“Sunshine & Melanoma’s? It’s NOT What You Think!” – Email 3

Hello ,

Welcome to the Intelligent Horsemanship "Spread the Word" Series!

Written by me, Abi Pass Msc Veterinary Physiotherapist, I'm in the office two days a week with Kelly and Sharron to ensure our membership keeps giving exceptional benefits.

I've designed and written this series of emails to share useful and on-topic information that I hope you'll find beneficial.

For our non-members, I'll be honest: this email might also include links to some member-exclusive content (shameless, I know!). But I promise I'll always share something useful for everyone at the top of these emails – cross my heart and hope to die!

I'd love to hear your feedback on whether I'm pitching these right. Also, do send any ideas for content you'd like to see, or questions you'd like to ask and feel free to respond to these emails.

With all that said, keep reading for a biology-focused email out covering blood testing insights, sunshine and melanomas, rewilding for equine wellness, and more…

What’s Your Horse’s Blood Telling You? Cracking the Code on Equine Blood Test Results

Many of us get blood tests done for our horses but know little about the results. We often rely solely on the vet’s five-second feedback —“It’s all good.” But what about actually understanding the results yourself?

Having the knowledge to interpret your horse’s bloodwork can help you make informed decisions about their health, training, and well-being alongside vets advice… or even help you engage your vet in a longer discussion.

At Intelligent Horsemanship, we believe in giving you the knowledge to be your horse’s best advocate. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on Equine Blood Testing — so you know exactly what to look for and why it matters.

🔬 Why Blood Tests Can Be Useful:

• Detect underlying illnesses and infections before symptoms appear.
• Monitor chronic conditions like liver or kidney function.
• Investigate poor performance, fatigue, or weight loss.
• Ensure a horse is in top health before purchase.

📊 What Do The Results Mean?

This guide breaks down key parameters like:

• PCV (Packed Cell Volume) – Dehydration? Anemia? Find out what this number really means.
• Hemoglobin & Red Blood Cells (RBCs) – How well is your horse transporting oxygen?
• White Blood Cells (WBCs) – Is your horse fighting an infection?
• Liver & Kidney Function Tests – Detect potential organ stress before it becomes a serious issue.

The more you understand your horse’s bloodwork, the better decisions you can make for their health, performance, and longevity.

Can Horses Get Melanomas From The Sun? ☀️

With this heatwave, we're all thinking about sun protection, right? It gets you wondering about our horses too, as we bring out the sun cream and UV fly sheets. But here's something interesting: the link between sunlight and equine melanomas isn't what you might think…

Turns out, unlike us, horses don't get melanomas from sun exposure. In fact, equine melanomas aren't sun-induced at all! During our recent webinar, expert equine veterinary surgeon Dr. Jessica Kidd explained that grey horses are more prone to them because they simply have way more melanocytes – those are the cells that produce melanin – not because of the sun.

Dr. Kidd also pointed out that there's actually very little published research on equine melanomas. That makes her insights even more valuable for all of us horse owners and professionals.

If you're curious about why melanomas happen in horses and how to treat them, you'll definitely want to watch the full webinar recording. It's available now on the Intelligent Horsemanship Website.

• Free for members
• Just £10 for non-members

Honestly, this is a must-watch for anyone who owns a horse, especially if you have a grey!

Your Chance to Win?

This July, our Members Exclusive prize draw is a £100 voucher kindly sponsored by Meadowmania, redeemable for anything in their shop!

So, if you fancy treating yourself, make sure you sign up. Don't forget to click the link in the confirmation email sent to you after signing up to complete your application!

Martin Clunes OBE DL

President of the BHS (British Horse Society),

Tall Actor

“This is how good Kelly Marks is;”

“I once telephoned her from the field when two recalcitrant Clydesdale yearlings had planted refusing to go forward, within minutes Kelly had talked the three of us down and on we went never having that problem again. She has a real gift for sharing her considerable expertise encouraging riders and horses alike to get the best out of their shared experience. Kelly is just as intuitive in dealing with people as she is with horses so if you have any human friends who are planting you know who to call.

We love Kelly”