Warning to others

[KanoasDestiny]

People often get irritated with newbies who don't ask questions. I can understand this frustration, and I have always promised not to be one of those who refuses to seek the answers on how to do something better. That is... until today.

While I understand why experienced horse owners want newbies to become more knowledgable and to ask questions, I can definatley see why some newbies might be hesitant to do so. It may be the fear of appearing "stupid", that stops them.

I posted earlier today, regarding a sick colt that has a runny nose and slight cough. I also emailed a couple of people who I met early on, who have given me advice and whom I greatly respected. One woman wrote to me and told me that she had a miniature horse that died after having similar symptoms. I sent her the following email...

"About the runny nose and cough, can I ask what your horse had? Gideon has been seen by a vet, and he doesn't have pnemonia or strangles. I figured maybe a cold or flu?"

Simple and to the point. Or so I thought. I received the following email from her.

"Sara…Please figure it out on your own…but why on Gods little green earth would you bring a sick horse into your healthy barn…Are you just stupid or crazy…sorry…After losing Martha, I will never place my foals anyplace, until I have talked to the attending vet and looked at his/or her records for the entire ranch. When you lose a foal like my Martha, you will understand what I am saying…"

I cried non stop for nearly an hour after receiving this email. I feel totally embarrassed and regret bothering her. I am just so upset over this whole ordeal. I wanted to recieve beautiful, healthy horses, and it just didn't turn out that way. Now I can only try my darnest to get them better and see how to go about doing it. I feel guilty, bad, sad, mad and every other emotion you could possibly think of. But it doesn't help when I tried to learn more and I basically got slapped in the face for asking a question.

So please, if a newbie comes to you asking for help, please don't treat them this way. It is hard enough for us to try to take everything in, in such a short time. Everybody has to start somewhere, and it helps if you have people with experience supporting you and helping you along the way. Downgrading, will not help the situation any, and the newbie may fear asking questions in the future, when they really need to be asked.

JMHO

 

[billiethekid40]

Oh GOSH! Never feel bad asking a question HERE! You've been here for ages learning and reading... but there are some things that you will never learn (or just never think to learn about) until they happen to you! Thats why nobody knows everything! This forum is here for people to learn from other peoples experiences. Many of the "older" "been there done that" members still ask questions about something they never experienced before, so why should you, a NEW HORSE MOM not be allowed? Don't feel embarrased or guilty or stupid. Feel a little misused of anything, to be treated so poorly by someone when all you did was ask a question!

 

[Buckskin gal]

That was totally uncalled for and so sorry you were hurt by it. Don't let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel for you...there are far more people that want to be of help than there are those who want to be sassy mouthed. Don't let her ruin your whole day. Hugs, Mary

People often get irritated with newbies who don't ask questions. I can understand this frustration, and I have always promised not to be one of those who refuses to seek the answers on how to do something better. That is... until today.

While I understand why experienced horse owners want newbies to become more knowledgable and to ask questions, I can definatley see why some newbies might be hesitant to do so. It may be the fear of appearing "stupid", that stops them.

I posted earlier today, regarding a sick colt that has a runny nose and slight cough. I also emailed a couple of people who I met early on, who have given me advice and whom I greatly respected. One woman wrote to me and told me that she had a miniature horse that died after having similar symptoms. I sent her the following email...

"About the runny nose and cough, can I ask what your horse had? Gideon has been seen by a vet, and he doesn't have pnemonia or strangles. I figured maybe a cold or flu?"

Simple and to the point. Or so I thought. I received the following email from her.

"Sara…Please figure it out on your own…but why on Gods little green earth would you bring a sick horse into your healthy barn…Are you just stupid or crazy…sorry…After losing Martha, I will never place my foals anyplace, until I have talked to the attending vet and looked at his/or her records for the entire ranch. When you lose a foal like my Martha, you will understand what I am saying…"

I cried non stop for nearly an hour after receiving this email. I feel totally embarrassed and regret bothering her. I am just so upset over this whole ordeal. I wanted to recieve beautiful, healthy horses, and it just didn't turn out that way. Now I can only try my darnest to get them better and see how to go about doing it. I feel guilty, bad, sad, mad and every other emotion you could possibly think of. But it doesn't help when I tried to learn more and I basically got slapped in the face for asking a question.

So please, if a newbie comes to you asking for help, please don't treat them this way. It is hard enough for us to try to take everything in, in such a short time. Everybody has to start somewhere, and it helps if you have people with experience supporting you and helping you along the way. Downgrading, will not help the situation any, and the newbie may fear asking questions in the future, when they really need to be asked.

JMHO

 

[Miniv]

I am so sorry that you got blasted like that. Who knows what may be going on with the lady on the other end of that e-mail? She may have been having a horrific day....... Please don't take it to heart.

I do know that there's been an upper respiratory horsey flu that was going around our general region earlier this year. It sounds like you might be dealing with something similar.

If you can, keep your sick horse away from your healthy ones. Check your sick horse's temperature. And if the snots start turning color on you, such as thick yellow or green (ick) you should consider checking with your vet about giving an antibiotic. Also, watch your horse's general attitude and behavior. If he starts going off his food and/or acting mopey -- let the vet know.

