P1 and BG seem to be best of friends these days. BG is quite an independent little girl, and will graze happily with or without other horses and won’t get too upset if left on her own. P1 gets very upset if left behind, even if he still has others for company. So I think it is more P1’s doing than BG’s that they seem inseparable.
I bring BG in for her food. It takes a bit of tempting in this hot weather so I have been quite lucky that a couple of times P1 has helped head her in the right direction and get her moving. So she eats her Happy Hoof and moves to look out of the field shelter entrance whilst I cover her in fly repellent and coat her hooves in water. P1 will stand just outside the entrance and either demand a groom (I can’t see why as the fly repellent must taste horrible) or fall asleep with his head bobbing next to BG’s. Last night their eyes were an inch apart but they were both in such a lovely mood I wasn’t afraid they’d snap at each other or anything like that.
Then I led BG out and turned her loose. P1 follows her round the field, herding her every so often and ensuring he stays stuck to her side. It is a nice sight seeing two horse behinds shining in the sun a few inches away from each other. He did herd her into a trot a couple of times which made her look a little sore.
Poor P2 seems to have been left out. He is found grazing on the far side of the field to the other two. Although, the other day, I must have led BG too far away in the field as he let out a call and he and P1 charged over to check she was okay. So I’m sure he could join them if he wanted.
The grass is quite long in places in the field. There is something about horses grazing in long grass, it just looks so beautiful and peaceful.
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Monday 28 June 2010
Bridle again
I put the bridle on BG again last night, that can’t do anything to affect her soundness so is one of the few things I felt I could do. It had been a while since I last did it, and last time we had a fight getting the bit in her mouth, and she has had her teeth rasped since then. It went better than I expected.
The bridle went on, then I popped my fingers in the corner of her mouth to encourage her to open it and this was when she started to pull her head away and turn towards her corner. It didn’t take too long to put the bit in though so I was quite pleased. When I first held it up to her mouth she wasn’t keen, but I realised I was holding it where the gap was in her lips, which is actually near the bottom of her lower set of teeth. When I moved it up a bit so it was near the gap in her teeth it went in straight away with no fuss.
I led her round in it a little which didn’t go so well. She was pulling ahead and trying to run round me and I don’t like to tug too much on the reins, so I need to do some more in-hand so she is responding to voice commands better again.
The bridle came off with minimal fuss too which was nice. The bit popped out and she didn’t try clamping her teeth on it and scaring herself when it got to half way out. Then she doesn’t like the bridle being taken off over her ears, she tends to pull back quite dramatically, but she only did a little jolt back with her head. So all in all reasonably successful.
She still looked sore on the hard ground this morning unfortunately. It was very hot and when I led her out to the field once she had had her breakfast, and I took her head collar off, she was very sweet just standing there with me. She made no move to graze, just stood there with her head so close to mine that her coat was tickling my face.
The bridle went on, then I popped my fingers in the corner of her mouth to encourage her to open it and this was when she started to pull her head away and turn towards her corner. It didn’t take too long to put the bit in though so I was quite pleased. When I first held it up to her mouth she wasn’t keen, but I realised I was holding it where the gap was in her lips, which is actually near the bottom of her lower set of teeth. When I moved it up a bit so it was near the gap in her teeth it went in straight away with no fuss.
I led her round in it a little which didn’t go so well. She was pulling ahead and trying to run round me and I don’t like to tug too much on the reins, so I need to do some more in-hand so she is responding to voice commands better again.
The bridle came off with minimal fuss too which was nice. The bit popped out and she didn’t try clamping her teeth on it and scaring herself when it got to half way out. Then she doesn’t like the bridle being taken off over her ears, she tends to pull back quite dramatically, but she only did a little jolt back with her head. So all in all reasonably successful.
She still looked sore on the hard ground this morning unfortunately. It was very hot and when I led her out to the field once she had had her breakfast, and I took her head collar off, she was very sweet just standing there with me. She made no move to graze, just stood there with her head so close to mine that her coat was tickling my face.
Sunday 27 June 2010
Happy enough
BG has been looking better and better on her hooves so I decided to try lunging her on Wednesday night. Only five minutes in walk on each rein. She st ode out nicely, really putting energy into it. When I let her loose she was limping more than before, so I won't be trying that again for a while.
I have been leading her out every time I am there to monitor how sore she is, and I always check the heat in her hooves and for any pulse. The last two times I have led her out she has really power walked, and then broke into trot a few times, so she obviously isn't feeling too bad.
To spend time with BG without expecting her to do too much I have given her several long grooms. I don't like to do this too often though as it removes the natural oils from their coats. She has been having fly spray on every time I visit, the flies are everywhere. BG has a few scratches on her neck and a couple of lumps and bumps which is where I think the flies have been getting her.
I am feeling a little down as I want to spend lots of time with BG but I don't know what I can do. I have stood the mounting block alongside her and got up and down on it to try and help desensitise her to it (her ears go back and she tensed but luckily did not move away, and she wasn't being held at all). I know they say just sitting in the field and being around them helps, but unfortunately I really suffer in the heat so being out for long in the field isn't really a viable option.
So I am feeling a little lost, but BG seems happy enough and that is the key thing.
I have been leading her out every time I am there to monitor how sore she is, and I always check the heat in her hooves and for any pulse. The last two times I have led her out she has really power walked, and then broke into trot a few times, so she obviously isn't feeling too bad.
