Harry horse & Charlie adventures! Horse chat & much more! Everyone welcome!

[Yorkshire Coop]

So did you dance in it Barbara!

Hope Zak is feeling better today after the farrier? I bet too that you had to re wash him this morning! If it’s anything to go by down here he maybe muddy!
I’ve gone from beach to pond!

It has absolutely thrown it down again this morning so I’ve not ridden yet. H & Bran were soaking wet so they are in drying off with a nice fleecy cooler on each. Sunshine & showers now so I might try and get out in between them this afternoon. I need to get more haylage and take it to the yard so will see what kind of mood they are in then.
I have 5 bales already but want to get another load in just incase as it says warming up again next week apparently

I’m reluctant yet to use the new hay, it was only cut 1st July. I’ve read so many different opinions on when you can use it my head was fried! What are your thoughts Barbara?
I’ve read anything from straight away to 6 months

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

No I didn't dance. I had too much to do to get ready for the show..... have I mentioned how much I hate showing!!! I had forgotten from last year, but yesterday really reminded me. Yes Zak needed another bath before we left but he was very well behaved at the show, even when other much more experienced horses were getting upset at the fluttering flags and pop guns going off. He did get a real fright when the Red Arrows flew over though! Maybe not the best idea since we had no warning and of course they come out of no where! Thankfully he was tied to the back of the trailer in between classes when it happened so it didn't cause a problem for us. Sadly there was an accident in the show ring when a shaft broke on one of the gigs and the horse took off. The lady tried to keep control but eventually they hit a 6ft pig wire fence and she was catapulted out of the carriage. They had to cut the horse out but it was reasonably OK although there was an injury to it's hind leg and the lady was able to walk away from it too but she had hit the ground hard and was checked over by a paramedic afterwards.

As regards new hay, it is a bit of a gamble and very much depends on the horse. Rainy, who I lost last year, would colic when I gave him new hay. After a couple of years of vets bills in the early years, I learned to give him old hay! My other horses could eat it and be fine. I think it should be OK by October. It is strange how some things upset one horse and not others. Mine are fine with straw and have had regular grass cuttings from the lawns all their lives with no ill effects at all but have colicked with spring grass which is surely the most natural thing for them to eat!

Hope you managed to get out for a ride between showers yesterday and didn't get wet. We had a couple of really heavy showers at the showground and got soaked but we dried up in between and it got better as the day went on but the heavens opened just as we got home. Poor Zak was desperate to be out of the trailer as soon as we stopped so I had to get wet again taking him back to the field. He was happy enough to be back out with his pals though even if it was chucking it down and they had a good hooley. I just wanted to put the chickens away and climb into bed because I was absolutely exhausted and I slept nearly 11hrs despite alarms and snooze buttons trying to get me out of my pit! It is amazing how draining stress is! Pleased to report that we achieved our goal of not coming last in every class but not by much! It was pretty demoralising because nothing much we could do to improve that situation without spending a lot of money and to me it then becomes more of a situation of buying your success and even then, as your previous post indicated, we would probably not be the "right people" to win. I'm hoping Ian doesn't want to do it again next year.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi Barbara!

Are you all fully recovered from the show and caught up on sleep! It’s not my cup of T either and seems an awful lot of hard work! I’m sure lots really do enjoy it but it’s just not for me. Wow it sound like it was very dramatic with the poor lady who crashed Good to hear they were ok in the end but how scary!

I would have been scared too of the red arrows! I’ve never been the same since RAF jets shot over our house at night very low and very fast! Since then I’ve had an irrational fear of planes!

Excellent on not coming last Goal achieved! Try not to feel demoralised about it & I totally agree though on the not buying success! It’s the taking part that counts

No flag for me again But on a better note the grass is greening up! Harry is enjoying the cooler weather although the bugs are back out as soon as we have more sun! Harry is enjoying rolling on the cooler damper ground!

Thanks for the advice on the hay I’m going to wait as long as poss before using it and of course now I’ve stocked up on haylage (10 bags) the grass is coming back so things should be ok now.

Catch you soon Barbara xxxx

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Glad to see you got some rain. I imagine you must even be happy to have puddles again!

