Posted by on Aug 8, 2009 in General News, Welfare | 2 comments
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. If you suspect your horse is looking unwell then you may want...
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Posted by on Aug 6, 2009 in General News | 0 comments
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 deep had killed his horse last week as he rode across St-Michel-en-Grève beach,...
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Posted by on Aug 4, 2009 in General News, Welfare | 0 comments
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 have tested positive for the...
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Posted by on Aug 3, 2009 in Donkeys, General News, Horses | 0 comments
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 true beauty.
Baudet du Poitou
The Baudet du Poitou, or Poitou Donkey is one of the oldest “purebred”...
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Registering different breeds of horses, ponies and donkeys in France can sometimes be a little daunting to say the least!
If we break things down you have a) equines born within France or b) equines imported to France
If your equine was born within France then you need to determine if he is eligible to be included in one of the studbooks the Haras Nationaux holds, or, if he is of unknown breeding...
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Balto and Jenna finally found their forever home and today was the day to move them there. They have both gone to live with Yvonne and her husband in the Charente Maritime where they are going to be treated like royalty. Jenna has had a tough life being rescued a few years ago, her friend Balto was lucky enough to be given away with her. Balto & Jenna have a very strong bond, so much so that...
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Today we said an emotional goodbye to ERF rescues, Wilbur & Piona as we waved them off on their travels to live with their new adoptive family in Calvados. We will update soon with news on how they are getting along but apparently they are already melting peoples hearts up...
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Posted by on Jul 17, 2009 in Welfare | 2 comments
With France experiencing a recent spate of very hot weather, we thought we’d offer some advice on how you can help your equine cope with the heat.
Provide ample clean, fresh water at all times. Horses can drink in excess of 50 litres a day during hot, dry weather. Stagnant water can be a breeding ground for bacteria so change regularly.
Ensure your equine has access to shade – ...
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Posted by on Jul 16, 2009 in General News | 0 comments
To be held at…
Centre de Beauregard, Beauregard, 86250, ASNOIS
Classes to include Dressage, Clear round Jumping, in-hand & ridden showing and a fun dog show.
The closing date for entries is fast approaching so please get in touch with the organisers asap.
You can download a schedule and entry form from the ERF...
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There are many assumptions made about the scale of horse production in France, particularly in the UK where individuals want to ‘rescue’ horses from the abattoir. We regularly hear ‘rescue’ sites talking about the huge numbers of horses being transported in illegal conditions to Italy – indeed we once believed these tales too and it is only with considerable research...
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Posted by on Jul 6, 2009 in Campaigns, Horses | 2 comments
The Horse Trust have joined ERF in publicising the risks that surround purchasing equines of unknown origin from France via a photo on a website and transporting them to the UK. This support from the world’s oldest horse charity, which is renowned for the its investment into equine science, welfare and education, adds weight to the campaigning led by ERF and their supporters. Following...
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Posted by on Jun 30, 2009 in Association News, Rescues | 1 comment
Gazza has now started some gentle work with us. Starting off with long reining in the round pen, then we progressed to a wander round the orchard…
Yesterday we tried leaning over him and then getting on. Even though we had been told be has been ridden and driven before (but not in the past 5 years anyway), we like to make sure they are happy with each stage before we move on to the next...
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Posted by on Jun 27, 2009 in General News | 0 comments
We have been reading more and more stories lately whereby horses are offered free, ‘a donner‘, on French internet sites-often these turn out to be scams. The adverts are normally Pure breds such as Frisons, Spanish, Selle Francais horses who read to be the perfect horse. Yes, too good to be true was never a truer expression!
Often the person selling the horse will be in Africa and you...
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Here at ERF, we’re celebrating – we have just achieved our first campaigning goal to help safeguard the welfare of horses being transported from France to the UK under the guise of ‘rescuing’.
Behind the scenes, we have been working extremely hard for the past 5 months to raise the plight of these animals to the notice of the authorities and to ensure their welfare and...
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A few weeks ago ERF heard about the plight of Gasparin, a beautiful 15 yr old Norwegian Fjord gelding that was on his way to being sold to the abattoir. His French owners had acquired a property 5 years previous, and with it came a pony, Gasparin. They had tried selling him, to no avail, because of his previous history of laminitis. They felt their only option of a buyer was the abattoir, until...
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