To spend time with BG without expecting her to do too much I have given her several long grooms. I don't like to do this too often though as it removes the natural oils from their coats. She has been having fly spray on every time I visit, the flies are everywhere. BG has a few scratches on her neck and a couple of lumps and bumps which is where I think the flies have been getting her.
I am feeling a little down as I want to spend lots of time with BG but I don't know what I can do. I have stood the mounting block alongside her and got up and down on it to try and help desensitise her to it (her ears go back and she tensed but luckily did not move away, and she wasn't being held at all). I know they say just sitting in the field and being around them helps, but unfortunately I really suffer in the heat so being out for long in the field isn't really a viable option.
So I am feeling a little lost, but BG seems happy enough and that is the key thing.
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Annual vet visit
It has all been rather quiet on the BG front this week. She is still tender on her near-fore so I am not doing any work with her. She doesn’t yet like the new head collar I got her so I have to put on the old one, then the new one over the top and take of the old one. Hopefully as the new one softens and starts to smell of her she will stop being so fussy.
She has missed one tea this week when she refused to come in. The fly spray has been on most evenings and mornings but doesn’t seem to be working too well. Her hooves are getting dry cracks so I am alternating between just putting water on or using the remains of my hoof moisturiser. We also had a delivery of hay this week ready for the winter thanks to P1 and P2’s owner. I think it could be a hard year for hay and be very hard to come by at winter time.
The big news this week is that the vet came out for BG’s annual vaccination. Just the flu one this year as she had the flu and tetanus one combined last year. As the vet said ‘that should save some money’, however I had her sedated and her teeth done too which I didn’t do last year so no doubt the over-all bill will come to more. I have no idea how much it will be yet.
I put BG in on box-rest for the day. Since her hooves are still warm with a pulse I thought it would do her some good, and also it would ensure I could catch her. Went up at lunch time to top up her hay and get ready for the vet and the poor girl was sweated up between her back legs and on her neck. P1 had taken down the electric fencing we had put up and had been rubbing on the side of her shelter and almost knocked out the bars over the field shelter entrance, he had split one of the supports that was holding them in place. So poor BG had been inside terrified as P1 had rubbed the shelter, moved it a little and probably made a lot of noise where he has got some of the side planks loose.
I used some cold water to wipe her down where she had sweated and gave her a good groom. She was falling asleep in the sun and P1 and P2 stuck their heads over the bars and fell asleep too. I sat in the corner and ate my lunch – P1 perked up at that, obviously jam sandwiches smell nicer than I thought.
I had got the head collar on BG but I was still a little worried about her wiping round in her stall and not allowing me to put the lead rope on, as she did for the saddle fitter last year. Luckily though the vet told me to go and catch her whilst he did the paper work (filling in her passport).
The vet was really good with her, and a nice friendly guy. He put the sedative in and then the vaccination, and her head started to drop almost straight away. As BG is head shy I was a bit worried what she would do when he tried to put the strap over her head to tightened the metal in her mouth, but the sedative obviously worked as she was very good with everything, just the occasional pull back of her head.
The vet was very patient with her, shushing her when she started to tense up.
I don’t believe BG has had her teeth done for eight years, but the vet said they were in great condition. He got me to feel inside her mouth so I could see where the (very few) rough bits were. Then he rasped them off while BG’s head bobbed in a slumber and her tongue lolled out.
At her age he said they would normally recommend a dental check up every six months, but considering the condition of her teeth every year would be fine for now.
So I am really pleased with how that all went and very impressed with the vet.
I stuck around for BG’s sedative to wear off. It was supposed to take half an hour, an hour later her head was still bobbing as she slumbered on. I think the heat was also having an effect though. When I let her out she woke a bit and began grazing, with P1 alongside to keep her company.
I love my pony, it was a good day.
She has missed one tea this week when she refused to come in. The fly spray has been on most evenings and mornings but doesn’t seem to be working too well. Her hooves are getting dry cracks so I am alternating between just putting water on or using the remains of my hoof moisturiser. We also had a delivery of hay this week ready for the winter thanks to P1 and P2’s owner. I think it could be a hard year for hay and be very hard to come by at winter time.
The big news this week is that the vet came out for BG’s annual vaccination. Just the flu one this year as she had the flu and tetanus one combined last year. As the vet said ‘that should save some money’, however I had her sedated and her teeth done too which I didn’t do last year so no doubt the over-all bill will come to more. I have no idea how much it will be yet.
I put BG in on box-rest for the day. Since her hooves are still warm with a pulse I thought it would do her some good, and also it would ensure I could catch her. Went up at lunch time to top up her hay and get ready for the vet and the poor girl was sweated up between her back legs and on her neck. P1 had taken down the electric fencing we had put up and had been rubbing on the side of her shelter and almost knocked out the bars over the field shelter entrance, he had split one of the supports that was holding them in place. So poor BG had been inside terrified as P1 had rubbed the shelter, moved it a little and probably made a lot of noise where he has got some of the side planks loose.
I used some cold water to wipe her down where she had sweated and gave her a good groom. She was falling asleep in the sun and P1 and P2 stuck their heads over the bars and fell asleep too. I sat in the corner and ate my lunch – P1 perked up at that, obviously jam sandwiches smell nicer than I thought.
I had got the head collar on BG but I was still a little worried about her wiping round in her stall and not allowing me to put the lead rope on, as she did for the saddle fitter last year. Luckily though the vet told me to go and catch her whilst he did the paper work (filling in her passport).
