Poor BG is finding the ground very hard on her hooves, and the farrier is due out on Monday to trim them which will probably make them slightly more tender. I really want to get them seen to though as the crack on her near fore, which had so nearly grown out last time, has started to split up the hoof wall again and with ice and mud getting in it, it is only going to get worse.
She was due to have her hooves trimmed this Monday but I got a text at 6:30am to say the farrier’s van had broken down so she couldn’t make it. She is still having issues with it but she will be borrowing another vehicle to come out to us on Monday. I must admit I am feeling very grateful to my farrier at the moment. Normally it is such a struggle to arrange a convenient time for us both, but she suggested Monday since she knew I would be off work, and then she is planning on finding alternative arrangements to make it out to us. I just hope there is enough to take off BG’s hooves to make it worth the trip, but it will have been 12 weeks since the last visit so there should be.
Also, with BG being slightly heavier than I would like and the ground still being frozen solid I hope she (BG) will be okay after the trim.
I can’t believe it is Christmas tomorrow – I am not ready for it, but for BG it will be the same as any other day. I haven’t bought her a present I’m afraid, I did look at licks but didn’t find a suitable one and she doesn’t need anything like a new head collar. I don’t normally get her anything. If she is lucky she might get a carrot chopped up in her breakfast and tea. I read that lots of people give their horses Guinness in their Christmas food, and I was tempted to try it, but BG can be quite suspicious if her food smells different so I don’t think I’ll risk it.
The best Christmas present would be the ground being safe enough for my husband and I to be able to take BG for a walk out of her field, and I think she would love that more than anything else too.
Happy Christmas everyone (if anyone actually reads this), and to all your pets too!
Friday, 24 December 2010
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Ice, ice and more ice
The frozen weather came back with a vengeance, I can’t remember the last day the ponies were able to reach any grass. We are getting through our hay stocks and the water buckets are starting to freeze over again before I’ve even left the field, even with me removing every last shard of ice. They get a minimum of three visits a day, two from my husband and I and one from the owner of P1 and P2. The gate is frozen shut so we are having to climb over. The ground is rutted and solid so BG has started to tread very carefully the last few days. All three ponies are coping fine though.
I weight taped BG the other morning and she was a whooping 456kg. I guessed 450kg so not a bad guess. I like her at 400kg in summer and between 420-430kg in winter when it is cold, so she is over what I would like. It is difficult though, she is wintering well and I can’t not feed her with the ground as it is, at the same time I can’t really exercise her with the ground as it is either.
BG is an expert at getting hay out the small holed nets and wolfs it down faster than the other two. We’ve been hanging the hay nets along the fence between the ponies field and the field next door where some sheep are kept. A little sheep with a black face always comes over to share her net and she lets it quite peacefully. The sheep did try one day to share with P2, but he did his stallion impression pawing the ground, snorting and running up and down and the sheep never tried again.
Yesterday morning was cold. BG had ice on her whiskers, ice on her eye lashes and ice on the tufts in her ears. She had a beautiful frosting on the tips of her coat too, she looked beautiful.
I weight taped BG the other morning and she was a whooping 456kg. I guessed 450kg so not a bad guess. I like her at 400kg in summer and between 420-430kg in winter when it is cold, so she is over what I would like. It is difficult though, she is wintering well and I can’t not feed her with the ground as it is, at the same time I can’t really exercise her with the ground as it is either.
BG is an expert at getting hay out the small holed nets and wolfs it down faster than the other two. We’ve been hanging the hay nets along the fence between the ponies field and the field next door where some sheep are kept. A little sheep with a black face always comes over to share her net and she lets it quite peacefully. The sheep did try one day to share with P2, but he did his stallion impression pawing the ground, snorting and running up and down and the sheep never tried again.
Yesterday morning was cold. BG had ice on her whiskers, ice on her eye lashes and ice on the tufts in her ears. She had a beautiful frosting on the tips of her coat too, she looked beautiful.
Monday, 6 December 2010
A little update
The ground thawed for the first time yesterday, but unfortunately it went straight to mud. The sort of mud that clings to your boots and clumps up. This morning it was all frozen again. Unfortunately I choose Saturday to be the day I cleaned the final scab off BG's leg, thinking the cold and frost would ensure it kept nice and clean.
There is little news from up the field. All three ponies and doing well and have learnt they now get hay nets in the morning. I only gave them a handful yesterday as the grass was accessible again, then when I went to leave P1 called out and caused them all the come running down in the hope of more food.
This morning I was filling up their hay nets when the board across the entrance started to open. I have to leave it shut or the ponies come in to join me. I looked out thinking it might just be my husband turned up but no, BG had the board in her teeth and was pulling it open. I think I might have to watch her.
There is little news from up the field. All three ponies and doing well and have learnt they now get hay nets in the morning. I only gave them a handful yesterday as the grass was accessible again, then when I went to leave P1 called out and caused them all the come running down in the hope of more food.
This morning I was filling up their hay nets when the board across the entrance started to open. I have to leave it shut or the ponies come in to join me. I looked out thinking it might just be my husband turned up but no, BG had the board in her teeth and was pulling it open. I think I might have to watch her.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Everything seems a little different....
