Recent content by Dry Rot

Just popped in to say the reports of Dry Rot's demise are grossly exaggerated, just getting older and grumpier. I still have a few Highlands (well, five to be exact. I need something to talk to) and nothing is for sale unless it is advertised on my web site (https://www.morrichponies.co.uk) or...

Well, thanks for the thought! I am never unwell (livestock doesn't allow that luxury) but I have recently had a couple of days in hospital. Home again now and back to the usual routine. 28 year old mare (Glentrowan Belina) couldn't get up this morning and gave me a good scare. I had to get the...

I've noticed a tendency for horses to be considered "old" at a much younger age these days. So what about the age of a working stallion? The usual reference books are no help. I have bred pedigree livestock (sheep, dogs, horses) for a few decades and age in a sire is always to good thing. Nature...

The Senior Officer, xxxxx Police Station, xxxxxx, xxxxxxx-shire Dear Sir, Fireworks This evening, at approximately 7pm, I was alarmed by a series of very loud bangs, in quick succession, like to a machine gun, which continued for about 30 seconds. When I went to the back door, I could see...

Well, what a lot of negative comments! I couldn't do without mine! For one, the trailer is permanently backed up to the second gate and everyone gets occasional loading practice. Most self load because there's usually feed in there. A round pen is a moderately confined space so all sorts of...

I have had permanent electrified wire fences here for about 30 years with only one serious accident (12 ponies on average), touch wood. As has been said, wire is OK with a few caveats. The wire I use, and recommended for permanent electric fencing, is high tensile galvanised steel 2.5mm. A...

I now have an estimate from one of the vets I have contacted for the 'routine operation' (castration). So I have two prices, one from an independent and one from the practice owned by big business, within a radius of about 40 miles. I have also discovered that a third practice will still do...

Thank you for the 'welcome back'! It is appreciated!:) I haven't posted on this thread since my first one as I knew the subject would generate a good debate, which it has done. This subject needs to be aired; and probably regulated. My main point was the difficulty in researching and comparing...

Probably of general interest so posting here rather than in veterinary. My vets have been taken over by one of the large vet groups and it seems to me that fees for a routine surgical operations have escalated. I could be wrong but as it seems to be impossible to compare prices so I don't...

Discussed this with a WHW officer recently. Horses need to be able to mutually groom with another horse so it is illegal to keep one on it's own. See item 3 below: Legislation The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals...

I shot my beloved 'Foxy' last night. I had this dog from a pup and she was with me 24 hours a day. She'd been to the vet's who wanted to open her up for exploratory surgery. The x-rays showed nothing conclusive. She had been fussy over her food for weeks, was gradually losing weight, and finally...

Thanks, people, for reminding me why I hardly ever post on this forum these days! School holidays already? I am guessing the 2yo is a Highland. So, starting from scratch, I'd get a soil analysis done to identify any trace element deficiencies. Knowing the OP is a regular, she has already done...

And your experience of foxes and their control is....?

Just an aside from someone who used to control foxes. Snares may not be very humane but they are a lot more humane than the fox that attacks a pregnant ewe incapacitated through being in labour or on it's back. I have seen plenty of cases where foxes have made these attacks by entering at...

I agree with all the above.....to an extent. My three mares and a stallion are in a three acre paddock with ad lib access to hay. The grass would seem to be non-existent. Probably 10mm in height. (See photo below). Yet the ponies are grazing away, in good healthy condition, quite contendedly and...