Lots to do for ex-racer fans this coming weekend. On Friday 12th September, ROR ( Rehabilitation of Racehorses) is holding a parade of ex-racehorses at Doncaster Racecourse, as part of the grand St Leger Meeting. The parade will be held at lunchtime ( 12.00 noon-ish, animals and weather co-operating). With ex-racehorses coming from all around to demonstrate how well they have adapted to new lives, it should be a great sight to see.
Then on Saturday, 13th September, the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre , at Whinney Hill, Halton, Lancashire, is holding another of its Open Days. From 10.30am -1.30pm visitors will be able to look around the centre and its facilities, watch demonstrations of rehabilitation work and progress, and of course meet the equine residents. Although entry is by advance booking, I'm told there are still some tickets left, so hit the phone (01524 812649) if you'd like to go. Tickets cost £10 and include refreshments. This will be your only chance this month, as unfortunately the second scheduled day, ( Sunday) has been cancelled. But the two days for October ( 18th and 19th) are still going ahead.
And for anyone hoping to brave the mud and rain on England's soggy showgrounds, there are two shows scheduled for Saturday 13th Septemeber which ( if they go ahead) are holding showing classes for ex-racehorses. Bowes Agricultural Show in County Durham may have to cancel its livestock classes because of the mud, and Rampton Show near Cambridge has yet to make a decision. So- best check with the organisers before setting out.
Good luck to all involved with these events - which take so much planning. Here's hoping the weather is kind.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Additional livestock! - Magic and friends
Magic arrived from the sales on a Friday evening, and seemed to settle happily into a warm stable and plentiful grub. By Saturday, though, it seemed that I’d bought more than I bargained for – it looked like Magic had brought some little friends along with him; ear mites ! The insides of his ears were covered in thick white crusty deposits.
I knew it could be one of several things, some more serious than others. I had not wanted to poke about too much on his first day, to avoid unsettling him further, but we had a yard quiz to guess what the condition could be. Suggestions ranged from a fungus infection to rain scald to cradle cap (?? Not sure about that one !) I thought it was plaques, but top votes went to ear mites – especially when, the next day being warm, Magic started shaking his head Was it flies, hayseeds – or pesky little mites jigging around in his ears ?
By Monday morning the white crusts were turning distinctly yellow – which signalled infection to me. Maybe the stress of going through the sale ring and moving house had lowered Magic’s immunity a bit, allowing the germs to set in ?
And so the vet bills for Magic started early ! And, it turned out, were a complete waste of time, and money. The young locum vet who came along (holiday relief for the main man) was very sweet. She was no doubt great with cats and dogs, and quite possibly a world expert on rabbits. But she knew very little about horses, it seemed. She was only little, and Magic is very big – so she didn’t actually touch his ears at all! Despite my offer of a standing block, she simply perched on tiptoe, murmured a bit, and then announced it could be one of several things ( well, whatdyknow!), she couldn’t be sure what, but it was infected and needed ear drops, three times a day. And, yes – (in reply to my immediate query) – it WOULD make him head-shy.
Well, she was right about that, anyway. Within two days Magic wouldn’t let me near his head, never mind touch his ears. ( And before the treatment started , he had been perfectly relaxed and happy about both.) Another two days and I gave it up. The treatment was proving worse than the illness – and in any case the yellow crusts had gone and more white ones taken their place. I was quite glad to see them !
Magic still has his crusty ears – it is plaques. They are caused by the papillomavirus and are related to warts, though clinically different. And, though they can look untidy, lots of finer-breed horses get them and generally present no real problems. Plaques are usually caused by flies biting, ( which is why hairy ponies, with hairy ears, seldom get them – because the flies can’t get past the hair to do the biting.) Once established, plaques are difficult to shift. Some people scrape them off and douse with iodine – but obviously risk head-shyness developing . Magic’s previous owner told me, ( some time later) that twice a year they would twitch Magic and then clean out his ears with baby oil, which seemed to keep on top of things. I did this recently, when Magic was sedated for having his teeth done. ( so we didn’t need a twitch.) .
And it has to be said there have been no more problems. For a while in the summer there were a lot of flies around, so I covered Magic’s ears when he was out in the field to prevent them bothering him, but I’ve had to do nothing else. Some horses do get very irritated and sore in their ears, especially if more flies get in, and then soothing ointments, like Mentholatum, can help. Dermofas is said to work wonders for soothing, and even helping reduce the plaque crusts. Thornit powder is also said to be good at reducing the crusts. The problem is always, how to apply such treatments without making the horse upset, sore, and increasingly head-shy? I only tried medication for a few days, but it took Magic several weeks before he would let me touch his ears again, and I had to find ingenious ways of putting on his bridle.
