Off Duty

Bonus Episode: Your Strangles Questions Answered

With an increase in strangles cases and a lot of misinformation circulating on social media, we’re bringing you a short bonus episode of Off Duty to answer your questions.
We managed to catch Off Duty co-host and equine vet Sabrina in the middle of a busy schedule to respond to real questions sent in by horse owners who are trying to do the right thing and want clear, factual advice.
This listener-led Q&A covers how strangles spreads, early signs to watch for, managing risk when competing or travelling, vaccination considerations, and what to do if your horse or yard is affected.
The aim isn’t to create panic, but to cut through the noise, address misinformation, and help owners make sensible, informed decisions.
If you’re concerned about your own horse, always contact your own vet or Dooneen Vets for advice. We hope to return to this topic in a future full episode, looking more broadly at equine infectious diseases and how to create an effective infectious disease plan for your yard.

“Just Go to Catherine” – Understanding Dog Behaviour Properly

If you’ve ever heard us say “Just email Catherine” — this is why.
Catherine Griffin from Snout & About joins us to break down what behaviour actually means, why it’s not the same as training, and why so many cases have pain or emotional distress at the root.
We talk:
Puppy foundations
Overstimulation & modern dog lifestyles
Why muzzles shouldn’t carry stigma
The importance of early intervention
And how behaviour work starts long before you ever “train” a dog
This is a collaborative, evidence-based approach to behaviour — and honestly, it changed how we think in clinic.
Thanks to Chanelle Pharma for supporting this episode.
Part 1 of a multi-part series.
If you would like to contact Catherine 
www.snoutandabout.ie

How to Pass Your Pony Club D+ Test | Stable Management & Riding Guide (Part 1)

Are you preparing for your Pony Club D+ Test? Wondering what examiners look for in stable management, riding and horse care?
In this episode of Off Duty, we share a practical, step-by-step guide to passing the Pony Club D Plus Test — covering everything candidates must know before progressing to the C Test.
This episode is ideal for Pony Club members, parents supporting riders, and instructors revising D+ stable management topics.
In Part 1 we cover:
✅ D+ Test format and requirements
✅ What to wear for the Pony Club D+ exam
✅ Riding expectations, including jumping (up to 65cm) and riding on undulating ground
✅ Basic needs of a pony living in a field
✅ Daily health checks and field safety
✅ How to put on a saddle and bridle correctly
✅ Correct tack fitting (noseband & throatlash rules)
✅ How to clean and care for tack properly
✅ How to safely catch and turn out a pony
✅ How to lead and trot up a pony in hand
✅ Safe tying techniques (and why baler twine matters)
Whether you're sitting your D+ this season or helping your child prepare, this episode gives you clear, practical guidance to build confidence before test day.
🎧 Follow Off Duty so you don’t miss Part 2 — where we’ll cover grooming kits, picking out feet, colours and markings, rugs, turnout, and performing a proper pony health check.

The Completely Unofficial Blagger’s Guide to the Pony Club C Test: Stable Management (Episode 1)

In this episode, Sabrina Barnwell is joined by Vincent O’Hara as they work through Stable Management for the C Test, starting with one of the most important foundations of horsemanship: remembering that your pony is an animal, not a machine.
We cover:
Pony welfare and behaviour (including the famous three F’s: freedom, forage & friends)
Why kindness, patience and understanding matter more than force
Keeping ponies at grass – advantages, disadvantages and daily checks
The five key things to consider when choosing a field
Safe fencing, shelter and water
Poisonous plants every Pony Club member should know (including newer risks like sycamore)
Field care, worm control and good management habits
This series is designed to be accessible, practical and friendly – perfect for Pony Club members preparing for their C Test, parents trying to understand the syllabus, or anyone who wants a solid grounding in good horsemanship.

