Lockdown Continues - The Weirdest Spring Ever!!!

Wow..... So we continue into Lockdown Spring.  This has to be the Weirdest spring ever!!  Apart from the fact that if I catch this virus I will probably die, I am liking the slower pace of life. Fewer cars roar by the yard, everything is quieter and spring seems to be reveling in the stillness of the planet.

Those that are lucky enough to have their horses at home, or on private yards, at least have the pleasure of equine company, but with the BHS recommending not riding, may be at a loss of what to do with their horses. But this is a brilliant time to increase the bond. And also to get all those boring yard jobs done.... Anyone for rug cleaning? Fence Repairs? Washing all those dirty numnahs?

We have moved our herd onto the Hill Field and building a track system that is moving daily.  Not only are we restricting grass this way, but as each track section is extended, the ponies have further to walk for water. Daisy is now with Lily, Dora and Mini as they need less grass, and accept the fact they have to traverse a maze. They also have a hay container still, to supplement the rationed grass.

Charlie and Lu are not so compliant with this system.  Both are perfectly able to lift up fence posts and hop over the laid down fences to find new grazing. A couple of days ago we found them out in the main field looking as if they had been partying all night.  We brought them into the stalls in the Barn while we repaired the damage they had caused, only to have to wait at the water butts while they both drank for England.  It seems they couldn't possibly jump back over a clicking electric tape to get water, even though we reckoned they had been out at least 16 hours (based on droppings). So we spent a long, long, long time wrapping electrified wire around all the posts so they cannot grab them without getting a shock.  Their track system is slightly less meandering than the others, but they still have a trek to the Water Butts.

And so to that bonding I was talking about.  I have come up with 25 Things to do With Your Horse on the Ground and am frantically making short videos for You Tube.  Number 1 is simply Hanging Out.  Just spend time with your horse in the field.  Sit quietly and observe the herd dynamics. If your horse trusts you, you will be able to go and sit with him, while he is laying down.

Number 2 is a Breakfast Date with your pony.

Number 3 is all about Lunging.

Number 4 is about to be uploaded and covers "Join-Up", "Hook Up", "Bonder", "Follow Me" whatever you call it, its all the same.  In the next few days I will cover Beginning Clicker Training and Correct Leading. 
Please follow my YouTube Chanel for more videos. 

Stay safe.

P.s...... If you are suffering from Hay-fever, and you find sneezing in public causes mass panic, it's always nice to know your best friend is on hand with a hanky 😄

East Suffolk Ponies - 25 Things to do With Your Horse at Home - 2: Break...

East Suffolk Ponies - 25 Things to do With Your Horse on The Ground -Num...

The C Word, Top Barn Challenge and The Laminitus Worry

Well, hasn't our world turned upside down in the last couple of weeks??
I hope everyone stays safe and well!!

I am very grateful that Jo and I rent our land privately, as many Livery Yards have banned owners from visiting their horses.  I have been lucky over the years to either have my horses at work, or rent privately.  The only Livery Yard I have ever been on was years ago and it was DIY with only 4 owners. I think I would probably lose the plot if I couldn't see Charlie and his mares every day!

Being at very high risk due to my dodgy lungs and dicky ticker, I am self isolating expect for doing the ponies.  As I live in a 4 room shoe-box flat with Mark the Mechanic (and Part-time Horse Whisperer) I would go insane without our glorious isolated 24 acres to run about in.  Ok I can't do running!!! But just the fresh air, exercise and being able to hug Charlie and breathe in his delicious horsey smell leaves me able to cope!!  Even Mark chose to use his allotted hours exercise yesterday, coming up to The Farm, grooming Charlie (which he really enjoyed), and helping me Hay. It seems he has already thoroughly explored all four rooms in the flat!!
I am a firm believer of fresh air and sunshine as a healer!

