Okey Dokey Farm

25/04/2025

How many do you see? Right beside the house...I feel for them, like the rest of us, I don't think they are fans of incessant rain.

23/04/2025

Give me a home among the gum 🌳 and some dry feet...give me some dry feet .....please......pretty please..with
sprinkles of lucerne on top.
already

22/04/2025

Hi there little mate... top of the morning to you.

12/04/2025

Feet and feed....hows your Saturda?. 6 rain events and counting for today alone. Enough already. I've fallen out of the habit of prepping feeds, but with schopl hols and shorter days, I'm back into it. Do you mix as you go, or are you a prepper? Look at Rex giving me the side eye 😇

08/04/2025

First ride in wwwaaaayy to long....
The change in season is beyond lovely 🤩

05/04/2025

Taking the dog and the cat for a stroll....

04/04/2025

Sleepy horses post rain...but more shed and cleaning up heels and feet. How was your day?

30/03/2025

Our vets are the backbone of our animals lives and a fundamental part of Okey Dokey Farm ...please please look after them.
They work so hard in a dangerous and tricky environment to do the very best for our animals. And remember...there's no Medicare for service subsidy or PBS for medication... that's why the charges can sometimes feel unexpected. Just thank God you're not in the US or you'd be paying more for your own healthcare.

** PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR HORSEY MACKAY FRIENDS**

🚨 Equine Vets Are Leaving The Industry — And It’s a Problem 🐴

We regularly hear, “It’s so hard to get a horse vet in Mackay right now.” That’s true — and it’s getting worse. Equine vets are leaving the profession in record numbers due to burnout, poor work-life balance, and lack of respect.

This job is demanding. It involves long hours, high risk, and emotionally draining cases — all while juggling rising costs and trying to keep services affordable for our community.

Here’s how YOU can help keep equine vets in the region and ensure your horse gets care when it needs it most:

🔹 Respect your vet’s knowledge.
Veterinary advice isn’t a guess — it’s based on science, clinical experience, and years of hard work. Facebook opinions are not equivalent.

🔹 Open communication is welcome — arguments aren’t.
We’re happy to discuss ideas or concerns about your horse’s care. We are not here to be challenged for sport.

🔹 Pay your bills.
Veterinary clinics are not banks. Ongoing debt without communication makes it difficult to keep services running. Talk to us early if you are struggling and still need care for your horse.

🔹 Build a relationship before emergencies.
Routine work like dentals, vaccines, and health checks help us get to know you and your horse — and make you a priority client when something goes wrong.

🔹 Vaccinate for Hendra Virus.
We are in a known Hendra zone. If your horse is unvaccinated and presents with symptoms consistent with Hendra, our ability to treat is legally restricted. That means you may be left with only one option: euthanasia.

🔹 Be patient and follow up.
If we don’t respond immediately, we’re not ignoring you — we’re working. If it’s urgent, call again. If it’s not, please give us time. If you think we've forgotten you, don't be afraid to follow up kindly.

🔹 Kindness is not optional.
Our tolerance for abuse is low. If you are rude, aggressive, or disrespectful to staff, we will not continue to provide services.

If things don’t change, there will be fewer and fewer equine vets — and eventually, none. The ones who remain are here because we care deeply about your horses. Help us keep doing the job — safely and sustainably.

30/03/2025

The golden hour.....happy working week eve all. I hope it's a cracker.

29/03/2025

Sun's out 🌼...well that was 140mm we didn't need. I sorely wish it could make it to those down south that need it. Please help out western Qld.....about 1/3 of the state is underwater in the biggest flood since 1974 (in some regions bigger). I know how that feels, and it's beyond crap. Extreme weather events are happening every week...the toll mentally and economically is beyond comprehension. Please take that thought with you to the ballot box folks.

25/03/2025

Hi. My phone is currently out of action (had a clash with something metal in my pocket yesterday). Communications should be restored by Friday. It's quite peaceful. Might have to get a dumb phone. Cheers Kylie

23/03/2025

22/03/2025

Massive day yesterday in the heat...jeez...another job that should be 'winter only' 🤣. Started with the slab at 7am and got this far by about 6pm. Thanks to our neighbours for helping out. We're back at it today. My body is feeling it...not as young as I used to be that's for sure.

