First up we had an End Of Holidays Pony Party on 28th August. It was a little quieter, and a lot cooler than the last one!!! Same sort of format as before.....Minus the cooling off under the sprinkler! A friend of mine (Shona) turned up unexpectedly, with her son Ben, unaware of what she was walking into. Ben was more than happy to join in.
After grooming and tacking up, everyone went out for a hack, followed by a lesson. Then it was Poo Picking time, and tractor driving. Its amazing how quick this daily job is using child labour ha ha. After lunch we had Gymkhana games, followed by Sparkle Up a Pony.
Next day we took Polly a feed with half a Bute in, as she had been very enthusiastic during the Games. She didn't seem as if she needed it, as she cavorted around the Paddock bucking. Dora meanwhile looked as if she had measles.......
Meanwhile Lu looked unlevel. Being a tough old bird, it could have been anything. After a good foot scrub we found a hole in her foot, so called the Farrier. After a poke around he found the hole was quite deep. We had been poulticing it for several days until there was no gunk. On the Farriers advice we have plugged the hole with cotton wool soaked in Stockholm Tar (which was fairly hard to find being quite an old fashioned remedy). Lu is such a good pony, she was quite happy to stand in a bucket of Iodine water. Top Tip......If your Horse is lame call the Farrier first!
Charlie is nearly ready to be ridden again. I have been working on getting him to stand at the mounting block without moving since January, using Clicker Training. In the last two weeks I have been leaning over him and getting a leg over (Phnarff Phnaff). Today Sammi (who he is very taken with) leant over him, followed by Eli (who couldn't resist), who sat on him. No drama at all. We are nearly there.
WHW have approved our application for LIv/Lil so we are picking her up on Friday. Very exciting!!! Watch this space for her arrival.
This week has been all about Daisy. Poor girl has got Laminitis out of no-where. Well obviously the grass has been growing, but not so's you'd notice. Her feet have been growing too and she was ready for the farrier a week ago. Seeing she was a bit footy on Tuesday, we brought her in, with lots of steamed hay and feeds of chaff and bran and bute. We turned her out Wednesday, as she isn't keen on being in, and was walking much better with boots on. Thursday she was laying flat out in the sun. Actually they all were, but bringing her in for the farrier, it was clear she was in pain. He pursed his lips and sort of whistled....like mechanics do just before they tell you your car is worth little more than scrap. He says we need to keep her on the hat-rack side. Can't ever see Daisy looking like a hat-rack, she's more like a large passenger liner. They are all strip grazed, out 24/7, have basic meadow hay and very little hard feed. We only feed natural chopped chaff and bran, mainly to get supplements in. And thats not very often. He even told us to stable her on shavings instead of the 3 year old barley straw. Luckily Jane (who has the 5* Shetland Hotel) had shavings and even delivered them to us.
This is Daisy, awaiting shavings delivery, in a classic text book laminitic stance. Notice the weight all on the back end, front legs pushed forward to relieve pressure on the toes. Luckily we had some padded boots/shoes for her, The type they use for endurance. and rubber mats in the stable.
This morning she was so much brighter, we let her out in a grazing muzzle for a couple of hours, free-range as the grass is older and longer, and therefore not as packed with sugar. She wandered off up to see the others at a pleasing speed. Jo has ordered her a bigger, sheepskin padded muzzle for when her feet are better. Although the one she has is large, it rubs long term.
And Stretchhhhhhh
