Exciting day today the gloves wides are finally here. Just ordered a fit kit and my first demo pair, there are an awful lot of people waiting for these so can't wait for them to arrive!
Monday, 15 August 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Pee Wee And Passage
After being away last weekend at a Marike De Jong dressage clinic in Somerset I decided this week would be spent pootling about the yard with the horses (after I had recovered from two leaving do's involving a midnight and 2am finish).
The OH decided that as he was up to date with all the trimming that he would ride Max, of course he tells me that at the yard when all his tack was at home, so we cobbled together a treeless saddle, pony length non-dressage girth and Jamie's bridle that is cob sized with a pee-wee bit. We thought it may go either way as horses either love or hate the pee wee, Max wasn't quite in the hate category, confused probably is the best description of it. Jamie goes very well in it, he has a shallow smile, very small tongue and low palette, typical TB mouth. Rosey loves it, she has thick lips and a large tongue and can be a bit gobby in her baucher French link. Max has a similar mouth confirmation to Rosey but he wasn't very responsive in it, this was demonstrated when Charlie cantered home in front of him and Max decided he wanted to go too. N got a lovely passage from him, lots of sit and power, he felt he would have pinged if he had taken more of a hold though so don't think we will try that experiment again.
Fitted hoof boots to a customer whose farrier has told her to remove the front shoes due to the hoof quality. Nice mare and owner I hope it works out for her. Farrier had removed the shoes but not trimmed at all which meant it was impossible to fit a boot, we ended up taking a rasp to them ourselves but really needed nippers. Farrier came back out to tidy up, still not quite as good as a barefoot trim but good enough I think to get going. Fittted Gloves and the horse moved quite nicely in my demo pair even though they were a size too big, discussed the financial benefit to using Gloves at £108 per pair and lasting around a year plus, to a half a set of shoes at £40 or so every 6-8 weeks, she may consider taking the hinds off as well. Could be another horse and owner going barefoot without really realising it .......
The OH decided that as he was up to date with all the trimming that he would ride Max, of course he tells me that at the yard when all his tack was at home, so we cobbled together a treeless saddle, pony length non-dressage girth and Jamie's bridle that is cob sized with a pee-wee bit. We thought it may go either way as horses either love or hate the pee wee, Max wasn't quite in the hate category, confused probably is the best description of it. Jamie goes very well in it, he has a shallow smile, very small tongue and low palette, typical TB mouth. Rosey loves it, she has thick lips and a large tongue and can be a bit gobby in her baucher French link. Max has a similar mouth confirmation to Rosey but he wasn't very responsive in it, this was demonstrated when Charlie cantered home in front of him and Max decided he wanted to go too. N got a lovely passage from him, lots of sit and power, he felt he would have pinged if he had taken more of a hold though so don't think we will try that experiment again.
Fitted hoof boots to a customer whose farrier has told her to remove the front shoes due to the hoof quality. Nice mare and owner I hope it works out for her. Farrier had removed the shoes but not trimmed at all which meant it was impossible to fit a boot, we ended up taking a rasp to them ourselves but really needed nippers. Farrier came back out to tidy up, still not quite as good as a barefoot trim but good enough I think to get going. Fittted Gloves and the horse moved quite nicely in my demo pair even though they were a size too big, discussed the financial benefit to using Gloves at £108 per pair and lasting around a year plus, to a half a set of shoes at £40 or so every 6-8 weeks, she may consider taking the hinds off as well. Could be another horse and owner going barefoot without really realising it .......
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Sigh - Feed Annoyances Again
So, I spoke to Charnwood yesterday about their Brewers Yeast as I want to make sure I can get some more in that horses will actually eat. They said they currently have German and out of the batch they have had over the last month or so they have ~only~ had a couple of people report that their horses won't eat it. That still seems quite a lot to me particularly if those are people that regularly feed Brewers Yeast which they probably would be as they are buying it in 25Kg sacks. He said they had had awful trouble with the Czech stuff and it almost sounded like it wasn't actually Brewers Yeast as he called it something different to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Whatever it was the horses obviously didn't like it. The good news is is that they are getting Polish stuff back in stock in 10 working days and that is the stuff the horses like. Don't think they will be messing around with suppliers any more judging from the feed back they have got.
Second call to a feed company was to Top Spec to tell them that so far three sacks of their ~molasses free~ Top Spec Top Chop Lite contained large (about 2 inch by 2 inch) lumps of molasses in it. They were understandably concerned about this and took it much more seriously than Marksway did when I reported the same problem with one of their feeds. My suspicion is that both companies have their feed made by the same mill and if this is the case then unfortunately this time I am reporting it to trading standards as they really couldn't see why I was bothered last time I complained. Last time it resulted in three horses getting laminitis and their feet have only just started to recover from it. We shall see what happens.
