Tommy Fahey Horsemanship

11/29/2025

Banana 🍌

11/20/2025

In SW Missouri, specifically, a large majority of our clients do NOT do a great job vaccinating their horses. It is so important, especially if you travel regularly or live at a boarding barn to administer a flu rhino vaccine every 6 months.

Most people are not aware that EHV-1 is one of the herpes strains covered by the rhino portion of your flu rhino vaccination. Now there is no vaccine for EHM, however boostering a flu rhino vaccination in the face of an outbreak (even if your horse already received a fall flu rhino) helps to increase the antibodies in their nasal mucosa, which enables their body to better defend itself if confronted with the virus.

For this reason, we are are recommending boostering all horses with a BI vaccine called Calvenza. $35 per dose and if a veterinarian administers the vaccine the company stands behind the product with a vaccine assurance that if a horse should contract EHV-1 (resp strain) or EHV-4 the company will assist with the costs of diagnostics and treatment. This assurance does not cover horses with EHM (neurology).

Dr. Noblin said it best:

“I know “EHV-1” has been a pretty big buzz word on the internet over the last 24-48 hours but just a reminder that this is also known as “Rhinopneumonitis.” You may hear your vet talk about a “rhino/Flu” or “rhino” or “flu vac” vaccination for horses that will be exposed to other horses. The goal of the vaccine when administered appropriately, (meaning getting boosters initially and then annually to biannually thereafter) is to decrease the risk of spread and reduce viremia. While no vaccine has 100% efficacy, I wanted to ease the minds of some folks minds that their horses may already have some protection. Ultimately I am posting this to say: check with your vet to understand what your horses are being vaccinated for. Now would be a good time to booster the rhino/flu vaccine and/or add it to your vaccine program.

I am not posting this to downplay the severity of the outbreak. Just hoping to clarify the different names of the disease and vaccines against it.”

Check out this link for more info on BI’s assurance program:

https://docs.boehringer-ingelheim.com/Vaccines_Assurance_Detailer.pdfnc

11/18/2025

A case study of one of the initial night lessons after the time change, profiling the adult amateur, with research conducted by said adult amateur.

The adult amateur, regardless of geographical location, is typically skittish in the winter. Less sunlight, colder temperatures, and holiday stress make a trifecta that can result in some interesting behavior. While many trainers and horses recommend medicating your adult amateur, it is not an option for everyone. To help gather more data for this specific case study of riders, join us as we receive a play-by-play of an adult amateur’s evening winter lesson.

3:45 PM: If I can wrap up my meeting a little early, I can sneak out the door in time to give my horse a good curry and get all the mud off of him. That will be so nice.

4:02 PM: Meeting continues.

4:15 PM: Meeting continues.

4:23 PM: Everyone in the meeting is arguing over a white paper.

4:53 PM: Okay, okay, I’m finally on the road but maybe traffic won’t be terrible and I can still get to the barn in good time.

5:11 PM: The entire world is out on the road. Millions of cars driving, or trying to drive, everywhere. Except there is not really a lot of driving happening.

5:53 PM: Finally at the barn. Surely I can tack up in 7 minutes. That will be fine, right?

6:12 PM: Mounts up and walks to the ring (late). His ears are perky. Is he fresh? Is he going to spook? Should I get off and lunge?

6:14 PM: Horse marches around the arena. Trainer compliments on the forward, commanding walk. Oh god, he’s wild. I definitely should have lunged.

6:20 PM: At least I can trot around without feeling like I’m going to hyperventilate because I don’t have to leg every single stride.

6:21 PM: Trainer informs that yes, you still have to leg every stride.

6:27 PM: Rider hyperventilates regardless.

6:33 PM: While walking and catching breath, trainer informs rider for the 317th time that she needs to stop pulling the inside rein.

6:34 PM: Rider picks up the canter. Pulls the inside rein.

6:36 PM: Oh god, his ears are forward. His ears are too forward. He’s going to spook at the tractor!

6:38 PM: He’s going to spook at the viewing stand!

6:40 PM: Rider contemplates trying to convince trainer it’s too dark to jump around. Even with the football stadium-esque amazing ring lighting, horse probably can’t see well enough… right? Probably should wait to jump around the daytime for weekend lesson… right?

6:41 PM: Asks for a pole lesson instead.

6:48 PM: Poles were a bad choice. Immediate regret.

6:49 PM: Pulls the right rein… excessively.

6:50 PM: Rider to do the exercise “just one more time.”

6:52 PM: Just one more time.

6:55 PM: Rider is too tired to look for things the horse might spook at. Also, just one more time.

6:57 PM: Unclear if rider has executed exercise somewhat correctly or trainer has given up and reconsidering a career in accounting, but the lesson is over and it’s time to cool out.

7:06 PM: Rider unmounts in the ring to avoid the 250 yard walk back to the barn in the dark past things horse might spook at. [Horse does not spook].

7:08 PM: The adult amateur sneaks horse a mouthful of treats (not in a bucket) when she thinks the trainer isn’t looking. You are the goodest bestest boy. Thank you for making good choices tonight.

📎 Save & share this article by Lauren Mauldin at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/12/12/a-play-by-play-of-an-adult-amateur-winter-lesson/

11/01/2025

Good reminders

Fall Reminders:

1. Deworming: Following atleast one hard frost, it is recommended to deworm with a product that contains praziquantel regardless of your horses’ shedding status. This ingredient helps to rid your horse of tape worms, while the frost eliminates them from their environment. Common examples include Quest Plus and Equimax.

A f***l egg count is a useful way to categorize your horse’s shedding status. F***l egg counts are $30, which includes a customized deworming program for your horse based on the results. Custom deworming supply packs are also available.

2. Dental exam: a dental exam is recommended every 6 months to determine if your horse would benefit from a dental float. Keeping up with dental care helps your horse to avoid weight loss, colic, and performance issues. We always include a free dental exam at every vaccine appointment.

3. Flu/rhino vaccination: if you are traveling with your horse, exposing your horse to others at events, or housing your horse at a boarding facility it is highly recommended for your horse to receive a flu/rhino vaccine every 6 months to prevent these diseases. The vaccines are guaranteed by most vaccine companies, therefore, if your horse has been vaccinated appropriately and becomes ill, the company will cover costs of diagnostics and treatment. We have seen and treated several cases of influenza this year.

4. Broodmares: for pregnant mares be sure to administer your Prodigy Or Pneumobort vaccines at 5,7, and 9 months of gestation-please give us a ring if you need these vaccines. For mares preparing for early 2026 breeding, place under lights starting around Thanksgiving to ensure they are properly cycling in the new year. Lastly, be sure to purchase fescue free forage (we recommend alfalfa) for the last 75-90 days of pregnancy to avoid foaling problems.

HAPPY FALL YALL!

As always, text us at 417-448-0131 with questions/concerns or to schedule appointments.