...a lesson learned...

...health&safety...

You may think your horses' environment is perfectly safe? Well, so did I until Tom's 'unfortunate incident'.  From the first May bank holiday to the next, here's what happened...
 

We'd do anything to protect them.

Since then we have investigated every single inch of their environment for any possible hazards (again), and whilst we can't protect them every second...they are horses after all, and will get into a pickle with or without human intervention...we can customise our equipment with safety in mind.

So here is a clever little device for closing gates that replaces the unmovable/unbreakable metal closures that, and trust me when I say this, can cause injury.

So you've got a job to do in the land, first you need to gather equipment, then you'll need to enlist help:

Here Lemmy, Coco and Min are casting a disapproving eye over any proceedings that spoil naptime.

 

...and provide a forum for Tom & Henry to watch from a safe distance, with available forage and refreshment too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John has of course invented a clever use of available equipment, you can buy on-line, and here's what he did, (and it's all perfectly safe, there's no protruding metalware).

Simple to replace the metal catches are now not used anywhere, all gates are safe.  The rope winds around the posts when not in use, it's easy, and the boys can't get caught up in it.

These carabiners are Black Diamond 'hotwire'.

 

...the simplest solutions are often the best, (Occam's Razor).

...stay safe x


and here are just some wonderful photos of T&H x

..the aftermath...

...Tom, and the stitches come out...finally...

Today the vet came and gave Tom the big thumbs up, and took out his stitches:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First she cleaned the area with weak Hibiscrub, then proceeded to cut and whip out the bright blue wires one by one. 
 

 

 

Her blade was curved and the process quick.  Tom must have felt the top ones more because he fidgeted and raised his leg up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've had my fair share of stitches out, and though not painful it does have a weird pulling sensation, which I'm guessing Tom didn't like.  But without sedative, he did stand still and allow it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I invited the vet to linger and watch as the boys were turned out finally, since she gave me the green light to allow Tom to test his scar to the limit!
 

 

 

 

 

...and test it he did, they love being out at grass since they have been restricted since the 'unfortunate incident'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look at these photos, you'll see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I think you'll agree, all back to normal now...

preparation, preparation, preparation...

SNOW:

Preparation is key to surviving the weather in the yard.

 

Last night, knowing it would snow all night, I prepared my yard with a sprinkling of salt&grit. 
 

 

 Not terribly romantic but John bought me a palette last autumn and it's very handy indeed.
 

I emptied the outdoor haybars ready for a new bale the next morning.

 

This morning then, when everywhere was covered in 5cm of snow, my yard, where I'd treated it, was clear and slip-free for the boys, and there was no fiddling with hay covered in snow, i just topped it up.
 

 

 

I put their medium weight rugs on, since they do like to play and roll in the snow, and out they went for a munch leaving me with an easy to sweep yard.

 

Once I have swept I sprinkle more grit on.

 

RECOMMENDED: Salt&Grit.

 

 

Also, we stocked up on horse feed too so we don't have to make any mad dashes to the farm shop for emergency supplies.

 

it's the Brownie Motto but 'be prepared' is the key.




 

 

 

a Forage Based Diet

HAYLAGE & A LITTLE CUNNING:

... with a little thought, you can turn your horses hay or haylage supply into the other  'real' meaning of forage: to seek for food.

 

...and you know: Tom & Henry just love to munch.

 

Here Tom & Henry are enjoying the new layout of their forage, they are foraging, and strangely I have noticed they prefer the nets on their right side, how strange?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I had to buy more nets of course, I dont like them so only had 2, but as long as safety is guaranteed, I support thier use here, because I can see how handy they can be.  But I wont ever tie one up where it can get loose, or they can get caught up in it.


It's always worth remembering all horses arent the same: Henry can jump clean over his stable door, so geting caught in a net is childs play for him, so be careful with your own horse, even if he's not as 'athletic' as mine!

 

 

As you know, Tom & Henry eat their ad-lib haylage from Haybars: there's 2 in their yard, brilliantly customised by John to fit on a straight edge, (Haybars are a corner unit), and the other 2, one in each stable. 


These are filled twice daily with fresh haylage and the boys are just crazy about this arrangement, because they can wander between the grass and 4 separate hay sources.

 

 As you will also know, Tom & Henry have been brought in at night already because of the saturated ground here in Essex and my serious aversion to any more mudfever, so they are forced to spend time indoors, and I can only imagine how boring that must be once you've wandered around a few times and had a nap.

Horses need to eat, they eat for about 18 hours a day (almost the same amount of time cats need to sleep!). 

They eat to stay healthy both physically and mentally, to generate warmth and keep their guts in tip top condition,  of course the idea is they wander in equal measure too, which is why you'll rarely catch a wild horse overweight, he has to work for his living.  But it doesn't have to be a bore.

So I decided to hang some nets outside their stables, and they are crazy for this plan.  They now have three places to choose from to 'forage' for their forage, horses love this, plus it's safe because the nets are outside and less messy too (which the butler likes).

 

I came home early today from work so I was able to take photos in the daylight, normally it's dark when I put them indoors.

 

Try this with your horse, he'll love it!



T&H recommended x