Evaluating the quality of forum advice

How do you know whether someone who responds to your posts is giving good advice (or bad advice)?
Should you always call your vet - about weight, feed rationing, fitness programmes, etc?
Thoughts, please?
S
grin.gif
 
I

ISHmad

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2007
Messages
5,140
Visit site
It's great to get lots of different views on things as you pick up new ideas etc. If it was something medical it would be the vet for me every time, no matter what advice I received on any Forum not just this one.

When it came to fittening I probably would take note of advice from off here given the experienced people on here who need their horses at the height of their fitness for evening, hunting or whatever.

Really would depend on what the issue was.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's great to get lots of different views on things as you pick up new ideas etc. If it was something medical it would be the vet for me every time, no matter what advice I received on any Forum not just this one.
<font color="blue"> My vet diagnosed my 19yo TB with both heart and lung failure, in addition to a brain tumour. Should I PTS, do you think? Or could he be wrong? </font>
When it came to fittening I probably would take note of advice from off here given the experienced people on here who need their horses at the height of their fitness for evening, hunting or whatever.

[/ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue">How do you know who the 'experienced' people are?
I am interested in your replies - not just being argumentative
smile.gif
</font>
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I go purely and simply off whether I like their avatar or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL!!!

I love asking other peoples opinions, i thrive on as much knowledge as i can get and as many answers as possible.

I know when to sift the good stuff from conversations and ignore the useless info (I do use my brain at times!)

I know when to post a thread or call a vet and generally i take peoples advice into my own knowledge and adapt or use what i feel fit.
grin.gif
 
Most of the above is common sense, I research which feeeds to use by ringing feed companies, looking on the back of feed bags or asking others opinions.
General fitness programmes are often covered in books and magazines and I would be happy to take advice from people on here and just use what I think is useful but if my horse was recovering from an injury I would speak to my vet.
If my horse was obese or very underweight I would also get him/her checked out by a vet and ask their advice about ways to safely gain/loose weight.
But I'm a a bit of a paranoid owner who wants to do everything perfectly
laugh.gif

Saying that one of mine has just come down with laminitis despite being turned out in a muzzle and being the correct condition for the first time since I've had her (She was very underweight and has been very overweight for a number of years until this year)
 
interesting, its a bit like asking someone at the yard for their advice , I listen but it doesn't mean I will actually follow their instructions if I don't agree with them.

Vets give good general advice on most things but they are not going to know your horse and sometimes other peoples ideas and views can help. The vet isn't god (or the Lord of the underworld in your case!)
grin.gif
 
Interesting question. If I ask for advice I usually have an idea about what I'm going to do so I suppose it's more of a second opinion I'm looking for
smile.gif


There are people on here who seem to have more experience in certain areas than I do so I do value their opinion.
smile.gif
 
I like to ask on here because of the anonymity - no-one knows me or my horses, so may have less preconceived ideas about us. And it's always good to see if anyone comes up with a new idea for sorting a problem out. There's a fair chance that someone else will have had similar problems.

Anything minor regarding vet type stuff I would ask here, but anything major I would have the vet out. Again, chances are someones encountered the problem before and can offer some advice in either situation.

Ultimately, I think we all have to make our own decisions, but a bit of friendly advice or information can help.
smile.gif
 
I have formed my own opinions over the years of who is experienced, expert or enthusiatic amateur. Of course all answers are welcome but I do tend to sift according to what I know about the forum member
 
It's the same as asking people on the yard. You listen to some advice and discard others. The best thing about the forum is that there are more people on the forum than on the yard so you can get more information from a more diverse range of people. I've found it invaluable but at the end of the day you can make your own mind up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I go purely and simply off whether I like their avatar or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am with Brighteyes ... as I love her Avatar and she talks sense
grin.gif
 
If I had my own horse (I don't, I share) for any health issues I would consult a vet always. I know very little about horses so I would always listen to more experienced people as well. I am really interested to learn. On this forum I would take advice from anyone who was kind enough to give it to me. Some people here like Shils, henryhorn, tia and wheezy seem very knowledgable and I always think that JM07 gives blunt, unsentimental but honest advice.
However as a numpty my questions are usually so basic, such as which way do I sit on a horse, facing front or back, that I do not usually get advice from them!!!!
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I go purely and simply off whether I like their avatar or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Man - thats why no one listens to me - I'm sigless.
frown.gif
wink.gif


I like hearing new ideas and suggestions... but I think its hard to ever give perfect advice because we never really fully understand or know the horse or situation. This is why I would take the advice of vet, trainer or people who know me and the horse first. I do listen to each comment though and apply were approirate (YES... I know that isn't spelt correctly - sorry)). Why I don't often find myself posting asking for a online lesson - pictures can be so far wrong sometimes - to start with we pick the ones we look best in
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

<font color="blue">How do you know who the 'experienced' people are?
smile.gif
</font>
S
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

You don´t, unless you know the forum member.
I agree with mother_hen.
Besides, I don´t think anyone will give advise which will be harmful to the horse.
 
Not only do you have to work out who is experienced or not, but you have to weed out the ones who are trying to flog their product!
smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not only do you have to work out who is experienced or not, but you have to weed out the ones who are trying to flog their product!
smirk.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Loooooooooool

I ditto Mother Hen
 
Along the sames lines as Mother Hen.

Whatever someone says - it is JUST their opinion and lets face it this forum can be extremely opinionated
smile.gif
, it's up to you whether you take it or not, your own gut instinct should come first.

There are defo some forum members that I would take advice from and value their comments but at the other end of the scale there are defo some that I just find plain arrogant, rude, think their opinion is gospel and pretty much just like the sound of their own voice, so just ignore them
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

You don´t, unless you know the forum member.
I agree with mother_hen.
Besides, I don´t think anyone will give advise which will be harmful to the horse.

[/ QUOTE ]

you'd be surprised, a vet recommended my friend fed her laminitic 3kg oatsd a while back...
 
I have obtained great benefit from eg recommendation for certain products, behavioural/schooling issues etc but would be wary of accepting advice on veterinary issue. A call to the vet costs nothing usually and the peace of mind is immense.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have obtained great benefit from eg recommendation for certain products, behavioural/schooling issues etc but would be wary of accepting advice on veterinary issue. A call to the vet costs nothing usually and the peace of mind is immense.

[/ QUOTE ]

Last time I phoned my vet for advice (after a £3700 op on a horse) it took them three weeks to call me back.
S
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top