another weekend on Instagram...

Instagram, it's a new addiction...

Tom and Henry are quite possibly the most photographed horses on the planet, I kid you not.

   

.......so when a friend told me about Instagram I naturally jumped at the chance to share my beloved boys with a wider audience - whether they were ready for us or not!

I have 'met' so many interesting and devoted equine keepers, it's a joy to use it.

Now, i am slow to social media, i don't do facebook or tweet, like my husband - but sharing beautiful and amusing stories and pictures about Tom and Henry, well, they're just such an easy subject to write about!

So almost a year into Instagram Tom & Henry have over 700 'followers', and because its the photos that lead to dialogue, its just quicker/easier than a blog.

I simply take my phone everywhere, document all crazy stuff, funny stuff, gorgeous stuff - and if your a regular on TCJ you'll know by now there's always a lot of that type of 'stuff' here.

It's a great way to ask questions, share dilemmas, resolve problems - because it's reach is global.  I have a buddy in Canada for eg, and she's naturally the best person to seek advice for cold weather tips.  another in California, she's key to hot weather problem solving.

...it's really friendly and if you don't like something, just hit the unfollow button, it couldn't be simpler.

I chat with a young girl in Newcastle who keeps a pony thats the same age as me - 45!! incredible, so getting important help from experts is really easy, and no one makes you feel like a fool.

.....give it a go, if nothing else, its a tremendous resource.

TCJpart99 Voyeurism

VOYEURISM:

...and how, watching Tom & Henry is addictive, entertaining, amusing, terrifying, hilarious, stressful, calming, beautiful and above all lovely...xxx

...I can watch them from our cottage and from my laptop at work, it's a great set-up, and for that I thank John...he does a lot more than take all the photos!!



TCJpart80 Tom & Henry

GETTING UNDER MY FEET:

Now, please understand, I love Tom & Henry being around me when I do stuff.  I love it that they find moving my broom, eating out of the bin, going into half mucked-out stables, flinging hay all over my carefully swept floor amusing....it just means they love being with me...doesn't it?

...but there are times...occasionally...when I just wish they'd let me get on with my jobs....! But I don't really mean that, because every time I'm with them I learn something more about them.

MOVING YOUR HORSE:
Getting your horse to move out of your way, or move where you want him can be as easy as pointing at him, remember horses communicate entirely with body language.  Subtle changes in movements: a flick of the ear, a nod of the head, a swish of his tail, can tell us all what our horses are saying.  If you can get good at this, and you’ll need to spend a lot of time with your horse, the things you can do on the ground can help you in the saddle.

Going backwards:  firstly I started with my hand on his chest and add pressure. Horses don’t like any pressure, they’d rather move out of the way, this we can use to our advantage to teach our horse to yield.  So add pressure to your hand, and say ‘back,back,back’ give him a food treat.  Progress to laying your hand with no pressure, and then work with pointing your hand at his chest, and keeping thaat perceved pressure on until he moves...and he will do.

When he arrived here Tom didn't like brooms, not scared, just irritated by them I think.  I sweep my yard twice every day, so he's used to it by now, but only quite recently has he been able to tolerate it to the point when he got in my way and I accidentally jabbed him with it...he just stood there!

I can now sweep right under him and between his legs and he doesn't even bat his long eyelashes at me.  Only because he gets around my stuff whilst I'm using it, is he now relaxed about the whole affair.

So being around all my 'stuff' apparently is good for them.

Henry likes to go into my just finished stable, all clean, new fresh shavings, swept to within an inch of it's life, and roll...when there's 3 acres he could be using for that!!

Boys!

Not scared of bins, plastic bags, logs, buckets, stools, brooms...or any of the pieces of equipment I use around the yard or my poo-picking devices either.

They see these things every day, as as we know with horses, repetition is key.

Jobs take longer though, I can never be in a rush because they just want to be under my feet every step of the way!

In fact I have begun swapping their fields to a new one on Saturday mornings (proper deep cleaning day), just so they're occupied with new territory and not getting in my way whilst I go about the job of the BIG muck-out, haybar empty etc.

But, if it sounds like interesting things are happening...like I'm standing in my bin to make more room....well, they can't resist wandering over.

 

Everything you do with your own horse is an exchange of understanding between you both.  The more things you do with him, the more situations he can share with you the easier his coping mechanism will be out there when you're riding.

 

.

