The Horse First: A Veterinary Sport Horse Podcast

Author: Audrey DeClue, DVM

Dr. Audrey DeClue hosts this podcast designed to help owners, riders, trainers, and others understand their horse's needs better.
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Language: en

Genres: Education, Life Sciences, Science

Contact email: Get it

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Episode 69: Deep Discussions about Unspoken Problems in Sport Horses: Dr. Audrey DeClue, Dr. Ellen Hillyer and Dr. Brandy Ashman
Episode 70
Friday, 30 January, 2026

Dr. Audrey DeClue, Dr. Brandy Ashman, and Dr. Ellen Hillyer discuss the top reasons sport horse owners jump between vets. This includes a lack of agreed answers, poor pain recognition, and failure to link behavior with pain/rideability. They cite Sue Dyson's pain ethogram and note axial lameness is complex, non-limb, and often pelvic dysfunction. Education gaps persist as well, including only one hour of axial lameness in vet school and overlooking saddle fit issues. They emphasize collaboration (vet–owner–trainer–farrier), realistic expectations, and 2026 as a pivotal year for change.