Riding in the winter ...

Wow, we have been lucky around here this winter so far.  The weather has been so good I have hardly missed any days riding because of it.  However, there have still been some challenges; we are not big fans of puddles or plastic bags in the hedge (or tyres in the hedge which we saw the other week)!  The days have often been dull  and although I don't ride in the dark I have always made sure that  we are seen.  Basil is a dark horse and even when the sun is out but low in the sky it can mean we might not be spotted.  

I love this picture from Naylors.com  because it just makes it so obvious.  

I read a letter a while back in the British Horse Society magazine where someone was arguing against Hi-Viz gear.  His argument was that he did not want to be decked out like a Christmas tree to ride.  I remember thinking what an idiot.  I don't care what I look like as long as it is safe and I am giving drivers and cyclists absolutely every chance to see me.  I am thinking about the welfare of Basil, I don't want him hit by a car because they didn't see me.  

I was driving home from work one day a few years ago and it was not dark but late afternoon and I had to go along a road with trees on either side, so it was a bit dark there.  I suddenly realised that coming towards me on the other side of the road were 4 or 5 horses, I hadn't seen them earlier because they were all wearing dark clothing and blended into the trees by the road.  This really emphasised to me again how important it is to make sure you can be seen and seen as early as possible, giving drivers a chance to slow down before they get to you.

So, as you probably know by now ALL year I wear a hi-vis vest and a bright hat cover.  In the winter if it is dull Basil wears his hi-viz rug and boots.  I am trying to find a thinner rug because this one is a bit too hot for him nowadays because he gets all sweaty he is walking so fast!!!

Other things to think about:

• I mentioned at the beginning of this blog about things in the hedges.  I try to think and plan ahead, if I can see something in the hedge further on that Basil may or may not jump at I make sure I am not trying to go past when a car is coming.  So I stop until the coast is clear then we approach it.
• If it is a bit windy I find you can't hear cars approaching so well from behind so I make sure I check behind me regularly to check there is nothing coming.
• Basil doesn't really like puddles much and he always jumps when a car goes through one as it makes quite a noise.  So if I can I make sure I am not going past one when a car is coming.
• I don't ride late in the afternoon but I know many people have to.  So plan where you are going and how long it will take.  Make sure you will be back before dark.
• Is it icy?  Don't ride on icy roads.  If your horse slips you will come off and he could fall and do some real damage.  Riding through fields in icy conditions can be just as risky though because if the ground was muddy and cut up and then it froze the surface will be uneven and could cause sprains and strains!  I read 'The Horse Whisperer' many years ago and it frightened me so much that I would still never ride in icy conditions. 

• If riding in ice or snow look out for it 'snow balling' in your horses feet which again causes imbalance and could lead to sprains and strains.  Smearing Vaseline inside hooves can help with this.  Take a fold away hoof pick with you in case you need to stop and remove the ice. 
• Ensure your horse's shoes are in good condition so that they provide adequate grip.
• Tell someone where you are going and/or have a mobile phone with you.  Remember to put it on silent so that if it rings it doesn't make your horse jump.  Make sure you store it safely and securely so that it won't come out of your pocket.  There are some great MP3 or phone holders available for runners and I use one of these fixed around my leg just below my knee.

I enjoy riding in the winter, it is a good chance to get out of the house, get some fresh air and appreciate the countryside.  However, I would NEVER risk Basil's safety and well being.  

Have you seen my last video '2 Days of Christmas'  look out for my next video coming soon on my You Tube channel.   Horse Life and Love

Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook for updates on Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Keeping a Routine

I remember reading this somewhere many years ago and it is something I have always believed and advice that I have always followed....
 

'Keep your horse or pony on a regular schedule.  Your horse will not understand if you sleep in and 

miss its morning feeding or exercise.  If you do want to change your horse's feeding or exercise 

routine, do it gradually to allow the horse time to get used to the new pattern'

In fact the Sleep Foundation offers the following advice for us too ...

Stick to a sleep schedule of the same bedtime and wake up time, even on the 

weekends. This helps to regulate your body's clock and could help you fall asleep 

and stay asleep for the night.

I even try to change things gradually when we change the clocks here in the UK and change mine by half an hour on Friday/Saturday and half an hour on Saturday/Sunday night!!


You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!   

Jo

December 2018

I have been thinking about these blogs which I write about Basil and my progress and whether to continue with them, I actually decided not to, which is why it is so late.  Then I sat down to write something else and decided that I find them really useful - to sit and look back at last month and then look at where we are now.  Some months I realise we really are making progress and then some months I realise that I need to change something or the same things will keep happening.

Basil was definitely better behaved in December and we had some good hacks.  The weather has also been really good so with the 10 days I had off over Christmas we have been really lucky to get quite a lot of riding in - which is fantastic J  Our cantering is still too fast and I am thinking that I ought to try another bit as Basil just fights me and sets his mouth when I try to slow him down.  Watch this space on that!!!

Tommy struggled to find muddy puddles in December because we have had very little rain but he is very hairy and using it all to keep himself warm when the colder wind blows.  We have settled into a good morning and evening routine now and mostly Basil comes to the gate when I arrive and Tommy isn't far behind!  All making life in the dark that bit easier :)

This is how December looked:

1st - lunged, loopy at first but then he settled.

2nd - arena today and our walk and trot is getting really good and our serpentines are great, mostly.  We are practising more halts now and they are improving too.  We tried left canter first today, it was a bit fast but he did settle.  Right canter was too fast and he was nappy !

4th - hack out today, I love pottering about.  Although Basil is walking a lot faster out on hacks since we lost Chesney.  On the way out and on the way back so we are getting much further in the time.  I am not sure why.

7th - lunged today and we had some manic moments but he worked well in the end.

8th - really windy today.

9th - started in arena but Basil seemed a bit lame (only very slightly not right) so I stopped.

14th - hack out today.  He was a bit jumpy and fast but as he has done nothing all week I was pleased :)

15th - wind and rain.

16th - arena and really good for the first 15 minutes and then Basil just thought it was time to canter so I could get no sense out of him he was trotting too fast and not listening so we did not even try to canter today.

19th - hack today, just a short one.  We had a bit of an episode with a lady and 2 dogs hiding behind some bins.... Basil thought that was very scary!

21st - tried to lunge and actually started well but something upset him at the end and he was totally loopy, I struggled to get him back around to the yard again he was so wound up - not fun.

24th - lunged today and Basil redeemed himself by being very good.

25th - lovely hack, roads quite quiet as Christmas Day.  Treat.

26th - arena today.  Leg yield, tried walk shoulder in for the first time for a long time and it was not bad considering.  Some nice walk and trot work again, on the bit and fairly active.  Lovely left canter, steady, rhythmic and balanced but the right canter was a disaster, Basil took napping to a whole new level and tried to go across the middle of the arena and change the rein, total brake failure and total right (my) leg failure!

27th - good lunging again today.

28th - Good hack today, but we met some horses on the way home which always makes Basil walk/jog much faster!

29th - hack again today, short and much faster and much quicker than it used to be.

30th - arena again.  Right canter was better as I managed to make my right leg do its job properly and stop Basil napping so badly.  Still too fast and wrong lead first time.  Left canter was pretty good again.

31st - nice lunging session today.

I caught Tommy still napping one morning!

Have you seen my last video yet ' Welcome to December'  ?  Look out for January's video coming soon 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