How is this vet allowed to conduct themselves like this online?
- Thread starter AWinter
- Start date
JenJ
Well-Known Member
I confess that 10 years ago, it was the first time I had my own field and my own stables and the freedom to do as I wished with regards to turnout, and I meticulously planned, 12 days out from clock change, a bring-in time 5 minutes later each day so they wouldn't be waiting at the gate when BST ended 
It was less than a month after that until I was bringing in as soon as I was able to leave the office that day, which was anytime between 5pm-11pm!
It was less than a month after that until I was bringing in as soon as I was able to leave the office that day, which was anytime between 5pm-11pm!
eggs
Well-Known Member
We were always taught that horses need routine BUT experience has shown me that you get more problems with stressed horses if you have a strict routine that then gets broken one day because, well, life happens. Mine know that they get ridden and that when I then go into the feed room afterwards they are going to get fed. It doesn't really matter to them if that is at 2:00 pm or 6:00 pm or 9:00 pm. They have hay and only a small hard feed which is mainly fibre. Three of the horses are working at advanced dressage but don't get a big grain feed.
Many years ago I went to a Mark Todd lecture demo and he made a point of saying that he did not have his horses in a strict routine as that doesn't cater for competing when you have to fit in around times, etc. Made sense to me
Many years ago I went to a Mark Todd lecture demo and he made a point of saying that he did not have his horses in a strict routine as that doesn't cater for competing when you have to fit in around times, etc. Made sense to me
AWinter
Well-Known Member
It’s so stupid, I don’t know why people think this vet knows anything about equine behaviour, she is anti-science most of the time. As with anything these are human created problems, when you make sure your horse’s needs are met without your presence feed time becomes a very calm affair. My horses live in a small herd with a barn/paddock type situation where they can come and go as they please. They have adlib hay and although they are at the gate when I arrive as they’re looking forward to breakfast, it is not frantic and I’ve actually watched on the camera that this only happens when they hear my car coming up the drive.
Interestingly on the days my dad does them, he just puts fresh hay out then has his own breakfast before eventually giving the bucket feeds at 9/10ish. The horses are fine with this, they just mooch.
But sure if your horse is stood hungry and bored waiting for you to show up they will be stressed, especially when they’re not having their social and emotional needs met the rest of the time. So many horses are living in a chronic state of stress.
She’s just campaigning for absolute nonsense topics while trying to justify her horse’s obvious stress in their training. People baffle me, worried about changing the feed time by ten minutes but using draw reins and spurring your horse is fine. Which one do you think causes more stress?
Interestingly on the days my dad does them, he just puts fresh hay out then has his own breakfast before eventually giving the bucket feeds at 9/10ish. The horses are fine with this, they just mooch.
But sure if your horse is stood hungry and bored waiting for you to show up they will be stressed, especially when they’re not having their social and emotional needs met the rest of the time. So many horses are living in a chronic state of stress.
She’s just campaigning for absolute nonsense topics while trying to justify her horse’s obvious stress in their training. People baffle me, worried about changing the feed time by ten minutes but using draw reins and spurring your horse is fine. Which one do you think causes more stress?
Cloball
Well-Known Member
I'm interested where traditions and accepted knowledge comes from regarding the routine.being necessary was it because large amounts of grain were fed and it not received at a certain time the horses stressed and therefore it was assumed the routine was necessary?
teapot
Well-Known Member
Eh?
How many equine vets do you know who spend a weekday morning training or competing on a regular basis? The venues she frequents are a good hour each way too.
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druid
Well-Known Member
To be fair, I do but I'm also my own boss so easier done!
ester
Not slacking multitasking
ones that work nights
obv doesn't apply here.teapot
Well-Known Member
Would any employed equine vet be able to do it, compared to self employed? Ie would the schedule allow, aside from only working on call/nights?
ones that work nights
Well yes, was thinking equine only tbf.
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Gamebird
Well-Known Member
Sure, you just use annual leave, as in any other job. Would require a lot of planning ahead though as AL requests often need to go in weeks in advance.
slimjim86
Well-Known Member
Not to mention admitting in 1 post that her horses saddles didn't fit, never occurred to her that this might be the reason for their bad behaviour. No of course not that was just coz they are well bred sports horses and she had to teach them a lesson, bring on the draw reins to do that!! Woman is a danger to any horse owners that listen to her!!!It’s so stupid, I don’t know why people think this vet knows anything about equine behaviour, she is anti-science most of the time. As with anything these are human created problems, when you make sure your horse’s needs are met without your presence feed time becomes a very calm affair. My horses live in a small herd with a barn/paddock type situation where they can come and go as they please. They have adlib hay and although they are at the gate when I arrive as they’re looking forward to breakfast, it is not frantic and I’ve actually watched on the camera that this only happens when they hear my car coming up the drive.
