Menu
 
Home | Lifestyle | Cumbria’s horseman
 
Lifestyle | 7th November 2019
 

Cumbria’s horseman

 
 
 

Penton Discussion Group met at Skitby House Smithfield on Monday 4th November strong there was a strong turnout of almost 50 members

Guest Speaker for the evening was Tom Barr accompanied by his wife and business partner Eileen

Tom is a veterinary surgeon with over 50 experience, working with large animals and horses.
 Tom has developed a particular interest in the benefits of immunology, working with many local racehorse trainers; he had gained real insight and experience in the equine world.
After retiring from practice he was able to follow this passion and fascination, with the health requirements of the new born foal, by further developing technology in the transfusion of equine plasma. He and his wife Eileen set up Veterinary Immunogenics business in 1992
Tom  & Eileen farm near Penrith on Tom’s original family farm, the dairy herd has long gone, as this proved to be unsustainable.
 This has been gradually replaced over the years with heavy horses, now totaling 43, alongside these they run  a small herd of highland cattle.
 The horses are looked after with utmost care they have free roam of the pastures land and access to housing if required. Their diet and well being is monitored by a team of 8 on a daily basis. Every 4 to 6 weeks plasma is harvested from their blood. This procedure takes around 4 hours, animals are monitored before during and after the procedure, and it is estimated that the horse makes the plasma up naturally again within 4 – 8 hours of donating.
No side effects are usually recorded; the horse has to be in prime health before donating. The plasma is separated from the blood during extraction, by using an intricate piece of kit that spins at extremely high speed similar to a centrifuge. Each and every bag of plasma is strictly analysed and only the very best quality is retained and frozen, this all has to meet with scrupulous British and EU laws

New born foals are tested at birth to check they have enough immunity in their blood, to give them the best possible start in life. If they are not showing the optimum levels they can be given a transfusion of plasma donated by these horses, to boost their natural immune system. The utilizing of this equine plasma  is a real bonus and considered essential in the breeding world.
Toms dedication to the furthering development of technology in transfusion medicine is evident in his passion and enthusiasm for topic. The benefits of this research may be only scratching the surface of future developments

The group was captivated by Tom’s revelations, into this corner of the equine world, and chairman Ian Imerie thanked them both for their inspirational talk

 
 
Would you like to support us?

The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser is our community owned local newspaper and even in today’s troubled times, we aim to bring you local news and articles in an impartial, responsible and factual way.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this free article but we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent and keeps you up to date with what is happening in Eskdale and Liddesdale.

Every reader’s contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us.
 
 
‘Owned by the Community...Published for the Community’
Do you have a story?

Please get in touch if you have a story or article you would like to see published.

Related Articles

Creation weaves a new future

Langholm textile project launches new centre along with new hope…

 

Alan's big Challenge for Doddie charity

Last year Alan Miller challenged himself to cycle 20 laps…

 

Pride of Britain winner to visit Academy

Langholm Academy is delighted to share that they will welcome…

 

Engaging with Ewan

First visit to the Hut for Langholm’s new Front Three…

 

Glowing report for Langholm Nursery

Staff delighted after “Very Good” Care Inspectorate visit Staff and…

 

After 102 years, LAODS has a new name

Fresh Talent sought for the new season on stage Langholm…

 

New Post Office opens on Tuesday

It’s countdown now until the new post office opens on…

 

Country Music Magic of Mizzell

American/Irish singer makes a return visit to the Buccleuch Centre…

 

Goat petition reaches MPs

4,000 anti-cull signatures handed over Conservative politicians John Lamont MP…

 

4,000 signature petition to be handed to politicians

Oxygen Conservation’s disregard prompted massive response A local petition with…

 

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - 1949 style

Audrey Maxwell and friends reminisce about their first exposure to…

 

18-month trial of 20mph has begun

A7 Action Group discuss various issues The A7 Action Group…

 

2025 Common Riding AGM

New faces in official roles he trustees and members of…

 

Goat cull company tackled by councillor

Meeting with CEO of Oxygen Conservation requested Councillor Male has…

 

D-day for Council Tax rises across the area

Dumfries and Galloway Council will make decisions today about the…

 

Daniel Lacey: A Guilded Craftsman

Prestigious recognition for Langholm artisan from City of London livery…

 

Grapes Hotel holds crisis meeting with villagers

“Frankly if I followed pure logic, I would close the…

 

Return to the Far Pavilions for Helen

Another Himalayan adventure for gardening columnist Helen Knowles Life is…

 

Ewes SWI start the Burns ball rolling with a highly entertaining celebration

The annual celebration of the Bard went ahead with a…

 

Canonbie trust has its eye on Cross Keys Hotel

Potential purchase of historical inn presented to local residents Canonbie…

 

Muckle Toon serves up a treat with Pinocchio... Panto Italiano!

Capacity audiences at each performance as 1,250 people attend Centre…

 

Heritage Centre Questionnaire

A local group, under the auspices of The Langholm Alliance,…

 

Creation Mill to create their own textile centre

Inspirational Langholm firm take their business a stage further Creation…

 

A new future for three local churches

By Anthony Lane Many readers of the E&L will be…

 

Buccleuch confirms its commitment to 150 lodges

Center Parc’s plans for development of site near Hawick will…

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning…

Eskdale remembers… Langholm, once more, remembered the fallen of all…

 

Hope Hospital shines in Excellence in Care inspection

The Thomas Hope hospital in Langholm recently had a six-month…

 

All kinds of everything at the 172nd Langholm Show

MAIRI TELFORD JAMMEH reports on Langholm’s Rural Highlight in an 8-Page Supplement…

 

Family and friends gather to commemorate Peter

A seat placed at Cricket Club to remember sportsman and…

 

Consultation on change of school week structure

Views, opinions and concerns sought from parents/carers Dumfries and Galloway…

 

Fingers crossed for a fine day for the 127th Holm Show

Marquees are up, entries are made and there’s no rain…

 

Show Season starts with Canonbie's fine flower-power

Mairi Telford Jammeh reports from Canonbie Flower Show and vintage…

 

Much opposition to plan for Warblaw woodlands

Action Group formed to challenge forestry company’s ‘blanket of trees’…

 

Over 100 years of Thomas Hope service between them

Angela, Kate and Sheena have all worked in a job…

 

Three of the best

Everyone at the E&L and Muckle Toon Media wish Bailey…

 

Have your say on the future of Langholm Housing

New survey aims to gather opinion on what the town…

 

Future-proofing the Common Riding

No less than 63 ponies and their riders sallied forth…

 

Wildfires cause Greek Island holiday scare

A Langholm couple on holiday, in Kardamena on the idyllic…

 

Shear generosity!

Audrey donates her luscious locks to the Little Princess Trust…

 

Tomorrow's Textile talent

Creation Mill’s involvement helps introduction of National 5 Fashion and…

 
 
Kelso Races
requires mailchimp logins and wired up to a list
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with all that’s going on at the E&L
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.
A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.
A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).
Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.