Managing horses on firm ground is an essential part of protecting your horse’s health and performance during the summer months. As prolonged dry weather leads to increasingly firm ground conditions, horses can be exposed to greater concussion forces that place […]
Electrolytes for Horses: Why They Matter for Performance, Hydration and Recovery Maintaining proper hydration is essential for every horse, but one of the most important – and often misunderstood – aspects of equine health is electrolyte supplementation. Whether your horse […]
Equine Flu Vaccination Amnesty 2026: Restart Your Horse’s Flu Vaccinations Keeping your horse’s flu vaccinations up to date is one of the most important steps in protecting both individual horses and the wider equine community. To help owners get horses […]
Equine Ambulatory Services You may be familiar with some of our team, if your horse has been admitted to our Equine Clinic, or if you have had a visit with a Vet and Nurse, or our new Ambulatory Nursing Visits! […]
Equine Gastroscopy Spring Offer £200 inc VAT (Save £73) Available from 17th March – 10th April 2026 Take advantage of our equine gastroscopy spring offer to support the diagnosis and management of gastric ulcers in horses. Early investigation can make […]
Laminitis Risk Assessment Package for Horses & Ponies £200 inc VAT (Save £47) Available from 17th March – 30th April 2026 Protect your horse or pony this spring with our comprehensive laminitis risk assessment package, designed to support early detection, […]
EHV Vaccine Amnesty Spring 2026 HNVG are delighted to announce that we will be launching a EHV vaccine amnesty on 1st February 2026, running until 30th June 2026. If your horse mixes with others – whether that is in competition, […]
Thinking about buying a horse but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’ve always wondered about how vetting’s really work. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, returning to horse ownership after a break, or thinking of buying your next horse, […]
In the run-up to Christmas and New Year, we’ll be taking our usual short break from routine zone visits. There will be no Christmas Zone Visits available during the weeks commencing 22nd and 29th December. The final week for routine […]
The Christmas and New Year period is almost upon us, and while we love mince pies as much as the next person, our priority is still keeping your horses happy and healthy! Here’s a handy guide to our holiday hours […]
Managing Equine Metabolic Conditions in Horses During Winter As winter approaches, many horses need a more considered nutrition plan — especially those with metabolic conditions. Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s Disease (PPID) both affect how horses handle sugar, maintain […]
Did you know we are the only purpose-built clinic to provide equine surgery in Oxfordshire, with a full on-site operating theatre and inpatient facilities? It’s a bold statement, but one we wholly stand by. Every day, we see the benefits […]
Acorn Toxicity in Horses – What You Need to Know In a mast year like this one, there’s a bumper crop of all kinds of nuts and fruit. When this coincides with a period of limited grass growth – as […]
cushings disease in horses Cushing’s disease, also known as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is a common hormonal disorder in older horses. How does it occur? PPID is a condition that affects the pituitary gland, a small but important […]
Not All Equine Medicines Are Equal: Could you spot counterfeit medications? Did you know that using equine medications, supplements, or treatments from unverified sources puts your horse at serious risk? Counterfeit or sub-standard products might look identical to the real […]
As horse owners, we’re often quick to recognise the signs of acute pain. A sudden lameness, reluctance to move, or obvious reaction to touch makes it clear that something isn’t right. But what happens when we see chronic pain in […]
As temperatures rise and rainfall decreases, hot and dry weather can have a significant impact on horses suffering from equine asthma. Previously known as “heaves” or “recurrent airway obstruction (RAO),” equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lower […]
Our equine vet, Sarah Thornton, has been shortlisted for the British Equine Vets Association’s One to Watch award, which recognises exceptional early-career veterinary professionals who are “brilliant with patients, fantastic with clients, and just an all-around legend in the making”. […]
“Hello, nice to meet you all! My name is Juliette, and I am the latest addition to the equine team. I recently graduated from the University of Nottingham and am local to the Stratford-Upon-Avon area. I was really lucky to […]