Interestingly on the days my dad does them, he just puts fresh hay out then has his own breakfast before eventually giving the bucket feeds at 9/10ish. The horses are fine with this, they just mooch.
But sure if your horse is stood hungry and bored waiting for you to show up they will be stressed, especially when they’re not having their social and emotional needs met the rest of the time. So many horses are living in a chronic state of stress.
She’s just campaigning for absolute nonsense topics while trying to justify her horse’s obvious stress in their training. People baffle me, worried about changing the feed time by ten minutes but using draw reins and spurring your horse is fine. Which one do you think causes more stress?
PurpleSpots
Well-Known Member
Eh?
Ah, sorry, reading with different eyes I can see that the context behind my flippancy may not've been clear.
I wasn't suggesting she's not qualified, but that her whole ethos behind being a vet is so far removed from most other vets. Hence why even those who are vets themselves can't understand why she does and writes the things she does, because most would have an ethos and an approach which is so totally different. I think it was my way of jokingly saying 'Don't worry about not being able to work it out, the framework behind it is so fundamentally different that reason will never be able to explain it'.
Not sure if that helps to explain or confuses the issue more though!
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Well for a start most other vets base their advice and opinions on actual evidence from research
PurpleSpots
Well-Known Member
Well for a start most other vets base their advice and opinions on actual evidence from research
And most other vets want their chosen species to live better, happier, calmer, more species-appropriate lives...
hock
Well-Known Member
This lady blocked me for asking questions. I can’t remember what the questions were at the time but I was so shocked. Oh I think it was about someone who had offended her and I think they were saying sorry but she wanted a pound of flesh which I thought was unfair. But my words were quite lively in her defence. The tides have changed it seemed.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
She blocked me & several others just for liking a comment that disagreed with her.
hock
Well-Known Member
Could have been mine
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
The comment related to her & her followers jumping on a business, but had got the wrong business & were hideously slating the wrong person.Could have been mine
PurpleSpots
Well-Known Member
'...one had been on daily pain relief for arthritis for over a year, but still didn’t want to lie down to sleep.'
Horses can only get REM sleep lying down. They need at least 30 minutes but up to 60 minutes of REM sleep, only achievable while lying down, per day to avoid becoming sleep-deprived.
Why is SV publicly implying that a client of hers was effectively sleep-deprived for a year?
And why is she not educating the 4k+ people who've liked the post on REM sleep requirements of a horse but instead using the situation for her own gain in the form of 'likes' and comments?
Horses can only get REM sleep lying down. They need at least 30 minutes but up to 60 minutes of REM sleep, only achievable while lying down, per day to avoid becoming sleep-deprived.
Why is SV publicly implying that a client of hers was effectively sleep-deprived for a year?
And why is she not educating the 4k+ people who've liked the post on REM sleep requirements of a horse but instead using the situation for her own gain in the form of 'likes' and comments?
scats
Well-Known Member
I have a mare who sustained a head and jaw injury due to REM sleep deprivation when she changed routine (it happened twice, same time of year). She moved a double stable brick wall she hit it that hard.
I wish people had more understanding of how dangerous REM sleep deprivation can be. I’m very lucky that Polly escaped as unscathed as she did.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
That would be a red line for me, especially if still doing it on bute. I can't believe she doesn't think it was a welfare issue
Cloball
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure I'd want my vet posting all about the worst day on social media for clout.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Didn't she go a post a while ago basically saying she doesn't agree with putting old horses down just because they are old, or something to that effect?
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
Aye. Then put her very elderly horse through an awful lot of treatment.
suestowford
Well-Known Member
There is a pony here who has been on daily Bute for arthritis, for years now. He is 27 years old.
He does still lie down (it is one of the things I particularly watch out for) but I have to admit when he's flat out I often think, oh no he's gone. Because one day soon, he might very well just not wake up. That little flicker of fear, every time I see him looking so comfy, it's very unsettling!
He does still lie down (it is one of the things I particularly watch out for) but I have to admit when he's flat out I often think, oh no he's gone. Because one day soon, he might very well just not wake up. That little flicker of fear, every time I see him looking so comfy, it's very unsettling!
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Me too. Then I have a word with myself and think it would be a lovely way to go actually.
suestowford
Well-Known Member
Yes, it would be. And I hope when he does go it is as peaceful as that would be, however it happens.
cauda equina
Well-Known Member
Another weirdly jarring post by everyone's favourite vet
'I've just pts 2 old horses. And here's Me on My Horse, go us!'
'I've just pts 2 old horses. And here's Me on My Horse, go us!'
JenJ
Well-Known Member
As a trivial aside, did anyone watch the video of her and Mabel 'singing'? I watched the first ten seconds or so of it and it's actually quite cute - her horses are generally very affectionate with her. She REALLY can't sing though!
ElleSkywalkingintheair
As excited as Kitty about to be a bridesmaid
And referred to putting elderly and infirm horses down as 'killing' them......the irony