September Fun

Pleased this month as we managed to get lots of riding in, some lovely weather for some good hacks out too which we both enjoy.  On the whole I feel we are making progress with our canters, we just have a few bumps along the way.  I am trying to introduce a few different exercises to mix it up a bit as I have a tendency to do the same thing every time I school, I also would really like to pop some jumps now that I have brakes again.  I also need to start our pole exercises again in October which I have not done since the beginning of September.

They are both really enjoying the apples which have come off the trees and Tommy particularly hangs around the gate when I am there thinking that I will give him extra!

 

This is how September looked:

1^st – lunged and very good,  pole exercises too so pleased.

3rd – hack today which was lovely and Basil was really good.

4th – some schooling today, walk and trot were pretty good.  Canter right was not bad today although a bit fast.  Then on left rein Basil starts to anticipate and gets nappy but we got it in the end and although fast was quite a nice canter.

6th - lunged and a bit loopy for some reason today so we didn't manage to do our pole exercises.

7th – lovely hack again today :)

8th - arena and some good circles in walk and trot including going over a pole, I was really pleased that he went over the pole on the first try because he can be a bit nappy with poles.  Some good walk and trot leg yield although Basil started to anticipate canter towards the end.  Not good canter transitions today, could not get the correct lead on the left leg and ended up having to use the pole.  Then the canter wasn't bad.  Right canter we got the correct lead on the 2nd attempt - he just gets too excited.

10th - hack again today, still good.

11th - no work today as I didn't feel like Basil was quite himself!

13th – good lunging session again today, Basil seemed fine today.

14th – fab hack today, sunny and it was just beautiful.

15th - arena today and Basil was really spooky for no reason.  It was absolutely ages before I managed to get the correct lead for left canter and 2/3 goes before we achieved it on the right rein, it is so frustrating.

18^th – hack again. Quite good today although unusually Basil tried to turnaround and come home part way out.

19th - arena session today and we got some slightly rushed trot serpentines today.  Cantering and we managed to get the correct leads on both legs first time, we tried a new approach by walking a 10m circle then trotting a 20m circle before asking for canter. 

20^th – lunged today and Basil was a bit silly again, it was quite windy though.

21^st – hack out and although it was windy it was warm and he was really good, we had a lovely ride.

22nd - arena again today and tried a new exercise which we used to do a while back.  Walking the short sides and trotting the long sides with a halt at each end.  Basil was pretty good and responsive.  Left canter was good and we managed correct lead on first try, right canter took a couple of goes, then he went all disunited so we came back to trot and tried again.  Correct this time.

25th – hack out but I don't think either of us were quite in the mood today, he was good but not much enthusiasm.

27th - lunged and had a silly moment but generally good.

28th - short hack today as was quite windy but he was very good so pleased.

30th - lunged today and Basil was very good.

Have you seen my latest vlog  'September ... Autumn has arrived'  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

Autumn Risk of Laminitis

It is important to look out for Laminitis again over the next few weeks as the rain starts and the grass has a final growth spurt before the winter.  Tommy has a tendency to put on weight so I still have to be strict with his access to grass.  Unfortunately, my previous pony Fidget did get Laminitis one year, luckily it was not a bad case and I caught it early. 

Research is ongoing into Laminitis and the links to PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction), but the same advice remains.....

Here is a reminder of the condition.

Laminitis is a terrible and crippling condition of the feet.  However, it is also one that is understood more and more each year.  This can only be a good thing as treatments are developed and better understanding helps us to avoid the condition affecting our horses or ponies.

The key thing to remember is that Laminitis can affect any type of horse or pony.

What is Laminitis?
To understand laminitis you need to understand a little about the structure of a horse's hoof.  The hoof wall consists of an outer layer of horn (which is insensitive) under this there is an inner layer which is sensitive - the laminae!  The laminae support the pedal bone which in turn supports the horse's weight. 

In laminitis the blood flow to the laminae is affected and this causes the tissues in the hoof to swell and become inflamed.  The lack of blood flow to the laminae mean the area is starved of oxygen and other nutrients and the cells become damaged and can die.  This can then mean that the pedal bone sinks and rotates, in some cases it can push through the sole of the foot.

What causes Laminitis?
This is an area that has gained increased understanding in the last few years.  It is now thought that up to 90% of laminitis cases have an underlying hormonal disease which is the root of the problem.  These hormonal diseases have been found to be either PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction) also called Cushing's Disease or EMS (Equine Metabolic Disorder).

PPID is an abnormality in the pituitary gland.  Clinical signs include:

·         laminitis

·         hirsutism - long hair and/or abnormal shedding of winter coat

·         muscle wastage

·         lethargy

However, we must not discount the factors that we can have a direct affect on and always remember that horses (and ponies) that are overweight are particularly susceptible!