Spring Colt Castrations — Book Now! Spring is the ideal time for colt castrations, and last week, our Equine Vet, Sam, had a very special patient of her own — her colt Juniper. Juniper, by the renowned stallion Diarado and […]
Spring Performance Check – Save over £150 with our April Offer! Throughout April, we’re offering a Spring Performance Check at our in-house Equine Clinic, ensuring your horse is in top condition for the season ahead. Gastroscopy – Check for […]
The foaling season is here, and some of the earlier foals are already being born; it is important to make sure you and your mare are prepared for foaling and fit and healthy! The mare shouldn’t be thin or […]
Equine Winter Talks Series The last talk in our 2024/25 Winter Talk Series, will be hosted by Senior Vet, Sally Hodgson, BSc (Hons), MA, VetMB, Cert AVP (EM), MRCVS. Sally will be delving into the world of Equine Behaviour & […]
Join us for a free informative evening all about equine euthanasia, presented by: HNVG Equine Vet Sally Hodgson BSc(Hons), MA, VetMB, CertAVP(EM), MRCVS Hannah Marsh, British Horse Society Regional Manager Sophie Cookson-King, Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Service We will talk […]
Heads up, all clients with FEI-registered horses! Important rule change for this year! All booster flu vaccinations must be uploaded by the vet onto the FEI HorseApp. IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE NEED YOU TO UPLOAD YOUR HORSE’S MOST […]
February is Equine Smile Month for our Equine Team! We’ve got some fantastic content planned on social media to get you thinking about the daily ‘unseen’ but crucial dental health of your horse. Just like us, horses can suffer from […]
Horse & Hound Article January 2025 We are delighted to be featured in this month’s Horse & Hound magazine this month, as well as online! HNVG Equine vet and director, Sam Cutts discusses our amazing Equiplan preventative health care plan […]
Equine Winter Talk Series We have 3 fantastic talks lined up over the coming months, and we would encourage everyone to come. They are suitable for all knowledge bases, and you don’t need to be a client of HNVG. So, […]
On Saturday 14th December, we were proud to sponsor a tractor for the BRILLIANT Banbury Christmas Tractor Run in aid of Katharine House Hospice. A charity dear to our hearts. We’ve been raising funds all year for them and this was […]
Can Open… Worms Everywhere Join Senior Equine Vet Sally Hodgson and the rest of the team as we delve into equine worming for the first of our FREE Equine Winter Talks. Worming is changing, and we want you to be […]
Meet Robyn, owner of RA Therapy and Training! As part of Equiplan Gold, Robyn offers a 10% discount on cold saltwater spa treatments. Robyn’s interest in equestrian sport originally led her to train as a riding instructor, however once qualified […]
10% discount on Agria Equine Insurance Policies now available to ALL HNVG clients! After the success of Agria’s discount to Equiplan Gold members we are SO excited to announce that a 10% discount on new Agria Equine Insurance policies is […]
Winter Talks 2024/25 We are delighted to share our Equine Winter Talks Series dates and talk titles! Each one of these talks will be led by one of our own HNVG Equine Vets, with other Equine vets and nurses on […]
Why is my horse eating poo? One of the most common questions horse owners ask me! Eating faeces disgusts us as we associate faeces with uncleanliness and disease transmission. We often see our horses not only sniff piles of droppings […]
We would like to invite you to our Equiplan Gold Launch Party! Please join us on Thursday 26th September from 6.30pm till 8.30pm to celebrate Hook Norton Vets and hear all about our new preventative health care scheme Equiplan Gold. […]
Independent Vet Practice in Oxfordshire is the first to offer free routine horse examinations. Hook Norton Veterinary Group (HNVG Ltd) is this month launching Equiplan Gold*, a new preventative health care scheme which will be the first in the UK […]
Undesired weight loss Whilst many horse owners are battling to get their horses to lose weight, we are sometimes presented with cases of undesired weight loss and poor body condition scores. There are many factors which can lead to weight […]
Equine Worm Management in Horses is Changing – Here’s Why Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is something that everyone has heard about – antibiotics are becoming less effective as bacteria develop ways to avoid their effects. But what you may not […]
Equine Sarcoids have posed a treatment challenge for veterinary surgeons for as long as they have been recognised, due in no small part to their unpredictable behaviour and variety of clinical presentations. Consequently, no single treatment is reliable in dealing […]
