A year ago ...

I thought I would have a look back at photo's from this time last year ...

Basil's tummy is NOT that fat this year, he is too thin this year :(

Chesney IS looking better this year, with more weight on :)

 and Tommy is looking better too ... but for him not quite carrying so much weight which is a GOOD thing :)

With all the rain we have had in the last few days I expect the grass to finally start growing, so I will be watching Tommy very carefully!

Have you seen yesterday's video 'One ... and a bit days in May'  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 Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

The Mustang

The Mustang is a descendant of the horses brought over by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.  They are regarded as the original cow pony of America! 

History

Mustang ancestry can be traced back to the Arab and Spanish Barb.  In the 1500's when the Spanish invaded the New World some horses escaped, or were set free, they travelled north through Mexico and their numbers increased.  The horses were small and lightweight but strong and so were popular with the native American people.  

Over the years many other breeds have been introduced to result in the different types of Mustangs which can be found today.  By the 19th century large feral herds were roaming the plains, partly because they are able to survive with little food.

In the Spanish-American war and again in WWI thousands of the horses were rounded up to be used by the army.

These feral horses are now the cause of controversy because they are so free ranging!

Characteristics

Height:  14hh - 15hh

Colour:  Any colour.

Conformation:  Although there are different types, usually the head is refined with a straight or convex face.   
The shoulders are sloping and the back short.  A deep girth and low set tail. They are lightweight but strong.

Temperament:  Wilful and headstrong.

Used as a light saddle horse.

Have you seen last week's video 'My 2017 Badminton Horse Trials'  on my new 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

All About ... Surgery

Surgery is sometimes needed for a variety of different reasons, from repairing tendons or fractured bones to colic surgery.  It may be an emergency operation or one that you have had time to plan and prepare for.  Huge advances in the last few years mean that many operations are now minimally invasive and some can be done in your paddock at home!  

The scanning techniques I have been blogging about in the last few weeks allow veterinary surgeons to have more detailed information and help pinpoint the exact problem area.  This means they can plan surgery more effectively and predict the outcome more accurately.

Some of these advances now mean that a general anaesthetic is not needed, these always carry an element of risk in humans and horses.  Horses can be sedated and restrained in stocks so that surgery is carried out standing.  The types of surgery that can be done in this way are dental and sinus operations - these are also easier when the horse is standing and there is usually less bleeding.

This standing surgery, which sedation or local anaesthetic rather than general anaesthetic allows, can also sometimes be performed for fracture repair.  The advantage of this is the horse is less likely to cause themselves further injury when waking from the anaesthetic.  It is also useful for eye removal and kissing spine treatment.
 
The development of laser surgery which can be used for sarcoid removal and some upper airway surgery, means that, again a general anaesthetic is not always needed.   In some situations the results are far better than with traditional surgery.

Keyhole surgery for arthroscopy (joint surgery) and laparoscopy  (abdominal surgery) again reduce the need to make large incisions in the skin.  This type of surgery uses a fibre- optic video camera which is inserted through a tiny hole, thus allowing the surgeon to have a good look inside.  Miniature instruments are then used to carry out the surgery.

However, unfortunately, colic surgery success rates are no longer improving as they once were.  This type of surgery is challenging and often it is post operative problems which  are not treatable.   

 There is hope though as medicine continues to advance in both human and animal fields. 

Have you seen this week's video 'My 2017 Badminton Horse Trials'  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 Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Photo Day

Treat day ...

 

 

Did you see yesterday's  video 'My 2017 Badminton Horse Trials' 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 Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Ben Hobday Demonstration

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Ben Hobday doing a demonstration at a nearby college.  I first saw Ben at Your Horse Live in 2015 when he was recovering  from cancer and he was joined by Paul Tapner.  They were brilliant then and Ben is just as entertaining on his own.  I definitely took lots away from the demo :)  

  
If you don't know who Ben Hobday is he is a British 3 day eventer.  He spent time working for Hannah Bate and William Funnell .  He has been around Badminton, Burghley, Bramham, Blenhiem and many more.  I saw him go around Badminton last year with a cuddly toy (Willberry Wonder Pony) attached to his body protector to support Bone cancer research.

He brought 4 horses to the demonstration including one nicknamed Fidget (as you can imagine I liked him!) as well as Heidi and Mr Mulry who is half Clydesdale and half Thoroughbred.  I was really sad that Ben and Mr Mulry aka 'the flying cob' didn't make it to Badminton this year:(
  

As you know, I don't compete Basil but still found it really interesting and there were ideas that I can use at home.

Ben had a few jumps set up in the indoor arena and jumped each of the 4 horses around, varying the order and height, it was interesting to see how different each of the horses were.  He had a line of jumps, a double, a skinny and a water tray.  We were really impressed when he put a plastic barrel on its end and jumped it .... now that IS a skinny fence.

One of the things I really took away from the evening was that everyone makes mistakes!!!! and it is how you learn from them and get back on and do better next time that counts.

As with most of the riders you watch and listen to they all say you have to have the 'engine' running properly to achieve anything - so impulsion, not speed - is important.  Rhythm, and if you are approaching a jump and can't see a stride, wait, don't kick to go faster because then you are giving your horse less time to figure it out.  As long as you have the impulsion they will jump it.  It is our job to set it up and their job to jump it.

Ben talked a lot about building trust between you and your horse, they have to know that you are there for them, so if they are unsure make sure you have your legs on and they can feel you have hold of the reins - don't drop the reins as they think 'where have you gone'.  If your horse trusts you then when something does go wrong out on course they are more likely to help you out.

