Unique
identifiers for horses have come on since freeze marking and hoof
branding. They are important to help
identify lost or stolen horses and return them to their owners. In more recent years they have been used to
locate owners of horses who have been identified by welfare organisations as needing
help. Of course, from a welfare point of
view this only worked if the owners had their horses marked!
Welfare
organisations have been lobbying the government regarding this and since 2009
all horses born have been required to be microchipped. From October 2020 ALL horses will have to have been mircrochipped. The details will be held on a Central Equine
Database which will include the microchip number, details of the equine and
information relating to the owner.
Basil
was chipped as a youngster and Tommy was chipped when he was rescued. Chesney however, was freeze marked and had
not yet been microchipped. They are so
tiny that I don't believe they have any detrimental effects and the advantages
of having your horse with a unique number which can be checked by any vet or
rescue organisation must increase your chances of having them returned if the
worst thing happens and your horse is lost or stolen.
Plenty
of warning means there is lots of time to talk to your vet about this and
organise to get your horse chipped.
If
you want more information or guidance go to the Redwings website https://www.redwings.org.uk/news-and-views/compulsory-microchipping
Have you seen my last video 'One Day In November' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter for updates on Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until
next time!
Jo
Some
good work again this month and Basil is improving, we have managed some
steadier more balanced canters on the left rein which is real progress. We have settled into a new routine and Basil
and Tommy seem happy. There has been
some windy and rainy days which we haven't seen for a long time, so Basil's
rugs have come out. I also clipped him
this month as he was getting too hot and sweaty when I was riding. Tommy has got very hairy and is all prepared
for winter too.
Tapeworm
tests have been done and neither needed to be wormed which is always good
news. Annual vaccinations for flu and
tetanus done too and teeth checked and rasped.
Now the clocks have changed it is dark before and after work so weekends
are even more precious but we are ready!
This
is how October looked:
2nd
- arena today not quite as good as last time but not bad. Trot serpentines were a bit rushed and so were the trotting poles. Canter was too fast, but we did get the
correct leading leg because I just let him strike off. He tried to buck on the right rein!
3rd
- Kath came today to check Basil's back.
He was very well behaved - he was so naughty last time. His back is still improving which is good.
5th
- hacked today - Basil and I are enjoying going somewhere different because we
can go out for longer now.
6th
- lunged, he was a total idiot and spent the first 10 minutes charging up and
down the arena. He did settle and
finished with 2 x trots and walks on both reins.
7th
- arena today, Basil was not at all enthusiastic which is very unusual so I
stopped. He might have a very slightly
swollen near fore pastern so I decided he might have tweaked it yesterday.
9th
- arena again today and seemed better.
Really nice left canter although we struck the wrong lead to start with
on the left rein. Right canter was too
fast. Good walk poles.
10th
- hacked today, it was so lovely, warm, light breeze we had a really nice time
although we came home a bit fast.
Discovered what I think is a new splint on that near foreleg :(
but he is sound now.
Really
awful week of weather.
17th
- vet for teeth check/ rasp and their annual vaccinations. Only Tommy was sedated but they were both
really good :)
19th
- lunged today, total nutter. Clipped
Basil today too.
20th
- lovely hack again today.
21st
- arena today. Some lovely walk work and
leg yield today. Trot was good to start,
some nice circles. Canter too fast.
23rd
- arena again. Some lovely trot
serpentines and a bit of nice canter on the correct lead. Canter mostly too fast though.
24th
- another great hack.
26th
- lunged, good today (FINALLY).
27th
- hack which was great until we were nearly home when the farmer was taking
some sheep pens down in a field by the road.
Basil would not go past until they had finished.
28th
- arena and Basil was good today. Lovely
walk and trot circles and serpentines.
Better canter on left rein it was more balanced and steady today but too
fast on the right rein.
30th
- arena and again he was pretty good. We
had some nice leg yield in walk and trot, bit rushed on the left rein though as
he was thinking about cantering. Right canter was fast but we did get some
steadier strides on the left rein.
Have you seen my November video yet? Click here to have a look.
Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter for updates on Basil, Tommy
and Daisy.
Until
next time!
Jo