The vet was really good with her, and a nice friendly guy. He put the sedative in and then the vaccination, and her head started to drop almost straight away. As BG is head shy I was a bit worried what she would do when he tried to put the strap over her head to tightened the metal in her mouth, but the sedative obviously worked as she was very good with everything, just the occasional pull back of her head.
The vet was very patient with her, shushing her when she started to tense up.
I don’t believe BG has had her teeth done for eight years, but the vet said they were in great condition. He got me to feel inside her mouth so I could see where the (very few) rough bits were. Then he rasped them off while BG’s head bobbed in a slumber and her tongue lolled out.
At her age he said they would normally recommend a dental check up every six months, but considering the condition of her teeth every year would be fine for now.
So I am really pleased with how that all went and very impressed with the vet.
I stuck around for BG’s sedative to wear off. It was supposed to take half an hour, an hour later her head was still bobbing as she slumbered on. I think the heat was also having an effect though. When I let her out she woke a bit and began grazing, with P1 alongside to keep her company.
I love my pony, it was a good day.
Thursday 17 June 2010
Caught her!
I am pleased to say BG is walking so much better now, although you can still tell she is sore on her near-fore. That was this morning though, so we will see what she is like tonight as she tends to be slightly worse in the evening.
The weather is hot, dry and sunny again, meaning BG is reluctant to leave her grass and come in again. The sore hooves can’t be helping either, the ground around her field shelter is bare so harder for her than the grass in the field. Normally with a bit of prompting (put her food bowl on the grass a couple of metres ahead of her and move it towards her shelter as she walks forwards, giving her a treat every so often to let her know she is doing the right thing) she will make it down. This morning we did just that, but last night she wasn’t even tempted with that.
So I thought, I am going to catch her in the field tonight, she will have to fight to avoid this. Attached her lead rope around my waist and carried her head collar up to her, one look at it and she started to walk away. Whenever I went near her she moved away, so I just followed her…for fourty minutes. Occasionally she would stop, and turn her head towards me, even sniffing her head collar, but moving away if it went near her nose too far. Then we would move off again, with me following her.
I thought I’d herd her down towards her shelter at the same time, so I was going from side to side, keeping an eye on her hind legs as I went behind them. She ‘escaped’ from me a couple of times, trotting past me up the field. So I would follow her up and we would start again.
Eventually she stood to let me put the head collar on! And she didn’t even pull away as the strap went up and over her head.
Admittedly, I was only able to do this as she is lame (and I did feel a bit mean making her move so much on a sore hoof). A not lame BG means she can outrun me every time and I wouldn’t stand a chance, but maybe she’ll remember this time and learn that she can’t escape by avoiding me. We’ll have to see if she is any better tonight. It would be bliss to have a horse you can catch in the field.
The weather is hot, dry and sunny again, meaning BG is reluctant to leave her grass and come in again. The sore hooves can’t be helping either, the ground around her field shelter is bare so harder for her than the grass in the field. Normally with a bit of prompting (put her food bowl on the grass a couple of metres ahead of her and move it towards her shelter as she walks forwards, giving her a treat every so often to let her know she is doing the right thing) she will make it down. This morning we did just that, but last night she wasn’t even tempted with that.
So I thought, I am going to catch her in the field tonight, she will have to fight to avoid this. Attached her lead rope around my waist and carried her head collar up to her, one look at it and she started to walk away. Whenever I went near her she moved away, so I just followed her…for fourty minutes. Occasionally she would stop, and turn her head towards me, even sniffing her head collar, but moving away if it went near her nose too far. Then we would move off again, with me following her.
I thought I’d herd her down towards her shelter at the same time, so I was going from side to side, keeping an eye on her hind legs as I went behind them. She ‘escaped’ from me a couple of times, trotting past me up the field. So I would follow her up and we would start again.
Eventually she stood to let me put the head collar on! And she didn’t even pull away as the strap went up and over her head.
Admittedly, I was only able to do this as she is lame (and I did feel a bit mean making her move so much on a sore hoof). A not lame BG means she can outrun me every time and I wouldn’t stand a chance, but maybe she’ll remember this time and learn that she can’t escape by avoiding me. We’ll have to see if she is any better tonight. It would be bliss to have a horse you can catch in the field.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Upsetting
Poor BG is still tender on her near-fore. It is heart breaking to see her hobbling on it and not being able to make it better for her. At least she only seems tender on her near-fore now, on Saturday and Sunday it was all four hooves.
Sunday BG was put in her field shelter for a nine hour stint. I ensured she had a nice big bed so that she had something soft to put her hooves on, moved one of the water buckets in with her and put up a hay net, soaking the hay for a bit first. My husband also re-did the entrance block to the field shelter. We have wooden bars we put across the entrance, last year P1 booted one of the boards, split it and let BG go free. So we re-did the bars and then put electric fencing around the outside to try and prevent P1 getting close. P1 is very itchy at the moment so it wouldn’t surprise me if he tried rubbing on the bars.
During her nine hours in we popped up every couple of hours to ensure BG was okay and had enough hay to keep her going. The hay we gave her in the afternoon she ate very little of. She was a little agitated when we got up on the final visit which is unusual for her, she wanted to get out. We checked her over and let her loose for the night, she was tender leaving her field shelter but so glad to be free, she looked a little stiff too.
