Strange encounter, how would you react?

How about putting up a sign on the gate saying,

'Question Of The Week;
How can you tell the difference between Strangles and a Sinus Infection ?

Answer. Take your head out of your backside and you may be able to see.

:D:D:D:D
 
Do you think
It's possible for her to be a local horsey that's has been told a pack of lies or has been lead to believe that your horse has strangles
If not I tell her to p*ss right off
And go and crawl back under the rock she came from !!
 
He he, maybe I should invite you all to the yard with me, I hate confrontation, lol.
Glad I'm not over reacting as I've worried enough over the damn thing (infection that is, not the silly bat).
The snot collecting idea made me chuckle as it really is revolting.

Simply tell her your mare has seen the vet, that should reassure her. Nosy old bats can be useful as evenings are drawing in.
 
Oops, didn't expect this thread to still be alive today :)
Hope she didn't see said mare flat out on her side at 6am this morning in the field else she would have definatley feared the worst, lol. (Don't worry she usually sleeps like this, I often pull up to all three of them scattered about looking like they've fallen out of the sky.)
I think if she comes later, which I hope she doesn't, I'll try and explain to her that the horse is receiving vetinary care. If she doesn't listen I'll perhaps shove the snot sponge in her gob....
 
How about putting up a sign on the gate saying,

'Question Of The Week;
How can you tell the difference between Strangles and a Sinus Infection ?

Answer. Take your head out of your backside and you may be able to see.

:D:D:D:D
LOL :D

OP tell her to bugger off and come back when she is a qualified vet!
 
Oops, didn't expect this thread to still be alive today :)
Hope she didn't see said mare flat out on her side at 6am this morning in the field else she would have definatley feared the worst, lol. (Don't worry she usually sleeps like this, I often pull up to all three of them scattered about looking like they've fallen out of the sky.)
I think if she comes later, which I hope she doesn't, I'll try and explain to her that the horse is receiving vetinary care. If she doesn't listen I'll perhaps shove the snot sponge in her gob....

I love horses that play 'asleep or dead', it does enliven a morning when you are trying to work out which it is, doesn't it:D
 
It's the ones that don't get up when you walk over, they're the ones that get the old heart rate up:eek: Happily IME so far, they've all been asleep!
 
Don't you all think you have all been a bit rude? More than a bit actually. OK, the woman was officious, but how often do we have seen posts here saying person Z at my yard has brought strangles on or YO knows we should be in quarantine but 10 people do SJ and refuse to be kept on site so now everyone at the area is being put at risk? At least she spotted the horse had a problem and was concerned, even if it was for purely selfish reason. And she does have a point (although shouldn't haven't have jumped to conclusions about the OPs financial position from their car, obviously) about people who blatently can't afford to keep their horse and let it suffer as a result - we have plenty of posts on that subject too. I would suggest that the OP does indeed put up a sign thanking people for their concern and stating that the vet says it is a sinus infection. Problem solved and no-one's feathers ruffled.
 
I agree with fatpiggy.
The woman behaved badly but you don't have to respond in the same way. Think about what you want out of the encounter (although you didn't want it in the first place). I presume you want her to realise that your horse doesn't have strangles, is being well cared for and that you are a reasonable, competent person - not best achieved by throwing a snotty sponge at her.;) Polite notice on the gate thanking people for their concern and giving the vet's opinion will probably sort her out.
But I would be tempted to get my retaliation in first at the local saddlers/livery yard or where ever gossip is passed on around you by warning them that this woman is scaremongering.;)
 
I havnt read all replies (sorry) have read OP an I really feel for you my little cob had an large lump (size of a tennic ball) under his chin in march this year and of course I was worried it may be strangles so told all horses to stay out in field and he was left in (vet was called straight away) who toke swobs and then processed to investigate said lump which burst! And she removed pieces of wood and about 2 cm of wire (not my choice of fencing was YO choice I didn't agree) vet said this was course or lump but would send swob of to give me piece of mind, two days of after being in on isolation I was told it's not strangles he is fine but to continues with the meds he was given, told the yard owner and he gave me a small paddock at top of yard that had not been user so was not muddy to allow my lad out for a good leg stretch (lots of bucking rolling and noise was made) I stayed on the yard and muck out my stable, hear other liveries arriving (they did not know I was on yard as i did not have my own car back then) they marched to there stables hissing and spitting thins along the lines of "who dare she! She will be getting the vet bill for my horse!" and "she trying to kill are horses stupid b****!" now this hurt me but I didn't say a word, just walked past with the wheel barrow,smiled and and said hello, needless to say there faces dropped,and as I lead my lad in they asked they I had put him out? My repsonce was "he doesn't have strangles, here is my vets number if you wish to ask them your self, now if you don't mind I need to give him his meds" and his popped him back in to the isolation stable (in had in there for another 3 days as I had put bedding down I didn't want to waste and as he was in most of the time til wound healed yard owner could see him in there from the kitchen and would pop him a haynet if needed) so I would say people are to quick to react to some thing they don't know about and I would just write a sign for your stable door stating (horse has nose infection not strangles any problems please ring my self or my vet, pop numbers on sign) I find if you go in guns blazing it gives them more fuel, and as to what she said the number of horses who die from strangles is a lot lower now!! Hope your mare gets better soon!!
Ps I don't drive a good car either and I don't care I just sing with the radio as I go from A to B
 