Second call to a feed company was to Top Spec to tell them that so far three sacks of their ~molasses free~ Top Spec Top Chop Lite contained large (about 2 inch by 2 inch) lumps of molasses in it. They were understandably concerned about this and took it much more seriously than Marksway did when I reported the same problem with one of their feeds. My suspicion is that both companies have their feed made by the same mill and if this is the case then unfortunately this time I am reporting it to trading standards as they really couldn't see why I was bothered last time I complained. Last time it resulted in three horses getting laminitis and their feet have only just started to recover from it. We shall see what happens.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Phew glad that's over
Last weekend was fantastic, worked with T's pony Minnie and C rode her, the first time the pony has been worked for three months and the first time C had ridden anything else in almost a year. It was fantastic to see how her riding has come on.
We used my failed MOT car to move a load of horse food as it's last job before it went to the great scrap heap in the sky, took the opportunity to give C a couple of driving lessons around the fields. She is only 15 but I think it is never to early to learn how to handle a car safetly particularly as we may need her driving skills for hay making .......
So pretty good really up until we got the horses in on Sunday evening to find Jamie had four filled legs. One leg I can cope with but four is never a good sign. He seemed well enough in himself so we cold hosed, then walked, then cold hosed, then walked again and put him to bed for the night, he has thick rubber in his stable and he tucked in to his dinner so didn't seem bothered by it. The following morning they were down a bit but still up, Neil turned him out and I got down about 7am to check him. Working on the assumption of 'it was something he ate - poison' or 'something he ate - loads of grass after the rain' we muzzled him and put boots all round. Monday evening the front legs were down completely and by Wednesday the hinds were completely down. He was still cantering around the place and in good spirits so not sure what that was. He went out with no muzzle for the first time today and came in fine.
Definitely something in the grass after the weather we have been having, Max came in like a space cadet yesterday and Charlie had faint pulses today although they disappeared after work. If we could get fence posts in we would cut the paddock in half we can't though so will have to cut down the bucket feed, up the exercise and reduce the turnout time a bit. The paddock looks completely bare but it is coming through and they are eating it as soon as it appears.
The feed experiment to remove all alfalfa from the ponies diets is going well, the fast fibre and unmollassed sugar beet looks really boring but they are eating it well and are out for about 6 hours a day in the paddock with muzzles with a filter in. Feet are getting back in to shape after their blip and Neil has perfected walking all three of them at the same time. We have told C that after seeing her ride a 12.2 last weekend there is no reason why she shouldn't start riding Magic and Charlie once we are sure they are 100% ready for it, I think in a couple of weeks so just in time for the school holidays.
Major pain of the weekend was finding huge lumps of molasses in my Top Spec Top Chop Lite guaranteed molasses free chaff. This is the second time this has happened last time was Markway stuff. I will be on the phone complaining to Top Spec tomorrow, really not happy but at least the vulnerable horses weren't being fed it.
Had a huge amount of orders for Brewers Yeast, apparently the most recent Charnwood stuff was so unpalatable that most horses refused to eat it. I order my stuff from them 50 sacks at a time so I had plenty of Polish stuff in stock which they will eat. Unfortunately due to the demand I am now out myself apart from my own personal stuff so will need to see if I can get some more from somewhere. I bet Simple System's aren't happy if they have been supplying them with nasty stuff as well, it is the Czech stuff apparently, Polish and German is fine.
All in all I will be glad to get to work tomorrow even if most of it will be spent on the phone to feed companies.
We used my failed MOT car to move a load of horse food as it's last job before it went to the great scrap heap in the sky, took the opportunity to give C a couple of driving lessons around the fields. She is only 15 but I think it is never to early to learn how to handle a car safetly particularly as we may need her driving skills for hay making .......
So pretty good really up until we got the horses in on Sunday evening to find Jamie had four filled legs. One leg I can cope with but four is never a good sign. He seemed well enough in himself so we cold hosed, then walked, then cold hosed, then walked again and put him to bed for the night, he has thick rubber in his stable and he tucked in to his dinner so didn't seem bothered by it. The following morning they were down a bit but still up, Neil turned him out and I got down about 7am to check him. Working on the assumption of 'it was something he ate - poison' or 'something he ate - loads of grass after the rain' we muzzled him and put boots all round. Monday evening the front legs were down completely and by Wednesday the hinds were completely down. He was still cantering around the place and in good spirits so not sure what that was. He went out with no muzzle for the first time today and came in fine.