Haven't heard any news about the pup lately, so hoping no news is good news.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi Wishing! Yes super happy about the puddles! I was starting to feel desperate!

Yes no news is good news, touch a big piece of wood! Keeper is doing well thank you. A little clicking now & again from that leg but nothing to worry about. As Charlie has finished school he’s a bit out of routine but the training is coming along well. Good days & bad days but he is a spaniel after all He does get selective deafness occasionally! Such a loveable dog though and just wants to be with you all the time.

He’d not seen Charlie all day this day and needed a proper hug!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Glad to hear all is well.
When you've had enough rain, send it on over to California. Firefighters could use the help.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hi Wishing! Yes super happy about the puddles! I was starting to feel desperate!

Yes no news is good news, touch a big piece of wood! Keeper is doing well thank you. A little clicking now & again from that leg but nothing to worry about. As Charlie has finished school he’s a bit out of routine but the training is coming along well. Good days & bad days but he is a spaniel after all He does get selective deafness occasionally! Such a loveable dog though and just wants to be with you all the time.
View attachment 1488665

He’d not seen Charlie all day this day and needed a proper hug!
View attachment 1488666

Adorable photo of Charlie and Keeper.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Glad to hear all is well.
When you've had enough rain, send it on over to California. Firefighters could use the help.

I sure wish I could Wishing & I will certainly try! It’s so sad reading about & seeing all the devastation from those horrendous fires

Adorable photo of Charlie and Keeper.

Thanks Leyla They are both a great pair of softies!

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

Good to see Harry can still enjoy a good roll and make it right over to get both sides equally coated in mud. Not showing any indication of his age there is he! Lovely photo of Charlie and Keeper enjoying a hug.

Chalk me down for not one, but

for yesterday. Spent 2 hours trimming hooves and then we rode the lads out first and we had a little canter/gallop (Rebel doesn't really do canter!) which was left to Lauren to set the pace and I think she was really pleased and relieved to know that she hadn't lost all her confidence and could still do it. We dropped them off at their summer field that I've only used for a few days so far because the flies were horrendous, but there is no grass left at home so it is a case of needs must. It was late by the time we let them off and a bit of breeze, so flies weren't bad. Then went back and tacked MeMe up and I decided to try riding and leading with Cora and it went very well indeed. What blew me away was how responsive MeMe was to my leg as regards moving laterally (no leg required for going forward at all) but had to be a bit heavy on the reins to keep her steady as Cora has to jog to keep up with her walk and the old lady is stiff so it is hard work for her. It was like you see those andalusian horses in Spanish parades where they trot along with their heads up shoulder in one way and then the other. It meant that even if Cora crossed behind her and was on the wrong side I could just push MeMe's bum across and have Cora where I needed her again. I was a bit concerned there might be some kicking, as MeMe constantly pulled faces as her but thankfully that was as bad as it got and Cora didn't challenge her. Despite the fact that she hadn't been ridden for at least 6 weeks, she felt so safe and solid. It really made me realise I need to do more with her. Anyway, all were happy to be back together and in a field with some grass and headed off to explore, so I have some breathing space now to get my yard and stables cleaned up and muck shifted and some tidying up and maintenance done.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Wow Barbara I have some catching up to do with you chalking up 2 flags!!! I am going in the morning at 6.30 with my friend again before she heads off to work. Hoping there should not too much traffic at that time! Harvest is well underway now here so lots of tractors about with corn trailers, balers on the back and combined harvesters! Although Harry is excellent is traffic my friend is not so much! Not that her pony is bothered but she gets things in her head! The day I forced her to go past a steam engine was funny as she was all set for turning round and going the other way! Sometimes she needs a bit of a poke!

Pleased to read that ride & lead went well For me it’s the way forward if I have no one to go with. Fingers crossed you can make it a regular thing and get out a bit more

How are you getting on with the flies? Bad down here again but it’s so humid (70%) & 27c to 29c again. When I got Harry & Bran in this morning they looked like cows with flies stuck all over their faces Maybe I need an economy fly mask as below

I have whacked loads of fly gel on their faces which seems to be keeping them away for now.

Hope your yard/stable cleaning is going ok now you have a bit of space.

If I dint catch you before have a good weekend Barbara xx