Well she sounds like a charmer :D:D
I'd ignore her unless she comes around again.
If she does, and starts off on one again, just put your hand up and tell her, while its none of your business,but to stop you making yourself look silly while gossipping, its not strangles, i am well aware of the seriousness of strangles, and wouldnt risk mine or anybody elses. i suggest you might like to read up on both sinus infection and strangles, then compare and contrast them.
Oh and by the way your mortality figures are a bit askew as well... Thankyou
 
And she does have a point (although shouldn't haven't have jumped to conclusions about the OPs financial position from their car, obviously) about people who blatently can't afford to keep their horse and let it suffer as a result - we have plenty of posts on that subject too. QUOTE]

Who is anyone else to judge whether any of us "blatently can't afford to keep" our horses? Our financial situations are our own concern.

I am on a low income, and I choose to keep a horse. I'm happy to cut right back in other areas of my life in order to do so. Mollie is kept very cheaply, but is well and content. I have contingency plans for if she ever needed veterinary help which I couldn't afford, and those are my own business.

I hate the assumption that cruelty is caused by poverty. In my opinion, that's rarely so. In my experience, cruelty in the main is caused by ignorance, irresponsibility or deliberate misuse of animals.

I wish people here would stop pointing the finger at those less financially off than themselves. And if a stranger walked up to me and said I can't afford my horse, I'd be livid too.
 
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Pmsl :D:D
We do all like to get our knickers in a twist at things to do with horses, agree though, she does sound like a bit of a cheeky git regarding the car comment

I was more cross with fatpiggy for saying she had a point about people "blatently not able to afford" their horses! Grrr. :mad:
 
Old git

If she came back I would tell her

'This horse has a sinus infection which has been dignosed by a vet and is entirely treatable. I am vey sorry for you as your conditon, rudeness is not'.
 
Old git

If she came back I would tell her

'This horse has a sinus infection which has been dignosed by a vet and is entirely treatable. I am vey sorry for you as your conditon, rudeness is not'.

Or maybe you could twist an old churchill quote,

"he has a sinus infection and you are ugly... luckily his condition is entirely treatable!"
 
I am vey sorry for you as your conditon, rudeness is not'.

I said something similar to a man once. He told me I had no right to have a disabled parking badge on my car (my disablility isn't visible to other people) so I asked him if he had a special badge which allowed him to poke his nose into other peoples' business.
 
And she does have a point (although shouldn't haven't have jumped to conclusions about the OPs financial position from their car, obviously) about people who blatently can't afford to keep their horse and let it suffer as a result - we have plenty of posts on that subject too. QUOTE]

Who is anyone else to judge whether any of us "blatently can't afford to keep" our horses? Our financial situations are our own concern.

I am on a low income, and I choose to keep a horse. I'm happy to cut right back in other areas of my life in order to do so. Mollie is kept very cheaply, but is well and content. I have contingency plans for if she ever needed veterinary help which I couldn't afford, and those are my own business.

I hate the assumption that cruelty is caused by poverty. In my opinion, that's rarely so. In my experience, cruelty in the main is caused by ignorance, irresponsibility or deliberate misuse of animals.

I wish people here would stop pointing the finger at those less financially off than themselves. And if a stranger walked up to me and said I can't afford my horse, I'd be livid too.

Well that's fine, you give your money to your horse, your choice and I don't have a problem with that. I'm talking about people who give a 16hh horse 2 slices of hay per night because they couldn't afford any more, robbed other people's feed bins, run up huge bills with feed/hay suppliers because they just don't have the money to keep 6 (these are actual examples from my own yard). I left there being owed over £100 for hay- I organized the deliveries for everyone and wouldn't let the supplier leave without full payment so I stood the debt personally. Not good when my own overdraft was over £2000 :( Lucky you if you haven't seen something similar. Sadly I've also seen plenty of the examples you give too.
 
Well that's fine, you give your money to your horse, your choice and I don't have a problem with that. I'm talking about people who give a 16hh horse 2 slices of hay per night because they couldn't afford any more, robbed other people's feed bins, run up huge bills with feed/hay suppliers because they just don't have the money to keep 6 (these are actual examples from my own yard). I left there being owed over £100 for hay- I organized the deliveries for everyone and wouldn't let the supplier leave without full payment so I stood the debt personally. Not good when my own overdraft was over £2000 :( Lucky you if you haven't seen something similar. Sadly I've also seen plenty of the examples you give too.

I agree that kind of behaviour is appalling. But I would argue they don't do that because they are short of money, they do it because they are irresponsible and dishonest. Obviously I make sure I can afford the basics for my horse, and if I could no longer do so I'd have to part with her.

I can understand how upsetting and totally unfair those situations were for you, to have your kindness repaid in such a way. But believe me, there are lots of well off people who behave just as badly. Please accept that most of us on low incomes are just as honest, responsible and kind to our animals as anyone else.
 
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