Rid our Riding Centre of Strangles
Donation protected
My name is Jan O'Neill. Together with my partner Graham I set up Highlands Unbridled, a riding centre in the North Highlands of Scotland, offering pony trekking, riding lessons and specialising in Coast to Coast trail riding holidays. We are raising money to clear our horses of 'Strangles' a contagious, bacterial respiratory infection.
A bit of back-ground.....
Highlands Unbridled was set up in 2007. We originally operated from our stables in Brora in Sutherland, but in 2015 our landlords announced that they were selling the property and we had no option but to move if we wanted to continue our business. We went through a really tough time that year, both emotionally and financially, but eventually our searching paid off and we found a great new premises at Northwilds, just outside Tain. We spent a lot of time and whatever money we could find to get the new place up and running and things were looking good - then in mid August 2016, disaster hit..... our horses caught 'Strangles'.
'Strangles' is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection. Most horses just have minor symptoms - a runny nose and a cough for a few days, some have abcesses that burst through their skin around the throat (hence 'strangles') and occasionally horses can die from complications.
It's a bit like flu in humans - most people get over it quickly and easily, but now and again someone will die. Because of this, as many of you will know, 'Strangles' causes hysteria amongst horse-people and there is a great deal of stigma associated with it.
I have to say here, that NOT ALL of our horses caught strangles. Some of the horses at our stables in Tain caught it, but two small fields of ponies were not affected at all. The long distance trail riding horses were not affected, because they had been away from the stables for several weeks at the time of the outbreak (we have since tested both teams that were away at the time and also the ponies from the unaffected fields at the stables, and their blood tests all came back clear)
We closed down the stables in Tain immediately and put in place strict bio-security measures. But as the trail horses had not been affected, we continuted with our long distance holidays, assuming that would be acceptable. As it was common knowledge that they had been kept in two completely separate groups and we knew the trail horses were clear.
However, 'Strangles', causes mass hysteria, and although the trail horses were clear, a group of people got together with the intention of stopping us from operating the long trail rides, accusing us (falsely) of spreading it around the Highlands, even though there was absolutely no evidence of this. They contacted our grazing providers and the hotels and B&B's we stayed at and told them that if they allowed us to stay with them then they would be contaminated with Strangles and would have disinfect their entire property - and if any horses in the area caught Strangles then they would be sued. Absolutely ridiculous of course, but it worked!!! Buoyed by their success and not content with stopping us from working completely, leaving us without ANY income at all, thus forcing us to lay off staff; certain members of the same group have since moved on to trying to get us closed down completely. However, their plan didn't work and the council and the police are aware of their activities.
The last 5 months have been a real struggle, but with the help and support of family, amazing good friends and fantastic staff (who have come in and volunteered their time without being paid), we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. We've all worked incredibly hard and made new plans for the business in 2017. The horses are now all well again (and have been for several months now) and are coming through the winter looking good - things are looking great for 2017.
But although the horses all look well enough, it's a fact that about 10% of horses who have recovered from Strangles can become carriers. We have had our horses blood tested and that has shown us which of our horses are now completely clear and therefore definately NOT carriers and we are now able to work with those horses, but we have a small group of horses who's blood test results are in the 'low/middle' range. This means that although they are most likely not carriers, there is still a small chance that they could be. For the type of business we are, we simply cannot afford to risk that ANY of our horses might be carriers with all the stigma that is attached to 'Strangles'.
We HAVE to be sure that our horses are completely clear of 'Strangles' by the start of the 2017 season. To be sure of this, we have to have those horses guttural pouches washed - this, as you can imagine,is not cheap!! It will cost about £400 each horse and if a horse proves to be a carrier as a result of the samples taken during the wash, then it will have to have a second test - so possibly £800. We simply cannot afford to do it at the moment. Money is always in short supply at this time of year for everyone - and for us, it is particularly hard this year having had no proper income for several months now and having had to refund guests for cancelled holidays too. Everything is looking promising for 2017 and the bookings are coming in for the summer again now - but being realistic, we won't be over this financially for a few months yet. Our priority just now, has to be feeding our horses - skimping on feed in a Scottish winter just isn't an option!
If this wasn't a business situation, we could leave the horses to heal in a paddock. However, with said group of people using the fact that there is possibility of them being carriers, against us and trying to inhibit our business growth, this is not an option. It is extremely important to us, as owners, that we clear all our horses from this illness by the beginning of 2017 season; both for peace of mind and the health of our horses.
It's really hard for me to ask for help. I've always just got on with things, however tough and found a way through - call it pride and stubbornness. But this isn't for me. This is for the horses and the future. This is for our loyal staff, who have stood by us through thick and thin and so that we can get our business back up on it's feet and running properly again. Time to stop being proud and ask for help. So here goes......!
Please help us to put the stigma of 'Strangles' and all the problems it has caused behind us and help us to move on into 2017. You can donate as little or as much as you want. We really would like to get them all guttural pouch washed by the first week of March.
Every little bit counts and helps another horse get back into action! If we raise more than the amount we need to get the horses clear of strangles, then any excess will be donated to the Animal Health Trust who are doing lots of research into this disease and how to control it.
I know that many of you will have ridden with us on our fantastic horses and ponies - either on the long distance trail rides, or on treks around the area, or maybe you or a member of your family has riding lessons with us.
If you have, you will know how passionate we are about our equine friends and how much it will mean to us to get them all back where they should be - out on the trail having fun!