But he’s fine now, crusts and all. Magic has learned to live quite happily with his little plaquey friends – and so can I.
I knew it could be one of several things, some more serious than others. I had not wanted to poke about too much on his first day, to avoid unsettling him further, but we had a yard quiz to guess what the condition could be. Suggestions ranged from a fungus infection to rain scald to cradle cap (?? Not sure about that one !) I thought it was plaques, but top votes went to ear mites – especially when, the next day being warm, Magic started shaking his head Was it flies, hayseeds – or pesky little mites jigging around in his ears ?
By Monday morning the white crusts were turning distinctly yellow – which signalled infection to me. Maybe the stress of going through the sale ring and moving house had lowered Magic’s immunity a bit, allowing the germs to set in ?
And so the vet bills for Magic started early ! And, it turned out, were a complete waste of time, and money. The young locum vet who came along (holiday relief for the main man) was very sweet. She was no doubt great with cats and dogs, and quite possibly a world expert on rabbits. But she knew very little about horses, it seemed. She was only little, and Magic is very big – so she didn’t actually touch his ears at all! Despite my offer of a standing block, she simply perched on tiptoe, murmured a bit, and then announced it could be one of several things ( well, whatdyknow!), she couldn’t be sure what, but it was infected and needed ear drops, three times a day. And, yes – (in reply to my immediate query) – it WOULD make him head-shy.
Well, she was right about that, anyway. Within two days Magic wouldn’t let me near his head, never mind touch his ears. ( And before the treatment started , he had been perfectly relaxed and happy about both.) Another two days and I gave it up. The treatment was proving worse than the illness – and in any case the yellow crusts had gone and more white ones taken their place. I was quite glad to see them !
Magic still has his crusty ears – it is plaques. They are caused by the papillomavirus and are related to warts, though clinically different. And, though they can look untidy, lots of finer-breed horses get them and generally present no real problems. Plaques are usually caused by flies biting, ( which is why hairy ponies, with hairy ears, seldom get them – because the flies can’t get past the hair to do the biting.) Once established, plaques are difficult to shift. Some people scrape them off and douse with iodine – but obviously risk head-shyness developing . Magic’s previous owner told me, ( some time later) that twice a year they would twitch Magic and then clean out his ears with baby oil, which seemed to keep on top of things. I did this recently, when Magic was sedated for having his teeth done. ( so we didn’t need a twitch.) .
And it has to be said there have been no more problems. For a while in the summer there were a lot of flies around, so I covered Magic’s ears when he was out in the field to prevent them bothering him, but I’ve had to do nothing else. Some horses do get very irritated and sore in their ears, especially if more flies get in, and then soothing ointments, like Mentholatum, can help. Dermofas is said to work wonders for soothing, and even helping reduce the plaque crusts. Thornit powder is also said to be good at reducing the crusts. The problem is always, how to apply such treatments without making the horse upset, sore, and increasingly head-shy? I only tried medication for a few days, but it took Magic several weeks before he would let me touch his ears again, and I had to find ingenious ways of putting on his bridle.
But he’s fine now, crusts and all. Magic has learned to live quite happily with his little plaquey friends – and so can I.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Magic Moments
Blow in my ear and I'll follow you anywhere!
Wonder what the food's like here ?
Well, folks seem friendly enough....
Magic comes to my life
I went to York Horse Sales to buy a riding jacket, and leadrope. Maybe two. (These nylon any-colour-you-like ropes are great, but mine always end up getting chewed, broken, or lost. An excellent specification for all who enjoy a spot of horsey retail therapy and socialising.) The auction sales at York (as at most other horse sales) includes a large section for new and second-hand tack and equipment. As at all auctions, you have to be careful you don’t get carried away bidding and end up paying more than you need have, or buying something that turns out to be rubbish. But I have certainly been able to pick up many a bargain there amongst the turkeys I’ve blundered into.
Having done the right thing and arrived early, in time to have a look through the items for sale in the tack section and note the lot numbers of suitable jackets and leadropes ( and reins, and bits, and numnahs, and other highly useful etcs….) I then did the wrong thing and went to have a wander round the horse pens.
Big mistake. ( From my bank manager’s viewpoint, anyway.) Because what should I encounter as I ambled up and down the rows of stables but an ex-racehorse……
There was this big bay gelding, quietly munching hay, accompanied by two men ( father and son, it turned out.) The bay was obviously thoroughbred, so obviously I lingered – from simple curiosity, of course, to pass the time between my tack lots. And I got chatting with his handlers, as you do…..
