This
weekend the clocks have gone back an hour.
Most people relish the extra hour in bed, I am sorry to say that I dread
it. From now on I only see the horses in
the dark during the week. This makes it
more difficult to check them over and it is easy to miss a cut or small injury
because the lights are not as good as daylight:(
As
usual I have been preparing for the winter over the last month or so and if you
watch my videos on my You Tube
channel you will know that I have been clearing out and tidying!
I
have been through the feed/rug room (basically a stable where I store the food
and my rugs) cleaned all the feed bins out taken out all my rugs and checked if
any need repairs before they are needed as there is nothing worse than pulling
one out early in the dark and discovering a strap missing or a big hole. I do try to get the rugs fixed before I put
them away but it is always good to check.
I
have tidied the hay barn, cleared it out and had a new load of hay. It is good to clear out any old hay stuck
between the pallets because it gets mouldy and dusty. I have also checked all the haynets to see if
I need to mend or replace any as I use more of them in the winter as I make
them up in advance.
I
also cleared out the tackroom, checked any rugs in there, cleaned the grooming
kits and made sure I have plenty of first aid kit and mud fever cream. I have also started saving some plastic
feedbags in case I need to wrap Chesney's feet up again this year (to keep his
bandage dry if he gets an abscess). I
washed all the towels and vacuumed all the cobwebs.
Finally,
I vacuumed the cobwebs from the stables and upset a lot of spiders. I find using a vacuum the quickest and least
dusty way to remove the cobwebs.
Although cobwebs are useful for catching flies in the summer
they are often full of dust by this time of year - not good for Basil's
breathing. I also clean the windows as
they are dusty and grimy after the field behind us has been harvested.
The
fencing around the field has been mended this year, although it was still doing
its job some of the posts had rotted so needed replacing because they were
wobbly. The hedge doesn't need trimming
this year which is good news. I also
check the gates have not dropped too much as there is nothing worse than
standing in deep mud struggling to lift a gate with a horse in the other hand!
It
is a constant struggle against leaves at the moment, trying to stop the gutters
and downpipes becoming blocked but I am trying a new 'system' which is
basically a net over the gutter so hope this might help to keep them
clear. I have cleared out the drains too
so that they run well when the downpours arrive.
The
muck heap was taken away by our local farmer while the ground was still dry so
I have a clear area to fill over the winter.
They won't come back until the ground dries out again in the spring
because they make much too much mess in the mud.
I
filled all the rat stations with poison, because I don't want rats chewing my
rugs, pipes etcetera or making the horses ill.
All
the water troughs have been emptied out so that the water is clean, neither of
them are under trees so they don't get full of those but the horses seem to
drop grass in there!
The
horses have also had a 'tidy' they all had their teeth checked and rasped last
week, which is done annually. Tommy was
very good (although he had a bit of sedative)
and did not seem as nervous of the dentist as he did last year. They also had their annual vaccinations but
Tommy wasn't sure about the vet putting the injection in his bottom, they are
usually done in their necks!
Chesney
and Basil had a tapeworm test earlier this month and were all clear. I wormed Tommy without doing a test again
this time but think I will try testing him in the spring as I think he will now
be OK with the spatula on his tongue. At
the end of November/ beginning of December they will all be wormed for small
encysted redworm.
The
farrier has been last week and will continue to come every 6 weeks over the winter, Tommy is really getting used to it now which
is great. Basil's feet have been really
good over this summer but once the wet arrives they won't be, so it is
important that he is regularly checked and maintained.
I
have also clipped Basil this weekend as he started to get quite hot when I was
riding. Chesney has had a little clip
too because he gets hot when I ride Basil and then it is really difficult to
get him to cool down again as his coat is so long and curly now.
So,
I think I am ready. The horses are
enjoying the apples from my tree at the moment but there weren't many this
year, I think they will only last a couple of weeks and usually I have some
until Christmas.
The
grass is still growing so I am still restricting their grazing as I don't want
laminitis but I am watching Chesney carefully to make sure he doesn't lose
weight. They are all carrying just a
nice amount at the moment, they have a bit extra which they will lose over the
winter so I am not worried about that. I
will probably start Chesney on his sugarbeet in the next week or so to keep him
good and healthy!
Did you see last week's video 'Big Autumn Clear Out ... Final Day' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
What
is it
Seedy
Toe is when the wall separates from the sole at the toe. This leaves a cavity running under the
wall. If the wall is tapped the sound
will be hollow!
Signs
- May or may not be lameness
- When sole pared back the cavity is obvious
- Cavity is sometimes filled with black, foul smelling, greasy
and decaying hoof
- Poor and crumbly horn
- Possible vertical crack up the hoof wall
Causes
- Chronic laminitis
- Poor hoof trimming and/or shoeing
- Foreign body eg: stone wedged between wall and sole at toe
- Horses with long toes and low heels are more likely to
suffer
- Infection entering a small crack in the wall
Diagnosis
On
examination of the hoof the cavity will be found along the white line.
Treatment
Farrier
or vet will cut away the dead horn.