20/03/2025

This is a great piece by Dr Shelley Appleton Calm Willing Confident Horses . This concept of the death of truth has been playing on my mind for years..it's the death of critical thinking that scares me the most. It's a sad indictment on our education systems, institions, leaders and ourselves that we are not challenging people to back up their thought bubbles....I hatch all sorts of hypothesis at 2am and it feels to me that they make perfect sense, it doesn't mean I present them as truth. This BS of 'alternative facts, untruths and misspeak' drives me nuts. Facts are facts until we PROVE them otherwise with more research and evidence (from trusted, peer reviewed sources), not because we want a shortcut or it suits our cause, need or bank account. Or worse, because we are too lazy to dig a bit deeper or so evil that perpetuating the lie suits our agenda. Wise up people. Just because you yell loadest and longest doesn't make what you're yelling truth. And don't get me started on the dude who claims "nobody knows more than me about..insert subject here.....". Also always ask what vested interest may be behind the presentation of 'facts and evidence'.
Be a lifelong learner...be curious...stay open minded, but overall remember, there is opinion and there is fact. See if you can spot the difference.

"The Death of Truth (and Other Fun Lies We Tell Ourselves)"🔥

You know what’s really out of fashion these days? No, not flip phones or Facebook😆- the truth.

Yep, facts are out. Evidence? Optional. Critical thinking? Cancelled. Instead, we have vibes-based reasoning, where feelings trump facts, expertise is elitism, and anyone asking for proof is a "bully."

How do I know? Because in the last couple of weeks, I’ve apparently become the Simon Cowell of science, simply for pointing out when people are, well… not making sense.

Case #1: The Mysterious Expert with a Mysteriously Missing Degree

There’s a person out there claiming to be a "clinical neuroscientist." Sounds impressive, right? Except, their bio is the résumé equivalent of a magic trick—implying they’ve studied multiple medical and biomedical disciplines but somehow never quite mentioning a degree or official qualification.

So, I asked a reasonable question: "What are your qualifications?"

Answer? Crickets. The only thing that followed was a post about how they had been the targeted by cyberbullies. Because apparently, expecting transparency from someone offering mental health advice is just mean-spirited gatekeeping.

The new rule of online discourse: If you say you’re an expert, you are one. No credentials required. Just believe!

Case #2: The Science Page That Took Creative Liberties

A well-known page dedicated to scientific discussion posted a quote from a newly published research paper, claiming it supported a fascinating new idea about horses.

Just one problem: the actual paper never mentioned horses. At all.

When this was pointed out, they quietly edited the "typo" 🙄—but then insisted that their original claim was still valid because, you know, facts are fluid now.

Then came the pièce de résistance: When asked for a legitimate reference to back up their claim, they provided completely unrelated studies. That’s like saying, "The moon is made of cheese—look, here’s a paper on dairy farming!"

When pressed further, they fell back on the all-time classic: "You’re just arguing semantics."

Yes. Yes, I am. Because words have meanings, and if you don’t think they do, I’d love to sell you a "mansion" (it’s just a tent, but let’s not get caught up in semantics).

Case #3: The Social Media Scholar Who Loves Science (But Not That Much)

A well-meaning person posted a long explanation about the nervous system and dissociation. One small issue—it was riddled with factual errors.

I politely pointed this out. Gave them a few concepts to check out to help their explanations. Their response? "I’m not sciency, but I believe this makes sense."

Ah. Of course. Not being ‘sciency’ now means facts don’t apply to you. Much like not being ‘mathy’ means 2 + 2 can equal whatever makes you feel safe.

And, naturally, I became the villain for daring to suggest that if you’re going to confidently explain neuroscience, it helps to actually understand neuroscience....not to mention it's really interesting!

Case #4: The Guru Who Knows Everything (Except How to Prove It)

Ah, the Guru. The wise, enlightened horse trainer / life coach / healer of all wounds and traumas. The one who speaks in vague profundities and whose greatest gift to the world is their deep personal insights (that just so happen to contradict known science).

They don’t need qualifications. They don’t need evidence. They just know.

And if you ask for proof? Well, you simply "lack awareness." You are "closed-minded," a product of a broken system.

And so, we are left with The Great Paradox of the Guru: They claim to have profound, secret knowledge about the world… but somehow, the moment anyone questions them, they collapse into victimhood. They are being "attacked," "bullied," and "persecuted" —for no reason other than being right.

What’s fascinating is that their followers will then flock to their defense, not by presenting facts, but by telling you how the Guru makes them feel. Because in the Age of Anti-Intellectualism, good vibes are more important than good information.

Now, Let’s Get One Thing Straight😎

Before anyone starts clutching their crystals, let me be absolutely clear: I do not believe that formal qualifications are the only path to knowledge and evidence exists in different forms and levels. You don't have to be "sciency" to have really cool insights to share.

Some of the most insightful, skilled, and knowledgeable horse people I know don’t have degrees—but they don't make stuff up. They don’t dress up their opinions as facts. And crucially, they’re still curious, open to learning, and deeply engaged with the science—not just when it supports their beliefs, but even when it challenges them.