In one of our breaks from BG we took a trip to an Equestrian shop. I have been wanting to get BG a new head collar for weeks, even months. The one she has is around six years old, the stitching is all coming undone and the buckles are so rusty they are hard to use. The only thing was I didn’t know what size BG would need, the label on her current head collar is long gone. If anything that head collar is too big, it is on the tightest setting and hangs loose on her nose. She did have a green one that fitted probably a bit tightly on the loosest setting that she never liked (I think it was because the padding on the nose bit made it quite heavy for her) which said it was Cob size. So I took her current one with me and measured it against those in the shop, turns out it matches a cob sized one too. So she has a new, black head collar. I did take a peak at the leather ones as they look more ‘proper’ but the Cob ones were quite heavy so I decided against those.
I also bought BG a rug. She has not had a rug in the eight years I have known her, she has never really needed it. Despite hitting -10 degrees Celsius last winter she was still fine, it was just on the one really wet and cold day I got up there to find her shivering a bit from the damp. As BG is getting older I am assuming she will suffer more as the years roll on, so the rug might not even get used this year, but it will be there for when we need it in the future. It also gives me time to get her used to having it on.
The lady in the shop was fantastic. I explained what I was looking for and she agreed all I needed was a light weight water proof and took me to show me the ones they had in store. Unfortunately they didn’t have any second-hand ones (as I am unsure of BG’s size I didn’t want to spend a fortune) but I got a nice reddy/ brown coloured rug.
We measured BG for a rug a few months ago and made it that she would need a 5’3”. Then I noticed P1 who is around the same size is in a 5’6”. We aren’t so good on the measuring size, we measured her for a girth and had to take it back three times as our measurements were clearly off and it was the wrong size. So we measured BG again on Sunday and made it 5’9” and held a 6’ rug alongside her (ears went back and she snorted) that looked too big. So, I settled for a 5’9” and I am very pleased to say it looks the right size. I am also very pleased to say we got it on BG with no fuss, we just took it slowly. Her ears went back as it went over her lower neck and up on her bottom, but she never pulled back (when her hooves are sore she is generally a little mellower about things).
So far this is a long entry in itself so I had probably better finish it off now. Just a final note to say BG was in her shelter for 10 hours yesterday and my amazing husband used his lunch hour to check on her and top up her hay, and I finally have the vet appointment booked. I just need BG to come sound now, I feel so upset as I watch her nod up the field on her sore hoof.
Sunday BG was put in her field shelter for a nine hour stint. I ensured she had a nice big bed so that she had something soft to put her hooves on, moved one of the water buckets in with her and put up a hay net, soaking the hay for a bit first. My husband also re-did the entrance block to the field shelter. We have wooden bars we put across the entrance, last year P1 booted one of the boards, split it and let BG go free. So we re-did the bars and then put electric fencing around the outside to try and prevent P1 getting close. P1 is very itchy at the moment so it wouldn’t surprise me if he tried rubbing on the bars.
During her nine hours in we popped up every couple of hours to ensure BG was okay and had enough hay to keep her going. The hay we gave her in the afternoon she ate very little of. She was a little agitated when we got up on the final visit which is unusual for her, she wanted to get out. We checked her over and let her loose for the night, she was tender leaving her field shelter but so glad to be free, she looked a little stiff too.
In one of our breaks from BG we took a trip to an Equestrian shop. I have been wanting to get BG a new head collar for weeks, even months. The one she has is around six years old, the stitching is all coming undone and the buckles are so rusty they are hard to use. The only thing was I didn’t know what size BG would need, the label on her current head collar is long gone. If anything that head collar is too big, it is on the tightest setting and hangs loose on her nose. She did have a green one that fitted probably a bit tightly on the loosest setting that she never liked (I think it was because the padding on the nose bit made it quite heavy for her) which said it was Cob size. So I took her current one with me and measured it against those in the shop, turns out it matches a cob sized one too. So she has a new, black head collar. I did take a peak at the leather ones as they look more ‘proper’ but the Cob ones were quite heavy so I decided against those.
I also bought BG a rug. She has not had a rug in the eight years I have known her, she has never really needed it. Despite hitting -10 degrees Celsius last winter she was still fine, it was just on the one really wet and cold day I got up there to find her shivering a bit from the damp. As BG is getting older I am assuming she will suffer more as the years roll on, so the rug might not even get used this year, but it will be there for when we need it in the future. It also gives me time to get her used to having it on.
The lady in the shop was fantastic. I explained what I was looking for and she agreed all I needed was a light weight water proof and took me to show me the ones they had in store. Unfortunately they didn’t have any second-hand ones (as I am unsure of BG’s size I didn’t want to spend a fortune) but I got a nice reddy/ brown coloured rug.
We measured BG for a rug a few months ago and made it that she would need a 5’3”. Then I noticed P1 who is around the same size is in a 5’6”. We aren’t so good on the measuring size, we measured her for a girth and had to take it back three times as our measurements were clearly off and it was the wrong size. So we measured BG again on Sunday and made it 5’9” and held a 6’ rug alongside her (ears went back and she snorted) that looked too big. So, I settled for a 5’9” and I am very pleased to say it looks the right size. I am also very pleased to say we got it on BG with no fuss, we just took it slowly. Her ears went back as it went over her lower neck and up on her bottom, but she never pulled back (when her hooves are sore she is generally a little mellower about things).
