Donaldson's Farm and Equine

19/08/2025

🐂TB MEETING - THURSDAY 28TH AUGUST 🐄

Our next cattle talk will be on Thursday 28th August at 7.30pm.
Topic of discussion will be TB situation in the local area, TB vaccination 💉 and badgers 🦡.

📍 TenFourteen Bar, Dunford Road, Holmfirth, HD9 2DP

Hot beef sandwiches will be provided! 😋

If you are registered with us, own cattle and have not had a text regarding the talk, please let us know.

Please let the office know if you would like to attend.
01484 421512 (option 2) 📞

11/08/2025

🔹 OUR NEXT GASTROSCOPE CLINIC - TUESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2025🔹

Our next gastroscope clinicat Woodnook, will be on Tuesday 19th August. 🐎

2025 CLINIC DATES

Tuesday 19th Aug 2025
Tuesday 16th Sep 2025
Tuesday 14th Oct 2025
Tuesday 11th Nov 2025
Tuesday 9th Dec 2025

Could your horse be suffering as a result of gastric ulcers?
If you have noticed any of the symptoms below, then the answer is quite possibly:
🐴 Poor condition/ weight loss
🐴 Poor performance/ reluctance to train
🐴 Reduced appetite
🐴 Attitude changes
🐴 Changes in coat quality
🐴 Repeated, low grade colic episodes

The cost of the session is the discounted price £150 which includes sedation.

Spaces will be limited and are on a first come first serve basis.

All horses must be starved for a minimum of 16 hours before their appointment. We do offer overnight livery before the scoping day for an extra fee if you will struggle to starve your horse at home.

To book your horse in for gastroscopy, please phone 01484 421512 Mon-Fri between 8am and 4.30pm and speak to our Farm and Equine team. 😊

08/08/2025

Happy Friday! 😃

A success story to finish the week. This mare sustained a severe de-gloving wound to her right hind. Wounds with large defects heal slowly by a process called secondary intention. Under the careful watch of our dedicated equine vet Laura and after two skin grafts…we are delighted to show you the healed result and one very happy horse who is back ridden!

Each wound is different and time frames for healing can range. This case took in the region of 6 months, 4 of those were strict box rest.
The best chance of success is to call us immediately when your horse sustains a wound! ☎️

Rest assured, in an emergency your horse will always be treated by one of the friendly Donaldson’s team.

*Please note, one image has been edited due to severity of content.

06/08/2025

SARCOIDS 🐴

Sarcoids are a form of skin cancer that can occur anywhere on the skin and affects 2-8% of horses.

Facts:
•All equids (horses donkeys zebras) are affected worldwide. 🐎🦓
•If a horse has had a sarcoid before they are likely to get more in the future.
•The more sarcoids a horse has at any one time, the more it will develop.
•Some sarcoids remain stable (unchanged) for long periods of time.
•Damage or trauma to a sarcoid can trigger sudden enlarging and aggressive behaviour.
•It is very rare that sarcoids spontaneously resolve, hence prompt treatment of each new lesion is hence recommended.

Below is a horse that has been treated for an ocular sarcoid. Without treatment this sarcoid would likely have continued to grow causing discomfort and likely vision impairment. Thankfully this owner acted quickly and he can continue his ridden life with two eyes. Swipe between the photos to see the difference! ⬇️📸

There are many treatment options including our in-house laser. With the help of specialists at Equine Medical Solutions, our vets can tailor a plan to your horse.

You wouldn’t treat your own skin cancer without seeking expert advice so please get in touch on 📞01484 421512 option 2 before applying anything to a suspected sarcoid.

01/08/2025

🚨Attending local shows 🐎 - advice regarding recent local Strangles cases🚨

Strangles is caused by a bacteria spread by droplet - when a horse coughs or snorts or indirectly spread through contaminated equipment and clothing. Do not mix equipment at shows and avoid contact with other horses, for example petting, sharing water buckets etc.

If your horse is stabled on a yard with confirmed Strangles cases, even if your horse is not showing clinical signs do not attend local shows.