Everything seems a little different at the moment. The ponies have modified their behaviour for the weather and I am trying to keep up with the changes so I don’t have to worry about something being wrong.
Two nights ago we got up to do the evening feed and P1 was neatly tucked up on the ground at BG’s hooves as she munched the remains of the hay net. P1 is the boss of BG, if he wanted the hay he would have it. They don’t seem as keen on the hay as they first were, as they will leave bits. I actually prefer it like that, it means there will be more left for later as the weather cools over-night, but it is unusual to see them saving their food. Plus, I have not seen the ponies lying down in the snow, although damp patches on BG’s belly suggest she does sometimes over the night.
Last night P2 and BG were gulping back the water. BG does not drink a lot, but she had a long drink before her tea, and then after her tea she attempted to have another drink from the water bucket inside. This was frozen over and me removing the ice scared her so she wouldn’t then drink from it, but as soon as we let her back out of the shelter she was back over to the outside water buckets for another long drink. Maybe the hay was slightly dry, I don’t like the idea of soaking it in this weather though.
Last night was the first night I was really worried about them. It was cold, not as cold as it had been, and it isn’t snowing much here, but it was so windy and that makes it feel worse. BG was waiting at the gate this morning, and the other two were stood expectantly, but they were all absolutely fine. I think us horse owners sometimes worry too much.
As we were sorting them out this morning a lady stopped as she walked past the gate and told my husband “I like the bay”. Anyone complimenting my pony puts a big smile on my face, and to pick BG first out of the three makes my smile even bigger. It was nice as well to have a compliment as I hear lots of people in this weather being criticized for the way they care for their animals. Why aren’t they rugged? Where’s their food? Not all horses need rugging, and although ad lib hay is what most people provide over the cold weather some horses would just eat and eat everything they are provided with and grow far too fat to be healthy, so their intake needs to be monitored throughout the day. Different horses need different care, which is partly evidenced when you stand BG next to P1 at the moment. Both are coping perfectly with the weather, but in order to do so P1 currently has three rugs on, and BG has none.
Two nights ago we got up to do the evening feed and P1 was neatly tucked up on the ground at BG’s hooves as she munched the remains of the hay net. P1 is the boss of BG, if he wanted the hay he would have it. They don’t seem as keen on the hay as they first were, as they will leave bits. I actually prefer it like that, it means there will be more left for later as the weather cools over-night, but it is unusual to see them saving their food. Plus, I have not seen the ponies lying down in the snow, although damp patches on BG’s belly suggest she does sometimes over the night.
Last night P2 and BG were gulping back the water. BG does not drink a lot, but she had a long drink before her tea, and then after her tea she attempted to have another drink from the water bucket inside. This was frozen over and me removing the ice scared her so she wouldn’t then drink from it, but as soon as we let her back out of the shelter she was back over to the outside water buckets for another long drink. Maybe the hay was slightly dry, I don’t like the idea of soaking it in this weather though.
Last night was the first night I was really worried about them. It was cold, not as cold as it had been, and it isn’t snowing much here, but it was so windy and that makes it feel worse. BG was waiting at the gate this morning, and the other two were stood expectantly, but they were all absolutely fine. I think us horse owners sometimes worry too much.
As we were sorting them out this morning a lady stopped as she walked past the gate and told my husband “I like the bay”. Anyone complimenting my pony puts a big smile on my face, and to pick BG first out of the three makes my smile even bigger. It was nice as well to have a compliment as I hear lots of people in this weather being criticized for the way they care for their animals. Why aren’t they rugged? Where’s their food? Not all horses need rugging, and although ad lib hay is what most people provide over the cold weather some horses would just eat and eat everything they are provided with and grow far too fat to be healthy, so their intake needs to be monitored throughout the day. Different horses need different care, which is partly evidenced when you stand BG next to P1 at the moment. Both are coping perfectly with the weather, but in order to do so P1 currently has three rugs on, and BG has none.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Cold snap
As has been well publicized, a cold snap has hit the UK. We had a little snow on Sunday where we are, but only a sprinkling. BG looked like she was going old, with the top of her mane covered in frost. Her whiskers were frozen and her tail had icicles in it. I’m sure anyone walking past would see her un-rugged, and P1 and P2 double rugged, right up their necks, and wonder how mean I am. I felt all three on their skin though, and she was the warmest of the lot. That thick winter coat is doing its job, and it wouldn’t hurt if she dropped some weight either.
The ground was frozen though so it was the first morning this winter I gave all the ponies a full hay net. It was minus six degrees at nine o’clock, I think they appreciated it.
Then yesterday I got up the field and it looked as though BG had a thick white rug on her back of snow. I think it might have been irritating her a little as the first thing she did when we got up there was have a roll. I checked her over and again she was the warmest of the three.
I think we are now getting into the winter routine; de-ice the water buckets, put up hay in the morning, pick the compacted ice out of BG’s hooves... She seems happy in the weather, so that means I’m happy. I’m yet to see her running round enjoying the snow as she does sometimes, but perhaps that is a good thing as the ground is frozen, rather than the nice fluffy snow you get sometimes. I do hope the ground thaws soon though.
