warm weather - no thanks !

Red's breathing had been noticeably bad when he came in at night for a few weeks before they went out. We had decided to wait til when the vet came for Fi's vaccinations in April.

And when he goes out, he normally improves - loads of ventilation and less hay...

But when the vet came on Thursday, we had walked the horses up about 15 mins before and Red's breathing was really bad. Even when the vet arrived, it was still not back to normal. It was over 40 breaths a minute (over 25 is bad) and the vet could hear "crackles" when he breathed. Red *is* 36 and has had COPD/RAO for many years. We are not going to fix that damage. But the vet sorted some brochodilator for us to pick up.

Trouble is that Red has not been eating well... and the brochodilator is in powder form to go in food.

Saturday morning was rain and wind, but the weather improved and it was quite warm by Saturday lunchtime. When I brought the horses in off the grass, Red's breathing was the worse I have ever seen or heard :(

Sunday was warm as well, and it was bad again. There is a "wet" sound as if there is fluid slushing about in his windpipe.

I asked mum to look out for it on Monday but it was cooler and he was a bit better.

Fi was somewhat sore where she had the jag - so much so that I had to raise her food bucket up off the floor for her on Saturday. Needless to say I didn't exercise her. Weather permitting I'll lunge her one evening during the week.

Instead D and I took Dudley (me) and Rosie (her) up to the other farm for a wander. They were both a bit wide eyed but not bad. Dudley felt rather footie but improved during the ride.

(we think the grass is finally kicking in - so all the biggies are getting less time out now. One positive result is Red is eating more of his dinner).

In the afternoon big sis and D came down with her older highland and the one she is backing. I helped D jump the older highland, and then they rode back up. It was the first time the youngster has been ridden outside of a school so I acted as on-foot escort.

In the meantime my neighbour, our new jockey, came and rode Rosie for the first time - just around the field. Rosie was not entirely co-operative but J was consistent and calm and Rosie went a few times around the field, including some canter !! and came back slightly sweaty.

A busy weekend.

better weather

clear skies, and something bright...people tell me it is the sun ! But a brisk wind kept me from getting too complacent !

The horses went out this weekend. The grass hasn't really started growing yet, so its going to be a bit of a juggle for a couple of weeks - especially for the old guy. But it was light so early and late, that they were keen to get out, and reluctant to come in.

They have adjusted quickly after some initial confusion on the first day (why are we getting our dinner at 5 ?). However Red is showing very little interest in his dinner. We tried keeping him in the shelter between 5 and 7 today to give him more time to eat his dinner, but it did not make a big difference.

We are also giving them hay when we go down at 7pm - 4 haynets at intervals around the short end of the arena.

I rode Fi in the western saddle on Saturday (because of the wind level). I was impressed that she managed to keep a calm state of mind most of the time and we worked on walk, jog (trot), canter all loose and long. On Sunday she looked a little stiffer and I used the working hunter saddle. We did mainly walk and trot, again looking for that calm state of mind.

I lunged and rode Rosie both days. She was a bit more "make me" than before her trip out last week, but overall quite good. I didn't ride for very long either day - just long enough to get a fair trot (20m circle and a long side for example) on both reins. On Sunday mum put some cones out for me down the centre line and we wound up and down them. I did use the "move the shoulder in the direction of the evasion" move once but probably could have done more in terms of turn on haunches work etc.

I rode Dudley on Sunday - he was a good boy and also got ridden during the week by my neighbour. Hopefully between us we can get him a bit fitter. She is also a prospective jockey for Rosie but one thing at a time ;)

go west young horse

the weather was better :D

so on Saturday I rode Fi (and she was pretty good) and lunged and rode Rosie. I was not sure what our "alternative jockey" was up to so was thinking of doing something with Duds in the afternoon if she was free. As it happened she wasn't, and I realised grading the arena was probably higher priority as it hasn't been done for a good few weeks, and had a fair amount of use over the easter break.

With Fi I focused on both her movement, and on my lower back (as with last week's lesson). She was a little "swishy tail" when I got on but some loose rein work (and walk) seemed to loosen things up. I finished with brief canter on each rein.

Rosie was less forward going then last week but still not horribly bolshie.

On Sunday I had decided to take Rosie along to a western training session - even thought she is not western - as the instructor is very good with native ponies. Plus just going out, seeing a new place and being in an arena with strange horses - would all be good experience and additional mileage.

