Sorry.

I am sorry I have not posted for a few weeks.  After 23 years together I said goodbye to Chesney in July.  He was with me through so much and I miss him everyday :(

I will be back to normal posts soon.

Jo

xx

What happened in June!

June has ended with some seriously hot weather.  The horses are not enjoying it at all, neither am I.  Riding early in the morning (6am) is the only way to enjoy it and ensure Basil is not over stressed with the heat.  We are making progress in some ways and not in others.  Trot is improving but canter continues to be much too fast, there may be an occasional glimmer of hope with our canter - let's see what July brings.

This is how June looked:

1st - lunged today, nothing exciting happened! 

2nd - arena today.  Walk and trot exercises as usual. Left canter was not too bad but a bit fast, Basil got very silly when I changed the rein and kept going sideways so we couldn't get canter on the right rein.

3rd - arena again.  Definite improvements to our trot work, more balanced. We cantered on the right rein first today and it was a bit fast but the transition was OK.  Basil did his own transition on the left rein but after yesterday's disaster I just went with it as we had the correct lead... still a bit fast.

5th - lunged and very good again.

6th - arena today and we tried some leg yield away from the track as well as towards in walk and trot on both reins, pretty good.  Turn on forehand, the first quarter turn is always better than the second.  Canter transition was good again, right rein first but very, very fast canter.  Managed a few steadier strides on the left rein.

7th - lunged again, good again.

9th - rode in the arena.  Some good trot serpentines today.  Speedy canters but some steadier strides on left rein on circle.  

10th - hack out today, very good, no jogging J

12th - arena and we did some more leg yield towards and away from the track.  Bit fast today as Basil wanted to canter.  Canters too fast again.

13th - lunged.

15th - lunged again today, good until the end when Basil had a few loopy circuits.

16th - some nice trot work today.

17th - early morning hack, lovely.

19th - lunged today and he again had a loopy turn at the end and bombed around at the end of the lunge line.

20th - arena and the improvements are continuing.  Trot, circles and serpentines were good today and we had a few steady left canter strides.

22nd - lunged again, little loopy moment in the middle, but settled again.

23rd - arena and some good trot work, more balance, steadier (mostly), nice contact, rhythm improving.  Canter tooooo fast again, a few good strides on left rein.

24th - hack in the early morning again, lovely temperature, no cars or cyclists on the road.

26th - lunged and better today.

27th - arena, circles and serpentines today, trot work continues to improve but canter is still too fast.

29th - lunged

30th - arena and we really struggled to get left canter, wrong lead 3 times before we finally got it.  He gets too excited and his neck and body get all wiggly and all over the place and he doesn't listen to me.  Good walk leg yield but the trot le yield was too fast today.

Have you seen my 'It's June' video 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

Hot weather, sun and horsey issues!

Apparently it is going to be really hot here this week, which is not so great if you have horses.  I know we wait for the good weather but the boys don't enjoy it much.   Basil and Tommy's ancestors are probably from hot countries so in some ways they are better adapted, thin coats, light bones etcetera.  Chesney, however, struggles, he is designed for much more moderate weather being big boned and more hairy.  They all hate the horse flies though and they are worse this year than I can remember for a while. 
 
So with this all in mind there are a few things to remember for the week ahead:

·         Water and an unlimited supply of it is the most important thing to remember. An average size horse, in work, can consume over 25 gallons of water per day when the temperature is above 70°F. So make sure that you keep your water troughs and buckets clean and free from insects to encourage your horse to drink.

·         If you usually keep your horse in the stable at night and out by day in the winter it is a good idea to swap this for the summer months. This will mean they are not out with the worst of the flies and will avoid the hottest part of the day. It will also give them time to rest during the day and cool down at night if we have a prolonged hot spell. An added advantage is that the time inside will help control their weight, however, they should still have some forage eg: hay to keep them occupied and their digestive system working.

·         Keep the windows open to ensure a through breeze.  

·         If possible spray your horse’s stable walls and/or field shelter with an insecticide to reduce the number of flies.

·         If your horse is grass kept all year and you do not have access to a stable, ensure there is a shady place for them to rest. Trees provide fantastic shade but a field shelter will also provide respite from the flies.

 

·         Remove droppings from your paddock regularly and keep the muck heap a good distance away from your horse’s stable to help reduce fly problems.  

·         Use a fly sheet if possible, fly repellent and fly fringes are also useful.

·         If your horse is bitten you can treat a one-off bite, with an ice pack or bathe with cool, salt water (use a teaspoon of salt to two mugs of water). If your horse has multiple bites, using a mild horse shampoo may help to remove scurf or bacteria which can irritate the area and will cool the inflamed skin.

·         White areas on the face and heels can become sunburnt because they have less skin pigment and hair coverage, so if your horse has to be in the field in the heat of the day, remember to apply sun cream to these areas. Human sun cream with a high factor is usually appropriate but if your horse tends to be sensitive then a more natural cream may be the answer.

·         Sweet itch is a miserable disease for those horses that suffer. Midges are more prevalent in wet areas close to lakes and streams, so if possible avoid these areas, have a look at my blog for more information.

·         If your horse is still particularly hairy in the summer it may be worth considering clipping. Keeping their manes short will also help to keep your horse cool.

·         Sponge cold water over your horse, or if he will tolerate it use a hose, especially down the large blood vessels under the belly and neck and inside the legs. This will help lower the temperature relatively quickly.

·         Wet weather following a long dry spell can result in a flush of new grass growth similar to spring, so you may need to limit your horse’s grazing if you are concerned about laminitis or weight gain. Check out my blogs on Obesity & Laminitis.  I have to be careful with Tommy and try to balance time out with the others with being fenced into a sparse area!

 ·         If you’re competing, leave as early as possible to avoid travelling in the heat. Keep windows open to keep fresh air flowing through the horsebox. When you arrive think about whether your horse would be cooler standing in the lorry or trailer out of direct sun or better outside in the shade.

Heatstroke
Extreme heat can take its toll on a horse working or standing in a stuffy stable or trailer. Heatstroke occurs when a horse is unable to get rid of excess heat from his body. The horses’ natural cooling process will include moving blood flow closer to the skin but this will also mean less oxygen getting to internal organs and the brain. When a horse is also sweating excessively heat stroke can follow. Heatstroke is a serious condition. Severe cases of heatstroke lead to collapse, seizures, or death.

Signs:

• Elevated respiratory rate – if breathing becomes shallow and remains elevated after a few      minutes rest 
• Elevated heart rate- that again remains elevated after a few minutes rest 
• Elevated temperature – 103° or higher 
• Sweating – if your horse is sweating all over or stops sweating entirely 
• Lethargy – depression, disinterest in food, stumbling or collapsing 

If you suspect that your horse may be suffering from heatstroke:

• stop work immediately 
• allow him to rest in a cool stable or under a shady tree 
• poor cool water over his back 
• offer small amounts of water every few minutes 
• if symptoms persist contact your vet.

At this time of year I ride first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot.  It means Basil and I get a good session in the arena, or hack and I don't have to worry about him getting overheated.

Have you seen June's video 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