The biggest thing that I will be remembering is not to get frustrated when trying something new or  trying to improve things.  To remember that to start with you (and your horse) will get it wrong 10 out of 10 times, then 9 out of 10 ..... then 8 out of 10 .... until eventually you get it right 9 out of 10.  I have been trying to concentrate on this idea when riding Basil in the last couple of weeks, I always try not to let my frustration show but as horses are so intuitive I expect Basil picks up on it anyway.  So, if it isn't quite right I think about what Ben was saying and try again!

I have got out of the habit of going to demo's but must try harder because I do enjoy them and always learn something.

Sorry, I didn't take any photos - these ones are better anyway.

Have you seen last week's video 'My horsey routine' 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 Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

All About ... Thermography

Thermography is another diagnostic technique which can be used to highlight problems in numerous areas of the body, legs and hooves.  It can therefore be used to pinpoint specific areas for x-ray and further investigation.
 

We all slide our hands down our horses legs and over their bodies to check for injuries or heat.  If your horse seems a bit lame the first thing you check is the heat of the area.  Thermography is 40 times more sensitive than your hand!

Body heat produces infra-red rays and these can be used to produce a picture of an area.  Inflamed areas are warmer than normal and therefore show up differently on a thermogram.  However, it also useful to highlight areas which are colder than normal and so can highlight circulatory problems.

Thermography is a non-invasive and non-contact technique which allows early diagnosis because the temperature of an area is the first to change with injury.  Research suggests that the temperature of an area can increase up to 3 weeks before clinical symptoms appear.

Cameras are now small and hand held which means they can be used anywhere.  They provide high quality images which can then be viewed on a computer.  

Have you seen this week's video 'My horsey routine' 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 Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

April 2017 Review

I am pleased to say that the progress we made in March has continued.  Basil is definitely happier in this new bit with the flash strap and I have more control.  I have been working hard on practising my sitting trot too this month - definitely improving.

My Aims for April were: 

1.       Calmness - definitely getting better

2.       Rhythm - ditto

3.       Suppleness - ditto

4.       More balance - ditto

5.       Correct canter leads - Yes!!

6.       Turn on forehand - not much practise but needs work

7.       Leg yield - most of the time we have this in the bag, unless he is thinking canter

8.       Poles - fail.  I haven't put them out again since levelling the arena :(

 

This is what April  looked like:

1st  - Basil's nose seems much better today, no blood, so I lunged him gently, very good.

2nd  - rode in the arena today, not bad, we did some good leg yield and serpentines in walk and trot before we cantered.  Did some circles in canter and got some good transitions but the canter was a bit speedy.

3rd - got the vet out to check Chesney as I thought he might have an abscess. Poulticed for a couple of days.

6th - rode in arena today, leg yield and serpentines again.  Canter is getting more balanced.  We also did some loops in walk and trot.  Basil had colic this evening :(  spasmodic as usual - probably because of his windsucking!

8th - rode in the arena - same again, still improving.

9th - arena again as did not want Chesney to run around on his foot.  We are getting correct lead in canter every time now and it definitely feels more balanced - Basil is starting to look for a contact too :)  Tommy nickered to me today - so exciting and I tied him up and washed the bottom section of his tail, what an angel.

 

11th - great ride in the arena today.  Looking for contact, not bad trot serpentines, nice leg yield.  Quite calm canters (for Basil), not too fast and the rhythm is getting better.  So please he seems to be settling.

12th  - lunged today, bit of a skip about and a jump into canter but just enjoying himself

14th - schooling again, nice circles in walk, trot and canter.  Again looking for contact - progress continuing.

15th - lovely hack today and he was really brave there were new drains with scary white concrete and a bouncy castle!!!!  We did walk back fast but we did walk and not jog :)

16th - lunged today, managed a good big circle today too.

17th - still doing well in the arena.  Just so relieved we are moving in the right direction.  He is still slightly tilting his head in canter on the right rein (only on that rein and only in canter) but I am hoping that will get better as he settles back again. 

18th - arena again today.  Tried turn on the forehand from right to left which was better the 2nd time.  Good trot circles and serpentines mostly with a good bend and contact and rhythm.  Canters still a bit rushed but improving.

19th - lunged today, as usual Basil was good

21st - lunging.

22nd - lovely hack today, nice to get out and potter!

23rd -  arena today, nice circles in walk, trot and canter.  Right trot leg yield was tricky today, I think Basil was thinking it was time to canter - but we hadn't cantered yet!

25th - lunged - clever boy.

26th - arena with some good trot serpentines, Basil is bending and coming on to the bit on these now!  Canters continue to get better and calmer but he is still anticipating and they are still a bit fast.

28th - rode in the arena today again.  We did lots of trot circles before we cantered today and I waited until Basil had relaxed and dropped his head before asking for the transition.  Much better, this is easier now he is fitter, before I did not want to trot for ages first because he wasn't fit enough!  Lovely leg yield in walk and trot today too.

29th - hack today and we went past lots of road signs and orange barriers - he was very clever :)

30th - arena today and it was really windy so VERY pleased with Basil as he only jumped once.  Lots of circles again today and Basil worked on the bit in trot for longer today.  Better balance and rhythm in all paces - some lovely trots.

My Aims for May  are the same:

1.       Calmness
2.       Rhythm
3.       Suppleness
4.       More balance in canter
5.       Correct canter leads
6.       Turn on forehand
7.       Leg yield
8.       Poles

Have you seen yesterday's video 'My horsey routine' on my new 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