And so Magic entered my life. Magic Bengie, by full title, a 16.3hh 9-year-old , by Magic Ring, who had raced all his life from the age of 2, on the flat, over hurdles, and steeplechasing. ( With some success, too, winning and being placed ) He had last raced a month before, coming third. Consequently he was still racing-lean, but he was a big strapping lad even so, with lovely conformation – great front and fantastic hind quarters.
And then I was in the stable, with my hands stroking the horse and quietly exploring. I find you can learn an awful lot about a horse by touching it. At first I was a little wary because Magic was showing some of the white of his eyes. “Stop scowling” I told him jokingly. His owner leapt to his defence. “No, he’s NOT scowling! That’s just the way his eyes are. He’s a lovely kind horse….”
I didn’t take much convincing. It was obvious from the calm way Magic continued eating his hay, and the way he put his head down for me to stroke, that here was a well-mannered horse with a gentle nature who liked human company. The fact that his owner, Mr Kirby, clearly loved and cared for him also spoke volumes as a character reference.
But why, then, should this horse be for sale? I asked the obvious question out of curiosity only, since I really did not need or want another horse myself. (Nor was this ‘time-wasting’. When at the sales, anyone showing any interest in a horse automatically attracts interest from other people, who sidle up and eavesdrop… So I was actually helping the vendors’ sales promotion !)
Mr Kirby explained that he owned and trained just a few racehorses on his North Yorkshire farm. He had had Magic for six years and done well with him, but now there were youngsters ready to start racing and, for Magic, as the oldest, it was time to move on. Mr Kirby’s typical farmer’s no-nonsense logic had decreed this, and even decided to sell Magic with a low reserve and no warranty, to prevent any returns – but his soppy sentimental side wanted to try to get Magic a good home.
He asked me what kind of horse I was looking for. “I’m not,” I said, firmly. “I came here for a jacket. And a leadrope.” But we continued talking about Magic, and I continued stroking him. I pointed out his thickened right foreleg ( well, you could hardly miss it !). He’d done that, I was told, four years ago, winning a race. He’d had a year off to recover, and then raced successfully for another three years up till now. ( I later checked this in his racing record, and it was perfectly correct.) He was still sound, I was told. And certainly, the thickened tendon was as hard and cold as living flesh can be. “We think he’ll do eventing, or hunting,” Mr Kirby said. Magic certainly looked that type of horse, and I wished them well. Sometimes event riders do attend York Sales, and lots of hunting folk do. I really and truly hoped that someone like this would like Magic, buy him, and give him a good home and an interesting life.
Only – none of them did. Nobody seemed to want Magic at all. The bidding was slow-to-crawling. I looked round the crowded ringside, willing some nice person to put up their hand to offer Magic a chance. Nothing. After the meat-men bowed out at about 450 guineas, no-one seemed much interested. Except a couple of the gypsy dealers in their usual spot down by the auctioneer’s rostrum. And then me.
Hey-ho – what else could I do…..? So I paid over 675 guineas (about $1000) and Magic came home with me. He came with a headcollar of his own – so I only had to buy the leadrope. Never did get the jacket.
Having done the right thing and arrived early, in time to have a look through the items for sale in the tack section and note the lot numbers of suitable jackets and leadropes ( and reins, and bits, and numnahs, and other highly useful etcs….) I then did the wrong thing and went to have a wander round the horse pens.
Big mistake. ( From my bank manager’s viewpoint, anyway.) Because what should I encounter as I ambled up and down the rows of stables but an ex-racehorse……
There was this big bay gelding, quietly munching hay, accompanied by two men ( father and son, it turned out.) The bay was obviously thoroughbred, so obviously I lingered – from simple curiosity, of course, to pass the time between my tack lots. And I got chatting with his handlers, as you do…..
And so Magic entered my life. Magic Bengie, by full title, a 16.3hh 9-year-old , by Magic Ring, who had raced all his life from the age of 2, on the flat, over hurdles, and steeplechasing. ( With some success, too, winning and being placed ) He had last raced a month before, coming third. Consequently he was still racing-lean, but he was a big strapping lad even so, with lovely conformation – great front and fantastic hind quarters.
And then I was in the stable, with my hands stroking the horse and quietly exploring. I find you can learn an awful lot about a horse by touching it. At first I was a little wary because Magic was showing some of the white of his eyes. “Stop scowling” I told him jokingly. His owner leapt to his defence. “No, he’s NOT scowling! That’s just the way his eyes are. He’s a lovely kind horse….”
