Hedwood Thoroughbreds Limited

19/09/2026

So you know I much prefer the other side of the camera....BUT when you have a coercive friend (yes that's you Cat) who wants a pic, you roll with!

So, photo of a rose between two thorns (aka Between Two Beers Podcast - the only podcast I ever listen to!).

AND - for every like on this pic within 24 hours (4pm Sunday NZ time) - I'll donate a dollar to Cats amazing baby The CatWalk Trust - a cause that should be super close to the hearts of us fellow horse riders.

Also, super big thanks to an EventStars follower Beth who we bumped into on the street when we needed some muscles 💪- horsey girls are strong!

https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/12/kiwi-dame-to-handcycle-3000-miles-across-us-for-every-young-wheelie/

17/09/2026

Colostrum – The immune basis for early life

It is imperative that a newly born foal receives colostrum milk as soon as possible to provide energy, protein and water, as well as essential antibody protection against disease. Colostrum (first milk) provides immunoglobulins or antibodies that are concentrated into a mare’s milk during the 10-14 days prior to foaling. The transfer of circulating antibodies to the unborn foal direct from the mare’s blood is prevented by the numerous layers of the placental barrier during pregnancy. Only low levels of antibodies are present in the foal’s blood at birth and intake of colostrum is essential to provide immunity against common diseases during the first few weeks of life.

It is most important that all newborn foals receive adequate colostrum within 8 – 12 hours after birth. A healthy, active newborn foal weighing 50-55 kg at birth, will suckle between 2 – 3 litres of colostrum during the first 12 hours of life.
A foal which does not receive adequate colostrum or antibody cover during its first 16-18 hours of life, as colostrum absorption shuts down after this time, has a higher risk of failure to thrive and may succumb to infectious disease. Many of these foals develop persistent diarrhoea or have issues with their growth and development.

Secretion of Colostrum
Expert management and care of a newborn foal is essential to ensure that it receives adequate immunity via colostrum milk. A mare only produces colostrum for the first 2 – 3 days of lactation and the level of antibodies is highest during the first 6 – 12 hours. A less than optimum uptake of antibodies from colostrum can result from low levels in the mare’s milk, or failure to suckle or to absorb sufficient amounts of colostrum within the first 12 – 16 hours after birth. After 24 hours the long chain proteins which form the immune antibodies can no longer be absorbed, but local gut immunity is continued to be provided in the milk by IgA for up to 3 weeks.

Up to 12.4 % of mares pre-lactate, or ‘run their milk’ before foaling which is seen as thick milk dripping from the teats and splashing down the mare’s legs. If a mare runs her milk for more than 3 days before foaling, she will significantly deplete her colostrum levels of IgG and IgM, required for systemic immunity, but usually adequate IgA reserves will remain to provide gut immunity for 2-3 weeks. There is no way to prevent pre-lactation in a mare near to foaling.
If a mare bags up and starts to drip colostrum for a few days before her due date, then it is best to milk her out two or three times a day, using a carefully sanitised mare ‘breast’ pump or hand stripping after sanitation, as the colostrum accumulates and drips. Ensure strict hygiene and clean the teats with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser before stripping the colostrum. The colostrum can collected into a sanitised glass bottle or thick plastic bag, sealed and frozen to prevent it souring.

The foal can be fed using a long calf teat with a larger hole which enables the colostrum to drip out when the bottle is held upside down. Most important - do not feed water or cow’s milk to a newly born foal before it is given colostrum, as these fluids will shut down the uptake of the essential antibodies provided by the concentrated colostrum.

Aged mares over 20 years generally have lower levels of antibodies in their colostrum. A mare which foals earlier than 320 days of pregnancy may not accumulate adequate colostrum reserves to feed her foal. Between 750ml to one litre of frozen colostrum, slowly thawed in luke-warm water to prevent damage to the antibodies, is sufficient to establish foundation antibody immunity in a 50-60 kg foal.

During the first week of life, a foal suckles up to 105 times each day and stays within 1 metre of its mother for about 85 % of the time, rarely moving more than 5 metres away. The frequent intake of colostrum and milk containing IgA antibodies bathes the gut lining with protective antibodies. Frequent nursing also stimulates the mare to produce more milk to feed her foal, with daily volumes of 15 – 20 litres being produced by the peak of lactation 4 – 10 weeks after foaling.

Absorption of Colostrum
A foal which is born prematurely and survives should be able to absorb antibodies because the special intestinal transport cells are formed early in foetal development. Although a foal’s immune system can produce antibodies from 2 – 3 weeks of age, full scale response is not developed until 10 – 12 weeks of age. Therefore, the colostrum absorbed during the first 12 – 16 hours after birth must provide a temporary cover against common diseases over this period. The low point of immune protection in a foals’ blood, especially a foal that did not receive adequate colostrum, occurs at about 5 – 6 weeks of age. A newly foaled mare produces colostrum for only 2 – 3 days, but the level of antibodies rapidly falls after 12 – 14 hours, once her foal has suckled and depleted the initial concentrated thick colostrum reserve.