Mini Off Duty: How to Be a Dog’s Best Friend with Catherine Griffen, Snout and About

Welcome to Mini Off Duty, where we learn cool things about animals in ten minutes 🐾
In this episode, Mairead chats with Catherine from Snout & About, a dog behaviour consultant, all about how dogs feel, think, and communicate — and how kids can be the best kind of friend to their dog.
Together we learn:
How to safely say hello to a dog
Why dogs don’t like being hugged like teddy bears
The three-second rule for petting
Fun sniffing games dogs love (using things you already have at home!)
Simple safety rules to help dogs feel calm and safe
There’s also a fun quiz at the end to test what we’ve learned 🎉
✨This is proudly supported by Chanelle Pharma, who have been supporting vets for over 40 years by providing high-quality, affordable, Irish-made veterinary medicines for farm and companion animals.
This episode is perfect for kids, parents, and anyone who wants to help children build kind, confident, and safe relationships with dogs.

What Vet Nursing Is Really Like – The Honest Conversation We All Need with Claire Kinsella RVN

In this episode of Off Duty, we’re joined by Claire Kinslla, a veterinary nurse with over ten years’ experience across referral practice, first opinion clinics, small animal and equine work.
Claire shares her honest journey through veterinary nursing — from starting out in a high-pressure referral hospital in the UK, to returning home to Ireland and navigating the realities of equine and small animal practice. We talk openly about mentorship, imposter syndrome, CPR cases, emotional burnout, and why crying can sometimes be the reset button we all need.
This is a must-listen for:
anyone considering vet nursing as a career
students and new graduates finding their feet
vets and nurses who’ve ever taken a tough case home with them
parents wondering what really goes on behind the scenes in a vet clinic
We also discuss:
why work experience matters
how veterinary nursing has changed (for the better)
the importance of team culture and debriefing
why “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” applies across all species
As always, this is a real, unfiltered conversation — about animals, people, and learning to look after ourselves as well as our patients.
☕ Grab a cup of tea — this one’s worth sitting with.

The Pony Club C Test – An Unofficial Audio Companion

An Unofficial Audio Guide to the Pony Club C Test
This podcast is an unofficial support and revision guide designed to help listeners understand the horse care and stable management topics commonly covered in the Pony Club C Test.
While it’s especially useful for Pony Club members preparing for their C Test, this series is not just for Pony Club children. It’s suitable for anyone who owns, rides, cares for, or is learning about ponies — including riders, parents, helpers, and young people who enjoy learning best by listening.
Episodes focus on:
Everyday pony care and stable management
Clear explanations using real-life examples
Building understanding and confidence, not memorising answers
This audio guide is intended to be used alongside official Pony Club materials or as a general learning resource for pony care. It is not an official Pony Club publication.

Mini Off Duty: A January Pause (Blue Monday Edition)

January can feel a little long — the days are short, the weather is grey, and everything feels quieter after Christmas. You might hear people talk about Blue Monday, a day that’s said to feel a bit heavier than usual.
This short Mini Off Duty episode is a gentle pause for kids — and the grown-ups listening with them.
In this episode, we:
Talk about Blue Monday in a reassuring, child-friendly way
Take a few calm breaths together
Let busy thoughts rest for a moment
Remember that it’s okay not to feel happy or motivated every day
Finish with a small, fun mission to make January feel a little brighter
Perfect for listening in the car, before school, at bedtime, or anytime you need a quiet reset.
No pressure.No fixing.Just a pause.

From Donkeys to Dressage: The Una O’Donnell Story

Una O’Donnell joins Off Duty to share her journey from a horse-mad child in the Dublin mountains to respected coach, dressage judge and thoroughbred producer.We talk about learning the hard way, riding everything from donkeys to racehorses, balancing family life with a busy yard, and what really matters when producing riders and horses.A warm, funny and insightful chat about confidence, planning, parenting, pressure – and the magic of growing up with horses.

Mini Off Duty: Planning Your Pony Year with Una O’Donnell

For every child who counts down the days to riding, who knows the smell of a stable, who finds their calm beside a pony. Whether you compete, hack, or just love being at the yard – this one’s for you.
In this Mini Off Duty, Una O’Donnell shares gentle, practical advice on planning, preparation, confidence and enjoying your pony – without pressure, without stress, and without losing the fun. A little pep talk for young riders (and their parents) to listen to on the way to the yard or the show.
Full episode with Úna out Thursday!