I didn’t take much convincing. It was obvious from the calm way Magic continued eating his hay, and the way he put his head down for me to stroke, that here was a well-mannered horse with a gentle nature who liked human company. The fact that his owner, Mr Kirby, clearly loved and cared for him also spoke volumes as a character reference.
But why, then, should this horse be for sale? I asked the obvious question out of curiosity only, since I really did not need or want another horse myself. (Nor was this ‘time-wasting’. When at the sales, anyone showing any interest in a horse automatically attracts interest from other people, who sidle up and eavesdrop… So I was actually helping the vendors’ sales promotion !)
Mr Kirby explained that he owned and trained just a few racehorses on his North Yorkshire farm. He had had Magic for six years and done well with him, but now there were youngsters ready to start racing and, for Magic, as the oldest, it was time to move on. Mr Kirby’s typical farmer’s no-nonsense logic had decreed this, and even decided to sell Magic with a low reserve and no warranty, to prevent any returns – but his soppy sentimental side wanted to try to get Magic a good home.
He asked me what kind of horse I was looking for. “I’m not,” I said, firmly. “I came here for a jacket. And a leadrope.” But we continued talking about Magic, and I continued stroking him. I pointed out his thickened right foreleg ( well, you could hardly miss it !). He’d done that, I was told, four years ago, winning a race. He’d had a year off to recover, and then raced successfully for another three years up till now. ( I later checked this in his racing record, and it was perfectly correct.) He was still sound, I was told. And certainly, the thickened tendon was as hard and cold as living flesh can be. “We think he’ll do eventing, or hunting,” Mr Kirby said. Magic certainly looked that type of horse, and I wished them well. Sometimes event riders do attend York Sales, and lots of hunting folk do. I really and truly hoped that someone like this would like Magic, buy him, and give him a good home and an interesting life.
Only – none of them did. Nobody seemed to want Magic at all. The bidding was slow-to-crawling. I looked round the crowded ringside, willing some nice person to put up their hand to offer Magic a chance. Nothing. After the meat-men bowed out at about 450 guineas, no-one seemed much interested. Except a couple of the gypsy dealers in their usual spot down by the auctioneer’s rostrum. And then me.
Hey-ho – what else could I do…..? So I paid over 675 guineas (about $1000) and Magic came home with me. He came with a headcollar of his own – so I only had to buy the leadrope. Never did get the jacket.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Racehorse Rehoming Centre Show Report
I've just received this from Tessa Westlake, of the Racehorse Rehoming Centre in Chard, Somerset, reporting great success for their Open Show last month.
The show was a great success, the weather held and the turnout was very good and up on the last two years.
Sadly this year all the clear profit will be used to purchase replacement haylage as we lost our whole crop of winter feed due to the dreadful weather prior to the show. and we are finding out that (of course) haylage and straw will be at an all time premium so, IN one hand and OUT the other.
Also this is the time of year where inquiries come in thick and fast from owners asking for placements for horses they can no longer keep or are retiring through injury from racing. we have just had an request to take in 3 from the same racing yard all with tendon troubles, also its the time of year where inquiries from prospective loanees start to dwindle. So it looks like a long hard winter for us.
The show its self was fun and relatively stress free for most of the volunteers, although the St Johns Ambulance were considerably late in arriving, holding up the start of the Show Jumping and giving me a few palpitations.
And the second lorry to arrive, having taken a incorrect angle into the field, promptly got a back wheel suck in a ditch having to be rescued by our very old but thankfully still virile tractor.
Stan Mellor enjoyed judging the two racehorse classes with the knowledgeable help of World Horse Welfare (ILPH) officer Jeff Herrington and his wife Mary.
Winner of the Show Horse Class was Becky Hunt on Gordys Joy who also took the Performance class and obviously the overall championship.
Happily there were no similarities to the start of the Grand National and only one near miss where one rider lost a stirrup as the horse, aptly named Storm Damage, bronked slightly in his show. Rider Neil Ransford did extremely well to stay aboard! Showing is not Neil's forte, he is best known in the trail/hunting field.
Sadly this year all the clear profit will be used to purchase replacement haylage as we lost our whole crop of winter feed due to the dreadful weather prior to the show. and we are finding out that (of course) haylage and straw will be at an all time premium so, IN one hand and OUT the other.
Also this is the time of year where inquiries come in thick and fast from owners asking for placements for horses they can no longer keep or are retiring through injury from racing. we have just had an request to take in 3 from the same racing yard all with tendon troubles, also its the time of year where inquiries from prospective loanees start to dwindle. So it looks like a long hard winter for us.
The show its self was fun and relatively stress free for most of the volunteers, although the St Johns Ambulance were considerably late in arriving, holding up the start of the Show Jumping and giving me a few palpitations.