Let’s talk Laminitis… As the weather has now improved and horses are being turned out for longer, we need to think about laminitis. There are a number of causes of laminitis – inflammatory (retained foetal membranes, systemic disease, grain overload), […]
Colt castration can be performed at any time of the year, although now is an ideal time to avoid the months where fly activity is high. Colt castration is generally performed to make male horses easier to handle as they […]
Equine Vet needed for Thriving Independent Practice in Rural Oxfordshire Reputable, large independent practice with extensive remuneration package. Structured career pathways for all with dedicated support and mentoring in a thriving practice. Job Role We currently have an exciting […]
Winter Talks 2024 We are delighted to be hosting three equine client evening talks during January, February and March again this year. Our first two winter series talks are on January 17th and February 13th. Signs of Sore Tummies On […]
Equine Vaccination Intervals The interval between 1st and 2nd vaccine is now 21-60 days (3 weeks to 8 weeks 4 days). The interval between 2nd and 3rd vaccine is now 120 – 180 days (5 months to 6 months 21 […]
STOP PRESS, our Equine Winter Good-Do-er Program has landed! We are delighted to announce that we have just been accepted to host a Winter Good-Doers Support Programme! Working with qualified, independent Equine Nutritionist Jennifer Little, the programme runs from October […]
It’s that time of year again – time to get your Equisal Tapeworm Saliva kits out! There are 3 different types of tapeworm that are known to affect horses: > Anoplocephala perfoliata, > Anoplocephala magna, and > Anoplocephaloides mamillana Tapeworm […]
The Equisal Test The EquiSal Tapeworm Test uses saliva (collected by yourself) to accurately diagnose tapeworm burden. It tells us if your horse has a burden and whether you need to deworm or not. Once you have taken the sample, […]
Midsummer’s day seems to have come around all too rapidly, and anguished cries may be heard all over the region as many horse owners are yet to get out to their preferred pony party! Firstly, we saw events, fun rides, […]
The winter mud may now be a distant memory to most, but summer’s hard ground can bring with it a new set of problems for the competition season. Concussive force is created when your horse’s hoof hits the ground. When […]
In a world where you can be anything, be kind. All the staff at Hook Norton Veterinary Group work hard to support our clients and the pets, horses and livestock in our care. Sadly, they are increasingly experiencing rudeness and […]
It’s time to swot up; the HNVG Charity Quiz Night is right around the corner! Get your friends together and join us as we raise money for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance! WHEN: Wed 19th April 2023 WHERE: Sibford […]
Join us for our 2nd free client evening this year as Senior Equine Vet Sally Hodgson delves into the world of equine behaviour. Is your horse perfectly behaved? If not, never fear! It is a common problem. Whether your horse […]
As we head into February, we are looking forward to a fantastic year of competitions with our horses, and what better way to ensure they are starting the year on a solid footing than with our February pre-season gastroscope offer, […]
We are raffling off not one, not two, but THREE Pupadoodle Pick n Mix advent calendars! The pawfect Christmas treat box for your dog. The winners will be announced on the 28th of November to give you time to collect […]
Following the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the announcement of the State Funeral on Monday, 19th September, as a mark of respect, Hook Norton Veterinary Group will be closing all practice sites for routine appointments. Emergency appointments will […]
We have overlayed the Spring Paddocks Zone Visit Area over our own to give you an idea as to the days you would have access to a Zone Visit at the heavily discounted rate of £15 per visit unless 3 […]
From 1st August, our Zone Visit area will be changing! We are happy to announce that we will now be able to accommodate more clients into our Zone Visits! Follow the link to view our interactive map. Please note that […]
What is Gastroscopy? Gastroscopy is used to diagnose gastric ulcers, and it involves passing a long (very flexible!) tube with a camera at the end down the horse’s oesophagus and into the stomach; allowing the vet to get a clear […]