So far this is a long entry in itself so I had probably better finish it off now. Just a final note to say BG was in her shelter for 10 hours yesterday and my amazing husband used his lunch hour to check on her and top up her hay, and I finally have the vet appointment booked. I just need BG to come sound now, I feel so upset as I watch her nod up the field on her sore hoof.
Saturday 12 June 2010
Positive start, negative finish
BG, as I have mentioned a few times, has been lovely recently. As a reward we finally took her out for a walk. I am ashamed to say it is probably the first time since last year when we have taken her out for a walk. I get extremely tense on these occasions, hence why my husband leads her not me, so she doesn't pick up on this. For the same reason I like to be sure the conditions are perfect for us to go out; not too windy, light not too dim and also no P1 around if possible. This last condition isn't so much for BG, but for P1, as he gets a little upset and careers round the field, he can also jump so I wouldn't be surprised if we got back to find him in the next field along.
P1 was away last night. BG was being very good, I did a quick ten minutes on the lunge before we took her out. P2 got a little upset, calling out as we went, so we didn't go too far.
The reason I get so tense when we go out is, if BG spooked and got loose, there would be the option we wouldn't then be able to catch her....what then? How do people ensure when they are riding out that they will be able to catch the horse if they come off? I don't know. I know BG is harder to catch than most horses, but it does make me wonder if I will ever get over this fear.
So my husband leads BG the majority of the way, and I walk behind, especially on the road, with a spare lead rope (she has snapped the clip on one before when she pulled away scared) and some treats. Normally my husband leads her on a normal length lead rein, this time he opted for the lunge rein, I think he learnt why I prefer them after my fall, as it gives you more length to let out whilst still with the connection to the horse.
BG was a companion pony before we had her, and did not leave her field for several years. Yet another reason why I am nervous when out with her, I had no idea how she would react to things. She has so far been good in traffic, good with other horses, good with dogs and even let a strange stroke her without getting too nervous. I think because it is all new to her she is excited and taking it all in and she has no time to get herself upset, they'd be something else exciting and new for her to see before she upsets herself. The only two times she jumped is once when a dog barked the other side of a hedge, and she jumped sideways to my husband for his protection, and once when the lead rope became too slack when she was grazing and she stood on it. BG did however find the sheep a little nerving on this walk. They are sheep she can see from her field.
So, the walk was a positive. Then we got up the field this morning, a little nervous as it was a hot day and we needed to be able to catch her for the farrier.
BG, P1 and P2 were all lying together, looking like they were almost on top of each other. BG heard the car though and made her way down for her breakfast which I was very grateful for.
She was very good for the farrier, although she is still a little nervous. Her near-fore has no infection now and the majority of the cut back section was trimmed off. The farrier was pleased with the state of her other hooves too, she confirmed that they had all grown a fair bit.
Even better, once I let BG out, the farrier was very complimentary of BG. I like anyone that compliments my little pony, it really makes my day. The farrier was saying she looked really good and that her coat was a beautiful colour.
So they were the positives; a walk, the farrier visit going well and compliments. The negative? BG was lame tonight, hobbling on the hard ground. Normally it is a day or so after the farrier visit that she goes sore if at all, so I am a little concerned that it is so soon after the visit this time.
Put down some shavings in her field shelter to give her something soft to rest her hooves on and I stayed up there for two hours whilst she stayed off the grass. I think she will be in all day tomorrow.
P1 was away last night. BG was being very good, I did a quick ten minutes on the lunge before we took her out. P2 got a little upset, calling out as we went, so we didn't go too far.
The reason I get so tense when we go out is, if BG spooked and got loose, there would be the option we wouldn't then be able to catch her....what then? How do people ensure when they are riding out that they will be able to catch the horse if they come off? I don't know. I know BG is harder to catch than most horses, but it does make me wonder if I will ever get over this fear.
So my husband leads BG the majority of the way, and I walk behind, especially on the road, with a spare lead rope (she has snapped the clip on one before when she pulled away scared) and some treats. Normally my husband leads her on a normal length lead rein, this time he opted for the lunge rein, I think he learnt why I prefer them after my fall, as it gives you more length to let out whilst still with the connection to the horse.
BG was a companion pony before we had her, and did not leave her field for several years. Yet another reason why I am nervous when out with her, I had no idea how she would react to things. She has so far been good in traffic, good with other horses, good with dogs and even let a strange stroke her without getting too nervous. I think because it is all new to her she is excited and taking it all in and she has no time to get herself upset, they'd be something else exciting and new for her to see before she upsets herself. The only two times she jumped is once when a dog barked the other side of a hedge, and she jumped sideways to my husband for his protection, and once when the lead rope became too slack when she was grazing and she stood on it. BG did however find the sheep a little nerving on this walk. They are sheep she can see from her field.
So, the walk was a positive. Then we got up the field this morning, a little nervous as it was a hot day and we needed to be able to catch her for the farrier.
BG, P1 and P2 were all lying together, looking like they were almost on top of each other. BG heard the car though and made her way down for her breakfast which I was very grateful for.
She was very good for the farrier, although she is still a little nervous. Her near-fore has no infection now and the majority of the cut back section was trimmed off. The farrier was pleased with the state of her other hooves too, she confirmed that they had all grown a fair bit.
Even better, once I let BG out, the farrier was very complimentary of BG. I like anyone that compliments my little pony, it really makes my day. The farrier was saying she looked really good and that her coat was a beautiful colour.
