Ruby & Ebony – a year on…

Cast your minds back to last April when ERF attended a local horse market at St Yrieix. That day two very scared and thin ponies, a mare with her yearling filly still suckling, pulled on our heartstrings. The nearest place for them to recuperate was Jenny’s yard in the Dordogne, as travelling equines any distance in poor condition is risky [...]

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News from Wilbur and Piona in Normandy

Our gorgeous pair of donkeys, Wilbur and Piona, have settled  into their new life up in Normandy with adopters Liz & Sue. These are two very lucky donkeys who are enjoying being loved and pampered, a lifetime away from the dreadful life we rescued Wilbur from last year.
We were delighted to receive some photos through [...]

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Small pony & donkey owners please read

We wanted to ensure owners of smaller breeds of ponies and donkeys, including miniatures, are aware of a potentially life threatening condition called Hyperlipaemia. This is not meant to make people panic or worry, but we feel it’s important to highlight certain illnesses and conditions so we know how to spot the symptoms and help [...]

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Updates from our wonderful adopters…

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Welfare cases – a never ending battle

Sometimes, getting welfare cases resolved can be a lengthy and frustrating process for all concerned, as we have have to work within the complicated realms of French law. The latest good news is that we have had confirmation from the DDSV (17) that the little shetland pony with overgrown feet blogged here has finally been [...]

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Gazza got a visit from the dentist today!

An important part of equine care is routine dental checks by a qualified equine dentist. This should be done annually but depends on your equines age and needs. Today Gazza had a visit from Equine Dental Technician, Peter Smith (BAEDT).
After rinsing out Gazza’s mouth with an anti-bacterial wash to rid all the bits of food, [...]

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EU puts a ban on US horse meat

From April 2010 the EU will be clamping down on imported US and Canadian horse meat due to concerns over contaminated horse meat.

European authorities have already cracked down on horse meat producers within the EU, requiring a passport and microchip ID  system that specifically documents whether a horse has received certain drugs. Owners must state [...]

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Poitou Charente strangles alert

It has been brought to our attention that there is an outbreak of equine strangles in the Poitou Charente region of SW France. Strangles is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi and is potentially fatal.
The outbreak, called la gourme in French, is thought to have originated from a yard near Poitiers. [...]

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Seaweed kills horse in Brittany

A stretch of beach had to be closed after a horse rider lost consciousness as a result of the putrefying algae. Sadly his horse was killed. Local residents have also been treated in hospital.
The dangers were highlighted after Vincent Petit, 27, a veterinary surgeon from Paris, said that rotting seaweed a metre [...]

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Equine Herpes Virus outbreak

EHV-1 (rhinopneumonie)
Four horses have been euthanized and a fifth horse is recumbent following an outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in a boarding stable in northern France, according to the treating veterinarian. Quarantine has been established and will continue for at least three more weeks.
Jeroen Lissens, DVM, said seven of the 63 horses at the stable [...]

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A traditional local horse show-Romagne

Each year on the first Saturday of August, Romagne plays host to the Fête de l’âne et du cheval. This rural fair, which can be dated as far back as 1901, gives owners and breeders of some local and famous breeds of horse, donkey and mule a chance to show of their equines in their [...]

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