Sources of Colostrum
Colostrum can be collected from another mare within 12 hours after she foals. The best choice is a good producing mare which is still secreting colostrum after she has fed her own foal. Up to 250mL of colostrum can be stripped from a newly foaled mare at hourly intervals after each time her own foal has nursed.

Although recipes for artificial colostrum are available using cow’s milk fortified with egg protein, these may provide energy and protein, but do not provide protective antibodies. In areas where major horse studs are grouped, frozen colostrum is usually available from a colostrum ‘bank’ for orphaned or colostrum deficient foals. Some horse breeders routinely collect colostrum from newly foaled mares. Colostrum can be stored frozen for 12 months without deterioration. I cases, where a day-old foal has not suckled or fed colostrum orally, hyperimmune serum is available containing concentrated antibodies administered by intravenous injection, or in a drip, to a young foal to treat what is termed ‘Failure of Passive Transfer’ or FPT. Consult your vet for advice.

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

Equine Vaccinations in NZ

Tetanus
Tetanus is caused by infection of wounds with spores of the Clostridium tetani bacteria, which are found in soils contaminated with animal manure.
Horses are highly susceptible to tetanus which is a serious disease when it occurs, causing nervous signs such as extension of the limbs, convulsions and respiratory failure and often results in death. It is very difficult to treat and most infected animals die as a result of the disease.

Routine vaccination offers good protection against disease. Currently we use Equivac T.

The recommended programme for tetanus vaccination is:

Initial vaccination course:
For all young stock and adults with lapsed or unknown vaccination history:
Two vaccinations are given, four weeks apart, from three months of age, although often this initial course is given at weaning time.
A third vaccination is given at no more than 1 year from the second vaccination.
This results in long lasting immunity and boosters should be given at least once every 3 to 5 years.

Broodmare vaccination:
Vaccinate the mare 4-6 weeks before foaling to boost the colostral antibodies and therefore help provide the foal with immunity from birth.

Tetanus antitoxin:
Equivac TAT (tetanus antitoxin) provides immediate protection against tetanus in the short term but it is not a vaccination.
It should be used in newborn foals whose dams have not been boosted in the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy or foals that have not received adequate colostrum (e.g.; with mares that run milk prior to foaling, or if the foal has a low IGG blood sample etc).
TAT can be used at the time of surgery, such as castration, or if a horse has an injury/wound. This is especially important in young stock or other horses that have not completed their initial vaccination course.

Strangles
Strangles is a highly infectious bacterial disease of horses, often occurring in outbreaks when susceptible horses are brought together. It causes abscess formation in the lymph nodes of the head and neck. Large swellings around the throat can cause death (classic “strangles” appearance). Abscesses can occur in other areas of the body. If treatment starts early enough most horses will recover although this is prolonged and leads to poor growth rates.

Equivac S or Equivac 2 in 1 vaccine (which combines tetanus and strangles vaccinations) can be used.

Initial vaccination course:
Young stock, or adults with lapsed or unknown vaccination history:

Three vaccinations are required, each at two-week intervals. If tetanus vaccination is started at the same time the following program is used.
Equivac 2 in 1
Two weeks later Equivac S
Two weeks later Equivac 2 in 1
Vaccination can start from three months of age, however is often started at the time of weaning.
A booster vaccination is required annually.

Broodmare vaccination:
Vaccinate the mare 4-6 weeks before foaling to boost the colostral antibodies- this can be combined with tetanus vaccination.
The breeding season is a period of high risk of strangles infection and so booster vaccination 4- 6 weeks before dry mares are moved from their usual property is advised.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV)
The most common types of Equine Herpes virus (EHV) found in domestic horses are EHV –1, -2, -3, -4 and –5.
Both EHV1 and EHV4 can persist as latent infections in subclinical carriers. Infection can be reactivated during periods of immunosuppression and stress (e.g., pregnancy, transport, social stress).

If EHV1 infects a pregnant mare, she may not even show respiratory symptoms however the infection can spread through the blood stream and infect the foetus. Abortion is caused by detachment of the placenta. Abortion can occur soon after the mare is infected but also may occur several weeks later.
EHV1 is responsible for most late gestation abortions (>7months).

Vaccination is an important part of controlling the disease and reducing the risk of abortion caused by EHV1. Currently we use Pneumabort-k vaccine.
Only healthy horses should be vaccinated and at least 7 days should elapse between different types of vaccine.

An initial vaccination course is required:
Either: Vaccinate prior to service. Two primary vaccinations are given 30 days apart, the last of which should be administered at least 14 days prior to service. Followed by a third injection in the 5th month of pregnancy.
For mares not vaccinated prior to service, a course of three vaccinations is required- in the 5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy.
Vaccination does not provide absolute protection and so preventative measures must be followed.