The trailer was parked in a slightly different place, which confused Rosie slightly when loading. But it didn't take many minutes for her to decide it was all ok.

We found the place pretty easily (about 30 mins away) and tacked up. Toddled about a bit and just did some walk and trot. She wasn't very forward going and was VERY distracted. The instructor put some cones out to weave through. She commented that Rosie was moving her backend, but not really turning with her shoulders. When one of the other horses was doing some canter work, I stood in the middle of a circle and did some turn on forehand and turn on quarters work. The turn on quarters was harder for her, and she felt almost blocked one way. This is something I can work on at home and with ground work.

We also did some halt and reinback work, just asking for each front foot to take a step. And the walk forwards again. The reinback slowly got softer, though Rosie had the tendency to offer every other direction before offering a step back :rollseyes:

A couple of times she was quite distracted by other horses - the instructor commented to turn her away from the distraction. I think this is also something I need to do more of - redirecting the energy away from what is distracting her.

We broke for lunch, but not after one of the spectators had a quick sit.

After lunch we tried a synthetic (light !) western saddle on her and had a wee ride. She actually moved a lot more freely. More so than when she has had a treeless saddle on. Perhaps it is my heavier weight - and the western saddle distributes it more broadly ? I felt secure in it, and the instructor commented (wryly and with a grin) that I was riding with a longer rein already and looked happier myself. But the saddle felt to me like it had two ridges along it - so the seat was not a good fit for me. But it was a useful and interesting thing to do.

She loaded to go home like an old hand.

We got back in the afternoon, and rather than go home - I tacked up and rode Fi, and then Dudley. Both went nicely. The weather when I was riding Fi was so sunny I almost took my jumper off and rode in my tshirt. But then the wind blew up and the clouds rolled in, so I had a coat on to ride Duds - that different in less than 30 mins !

I did more long rein soft contact work with Fi, and added in a little leg yield to help with straightness. I thought there might still be a hint of soreness in the near fore, so we did some walk-canter work to avoid the additional strain of trot (where the issue is most likely to show up).

I only did about 25 mins with Dudley, as it was getting increasingly cold. But we worked in all paces and did some pretend dressage test type moves. He was forward going and went well.

a busy week

I've had this week off on holiday. And its turned into quite a horsey week - which if I had tried to plan it that way, wouldn't have happened.

On Monday we had a major clean out of the tack/feed room - there is now a pile of stuff waiting to go to the ILPH, and we know what we have and where it is :)

Work with Fi has still been limited by her intermittent soundness - her feet (especially her toes) were getting rather long. Our usual farrier has been gradually concentrating more on his other (fine iron design) work and doing less horses. We were among his last customers and he gave us a name to contact. So on Thursday all four were checked and Fi now has more sensible length of front feet. I left her yesterday (Friday) to adjust to the new length as she still looked a bit short on the near fore. Today I lunged her - and it was windy and *cold*. She was leaping around like an idiot at every rattle the wind created. No doubt she will be lame again tomorrow :rollseyes: and now I definitely need to grade the arena !!

I've lunged and ridden Rosie a few times over the week - she's gone nicely each time (approx 40 min sessions split between lunging and riding). And then on Wednesday, big sis arrived with her highland just as I was about to tack Rosie up - so we headed out with her, and were out for an hour :o Rosie's eyes were on stalks for a lot of the time, and there were a couple of (small) rocks which were clearly hiding monsters, but she came back with a healthy sweat :D

Then she had a bath yesterday evening and went to the NPS Spring Show today. It was a smaller turn out than usual (4) and we were 3rd. She was a good girl and loaded fine on the way there, and (a bit hesitantly) on the way back (despite me forgetting to open the top door at the front).

Dudley got lunged and I rode him on Wednesday. Then yesterday my next door neighbour came and had a ride on him for the first time. They got on well together and she is light enough to ride either Duds or Rosie - so they both could get a bit fitter :)

And to add to the fun, I had a lesson on Thursday. On a 17.1 ex-Advanced Medium horse - Fi is unlikely to be fit or sound enough to cope with an hour lesson, but I still need feedback and help. We worked on position, especially the angle of the pelvis and the subsequent effect on the thigh position. I expected to ache a bit on Friday but it was fine.