Local horse clinic designed to educate

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This article was published 20/05/2014 (4358 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There will soon be plenty of horsing around at Poco-Razz Farm.

The farm, located at 130 Greenview Rd. in south St. Vital south of the Perimeter Highway off St. Mary’s Rd., will host its third annual First Aid for Horses Clinic on Thurs., May 22 between 7 and 9 p.m.

The free, rain-or-shine event is aimed at horse owners and will be led by Dr. Dave Snell of Central Veterinary Services. No horses are required and refreshments will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair.  

Jim Shapiro, who has owned the farm with his wife, Christina, for more than 30 years, said topics will include basic information on physical examinations, general signs of illness in horses, wounds, bandaging, first aid and more. The featured topic is dental injuries and the featured disease is equine herpes virus.

One change from last year’s event is a change of location for the presentation, which Shapiro hopes will enhance the experience for visitors, along with other adaptions.

“We are going to hold the clinic inside our steel building this year, so weather will not be a problem,” Shapiro said. Last year’s event coincided with a downpour of torrential rain, though this didn’t dampen the spirits of nearly 100 community members who turned out for the clinic.

“This location will provide protection from the elements, as well as provide more control over darkness, so the PowerPoint presentation should be easier to see. We have also enhanced the sound system, so that everyone should be able to hear, no matter where they are sitting. Dr. Snell’s presentation has been reproduced and will be distributed at the clinic, so attendees do not have to worry about taking notes,” he said.

The farm sits on a 35-acre site that includes pastures, a riding arena, a covered shelter and a quarantine shelter. The facility boards numerous horses on a year-round basis.

Shapiro said the main goal of the clinic is simple — to help educate horse owners about the more nitty-gritty aspects of horse ownership and to evolve with the demands and conditions of the equine world.

“This topic touches a sensitive nerve with horse owners. The truth of the matter is that few horse owners know what to do if their horses get sick or injured,” he said.

“Given the importance of the topic, we have changed the structure of clinic presentations. Each year, we cover the basics of first aid and how to construct a first aid kit for horses. The featured disease this year will be equine herpes virus, a particularly dangerous disease that has appeared in Manitoba, other parts of Canada and in the United States.” 

 
Space for the upcoming event is limited, so call 204-255-4717 to register. For more information, visit www.pocorazzfarm.ca

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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