Hi all!
The folks at my barn are already talking tick control for our horses. As suggested by a farrier someone brought up Cylence. Upon my googling I've found that it's first and foremost a product for cattle. I was hoping that maybe someone here has heard of it, and if so can provide some opinions for better or worse. TIA!
Almost a year ago I rehomed a 14 year old Quarter Horse, Quest, (and his best friend a donkey) from a couple who had sold their country house. Mainly to be companions for my 18 year old QH mare, Showdown.
I use to breakaway rope with Showdown. Then just trail riding for a number of years and lately I've been trying to get her into play day / saddle club speed events. But she has been developing arthritis. Not bad enough to keep from riding her really. She gets a supplement. She's still fast on the straight but she doesn't flex as well as she use to above a trot. I think she might be as good as she's going to get. Which was 2-3 seconds behind the leaders at a show I went to on Saturday.
When I picked up Quest a year ago, I was told it had been 6 months since he was last ridden. Then it became a year. Then maybe two years... So who knows. Plus the year he's been fat and happy being a lawn ornament for me. His previous owners only used him for occasional trail rides and pony ride. They also decided he became lame, and stopped riding him at all, but never took him to the vet for x-rays. I did see a couple off steps when I first met him but haven't seen a single limp since bringing him home. And now that I'm getting him trimmed on regular, the cracks in his worst hoof are almost gone. My farrier agrees that he does not appear to be lame. Grandfather generation back, Quest does have some high point QHs in his family tree for performance.
I guess I'm just wondering about getting "my money's worth" on spending $500 to send him to a trainer when he's already 15. And probably with a several month waiting list. I'm not really at a point that I would try getting on him myself as I lack anything but my field to ride him in. And I know a bad experience getting back under saddle could make it more difficult if I do send him to a trainer. At the same time, my budget for looking to add to the herd would only be about $1,000-1,500 at the moment. Which around here could get me a fairly young and decent horse. Maybe not trained for barrels and poles but knows how to ride and has potential. I would just have to keep my eye on the sales and be picky.
Hi,
So ever since I was 6 or 7 a family friend took me to some stables (can't remember why) but ever since then I've wanted to learn to ride, eventually leading to big jumps (hopefully), I'm not afraid of learning because of fear, I'm actually quite a thrillseeker, it's just got such a gender stereotype which put me off.
Fast forward 13ish years and the craving is still there, again Idk if it would be weird a guy taking lessons surrounded by girls.
I'm a straight male, it really shouldn't matter since sexual preference shouldn't affect your hobbies but there's such a stigma attached to it, kinda sad really.
Just think it'd be a waste going through life not doing something you obviously really wanna do simply because of gender.
I'm in the UK if it helps.
Cheers
If you board, please be sure your barn manager can handle a crisis. Sadly, I learned the hard way that not having good crisis management and communication makes the situation much worse. If you barn manager is difficult on a good day, it's a clear indication that a crisis will not be handled well. Find a different barn.
Don't think it can't happen to you. My horse was properly vaccinated and still contracted it. The vaccine is not even close to 100% effective (some numbers put it at 60%).
Trust your instincts and trust your vet. There will be a lot of noise and misinformation. There will be panic. Stay focused, try to block out the noise, and do what you need to do per your vet's instructions.
People will treat you like a pariah, even you are the victim in the situation. My horse was infected by another horse on the property and many of the other boarders have turned their backs on me.
Read and understand your boarding contract. Ask questions. Don't just blindly sign it. Our barn manager terminated ours even though we have no where to go and can't leave the property because we are quarantined, thereby releasing herself from any responsibility to care for our horses when we need it the most. Specifically ask how they would handle an outbreak, what their plan is to handle one, and then make sure that plan is executed. Don't wait to have an outbreak to make a plan - its far too late by then.
Make sure you barn has a communication protocol: everyone should have everyone else's cell phone numbers and/or emails. Everyone should receive the same messages at the same time. The game of telephone is a disaster in this situation.
Good, clear and immediate communication is the key. Delays and misinformation have dire consequences.
If your horse was vaccinated the vaccine manufacturer may reimburse your veterinary expenses if your horse contracts it. Push your vet's office to pursue that.
Make sure your barn is taking over-the-top bio precautions. If you don't feel they are doing enough, step up and insist.
I hope this helps and you can all learn from my mistakes.