And the second lorry to arrive, having taken a incorrect angle into the field, promptly got a back wheel suck in a ditch having to be rescued by our very old but thankfully still virile tractor.
Stan Mellor enjoyed judging the two racehorse classes with the knowledgeable help of World Horse Welfare (ILPH) officer Jeff Herrington and his wife Mary.
Winner of the Show Horse Class was Becky Hunt on Gordys Joy who also took the Performance class and obviously the overall championship.
Happily there were no similarities to the start of the Grand National and only one near miss where one rider lost a stirrup as the horse, aptly named Storm Damage, bronked slightly in his show. Rider Neil Ransford did extremely well to stay aboard! Showing is not Neil's forte, he is best known in the trail/hunting field.
So WELL DONE to all concerned, competitors and helpers. It sounds like it was a great success and a day to remember ! (And I'm intrigued by this 'still virile tractor' ! The mind boggles. Any chance of a pic, Tessa ?)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Ex-Racehorse Class Results from Blair Championships
CLASS 1 In-Hand Champion of Champions
1st - & winner of Best Veteran Award
- Winter Garden and Nicola Bingham
2nd - and winner of Best Turned-Out Award
- Chasing the Stars and Karen Chisman/Tom Marshall
3rd - Getatem and Jennifer Lister
4th - Billy Bell and Natalie Innes/Sandie Byers
5th - Morteeno and Susan Beaton
6th - Ilsey Star and Alex Allan
CLASS 2 Open Ridden Ex-Racehorse
1st - King Nicholas and Sara Bainbridge/J. Craig
2nd - One Step Beyond and Laura Smith
3rd - & winner of Best Novice Horse Award
- Chilalia and Heather Paterson
4th - Dr Deductable and Shonagh Steven
5th - Billy Bell and Sandie Byers
6th - & Best Young Rider under 21
- Judicious Charlie and M Inglis/Aaron Glen
CLASS 3 Performance Horse Class with Jumping
1st - & Best Potential Competition Horse Award
- King Nicholas and Sara Bainbridge
2nd - & Best Turned-Out
- Time to Rise and Elizabeth Muirhead
3rd - & Best Jumping Award
- Illegal Alien and Odette Smith/ILPH
4th - Clan Law and Alison Hood/Heather Graham
5th – Winter Garden and Nicola Bingham
CLASS 4 Ridden Scottish Champion of Champions
1st – Time to Rise and Elizabeth Muirhead
2nd – Palabelle and Victoria Adams
3rd – Jad’s Lad and Jacqui Baird
4th – Billy Bell and Natalie Innes
5th – Mormond Lass and Helen Manners
6th – Chilalia and Heather Paterson
Many congratulations to all the prize-winners, and a huge WELL DONE to everyone who took part, demonstrating just how beautifully ex-racehorses can be retrained.
1st - & winner of Best Veteran Award
- Winter Garden and Nicola Bingham
2nd - and winner of Best Turned-Out Award
- Chasing the Stars and Karen Chisman/Tom Marshall
3rd - Getatem and Jennifer Lister
4th - Billy Bell and Natalie Innes/Sandie Byers
5th - Morteeno and Susan Beaton
6th - Ilsey Star and Alex Allan
CLASS 2 Open Ridden Ex-Racehorse
1st - King Nicholas and Sara Bainbridge/J. Craig
2nd - One Step Beyond and Laura Smith
3rd - & winner of Best Novice Horse Award
- Chilalia and Heather Paterson
4th - Dr Deductable and Shonagh Steven
5th - Billy Bell and Sandie Byers
6th - & Best Young Rider under 21
- Judicious Charlie and M Inglis/Aaron Glen
CLASS 3 Performance Horse Class with Jumping
1st - & Best Potential Competition Horse Award
- King Nicholas and Sara Bainbridge
2nd - & Best Turned-Out
- Time to Rise and Elizabeth Muirhead
3rd - & Best Jumping Award
- Illegal Alien and Odette Smith/ILPH
4th - Clan Law and Alison Hood/Heather Graham
5th – Winter Garden and Nicola Bingham
CLASS 4 Ridden Scottish Champion of Champions
1st – Time to Rise and Elizabeth Muirhead
2nd – Palabelle and Victoria Adams
3rd – Jad’s Lad and Jacqui Baird
4th – Billy Bell and Natalie Innes
5th – Mormond Lass and Helen Manners
6th – Chilalia and Heather Paterson
Many congratulations to all the prize-winners, and a huge WELL DONE to everyone who took part, demonstrating just how beautifully ex-racehorses can be retrained.
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