If your horse is showing any of the below clinical signs, isolate your horse and do not attend local shows:
🌡 High Temperature over 38.5oC
💦 Purulent nasal discharge
🥱 Lethargy
😷 Swollen lymph nodes around throat

💉Vaccinate💉
Strangvac is a licensed intramuscular vaccine indicated to reduce the clinical signs and the number of abscesses within submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes in horses during the acute stage of strangles. Vaccinated horses can still be infected with S.equi but will have a reduction in clinical signs in the acute infection stage.

☎️ If you would like to know more about Strangvac or have any concerns around travelling to local shows please do not hesitate to contact us on 01484421512 option 2.

Emley Show Pen*stone Agricultural Show Halifax Agricultural Show Mirfield Show

11/07/2025

SHEEP ABORTION VACCINES 💉🐑

Now lambing has well and truly finished, it is now the time of year we start planning for the next breeding season.
It is now time to start planning your vaccine schedule to protect your flock against chlamydia and toxoplasmosis.
There are currently no issues with stock of enzootic and toxoplasmosis vaccines but we are encouraging clients to call with their orders for August, September and October.

If you still need to place your order, please call the office on 01484 421512 (option 2) 📞

09/07/2025

‼️FULLY BOOKED - please keep an eye on our socials for further events‼️

Equine Leg Dissection Evening 🐎 🦴
Monday 28th July, 7pm
Donaldson’s Farm and Equine
Woodnook Livery Stables HD9 4DU

Ever wondered what the tendons and the anatomy of the distal forelimb actually look and feel like? Join our equine vets for a guided dissection.

Most forelimb lameness is associated with the foot or lower limb. This is an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the inner workings of the equine limb.

Space is limited so to book a space please call
📞01484421512 option 2.
Please note this session is for Over 18s only and there will be a cost of £20 per head.

24/06/2025

BLUETONGUE UPDATE - Movements from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ➡️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

From today livestock keepers planning to move susceptible animals from the Bluetongue Restricted Zone (RZ) to Wales to live, must follow the specific guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests that now apply. Cattle fully vaccinated with the Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine can now move to Wales without a pre movement test. From 1 July 2025, susceptible animals moving from the RZ direct to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales must comply with the conditions of the general licence.

Check GOV.WALES: www.gov.wales/bluetongue-virus-btv for further information.

From 1 July 2025 the RZ will be extended to cover all of England. From this date you can move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing. The guidance on animal moves to Scotland & Wales must be followed.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an infectious, non-contagious, vector-borne viral disease. It affects wild and domestic ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle, deer and camelids. It does not infect humans and there is no risk to public health or food safety.

20/06/2025

🧪BVD ANTIGEN TESTING FOR THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW 🩸

If you need BVD antigen bloods for your cattle prior to exhibiting at the Great Yorkshire Show, please get in contact as soon as possible so we can get you booked in! 🐂

Call the office 01484 421512 (option 2) ☎️

19/06/2025

❌APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED❌

🐴𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 🐴

** PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS BY 29th June 2025**

An opportunity has arisen within Donaldson’s Farm and Equine. We have an exciting role available which will be comprise of a mixture of office work and auxiliary Equine nurse/groom to help provide care to our patients and support to our vets and admin team with everyday duties.
This is a part-time position, and we looking for somebody to start ASAP, three days a week: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. ideally from 8 – 4.30/5 (negotiable). A full driving licence is essential.

We are hoping to find someone who will fit in with our small, easy going and friendly team. The successful candidate will need to be someone who has attention to detail, uses their initiative and is confident dealing with administrative work. The candidate must be capable and relaxed around horses of all sizes and characters. In addition, the candidate should be comfortable dealing with people and possess excellent communication skills.

The role will include;
• Assisting vets both on and off the yard.
• Handling patients, including lunging and trotting up etc
• Care of in-patients and day patients including feeding, grooming, mucking out etc
• Handling, packaging and posting lab samples.
• Carrying out worm egg counts (training provided)
• Helping to answer phones, taking payments, booking appointments and supporting the office staff in administrative duties including processing insurance claims.

If you feel you fit our criteria and are keen to apply for this position, please email your CV to [email protected]