Definitely something in the grass after the weather we have been having, Max came in like a space cadet yesterday and Charlie had faint pulses today although they disappeared after work. If we could get fence posts in we would cut the paddock in half we can't though so will have to cut down the bucket feed, up the exercise and reduce the turnout time a bit. The paddock looks completely bare but it is coming through and they are eating it as soon as it appears.
The feed experiment to remove all alfalfa from the ponies diets is going well, the fast fibre and unmollassed sugar beet looks really boring but they are eating it well and are out for about 6 hours a day in the paddock with muzzles with a filter in. Feet are getting back in to shape after their blip and Neil has perfected walking all three of them at the same time. We have told C that after seeing her ride a 12.2 last weekend there is no reason why she shouldn't start riding Magic and Charlie once we are sure they are 100% ready for it, I think in a couple of weeks so just in time for the school holidays.
Major pain of the weekend was finding huge lumps of molasses in my Top Spec Top Chop Lite guaranteed molasses free chaff. This is the second time this has happened last time was Markway stuff. I will be on the phone complaining to Top Spec tomorrow, really not happy but at least the vulnerable horses weren't being fed it.
Had a huge amount of orders for Brewers Yeast, apparently the most recent Charnwood stuff was so unpalatable that most horses refused to eat it. I order my stuff from them 50 sacks at a time so I had plenty of Polish stuff in stock which they will eat. Unfortunately due to the demand I am now out myself apart from my own personal stuff so will need to see if I can get some more from somewhere. I bet Simple System's aren't happy if they have been supplying them with nasty stuff as well, it is the Czech stuff apparently, Polish and German is fine.
All in all I will be glad to get to work tomorrow even if most of it will be spent on the phone to feed companies.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Must be mad
Can someone tell me exactly why I agreed to Rosey's owner's plan to escort her and C on Charlie out for a hack around the roads this afternoon?
The hottest day of the year so far saw me walking with riding boots with no socks on trying to avoid two horses who were doing their best to avoid the horse flies and if they did get one bounced around on the spot until I could swat it.
We managed to find boots for Rosey in front, once we had found an Easycare screw kit to put the gaiter back on that she managed to remove last time she wore them. We found boots alround for Charlie, one back one came off when we were still in sight of the yard so both got removed and hidden in the hedge, one front one came off halfway round and the final one came off when we were in sight of the yard again. It is not easy to remove a hoof boot from a pony who is trying to kick horse flies off his belly. I guess Charlie's feet have changed shape a lot since he was measured up for boots.
We also got shouted out by a women for not wearing high vis, I know we should but it was very hot and I was walking in the middle of the road with a beige T shirt on. I shared my point of view which was if she hadn't have been driving so fast she would have had more time to see us and slow down. We also met three motorbikes which are Rosey's worst thing in the whole world, they very kindly stopped and I told L to put Rosey in the drive of a house, she interpreted this as riding up the drive and pointing Rosey's head at the front door, between two cars, closely followed by Charlie, still trying to do his best to get rid of the horse fly on his belly.
Never have I been so pleased to see the yard after 2.25 miles.
The hottest day of the year so far saw me walking with riding boots with no socks on trying to avoid two horses who were doing their best to avoid the horse flies and if they did get one bounced around on the spot until I could swat it.
We managed to find boots for Rosey in front, once we had found an Easycare screw kit to put the gaiter back on that she managed to remove last time she wore them. We found boots alround for Charlie, one back one came off when we were still in sight of the yard so both got removed and hidden in the hedge, one front one came off halfway round and the final one came off when we were in sight of the yard again. It is not easy to remove a hoof boot from a pony who is trying to kick horse flies off his belly. I guess Charlie's feet have changed shape a lot since he was measured up for boots.
We also got shouted out by a women for not wearing high vis, I know we should but it was very hot and I was walking in the middle of the road with a beige T shirt on. I shared my point of view which was if she hadn't have been driving so fast she would have had more time to see us and slow down. We also met three motorbikes which are Rosey's worst thing in the whole world, they very kindly stopped and I told L to put Rosey in the drive of a house, she interpreted this as riding up the drive and pointing Rosey's head at the front door, between two cars, closely followed by Charlie, still trying to do his best to get rid of the horse fly on his belly.
Never have I been so pleased to see the yard after 2.25 miles.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
The Hippogriff
Met another interesting horse this week on my saddle fitting journey. The owner invited me in to the horses stable but the horse was a little wary of me being there, I think probably he thought I was a vet, particularly as I was carrying a flexi curve in my hand.
