Ella Riley CertNCS (VCC), RVCCA

Blood tests aren’t just something we recommend when a horse is unwell — they’re a powerful tool for monitoring overall health, spotting problems early, and guiding treatment decisions. A blood test gives us a snapshot of your horse’s internal health. It can detect subtle changes that might not yet be visible externally — helping us catch illness earlier, manage long-term conditions more effectively, and track how well your horse is responding to treatment.

Two of the most commonly used imaging tools are X-rays and ultrasound. While both are essential for diagnosing injury and illness in horses, they’re used to assess very different types of tissues — and knowing when to use each allows us to make accurate, informed decisions about your horse’s care. Here’s a breakdown of what each tool does, when we use them, and why it matters.

When a horse is lame, sore, or just “not quite right,” one of the most important tools we have in veterinary medicine is diagnostic imaging. From subtle lameness investigations to diagnosing serious injuries or monitoring ongoing conditions, imaging plays a vital role in helping us see beneath the surface.