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My preference is to vaccinate in the chest, as although you get more horses form a bit of swelling they're very rarely overly sore with it. I think they swell more there as there's less muscle movement and gravity allows fluid to build up, unlike the neck or hind quarters which are constantly...

It's not against the code of conduct to refuse a PTS if the animal is not suffering... I've refused to put horses down before, on two occasions (totalling 9 ponies), when the owner has been in hysterics and under pressure to 'get rid' of all of their horses due to an unfortunate turn of life...

What a lovely looking horse! I know of another exracer called Eagle (also chestnut) and he is a star, hopefully yours follows suit!

We had the discussion at work just a few weeks ago that it seems like more owners are PTSing horses who are not able to be ridden, rather than just retiring them. Can only assume cost must be coming in to it somewhere. I'm certainly not in any rush to go back up to two horses having lost Baby...

A palmar-digital neurectomy (to remove sensation to the feet)? Generally we charge between £1500-2000 + some for follow up bandaging for this, but it willl vary depending upon where in the country you are, size of horse etc.

My young TB was crooked also, really hard to get her to bend to the left. I thought at first it was just me, as I am weaker down my left side, but I don't have this issue on any other horse I ride... Eventually she'd give and begin bending a bit, but it was a constant issue at the start of any...

Is he good to syringe? If he’s a bit needle shy etc then it could be worth getting a tube of domosedan to make him a bit snoozy beforehand, so its less stressful all round for you (not nice if your last memories of him are him panicking about being injected)

Is he good to syringe? If he’s a bit needle shy etc then it could be worth getting a tube of domosedan to make him a bit snoozy beforehand, so its less stressful all round for you (not nice if your last memories of him are him panicking about being injected)

An export health cert is not the same as a vetting/pre purchase exam - for exports all we check is that the horse doesn’t show signs of infectious disease, is the correct horse with the correct documentation and isn’t going to drop dead on the transporter. No trot ups, flexion tests, eye exam...

They definitely got into trouble about it previously (3-4 years ago) but I can’t remember the exact details. maybe they have subsequently tidied up their act. Either way, still illegal. I’m not agreeing with the massive drug company profits either, but at least it goes through the proper channels.

Also illegal to import into the UK and have been in trouble lots of time with the american equivalent of our VMD, for their products not containing what they're supposed to contain... So please don't! Omeprazole injections are in the region of ~£180-200 per bottle at the moment, a standard...

The problem is a wound on the actual point of the hock (i.e. not just elsewhere on the hock) is very different to a wound elsewhere/on the non-flexy bits of the limb - every time the horse takes a step it will flex it and keep reopening it. Unfortunately 3 year olds don't like to stand still...

I have a trusty old Marlborough - it's not fancy and has needed bits and bobs sorting over the years but we paid £10k for it about 6 years ago and the horse area is solid. Mine doesn't have full height/stallion partitions, but I only transport experienced travellers in it, and it's high enough...

KBIS catastrophe cover would be a good one for if you have the funds for a weekend stitch up etc, but not for colic surgery, joint flushes etc. For a youngster however I'd probably just get a quote for full cover as it may not be much more than the catastophe cover (mine wasn't for the 5yr...

I'm a vet and probably do ~50 pre purchase exams per year, I think it was about 80 in 2020... I've had several that people have still bought a horse that's failed the vetting (occasionally abysmally). The best reason yet for this was 'well I've driven all the way here with the box, so I might as...

I’ve just lost my youngster and there’s no way currently I could afford to replace her, so I’m just going to have to try to save what she would have cost me each month, and then maybe in a year or so I might be able to have another…In the meantime I have a few offers of things to ride/break, so...

If she is really stuck she could contact the BTRC up near Lancaster, as it may cost her more than he is sellable for in schooling livery if he is very green (although with the price of horses at the moment maybe not!) They’re also in a good position for if there are any physical issues.

Flip flops for in the showers! They were grotty last time I went to houghton (but it was very wet that year). Also loads of shampoo, as the soil is where the stables are on was quite sandy and every morning our horse would be filthy 😂 also alllll the snacks, and best of luck!

I personally wouldn't rush for a stronger bit - he may well have never been ridden in anything 'more' than a snaffle and so the response you may get to a bit of a check on something stronger could well not be the one you want! Both of my exracers are in lozenge type snaffles which they like...

Time and practice - and the individual horse! When I used to ride out all 'my' horses (the two year olds) used to be able to be ridden with soft hands, as they'd not learnt to grab and pull, but I think I'd have died on some of the older sprinters if I didn't have a strong hold on them. With the...

Here's Wilbs turned out as a small riding horse type (tweed, coloured browband) for a county RoR class. We did also occasionally show as a hack type (navy jacket, coloured browband) as he is smaller/finer than a lot of TBs, but *most* of the other riders would be in tweed at county level. Enjoy...

Bronson was the first one we saw - I think as a 12 year old child I was just so thrilled that my parents had said yes to having a pony we'd have taken anything home! Did have him on loan for 7 months before buying though. Wilby was the 6th horse I went to see, 5th horse I got on. We only really...

I've been asked (whilst at a yard already, thankfully I did not have to drive specially for this) to look at a 'lump underneath this mare'. It was a penis. I'm not sure what they thought was going on...

^ All of this! Especially regarding the turnout - not all horses are happy to live out, so keep your horse in the routine she is happiest with. Corn oil added to the diet (50ml per meal) can be helpful too.

Are you sure it's a heave line? I have seen some ventral oedema cases look quite similar in hairy ponies - give the underneath her belly a prod and see if it's squishy and indentable (like memory foam). Either way it's worth speaking to your vet about it again, fingers crossed.

I'm still waiting for the 'easy' horse to find out which I prefer - something tells me I'd find it a bit dull though! A happy in the middle is nice, not too talented that it's wasted with me and my very amateur ambitions, with a brain and a bit of spark but not going to hospitalise me...

If he's gone that lame (to the point of being toe touching) is it not worth seeing if your own vet or farrier will come out to check for an abscess tomorrow? As if there is an abscess then that will muddy the waters more for your full lameness work up, if not then at least you've ruled it...

If a freelance groom and his staying at home isn't an option, could you turn out in a grazing muzzle to reduce his grass intake whilst he is away?

I tuck my hand up the inside of the headcollar (left hand for if it's the right eye, and vice versa) which can then both sort of hold the head still and open the eyelids.

My little TB would agree with Patches of Sunlight actually being Pits of Hell. He also hates all different coloured bits of floor, which used to make eventing tests more interesting if they'd mowed out the centre line; we'd be exceptionally straight up it, but then proceed to spook and leap...