A few years ago I may have asked for a headcollar to be put on the horse or been a bit annoyed with the horses 'bad manners' in turning his bottom on me. My time with Peter Laidely and undertaking some Epona training has made me view the world very differently now. I was a stranger and I had come in to O's enclosed space uninvited, the owner had invited me in but it was O's space and I had been a rude visitor and not paid attention to the proper etiquette in this matter.
His owner explained that he could be shy around people that he didn't know. I don't feel the horse was being objectionable, he was simply telling me that he had not invited me in to his space and who was I to barge in and expect him to stand still when I hadn't introduced myself and hadn't asked his permission to template him. I am sure customers think I am completely barmy when I verbally introduce myself to their horse and have a conversation with them.
Anyway when I inadvertantly forget my manners I channel my inner Harry Potter meeting a Hippogriff for the first time. JK Rowling writes:
Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. —Rubeus Hagrid teaches his first class about hippogriffs.
So, I stayed in the middle of the stable, crouched down and said "hello O, I have come to fit you with a new saddle" and he walked over to me, put his head down to my hand holding the flexi curve and gave me a little nuzzle, then I slowly stood up and gave him a scratch and said "thank you" and proceeded to template him with him loose in the stable with no problems at all.
A few years ago I may have asked for a headcollar to be put on the horse or been a bit annoyed with the horses 'bad manners' in turning his bottom on me. My time with Peter Laidely and undertaking some Epona training has made me view the world very differently now. I was a stranger and I had come in to O's enclosed space uninvited, the owner had invited me in but it was O's space and I had been a rude visitor and not paid attention to the proper etiquette in this matter.
His owner explained that he could be shy around people that he didn't know. I don't feel the horse was being objectionable, he was simply telling me that he had not invited me in to his space and who was I to barge in and expect him to stand still when I hadn't introduced myself and hadn't asked his permission to template him. I am sure customers think I am completely barmy when I verbally introduce myself to their horse and have a conversation with them.
Anyway when I inadvertantly forget my manners I channel my inner Harry Potter meeting a Hippogriff for the first time. JK Rowling writes:
Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. —Rubeus Hagrid teaches his first class about hippogriffs.
So, I stayed in the middle of the stable, crouched down and said "hello O, I have come to fit you with a new saddle" and he walked over to me, put his head down to my hand holding the flexi curve and gave me a little nuzzle, then I slowly stood up and gave him a scratch and said "thank you" and proceeded to template him with him loose in the stable with no problems at all.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Making The Most Of The Dry Bits
Weather was very hit and miss again although C managed to ride Charlie twice in the dry bits. Rosey's owner is back from University which means that C gets to become her personal groom again. Rosey is back in her normal hanging cheek Dr Bristol (I have no idea why, it came with her and that is what she is ridden in all the time). I gave L a lesson on Rosey using Jamies bridle with the pee wee bit, I think she could tell that life was a bit easier using it and she got some nice work. Not sure she will buy one apparently bank of mum said no.
The ponies are pulse free on their new diet and are moving a lot better, the droppings are still very weird so we are trying to introduce a bit more fibre to see if we can give them more substance.
Tommy has been making good progress over the last couple of months, he came to us with a steep foot and where we were having problems with his last blip the foot became so steep he was very over at the knee. This meant the tendon shortened. In this case it was very important to take the foot back a little bit at a time to give his body a chance to adjust to the changes. He is now not so over at the knee, part of the problem is that this leg is actually longer than the other at the minute but it is getting there. N and C came bursting in to the shed where I was packing things up to tell me he was cantering around the field, course when I got outside to look he was happily grazing again. It is nice to see him trotting and cantering around, a few months ago I would have said that wasn't possible. It is also nice to see him out in the paddock seeing as he spent most of his life shut up in a stable. We are controlling his grass by putting a filter in his muzzle to reduce the size of the hole a bit. He is a good boy with his muzzle and doesn't often get it off unlike the other two monsters.
Not sure why but the horses were all in a very lovey dovey mood, we spent Sunday morning weeding the field and had chaff sacks with us to put the docks in, they took great delight in following us around and looking very disappointed when there was no feed in the sacks. Max has discovered that I can scratch a particularly favourite spot of his on his neck, he spent most of the time I was in the field throwing himself in front of me with his neck bent so I would scratch it, it still takes a few moments to work out whether he is ok in the field to be handled or not, he has been fine with me for ages now but a few weeks ago C walked up to him to say hello and he squealed and stamped his foot. It all depends on what mood he is in really.
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