1.       High intake of sugars and starch - an excessive amount of these can cause an overload in the digestive system.  Any undigested sugar and starch are pushed through to the hindgut.  As the bacteria in the hindgut break down the sugar and starch the acidity in the gut increases - this kills off the bacteria that digest the fibre in the horse's diet.  As these bacteria die they release toxins into the gut which are passed into the bloodstream causing a response which appears to disrupt the blood flow.  In the feet this can cause laminitis as explained above.

2.       Stress - dramatic changes in environment have been seen to trigger laminitis, especially in overweight horses or ponies.  Mares also seem to be at risk shortly after foaling.

3.       Obesity - (see last week's blog) excess weight increases the strain on a horse's vital organs and limbs. 

4.       Concussion - if a horse has been worked fast on a hard surface eg: trotting on the road the laminae can be affected.  This trauma to the laminae can cause laminitis.

Symptoms of Laminitis

Typical laminitis stance

There are 2 types of the disease; acute and chronic.

Acute Laminitis: the symptoms appear suddenly and are severe.

·         Inability or reluctance to walk or move

·         May lie down and be unwilling to get up

·         Horse will be visibly lame, especially on a circle or hard surface

·         Digital pulse in the foot will have increased

·         When standing the horse may lean back on to its hind feet

·         When walking the horse may place his heels down first to avoid placing extra weight on the painful area in front of the point of the frog.

Chronic Laminitis: the symptoms are ongoing usually from a relapse of a previous acute attack.

·         Horse's hoof will have the appearance of growth rings around the wall (easily confused with rings as a result of changes in nutrition)

·         The heel often grows more quickly than the toe

·         The white line may have widened in the hoof wall

·         The horse or pony may have a large crest.

 Laminitis rings

Treating Laminitis

·         Call the vet immediately if you spot any of these symptoms to avoid worsening of the signs and so that they can reduce the horse or ponies pain and give advice

·         Put the horse in a stable with a deep bed

·         Remove any feed but provide clean fresh water

·         Roughage should still be provided - follow the vet's advice

What can the vet do?

·         Give extra pain relief

·         Give anti-biotics to reduce the number of bacteria in the gut which are causing the toxin release

Prevention

·         Ensure your horse or pony maintains a healthy weight (see my obesity blog)

·         Feed high fibre feed, low in carbohydrate and sugar.  Avoid cereal mixes and molassed products

·         Restrict grass intake - especially in spring and autumn when the grass is high in soluble carbohydrates (fructans)

·         Turn out at night when there are less fructans in the grass, keep them in the stable in the day

·         Do not turn out on lush or grass covered with frost - high fructans

·         Reduce any stress by keeping the horse with a friend on the same routine

Always monitor your horse or pony's weight and be vigilant for any signs or symptoms.  Once a horse has suffered they are more susceptible in the future.  

Have you seen my latest vlog  'September ... Autumn has arrived'  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

Autumn is here!

Autumn has definitely arrived, it is dark when I get to the horses in the morning, although at the moment the sun rises whilst I am there, and the leaves are falling.  I had a lovely week off work last week and some beautiful weather, so I started preparing for the dark days ahead!  Which is lucky because this week it has mostly been raining.

I have so much grass that there is going to be no worry over the winter.  This year has really shown how much grass Chesney ate and I really have too much land for just Basil and Tommy.  Tommy is still on a sparser patch than Basil as I need to ensure Basil is carrying extra weight into the winter. Tommy has no such problems!  

Apparently, it is going to be a bad winter (hopefully not) so I am very glad I have lots of grass!  Both of the boys are still enjoying their Horsehage so I will continue feeding that throughout the winter.  There is definitely less waste and it is much easier to keep tidy than regular hay.  I also have lots of extra space although it is frustrating that I have to go to the shop practically every week to buy it!

I have been gradually increasing Basil's hard food in the last 3/4 weeks as the grass quality is diminishing, to help him with his nutrient intake.  They are both getting extra apples in their food at the moment whilst we have such a huge number falling from the trees.  I have picked a lot and stored them up for use over the next few weeks too.  I think they might last until Christmas I have so many.

I felt like I was a bit behind with my Autumn jobs this year, the swallows have not gone (last year they left in early September) so I have not been able to clear up the mess they leave yet.  This means I still have to wash out the feed room, hay barn and Chesney's old stable.  Once I looked at a few blogs from the last few years I realised that I don't need to worry - I have loads of time!

Other jobs still to do:

·         Vaccinations

·         Teeth checks

·         Tapeworm test

·         Check rugs

·         Keep checking the gutters for leaves

·         Muck heap removal

I still have quite a few jobs to do over the next few weeks but I have done these jobs :

·         Cleaned grooming kits

·         Cobwebs & window cleaning

·         Tackroom tidy

It will be a busy few weeks.

Have you seen my latest vlog  'September ... Autumn has arrived'  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