..if only I could adequately explain to T&H that hay is tidier IN the haybars and not taken out and spread all over the floor....hmmmm!

TCJpart72 Feet

FEET...again & wisdom from STEVE:

Tom & Henry have lovely shaped feet, Steve works hard with pure skill and years of experience to ensure their shod feet are an extension of their own-grown feet.  A perfect angle, a lovely round even shape and rasped with ever decreasing fineness of tools for a mirror-finish, their feet are picture perfect and beautiful.

Steve is a third generation farrier, likely born with a rasp in his hand!!  I found him on the Worshipful Company of Farriers website, it can help you find farriers in your area, but always back these contacts up with recommendations if you can.  At least 3 people mentioned Steve to me before I called him, Jenny was one of them!

Tom & Henry took an instant like to Steve, a quiet humble man, comfortable around big horses...he shoes everything from Shires to Shetlands...and anything Steve asks them, they do.

Tom, as you know is inherently distrustful, is so comfortable with Steve he sometimes falls asleep, poor Steve has to hold him up!!!

Once he's done the boys are noticeably happier on their feet, prancing about and moving with such grace...of course they have just spent  the last few days with hoof boots on one foot each, and although they can get on and move about unhampered (and the boots really do a brilliant job), elegant and floaty they are not. 

T&H show-off their new pedicures, without exception they'll hang about in the yard until Steve has driven away (they love Uncle Steve), they go straight out into their fields and frolic about in a look-at-me type of gorgeous fashion typified by the Trakehner....everything they do is simply stunning.

To replace any worn horn due to riding over hard surfaces, and lots of roadwork, although it doesn't need much to wear the horn down in my experience, is what shoes are for.

A well shod horse will have had his way of going assessed by your farrier and Steve hand-makes T&H's shoes every visit so they are a perfect bespoke fit. 


I never tire of watching him and his craft, it's just so skilled and slick.

Of course one day Steve will retire, so I have to consider the possibility of going barefoot, I don't mind about not riding, I don't do much roadwork anyway if I can help it.  Steve will still come I hope about  every 8 weeks once barefoot, but he wont be bent over an anvil just a cup of tea!

Appreciate the experts who tirelessly work for the benefit of your horse, you may not realise the skill that's involved, Steve doesn't give me a blow-by-blow when he's here but I know he works a special shoe to help Henry's dishing.

A few things to remember:  Lessons Learned from Steve:

• he likes clean dry feet, always have a towel handy if you've brought your horse straight in from the field, even now in July....it's very muddy out there.
• he likes a picked-out foot
• he likes me attached to the front end and not getting in his way
• he doesn't like Tom or Henry biting his bum...or rubbing their heads on it either.....in fact bums are out of bounds.
• he likes the kettle on, but always says no to a biscuit!
• he doesn't like treat feeding
• he likes chinos, and always turns-up looking very smart in a shirt and shiny boots, and changes
• he doesn't mind how long the job takes, he does the job right, he is never in a rush
• he doesn't like any topical hoof treatments like moisturiser or hoof-hardener, left on it's own a hoof  should be perfectly capable to adapt to any natural conditions like wet or dry
• he likes the Queen
• he doesn't believe a horse that is fed correctly should need any additional supplement for the feet, he says wild horses have brilliant feet
• he loves putting the world to rights....as does John, they love a good chat
• he gets upset when he sees horses with badly shod feet
• he loves wildlife
• he is always right about the weather and gives Countryfile a run for their money
• he will look at the berries in autumn and tell you whether it's going to be a cold winter
• he wishes more vets would ask for help and call a great farrier to help with feet problems, because some emergency footwork can cause more problems than they fix. My vet (Louisa), thinks Steve is a sweetie!
• he wont eat cake unless home made by our Mum's
• he knows all the poisonous weeds, I always show him plants I don't recognise

The necessity of shoeing means we have experts visit our horses regularly, use this interface wisely, your farrier for example might notice your horse putting on weight and you may not, he might notice, but the trick is to ask and listen.

Our horses rely on us, don't let them down.

another...SPECIAL EDITION

HOOF BOOTS:
...and how we can't live without them...

Like many things in the life of outdoorsy types, the weather can and does effect everyday comings and goings.

The immense amount of rain we've had during this spring and summer has meant the grass has grown, the mud has appeared , turned to dust and appeared again, and hooves have needed attention in ever decreasing time frames. 

