vet packages -whats everyone thing of prices

Don't you get your mare and foal looked at the next day after foaling IGG for example?I tend to think ALL vets are expensive.Rossdales certainly know how to charge,we had a foal in NMKT a few years ago that was taken ill,off it went to Rossdales for a few weeks of treatment...........the bill was over 5k!!!The dear LITTLE thing never made the stud fee back it was by the late and some think great Singspiel.

Vet schemes need to be competitive as an example Norton Grove do a very good one everything for about £360/80 that's not bad.

Truehoncho,

This is to clear out any debris etc that may have gone in during foaling. It may stop mares from aborting early.Mind you not all foal heats are strong enough to cover from but your vet should be able to advise about each mare's likelyhood of catching. If the stallion is at a bit of distance it could prove to be quite expensive in terms of travel costs etc.Good luck!

DF

thanks PD.

You've all heard the phrase 'who rattled his cage' - well you've been warned.

Where to begin.

Who actually can prove that it's best to wash a mare out if you want to cover in the foaling heat? I reckon I would like to see a study of atleast 50 mares covered without irrigation and 50 mares with before I was convinced. Every uterous is different - and how, so it would have to be a biggish survey for me. Has anyone done such a study?
The fact is irrigation seems like a good idea, and therefore it's an easy sell by our dear altruistic (not) veterinarians.
I think large boarding studs take the easy option with so many treatments because they aren't sufficiently confident in their management and/or they are frightened of what their clients will say when something doesn't go to plan. "But we did everything 'Aga/Queenie/WeaselWarren' that the marvellous (money grabbing) vets told us"

I don't do IGG levels (an option DustyFog) Prima. The 1st public stud I worked at didn't and nothing too exciting happened (25 yrs ago mind!). It's compulsory if you insure isn't it but I don't. No ones yet convinced me that letting insurers decide my every move is any more desirable than letting the vets. They all want a healthy profit so I'd rather pit my knowledge against theirs. And now I rely on my fellow Betfairians too!! If I've supervised the birth and the foal sucks - does well at the other end! can walk and see then I don't see what else can't wait! Prepared to be told if I'm totally negligent (again) but my vet's never tried.

I am pretty evangelical about walking in though and having just had Coolmore's keep and vet's charge packages through ( A minimum stay of 30 days is 36.67eu per day (49eu if not) Vet 585eu ) I know that it's cheaper to have them at home for me too. Juddmonte went on record as saying that when they stopped having boarding mares, only allowing walk in mares to their stallions, their stallion's conception rates actually improved and I am completely confident in my ability along with my vet to get the job done.
However linking back to unecessary intervention with foals, it is the health of my foals that is the reason why I never board over here. The disease rates on a busy public stud are considerable. The endemic disease on my establishment is zero. No Rattles, No Rotovirus indeed no serious scouring ever.
Add to the mix no All Weather paddocks or worse, barn loads of barreners knocking seven bells out of each other!

Dusty, limb surgery is the other optional that springs to mind. Basically joints nicked, stapled or likewise to aid their straightening. Dubious at best. You can never prove whether intervention has done any more than nature would have done if you'd left well alone. However the best study that I have seen done on the Wildensteins U.S. foals concluded that they were best left well alone - if memory serves!

Now even I'm bored of my own drivel, so well done if you've got this far anyone . . .

I can see why you would irrigate truehoncho. I might do myself but it's a long time since I tried a foal heat. Everything is statistically more iffy with foal heat. Conception, early abortion and late slipping are all worse so I'm always a bit wary.

Your set up is certainly serving you well so far. Don't think it's always so rosy!

I'm not near Scotland I'm afraid and a little unclear as to your motives - are you after a date?

sorry if it seemed like being a smart alec, i was only trying to compare costs. even if the martes missed it would still be cheaper for me to travell a bit and walk in. last year we had only one mare and her foal died, this year i have 2 in foal but both due in may and if i don't try the foal heat then if either miss first time this year they will have june foals next year, so i think its worth the chance.

i will definately taKE all your advice on board.

Although I didn't have a date in mind, I will give it some serious thought!!

Listen here Prima Donna. There is a very considerable queue. AND there is a certain 'smooth' operator always trying to push in. Be afraid, be very afraid . . .

Gosh truehoncho due in May, I would be resting them. It can be very tough commercially with a late foal and it often restricts your choice of stallion with the popular ones being not keen on one jump contracts. Perhaps consider getting a cheapie maiden at Goffs to start early with whilst you wait for your current mares to 're-wind' ?

She looks better a'la Goffs stylee page Prima. I haven't got her on my list as it doesn't look a good page Tatts style!

I've got flights booked but I do have an overdue mare so I'm playing it cool and I booked them cheaply a week or so ago so I could ditch them if necessary.

I'm hoping that it'll be just me and the Goffs cat, unlike overpopulated Tatts last week.

Yes I too could see a small profit in lot 490 for the enterprising folks who picked her up at Ascot.

I'm trying to persuade friends to use Helvellyn instead of a stone cold 'proven' also localish. I think I'm winning and it's an interesting pedigree cross so I'm awaiting news of his fertility last year and money required/numbers booked for this.

I think I'm about to commit to a lukewarm hardy annual for a mare I may sell in July. I often think an old 'reliable' is a good bet for a sales cover as it doesn't actually put you off buying a mare, whereas a younger or wrong year stallion, perhaps doesn't catch the play it safe type of purchaser.

Another saturday night, another theory. . .

Thanks for that Prima. I shall see my friends tomorrow so I shall report the facts and see if they have made contact - and received the same details!

The stallion to whom I believe   you refer is not the end of the world and has had quite a few niceish horses. However aa we always say, you need to get 2yo's or you need to be Galileo. Not much scope for the inbetweeners. I bred a useful horse by him so I suppose I shouldn't complain but I do think he's mighty difficult now.