Welch Family Farm

11/09/2022

We have gotten a lot of questions about Bute-Less lately… And WE ARE NOT FANS! Here are a few facts that we would like to share with you before you pick up this product or others that contain Devil’s Claw for your horse.

- The primary active ingredient in Bute-Less is the herb Devil’s Claw which contains harpogoside.
- Harpagoside has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in people. There are no studies of this effect occurring in horses.
- Devil’s Claw is metabolized in the liver using the enzyme cytochrome p450. While this enzyme is breaking down Devil’s Claw, it cannot breakdown other medications down well. This can lead to accumulation of those medications in the bloodstream and toxicity.
- Devil’s Claw can be nephrotoxic by inhibiting processes for filtration, secretion and absorption in the kidneys.
- Devil’s Claw has been shown to be associated with the development of bleeding gastric ulcers and other severe GI disorders.
- There are no long term use safety studies of this herb.

What this means to you as a horse owner:

Administering any drug to a horse that is being given Devil’s Claw increases the risks and side effects of that drug. For example:
- Administering Banamine to a horse with colic who is being given Devil’s Claw may cause liver failure.
- Administering Gentamicin, an important and common antibiotic used to treat a variety of infections in horses, to a horse being given Devil’s Claw may cause kidney failure.

Plus,
- Harpagoside is a FEI controlled substance
- Devil’s Claw is a USEF prohibited substance
- Horses are already quite efficient at getting gastric ulcers… why add one more risk factor?!

If you have questions about your own horse and Devil’s Claw OR finding other anti-inflammatory options for your horse, please contact your horse’s primary veterinarian at Iron Horse Equine.

Addendum: References reviewed for this post are listed in comments. Absorbine the maker of Bute-Less has commented on our post as well and we recommend that you review their comments and contact them directly regarding Bute-Less specifically. We will be turning off comments on this post at this time and recommend that you reach out to your equine veterinarian for questions and concerns specific to your horse.

10/06/2022

Lunging Cavesson asking $20.

10/05/2022

Charles Owen size large safety vest, never fallen in asking $20
Tough-1 rain sheet size 78 worn less then 10 times, asking $50

10/02/2022

Time to downsize, saddles need a good cleaning but are in great condition otherwise!
I am willing to meet locally.

Full leather saddle is somewhere around 40-50 lbs. and needs a new off billet, asking $75
Synthetic saddle is very light and needs both the billet and cinch strap asking $40
Saddle pad asking $20
Saddle rack (I have two for sale) asking $125

10/01/2022

After lots of discussion we have decided to step away from boarding/training. The last few years have been fun and eye opening in different ways, however it’s just not physically possible for us to continue at this time.

Stay tuned as I will be posting items for sale over the next week or two!
P.S. Little man isn’t going anywhere!

08/27/2022

Be Careful How You Judge a Horse

This horse anyone would love to own. He is calm, willing, trustworthy and beautifully educated.

But if you met him when he was 6 months old you would have met a horse that had just jump through the front window of a horse trailer and five men struggled to lift him out. He was cut to ribbons 😱.

Today, he gets on and travels perfectly☑️.

If you met him when he was 3 years old you would have met a horse that was petrified of water and being hosed off. So much so he put a trainer in hospital with a broken ankle after running over the top of him when trying to fix his hosing issues😱.

Today, you can hose him no worries☑️.

If you met him when he was 5 years old, you would have met a horse that didn't canter and panicked😱.

Today, he has a great canter☑️.

This horse is a great horse because every issue he has had in his life his owner has helped and supported him LEARN how to over come and grow in confidence - whether it was travelling in a trailer, overcoming his hosing phobia, allowing him to develop his canter or all the other things he is great at such as going trail riding or to competitions.

Each of these issues could have had you labelling him dangerous, difficult or problematic.

But he is not these things, he is a great horse.

You might have a great horse too, they just exist in the future after you have found out HOW you need to support them to be a great horse🐴 ❤

08/15/2022

This morning I was reminded, unlike us horses see two different images not one. This chair was set up last night and everyone was fine walking by but this morning…….it was a monster for both boys.

07/31/2022

Mom and dad got heat pumps for the house, so we get the A.C for the grain room!