So it is I find myself in a horse-related-common-predicament most horse owners will appreciate.  A week earlier than usual, T&H's hooves needed attention, they have just outgrown their shoes very fast.  Happily John had foreseen this and booked Steve early.

BUT, Steve had a 'shoe-and-show' at the East of England Show planned so he was coming Sunday instead of Saturday.  Saturday was nice, but Sunday it chucked it down and I had to concede Steve couldn't come.  By then I was forced myself to remove one of Tom's shoes.  I only do this if it's easy and the fear of damage to the horse is high, Steve would not approve of my technique, but I just can't seem to wield those heavy pliers in one hand, so kneeling down I rest their legs across my lap...and use 2 hands! (don't tell Steve).  Both Tom & Henry stand perfectly still, not tied up whilst I do this too, they are very good boys.

So, by Sunday Tom was hobbling about, his foot now sore, so I put a hoof boot on: size 5.  My favourite is the Easy Boot, I'm buying more once I've finished typing!

Then, and it's Tuesday night, of course drama can't happen here without Henry being involved, it just wouldn't be right, Henry has pulled one of his now loose shoes off somewhere, I still can't find it even with Coco's help, so the smaller hoof boot has gone on him too, size: 4.  One minute hobbling about, the next perfectly comfortable and happy. 

Tom and Henry are not put-off or slowed down by the attachment of hoof boots, so they go about their usual routine with them on.  We have mud here, but the height of the Easy boot covers the pastern and happily the mud isn't that deep...if John Craven is right though, it'll rain for another 3 weeks in all likelihood...note to self, stop watching Countryfile!

I recommend these hoof boots, they really allow the boys to get on with life and I don't worry about their feet getting sore...and of course it stops the horn wearing out more before Steve can get here...hopefully Friday...but who knows, it might still be raining.

UPDATE: 13July
I have ordered more Easyboot Hoofboots for Tom & Henry since they are so very handy, and whilst one pair are in the wash (not sure if you're supposed to put them in the washing machine, but I do), the new ones went on them this morning...I love next day delivery...their feet are all happy waiting for Steve to arrive later today.





I have also ordered some more insoles for them, and these I learn can be varied depending on the needs of your horse.  I simply wanted the common comfort ones replaced that came with the boot since my boys aren't suffering from any affliction, they just have missing shoes BUT after speaking to: URBAN HORSE, I learn there a few different types to suit recovering laminitics or those with hoof and sole damage.  In fact, the girls at URBAN HORSE specialise in all things barefoot & bitless, the natural way.  Give them a call they are very helpful.



...also, John found Henry's missing shoe!!!!!

TRAKEHNERS CAN JUMP part 6

PROBLEM SOLVING - TOM:

Problems seem so huge at the time, but looking back some are much easier to deal with than others so I categorise them into 2 varieties:

1) problem (1 bag of treats),

2) big problem (going to need more treats)


TREATS:

Tom's problem number 1:

...this was going to be a level 2 problem: getting Tom to stand still while I got on him.

Tom is a calm and thoughtful horse, and have I already mentioned huge? He is not as overtly curious as Henry,  actually it seems he sends Henry to see what's new going down the lane before he comes over!  But he is brave and has a capacity for learning difficult things, it just takes him time. He accepts things quickly and assesses things in an instant, so when we come up against something new he doesn't always react with fear as his first instinct like Henry - he looks and snorts and decides. He is the baby, and it's easy to forget he is so young sometimes because he is such a good horse.

bathtime, I don't tie them up, I just go over them with the hose, and they stay calm.

When your horses are big, as mine are, you really can’t afford for your yard to be the scene of constant battles of will and tenseness – you need a sublime calmness, and quiet, an environment for listening and learning.  If you are aggravated, or moody, don’t burden your poor horse with this – leave him until another day.  I can always sense with mine when they are ready for the next lesson – and it has to coincide with me being in an easy frame of mind (which for me is easy, they are a very calming influence on me, I can have had the crappiest day at work, and as soon as I see those enormous brown eyes I completely melt), and make sure you have lots and lots of time and treats.  Don’t start anything if you are working to a schedule – give you and your horse bags of time to learn things together – on the ground. 

so gorgeous

I talk to my horses, all the time, they know their names and they can recognise tones in my voice.  I have a soothing good-boy voice for teaching and learning, and introducing anything scary – like a big plastic bag to their environment – I have a care-free tone, come and sniff, come on, it won’t hurt you – and because horses are so damned curious, they get over themselves and come – they’ll lick their lips (calm), and lick the plastic, then grab it in their teeth and shake it (this may just be Tom & Henry).

