Friday 7 June 2013

Denton strangles - update






I passed through the horse fields today starting at the bottom field by the river and then going up to Reddish Vale visitors centre under the motorway and then back up Ross Lave Lane over the motorway and back out passing Hyde Hall. Being very concious of how contagious strangles is I was careful not to touch any of the horses.

As an absolute amateur when it comes to horses I can make no judgements only observations. It is pretty obvious the horses on the bottom field next to the river are not infected* as they all looked happy and were behaving as usual.

The horses in the fields close to the farm all look in good shape too but sadly the horses in the fields either side of the dirt track just over the motorway bridge all look pretty sad. Instead of eating grass like the rest of the horses they just appear to stand motionless and starring into space. I assume these are the infected horses. Let's hope the outbreak is soon under control and life can back to normal.

*There was one horse (top picture) on the lower field which did have a runny nose. I don't know if that should be of any concern, but he didn't look ill in anyway so it's probably nothing.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well arent you a genius for not reading signs. What part of 'Stick to the designated footpaths' can you not understand ?. Not only did you go into none infected areas, you then went to the infected fields and walked it back all the way through the farm so a big well done to you. No matter if you touched them or not it could still be on your clothing or shoes off the fields that the horses have snotted on or eaten the grass, then you walked it all the way back.
It's idiots like you that spread the disease when you have no business being in those fields so, once again, well done !

Tameside Citizen said...

It is not me you want to be angry with, I did not cause the outbreak and I know full well how contagious and harmful it is. I am bringing the issue to the attention of the wider public as many people who use that area, especially the bottom field are blissfully unaware. For example, there is no warning sign on the MAIN access route to the bottom field on Stockport Road. It would be a very good idea to place a strangles warning notice at the style next to the bad kids home close to the fake speed camera. Yesterday there were a few dog walkers walking amongst the horses who had no idea of the outbreak until I told them. Also there is no warning notice on the style coming from Reddish Vale which leads to the horse fields from the other direction so maybe you should get your own house in order before criticising others?

Anonymous said...

Just seen a Magpie take a Blackbird's egg from the the tree in my garden

Anonymous said...

The notices are surely upto the owners of the farm ?
And I agree with the above comment walking through the fields taking pictures helps nothing when people have been asked to stay out ? So to warn other people to stay out , you yourself wandered through taking pictures ? Makes no sense whatsoever .
And I am sure the owners of the actual horses whose picture you took would not appreciate it as you could have spread the disease .. The only people needing to worry about the horses are their owners !

Tameside Citizen said...


Ladies, please take note and click >>here<< to read Strangles – the myths explained.

As already stated I am aware of the strangles outbreak and I took preventative measures to ensure that I did not add to the spread of the disease.

For your information Miss Busybody who posted at 10.17, those fields are public land and you or nobody else can dictate who does or not does not pass through them. However, I being mindful that there is a strangles outbreak in the area took precautions not to get too close to the horses as there is a minute chance that infection could be spread should a horse touch you or secrete droplets of fluid upon you or your clothing and then soon after you come into contact with a non-infected horse.

The problem is and maybe unbeknown to you, 90% of people who pass through those fields are cyclists and walkers and they gain access from Stockport Rd in Denton (close to the water treatment works) or if coming from the other direction Reddish Vale. These people are unaware of the strangles outbreak because there is no notices anywhere near the bottom field warning of it. Many of these people, especially those with children could touch the horses and inadvertently spread it. So why don’t you do something useful like attach notices at the Stockport Rd, Ross Lave Lane and Reddish Vale entrances to the bottom field? And don’t forget to wear your NBC suit while doing so.

Anonymous said...

Did you wear your NBC suit while you were being a busybody taking pictures ?
What preventative measures did you take as you already stated you know nothing about horses .

Tameside Citizen said...

Yes, but before you enter the area to attach the strangles warning signs (which are still non-existent on the main public access entrance to the lower field) wearing your NBC suit hear of my experience first.

As I entered the unmarked forbidden zone formerly known as the public footpath between Stockport Rd and Reddish Vale wearing my hermitically sealed NBC suit I encountered two dog walkers as I rounded the bend after crossing the brook, apparently catching them by surprise because without warning the male dog walker shouted “bloomin eck Beryl, the Martians have landed run for it” and with that they were gone in a flash before I could tell them that they were in the forbidden quarantine zone.

Soon after I saw a large gentleman wearing lederhosen and a rather nice hat adorned with a feather, as I approached him to tell him of the strangles outbreak and the forbidden zone he shouted Gott im Himmel and he too was gone in a flash before I could explain of the strangles outbreak.

By now the midday sun was at its hottest and conditions within the NBC suit were becoming unbearable so I decided to sit down for a rest by the river. I may have passed out or just fallen asleep but when I opened eyes all I could see through the misted up visor of my nuclear, biological and chemical suit was, hooves, yes, horses hooves so counting my blessings that I had not been trampled while out but safe in the knowledge I had not been contaminated with strangles I pulled out my strangles proof sealed camera and snapped the images you see above. I then quickly made my getaway and when well out of the exclusion/forbidden zone I removed my NBC suit and enclosed it in an NBC approved decontamination bag.

Okay, now for the real story. My preventative measures were simple but effective. Firstly I stayed at a safe distance from the horses and secondly when leaving the lower field and heading under the motorway bridge I took my t-shirt off and shook it and sprayed Virequine anti bacterial disinfectant onto my legs and shoes. Does that meet with your approval Ma’am?

Anonymous said...

Firstly well done for your over active five year olds imagination it's a good job you don't have a life so nothing interrupted your story . . Secondly taking your shirt off and 'shaking'it ha ha what does that do ? Please enlighten me .
A safe distance is no distance at all hence the owner of the farm asking idiots ( yes that's you ) to stay out !
Would love to actually meet you I would show you what to do with your ' anti bacterial disinfectant ' and had you been near my horse . . I would of taken my time doing it !

Anonymous said...

In itself a few sick animals isn't that important so get real.

Tameside Citizen said...

Lol, now then Little Miss Hissy, you are still missing the point. When entering the fields from the top near the farm you would have to be blind to miss the strangles warning notices and as a result caution would be exercised. But the problem is, most people who do not have horses or have no connection to the farm enter the fields from the style on Stockport Rd or from Reddish Vale and there is no strangles warning signs affixed to either of these entrances. So every day scores of people are going on the fields exercising their dogs and looking at the buzzards and they are UNAWARE of the strangles outbreak. So instead of having fantasies about what you could do with antibacterial disinfectant, why don’t you ask Hazel to give you some of the nicely laminated strangles warning signs and go and affix them to the aforementioned locations?

Anonymous said...

Are you not the one who has no life and trails around tameside looking to right all the world's wrongs, stray cats , rubbish strewn , signs not where they should be ? I have a life , therefore I shall leave it in your capable sterile hands to inform hazel as you obviously have not much else to do and will eagerly await aforementioned sight of such signs . .
Ps . . . Was glad to see you escaped narrowly being trampled by a herd of cows in one of your videos where you need trampling through a field of baby calves with their mums and wondered what the hell was wrong with those darn cows ! I mean they only attack people with dogs and you fifty have one ! Protecting their young maybe ? Idiot !
Have a fantastic day tameside warrior :-) x

Anonymous said...

I think you spend too much time in the company of horses my dear.

Anonymous said...

Trying to right local/mational wrongs or raise awareness of them is better than an empty headed fixation on horses.

Anonymous said...

I think you spend too much time being sarcastic but that's just me . . And it's MR ! Not Miss or dear.

Anonymous said...

Well Mr then oh dear