So they were the positives; a walk, the farrier visit going well and compliments. The negative? BG was lame tonight, hobbling on the hard ground. Normally it is a day or so after the farrier visit that she goes sore if at all, so I am a little concerned that it is so soon after the visit this time.
Put down some shavings in her field shelter to give her something soft to rest her hooves on and I stayed up there for two hours whilst she stayed off the grass. I think she will be in all day tomorrow.
Friday 11 June 2010
I love my pony
BG has been lovely the last couple of days. I think it must be the miserable weather but it is wonderful when she is keen to see you and so good when being groomed.
She has been heading down for her food as soon as she sees the car pull up. One night she even walked herself into her field shelter and stood waiting for me before I’d even taken her food in.
I pop the food bowl on the floor and hold open her head collar for her to put her nose into it, before I flip the other part up over her neck and do it up. She has been so keen she has her head stuck over my shoulder nudging forward to reach the head collar before I’ve even unbuckled it recently. Thinking of other days when she just sees the head collar and hides in the corner; I do love it when she is in her current mood. She is happy and confident.
She has been standing beautifully for her grooms, even turning her head round to watch and check I do certain areas correctly. She has been licking every last bit of food out of her bowl too, even the sloppy bottom bits where I have put too much water in with the chaff, and then chewing on the handles of the bowl so she can savour every last little bit.
She is a joy to be around at the moment, a real friend who you can have a good laugh with and who keeps me smiling. I know the weather might be miserable, but if it gives me BG in this wonderful mood then I don’t mind at all.
She has been heading down for her food as soon as she sees the car pull up. One night she even walked herself into her field shelter and stood waiting for me before I’d even taken her food in.
I pop the food bowl on the floor and hold open her head collar for her to put her nose into it, before I flip the other part up over her neck and do it up. She has been so keen she has her head stuck over my shoulder nudging forward to reach the head collar before I’ve even unbuckled it recently. Thinking of other days when she just sees the head collar and hides in the corner; I do love it when she is in her current mood. She is happy and confident.
She has been standing beautifully for her grooms, even turning her head round to watch and check I do certain areas correctly. She has been licking every last bit of food out of her bowl too, even the sloppy bottom bits where I have put too much water in with the chaff, and then chewing on the handles of the bowl so she can savour every last little bit.
She is a joy to be around at the moment, a real friend who you can have a good laugh with and who keeps me smiling. I know the weather might be miserable, but if it gives me BG in this wonderful mood then I don’t mind at all.
Thursday 10 June 2010
A quiet week so far
BG has been having an easy week of it. The rain has pelted down here which has made the top of the ground so slippery that I only attempted a gentle lunge on Tuesday night and not the other days. I haven’t really been able to groom her as she has been dripping wet from the rain and I don’t want to brush the water into her coat.
When I first saw the rain the other day I was a little concern BG might suffer from it and get cold and shivery (she is un-rugged all year) but she has been fine, it hasn’t seemed to bother her at all, except sliding a little on the slippery ground a couple of times. The water on her back has just been running down her coat and dripping off. The one thing that is amazing me about her this year is she STILL has some of her winter coat! Just on the lower bit of her legs, and the bit at the top of her neck at the front took a while to go. I just groom her legs and bits of coat pile up on the ground – it is June and it’s not like it has been that cold!
I think it was Tuesday morning (or was in Monday) when we got up the field in the morning to find BG and P2 lying in the field, with P1 keeping guard over them, looking out for any danger. I think P1 saw us and thought that we could take over his guard duty as he promptly lay down next to the other two. BG normally gets up as you approach her, as a horse she is a flight animal so is quite vulnerable if she remains lying down. We were able to approach her cautiously though and stroke her on her head and neck whilst she was still lying down which made my day.
I’m going to have to watch BG’s weight a little with her lack of exercise and the rain making fresh grass come through. On a good note I have the farrier booked in, and I am waiting for a call back from the vets for an appointment time for her annual vaccinations. I left a message last week but I am not too worried yet that I haven’t heard back. Last year I rang them a month in advance thinking they would get very booked up and I didn’t want to miss her deadline, I think they thought I was mad and told me that I could ring back in a couple of weeks time. If I haven’t heard by next week I think I will ring them again though as I will need to book time off work.
Oh, and our car has turned into a mobile store-room. There have been reports of people rummaging through local stables and fields so now BG’s grooming kit, head collar and other things are living in the boot of our car. I do wish people had respect for other people’s belongings.
When I first saw the rain the other day I was a little concern BG might suffer from it and get cold and shivery (she is un-rugged all year) but she has been fine, it hasn’t seemed to bother her at all, except sliding a little on the slippery ground a couple of times. The water on her back has just been running down her coat and dripping off. The one thing that is amazing me about her this year is she STILL has some of her winter coat! Just on the lower bit of her legs, and the bit at the top of her neck at the front took a while to go. I just groom her legs and bits of coat pile up on the ground – it is June and it’s not like it has been that cold!
I think it was Tuesday morning (or was in Monday) when we got up the field in the morning to find BG and P2 lying in the field, with P1 keeping guard over them, looking out for any danger. I think P1 saw us and thought that we could take over his guard duty as he promptly lay down next to the other two. BG normally gets up as you approach her, as a horse she is a flight animal so is quite vulnerable if she remains lying down. We were able to approach her cautiously though and stroke her on her head and neck whilst she was still lying down which made my day.
