Cold, cold, wind :(

and silly faces!

 

Have you seen this week's video 'How I ... Check the Field'  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

Friesian Horses

The Friesian is one of the oldest breeds in Europe.  It takes its name from Freisland (in the Netherlands), where excavations have shown evidence of a domesticated heavy horse about 3000 years ago.  During the crusades Eastern stallions were brought back and used to improve the breed.

 

History

It is believed that in the middle ages the Friesian horses were used as war horses throughout Europe.  Their reputation as good weight carriers meant they could carry knights with their armour.

During the 17th century the breed became highly sought after as carriage horses and for classical riding.  They proved themselves to be excellent trotters.  In the 19th century trotting races became popular in the Netherlands and the breed excelled.

As the breed became finer it was less useful in agriculture and the breed began to decline in numbers.  In 1913 there were only 3 stallions (in the studbook).  More power was added to the breed so that they could again be useful on farms - this saved the breed, for the time being.

However, in the 1960's increased mechanisation on farms meant numbers fell again, 500 mares were on the register in 1965.  Luckily the breed lends itself to pleasure riding - and this is what saved them.  

The Friesian is thought to be the foundation breed for the Shire horse and the Fell pony. 


Characteristics

Height:  15hh to 17hh

Colour:  Jet black, no white markings

Conformation:  Bright, alert head with small ears.  A relatively long, arched and muscular neck with strong shoulders.  The back is short and strong and the quarters powerful.   Legs are good and clean with hard feet, the heels are feathered.  The mane and tail is thick and silky.

Temperament: Kind nature, willing and easy to handle.

Used  in the saddle and under harness.  Ideal pleasure horses and for dressage.

Friesian Horse Association of Great Britain & Ireland Website:  http://fhagbi.co.uk/index.html

Have you seen last week's video 'Get Ready for Bonfire Night'  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

All About ... Septicaemia

What is it

Septicaemia is blood poisoning - the circulation of bacteria in large numbers in the blood stream.  Once it develops the infection can quickly spread to the bones, joints, organs and central nervous system.  

Signs

These can be subtle and are often seen as symptoms of other diseases BUT swift veterinary treatment is vital.  More often seen in young foals.

• Depression 
• Weakness 
• Difficulty standing 
• Rapid breathing 
• Foals fail to suckle 
• Coat is dull 
• High temperature initially which then becomes unusually low 
• Diarrhoea 
• Colic 
• Laboured breathing 
• Swollen joints

Causes

For foals:

• bacteria can pass from the mare 
• contaminated food or milk 
• wounds

Other horses:

• wounds left untreated and dirty allow bacteria to multiply

 

 
Treatment

Call the VET. Antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs.  Keep any wound clean.  Horse must be kept warm and comfortable.  Fluid will be given and nutritional support is vital.  

Prevention

Good hygiene around wound sites and prompt treatment.  For foals hygiene throughout pregnancy, during and after foaling. 

Have you seen Wednesday's video 'Get Ready for Bonfire Night' 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

October Review

October has not been as successful as I hoped after the last half of September.  We have had some real problems with our canter leads but I hope we have found the reason and fixed it! 

 

My Aims for October with Basil were:

1.       Calmness - especially in canter

2.       Rhythm - this is improving in trot on the whole

3.       Suppleness - sometimes too supple

4.       Consistency of bend on left rein - hopeless

5.       Having more consistent contact - better on right rein

6.       Some work on the bit - great at start of month

7.       Trot serpentines still need to be more balanced

8.       Improve our canter, less rushed - at start of month better

9.       Some new exercises - must try harder!

10.   Trotting poles - oops again

This is what October  looked like:

1st - rode in arena today, Basil got better but was a bit slow to start with.  Lovely leg yield in walk and trot but a dodgy first left serpentine in trot, the 2nd was better - he tends to rush and not listen to go around the corner, he thinks we should be cantering!  Right rein trot serpentine lots better.  He was a bit funny in canter today and kept swishing his tail (which is unusual) so I will watch that, I hope it was just a fly.

2nd - hack out today and Basil was really good for most of it.  Unfortunately on the way home 2 groups of motorbikes went past.  They are good and slow down and wait for me to get in a gateway but when there are 6 or more to go past Basil gets really stressed.  He coped with the first group but the next group 5 minutes later was  a bit much and after the first 4 had gone past he started backing up and leaping about stressing - luckily I managed to stay on.  

4th - arena, it was quite windy so I was pleased that Basil wasn't too silly.  We managed some good trot serpentines and leg yield but his tail was swishy in canter again :(

5th - lunged today - very good now.

7th - lunged again.

8th - hack today, Basil was doing his speedy walk on the way home but was great otherwise, good that he has put last weekend's hack behind him.

9th - arena and we had a swishy tail again.  Basil seemed a bit distracted today, we did some OK work but not great.

11th  - lunged today, I like lunging once or twice a week as it gives me a chance to watch Basil work and he can stretch his neck and back.  When lunged regularly he is really good, it is just after a break when he can be naughty - and every so often he has a silly day!   Tommy cut his leg today so I waited around for the vet :(

12th - arena again.  Pleased with Basil as he was really calm when a tractor went past just the other side of the hedge.  Lovely trot leg yield today, he listens to me now and doesn't whizz over as quickly as possible.  Bit strong in canter today.

13th - vet back to check Tommy.

14th - arena today and Basil was again strong in canter. I also had trouble with our canter leads today he struck wrong on both reins - he rushes and anticipates which means not listening to me:(

15th - hack today, we are enjoying the last few good weekends of weather before the cold and wet arrives.

16th - Thought I would lunge today but it was quite windy, I struggled to get him in as he kept galloping around the field .  Then when I caught him he was awful and just cantered around and around in the arena.

18th - arena for some work today.  I am beginning to think Basil might have a sharp tooth, the dentist is due next week which is good.  He is just really difficult to get the correct lead in canter on the left rein at the moment, he is setting his head at a funny angle and just trotting faster then cantering on the wrong leg.  He won't listen at all.      

19th  - Lunged today - good :)

21st - rode arena today and come to conclusion he is not right - I hope it is a sharp tooth which will get fixed next week.

25th - Lunged

26th -  Lunged - no bit until dentist been!

28th - Dentist,  did find a slight sharp edge which was probably causing our difficulties.  Basil will be sore for a few days now so will give him a bit more time off from riding. 

Please let November be an improvement!

1.       Calmness - especially in canter

2.       Rhythm 

3.       Suppleness 

4.       Correct canter leads on both reins

5.       Consistency of bend on left rein 

6.       Having more consistent contact in trot

7.       Longer periods working on the bit

8.       Trot serpentines need to be more consistent

9.       Improve our canter, more rounded

10.   Trotting poles

 

Have you seen yesterday's video 'Get Ready for Bonfire Night'  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