03/06/2026
Hi Guys,
Another week in ground hog day for us, I’ll try break it down so everyone is updated as we’ve had loads of lovely messages regarding can we take bookings and are the horses all ok ☺️🫶🏼
So from day one everyone has been isolated into groups, wether that be fields, paddocks, or stables everyone is locked down with no contact to other groups, meaning I start from one group in clean clothing and sanitised equipment and move group to group seeing to everyone’s feeding, bedding, watering and health checks, the pony who has tested positive is the last group I see to - to stop any cross contamination 👍🏼
He has had no temperature throughout and no nasal discharge but the abscesse that developed and burst which once healed we should wait 3 weeks to test him through a gutteral pouch test, although we are awaiting 4 weeks to be extra thorough and obviously this has a huge affect on everything, there no finances coming in, everyone still needs there daily care and the biohazards such as disinfectants and medical supplies also costs along side veterinary fees 💷💷💷, there will also be re shoeing for everyone needed once we are clear, so it’s a case of powering on until we can get negative results. It’s not the kind of virus where you can look at the pony and say ‘yep he looks fine’ only the correct isolation and time period will show with lab results. Unfortunately as I stated previously this is the 6th case I’ve know in the last few months and there has been 2 other cases reported in the last few weeks in the area so it’s crippling to so many equestrians especially riding schools that already have huge rates, insurance’s and cost to cover and tack, feed and bedding and veterinary costs whilst in limbo. There is a huge outbreak of not only strangles but equine flu going around it’s honestly very worrying!
I’ve had so many messages of support and offers of help but I need to keep things tight to stop any cross contamination, trust me I’d love a break right now 🙈 exhausted isn’t the word 😮💨 but the main thing everyone is well in them selfs and I’ve shifted a few pounds along the way with very hard old fashioned manual labour and stress 🙈
But we have been working with our vets all the way and I’m so blessed we have such a long standing relationship with them that they have been amazing and kept me going whilst I question everything 🫶🏼
We are now roughly 2 weeks out from doing the gutteral pouch test (technically a week) but I’d rather wait 2 to get a strong test result wether that’s fully negative as sometime they can still hold a mild positive, and these are not cheap tests so we want to be thorough and as accurate as possible 💪🏻🐴
We have hundreds (and that’s and understatement) of messages through all the platforms, I will be in touch as soon as we have the go ahead to re open with everyone, starting from the first weekend we missed right through to all the notes in the diary and the waiting list so please don’t think you’ve been forgotten I’m just very much split in 2 right now and spending very little time at home or on the phone as the horses not only now but always are the first and foremost to everyday wether that’s first light to last so lately there’s been nothing left inbetween 🙈
But the huge relief is everyone is well in themselves just missing there routine now I think, but the ones in the field haven’t had a bath for a few weeks and think there retired, cannot wait to get them fully bathed and showshine on them and there usually Friday pamper 🤣❤️
Joeys baby sat my kids in the car with the aircon on whilst I’ve worked and they’ve had iPads 🙄 Monty and Lily have had a mane thin this week, Rosie and Bailey are next in the list also and Joey and Bailey braved the tractor from a far 😮💨 they are Welsh and getting too close would be too brave 🤣 don’t worry the tractor was disinfected whilst leaving even though they have no symptoms 💪🏻🐴
Many Thanks if you got this far and thank you for your patience ☺️
Much love Gem and the Horses 🐴🫶🏼 xx
