Equine Sports Medicine Practice

07/12/2025

🎉Happy 15 years ESMP🎉
Fifteen years ago, this practice was born from a clear and powerful intention:
to develop equine sports medicine in a way nobody had before, combining deep knowledge in physiology, internal medicine and sports and applying it where it matters: in the field.
It was a leap of faith — setting out on my own to build something that reflected my values into what seemed to be a dizzying void🌟
I was also clueless about how to lead a business. But I had a vision, a drive (an obsession?) and unwavering support from my loved ones ❤️💪
What emerged (sweat and tears included) became far more than a practice.
It became a shared journey 🚀
Along the way, an incredible team took shape.
Every person who has been part of this story — those who stayed and those who moved on — shared one essential thing: a genuine love and passion for the horse🐴💖
Each of them left their mark, helping define who we are today✨
Together, we earned our place🏅
Trusted with the care of elite athletes at the top of their sport, setting new standards in assessing how they respond to conditioning and competition, being invited to the most respected international conferences to share our experience 🌍🎤 publishing cutting edge science 📄🧪
Yet always guided by the same commitment — to care with the same dedication for every animal, regardless of level or discipline 🤝🐎
Our identity at ESMP has been built on excellence, science, empathy, and integrity🌱
On the belief that performance and welfare are inseparable⚖️
That true sports medicine serves not only results, but the horse–rider partnership and the long-term well-being of both🐴🤝🏇
Fifteen years in, I feel deeply grateful — and incredibly fortunate — to do this work with such a remarkable team 🙏
Proud of how far we’ve come 🌄
And excited for what lies ahead🔮
New projects, new challenges, new adventures await — always at the service of the horse🐎✨

30/11/2025

At ESMP, we implement new technology as a means to support our clinical exams. Our observational skills are irreplaceable, however when supported by objective metrics, they can be recorded and followed over time.
Read the full interview of Dr Adeline Tischmacher:

https://sleip.com/blogs-tutorials/blog/why-belgian-vets-are-saying-yes-to-objective-gait-analysis?utm_campaign=247127241-3%20Belgian%20vets&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_content=blog&fbclid=PARlRTSAOY7dRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAae8pwT9K1WB0adm_PqXLMorWHmy0KgVFe4Z61yedQgQCqFKL9pRCQfx8-E4uQ_aem_VQ0Qs63w0gg2YXpbm7fVjw

22/11/2025

Feeling special

The brain is still buzzing after being invited to speak at the European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM).
It was the opportunity to share our research on how cardiac arrhythmias at intense exercise impact performance in Thoroughbred racehorses - something that was never explored before in the field, in a large population. What made the experience special were the conversations that followed on how to move forward to improve injury and accident prevention in equine athletes.
The speakers covered inspiring state of the art lectures — exploring equine sleep with Pr Monica Mira, cancerology in horses with the legendary Pr Derek Kottenbelt, managing EHV-1 outbreaks and safeguarding horses at competitions, but also managing metabolic diseases, improving our functional imaging skills...

There’s something special about being surrounded by fellow specialists and scientists for a few days.
These are the people who live at the edge of research, who question everything, who bring their passion to the lab, the clinic, the racetrack, and the lecture room.
Specialist colleges are the beating heart of our profession — places where ideas sharpen, knowledge expands, and you’re reminded why staying curious matters.

I left with new insights to improve our daily practice, new connections, and fresh inspiration…
Exactly what happens when you spend time with big, bold minds in equine medicine — and an incredible reminder of why we love this work.

21/11/2025

09/11/2025

🐴💓 exercices tests under saddle help us understand how the horse’s body responds to effort — with real-time ECG monitoring and regular lactate measurements.
A great source of insight into both health 🩺 and locomotion 🦵
Stay tuned — we’ll soon share what the heart looks like in action ❤️‍🔥

19/10/2025

This horse has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 🫀
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that causes the heart to beat fast and unevenly. Because of this, the heart can’t pump blood efficiently, which may lead to poor performance and fatigue during exercise.
To correct the problem, we’ll perform a TVEC (transvenous electrical cardioversion) — a specialized procedure where catheters are guided into the heart under ultrasound. Once everything is in place, controlled electrical pulses are delivered directly inside the heart to restore a normal rhythm. ⚡🐴
👉 Watch the video to discover each step of this fascinating and delicate intervention!
Thanks to the owners for their trust 🙏🏻

12/10/2025

After showing you how a gastroscopy is performed 🎥, we’ll now take a closer look at what we can see inside a horse’s stomach 🐴
You’ll discover sone examples of common problems that may appear 👀

It’s really important to keep an eye on the early signs your horse might show if it’s feeling uncomfortable or in pain 😕 and to contact your veterinarian right away if you have any doubts ☎️👩‍⚕️

🐴

04/10/2025

🔍 Have you ever seen the inside of a horse’s stomach? 👀

Yes, we literally use a camera to look inside, and it can be game-changing.
This is what a gastroscopy looks like — a simple but powerful tool that helps us detect gastric ulcers, inflammation, and other hidden issues.

Whether your horse is showing vague signs like irritability, girthiness, or a drop in performance... the answer could be right here — inside the stomach🐴💡

28/09/2025

💓 From the heart of equine sports medicine to the hearts of horses.
This week, Dr. Fe Ter Woort was invited as a speaker at the “AdvancedEquine Cardiology” vetpd course in Munich, Germany 🇩🇪

Over 2 days, an international team of cardiology experts & practitioners came together to share cutting-edge knowledge on:
🔬 Advanced echocardiographic techniques
⚡️ Diagnosis and management of arrhythmias
🏇 Exercising ECG and continuous monitoring in the sport horse
🫁 Links between equine asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac function
Dr. Fe Ter Woort contributed to the program, highlighting how these tools and approaches translate into better diagnosis, treatment, and performance care for equine athletes.

👏 A big thank you to the organisers and colleagues who made this a truly collaborative and inspiring event. Each exchange of expertise helps push the field forward—and ultimately, keeps horses performing and thriving at their best.

VetPD - Veterinary Professional Development