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UC Davis Equestrian

@ucdaviseq

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The Official Instagram of the UC Davis NCAA Division 1 Equestrian Team
🏆 3x ECAC Conference Champions
#GoAgs | #AgsCountry
Twitter: @ucdaviseq

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The Washington Post recently shared a new UC Davis study finding that just three minutes with a miniature horse or donkey can lift a teenager’s mood. The teens in the study left their visits feeling calmer and less lonely, and the ones who paid attention to the animals’ gentle cues, a soft lean or a quiet step away, felt the biggest shift of all.

Naturally, we had to test this ourselves. 🌿

Our mini donkeys Lana and Kai were happy to volunteer as research assistants. Results were reached well before the three-minute mark: heads resting on shoulders, eyes drifting closed, and a heart that felt noticeably lighter afterward. We can report that the findings hold up beautifully here in Aldie, VA. 🫏❤️

None of this is news to the children and families who come through our gates, but it is lovely to see science catching up to what our animals have been teaching us all along. Healing doesn’t always need many words. Sometimes it begins with someone small and fuzzy choosing to stay close.

Read the WaPo article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2026/09/17/just-3-minutes-with-mini-horse-or-donkey-improves-teens-moods-study-says/

#AnimalAssistedTherapy #MiniatureDonkeys #GriefSupport #LoudounCountyVA #AldieVA

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Thank you, Murieta Equestrian Center, for hosting our ring ceremony and giving us the perfect stage to celebrate our 2026 ECAC Championship. 🏆

To the entire horse community: thank you for showing up in force. Families, friends, fellow riders, and supporters filled the room with pride, emotion, and Aggie spirit. From the formal presentation on the red carpet to the joyful celebration afterward, every moment felt special ❤️

This is what a championship program looks like:
athletes who rise, families who show up, and a community that stands behind them.

These riders earned this title for UC Davis!
Stay golden, Aggies. We’ve got your back. 💙💛🐴

#ucdavisequestrian #titleix #keepdavisriding

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Join us for the annual UC Davis Horse Day event on October 10, 2026! The Western States Trail Foundation will be there with an informational booth all day.

UC Davis’ annual Horse Day is:
“A day filled with workshops, demonstrations, and lectures dedicated to continuing education for horse owners and enthusiasts. With a wide range of topics from equine diseases, nutrition, lameness, current research, and reproduction, there is sure to be something for everyone at this event. Horse Day is intended for anyone to attend, regardless of your age or horse experience- you do not need to be a current UC Davis student!”

Scan the QR code to learn more or head to their website for more.

https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/facilities/horsebarn/horse-day

📷 @brittenydonneyphotography

Teviscup.org

#enduranceriding #teviscup #enduranceride #ucdavishorsebarn #endurancerider

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Just Three Minutes with Miniature Horses and Donkeys Improved Teens’ Mood
Adolescents Who Read the Equines’ Body Language Were Less Sad and Lonely. DM me to be added to our waitlist @happy_hoovesca for the next hands on workshop with horses and small animals in Livermore, CA. #ucdavis #horse #moodenhancer #Livermore #equineassistedlearning

Reference. https://biology.ucdavis.edu/news/just-three-minutes-miniature-horses-and-donkeys-improved-teens-mood

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SIALOLITH // Horse Word Of The Day

"Sialolithiasis comes from two ancient Greek words: "sialon" (meaning saliva) and "lithos" (meaning stone). In modern medical terms, it translates directly to salivary gland stones or salivary calculi. It refers to the formation of small, calcium-rich stones inside a salivary gland or its blocks/ducts, which can block the flow of saliva and cause pain or swelling.

Sialolithiasis most commonly affects the submandibular gland (located under the jaw), though it can also occur in the parotid glands (near the cheeks) or sublingual glands (under the tongue).

When these stones block the ducts, the pain and swelling often worsens around meal times, because eating triggers the gland to produce saliva that gets trapped behind the blockage."¹

I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there in Horse Fix land has had a Sialolith or heaven forbid 🫣 an Enterolith discovered in their horse? I am terrified of Enteroliths because I know they are more common than Sialoliths and as they are located in the horse's bowel they are only usually detected in hand with colic episodes 🥺

Read more on the topic here ⬇️
https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/sialolithiasis

1. @googlegemini

#sialolithiasis #sialolith #sialolithremoval #enterolith #EquineVeterinarian

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“If you really want something, you have to work hard, take advantage of opportunity, and never give up.” — Jane Goodall

I came to school over 3,000 miles away to chase a dream and I am leaving with the world!❤️

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reminiscing on the most special year with these girls
it’s been an absolute privilege to be part of this team 💙💛 uc davis equestrian team d1 horse

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Coming onto this team was one of the greatest blessings of my life. Thank you to my teammates for becoming some of my best friends and to our coaches for believing in us and pushing us to grow. Although our time was cut short, these memories and the legacy of this team will last forever. It’s been a privilege to be an Aggie.

Thank you, UC Davis💙💛

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Can’t get much better ❤️

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And the winners are… 🏆👏

A huge congratulations to our 2026 Aggie Awards recipients! Your hard work, resilience, and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on Aggie Athletics and the UC Davis community.

We’re proud to celebrate your achievements and all you’ve accomplished this year. 💙💛 #AggieAwards #GoAgs

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#saveUCdavisEQ #MEC
@savedaviseq

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Been a Devoucoux girl since day one…now officially as a pro! We’re so happy to have you on the #greenteam @wisee_questrian - Excited for what’s ahead! 💚

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