...log-in...

...the boredom-breaker issue...

With the weather unspeakable, the paddocks like a swamp and very little riding to be had, is it any wonder our horses might need some added amusement. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hay, of course plays a huge part of Tom & Henry's life, I make certain there's always enough fresh hay to last the whole day.  I don't weigh or measure it, just ad-lib.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horses love to graze,  which means moving and eating.  so simply putting hay in a single place isn't good enough if your attempting a natural set-up.  Haynets - small holed and normal, hay racks, and 4 Haybars all play a part in my boys daytime feeding routine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More: added to these I have some Jimmy's Hanging balls situated under the eves of the stable.  Tom & Henry LOVE these.  We hung these up at Xmas, only replacing them recently, they last ages, and are a welcome addition to the 'graze' set up I have in the yard.  the boys can wander around the area and find all sort of things to do: eat, chew, lick, bite and play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logs:  we had trees down in the storm, so cut into pieces John has been leaving them in the yard for Tom & Henry to de-bark before they go in the splitter.

 

They LOVE them.  often spending 10 minutes at a time chewing the bark off, kicking them around the yard and playing with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's some grass too, and they really wander and graze all over the place, in and out of their fields and yard, to find something new or different to work on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I try to remember in the wild horses would move for many miles in one day, chewing on branches and lots of different grasses.  I am just trying to replicate this as much as I am able.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, large green plastic bins are not part of this 'natural lifestyle'  but they amuse nonetheless!!!

 

 

 

Snowfall at WW

...AND TALES OF THE TOTALLY EXPECTED...

 

 

I am writing this post, because without exception, when it snows, someone always asks me 'how are your horses in the snow?', to which I reply to surprised faces 'they love it!'

 

...and so does Min!

 

 

 

 

It's snowing again, the boys spent the night indoors of course, because we're not going through mud-fever again...seriously.

 

This snow time last year was when the abrasive nature of snow rubbed Henry's pastern and he got mud fever, remember this, snow can be fun, but it can cause problems too.

 

 

They were living out too, that didn't help, this year, they're indoors at night, their feet and legs can dry, we are MF free.

Snuggled up in their clean beds with lots of haylage, their drinkers didn't freeze because john has cleverly wound greenhouse heating wires around the pipes.

 

 

 

The yard is clear and danger free, the yard buckets are filled and snow is building up in the surface.

Tom & Henry would always rather be rug-free, but since its their nature to play and roll, and more snow is due, i put their outfits on suitable for the nippy weather and let them out.

 

 

Tom & Henry are gorgeous trakehners, but this does not mean they tip-toe around the snow because they are too posh to dip a toe in...NO! they love to play in it, eat it, lick it, roll in it.

boys!!!

 

Here Tom & Henry are looking gorgeous.

Celebrations

CHRISTMAS:

Now, though Tom & Henry appear completely oblivious to all the madness surrounding Xmas, they'd be the first to notice if there weren't extra treats as promised!

Here at WW there will be napping and galloping but the key to a good holiday is being under no pressure at all, well that's just how we roll here. 

With Doctor Who on on Christmas day, we have plenty of entertainment too.  Plus we'll be stuffed most of the time, brilliant!

 

While we are all rushing about making sure the shelves at Tesco are completely emptied, and we have enough vegetarian mince pies to feed the whole village, even though they only close for 2 days, the boys are rest assured we are well stocked up for horse feed, carrots, apples, hay and bedding.

 

The very last thing we want to think about is work, and let's face it Tom & Henry don't work for a living, prefering the fame of just being gorgeous to get them through life...it works too.

 I'd put up a tree, but Tom would just eat it!

don't you just love them?

 

TCJpart78 Grass

GRASS INTAKE:

Question: is it possible that naturally horses regulate their grass intake as to avoid nasty illnesses like laminitis or being overweight?

..and the horses that suffer from these things are just predisposed to overindulgence because of their personalities or due entirely to their management, or a bit of both?

I know myself, when I travel, and feast on delicious traditional local delicacies, all I want for  week when I get back is proper builders tea, pizza and chips...

The horse that gorges itself on a green pasture, relentlessly eating, perhaps because he doesn't get regular access to grass, he's taking the opportunity when he can?  Or perhaps like me, he just loves to eat.

This morning, Saturday morning, I swapped the boys fields as I do every Saturday morning.  I shut one top field and open the other, rotating every week.  Tom and Henry love being in a new field, even though it's only been a week since they were there last, they behave as if they've never been there before.  Sniffing and snorting and marching the perimeter.

This Spring & Summer has been warm and very wet.  Grass has had a great time and their fields are very green and plentiful.  A little concerned by the increased grass rich diets I have been keeping a keen eye on what's been going on, even checking their poo and feeling their hooves for any signs of temperature elevation.

BUT, after about 20 minutes wandering and munching the new lusher grass, Tom & Henry wander back into their stables, and eat hay.  Effectively self-regulating their intake of grass.   I believe this is a natural thing for horses to do, it's 'learned', it's in their make-up to stay sound and healthy,,,well you never know when a predator will pop by.  I wonder whether anyone else has noticed this?

It makes me very thankful that I have my own place, that I can turn them out 24/7 all year round, so they never feel the need to eat whilst they can, snatching and gorging, they take grazing in a relaxed demeanour and don't over indulge...unlike me.  Same with the freedom of movement, perhaps horses that have restricted access to turnout injure themselves more galloping around because they take the opportunity when it presents itself and silliness prevails.

Of course, silliness prevails here too, we like a bit of silliness at WW, but it's not a reaction to new freedoms, much more likely an expression of happiness at feeling safe and at liberty...the way a horse should be...the natural way.

 

TCJpart69 ...a Moment Shared

TOM & HENRY...a Cowparsley moment:

Having your horses in your front garden means you can pop out at any time and get involved in their day, I feel very lucky to have this opportunity.  T&H spend all day together wandering about and munching grass, having a lie-down, wandering more, eating hay... and I like to break up their routine by going out there and spending time with them.

Brushing them, cuddling them or even just sitting with them whilst they eat.

You have probably read my posts about weeds and herbs and those that are ok than those that are poisonous, well I like to offer T&H tasty 'weeds' sometimes as a treat.  This adds something new and unexpected to their day and every minute I spend with them gives us a closer bond.

Here then is the Cowparsley moment....

Henry holds the Cowparsley with his hoof so he can bite off the flower ends...how clever is that?

COWPARSLEY: May flowering.