Sedation may be necessary and nerve blocking is sometimes used. Once the horn is cut away the infected
tissues will be able to drain and the exposure to air will also discourage
bacteria from growing. Antiseptics can
be applied and in some cases antibiotics will be needed. Tetanus vaccination is advised if the horse is
not up to date!
The
horse must then be kept in clean and dry conditions whilst the tissues recover and
the infection is gone. The wound will
need to be regularly cleaned. A special
shoe will then be fitted to support the hoof as it regrows. This will take time.
Prevention
Regular
foot care. Keep the feet clean by
picking out daily and checking them.
Regular trimming and/or shoeing by an experienced farrier. Access to a clean and dry area so that the
horse is not standing in cold and wet conditions 24 hours a day. Feed supplements can help improve the health
of the horn. Rapid and appropriate
treatment for a hoof crack.
Have you seen this week's video 'Big Autumn Clear Out ... Final Day' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
Tommy was sleeping when I came to ride the other day ...
I was standing under a tree when I took these and they couldn't work out what I was !!!
Have you seen this week's video 'Big Autumn Clear Out ... Final Day' on my You Tube channel. Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
The
Percheron is one of the best known varieties of heavy horse and originates from
a region of France known as Perche.
There are 3 slightly different types; from North America, France and
England. The main difference is the
size.
History
The
ancestry of the breed is uncertain but it seems that many different breeds
could have influenced the Percheron we know today. The first Percheron could have been brought
to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 but this is not certain.
Used
as stagecoach horses they combined strength and stamina with grace and
elegance. The breed was also used for
pulling mail coaches and was popular for farming.
During
the 19th century the breed began to be exported to the United States and later
the same century the breed was exported from there to England. In England the breed was used to pull the
buses in London and also by the military as artillery horses for the South
African War.
The
increase in mechanisation has reduced the need for the breed, however, it is
still popular in some areas for farming and as a show horse.
All
modern day Percheron's can trace their ancestry back to a stallion called Jean
le Blanc, born in 1823.
Characteristics
Height:
15.2hh - 17hh
Colour:
Grey or black.
Conformation:
Relatively fine head, with a broad
forehead. The eyes are large but the
ears relatively small. Percheron's have
a muscular neck and good sloping shoulders, a pointed chest with a pronounced
breast bone. The body is wide and they
have good, strong quarters. Sound legs
with plenty of muscle.
Temperament:
Need careful handling as they can be highly strung.
Used
mostly as a show horse but also in some areas still for farming.
British
Percheron Horse Society website: http://www.percheron.org.uk
Did you see last week's video 'Follow me in October' on my You Tube channel.
Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
What
are they
Sarcoids
are skin tumours and they are relatively common. They
don't spread to the internal organs and are not life threatening but can affect
a horse's ability to work. Chesney had
some verrucous sarcoids when he was quite young around his sheath area and
developed another under his eye when he was 16 years old.
Signs
- Wart like growths
- One or several, they vary in size
- Usually found on the chest, abdomen, inside the back legs,
around the sheath, and around the eyes and ears
- Growths can have a thick and crusty surface
- Or may be raw, ulcerated and bleeding
However,
there are several types of sarcoid and each can look different.
- Fibroblastic: are aggressive sarcoids. They often ulcerate and can be invasive.
- Malevolent: these are the most aggressive type. They spread
through the skin and lymph vessels. They
can become large.
- Mixed: a combination of the other types.
- Nodular: these are lumps under the skin, skin is shiny and
the lumps vary in size.
- Occult: appear as an area of hair loss (a bit like
ringworm).
- Verrucous: are like warts and are often grey in colour. There are often several and they are deeper.
Causes
The
cause of sarcoids is not definitely known. They are thought to be caused by a
papilloma virus but this has not been proven.
Insects may contribute to the development (transfer) of the condition
because the common sites are the areas where they congregate.
Diagnosis
Call
the vet. Early treatment is important
and usually effective, once the sarcoids become bigger they are more difficult
to treat.
Treatment
There
are a number of different treatments and some work on some horses but not on
others. Type of treatment will depend on
the type of sarcoid and where it is on the horse. They do tend to reoccur.
The
tumours can be surgically removed.
Ligation is another option which involves putting a tight band around
the base of the tumour until it falls off.
Both of these options have the risk of leaving some cells behind which
will then mean the tumour grows back.
Cryotherapy
is another option when the tumour is frozen, this requires several
treatments. Immune therapy is another
option which involves injecting the horse with BCG which will stimulate the
immune system. Radiation therapy is
another option or laser removal.
There
are creams available which do work in some cases. Chesney was treated with a cream on both
occasions and although he needed several
applications - which had to be done by the vet - they did go.
Prevention
As
the cause is not known prevention is difficult.
Some horses will get sarcoids, some won't.
Have you seen this week's video 'Follow me in October' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
Tommy managed to make a real mess of his leg last week - this was Tuesday 11th ...
I called the vet as I really didn't know what to do with it for the best ... this was the result!
Thursday 13th ... looking quite a bit better...
Sunday 16th ... better still ...
Tuesday 18th ... less red ...
I think this is going to take some time to heal :(
It is amazing though how the wound is healing - you can see where it is repairing around the edge!
Have you seen yesterday's video 'Follow me in October' on my You Tube channel.
Horse Life
and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and
Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
