Every year on 11 July, World Horse Day offers an opportunity to celebrate the relationship between people and horses. Designated by the United Nations, the day recognises the horse’s contribution to agriculture, transport, sport, culture, and human history. The date also coincides with Mongolia’s famous Naadam Festival, a fitting reminder of how deeply horses remain woven into communities around the world.

For equine vets, nurses, and horse owners, World Horse Day is also a moment to reflect on equine welfare and the tools that help deliver the highest standards of care. Among those tools, portable ultrasound has become one of the most valuable additions to modern equine medicine.

From routine reproductive work to urgent tendon injuries, portable ultrasound allows clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions while keeping the horse in a familiar environment.

Why ultrasound matters in equine practice

Horses present unique challenges for veterinary care; they are large animals, they often live outdoors, and transporting them to a clinic can be stressful, time consuming, and sometimes risky. Portable ultrasound creates an elegant solution to all of these challenges.

Modern equine portable ultrasound systems allow high quality imaging to be performed in the stable, the yard, or at the competition venue, supporting both general healthcare and urgent care, including:

• Monitoring pregnancy and reproductive health
• Investigating lameness and soft tissue injuries
• Assessing tendons and ligaments during rehabilitation
• Evaluating abdominal or thoracic problems in emergency cases
• Guiding clinical decision making quickly and safely in the field

Importantly, today’s technology means that effective ultrasound is no longer limited to large referral hospitals. High quality imaging is now available across a wide range of budgets, making it accessible to mixed practices, and growing independent clinics.

A practical starting point: the KX5600v

For practices looking for a reliable entry point into equine ultrasound, the ScanX KX5600v has become a popular choice.

The KX5600v combines durability with impressive image quality. Its lightweight 4.5 kg design makes it easy to carry between calls, while the 64 channel multifrequency transducer technology helps produce clear diagnostic images for tendon, ligament, and general soft tissue examinations.

Key features include:

• 10.4 inch high resolution LED display with excellent contrast for outdoor use
• Backlit keyboard for scanning in dark stables or during emergency visits
• Adjustable screen brightness for changing field conditions
• Multiple probe options, including a linear probe suitable for equine musculoskeletal work

One reason the KX5600v stands out is its value for money– at under £2,000, it gives many practices access to dependable imaging without a major investment. For routine tendon monitoring, rehabilitation checks, and first line lameness investigations, it offers capability that far exceeds what many clinicians expect at this price point.

The mobile equine vet’s favourite: the SIUI CTS 800

When portability is the top priority, the SIUI CTS 800 is often the machine that gets mentioned first. Weighing less than 1 kg, it is exceptionally easy to carry during a full day of visits.

The CTS 800 is particularly well suited to equine reproductive work thanks to its dedicated linear rectal probe options:

• L5FVC 64 mm 4 to 6.2 MHz for a larger footprint and lower frequency imaging
• L7FVC 50 mm 6.5 to 9 MHz for a smaller footprint and higher frequency detail

Although the CTS 800 cannot be fitted with a dedicated tendon probe, many equine vets successfully adapt the rectal probe for tendon examinations, making it a remarkably versatile budget option.

Additional practical features include:

• 7 inch LCD monitor
• Optional goggles to overcome glare, bright sunlight, or dirt on the screen
• Rugged construction suitable for daily mobile practice

If you are looking for a capable equine ultrasound system at under £3,000, the CTS 800 demonstrates that portability and performance do not have to come with a premium price tag.

Future proof imaging with the EVO III

For equine practices that rely on ultrasound every day, the EVO III Portable Veterinary Ultrasound represents a significant step forward in both imaging quality and efficiency. Weighing in at just 2.9 kg, the EVO III is built for demanding conditions while delivering high definition imaging across a wide range of equine applications.

Where the EVO III excels in equine care

• Reproductive imaging with the advanced eCLi6 hybrid rectal probe, designed for superior equine and bovine reproductive examinations.
• Musculoskeletal assessment using high resolution broadband probes from 2 to 14 MHz for tendons, ligaments, and superficial structures.
• Emergency field work with a rugged, splash resistant housing and field swappable batteries that keep scanning uninterrupted during busy ambulatory days.
• Outdoor visibility thanks to the sealed 8.4 inch sunlight readable LED display, with optional video headsets for bright summer yards or low light stable work.

The EVO III also streamlines communication and case management. Features such as Wi Fi image sharing, Bluetooth remote control, and DICOM compatibility make it easier to consult with colleagues, share findings with referral centres, and maintain organised patient records.

Rather than forcing clinicians to navigate complex settings, the system uses veterinary specific exam presets. The operator selects the probe, chooses the species or examination type, and begins scanning immediately. All of these thoughtful features combine to make a system that really feels like its designed exactly for purpose- streamlining consultations in a busy equine practice and reliably producing impressive images.

Pricing for the EVO III is available on request, allowing the ScanX team to tailor the configuration and probe package to the practice’s specific requirements

Technology that supports faster decisions

The common theme across all three systems is accessibility. Whether a practice is purchasing its first equine scanner or investing in a premium mobile platform, there is now a practical option that supports excellent clinical standards without compromising portability.

At ScanX, our aim is simple: to help every veterinary practice find the right ultrasound system for its workload, budget, and long term goals. Whether that means a dependable KX5600v, a highly portable CTS 800, or the advanced EVO III platform, our team is always happy to provide friendly, knowledgeable guidance.