I’m going to have to watch BG’s weight a little with her lack of exercise and the rain making fresh grass come through. On a good note I have the farrier booked in, and I am waiting for a call back from the vets for an appointment time for her annual vaccinations. I left a message last week but I am not too worried yet that I haven’t heard back. Last year I rang them a month in advance thinking they would get very booked up and I didn’t want to miss her deadline, I think they thought I was mad and told me that I could ring back in a couple of weeks time. If I haven’t heard by next week I think I will ring them again though as I will need to book time off work.
Oh, and our car has turned into a mobile store-room. There have been reports of people rummaging through local stables and fields so now BG’s grooming kit, head collar and other things are living in the boot of our car. I do wish people had respect for other people’s belongings.
Sunday 6 June 2010
The first fall
So last night was my first fall off BG, which was totally my fault and not hers. She came in for her tea and I gave her a nice groom. Then we led her round and she was leading nicely again, not headstrong at all. We didn't put the bridle on her, just planned on my husband leading her in her head collar with me on top as we have done before.
It started off much the same as any other time. Unfortunately though, as I was half way on her back, something made her spook backwards. My husband reckons she turned her head to watch me and when she felt the lead rope tighten on her head collar it scared her. He let BG get to the end of the lead rope length but she was still spooking and pulling back, the last thing we needed was for the rope to tighten on her again. My husband let the rope go which was the best thing to do, she was still pulling backwards.
BG pulled backwards abruptly for about four metres till she got to the fence, then spun on the spot and I went out the side door. My husband said she was very careful to avoid me on the ground, as most horses are.
Once I was off she legged it up the field, the lead rope trailing alongside her, scaring her. She has always been very good once she stands, to allow you to go up and take hold of the lead rope and take control again. That is one thing I have to be very grateful for, having run off scared and since she doesn't really trust humans, for her to let me collect her again is something I am very glad off.
We could have done without P2 feeling he was missing out on the fun. He is a bit like a little toddler that wants to be involved in everything and seeing BG running round he thought he was missing out and ran over to join in.
I didn't get on BG again. They say when you fall off a horse you should always get back on, and it would probably have done her some good if I got back on so she would learn that it isn't so scary. However, I didn't really feel it was worth the risk of it going even worse. Instead we led her around me standing on the mounting block and leaning over to rub across and over her back.
When BG pulled back (before I came off) and I realized what was happening I made things worse. I had no saddle and since I was only part on her, I hadn't taken hold of her mane or anything, nor was I sitting back on her. So, as she went to move, the only thing I had to hang onto was her neck, thus putting my weight on the top of her withers. That would have made her loose her balance and scared her even more. So I didn't help matters, and BG was only doing what nature told her to. She is not to blame for the incident, it is up to me to find the way to get her confident enough to learn that a rider on her back is nothing to be scared of.
BG didn't come in for her breakfast this morning. It was hot again, with that and the fact she was probably still remembering last night she decided the top of the field was the place to be.
This evening it was cooler and rainy and BG seemed pleased to see us (probably remembering her missed breakfast). She came in and even with the rain hammering on the roof of her field shelter her head collar went straight on. Once she had finished her meal though she stood at the entrance to her field shelter waiting for us to release her.
It was thunder and lightening tonight, and she spotted that and it scared her as she was in a confined space. Once that set of thunder had finished we took off the head collar and let her out. For the thunder and lightening she is better in the open where she is happier. The next set she didn't even blink at, her head was down grazing.
It started off much the same as any other time. Unfortunately though, as I was half way on her back, something made her spook backwards. My husband reckons she turned her head to watch me and when she felt the lead rope tighten on her head collar it scared her. He let BG get to the end of the lead rope length but she was still spooking and pulling back, the last thing we needed was for the rope to tighten on her again. My husband let the rope go which was the best thing to do, she was still pulling backwards.
BG pulled backwards abruptly for about four metres till she got to the fence, then spun on the spot and I went out the side door. My husband said she was very careful to avoid me on the ground, as most horses are.
Once I was off she legged it up the field, the lead rope trailing alongside her, scaring her. She has always been very good once she stands, to allow you to go up and take hold of the lead rope and take control again. That is one thing I have to be very grateful for, having run off scared and since she doesn't really trust humans, for her to let me collect her again is something I am very glad off.
We could have done without P2 feeling he was missing out on the fun. He is a bit like a little toddler that wants to be involved in everything and seeing BG running round he thought he was missing out and ran over to join in.
I didn't get on BG again. They say when you fall off a horse you should always get back on, and it would probably have done her some good if I got back on so she would learn that it isn't so scary. However, I didn't really feel it was worth the risk of it going even worse. Instead we led her around me standing on the mounting block and leaning over to rub across and over her back.
When BG pulled back (before I came off) and I realized what was happening I made things worse. I had no saddle and since I was only part on her, I hadn't taken hold of her mane or anything, nor was I sitting back on her. So, as she went to move, the only thing I had to hang onto was her neck, thus putting my weight on the top of her withers. That would have made her loose her balance and scared her even more. So I didn't help matters, and BG was only doing what nature told her to. She is not to blame for the incident, it is up to me to find the way to get her confident enough to learn that a rider on her back is nothing to be scared of.
BG didn't come in for her breakfast this morning. It was hot again, with that and the fact she was probably still remembering last night she decided the top of the field was the place to be.