MA

 

[Mona]

I have no idea who wrote that, but if you ask me, that was TOTALLY uncalled for, and was downright RUDE!!! Please don't let that one bad experience stop you from asking questions!!

 

[Kootenay]

Hi everyone,

Thought i'd jump on the bandwagon here. As a "Newbie"--(gosh I dislike that term), to the forum, I have felt hesitant asking questions about my mini. I realize that there are a great number of vastly experienced miniature horse owners on here, and quite a few are very busy, and have probably answered the same question numerous times. I figure this forum out to be a great place for ALL miniature horse owners to share and learn from each others experiences. There are in my books "no stupid questions". I greatly appreciate all the help I get from the members of this forum :aktion033: . Usually my questions get typed out through a fast beating heart and a bit lower lip--(so to speak). I wouldn't hesitate to tell other people about this forum and urge them to ask questions. It may be nerve wracking--but I don't think anyone would truly "chew your head off", for asking a reasonable question

.

This is a WONDERFUL Forum Family, and Bless each and every one of you

: .

 

[Reble]

Sometimes I find people are scared to give advice on sick animals, without your vet looking at them.

Which is good advice.

They don't realize vets don't always get out in time. They also are human and give wrong advice.

I am listening to a vet on T.V. right now and taking calls and giving advice. He also have not seen these animals, he is from Toronto on Animal House Calls. Just all remember just opinons on our experiences.

Our experiences could help our little fellows. That is why we come to the forum to share.

A Great Wonderful Wise Lady on here told me, there is no reason for us to gang up on someone, or being nasty and hurting someone.

I do understand it can be overwhelming when things go wrong, but maybe this lady just was having a bad day. Sounds like she is still grieving the loss of her Martha.

This is the right place to come for information and hope you keep asking, I learn something new everyday.

Sorry you where hurt. :new_shocked:

 

[tiny zebra]

You know what, most of us here I'm sure can testify that at some point in time, if you've been in this horse biz long enough, we've all brought seemingly healthy horses into a barn and all heck has broken loose! IT HAPPENS!!! There is no crime in it! How many people here have taken a sick kid to day care? How many of you have had kids get sick from other kids at daycare??? Why isn't that such a crime? I don't know who blasted you like that but in my opinion, they don't know DOO DOO!!

I hope your horse gets better soon. If every horse that had a snotty nose died, well, there would be no more horses now would there? Keep your chin up, consult your vet and love your horse through this!

:

 

[Pandora]

Gosh, that was mean. I've been around horses my whole life. I could ride before I could walk. I still learn new things every day. Yes, your sick horses should be isolated, but if you don't know or think to do it you should not be chastised for it. Your earlier post suggest you know there is a problem and you called your vet like you are supposed to, which is good :aktion033: Don't judge us all on that one horrible email.

Melissa

 

[PaintedLady]

I know exactly what you mean. It's almost as if the "experienced individual" is telling you exactly how you could have avoided the situation, instead of helping you with the current situation. I bet if you had any inclination that there would have been an issue, you would have accomadated for it.

The whole point of your post was to try to get you through until the vet could help you out. If I'm wrong please correct me.

If there's anything I can do, please ask. I'm not the most experienced person, but maybe I could help.

Believe me I totally understand. I have seen some people more than helpful and others that give you that "you should know better attitude."

Hang tough. It may be a bit of a struggle, but you'll get through it.

Jean

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Gideon and Zoey arrived together. So there was no way of seperating them. And it would have done no good once they had already been exposed to each other for several hours. They are my first horses, so I don't have to worry about anyone else getting sick. I just wish that I could do something for them in the meantime.

I am sure that the woman who wrote the email was probably having a bad day, and believe me, I apologized to her for bringing up a bad memory. I just wanted to use my experience here, as a warning to others... that people who are new to horses, may be afraid to come forward for help. And that the way someone with knowledge responds to them, may in fact determine if they will come back for more help. Thank you all for your replies.

 

[SmoothEZ]

I too am so sorry that you had to go through that. You are the future of our breed and to have to deal with an ignorant individual such as that is totally uncalled for. Whom ever this person is I hope that they read this thread and I hope that deep down inside they feel like a total waste. If we can not impart our knowledge to those that ask they why obtain the knowledge in the first place.

Personally I think that people like that should be banned from this forum because they do nothing but hurt other people.

I hope that you little guy gets better and just keep on asking the questions because there are many of us that have no problem imparting what little knowledge we have to help a fellow horseperson.

To the individual that wrote that email "Shame on You, Remember What Goes Around Comes Around" we should all do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

:

 

[Sandee]

Please remember the old quote. "The only dumb question is the one NOT asked!" Ask away and hopefully someone can help.

I've dealt with a sick horse with the runny nose and no other symptoms but the reason I didn't jump in with advice is there is no way to know if it is the same thing or something different. In my case, my 2 yr old came home from a show and got very depressed and a runny nose and it turned snotty. The vet came out; he had no temp. but started him on SMZ and he got over it. She didn't know what was wrong. He might have been exposed to something at the show or just the long trip (2 days) each way plus the show might have just wore him down and he got a bad cold.

