Your Letters and Comments

Spillers Responce
"Thought you might like to know that my mare, Delikatesse who is fed on Spillers Response range won the Championship at the London Horse Parade, held in Hyde Park on Rotten Row on Sunday 4th. The competition is judged in four parts, two vets check over the condition of the horse and soundess, two farriers check the shoeing and condition of the hooves, then two judges do overall impression and turnout and then finally how your horse behaves in general on Rotten Row. We had a great day out, and everyone had to cope with a thunderstorm which left Hyde Park completely empty of tourists!" Elizabeth Dean-Sly, Kent

Hard Hats
After reading your article, I felt I would just like to say how cross it makes me when driving a long narrow lanes, I give way to Horse and rider, I always slow down to a point of stopping if necessary and then the rider does not have the courtesy to say thank you. I have also seen on numerous occasions riders out on the road without a hat. This also makes me very cross. No matter how good or safe you may think your horse is there will be one day something that will happen if not by the horse but by a car driver and the rider will be on the floor with a head injury, maybe fatal. Please pass this message on to your members. Perhaps, if you have members in the Borehamwood, Shenley area they will know who I am writing about. Please, please always wear a hat; a friend of mine was seriously injured by falling from her horse whilst in an indoor school, she is now in a wheel chair; so if that can happen when landing on a 'soft floor', what could happen if you land on concrete or something similar? Regards Juliette

Strangle outbreaks
I just want you to be aware that there is out breaks of strangles in East Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Linconshire & West Yorkshire -Jessica.wilson

In reply to the letter about sweeping the yard.) This is called tidiness. It's one of the things that helps make a good impression on visitors who may be looking for an efficiently run yard to keep their horses on. After all, livery proprietors are in business to make a living. There is also a safety issue. Mud, manure and loose bits of baling twine can be slipped on and tripped over and feed bags blowing round the yard can frighten horses. In case of injuries sustained in an accident caused by any of these the owner is liable for a claim of negligence. If you want to get your door bolt repaired or other essentials dealt with why don't you offer to do the sweeping up now and then - after all, you helped make the mess in the first place. Diane and Tetley the Horse (Satisfied livery clients)

The Law is an Ass
I have been helping a charity for some time and unfortunately people keeping horses and other animals after receiving a ban is VERY, VERY COMMON. I know of at least three off the top of my head! Why ban them if they can then keep animals openly with no worries about anything being done its disgusting. First the animals need to be almost dead before anything can be done, then when they get a ban and a miserable fine they go right ahead and keep some more poor creatures, and no one apparently gives a monkey. IM SORRY BUT THE LAW IS AN ASS! Linda

Mudfever
Hi my horse had mudfever very early on this year,I tried a numerous amount of creams, Spent a lot of money on vet treatments and none of these worked. I now use baby oil which loosens the scabs and makes them easy to remove, then apply every day before going out into field (PERFECT) it works brilliantly. Miss K Hampshire

A Word of Warning
Dear Ed.,
On my way back from a Christmas morning hack I was coming down the narrow back lane to the farm when I met a car coming up the hill. I drew my horse into the side of the road to allow the car to pass. The driver decided he would wait for me so I carried on. There was barely room so we had to squeeze past under a tree. I managed to get my head low enough to get under the branch but it caught in the back of the neck of my fluorescent tabard. It was only because my horse is extremely obedient and froze when I shrieked "Stop" at him that I am here to tell the tale. If he had carried on I would either have been strangled by him dragging me or I'd have been hanged when I came off out of the back door. It was very difficult to extricate myself but my horse, bless him, stood absolutely still while I struggled to free myself. It was quite a frightening experience and I consider myself to have been very lucky. I have since heard of two similar incidents with tabards and I think that it would be wise to issue a warning. As a result of my near-miss I intend adapting my tabard by opening the shoulder seams and inserting Velcro fastenings and would suggest this course to others.
Yours sincerely Diane.

Livery Yards
The scope is surely endless, livery yards and their clients/owners! Because the owners are as mad as many of the clients. What is it about owners that make them obsessed with brushing the yard? Every yard I can think of has had an owner who spends vast amounts of time brushing the yard. Or better still has yard staff whom they instil with this same neurosis. Maybe its a feature of the "look busy" style of working .How can you say you've nothing to do? Look at the state of the yard, the yard needs brushing . And for the owner it's a convenient avoidance tactic for just about anything . What do you mean your horse doesn't eat haylage and that's what's in his net , can't you see I'm busy, sweeping the yard. Sorry don't bother me just now about the broken bolt on your stable door, I'm busy sweeping the yard. In fact the brush itself is quite forbidding, puts up a useful psychological barrier between you and yard owner, puts you in your place. And of course
the activity, brush, brush, turn your back on the livery client in the the process, all the better to avoid them . I've not noticed this being taught in BHS courses, so where does it originate ?
Regards Janet Davies