So you have a goal – I give myself goals to achieve, and I am very realistic with timescales.  I will for instance say to myself, by the end of the summer Tom will understand that I’d like him to stand still when I get on him, and he’ll want to.

And this is how I did it:

Getting on Tom was my big problem with him, I would have to back him into a corner of my yard so he couldn't back up just to get on!  It was ridiculous, I’d have to make sure I left at least 20 minutes to get on when planning to ride with anyone. And he’s big, I couldn’t just launch myself onto him, I need a box, I need him to stand still, I need him not to move away with my foot in the stirrup!!! And did I mention he is huge?

So, I followed him around the yard with the box for 5 minutes as usual, I had planned for a quiet wander around my neighbours fields (my favourite ride), but I suddenly knew what I wanted more than anything at that moment, for Tom to stand still while I got on him.

So then thought, bugger my ride – the sun is shining, John’s out building stuff with a neighbour as boys often do, and I have all the time in the world. 

Tom is a sensitive horse, and I had discovered that Tom responds very well to contact and pressure, he has a soft mouth and I have soft hands – so there I was standing on my box at his side as I had done many times, him moving sideways away from me, I tightened my outside rein a little until he stood still, and rewarded him with loosening them again straight away – this was the key. Reward. All the time saying stand please (because we are very polite in our yard!), stand please gorgeous boy. Good boy.

I'd get off my box, walk away, no pressure.  Reward with a treat.  Get back on the box, stand at his side, repeat what I had done, this time he already understood stand still, only on the second time! I shifted my weight on my box, he shifted away slightly, I got off my box and moved it back to Tom's side, I shortened my reins – just to explain, I am not making my reins short, his chin is not on his chest, I just have contact, and that’s all.  So he stands still again – I let go of the reins, he remains still,  I get off the box, give him lots of praise, tell him he’s a good boy, scratch his neck, give him a treat, (herbal tasty treats) and again reward him with no pressure I walk away a bit and leave him alone. 

He's thinking about what has just happened.

I just put my weight in the stirrup and get down again, gently does it!

I put my foot in the stirrup, he stays still, I lean against his side with my weight in the stirrup, expecting again for him to move off, but no, he stands perfectly still.  I let go of his reins, get off the box, praise him lots and give him treats. I walk away a bit, so he has no pressure, he licks his lips and appears relaxed and happy.  

practice fiddling with your stirrups or anything, just to teach your horse you might need to do things while you're on top, not just ride.

Well I cried at this point – I don’t remember ever being so happy, and John wasn’t even there to see!!!!  MEN!!  So a few minutes pass, I put my box back next to him, usually he’d be moving off by now.  But he stands perfectly still, relaxed, I put his reins in my hand, he looks at me.  I get on my box, no longer a source of worry for me now, but an icon of achievement, I have a very light (some would say no contact), I put my foot in the stirrup, saying nothing, I swing my leg over and settle quietly and gently into his super comfy saddle, he has not moved a muscle, he stays perfectly still, he is relaxed, he is resting a back leg even!  By jove he’s got it!!!  the whole thing took an hour. only one hour to achieve the basic of all things, for my horse to understand that I needed him to stand still, and he's big, there's no chance to get on him otherwise. 

I was on! I could have cried.

I ask him to stand still for a minute before taking off always at walk

Once on, I lean over and give them a treat, this teaches them not to run off, they know whats coming and are happy to wait for it.

Well, as you can imagine, I was thrilled and overwhelmed with an enormous sense of achievement – just me my horse and a little bit of good communication (and treats) – no whips, no shouting, just love.  I got off him almost immediately, gave him more treats and cuddles, left him to think,  I just walked away a few metres and left him, did it all over again – I got on and off him about 7 times, and the whole time he just stood there – it was truly amazing, then I took him for a quiet ride around the fields for 20 minutes to relax further, then home and out to roll and play.

Henry is happy Tom is back, and can relax too, Henry could never understand why Tom didn't stand still while I got on, because to him it was easy...but Tom thought Henry was silly not wanting to go in his stable too!

