That's 2017 in the bag - so what's next for 2018?

On my soapbox !

​2017 was an incredible year - and to say the least, a very busy year with plenty of learning and fun with lively Equine & Canine workshops here in Sligo, as well as traveling the length and breadth of the country to help bring wild 'medicine' into stables and homes. 
​As always there were challenging cases (trauma from a cliff fall), heart warming moments (customs dog discovering it was ok to clock off and play), extraordinary cases (speedy infected fetlock wound recovery) and times in stables when I thought I was moments away from frost bite and hypothermia! ​

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Jasper selecting at the Canine Wksp

Whilst every case is as unique as the animal itself, one aspect that always stays constant is the accuracy with which a horse or dog selects from the kit. I appreciate that this takes quite a leap of faith for those new to this concept and I applaud those newcomers to Zoopharmacognosy for taking the plunge and trusting - even for myself it wasn't until I had seen quite a few animals select that I could actually believe that they were differentiating between the extracts. I was a real 'doubting Tomas' for quite a while!
This method of telling us what they need often gives us insight in to what sometimes we cannot see or know. It is well known that animals often hide pain so as not to appear vulnerable (which could be fatal in the wild) so in these instances Zoocog is invaluable. ​

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Annett the Vet

So what of 2018 ? - Equine First Aid Workshops, more Equine & Canine Zoopharmacognosy Workshops, demo's and talks! We are delighted that Vet Annett Siggins is coming on board to help us with Equine First Aid workshops - contents will include such topics as 'What to do whilst waiting for the vet' for emergencies such as fractures, colic, choke etc. Vital signs vs abnormal signs, wound care, bandaging etc.. Annett is not only a very experienced vet but a qualified Equine Chiropractor and has also recently trained in Equine Kinesiology Taping. She also has a wonderful smile and a beautifully gentle way about her that animals respond to very positively.
We also welcome Georgina Izatt to the Team - she will take care of  our social media as well as helping out at demo's, workshops etc. She comes with buckets of energy and enthusiasm and runs rings around the rest of us!
A 'Plant Extracts for Conditions' reference book for the stable is also in the pipeline.  And of course, we intend to keep supplying premium quality plant extracts through our online shop  whitethornherbals.com
So - a busy year ahead!

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I would like to finish by saying a big Thank You to all of you that connected with us during 2017 and played your part in making 2017 the success that it was. 
In whatever capacity it might have been - whether it was attending a demo/talk, a workshop or simply making an enquiry that gave us the opportunity to learn how to, quite simply, do better at what we do, so thank you!

Carly and the Whitethorn Team