Glasgow Equine Hospital and Practice, University of Glasgow
A state of the art Veterinary Hospital and First Opinion Practice
The Glasgow Equine Hospital is situated in the scenic Garscube Estate in Bearsden, on the north-western fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately 6 miles from the city centre. An equine hospital has been at this site for many years but the current hospital was opened in 1995, with subsequent expansions made to increase patient capacity and provide entirely separate isolation facilities. The Glasgow Equine Hospital works closely with veterinary surgeons throughout Scotland and northern England to provide support and referral services for horses in need of specific procedures or further diagnostics, treatment and hospitalisation. Referral is open to all cases and should be discussed first with your own vet, who will then liaise with the vets at the Hospital. Staff are dedicated to providing a professional, reliable and cost effective service whilst maintaining the highest standards of patient care. The Glasgow Equine Practice is the ambulatory side of the Equine Hospital, and offers high quality veterinary care to the horses in its local catchment area, with stable-side diagnostics and 24-hour emergency provision. Horses, ponies and donkeys registered with the Practice also have the option of being cared for at the Hospital when in need of further intensive treatment or nursing. The hospital’s team of on-site staff, extensive facilities and diagnostic laboratory offers the advantage of 24-hour nursing with continuous professional care. Patients are stabled in large, well ventilated modern stables with additional facilities for intensive care patients, mares and foals and a sand-floored stable for laminitic cases. Our vets have postgraduate specialist training in different aspects of horse medicine and surgery, between them holding four Diplomas from European Specialist Colleges, two American Diplomas and seven RCVS post-graduate Certificates. Four of the vets are recognised by the RCVS as specialists (similar to hospital consultants) in either Equine Medicine or Equine Surgery, and we work closely with in-house specialists in anaesthesia and diagnostic imaging. The team ethos remains practical, with the aim at all times of achieving the best possible outcome for both you and your horse. The Hospital is registered with the European Board of Veterinary Specialists as a training centre in both medicine and surgery for veterinary surgeons wishing to develop further skills in these areas. There are currently five resident veterinary surgeons working at the Weipers Centre whilst completing a 4-year further training period in specialist medicine or surgery. Our nursing team includes four Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) who bring combined experience from different equine veterinary hospitals and practices. The equine nursing team is assisted by animal technicians and year 5 veterinary students, enabling us to give effective and economic 24-hour nursing to our inpatients.
29/10/2025
The Here4Horses team are beyond excited to bring you this AMAZING ‘In Harmony with Horses’ event in November at The Glasgow Equine Hospital and Practice.
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
We are simply thrilled to have secured a totally terrific trio to entertain and enlighten you.
❤️🐎❤️🐎❤️🐎❤️🐎❤️🐎❤️🐎
Olympic Dressage Rider and Trainer Becky Moody, Professional Liberty and Stunt Artist Ben Atkinson and Internationally recognised Equine Performance Specialist, Dr Sue Dyson , have very kindly agreed to support Here4Horses with a fundraising spectacular.
💥 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Treat yourself to a night to remember - including a unique tour of the hospital facilities.
It’s sure to be the perfect Christmas gift for any horse lovers in your life too!
✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
15/10/2025
As horses spend more time in and diets change, we often start to see gastric ulcers appearing.
We’ve got a gastroscopy space this Friday, and we can check their teeth at the same time while they’re under sedation.
If your horse has been a bit off its food, girthy, or not quite themselves, it’s a good time to get them checked.
📞 Call the practice to book your space.
29/09/2025
Not all dental problems are visible on the surface. Using a dental endoscope, we can identify early decay deep within a tooth.
Detecting these changes early allows us to treat them with precision — often placing a filling to prevent further damage, reduce the risk of infection, and keep horses comfortable.
Routine dental checks, especially before winter feeding, are an important part of preventive care.
26/09/2025
After advanced imaging, surgery, and plenty of careful care, Henry still reminds us what it’s all about — the bond between horses and people.
Every procedure we carry out, whether on the yard or in the hospital, is about giving horses the chance to live comfortably and enjoy those everyday moments with their owners.
Because behind every patient is a partnership built on trust.
22/09/2025
“Yesterday’s mystery image was… the navicular bone.
The navicular bone is a small structure at the inside the hoof that plays a big role in movement.
It works with the deep digital flexor tendon and supporting ligaments to help absorb shock and transfer force with every stride.
Because of its location, navicular problems can be difficult to spot from the outside. That’s where standing MRI is so valuable — it shows the fine details of the navicular bone, surrounding tendons, and ligaments, helping us reach an accurate diagnosis when lameness is hard to explain.
With this level of detail, we can plan the best treatment for each horse, giving them the best chance of staying sound and comfortable.
21/09/2025
“🔍 Any guesses what this is?
It might look like a piece of modern art — but it’s actually a bone.
👉 Clue: it’s often the focus when we’re investigating lameness, and MRI gives us a great picture.
