..back in the habit...

...let's get riding...

We've had a great break during the 'winter' which turned out to be mild, very very wet and windy - and not at all suitable for getting on board, especially if you have a Trakehner - you'll know what I mean x.  

But since spring seems to be coming, lets make an effort to reconnect with our seat, and get riding again.  No excuses!

Start slow, and short.  Nothing high energy or tricky, or that could unnerve you or your horse.  

Dribble feed, remember the scenery will have changed since you were last a team out there in the scary world, the trees are bare - he'll be able to see right through at grazing sheep for eg.  The farmer might have trimmed his boundary, there'll be people cycling and dog walking too if the day is nice.

Your horse will need time to adjust too, especially if he's been out of work for a few months, there's nothing wrong with that, but don't jump on and try and start where you left off, be cool and calm.  if you're in a rush - leave riding for another day, there's nothing wrong with that either.

If your worried at all, keep your ride short, don't overstretch yourself or your horse, end always on a positive note, come back safe and sound.  

Make your rides a little longer each time, and add some slow trotting.  I like transitionals on the road - walk - sitting trot - rising trot - and repeat, it keeps your horse engaged and starts building up both your fitness.  ...and oh, do my leg ache the next day x

If I feel my horse is a little sharp and energetic on a particular day, I take him on my 'safe' ride, we all have them. It's just around the block, a simple circuit where nothing too scary happens (until the day it does!).  Progress as you feel ready, don't let anyone push you beyond your comfort zone, ride alone if necessary - I do.

Have a great start to the season - be safe - wear hi-viz always.  Remember, recent studies showed drivers spot the horses legs first - so put hi-viz wraps around all 4 legs too.  ...and the yellow is 0.3seconds faster to spot than the pink!

keep your tack in excellent condition, make sure all the straps and leathers are safe, you don't want to be in a tricky situation and your stirrup leather come off!!

outerwear for your horse.....

WINTER14 FASHION:

How to make sure your horse is correctly attired for the cold wet weather, rain macs and their importance this season!

Now if Burberry made a trenchcoat for horses Tom and Henry would get one each, sounds amusing I know, but in all seriousness this time of year, when it's oddly mild and wont stop raining, a lightweight waterproof is just the ticket for the stylish horse about town (or even in the field).

Accessorise correctly with udder cream in pink, the hot 'pop' colour from the catwalks and some protective hoof grease to keep the water out, I always go with neutral on their feet, because this goes with everything.

Here you can see Tom and Henry wearing the newest shade a muddy tone of red.  Worn with optional neck covers for added style and protection with the newest sporty detailing velcro straps.

Keep it lightweight, keep it simple.

Mud Fever, it's final hours......

Mud Fever Special:
(or as we call it, 'the evil affliction).

 

 

Henry, what do you think about mudfever? BORING

 

 

 

It's rained since October and my land is at saturation point, and still it rains.  Tom & Henry are in at night because of the wet mud in their turnout.  They have grass, the grass is growing, because although we may not like all the rain, it does keep the temperatures on the mild side for January.

 

 

As you will know if you're a regular of TCJ, I battle with mild mudfever here at WW.  When the boys get even a small patch, I panic, because I have learned the hard way, even the smallest patches can turn into a big painful problem. So this year I trialled a new strategy by using a barrier: udder cream.

 

Yes it's pink, yes it's gloopy, and yes, I have a cream-phobia myself, but nothing is going to stop me keeping my boys fit and healthy - even a mild panic attack.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, it's January, and mudfever is absent completely.  Here's how I do it:

 

1) Let them out to eat breakfast after being in all night, brush their fetlocks, pasterns and coronet band gently with a hairbrush from Boots. The mud is dry and comes off easily.  be sure to get around the bulbs of the heel too. The whole are must be super clean before the cream is applied - otherwise you're just trapping dirt against their skin, which causes irritation.

 

 

2)  Smother the clean 'feet' with your fingers with udder cream, get into the hair, around the heel and right up to the fetlock.

3)  Then apply a few times a week, a hoof dressing specially designed for surviving winter - I have used this one from Effol - you can get it, along with the udder cream, at Amazon UK.  It smells wonderful too, so putting it on isn't a chore.

 

 

 

 

4)  Let them out into the wet mud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Too wet for Lemmy

 

It's not quick, but once added to my morning routine, it just becomes a part of the tasks to complete before work.

 

 
 

I have been doing this since the beginning of November, I'm on my 5th large tub of pink cream, and there's not a single trace of scabs or mudfever.

 

BUT:  just in case....I saw a product in a monthly horse magazine from Equimed AG, which claims to help mudfever sufferers.  It's for after they get it, so I haven't tried it yet.  I have bandages for dressing the area, and a special easy to use boot for in the stable, that claims to speed the healing process and kill the bacteria that causes it in the first place. WOW, I'll of course rave about it if it works, but I'm hoping they will be an unused part of my First Aid cabinet.  The testimonials on their website are encouraging too, so give it a go.  At £80 a pair, cheaper than a vet visit and repeat prescription of Fuciderm cream! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here modelled by Tom and Henry are the boots, you can get them for just the heels, right up to a full boot to the knee.  I opted for a heel and fetlock boot all-in-one, since that's where mine get it.  Quick and easy to put on, the idea is the feet get washed and dried and these boots are worn in the stable at night, couldn't be easier.

 

 

 

 

 ...here's hoping these small things will help you fight mudfever once and for all.

 

January news at WW

Tom&Henry ...

...and how they're not really interested in hedgerow planting until they can pull them out of the ground and run around the field with the plants, playing tug of war!!  True story, I often find the plants, root and all, with the bamboo cane and the rabbit proof tube far off in the fields....

January activity at WW has been mainly dedicated to planting more hedgerow: hawthorn, hornbeam, field maple and a few apple trees.  Tom and Henry are mostly disinterested, but they do like pulling the newly planted trees out of the ground and running about with them!

We had trees down in the storms, and a further cull of those likely to fall, so spaces in our boundary hedgerow gave me an opportunity to plant more trees.  Its hard work, but its all to improve the environment for Tom and Henry (they love to 'prune' the plants), and the wildlife too.

Here they watch as I load the wheelbarrow with the plants and equipment, did they offer to help?  I think you can guess the answer to that!

happy new year.....TCJ lovers x

... a short message from Tom & Henry .....
stay happy & healthy in 2014, ride safely, behave responsibly and have fun.