Weaning & Update From SPSBS

Today we've moved the foals into one of the stables. Brought them down from the field with their Mum's. Then took Mum's back. They seem to have settled ok. Lil was calling to Apollo for a while, but then went back with the other girls.
Mark came to turn the hay today, we are due good weather for the next few days. Hopefully, we will be able to make some hay, instead of haylage.
Tomos the Blacksmith is coming in the morning to do the Ponies hoofs. Noticed that Apollo has chipped one of his.
Also got a news letter from The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society today, concerning the Micro chipping of all foals next year. This is what it states, that as from the 1st January 2009 every SPSBS passport application, will have to be supported with a document signed by a Veterinary Surgeon, declaring that the Vet has implanted a microchip into the equine identified on the application.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of the 6th June 2008.
officials who were accompanied by their legal and veterinary representatives, the understanding was that although the enforcement date was July 1st 2009, this actually meant that any person applying for any equine passport before this had to have that passport in their possession The legislation is not enforceable until the 1st July 2009. However, at the meeting with SEERAD, prior to the deadline of 1st July 2009. It did not mean that applications had to be received prior to that date but would mean that if owners of foals born prior to the deadline wanted to registrar them without the microchip implant, they would have to send in the registration application to the office early enough for the application to be processed and the passport back with the owner by the 1st July 2009. Members will appreciate that this could cause considerable problems for the office, as a number have to be returned to owners for various corrections, before being completed and any delay could man the application being done after the deadline, which would then require a microchip implant confirmation.
Seerad appreciates that small Societies with only a couple of hundred applications each year, would be able to effectively implement this but stressed that larger Societies with thousands of applications would need to bring this into force much earlier in order to provide a satisfactory service to Members and fulfill the legal requirements of the Regulation.
Therefore the SPSBS Council has decided for the benefit of the Society as a whole and to be able to provide a continuity of service without confusion and unacceptably long delays at a time of the year when passport applications are at a high due to foaling and Autumn sales, that all passport applications as from the 1st January 2009 must be supported with a declaration from a Vet that a microchip has been implanted into the equine identified on the application.
The good news is that the Society has negotiated an excellent cost on Microchips. The cost of a Microchip will be £5.80 including VAT and Postage and these will be posted recorded delivery to any nominated Veterinary Surgeon. Alternatively, members are free to chose to buy microchips directly from their own Vet.
In order to make sure Members have the correct information the Society has obtained written confirmation from both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Microchip Manufacturers and the following is correct:
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons considers the micro chipping of Equines within the Nuchal Ligament an act of Veterinary surgery and therefore only a qualified Veterinary Surgeon can legally do this. There is no minimum age for the micro chipping of Equines.
The Avid microchip company who manufacture as well as supply micro chips have confirmed in writing they have no minimum age set for Equine implantation and simply state that the implantation should be carried out by a Vet with the Nuchal Ligament as the implant site.
There is no longer a requirement for the Silhouette to be completed once a microchip is implanted.

Pony Pedicure

Our Blacksmith Tomos came at 8.30am this morning to do the Ponies hoofs again. Warrior was his normal laid back self, Kai on the other hand performed like a true Stallion. Got Tomos to look at little Aphrodite's back hoofs, as they have grown so long. Tomos trimmed them but said the front was OK. She looks so much better now, more upright. Tomos said its quite common for foals to have tight tendons, but he could see a vast improvement from his last visit. She was so well behaved, its the first time she's had a head collar on, she wasn't sure at first, but then behaved impeccably. Bless her heart I love that foal... Tomos checked Apollo and Archie but said they were both OK and didn't need doing. Athena was a right little Madam and threw her self on the floor, so Tomos trimmed her hoofs while she laid there. She then stood up to have the back ones trimmed and then decided she's rather sit down and literally sat like a dog on the floor. It would have made the perfect picture, but trying to hold the camera and a pony and take a picture is nigh on impossible.
We are supposed to be at two shows this weekend, but the weather forecast isn't looking that good. Rain all weekend with severe weather warnings. Where's the Summer gone...
Had my newsletter from the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society this morning. Noticed that as from 1st January 2009, no passports will be issued to any pony/foal unless it has been micro chipped. States full details will be included in the next news letter. So have no idea whether we will be able to buy the chips from Shetland House and get the vet to insert them, or whether we will have to get the Vet to supply and Microchip the Ponies. I know that at my Vet's it costs £23.00 for a Microchip. Then on top of that, its the call out charge, plus the fees for the passports. Looks like its going to cost a pretty penny next year, to have the Foals registered. Had previously read an article stating that all Equines as from next year will need a chip, and have to be DNA'd at birth, but for the life of me can't remember where I saw it. Its a new EU regulation. Lets hope all this extra cost will be reflected in the prices at the Horse Sales. You can buy a horse in Wales, cheaper then you can buy a pedigree puppy. I hate to think what some unscrupulous breeders might do, especially if they have lots of Colts. It doesn't bear thinking about.

Voluntary Vet Assessments.

Wim our Vet arrived this morning with another Lady Vet and a young girl who was on work experience, to do the Voluntary Vet Assessments for the S.P.S.B.S. The lady vet started on the foal markings, while Wim got on doing the two Stallions.
Wim was really impressed with both Neo and Warrior and commented on how well behaved they both were. He started with Warrior, giving him a good going over, checking all his bits were in the right place, checking his heart and lungs. Then his eyes. I then had to walk him up the yard with Wim, holding his hand on his hip joints, then walk him again while Wim watched, he then watched him trot. He then checked all his joints and feet, rechecked his heart and lungs, measured him, he's only 29ins and took his hair samples. He then checked all his markings to make sure they were all correct and checked his whorls. Then inserted his microchip, Warrior didn't move a muscle. Wim said that he couldn't find anything wrong with him at all and he passed with flying colours.
He then did the same thing all over again with Neo and he passed as well. I was so chuffed.
The other Vet checked all the foals over and did the markings, they were not sure about Apollo's colour. Then another Vet arrived, I've never had so many here at the same time, just to have a look at the foals I think. They've taken all the paperwork back to the Vet's practise to complete and will ring me when their ready.
Needless to say I'm very Happy that the boys passed and I can now use them on the Mares next year, if I want to.
Rang Debbie to ask her if she managed to get Edwards hairs and spoke to her Daughter, who said they had managed to get them, which is all good as now both Neo & Warrior will be fully DNA'd on their passports. Also rang Karen to tell her the good news, she was really pleased.