Further to this, over the next few weeks I repeated some of these steps, whether necessary or not, I wanted Tom to know everything was fine, I always reward my horses for standing still, once I'm in the saddle, I lean over and give them a treat from the saddle.  I have taught them to stand still even after I'm on.  This is a polite way to reinforce calmness and of course mine don't  ever charge off, or move off without my energy being up and asking for a walk. 

Get on, and do nothing.

Practice getting off and on again whilst out, if you can do this in a clam and managed way often, when you need to (and perhaps aren't feeling calm or in control), it'll be easy for both of you because you've practiced it.

I have since practiced getting on whilst out too - as anyone will tell you if they've got off to remove a stone from their horses hoof and had to walk all the way home will tell you....it's best to practice these things so when you need to, you can get on by finding a suitable bank or rock to stand on, and now Tom will stand still...I can get on without a problem...

once on..a lovely calm ride  was had by both of us...except...

I'm sure I'm picking up radio 4 from my new hat!

Tom's problem number 2:

this turned out to be a one bag of treats problem:  getting a rug on Tom:

 

Putting a rug on a horse that claims with his expression he has not only never seen one, but he certainly isn’t going to let one get anywhere near him let alone on him because clearly it’s going to eat him.  Very tricky.  But in the end all it needed was a bunch of carrots, a bag of treats and a willing participant:  John as a helper.

 

Here’s how we did it:

Tom was in his stable, I folded the rug into 3 so it looked quite narrow.

 

John was outside by the door, carrots in hand and ready.  I was talking to Tom the whole time, he was looking at me very suspiciously, but I persisted, not to forget, we hadn’t known each other for more than a couple of weeks. 

 

I gently held the rug up in my hand while standing in the corner of the stable, as far from Tom as I could, but by the door, and let his natural curiosity make him come over and sniff it, then when he gave it a big sniff and a puff he got a carrot. 

Tom now finds rugs amusing...

 

Then I approached him very slightly, he came closer to me and sniffed again, and then I very slowly and gently held the rug against his shoulder, he wasn’t sure about this, so he began to move, but because it wasn’t hurting him he stopped, and I took the rug away, gave him a carrot. 

Some things are safer to deal with inside a stable, and Tom certainly doesn't mind - if this had been a problem with Henry, I'd likely have tackled it in the yard so he felt like he could move around.

 

Then I approached him again, he looked bored this time, so I held the rug closer this time, and put more of it against him, he started walking around his box, but stopped after bit.  Then I rewarded him with taking it away, and gave him another carrot.

Then I walked up to him and straight away held it up to his shoulder, and moved it slowly to his body, while John fed him a carrot and some treats to make it more interesting. He didn’t

seem to mind this so very slowly and quietly I moved it so it sat on him like a saddle cloth.  Of course he is used to having a saddle on so this posed no concern to him.

I can change my mind about my rug choice and go out to the field in all weathers and change their rugs, without tying them up, because they trust me.

 

Then I gradually unfolded the rug – John feeding him carrots, so the whole thing was nice for him, and voila!  Rug on, no worries. 

 

And from that day I put his rug on in a very slow and careful way, folding it like before, and gradually reducing this, and now I can just chuck one on him, untied, in the field, even when it’s windy and pouring with rain! 

rugs on, no waiting.

Tom is a very good boy: he much prefers, as most horses do, to be naked.  He grows a very woolly coat like a bear in the winter and can stand cold weather – well he is a Trakehner, and we all know the story about the Trakehner don’t we?  

But I can’t stand them being wet and cold – so he has to wear a rug if it rains or he is likely (as mine do everyday), roll in the cold wet mud.  Actually my boys have an extensive wardrobe suitable for all occasions and weather types: daywear, nightwear, evening wear, rugs for going out...casual rugs....  

I have found a make that fits them very well, that doesn’t have too many things to fiddle with – I hate rugs with too many twiddly bits – horses like you to be quick and get out so they can eat their dinner in peace.

Remember, horses are prey animals, so they are naturally deeply suspicious of anything that touches them, covers them, makes funny russly noises, so please remember if you horses isn’t as calm to learn as Tom, try more carrots, and give him time, he is just be instinctive, once he learns the rug won’t eat him, he is sure to be fine with it. Start, as I did, with the thinnest, lightest, rustle free rug you can find, a sweat rug or woolly day rug is ideal, this will help, then you can build up to the noisy ballistic nylon ones we all love.  Good luck.