New arrivals should be isolated for 3 weeks and monitored for signs of illness. Monitoring re**al temperature can be very useful. The normal adult re**al temperature is 37.5 – 38.50C.
Group pregnant mares according to stage of gestation and avoid mixing groups.
Pregnant mares should be isolated from other horses, especially weanlings and those returning from training facilities/competition as these will be at high risk of reactivating subclinical, latent viral infection.
Sick horses should be quarantined, away from healthy horses and strict hygiene procedures should be established.
Keep stress, such as handling and transport to a minimum.
Notify your veterinarian of any abortion and keep the foetus and membranes for examination and sampling.
Isolate mares that abort and do not let other horses contact the aborted foetus or membranes.

Salmonella
Infection with salmonella causes severe diarrhoea which is life threatening, especially in younger horses. It is a highly contagious disease that is very difficult disease to treat and is often fatal.

The recommended programme for salmonella vaccination is:
Broodmares must be vaccinated 4 to 6 weeks before foaling to boost antibodies in her colostrum and therefore help provide the foal with immunity from birth.
Vaccination of foals can start from three months of age, however it is often started at the time of weaning.
Foals require 2 doses of vaccine given 30 days apart.
A booster vaccination is required annually.

Rotavirus
Infection with rotavirus causes diarrhoea in foals usually during the first 2 weeks of life. Foals with rotaviral diarrhoea become dehydrated very quickly and will die if not treated appropriately.

As rotavirus affects foals at such an early age, protection is delivered through antibodies in the colostrum which are developed via vaccination of the mare before the foal is born. Vaccination of the foal itself is not indicated.
The recommended programme for rotavirus vaccination is:
Pregnant broodmares should be vaccinated in the 8th, 9th and 10th months of pregnancy.
This 3 dose schedule must be repeated with each subsequent pregnancy.

12/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

Remembering Paul “Trendy” Anisy ❤️

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to a much-loved and highly valued member of the Majestic Horse Floats family, Paul “Trendy” Anisy, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September 7, surrounded by his loving family.

Trendy was part of the Majestic family for more than 20 years, first joining Inter-Island Horse Transport before coming across to Majestic when John Kenny purchased the business in 2007. Apart from a brief break in 2011 to help with the demolition work following the Christchurch earthquakes, he remained a familiar and much-loved face behind the wheel right through to recent years.

And what a character he was.

Trendy’s love of horses began when he was a child and stayed with him throughout his life. Before becoming a full-time horse truck driver, he spent more than 29 years as a police officer, but it was horses that ultimately led him down a different road. He started helping around the stables for trainer Eddie Cowie, happily hosing horses, giving them plenty of love and cuddles, and eventually getting the opportunity to drive the horse trucks.

Once he got a taste for it, he was hooked.

For Trendy, it was never simply a job. He genuinely loved the horses, the people he met along the way and being part of the racing community. He was always willing to put his hand up for a run and was well liked by both his fellow staff and the many clients he came to know over the years. His kind and gentle manner with horses was obvious to everyone who worked alongside him.

He was also, quite simply, Trendy.

The nickname came from his younger days when he was always turning up in the latest “trendy” clothes- something he certainly carried into his working life. He was always immaculately dressed, particularly on race day, and apparently had a special love for going home to catch up on his ironing!

And while he was kind and caring, Trendy certainly had a fiery side. Leanne, who had worked alongside Trendy through his many years with Inter-Island and Majestic, remembers that he had one particularly famous phrase for when things weren’t going his way- and those who knew him can probably hear it in their heads right now! It became such a part of his character that Leanne eventually had it embroidered on a cap for him. He was absolutely chuffed with it.

That was Trendy- caring, passionate, occasionally fiery, always memorable, and never short of a story.

Away from the trucks and horses, he enjoyed pool, karaoke and the occasional rum. He was also a very talented tennis player. In 1972, Paul and three friends set a Guinness World Record for the longest tennis game, playing for an incredible 52 hours and two minutes.

Most importantly, Trendy was a family man and a good friend. He spoke proudly of his children and grandchildren, and over the years formed many genuine friendships through his work. When his health began to fail, the care and support shown to him by so many of his clients, colleagues and friends was a testament to the impact he had made on the people around him.

Paul was a much-loved Dad, brother, Poppy, Great-Poppy, Uncle and friend, and will be deeply missed by his family and by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

After a lifetime of loving horses and spending so many years travelling the roads for the racing industry, it seems fitting that his family described his next journey so beautifully:

“With his lifelong love of horse racing, he's now off to his final race meet, where the horses are always racing and the sun is always shining.”

Rest peacefully, Trendy. Thank you for the years of service, the stories, the laughs, the occasional dramas, and most of all, for the kindness and care you showed to so many people and horses along the way.

10/09/2026

And with this mornings beautiful sunrise arrived a whopping big SHOCKING C**t from Hedwood bred EDENSONG (Edenwold)
She has certainly done his well, as she tends to do!!