When something is wrong with these little ones the best you can do is treat the symptoms, call the vet and hope for the best.

Sorry you had a bad experience on asking for help. Please do not get "turned off" - try again!

 

[shane]

SOME PEOPLE HAVE JUST GOT REAL ATTITUDE PROBLEMS...... DONT LET IT GET TO YOU, BECAUSE IVE BEEN THERE,AND BOUGHT THE T.SHIRT, i remember a few years ago a girl bought a wee pony and brought it into our livery yard at the time, he was gorgeous very healthy looking, until about two days later i was scratching under his chin and this wet stuff came out,he had no runny nose or cough it was only when the young girls father came up to the yard and clipped it ,that i realized the wee pony had just gotten over the strangles,i had my thoroughbred mare and my Irish draught in next door to it, so you can imaging the horror, i had to convince this young girl to get the pony out of the yard before it effected all our horses, apparently strangles can be carried by air for miles i hope everything goes well with your wee horse, sometimes wee cant always make the right choices there and then, it doesn't mean you dont care.....

 

[disneyhorse]

Don't be put off by one person's bad attitude. In this world, it happens unfortunately! Even I get cranky sometimes

:

A snotty nose and a cough, particularly in a young horse experiencing stress by moving to a new home, is not uncommon. I would recommend keeping a VERY close eye on it and perhaps calling a vet out particularly if there is any fever (temperature should be about 100 degrees and I highly recommend going to the store and buying a thermometer... it goes rectally

: ) "Shipping fever" isn't really caused by shipping per say but is just a general term for "illness related to shipping and other stressors) and it is possible your little guy may need some antibiotics.

Don't worry about being a newbie and the possibility of "getting your head ripped off" by some bad apple. People just mean for the best but sometimes it comes out harsher than intended I think.

Andrea

 

[Colagirl]

Kanoa that is awful...but sorry to say, there are some rude knowalls on here but mostly everyone is very helpful. You have to do what the rest of us new forum members do - if someone is nasty, avoid them and stick with the ones who are genuinely kind and helpful. Dont be afraid to post tho cos there are lots of the second type and the ones like the person who replied so horribly isnt worth your time being upset hun.

 

[ibquackers20]

I made a very good friend with the person I bought a stallion from and a pergnant mare from and after the baby was born the friend said she was so pleased that she sold me the minis and that I was a great friend and my place was great for her minis. We would talk on the phone every night about the horses and how well I took care of them - that is untill someone came in the middle of the night and let my minis out - I lost 3 to a car hitting them and the baby ran home safe but very shooken up. when I told my friend what had happened she called me a killer and said she regrets the day she sold the 2 to me and that she wanted to buy the filly that was born here so she could be safe. SOME FRIEND SHE TURNED OUT TO BE, what gull. Needless to say it has been quite a few months and I refuse to call her at all, I have to live with the memory and drive past where they were killed everyday - she does not and lives 45 minutes from me.

Things happen for a reason, I now have 2 new minis to keep baby company but will never forgive my friend for what she said. And as far as she says is that the forum I ask questions with is crap and that they know nothing - well my x friend is full of crap and knows nothing , not to mention she does nothing with her minis but feed/and the odd scratch and farrier work when they need it. Her minis are wild and have next to no handling. Where a my home they are handled daily and I am training to drive and so is my mini's . I did the best I could with the ones I bought from her and it was not to my fault that someone sick did this - I now have chains with pad locks on all the gates and a security camera in the barn,plus 3 other around my home so I now see everything going on and have it tapping every night and watch it every morning. This forum is a great place to get advice and I thank everyone because you are never to old or good to learn new things. Now I live for my minis and breath for my minis they are my babies - to me they will always come first - then my kids - then my hubby / lol

So remember no question is stupid , but never asking for help is. just my opinion - keep up the great work everyone us newbies are like sponges always learning and always asking.

: :saludando:

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

, I will never place my foals anyplace, until I have talked to the attending vet and looked at his/or her records for the entire ranch. When you lose a foal like my Martha, you will understand what I am saying…"

JMHO

As far as this goes.. I dont know any vet that would show records for an entire ranch to a prospective SELLER or BUYER a vet doesnt just go showing there records to anyone for someone elses ranch. It is highly unethical and I frankly dont know a vet that would do this and I am not sure I would be willing to have all my farms records out there for the "SELLER" to see as while I have nothing to hide it truly is none of there buisness.

 

[Feather1414]

Thats terrible.

I know that I am always willing to ask questions, as well as give advice.

Just ignore her. Thats just mean and downright rude.

 

[luvmycritters]

I am sure that the woman who wrote the email was probably having a bad day, and believe me, I apologized to her for bringing up a bad memory. I just wanted to use my experience here, as a warning to others... that people who are new to horses, may be afraid to come forward for help. And that the way someone with knowledge responds to them, may in fact determine if they will come back for more help. Thank you all for your replies.

Don't be put off by one person's bad attitude. In this world, it happens unfortunately! Even I get cranky sometimes

What Goes Around Comes Around" we should all do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]



Koodo's to you Sarah - very well said! Good luck with your little one and take care...

Lori