Pop your guesses in the comments ⬇️
We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow!”
19/09/2025
Most horse owners have reached for duct tape at some point to patch up a hoof bandage or cover a poultice.
This is the way we tend to do it — layering strips at right angles to build a square. It’s easier to apply, more robust, and helps the bandage last longer.
Every yard has its own tricks with tape — what’s yours?
UofG School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
18/09/2025
Another farewell today as Lauren and Sophie finish their internships.
They have both been excellent additions to the team and we are going to miss them.
Wishing them both all the best with their future, it’s sure to to bright as they are both superstars 🌟🌟
Thanks again to Lesley for another amazing cake. 🎂
Keep an eye out for the introduction of our new interns in the coming weeks.
UofG School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
16/09/2025
Some tendon injuries require more than rest.
Using keyhole surgery, damaged tissue can be carefully cleaned away before stem cells are placed directly into the tendon. This helps support repair and reduces the risk of re-injury.
By combining advanced surgical techniques with regenerative therapies, our hospital team gives horses the best chance of a safe return to comfort and performance.
UofG School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
12/09/2025
Henry had lameness in a front leg that improved with rest, but never fully went away. Because the injured tendon was inside his foot, there was no swelling to see — which made diagnosis tricky.
Using standing MRI, we were able to identify the tendon damage without the need for a general anaesthetic. Once we knew exactly what we were dealing with, Henry came into surgery.
Through a small keyhole approach, the damaged tendon fibres were carefully cleaned away and stem cells were injected directly into the injury. These stem cells support stronger healing and help reduce the risk of re-injury.
Henry’s case shows how advanced imaging and regenerative treatments can work together to give horses the best chance of a safe return to soundness.
08/09/2025
This clip shows what happens when a hoof doesn’t land evenly.
Instead of the foot absorbing impact in a balanced way, one side strikes the ground first. Over time, this uneven loading can put extra strain on joints, tendons, and ligaments — increasing the risk of lameness.
That’s why regular farriery and careful monitoring are so important. Balanced trimming and shoeing support the hoof’s natural shock-absorbing design, while our vets can investigate when movement suggests discomfort or injury.
By spotting these changes early, we can work with farriers to correct imbalances and help protect your horse’s long-term soundness.
06/09/2025
Autumn is a good time to schedule dental checks before horses come onto more hay and hard feed for winter.
Routine dentistry helps us pick up early changes such as decay, sharp enamel points, or painful diastema, preventing problems before they affect condition or performance.
Here the sharp points on the teeth have caused ulceration in Rosie's cheeks.
UofG School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Glasgow Equine Hospital and Practice, University of Glasgow:
The Glasgow Equine Hospital is situated in the scenic Garscube Estate in Bearsden, on the north-western fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately 6 miles from the city centre. An equine hospital has been at this site for many years but the current hospital was opened in 1995, with subsequent expansions made to increase patient capacity and provide entirely separate isolation facilities.
The Glasgow Equine Hospital works closely with veterinary surgeons throughout Scotland and northern England to provide support and referral services for horses in need of specific procedures or further diagnostics, treatment and hospitalisation. Referral is open to all cases and should be discussed first with your own vet, who will then liaise with the vets at the Hospital. Staff are dedicated to providing a professional, reliable and cost effective service whilst maintaining the highest standards of patient care.
The Glasgow Equine Practice is the ambulatory side of the Equine Hospital, and offers high quality veterinary care to the horses in its local catchment area, with stable-side diagnostics and 24-hour emergency provision. Horses, ponies and donkeys registered with the Practice also have the option of being cared for at the Hospital when in need of further intensive treatment or nursing.
The hospital’s team of on-site staff, extensive facilities and diagnostic laboratory offers the advantage of 24-hour nursing with continuous professional care. Patients are stabled in large, well ventilated modern stables with additional facilities for intensive care patients, mares and foals and a sand-floored stable for laminitic cases.
Our vets have postgraduate specialist training in different aspects of horse medicine and surgery, between them holding four Diplomas from European Specialist Colleges, two American Diplomas and seven RCVS post-graduate Certificates. Four of the vets are recognised by the RCVS as specialists (similar to hospital consultants) in either Equine Medicine or Equine Surgery, and we work closely with in-house specialists in anaesthesia and diagnostic imaging.
The team ethos remains practical, with the aim at all times of achieving the best possible outcome for both you and your horse. The Hospital is registered with the European Board of Veterinary Specialists as a training centre in both medicine and surgery for veterinary surgeons wishing to develop further skills in these areas. There are currently five resident veterinary surgeons working at the Weipers Centre whilst completing a 4-year further training period in specialist medicine or surgery.
Our nursing team includes four Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) who bring combined experience from different equine veterinary hospitals and practices. The equine nursing team is assisted by animal technicians and year 5 veterinary students, enabling us to give effective and economic 24-hour nursing to our inpatients.