So If you find yourself stuck inside and unable to see your horse for a while, you have my sympathy.  If you have Netflix, you could binge watch Heartland(if you haven't already), or watch Unbranded, a film about some guys that took on Mustangs from kill-pen and rode them from The southern border of USA to the Northern border (its real, not a movie!).  There is also a bunch of You Tube vids to gorge on.  I thoroughly recommend Emma Massingale, Ride Like a Viking, Karl Greenwood and Carson James.  Oh and my Channel!!!  As for books? Carson James has a great book, or try Mark Rashid. For great novels check out Amanda Wills, Riverdale series.  Not forgetting The Ridgeway Romp, now available in paperback as well as E-book (Ok enough self plugging!!!)

And so, The Top Barn 2020 Challenge is on its last week.  And what a challenge it's been this year.  I baled very early (Week 4) due to a serious Chest Infection that left me with a poorly heart and 2 cracked ribs.  Many others were defeated by the strong wind and rain. And now this bloody virus has seen a few out because they can't even get to their horses.
But still Jo has ploughed on through it all. Lulu is as fit as a fiddle and enjoying the extra work.  I am so proud of Jo for her determination to finish this challenge whatever!  She has about an hour to complete!!  Well done Jo and Lulu.

And now the serious bit!!  It's a bit of a worry to see many yards that are now on lock-down and are short staffed, are now turning horses out onto 24/7 grazing. 
While this relieves the amount of work for the limited staff, and may make the ponies happy (temporarily)  there is a huge danger of laminitus occurring.  Horses that have been stabled during the Winter (even just at night) have probably been fed grain and rugged. Most will still be chubby from being stationary for 8 plus hours. Suddenly turning them out onto fresh spring grass, maybe still rugged, and possibly with a sudden drop in hay rations WILL cause Laminitus!! 
If this is the only option, I would recommend making a track system, so they have to walk a long way for water, still feeding hay, and stripping the rugs off pronto!!  Horses are designed to survive huge variants in temperature!! They are also designed to travel miles each day, live on scrubby land and drop weight in Winter!!!  Speaking of rugs.....Only clipped horses need them!!!  An over-heated horse is going to be uncomfortable at the least!!  Wild horses DO NOT have rugs! They can survive in extreme cold. A fat score of 4 or more, is the equivalent of a heavyweight rug!

To save all this stress and change, the simple way to keep horses happy is to leave them out 24/7 all year round in all their naked glory.  Feed ample hay and that will keep them warm.  Remember horses need the 3 Fs....
Friends, Freedom and Forage!  Not Rugs, Stables, Grain!  This not only saves time and money, it also keeps the horse happy, healthy and calm. It also means that they eat the new grass as it appears...slowly... and their systems slowly adapt to the change in diet!  

In all my ten years looking after the horses at the RDA, they lived out 24/7 on mostly hay (they all had a small feed of chaff and carrots when they worked as a Thank-You).  Despite most of them being elderly ( quite a lot were fit and working into their 30's), they thrived, lived in 2 herds, and i am proud to say I never had a case of Laminitus and only one of colic ( a new horse that had a huge worm burden).  We had no EMS or Ulcers. None of the horses were grumpy, or hard to catch, and they were all very laid back. 
And our own herd is also thriving!!  Despite all the wind and rain, we have only used a rug for holding down the hay on the trailer. We have used ONE bag of Chaff all winter!!  Our ponies are all looking fit and well. They are at ideal weights, with glossy coats, and are more than eager to work with us....even at liberty. 

Anyway Lecture over... But Food For Thought?

Stay Safe.

Spring is Springing, A Hack, and The Horse That Will Not Back Up

Dare I say it????? Spring Seems to be Springing!!!  Today both Chanice (Who Helps on Saturdays Which Is Now Sundays) and I were both down to T-Shirts by the end of the morning!!!  I also stripped off to a T-shirt on Wednesday which reminded me I should start wearing a bra again!!!  I have been bra-less since cracking my ribs as the band pushed against the cracks and hurt. 