07/30/2022

Friendly reminder it’s hot out already today, drink plenty of water and give animals access to fresh water!

07/29/2022

Sorry for disappearing but social media comes after family and life, but we are back!

05/08/2022

Welcome our first chickens, all 4 are silver laced Wyandotte’s!

05/05/2022

Happy horses!

*we don’t typically leave halters on in turnout, however this is the second time on grass this year. They are also still learning how to be a herd together*

05/01/2022

Hunter came for a visit and everyone is starting to transition onto grass. With the horses going to grass we finally get to clean up the winter pasture!!

04/27/2022

Sometimes things just don’t go as planned, we once again have stalls open! Can you help spread the word?

Full care board in a small family run barn on 13 acres! Great for beginners all the way to a retirement barn.

Included in board:
Daily turnout
Hay/grain
Stall cleaning, bedded with pine shavings
Fly control
13 acres of field
60 foot grass round pen
And more

04/25/2022

The last few days have definitely been interesting around here. Cash found a new home and Waylon moved closer to his owners, so Little man and Ugly finally get to be turned out together!

04/21/2022

Finally got this thing pushed back into a pile today!

04/21/2022

I’m not sure who is more excited for the fields to dry up me or the horses!

04/19/2022

We will have 2 open stalls starting in May! We are a small family barn with the owners living next door. Located in Belgrade right between Augusta and Waterville!
What we offer with full care board:

Daily turnout
Daily stall cleaning, we use pine shavings
Grain twice a day
Hay
13 acres of field 
Fly control
Blanket changes (you provide blankets)
60ft grass round pen
No drama
Heated grain/tack room

*opportunity to work off a portion of board for the right person*

04/17/2022

Happy Easter from the barn! Don’t mind the messy faces it was breakfast time, cash was to impatient to get a good photo 😂

02/27/2022

02/27/2022

Our farrier came out this week, said cash was one of the best 8 month olds he’s worked on. Plus it was school vacation so his momma was able to come and hold for his first trim with us!

02/12/2022

Mr. ugly has arrived! Yes that’s his name and he loves it so it’s going to stik 😉

02/12/2022

February marks one year for this handsome old guy and his family being with us! His owners purchased him from a local sales barn with little information about him and given an age 10 years younger then his teeth tell us.
After having him at a friends house, they decided to reach out looking for some help with him, a two year old, and with themselves to become more knowledgeable. Unfortunately a few months later the two year had to be put down and is now watching over the farm with Rosie. Waylon picked up on his training refresher like it was nothing, and seems to be thriving this past year. He even has a new little brother!
Amber French, Sydney Laird we can’t thank you enough for trusting us with all three of your babies! Oh and of course deciding to stay with us after Waylon’s training had finished!

02/10/2022

Finally decided on a farm logo! First of hopefully many decals made!!

02/09/2022

Now that it’s getting closer and feeling a little more real, help me welcome this big boy to not only the barn but the Welch family!

02/06/2022

We have 1 stall open for full time boarding located in Belgrade!
Full board includes:
Daily turnout (weather permitting) group or individually
Daily stall cleaning, pine shavings used for bedding
Grain, and 2X a day feeding
Hay
Daily water
Blanket change
Fly control
Holding for appointments when given a notice
60ft grass round pen
13 acres of fields
Heated tack/grain room

Send us a message for more information!

01/29/2022

Days like this make me so thankful to be walking distance from the barn. One less vehicle on the roads for plowing to happen, and still able to give plenty of hay for the horses to stay warm and unfrozen water to drink!

01/28/2022

I will still be blanketing however this is why everyone gets extra hay in these freezing temperatures!

"Don't give 'em a blanket, give 'em another bale of hay." That’s the advice of an old-time vet in Nebraska where the winters are cold on the open plains

Compare the thermogram on the left from a pasture horse before eating (see the cool blue on the back) and the thermogram on the right after the same horse has been eating his hay for twenty minutes (warm reds and yellows).

Horses generate their own heat to stay warm through fermentation in their hind gut. So, let them grow in the winter coat God gave them and be sure to have extra hay on hand this winter.

Here’s some other great tips for keeping your horse warm, healthy and happy this winter: http://www.nwnhc.com/winter-horse-care-tips.
Credit...Renee Capps