Recent content by Charley

Gabapentin works for nerve pain, bute and finadyne don't. But Gabapentin is not licenced for horses, is hugely expensive and you need to use a lot of it. Acupuncture worked for my horse with nerve pain.

OP as far as I can see you have still not answered the question of whether you have reported the trainer and your concerns to the appropriate authorities? If you haven't you should perhaps spend some time doing that rather than making vague and pointless accusations about the world of racing on...

You mention he’s bum high and ask if you should back off the ridden work. I’m kind of hoping that’s a joke question coming from you – he's growing, he’s even more unbalanced, he’s weak. Why would anyone continue to ride a croup high baby horse that is so...

Hahaha too true.

YO will do nothing, she did nothing last time. I'm gobsmacked the many vets haven't reported her as a welfare issue, which it clearly is. I'd suggest getting WHW or RSPCA involved is the only way forward. It should be pointed out to YO that as well as the owner she can be held legally...

This is almost too big a question to answer simply! Personal experience tells me: NFU - good with paying out but hike premiums hugely after you've made a claim, exclusions are hard to lift. AmTrust - used to have a cap on the diagnostics part of vets fees claims of just £1500. No idea if...

Micronised Linseed (powdered form) is much cheaper and also a better spec to feed than the oil form. It's very cheap, it gives your horse an amazing coat, it's good for joints and stomachs, and provides safe calories for weight gain without any fizz. Can't beat it IMO.

But the starting point though has to be low starch, low sugar and ad lib hay. Princesssparkle yours sounds an unusual case. Sure the above might not work but it's a good place to start before playing around with the specifics.

Yes it is possible for cereals to be in the feed but for it to have a low starch content, sugar content is also important though so make sure you get those figures too. The combined starch/sugar content should be under 10% if at all possible (lower the better). Alfalfa is good - how about...

Think I replied on your other one too :D I think starch and sugar content under 10% is acceptable, basically the lower the better. Avoid sugar (so carrots/polos) and basically go with the feed that has the most fibre and the lowest cereal/sugar content. And i'm sure you know ad lib hay (avoid...

Sounds like she needs to be checked by a vet - her age and being a fussy eater wouldn't account for such drastic weight loss and inability to put on condition.

You need to try and avoid cereal feeds and high starch feeds, try and find forage based feeds and use oil if you need calories. You don't say whether your horse is a good doer or a poor doer? I have my ulcer prone TB on TopSpec balancer and chaff, with added micronised linseed and Yea Sacc...

Well no one else has mentioned it but I will - he doesn't look happy or chilled to me, he looks sore. In some of the trot he doesn't look entirely sound. His tail swishing also suggests he's not very happy. Really really difficult situation in that you only loan him and presumably the RS like...

Have a look at Shoe Secure. Apparently they work very well to prevent horses over reaching and pulling shoes in the field. http://www.britisheventing.com/page.asp?section=1036&sectionTitle=Scottish+Event+Organiser+turns+entrepeneur!

Ooooh this is just what happened a few years ago - people started panic buying and as a result prices shot right up and didn't then fall again. Clearly this rain is affecting the hay crop but panic buying is absolutely the worst thing you can all do.