The ground was frozen though so it was the first morning this winter I gave all the ponies a full hay net. It was minus six degrees at nine o’clock, I think they appreciated it.
Then yesterday I got up the field and it looked as though BG had a thick white rug on her back of snow. I think it might have been irritating her a little as the first thing she did when we got up there was have a roll. I checked her over and again she was the warmest of the three.
I think we are now getting into the winter routine; de-ice the water buckets, put up hay in the morning, pick the compacted ice out of BG’s hooves... She seems happy in the weather, so that means I’m happy. I’m yet to see her running round enjoying the snow as she does sometimes, but perhaps that is a good thing as the ground is frozen, rather than the nice fluffy snow you get sometimes. I do hope the ground thaws soon though.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Grumpy girl
BG has been waiting at the gate the last two mornings when we have got up the field to feed her, looking out for our car. I have cut her feed down slightly though so she might loose the inclination to wait for just a measly handful. I was being a bit too soft on her thinking it was cold and wet and so her back is starting to look like a flat table top. Seeing as she is getting hay at night from the other owner it isn’t like she is being starved, so she can do with just one handful rather than two at both her mealtimes.
I gave BG a quick groom this morning to remove the mud that had dried on her coat. When I went to run the brush between her two front legs her ears went back and she swung her head round to snap at the air a foot or so away from my head. I tried again and although she didn’t look happy about it she had already told me that so she didn’t attempt to snap at me again.
I ran my hand between her legs to see if I could feel anything that would irritate her but there was nothing apart from some dried mud. She does have a thick coat so I might be missing something. She is definitely trying to tell me that for some reason she isn’t happy. The strange thing is she is normally fine about being groomed anywhere, but this is the second or third time recently she has snapped at me for grooming her there. She has never ever caught me, just swung her neck round and snapped in the air as a warning. It is all very odd.
I gave BG a quick groom this morning to remove the mud that had dried on her coat. When I went to run the brush between her two front legs her ears went back and she swung her head round to snap at the air a foot or so away from my head. I tried again and although she didn’t look happy about it she had already told me that so she didn’t attempt to snap at me again.
I ran my hand between her legs to see if I could feel anything that would irritate her but there was nothing apart from some dried mud. She does have a thick coat so I might be missing something. She is definitely trying to tell me that for some reason she isn’t happy. The strange thing is she is normally fine about being groomed anywhere, but this is the second or third time recently she has snapped at me for grooming her there. She has never ever caught me, just swung her neck round and snapped in the air as a warning. It is all very odd.
Monday, 15 November 2010
Worrying
When BG was in her last home she had a rubber food bucket, which she would clear thoroughly at the end of her meal and occasionally move around her stall. She came up to me with a plastic feed bucket which was perfectly useable, but I always intended to get her a rubber one as I was worried the plastic would crack if she chewed the plastic one. I left it a while before getting her a rubber one, mainly because she didn’t actually ‘need’ it so I was a little wary about justifying the cost. That may sounds silly, they aren’t too expensive, but more cost than not buying one and it is not just my money I would be spending. I got her one earlier this year and I am so glad I did. She finishes her meal, licks the bowl thoroughly and chews on the handle, occasionally throwing it around her stall. The other night she looked up as she was still chewing the handle and threw the bucket so high it hit my husband on his thigh. He wasn’t hurt, but it does make me laugh to see her playing with her bowl like that.
Today is a bad day. We got up the field this morning and the wood the gate bolt attaches to had come off the gate post. I don’t know if this was deliberate or the horses, but it looked like it had been pushed from the road side. Then the fence alongside the gate looked like it had been cut. We have had issues before with people trying to steal the gate (which would leave the horses with free access to the road). We fixed the gate and I texted the other owner to let her know in case she spotted anything. In one of her replies she mentioned they are probably moving P1 and P2. I knew they were thinking of moving P1 and it makes sense for them to keep their two together, but I am just a little apprehensive about the future. The farmer might not want just one horse on the field, as he has mentioned selling it before, and I don’t know quite where that would leave BG and me. Also, P1 and P2’s owner is great to share with so I will miss that. I guess things work themselves out in the end, but I am worrying at the moment.
Today is a bad day. We got up the field this morning and the wood the gate bolt attaches to had come off the gate post. I don’t know if this was deliberate or the horses, but it looked like it had been pushed from the road side. Then the fence alongside the gate looked like it had been cut. We have had issues before with people trying to steal the gate (which would leave the horses with free access to the road). We fixed the gate and I texted the other owner to let her know in case she spotted anything. In one of her replies she mentioned they are probably moving P1 and P2. I knew they were thinking of moving P1 and it makes sense for them to keep their two together, but I am just a little apprehensive about the future. The farmer might not want just one horse on the field, as he has mentioned selling it before, and I don’t know quite where that would leave BG and me. Also, P1 and P2’s owner is great to share with so I will miss that. I guess things work themselves out in the end, but I am worrying at the moment.
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