Join us for an afternoon of practical workshops with all the Equine Team, using live horses and dissection to assess equine lameness in all its forms. Numbers are strictly limited. When: 21st July Time: 2 pm – 5 pm Where: […]
From 1st August 2022, Spring Paddocks Equine will be integrating with Hook Norton Veterinary Group. We are really excited to be able to welcome Spring Paddocks Equine into the HNVG family. We have all the services Spring Paddocks Equine clients […]
A horse’s normal body temperature is between 37°C and 38°C. When a horse exercises, the muscles produce heat which can lead to heat stress when combined with hot environmental temperatures. Very high body temperatures (those exceeding 41°C) can lead to […]
We are delighted to announce Tom Righton as the newest member of the Hook Norton Veterinary Group Partnership. Tom joined the Practice in 2014 and has developed key interests in lameness and equine sarcoids, including laser surgery. Tom is also […]
Before Christmas, Aston and James, one of our brilliant suppliers, teamed up with Oxford Homeless Movement to reach the target of collecting #100coats to help the homeless of our community keep warm through the harshest season of the year. Whilst […]
Elanco has launched a replacement for their Danilon Equidos. The Active substance remains the same (1.5g suxibuzone) but the new product has a stronger concentration. This new product, Danilon Equidos Gold 1.5g Granules for Horse and ponies now comes in […]
MKJ Group, which are completing works in Charlbury to bring the Gigaclear Ultrafast Broadband to the area, will be closing part of the Enstone road in Charlbury, delaying access to the branch from the 10th of April, for 8 days. […]
Hook Norton Veterinary Group has been crowned Best in Oxfordshire in the Best UK Vet 2021 Awards, after achieving the most top-rated client reviews over the past 12 months in this category. They have also been voted in the Top […]
Are you thinking of putting your mare in foal? This blog covers the different stages when getting your mare in foal, and also the care and wellbeing of your mare once in foal. If you have any further questions or […]
As one of our valued customers, we want to make you aware of improvements we want to make to our invoicing delivery. We are asking customers to receive future invoices via e-mail rather than Royal Mail to save paper, the […]
Equine specific biosecurity measures should be implemented on your yard to ensure effective disease prevention and to help reduce the spread of viruses in horses. > Regularly clean and disinfect stables and equipment between horses, and if possible, have dedicated […]
We will probably never forget Spring 2020 and the impact of a virus on our daily lives, but remember infectious viruses such as flu and equine herpes virus (EHV) are circulating in our horses every year. Contact with other horses […]
Yes, it’s already time to be thinking about Sweet Itch in your horses and ponies! What is Sweet Itch? Sweet itch is caused by an allergic response to midge saliva – however other insect bites can also provoke an allergic […]
WITH THE WEATHER RAPIDLY CHANGING AND HORSES OFTEN ON RESTRICTED TURNOUT IMPACTION COLIC SOON BECOMES MORE FREQUENT IN THE EQUINE WORLD. WHAT IS IMPACTION COLIC? The term impaction refers to the accumulation of feed or other dry matter that causes […]
This year we want you to help us create a charity calendar for 2022. We will be holding monthly competitions on Facebook, whereby you can submit pictures of your beloved pets, horses and farm animals. HNVG will draw up a […]
Horses and ponies are easily spooked by fireworks, but with preparation and planning, you can keep them safe and calm throughout fireworks season. If you would like any veterinary advice please contact us, we are here to help. Top Tips: […]
For our second virtual client evening, we are incredibly lucky to be joined by the amazing Dr. Jessica Kidd, who will share her incredible knowledge and experience on Sports Horse Injuries. Sports Horse Injuries Wed 18th Nov at 7.30 pm […]
We are currently operating as normally as possible; however, we would like to remind clients of the following COVID-secure measures. You MUST NOT visit any of our sites if you > are experiencing any COVID symptoms; > have been told […]
After months of continual change and adaption to COVID-19, we have decided on a new course of action, a ‘new normal’. From Monday the 20th of July, clients attending Small Animal appointments will be allowed in the consultation room with […]
UPDATE: 20th May Following the Prime Ministers’ most recent COVID-19 instructions, we feel that it is not necessary to change our ways of working at this time. We are continuing to deliver veterinary care to your pets, horses, and livestock, […]
