Recent content by fburton

  1. fburton

    OK to go to work if you can keep social distancing.....

    Or time alone at work, in the relatively rare cases where this is possible. (Getting to that work must also not involve opportunities for cross-infection, obviously - so that would rule out public transport. And proper precautions re handwashing etc. when getting into and out of work.)
  2. fburton

    Defensive horse (kicking, biting)

    Yes, Sarah Weston has done a lot of good work with semi-feral Exmoors. Her book is excellent, imo.
  3. fburton

    The New Agricultural Bill has been published and will effect us all.

    Environment secretary votes against his own proposals to protect post-Brexit food standards https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/george-eustice-brexit-food-standards-1-6549261 "When Eustice was on the backbenches back in 2019 he tabled an amendment to the Agriculture Bill to try to...
  4. fburton

    Catching/headcollaring a nervous yearling

    Hopefully OP is not still trying to catch a 7yo...
  5. fburton

    Thrush treatment

    I thought the idea was to kill the bacteria, not feed it! :p
  6. fburton

    Thrush treatment

    Under advice from a vet, I have used a dilute (3%, or maybe it was 5%) solution of formalin as used in sheep footbaths - squirted into the affected crevices of the hoof, and kept well away from skin. It was very effective in knocking the thrush on the head and also hardened and dried up that...
  7. fburton

    How Important Is Routine?

    I think you hit the nail on the head, Red-1.
  8. fburton

    How Important Is Routine?

    I remember one yard which adhered to a feeding routine that was performed with almost military precision. The evening feed was a time of great commotion - horses shouting, running around boxes, and some stereotypic behaviours. Was it the strict routine that caused the stressy behaviour, or...
  9. fburton

    Who rolls first?

    Quite a lot of simple commonsense there. However, one statement piqued my interest... Sarah says: “The most socially confident horses in a group usually make their scent marks last. This includes being the last to roll, often in a favourite spot and near access points including gateways in a...
  10. fburton

    Some of the best horsemanship you'll see

    Erm... :D I'm sure there's at least one important lesson in that! :P
  11. fburton

    Who rolls first?

    I see what you mean, yes it does look like that! :) The photo was taken ages ago (late 1980s) at the blood bank near Falkirk, when all the horses were turned out over the summer.
  12. fburton

    Who rolls first?

    Rollfest... (you'd think the grey would be first?!)
  13. fburton

    Who rolls first?

    I like the itchy theory! :D Frankly, I think that if people think in terms of hierarchy they will be able to see evidence for it wherever they look. A decade or so ago, when notions of hierarchy and dominance were more popular amongst horse owners than they appear to be now, almost any...
  14. fburton

    Parelli, Monty Roberts and Clicker training

    Wholeheartedly agree.
  15. fburton

    Parelli, Monty Roberts and Clicker training

    Point of information... 'Intelligent Horsemanship' is Monty Roberts / Kelly Marks, not Parelli which is 'Parelli Natural Horsemanship' (PNH). They are quite different beasts, one considerably harsher than the other.
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