Thank you for considering helping us. I so look forward to the day when I can put a post on Facebook telling the world that our horses are ALL CLEAR!!!! Please be a part of it :)
Thank you!!
Jan & Graham O'Neill
A bit of back-ground.....
Highlands Unbridled was set up in 2007. We originally operated from our stables in Brora in Sutherland, but in 2015 our landlords announced that they were selling the property and we had no option but to move if we wanted to continue our business. We went through a really tough time that year, both emotionally and financially, but eventually our searching paid off and we found a great new premises at Northwilds, just outside Tain. We spent a lot of time and whatever money we could find to get the new place up and running and things were looking good - then in mid August 2016, disaster hit..... our horses caught 'Strangles'.
'Strangles' is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection. Most horses just have minor symptoms - a runny nose and a cough for a few days, some have abcesses that burst through their skin around the throat (hence 'strangles') and occasionally horses can die from complications.
It's a bit like flu in humans - most people get over it quickly and easily, but now and again someone will die. Because of this, as many of you will know, 'Strangles' causes hysteria amongst horse-people and there is a great deal of stigma associated with it.
I have to say here, that NOT ALL of our horses caught strangles. Some of the horses at our stables in Tain caught it, but two small fields of ponies were not affected at all. The long distance trail riding horses were not affected, because they had been away from the stables for several weeks at the time of the outbreak (we have since tested both teams that were away at the time and also the ponies from the unaffected fields at the stables, and their blood tests all came back clear)
We closed down the stables in Tain immediately and put in place strict bio-security measures. But as the trail horses had not been affected, we continuted with our long distance holidays, assuming that would be acceptable. As it was common knowledge that they had been kept in two completely separate groups and we knew the trail horses were clear.
However, 'Strangles', causes mass hysteria, and although the trail horses were clear, a group of people got together with the intention of stopping us from operating the long trail rides, accusing us (falsely) of spreading it around the Highlands, even though there was absolutely no evidence of this. They contacted our grazing providers and the hotels and B&B's we stayed at and told them that if they allowed us to stay with them then they would be contaminated with Strangles and would have disinfect their entire property - and if any horses in the area caught Strangles then they would be sued. Absolutely ridiculous of course, but it worked!!! Buoyed by their success and not content with stopping us from working completely, leaving us without ANY income at all, thus forcing us to lay off staff; certain members of the same group have since moved on to trying to get us closed down completely. However, their plan didn't work and the council and the police are aware of their activities.
The last 5 months have been a real struggle, but with the help and support of family, amazing good friends and fantastic staff (who have come in and volunteered their time without being paid), we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. We've all worked incredibly hard and made new plans for the business in 2017. The horses are now all well again (and have been for several months now) and are coming through the winter looking good - things are looking great for 2017.
But although the horses all look well enough, it's a fact that about 10% of horses who have recovered from Strangles can become carriers. We have had our horses blood tested and that has shown us which of our horses are now completely clear and therefore definately NOT carriers and we are now able to work with those horses, but we have a small group of horses who's blood test results are in the 'low/middle' range. This means that although they are most likely not carriers, there is still a small chance that they could be. For the type of business we are, we simply cannot afford to risk that ANY of our horses might be carriers with all the stigma that is attached to 'Strangles'.
We HAVE to be sure that our horses are completely clear of 'Strangles' by the start of the 2017 season. To be sure of this, we have to have those horses guttural pouches washed - this, as you can imagine,is not cheap!! It will cost about £400 each horse and if a horse proves to be a carrier as a result of the samples taken during the wash, then it will have to have a second test - so possibly £800. We simply cannot afford to do it at the moment. Money is always in short supply at this time of year for everyone - and for us, it is particularly hard this year having had no proper income for several months now and having had to refund guests for cancelled holidays too. Everything is looking promising for 2017 and the bookings are coming in for the summer again now - but being realistic, we won't be over this financially for a few months yet. Our priority just now, has to be feeding our horses - skimping on feed in a Scottish winter just isn't an option!
If this wasn't a business situation, we could leave the horses to heal in a paddock. However, with said group of people using the fact that there is possibility of them being carriers, against us and trying to inhibit our business growth, this is not an option. It is extremely important to us, as owners, that we clear all our horses from this illness by the beginning of 2017 season; both for peace of mind and the health of our horses.
It's really hard for me to ask for help. I've always just got on with things, however tough and found a way through - call it pride and stubbornness. But this isn't for me. This is for the horses and the future. This is for our loyal staff, who have stood by us through thick and thin and so that we can get our business back up on it's feet and running properly again. Time to stop being proud and ask for help. So here goes......!
Please help us to put the stigma of 'Strangles' and all the problems it has caused behind us and help us to move on into 2017. You can donate as little or as much as you want. We really would like to get them all guttural pouch washed by the first week of March.
Every little bit counts and helps another horse get back into action! If we raise more than the amount we need to get the horses clear of strangles, then any excess will be donated to the Animal Health Trust who are doing lots of research into this disease and how to control it.
I know that many of you will have ridden with us on our fantastic horses and ponies - either on the long distance trail rides, or on treks around the area, or maybe you or a member of your family has riding lessons with us.
If you have, you will know how passionate we are about our equine friends and how much it will mean to us to get them all back where they should be - out on the trail having fun!
Thank you for considering helping us. I so look forward to the day when I can put a post on Facebook telling the world that our horses are ALL CLEAR!!!! Please be a part of it :)
Thank you!!
Jan & Graham O'Neill
Organizer
Jan O'Neill
Organizer