This evening it was cooler and rainy and BG seemed pleased to see us (probably remembering her missed breakfast). She came in and even with the rain hammering on the roof of her field shelter her head collar went straight on. Once she had finished her meal though she stood at the entrance to her field shelter waiting for us to release her.
It was thunder and lightening tonight, and she spotted that and it scared her as she was in a confined space. Once that set of thunder had finished we took off the head collar and let her out. For the thunder and lightening she is better in the open where she is happier. The next set she didn't even blink at, her head was down grazing.
Friday 4 June 2010
Very tense
BG seemed a little tense tonight. I don't know why. She took a bit of persuading to come in for her tea (I jinxed it with my entry the other day) and let me groom her, fly repellent her, do her hooves etc. with no issues, other than the fact she was very tense. You could tell she was ready to react to anything that might upset her. I still don't know why she was tense. She has been on her own most of the day as P1 and P2 were heading out when we got up to give her her breakfast, but I would have thought she would have got over that by tonight.
She had her saddle on and, as usual, refused to walk out her field shelter. Today I used the lunging whip to try and encourage her out. I didn't want to touch her with it as I thought she might freak and really upset herself, but just having it seemed to encourage her to walk on a bit better.
Out she went and off the saddle came. Then she had a lunge where she was really striding out nicely in trot.
Yesterday we had a good night. I didn't lunge her, I thought I would just do a bit in hand with her since she had begun to get a bit headstrong being lead. She was really good though, very responsive, walked perfectly on a loose rein most the time. I wish we'd taken her out for a walk on the lanes now.
Still waiting to hear back from the farrier, BG is starting to get some cracks on her near-fore now. Also, I have left a message with the vets to ring me back, BG is due her annual vaccinations, this time she needs flu and tetanus. I've also asked to have her sedated so her teeth can be checked too. I have never been around when a horse has had that done so it will be something new for me.
She had her saddle on and, as usual, refused to walk out her field shelter. Today I used the lunging whip to try and encourage her out. I didn't want to touch her with it as I thought she might freak and really upset herself, but just having it seemed to encourage her to walk on a bit better.
Out she went and off the saddle came. Then she had a lunge where she was really striding out nicely in trot.
Yesterday we had a good night. I didn't lunge her, I thought I would just do a bit in hand with her since she had begun to get a bit headstrong being lead. She was really good though, very responsive, walked perfectly on a loose rein most the time. I wish we'd taken her out for a walk on the lanes now.
Still waiting to hear back from the farrier, BG is starting to get some cracks on her near-fore now. Also, I have left a message with the vets to ring me back, BG is due her annual vaccinations, this time she needs flu and tetanus. I've also asked to have her sedated so her teeth can be checked too. I have never been around when a horse has had that done so it will be something new for me.
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Loving the cooler weather
The cooler weather seems to have made BG more amenable. It may also be because I have been taking things slowly with her this week, but whatever the reason I am enjoying it.
She has come in for her food with no fuss every day, even trotting in yesterday morning which always makes me smile. The week before last it was a lot of effort to persuade her to come in for food at all.
Her head collar has gone on with no fuss every time, unlike the week before last where she would turn away and hide in the corner when ever I presented it to her.
This morning she was even trying to push her head into her head collar before I had untied it from the ring. She had it put on just outside her shelter, (but still in the field so she could have refused had she wanted!), with no fuss at all.
As mentioned it has been a quiet week for us this week. A gentle lunge on Sunday night when she was very good. Monday night she had a nice groom and then I popped the saddle on her. She is standing perfectly in her shelter again whilst I groom her etc., no more hiding at the back. It still took little baby steps from side to side with her sticking her neck out stubbornly to get her to leave the shelter with her saddle on. Once out I just took it straight off. I want to overcome her not wanting to leave the shelter with it on, and if that means walking her out and taking it off as her reward then I will lug the saddle up there every night and do that.
Another gentle lunge, she stops beautifully on her ‘bad’ rein but is worse on her good rein, tending to take longer to stop or then trying to turn in, bad habits that need sorting out. Last night the top of the ground was slippery so she had a night off. Not much of a groom either as she was wet.
Lets hope I haven’t jinxed it with this post, I like it when BG is happy to be caught and friendly around me.
She has come in for her food with no fuss every day, even trotting in yesterday morning which always makes me smile. The week before last it was a lot of effort to persuade her to come in for food at all.
Her head collar has gone on with no fuss every time, unlike the week before last where she would turn away and hide in the corner when ever I presented it to her.
This morning she was even trying to push her head into her head collar before I had untied it from the ring. She had it put on just outside her shelter, (but still in the field so she could have refused had she wanted!), with no fuss at all.
As mentioned it has been a quiet week for us this week. A gentle lunge on Sunday night when she was very good. Monday night she had a nice groom and then I popped the saddle on her. She is standing perfectly in her shelter again whilst I groom her etc., no more hiding at the back. It still took little baby steps from side to side with her sticking her neck out stubbornly to get her to leave the shelter with her saddle on. Once out I just took it straight off. I want to overcome her not wanting to leave the shelter with it on, and if that means walking her out and taking it off as her reward then I will lug the saddle up there every night and do that.
Another gentle lunge, she stops beautifully on her ‘bad’ rein but is worse on her good rein, tending to take longer to stop or then trying to turn in, bad habits that need sorting out. Last night the top of the ground was slippery so she had a night off. Not much of a groom either as she was wet.
Lets hope I haven’t jinxed it with this post, I like it when BG is happy to be caught and friendly around me.
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