon and ligament problems can be investigated either standing or under general anaesthesia using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treadmill
The AHT has its own Sato high-speed treadmill. The treadmill is a very important tool in the diagnosis of respiratory and performance problems in horses during exercise.
When the treadmill is used in conjunction with videoendoscopy it allows us to see on a television screen exactly what is happening in the horse’s larynx (voice box) while the horse is exercising. The videoendoscope is a small camera at the end of a long flexible tube that is placed via the horse’s nostril into the upper airway looking at the larynx of the horse. The camera is then left in place while the horse is working on the treadmill.
Treadmill training and assessment normally takes three days, from the horse arriving having never seen a treadmill, until ‘test’ day. An orthopaedic evaluation is performed upon arrival at the AHT to ensure that the horse is a suitable candidate to run on the treadmill. The horse will be looked at by one of our veterinary surgeons to check for any potential long- standing injuries that may make it unsuitable. Whenever the horse is using the treadmill it is fitted all round with protective boots and is attached to the treadmill by a harness for safety while doing any fast work.
The first two days of training are used to accustom the horse to the treadmill. The horse is introduced gently to the treadmill and great care is taken never to spook or upset the horse. Once on the treadmill belt the horse is encouraged to walk forward as the treadmill is started up into a walk. Once the horse is happy and relaxed then it is asked to trot and then canter. On the test day the horse will be fitted with an ECG, which monitors the heart throughout the test, to assess if the horse is capable of managing the work it is asked to do. After it has worked the horse is washed down, walked to relax and then taken back to its stable.
Horses for the treadmill are usually referred to us because they have been heard to ‘make a noise’ or because they have lost form, suffer from poor performance or have become exercise intolerant. Quite often the problem arises from the upper airway and the symptoms will only show up while the horse is exercising, often at full speed. This equipment allows us to see clearly what is happening in the upper airway during exercise and is extremely useful to aid in the diagnosis and therefore the treatment of the condition.
Operating Theatre
There is a fully equipped operating theatre within the clinic, with 2 fully padded recovery boxes allowing movement of an anaesthetised patient directly on to the padded surgery table. It is possible for horses to have keyhole surgery (for example arthroscopy) or standard surgical procedures, with the option to take radiographs (X- rays) during surgery if necessary. Patients have the best surgical and anaesthetic care, with highly qualified and skilled staff.
