Sniffing random horses whilst out hacking?

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

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Do you let your horse stop to sniff a random horse when you're out hacking? ie a horse in a field that you're passing?

I'm all my years of owning my horse, I can't remember ever doing this?

However, I had my mare in clipping her today, as after spending £450 on vet bills, we've finally discovered her issue! RINGWORM! somehow she's contracted ringworm! anyway, I was in the barn and heard my youngster neigh and run across the field, so I looked out, he'd come to see some horses that were passing! One of the girls, on a very young looking TB stopped and let her horse sniff mine! Mine!! I shouted don't let them sniff, he has ringworm (not sure if he could be carrying it from being out with my mare) so the girl pulled her horse away, looking very unfazed by this!!

BUT is this how my mare has ringworm? I'm on a yard totally on my own, not other horses or cattle anywhere near!

So does anyone ever do what this lady done? She is not the only one, I've seen people do it before, so I've put a sign up to say the horses bite!!
 
I let mine stop and look if he wants to when we are hacking - where there are horses round me it's very quiet or off road so can do this safely but don't let him touch them, purely incase he gets something from them. (Or even gives them something!)
 
Nope because you never know what germs they might have! Or if they squeal and strike out I wouldn't want to be responsible for legs getting caught in gates!
 
No I would never let my horse sniff another out hacking (unless ride and lead as I can't really stop them then!) after working at the vets and seeing some discussing transferable disease/illness I really don't want my horse catching anything! As you never know what other have..... Same at shows!

edit.... When riding and leading I mean I can't stop them sniff each other...not other horses!
 
Never. Never when riding out and definitely not at shows. I have a lot of horses living on my farm and many very young horses and aged horses so no way do I want to bring anything back with me.
 
I'd be too scared of them striking out and getting their leg caught. When I unloaded mine after I got him years ago, I told my mum to hold him while I ran inside to get something and whatever she did, do NOT let him sniff my other horse over the fence. Been inside two seconds and heard a squeal and a bang, next thing you know he's got both his feet caught in the fencing and stuck. Very eventful first day:rolleyes: Also had a friend that let her horse do this out hacking and horse wrecked its leg when struck out and caught its leg in barbed wire. Completely forgot about bringing diseases back as well!
 
Good, thanks, at least now I know I'm not unreasonably Pee'd off!!

Now I'm just annoying myself thinking its someone who's gone passed that has caused my poor mare such stress with this ringworm! She's been so itchy that shes been driving herself mad and has cost me a lot of money! not just the vet bill but trying different shampoos, sprays, treatment, changing her feed!!
 
Ringworm can be serious for humans to! My aunt had it and had to be hospitalised in an isolation zone!! Be careful, use plenty of disinfectant on your self and buy lots of disposable gloves!
 
Surprised you ran up such a vet bill as normally ringworm is easy to diagnose with circular tufted areas of hair, the hair falling out to reveal scaly skin which may become infected, can be accompanied by the formation of pus. Young horses are particularly at risk but will affect horses of all ages. This is a fungal infection and ringworm fungi are able to survive for at least a year in stables, in horse transport and on wooden fences from which horses can pick up infected hairs by rubbing themselves. Horses can also be infected by other animals, grooming kit, tack or clothing. Advice would be to isolate your horse and give him recommended treatment. Also wash all woodwork, tack etc very thoroughly. I remember going to view a lovely welsh pony a few years ago at a livery yard and he was covered in it, I had to tell the seller to get the vet out asap and isolate pony.
 
No, never. It's not just the risk of infection - my mare always squeals and strikes out if she sniffs noses, so I'd rather not take the risk!
There is a bridleway that runs past her field atm, so conceivably people could be letting their horses sniff noses with her although we're so remote that the track isn't that well used (in winter it's inaccessible because of snow and ice for weeks on end). I'm not too worried though, as my mare is quite anti-social and is definitely not the type to charge over to see a strange horse :p
 
Nope always keep about 4ft from gates. Stopping to say hello is ok as I like my horse to meet others from afar unless it looks like they might get a bit excited meeting new neds I'd hate to be responsible for someone's horse getting caught up in a gate. It can be difficult passing others in the lanes as they are narrow devon lanes.
 
No, I never have and never would let mine do this.

Its basically a manners issue, they both know that when they meet other horses and/or we stop for a chat, that they are expected to stand quietly and politely and not "interfere" with other people's noses!

I'm a YO, and have not just got my own horses but other people's to consider as well.

Never worth the risk IMO.
 
This is something that really winds me up! I never let mine do it, but have been out hacking with others who do, who seemed very surprised when I suggested that it was a less than clever idea. There was a local outbreak of stangles last year (or maybe the year before) we are pretty sure that one of the yards was infected because of people allowing their ponies to 'talk' over the wall, becauseit is 'cute' and he likes it :eek:
 
definitely not! I used to let my pony was I younger tbh because i was too young to realise the risk in doing so, but now i wouldn't especially after there was an outbreak of strangles in my area not so long ago
 
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