And so Monday was a momentous occasion.  Jo and I hacked out on Lu and Daisy together!!!! For the first time since last April, after which she went lame with the most horrendous bout of laminitus caused by her EMS.  For those who have not followed the blog, we spent months getting her right, padded back to front shoes, homeopathy, steamed hay, a restricted paddock etc, only for her to get an abcess in a hind, which took weeks of cutting back and poulticing. We then started to work on building up her lost muscles in hand. I crazed the Farrier to let me ride her, but he didn't want us to rush things. Considering the Vet said we may never be able to ride her again, and we had even booked the Knackerman, initially thinking the abcess was a pulled Suspensory Ligament, I was patient.  As soon as she was given to all clear to be ridden I went down with my Heart damaging Chest Infection.  Meg rode her a couple of times.

Finally on Monday I felt well enough to give it a go!!  It was a lovely ride. It felt so good to be out on Daisy again.  She jogged and strode out, ears pricked and thoroughly enjoyed herself. I was so happy to be doing something that at one time I didn't think I would be doing again. She may have no brakes, little steering and the odd frilly moment, but I love her to bits, and being able to hack her out again is a dream come true. There is a very edited video to watch on East Suffolk Ponies Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/charliehorseandfriends/?ref=aymt_homepage

Jo and Lulu are still going strong in The Top Barn Challenge.  There is one Plus Challenge we cannot get Lu to do, and that's back up in a semi circle.  All the others will back up easily. While playing with the Mini Herd, in their paddock perfecting them saying "Please", I checked them backing up. Yup they all do it on command.  I had Charlie in on Tuesday, running through our tricks, and starting the foundation of a new trick. I asked him to back a semi circle, loose and with my hands in my pocket. Yup...No problem! But Lulu? No way. I have never met a horse that will not yield to pressure. Until Lu. Most horses will back away from a finger in the chest, or a little pressure on the lead rope. Failing that swinging a rope towards them, or walking towards them with purpose will work. The idea being to get the pressure down to just moving a foot towards them will cause them to a back up a step, or just using the words "Back Up".

Lu WILL NOT submit to anything!!  A poke in the chest results in her walking forwards. A waggle of the rope.....Nothing. Pressure on the lead rope may get 2 or 3 backwards steps, but that's it. Getting really dominant just provokes her into barging into you, ears back. We have come to the conclusion that she is THE most dominant mare ever.  She is most definitely the herd leader, and does not expect even the humans in the herd to tell her where to place her feet.  It would be a problem except in all other ways she is polite and respectful. I guess backing is just a step too far!

The weekend finished well, with a friend from school visiting and having her first ever hack on Daisy, accompanied by Jo and Lu, Nancy and Mini (with Meg) and myself leading Charlie.  Today Chanice (who helps on Sundays now) rode Daisy and lead Mini as an experiment which all went well.

There is a new Trick Video available on YouTube https://youtu.be/eqgl0IM9Aqw

Top Barn Challenge Week 7, More Storms and Breakfast With Charlie

So Jo and Lulu are still in the Top Barn Challenge, and week 7 is now finishing. Jo has used the last week as her rollover week, and so from Monday we buckle down to finishing the last 5 weeks.  This week has been a non-starter.  Jo has had home stuff to tackle, I am still next to useless (Chest Infection gone, but low on energy, breath and ribs still painful), and no sooner had Storm Ciara gone, then Storm Dennis rolled in.

Storm Dennis seems never-ending. He must have a very whippy tail, as the wind has not dropped below 20 mph, generally being around the 30mph mark, and according to my weather app, there is no end in sight. Despite being naked and on top of the only hill in Suffolk, the ponies are doing well. They are all like polar bears! Its at this point Winter seems to drag.  Now the nights are drawing out, and the blossom and daffs are beginning to bloom, I get impatient for the T-shirt days to begin.

Last weekend it was so wet and cold that we brought Mini into the Tack-room so Nancy could dry her off before a quick ride. That child is hardcore!!! Mini amused us by showing how good she is at saying Please!

Speaking of Minis.....We are looking for another Shetland.  Preferably a Standard Mare. Older rather than younger, but unbroken to ride is ok.  Our Mini has spent the best part of her life with Sweet Pea (another Shetland who passed away 18 months ago) and just seems a little lost still.  She would like a friend her size.  We would be happy to do a loan swap with Dora The Explorer, a Welsh Sec A who is wasted with us at the moment.  Dora would make a great 2nd pony, is fully papered and has great paces. She is just not really a lead rein pony.

