Much the same up here HobNob - we were camping up the west coast in an idylic place called Clachtoll last week http://www.clachtollbeachcampsite.co.uk - let's just say there were a couple of nights when the tent was rocking in a force 8! But I parked the 4x4 on the guy ropes on the windward side and tied the tent on to the roof rack and we were fine!
Had a few nice days though and kids spent all the time they could in the sea (in their wetsuits of course).
Horses seem to have survived the week without me and Link is carying a little more weight than I'd like. Bramble's breathing is a lot better after another course of Sputolosin and Clenbuteryl - but he does find the hot humid summer days challenging. Am hosing the hay thoroughly each day, but may have to start soaking it when I can get organised to have something to soak it in.
Jake did section of RIDEBARE with Sarah & Nic, accompanied by Terry, and 2 Helens. I've posted on other bit under Ridebare update. But logging J's foot performance here.
Jake v v happy in company and v forward on all surfaces: mostly roadwork I would say + flinty paths where the rain had dragged stones across the road plus a deep river crossing (gulp) and a few grass sections. On all these surfaces Jake was beautifully relaxed at the shoulders with nice extended strides. So impressed with the boy !
He does look carefully where he is going on very knarly paths, very goat like. He does notice sharp stones on hard ground and picks best route, but does not seem so bothered by them, his body remains very loose and relaxed even if he hits one. I find it best to let him pick route and pace over such ground. On this ride he didnt slow down so much or show other sign of discomfort, if he did, I'd hop off and lead him.
Long trot and canter sections on both grass and road as we returned from 3pigeons pub, Jake really enjoying himself at faster pace in company, with few manageable excited bucks.
This was a fab experience for his "stranger danger" pony training and what a great feet building exercise. _________________ X
SueH with Jake and Clay
Our lads all fine on the whole. Link getting a bit too fat on the grass and I have to try to find a soltion for him - there's just not room for a third horse in the dry lot so need to be creative. But he's laid back and happy.
Bramble just tickety boo - there is a small shetland cross mare in the paddock next to him, she's in season, so he's been standing up as tall as he can on the boulders preening himself for her! What a laugh they are.
Apollo was footy on the yard surface earlier this week - and still is slightly - not sure why as he is on a zero grass regime. He did however have a little bit of thrush in his fronts so have treated that and we'll see if it gets better.
It's a bit of a problem with the dirt paddock - they pull hay down and pee on it, and then they stand around in it and get thrush! I clean it every day - but the top layer of the dirt just gets impregnated. Yesterday I sprinkled around the hay rack with rock salt to try and kill off some of the bacteria/amonia smell.
Post Ridebare miles Jake very loose in hocks - flexing wonderfully. two short (6-8K) fast roadwork sessions Tues and 2nd Sun with 2 canter sections.
Friday-long walk 8k with mate. Loads of big stones had been washed on to 'lumpy' lane so Jake didnt walk so fast as last time but still very relaxed as he traverses and seems unbothered.
Sat-trailered solo to Mountain for ride saturday and he quite forward from the outset.
Performace on the whole excellent and frogs looking good. I'm still finding that Jake does not generally head to grass verge, unless path very stoney and then he does so leisurely, not seeminly worried if he cant reach grass patch.
EDITED to add
On ridebare, Sarah noticed line on hooves which correlates with about Feb when I
- took him off winter paddock and onto diet paddock;
- began riding without boots.
- upped seaweed ? [not sure if Feb. I thought I upped Mag then but records show my mind is spaghetti and that I did this 2008. I do recall increasing seaweed to 2 x 50ml scoops earlier this year after talking to Sarah, but stupidly didnt log the date. _________________ X
SueH with Jake and Clay
Was away this week at the Haflinger Breed Show at Moreton Morrell. Noticed some awful feet! Also saw some bare behind and a couple completely without.
On Saturday evening took Ty & his barefoot mum out for a hack though the village. It was that funny stoney road surface. They both strode out nicely and when we got back you could see the wear on heels and frogs, so both are clearly loading heel first most of the time.
He was on wood pellet bedding there & it made me realise how much i miss it (was on it at old yard), his feet were dry and non-smelly, whereas at home on straw (included in livery price) they are a bit thrushy and always wet. bah.
Took Pie to a 2 day Trec Event near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
Travelled on the Friday, corralled overnight and then competed in the POR on Saturday, 20km trec with alot of roadwork but some wonderful canters. one over a racecourse training gallops!!! what fun.. only got very slightly lost when alot of the Level 3 & 4 turned up at our checkpoint and I completely lost my bearings and we set off in the wrong direction.
However got 60 penalty's for missing one unmanned ticket point and one deviation from the map which I had marked but had not kept checking my map to know how far along the ride we were.
We were more or less on time for the 4 checkpoints although collected about 15 penalties for either being under or over the time slightly.
Sunday is COP and PTV day, however by this time Pie had totally pair bonded with the pony we brought with us to compete with and who we had corralled together, that he completely lost the plot and could NOT concentrate on doing the PTV.. however I now know that he is very capable of rearing, bucking and and leaping off the ground on all four feet with a rider on and without any boots... and it doesn't seem to bother his feet.. So that's good know.
However, it is VERY embarrassing to have to be rescued by the friend and her pony who had to come ont he course to get us together with the GB technical delegate to help me get a very panic stricken and dangerous horse off the course. Norty norty pony...
Next weekend, 2 day Skipton Trec Event... Pie will be living on his own and NOT touching another horse at all!!!!
My cob, who has always been stomping on all surfaces is still slightly footy on the stony track, still not sure why - he is on a dry lot and nothing else has really changed as far as I can tell.
Other two are fine. Bramble walked rather than being ridden as he is still slightly wheezy.
Has been really wet here over the last 2 weeks. LGL pone still not up to the stonking standard she was in May. She has been on the Metabolyte for about 5-6 weeks and I have not found any pulses since this kicked in. She is having small amounts of grass which doesnt seem to be making her worse. She is careful on large stones but OK down hill. Still not been doing an awful lot of work with her, the back of her frog is really spreading out and over the last couple of months her heels have remained short and in no need of trimming. I am therefore thinking as no pulse and small bits of grass not making her any worse, that she may just be feeling the back of her foot on the ground for the first time !! I am hoping when weather drys up she may not be so sensitive.
Jakes barefoot performance decreased over last 2 weeks slightly with all sun and rain making grass grow more.
When weather was dry the grass didnt grow and he didnt bother with it much - now even the grass patch in his day pen has some in which is tastier and sugary
Still happy to go forward but given how fab he was when weather v dry and grass intake minimal, it again confirms that grass-free summer will unlock this horse's barefoot potential.
I am thinking of giving dietary support in periods of sun/rain e.g. protexin.
Clay, is still pootling around on his rehabbing feet. Trots up for his supplement loaded breakfast bless him. I buff round the edges to keep em smooth and barring the chunks he lost when the shoes came off, they dont look too bad in terms of holding together. The hoof angle is HORRID and shally, frog non-existent but he improving slowly and steadily. His coat is improving and he has settled in v well. it would be nice for him to go for little walk out to in boots but I wonder whether it would be too much too soon so will seek advice before doing anything.
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