Beehive Farm Livery

15/10/2026

06/10/2026

Following a recent discussion re the number of rabbits succumbing to myxomatosis and being found dead.

Firstly there is no direct risk to horses.

However,
Yes, decaying rabbit carcasses in fields present a major health risk to grazing livestock—but not from the myxomatosis virus itself.
While the myxoma virus cannot infect livestock, the rotting carcass creates a breeding ground for a deadly bacterial toxin called botulism.

The UK Government strictly warns livestock farmers that a wild myxomatosis outbreak significantly increases the risk of botulism in grazing cattle, sheep, and horses.

The Danger: Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)

• The Toxin: As a rabbit carcass decomposes, it becomes warm, wet, and anaerobic (deprived of oxygen). This is the perfect environment for Clostridium botulinum bacteria—naturally present in soil—to multiply and release a lethal neurotoxin (specifically Type C).

• The Risk of Grazing: Horses and cattle grazing near the decaying carcass can accidentally ingest the toxin.

• The Risk of Forage (Highest Danger): If fields with dead rabbits are cut for silage, haylage, or hay, the bodies get crushed into the winter feed. The toxin spreads through the bale, leading to devastating outbreaks that can kill entire herds.

• The Effect: Grazing livestock are incredibly sensitive to botulinum toxin. It causes progressive muscle weakness, inability to swallow, paralysis, and respiratory failure. It is highly fatal and has no easy cure.

Other Potential Risks

• Tularemia (Rabbit Fever): Decomposing rabbits can also harbor Francisella tularensis, a bacteria that can be transmitted to livestock (and humans) via contact or flies, causing severe systemic infections.

• Secondary Predators: Carcasses attract foxes, birds, and flies, increasing the risk of overall pasture contamination.

Whilst not wishing to be alarmist, we have seen outbreaks of myxomatosis before.
My advice would be to remove the dead rabbits from your grazing fields.
Incineration is, I imagine, the best way to dispose of them. 🔥

Or burial in a deep grave.

28/09/2026

Hey Buzz, you seem to be enjoying our company today.

28/09/2026

16/09/2026

For your information
Re feeding oat or barley straw.
Both available at Beehive this year.
Some AI content

(Barley straw is often used for bedding because horses find it slightly less tempting.)

The Palatability and Taste of Oat straw:
Generally considered the most palatable cereal straw.
Horses will readily eat it, making it easier to introduce as a partial forage replacement.
Barley straw:
Less sweet and palatable than oat straw. Horses may take longer to accept it, but it works well if a horse needs weight to be monitored.

Texture and Digestibility
Oat straw: Stems are relatively soft when clean and good quality, reducing the risk of injuries to the mouth.
Barley straw: Also relatively soft and pliable compared to wheat straw, but the awns (beards) must be completely absent or processed out.

Best Uses in the Diet.
Barley straw is frequently recommended for overweight "good doers" because of its lower palatability and energy content.
Fostering appetite: Oat straw is ideal for fussy eaters or older horses who need extra fiber but reject harsher straws.

Forage extension: As noted by Spillers Feeds, you can replace 30% to 50% of a healthy horse's forage with good-quality straw to stretch hay supplies.

Safety and Feeding Tips.
Introduce slowly:
Always mix straw in gradually over two weeks so the gut can adjust safely.

Watch for colic:
Coarse fibers carry a risk of impaction colic if a horse gorges on straw too fast.
Check quality: Ensure the straw is dust-free, bright in color, and free of mold or chemical sprays meant to stop bedding consumption.
Add nutrients: Straw lacks essential protein, vitamins, and minerals, so you must use a balancer.

13/09/2026

Are you free on Friday 25th September? 🧐

Why not attend the Women in Racing behind-the-scenes day at Charlie Longsdon's Yard and Worcester Racecourse! 🐎

Hearing directly from the inspiring women currently in senior positions for both organisations, join Women In Racing to learn about how horseracing is breaking down barriers in traditionally male-dominated roles.

Find out more👇

🔗 | https://womeninracing.co.uk/events/

13/09/2026

🐴 An update from Horses4homes 🐴

We wanted to give you all a little update about Horses4homes.

Over the next few months, we have made the difficult decision to put the Horses4homes website on pause.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep the website/service and system up and running when it’s so quiet and isn’t receiving the level of support and donations needed to cover the costs of keeping it going. We have put a lot of time, love and effort into Horses4homes, and this certainly isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly.

But Horses4homes is NOT going anywhere. ❤️

The Horses4homes page will continue to run, and I’ll still be here doing what I can to help horses and their new perfect partners.

We will continue to share horses looking for new homes, help owners reach the right people, and hopefully help as many horses as possible find their next loving, safe and forever home.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Horses4homes, donated, shared posts, followed the page, or simply helped a horse find their next home. It genuinely means so much. ❤️

And if you’re someone who has always supported Horses4homes, please continue to share the page and the horses posted here. Every share could help the right horse reach the right person.

🐴 Horses4homes will continue, just in a slightly different way for now. ❤️

Thank you for understanding and for continuing to support what Horses4homes is all about: helping horses find their next forever home. 🏡🐎