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It's the final episode in our series for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria. We’ve covered various specific health conditions over the course of this week, but today we’re going to focus on something a bit different – but no less important in terms of safeguarding the wellbeing of our horses. As horse owners and carers, it’s our duty to ensure that our horses have the best possible lives, with their essential needs at the forefront of decision-making. Getting this right can provide a stable foundation for everything we do with them, whether you have an unridden companion, go hacking a few times a week or compete to higher levels.  Our understanding of what our horses need has changed over time and a number of phrases are becoming more widely used. One of these is ‘the other 23 hours’ and, in this episode, we’re going to find out a bit more about what that means, with help from Roly Owers and Janet Douglas from World Horse Welfare.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is believed to affect as many as one in three horses in the UK. This painful condition can be caused by multiple factors and will impact performance, temperament and welfare.  Leading consultant and researched Ben Sykes shares how, as our understanding of the condition and how it affects our horses improves, so too does how effectively we’re able to treat and manage it.

We're spoiling you with not one, but two episodes today for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria!  Ensuring your horse has a healthy digestive system and a diet that meets their needs is just one step in reducing the risk of numerous gastrointestinal problems, including colic and equine gastric ulcer syndrome. We’ve reunited our equine nutritionist dream team of Dr Marga Mas from Dodson & Horrell and Kate Hore from NAF to look at some of the feeding fundamentals needed in order to promote wellbeing in our horses.

Colic is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of everyone who owns or cares for horses, with good reason – it’s one of the most common veterinary emergencies and causes of equine death worldwide.  While the severity and causes of colic will vary, knowing how to spot signs so you can respond quickly is vital in giving your horse the best chance of a good outcome. Professor Sarah Freeman from the University of Nottingham shares what to look for, plus how you can manage the risk factors associated with colic to reduce the likelihood of it happening in the first place.

While not a disease itself, lameness is a symptom of an underlying problem and a sign that your horse is in pain. Sometimes that pain is minor and can be resolved quickly and easily, but at other times it can be more serious and not immediately obvious what's caused it.  In our next episode for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria, vet Rob Oulton from the World Class Programme and Scott Dunn's Equine Clinic explains the process and tests a vet will go through to reach a diagnosis.

In the next episode of our series for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria, vets Hattie Bell and Tegan McGilvray from Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance join us to discuss the important role that vaccines play in protecting our horses.  For many of us, vaccinating our horses is just something we tick off once or twice a year when we get a reminder through from the vet practice, without thinking too much about what it actually means. However, this seemingly small action – when done right – can not only save our horses from serious and potentially even life-threatening diseases, but also safeguard the wellbeing of the national herd.

Equine Health Week, in partnership with Agria, is back for 2026! This year, we're focusing on some equine health essentials.  In today’s episode, Sam Cutts from Hook Norton Equine Vets shares some of the basic first aid knowledge that all horse owners and carers should have in their arsenal, what items to keep in your first aid kit and, perhaps most importantly, how to tell when it’s time to call the vet.

In our final episode for Worming Week, in partnership with Agria, the focus turns to the environmental impact of the drugs used to treat our horses for parasites.  Rachel is joined by Claire Shand from Westgate Labs, who sits on the core steering group of cross-industry organisation CANTER, and Ruth Dancer from White Griffin to find out the effects that these drugs can have, not only on a local level but also on the wider ecosystem. Plus, Ruth shares insight into the importance of caring for our soil and Claire amazes everyone with some hard-hitting statistics.

In the second of our Worming Week episodes, in partnership with Agria, Rachel chats with Nicola Housby Skeggs, Veterinary Director at The Horse Trust, and Dr. Tamzin Furtado from the University of Liverpool.  They take a closer look at what factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to test or treat our horses for common parasites, and why overuse of anthelmintics poses such a risk to our national herd.

It's the first episode in our special series of podcast episodes for Worming Week, in partnership with Agria. Having the right parasite testing and treatment programme in place is an important part of keeping our horses healthy and also helps to protect the national herd. Rachel chats with vet Tim Mair to explore the different parasite tests and what factors need to be considered when putting together a programme to suit the needs of our individual horses.  Find the CANTER guidelines and matrix here: https://canterforhorses.org.uk/

In this special episode for Clean Sport Week 2025, Rachel is joined by Dr. Marga Mas from Dodson & Horrell and Kate Hore from NAF to explore the topic of naturally occurring prohibited substances – also known as NOPS – and how they relate to clean sport. Our experts will also share some simple steps you can implement at your own yard to reduce the risk of contamination and protect your horse’s welfare and wellbeing.

In the final episode of Equine Health Week 2025, we're focusing on a topic that nobody involved with horses likes to think about, but one that many of will have to go through at some point – end of life.  It’s a sad fact that very few horses will pass away naturally so, whether as a result of accident, injury, illness or old age, euthanasia is something that many owners will be faced with. Vet Alistair Crozier from Parkside Veterinary Group and Dr. Amelia Cameron from the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine join Rachel to discuss how creating an end of life plan can help to reduce delay and distress when the time comes. Keep up to date with everything that's happening during Equine Health Week 2025 via https://bit.ly/EHW25Hub.

In the penultimate episode of our Equine Health Week 2025 series, we turn our attention to our 'golden oldies' and how we can support them as they age. Nicola Housby Skeggs, Veterinary Director at The Horse Trust, shares what she's learned from caring for the around 140 elderly horses who live on-site at the charity. She and Rachel discuss all aspects of veteran care, including easing into retirement, enrichment ideas, managing health challenges and creating a suitable environment. Keep up to date with everything that's happening during Equine Health Week 2025 via https://bit.ly/EHW25Hub.

For the next episode in our series of episodes for Equine Health Week 2025, we’re focusing on how you can build a partnership with your horse in the saddle and support him to perform at his best. Coach and former FEI Eventing European Champion Nicola Wilson returns to the podcast to share her top tips for a successful ridden partnership, including how to instill confidence in your horse, planning your competition season and the importance of appreciating him as an individual.  Keep up to date with everything that's happening during Equine Health Week 2025 via https://bit.ly/EHW25Hub.

Our horses' nutritional needs will change throughout their lives. In this special episode for Equine Health Week 2025, Rachel is joined by NAF's Head Nutritionist Kate Hore and Dodson & Horrell's Veterinary and Nutrition Advisor Dr. Marga Mas for discussion on all things equine nutrition. Covering everything from different nutritional needs at different life stages to how to choose the most suitable feed and supplements for your individual horse – via nutrition-related health problems, the importance of choosing a BETA NOPS-accredited brand and just what your horse's poo can tell you about his wellbeing – this episode is a must-listen if you want to ensure that your horse is getting the best possible outcome from his diet.Keep up to date with everything that's happening during Equine Health Week 2025 via https://bit.ly/EHW25Hub.