So if you’re someone who values learning, accuracy, and rigorous thinking, I respect that. If you don’t have formal credentials but actually know your stuff, I rate you.

But if you’re the type who…
✅ Claims to be an expert without ever proving it.
✅ Thinks "personal truth" overrides objective reality.
✅ Dismisses critical thinking as "bullying" the moment your ideas are questioned…

…then I am not your cup of tea. In fact, I am probably the double-shot espresso of critical thinking, and I will not apologise for that.

If you believe that everyone’s opinion is equally valid, regardless of whether it aligns with reality, you should probably just unfollow me now. If facts make you uncomfortable, block me and retreat into the warm embrace of pseudoscience.

I am always respectful in my approach to people if I ever do question, ask for evidence or point out an inaccuracy.

Because here’s the thing:
💡 Questioning claims is not an attack.
💡 Asking for evidence is not bullying.
💡 Facts don’t care about your feelings.

I don’t do comforting fiction. I don’t do 'everyone’s truth is valid,' because sometimes, it’s just not. What I do is critical thinking, real discussion, and intellectual integrity.

Explaining complex topics in a simple way is a skill—you don’t have to make things up to do it well. I can even respect if you’re not ready to accept certain things; everyone is on their own journey.

But let’s be clear—questioning or disagreeing with you does not mean I am bullying you.

Why This Matters
When we let people fabricate expertise, misrepresent research, and reject correction as ‘bullying’, we don’t just damage intellectual integrity—we create a world where belief beats reality.

And here’s the problem:
🚨 Reality doesn’t care what you believe. 🚨

If you claim expertise you don’t have, you’re misleading people.
If you cite a paper that doesn’t say what you say it does, you’re misrepresenting research.

If you spread misinformation about mental health, the nervous system, or horse behaviour, training, physiology, biomechanics, trauma etc. you’re leading people astray.

And when challenged, if your response is to double down instead of getting curious and fact checking yourself, you’re part of the problem.

Final Thought

I have channelled my inner Tim Minchin for this post because I am currently reading his book "You Don't Have to Have a Dream". He might be satirist, musical comedian but he is also an unapologetic advocate for reason, evidence, and critical thinking. Here are two of my favourite Tim quotes:

Firstly, to all the scientists out there....

"Do you know what they call a scientist who questions everything, demands evidence, and changes their mind when confronted with new facts? A good scientist.."

And then to everyone...

"We must think critically, and not just about the ideas of others. Be hard on your beliefs. Take them out onto the verandah and hit them with a cricket bat. Be intellectually rigorous."

If you’re making claims—about science, horses, or the human brain or whatever —you don’t get to just manifest them into truth.

You need evidence.

And if someone points something out, maybe that is a heads up to consider your claims.

Otherwise, you’re not educating anyone. You’re just storytelling for an audience that prefers fiction to facts.

And quite frankly, I think we all deserve better.

15/03/2025

Sun's out..🥵....post flood humidity sure has a kick to it.

14/03/2025

It's hearwarming to get feedback like this from our clients. It's understandable that everyone gets stressed about their precious animals being away from home, especially when there's nasty weather forecast. I am so glad to be able to create an environment where horses thrive and their humans know they are getting taken care of. This lovely client came to visit yesterday and sent this as she left on dusk after seeing her horses for the first time post Alfred.

13/03/2025

Horses being horses...
Herd living means we see a few scrapes and bruises..."Signs of a life well played".

Horses that live outdoors will display signs of having freedoms.

This photos shows a handful of bite marks on my beloved Sani. All of them were driven by play at the mouth of our 2 year old AQHA c**t Oki. Shoulder and face bite game is universal!

Sani has very well developed social skills. I have watched him in no less than 10 different herds, ranging in size from 1 other horse, to 30+ horses. And some of those herds included a rotation of individuals, not all of them were stable.

I have watched him step out of trouble. I have watched him step into trouble. Never has he been seriously hurt by another horse.

But bumps and scrapes? A sign of a life well played.

Many of us are nervous to turn our horses out. Because we are anxious about them getting hurt. So am I. What I have spent, time and money, in the last year on foams, edging protectors, mats, pads and fences to safekeep the horses is nobodies business.

But a pristine horse living alone is not living.

If you would like to do something -today- that requires only emotional courage from you, that can take your horses happiness and well-being from a 2 to a 10... turn them out with other horses.

And remember, if you need guidance on herd integration, I would love to assist. I have free materials on herd socialisation on YT and deep nerdy dives in the Video Library- soon to be the EH School.

Letting your horse live means normalising the cuts, bumps, bruises, bites, scrapes and scraps that are normal for healthy well socialised horses that enjoy each other and are not afraid of each other. I promise that it's worth it!