“My dear friends, this is your hour.” Winston Churchill on VE Day Today marks 75 years since the guns fell silent, marking the end of Europe’s war. So whilst we celebrate at home, we must remember those that showed courage […]
The Equisal Test The EquiSal Tapeworm Test uses saliva, collected yourself, to diagnose tapeworm burden with high accuracy. It tells us if your horse has a burden and whether you need to deworm or not. At HNVG we incorporate the […]
With the spring flush of grass now coming through we are starting to see several cases of laminitis. > This is an inflammatory condition of the feet which causes lameness in horses and ponies. The laminae that bond the hoof […]
We want to help you as much as possible during this tricky time. Please see the FAQ below for the current COVID-19 outbreak. It outlines what our Equine Vets are, and are not allowed to do during the lockdown. If […]
From April 14th, 2020, due to national lockdown now being set to continue beyond the initial 3 week period, BEVA and the RCVS have taken the very sensible stance that vaccination and some other veterinary work should be allowed to […]
Due to the increased demand for our free delivery service, we have restructured it to make it more efficient with designated days for our different branch areas. Each week we will offer a delivery service to anyone within 10 miles […]
To all our valued equine clients, Following the Prime Minister’s instructions on 23/03 to stop all non-essential travel and contact, our governing body has produced guidelines covering what we as equine vets ARE and are NOT allowed to do. What […]
In compliance with Government advice on social distancing, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are asking clients to please wait in your car & ring reception to let them know you are here. If you do not have a […]
We all love the sight on a newborn foal, skipping around after it’s Mum. However, the first 24-hours of a foals life are critical and need careful observation, to make sure that both foal and mum are healthy. We have […]
For February and March, we are offering a FREE VISIT for 3 or more equine dental treatments booked on the same yard! This can be done on any day of the week and at a specific time (as opposed to […]
As the Stud season looms, many of you may be thinking about which mares you would like to put in foal, and to whom! Whether you own a Thoroughbred stud or want to breed for the first time from your […]
Our Equine Team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that came to our Equine Quiz at the Greedy Goose on the 22nd of January. We managed to fill the pub with teams and raise a fantastic […]
As you may be aware, there has been an outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus at a competition centre in Hampshire. So far all reported cases have been on the premises, but unfortunately four horses have had to be euthanised due to […]
Beat the January Blues and join the HNVG Equine Team for a fantastic quiz night & raffle. It’s time to rally your friends, test your brains and get quizzical! All proceeds are going to the Blue Cross & the Air […]
With Christmas being just around the corner, we thought it best to keep our Christmas opening hours at the forefront of your minds, just in case you need us! Christmas 2019 Opening hours Monday 23rd: Business as usual Christmas Eve: […]
Planning is Key Find out if there are to be any fireworks displays local to where your horse is kept. Find out the dates and times, speak to your neighbours if they are having a display, let them know that […]
Here at HNVG we are very excited to be involved in the launch of a brand new lameness treatment from Boehringer Ingelheim and Global Stem cell Technology! It is a stem cell based product which offers a totally different way […]
As summer parties and weddings get into full swing, now is a timely reminder for people to be aware of the effects that helium balloons and Chinese lanterns have on our animals and countryside. Balloons look wonderful when released, especially […]
We love our busy zone days and know that you do too! We are happy to announce that we have expanded our Tuesday zone area so that we now cover: > Temple Guiting > Naunton > Bourton-on-the-Water > Notgrove > […]
Cases of Equine Flu have now been confirmed in Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. Our advice remains the same, all horses should be vaccinated and have a booster if they have not been vaccinated within the last 6 months. Signs of Equine […]
More cases of equine influenza have been identified in several areas of the UK – the Animal Health Trust websitewww.equiflunet.org.uk is being kept updated with information about all cases diagnosed during this outbreak. The direct link to the case information […]
