Hird and Partners Farm & Equine

28/04/2026

🐑 Reduce the Risk of Fly Strike on Your Farm 🐑

Fly strike is a serious welfare and economic issue—but with the right management, it can be prevented. Here’s a complete checklist to help protect your flock:

✔️ Dagging (crutching) to remove dirty wool around the tail and breech
✔️ Worm control to reduce scour
✔️ Use of fly traps to lower the overall fly population on farm
✔️ Prompt treatment of lameness (including footrot) and any wounds
✔️ Regular inspection of sheep, especially in warm, humid weather
✔️ Prompt removal of fallen stock to prevent fly breeding
✔️ Avoid grazing sheltered or shaded areas where flies thrive
✔️ Monitor high-risk animals (lambs, dirty or wounded sheep) more closely

💡 Peak risk occurs during warm, wet weather—stay vigilant and act early.

Prevention is always better than cure. Protect your flock and stay one step ahead of fly strike.

23/01/2026

⚠️⚠️ PHONE LINE ISSUES ⚠️⚠️
Please bare with us this afternoon, if you are trying to get through on the phones, we are having some technical issues!!
For emergencies please call 07899792536 alternatively you can contact us via e-mail if your query is not urgent.
[email protected]
Thank you for your patience!

15/01/2026

🚨📣 Progress Update📣🚨

With just over 50 miles left out of a gruelling 268, Chris has raised £6945 for Meningitis Research!! Can we get it to £7000 before he crosses the finish line?

🚨📣 Progress Update📣🚨

Chris Lockett is currently taking on The Spine Race, which is a gruelling ultramarathon that spans approximately 268 miles along the Pennine Way, to raise money for Meningitis Research in memory of his daughter Penny.

He is almost half way through and as you can see by the picture he is still smiling!

If you wish to sponsor Chris whilst he is taking on this mammoth challenge please follow the link below!

Come on Chris you can do it!!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-lockett-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA&fbclid=IwY2xjawPS9bVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBUdHVWZEZYR1E1YVc4YzVvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuW6cM3Ez3_mpAiG6DLb9ZVpfKyXtyw0NWYC0grIWeszgtLm9eHNpOJs8Qsz_aem_hsPluu7GEMt7UNIhbcHEtg

13/01/2026

Chris Lockett is currently taking on The Spine Race, which is a gruelling ultramarathon that spans approximately 268 miles along the Pennine Way, to raise money for Meningitis Research in memory of his daughter Penny.

He is almost half way through and as you can see by the picture he is still smiling!

If you wish to sponsor Chris whilst he is taking on this mammoth challenge please follow the link below!

Come on Chris you can do it!!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-lockett-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA&fbclid=IwY2xjawPS9bVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBUdHVWZEZYR1E1YVc4YzVvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuW6cM3Ez3_mpAiG6DLb9ZVpfKyXtyw0NWYC0grIWeszgtLm9eHNpOJs8Qsz_aem_hsPluu7GEMt7UNIhbcHEtg

30/12/2025

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

🐴✨ 2026 Equine Yard Visits ✨🐴

The dates for our 2026 equine yard visits are now confirmed!

Please take a moment to check the images and lists below and familiarise yourself with the new schedule, as some regular visit days have changed.

Please give us a call if you would like to check if you are eligible.

We can’t wait to see you all in the new year! 🎄🌟📅

🔹 Monday
Littleborough (now monthly)
Ludd Foot/Cragg Vale/Hebden Bridge/Heptonstall/Mytholmroyd

🔹 Tuesday
Huddersfield
Rochdale / Denshaw
Keighley
Ripponden

🔹 Wednesday
North Leeds / Horsforth
Oakenshaw/Wyke/Gomersal/Gildersome/Drighlington/Middleton

🔹 Thursday
Todmorden/Bacup/Blackshaw Head
Birstall/Batley/East Ardsley/Ossett
Clifton/Cleckheaton/Mirfield
Tong / Pudsey / Farnley
YEC @ Gildersome (monthly)

🔹 Friday
Shelf / Ogden
Shibden / Southowram

18/11/2025

💊 Responsible Use of Medicine 💊

📢 Join us for the Responsible Use of Medicine Course:

Presented by Norbrook the course is a Red Tractor recognised and certified course and can be used as either an initial course or as a refresher!
Lunch will be provided on the day so please ensure you book your place with the office.

📅 Date: 17th December 2025

🕒 Time: 11.00am

📍 Location: The Raggalds, Brighouse & Denholme Road, Queensbury, BD13 1NA

🔗 Register now and secure your spot!

18/09/2025

🧬🐴 Worm Resistance is on the Rise
Did you know that overusing wormers can lead to parasite resistance? That means the treatments we rely on may not work when we really need them.

For tapeworms, the best approach is test before you treat.

💡 A simple tapeworm test such as the Equisal Saliva Test or Blood Anti-body Test can tell you if your horse actually needs worming.

🔍 Why it matters:
✅ Avoids unnecessary worming
✅ Helps preserve drug effectiveness
✅ Supports long-term equine health

🍂 Autumn is an ideal time to test — make sure your horse is ready for winter and reduce the potential for related problems such as colic and weight loss.

It is important to consider the age of your horse and its grazing pattern when undertaking a risk assessment. Horses of different ages have varying susceptibility to worms; this can affect the horses that they graze with because susceptible horses can pass more worm eggs onto paddocks.

15/09/2025

🚨 Blowfly Strike Alert – Stay Vigilant! 🪰🐑

We are still seeing lots of cases of strike made worse with the recent warm, muggy weather.

🔍 Check your flock daily – Especially lambs and dirty or lame sheep. Strike can develop FAST, and early detection is key!

🧼 Dag & Crutch – Keep back ends clean to reduce attraction. Regular dagging is one of the best ways to reduce risk.

💉 Treat & Protect – If you haven’t already, apply a preventative product and keep track of coverage dates. Some may need reapplication.

🪱 Watch for scouring – Worm burdens can increase strike risk. Test before you treat, and make sure faecal egg counts are up to date.

🚑Clip affected wool, clean wounds, and treat with an appropriate insecticide.

📞 Whether you just need some advice or you would like a vet to visit, give us a call!

01422 354106

Let’s keep the blowflies at bay this autumn! 💪🐑

19/08/2025

🐾 Thank You for Supporting Our Raffle! 🐾

Thank you to everybody who popped by and supported our raffle at Halifax Show, we raised £101.50 and it has now been donated to Animals in Distress.

Please give Animals in Distress Field of Dreams a like and a follow, they are a great local charity helping animals in our area. If you would like to support them too, you can donate here:

https://animals-in-distress.enthuse.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMRWOJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBUdHVWZEZYR1E1YVc4YzVvAR5OP4brsKB7sanqIt92RX4-oB0f1LBQTBizdQL7f0fhnNubjnIZEwKC7dZ94w_aem_QhLcTAr13tHOLTww189IVg #!/

15/08/2025

🍂 Autumn Sheep Care Tips 🐑

As the seasons look to change, your flock’s needs do too! Here’s what to focus on this coming autumn:

🌾 Prepare ewes for tupping with good nutrition and health checks
🧪 Get faecal egg counts done to plan effective worming
💉 Catch up on any missed vaccinations
🛡️ Keep an eye out for fly strike and other parasite risks

If you want a hand with autumn flock health planning or treatments, just give us a call!

📞01422 354106