So as I am still crook, and unable to do anything too strenuous with Charlie Bear, I brought him in for a breakfast date.  I set us up a table and chair, and he had brekkie from the table, while I had my morning coffee. Was a great date.
While this may seem a little strange, you can't beat just bonding with your pony.
As Humans, we are always in a hurry.  We often put pressure on ourselves to hurry hurry hurry, to 'achieve' something.  Every moment with our horses must be spent doing what we feel is important (schooling, jumping etc).  Horses live life at a much slower pace.  They don't get the need to get on and learn something every time they see you.  They don't go back into the field satisfied that they have learnt shoulder-in. If you work your Horse every time you see him, he is not going to look forward to you appearing in the field with a head-collar. If you really want to create a bond with your horse, just spend time together. Hang out with no agenda. Bring him in for a Breakfast Date. Spend time just scratching him. Give him a pamper session. Go for a walk together. 

To learn some tricks check out my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLYQBYhWqo_WPVdz9MFkCtA/videos?view_as=subscriber

Or follow us at https://www.facebook.com/charliehorseandfriends/

Top Barn Challenge Week 5, A Drop Out and That Storm

So the Challenge rolls on. As do Jo and Lulu. Positively inspired, Jo has been hacking out in all weathers alone.  We had a slight to-do about a track in Week 4.  Our lovely neighbours stopped Jo riding up a track we have used forever (16 years methinks), which leads to the Farm Tracks we have permission to ride on. Turns out the Neighbour does own the bottom on the track, but very quickly the Farm gave us permission to ride around that on the edge of a field, so no harm done. 

Feeling worse and worse I confined myself to the Yard for Groundwork with Lily in Week 4, giving Charlie his holiday!  Week 5 dawned. I gave Lily a week off and started working Charlie again. Until Wednesday when I went to Papworth for a routine check-up on my Dodgy Lungs and Dicky Ticker. I won't go into details, except to say I hate the new site.  In a Heart and Lung Hospital I managed to walk 5 miles finding my way to various tests.  I was away 12 hours including travel.  They discovered that my never-ending cold is in fact a chest infection, and that my heart is struggling atm. Armed with some antibiotics, and some strict words from the Consultant about being in the Transplant Zone, and Resting etc, I had a very long journey home to think. I'm not ready for the Transplant stuff.  I plan to be around for a long time yet.  So I am taking the advice to slow down (temporarily), until the Infection has gone and my Heart Rate has come back to normal. So with a heavy (and poorly) heart, I decided to drop out of the Challenge, in the hope that I will still be around to compete next year.

So I have now become Jo's photographer, video editor and Unglamorous assistant!!  On that note I gave her and Lu a few pointers on Sideways Shit and some schooling tips on Friday. Lu was broken as a Happy Hacker, so lacks the bendy school stuff.  Enter the glamorous assistant!!!  Hahahaha. Does that sound evil???  While I cannot teach Jo (as she can already ride perfectly well), I LOVE teaching green horses a better way to go.  SOOO that is now my mission. I also threw in a few raised poles.  Lu couldn't make her mind up weather to jump them or not.  Her front end came up, while her back end trotted. Methinks this pair will be jumping cross-poles by the end of this challenge!!!!! 

And so today Storm Ciara Hit us....as very well predicted. Being on top of the only hill in Suffolk had its drawbacks.  The herd was fine in their naked glory. All warm and unbothered by the Winds,as they live out 24/7.  But Room-Service had a few problems delivering the hay. I laid across the trailer like a starfish but we still managed to lose a bales worth of hay, last seen heading across the fields at some speed. We managed to deliver what was left, after we had swallowed a fair amount, and went back for seconds. Its very Yummy!!  Today gets the record for the longest time ever taken to deliver Hay.  And I am still rubbing it out of my eyes!!!

Still Spring is Following!!!