Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth

Dr. Erica Lacher and Justin Long

Equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss horse healthcare, and proper care and maintenance. Whether your horse is an athlete or a lawn ornament, you'll learn something that will help you be a better horse parent!

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20 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes20

Newest first

Yesterday · 57 min
S9E15 The Routine Exam
In this episode, which is Episode 200, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the routine exam that your vet does at every wellness visit. As Dr. Lacher explains, it's a whole lot more than it looks like, and the benefits to both you and your horse are many! As usual, there are a variety of rabbit holes explored in this conversation.
July 14 · 52 min
S9E14 FRVN w Dr. Leigh Mack
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview Dr. Leigh Mack, founder of the First Responder Veterinary Network. Listeners will learn how the current first responder and emergency services systems manage animals in emergencies, how and why the FRVN is trying to bring veterinarians into the process, and what every animal owner needs to know and be prepared for. There are a lot of surprising things to be learned in this episode, and we encourage everyone to visit https://www.frvn.org/ to support this new system to help our horses, dogs, cats, and more!
June 30 · 55 min
S9E13 Pasture Grass
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into pasture grass! Topics include sugar, forage quality, consumption management, and much more!
June 15 · 59 min
S9E12 New World Screwworm w/ Dr. Erika Machtinger
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long sit down with Dr. Erika Machtinger, Professor of Entomology at Penn State, to talk about the New World Screwworm. This is a great conversation for horse owners across North America to learn all about the NW Screwworm, why it's a big deal, how to recognize and handle it on your farm, and how the USDA is handling it. For links to current updates on New World Screwworm, visit SpringhillEquine.com.
May 31 · 59 min
S9E11 Dental Care for the Stages of Life
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the dental care needs of horses at different points in their lives. Topics include foals, yearlings, young horses, adult horses, and seniors, and addresses issues and concerns at each stage, general care, and diseases like EOTRH. Also discussed is why all your equine dental care should be provided by a veterinarian!
May 15 · 1 hr 32 min
S9E10 Bone Growth w Dr. Brian Nielsen
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk to Dr. Brian Nielsen. Dr. Nielsen is a professor of senior level equine physiology in the Animal Science department at Michigan State University, and one of the leading bone development researchers in the world in the Spartan Equine Research (SPERE) Lab. Topics include bone modeling and remodeling, what research shows about turnout vs. stalled horses, how to impact bone growth, and much, much more. Every horse owner will benefit greatly from this incredibly fun and insightful conversation!
April 30 · 42 min
S9E09 Tendons and Ligaments
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the complex world of tendons and ligaments in horse legs. Topics include common injuries, strengthening and conditioning, rehab, and much more!
April 15 · 45 min
S9E08 Hi/Lo Ringbone & Side Bone
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long cover the wild world of high ringbone, low ringbone, and side bones. Topics include what they are (and aren't!), symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
March 31 · 56 min
S9E07 Laminitis aka Founder
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into the world of laminitis, or founder in horses. Topics include how it happens, early warning signs, diagnosing, treatment options, and making hard decisions.
March 14 · 59 min
S9E06 Stomach and Hind Gut Ulcers
In this episode, Drr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin long take a deep dive into the world of stomach ulcers. Topics include squamous ulcers, glandular ulcers, and hind gut ulcers, how they differ from one another, what treatments work and which ones don't (prepare to be disappointed about your expensive supplements!), and how our understanding of ulcer management has changed over time. This is a topic that has lots of misinformational marketing muddying up the water, so arm yourself with the medical facts to prevent being taken advantage of by clever advertising.
February 28 · 51 min
S9E05 Colic Mythbusting
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long confirm or debunk a number of popular myths surrounding colic in horses. Topics include how Banemine works with colic, walking horses, twists, and much more! Check out the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide app at https://EquineEmergencyApp.com to give yourself the best tool for managing colic or any other potential horse emergency!
February 15 · 59 min
S9E04 Hay Hay Hay! w/ Dr. Kelly Vineyard
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long sit down with returning guest equine nutritionist Kelly Vineyard PhD to talk forage. This is an episode every horse owner will want to listen to multiple times! Dr. Vineyard explains different forage types in detail, and how she goes about choosing the right forage for the right horse, as well as grass and pasture forage, bagged/cubed/pelleted forages, and much, much more.
February 1 · 56 min
S9E03 Equine Diagnostic Options
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the wide variety of diagnostic tools that veterinarians use, what information they provide, and how veterinarians decide the best diagnostic options on a limited budget. Topics include imaging, blood tests, and more!
January 15 · 44 min
S9E02 Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss their new mobile app, the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide, and how it can help, horses, horse owners, and their veterinarians. Topics include a variety of emergencies that are compounded by time, and why getting treatment fast can make such a significant difference in the outcome for the horse and in cost for the owner. Find out more about the app at https://EquineEmergencyApp.com
January 1 · 55 min
S9E01 Then vs Now: 25 Years of Vet Med
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about how much equine medicine has changed over the course of Dr. Lacher's career so far, and how important it is to stay abreast of advancements. From nutrition to imaging capabilities to AI, they cover a lot of ground in this fascinating discussion!
Dec 15, 2025 · 40 min
S8E24 How to Love your Horse
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the different ways people try to show love to their horses, and what the horses actually consider signs of love. Topics include buying things vs. spending time with them, tips for keeping retired horses happy, and much more.
Dec 1, 2025 · 50 min
S8E23 Choosing the right NSAID for your Horse
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long look at Bute, Banemine, and Equiox and what they do for horses. Topics include the role of each drug in the inflammatory cascade, how they differ from one another, risks and side effects, and much more.
Nov 15, 2025 · 56 min
S8E22 Vaccines and Horses
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about each of the core vaccines as well as some of the lifestyle vaccines that horses need. Topics incude the diseases and how they operate, the vaccines themselves, schedules and timeframes, location, side effects, and more.
Nov 1, 2025 · 53 min
S8E21 Shockwave w Dr. Cindy Harrington
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview Cindy Harrington Ph.D. of Elvation USA, distributors of the Piezowave Shockwave System. Topics include what shockwave is, how it works, and what it does and doesn't do for horses.
Oct 15, 2025 · 51 min
S8E20 Horses and Trailers
In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss a wide variety of aspects of hauling horses in trailers. Topics include choosing a tow vehicle, trailer types, hauling sick horses, hauling healthy horses, short hauls, long hauls, shipping boots, trailer wrecks, and much more!

Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth

S9E15 The Routine Exam

S9E14 FRVN w Dr. Leigh Mack

S9E13 Pasture Grass

S9E12 New World Screwworm w/ Dr. Erika Machtinger

S9E11 Dental Care for the Stages of Life

S9E10 Bone Growth w Dr. Brian Nielsen

S9E09 Tendons and Ligaments

S9E08 Hi/Lo Ringbone & Side Bone

S9E07 Laminitis aka Founder

S9E06 Stomach and Hind Gut Ulcers

S9E05 Colic Mythbusting

S9E04 Hay Hay Hay! w/ Dr. Kelly Vineyard

S9E03 Equine Diagnostic Options

S9E02 Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide

S9E01 Then vs Now: 25 Years of Vet Med

S8E24 How to Love your Horse

S8E23 Choosing the right NSAID for your Horse

S8E22 Vaccines and Horses

S8E21 Shockwave w Dr. Cindy Harrington

S8E20 Horses and Trailers