Springtime Walk....

At last the North winds have gone. Hopefully not to return soon. The week has mellowed into April like sunshine and showers. The temperature has risen to dizzy heights for the year and it really feels like Spring!
I've had this in mind for a short while now...but waiting for the right opportunity. Take Heather for a walk! The accute days of her injury seem to be melting fast with the warming weather. I'm now looking at her rehabilitation back to work, with a bit of luck.
Anyway that was the idea from the comfort of home. In reality taking a horse for a walk is not to be taken lightly, as I know from past experience! It's strange how time dulls the memory and we willingly undertake things we vowed never to do again. Or is that just me? By the time I got to the yard some sensible arguments were popping up in my mind. The wind had picked up and things were blowing about...she'll be spooking at everything as she's not been out of the field for so long. With the warm weather and it being a Sunday, there'll be lots of cyclists, walkers and dogs down the lane. There's bound to be trouble! Isn't she getting enough exercise in the field anyway? Yes all true. But I'm now putting her bridle on for the first time in a while...so I'll have some control. She might be perfectly fine and the grass on the riverbanks is so long and lush..!!
So kitted in my riding hat, body protector, boots and gloves off we went. She's a horse not a lion and I had a whip to keep her in check and a pocket full of carrots and polos...what could possibly go wrong. Out down the lane she was fine though very wary. Once at the river it took all my effort to keep her where I wanted, her head was stuck in that long tasty grass. Stuffing so much in her mouth she couldn't cope! Noticed too that she was seeking out dandelions to eat, of which there are plenty..
She coped well with loose dogs around her legs, other horses being ridden by, a tractor and numerous cyclists. Wasn't till halfway back along the lane when some other horses turned out decided to run that I got trouble. In an instant she grew tall. I've seen this before and it's quite scary. It's as though I'm no longer there...she's a horse and there's a reason to run....and she tried! If she wasn't wearing the bridle I probably wouldn't have been able to keep her. After probably two hundred yards of blowing...pulling, snatching and spinning I finally managed to make her realise that she was safe with me! Walked back onto the yard looking like nothing had happened....I turned her out without a rug...naked for the first time in ages. Hope this warm weather continues.

Unlikely Friends..

There are three permanent residents in the field. Heather and the two ponies, Cookie and Ouzo. During the week most of the school ponies are turned out with them, plus some of the other horses. So it's interesting to see who gets on with who. Heather is without doubt an Alpha mare and probably considers herself top of the pecking order. She remains very standoff-ish from most of the herd...or else they just keep out of her way! She monopolises the best food source and sees off any not worthy to eat with her. Quick to move others on with an evil face or a warning salvo of hind hooves!
So it's puzzling that her shadow in the field is the smallest pony...Ouzo! They do look a very odd pair around together. I'm wondering if Heather thinks Ouzo is a long lost foal? Or more likely doesn't see her as a threat to her status. Ouzo definately benefits from a degree of protection, but is no pushover herself. I have seen them come to blows, well Heather lunges and bites at Ouzo, but often gets a rain of pony kicks in return, which she just seems to accept.
Ouzo also has learned that I feed Heather. That I also might have a spare carrot or two. So the other evening when I went to call H in...wasn't surprised to see Ouzo heading for me from across the far left of the field. No sign of Heather at first..perhaps slightly out of earshot. She eventually came into sight from round the corner, well behind Ouzo. She pricked her ears, whinnied whilst throwing two big bucks and a bronc and burst into canter. She soon caught up with Ouzo, baring teeth as she went and accelerated into a very unbalanced gallop...now closing in on the gate....! All the others in the field were in the far right corner...till now. Every one of them now heading full speed at the gate too. So the inevitable crazy crash happened and a big fight broke out....but was all over just as quickly. I was just relieved that they all stopped. But so good to see her move like that and not to get a bad reaction following.
In fact since, I've trotted her up a couple of times...just slow and short steps, but she almost looks sound. I'm so pleased because for a while she didn't seem to be improving much. It's now over ten weeks since she was kicked and crippled. So with the recent progress I'm thinking my guess-timate of rideable in June is still possible. So I feel confident enough now to show some pics I took on our last ride, the day before her injury.
We'd crossed the green bridge and turned left along the river to Kickety Brook, where we had a nice leisurely trot. I was still slightly sore from my fall and the ground was not good either. If I'd known what was to happen the next day, I'd have stayed out longer with her. As it was on our way home the way was blocked by a digger loading a lorry noisily with earth. We stood off and she waited patiently. Even when we were hemmed in by a dumper truck, chugging away behind!
So I'm looking forward to riding her again sometime, hopefully in the next couple of months, when perhaps the weather might turn warmer. I'm waiting for Spring to break into blossom. It seems every tree and bush is just waiting to burst into life...just waiting for a warm day!!

Thought she'd won the Lottery...

The weather forecast proved spot on. A quick reminder of Winter, with snow showers and hail..strong Northerly winds and relentless rain. Many times I've thought of Heather out in the dark..in the mud, with no shelter . As I've lay warm and safe tucked up with a hot drink! Just glad I'm not a horse. Well no, that's not true. Sometimes I envy her simple life. Biggest decision of the day is who to be friends with and is that a hosepipe or a snake?
The Swallows that arrived last week have taken to sitting on the wire and looking very fed up and unimpressed. Though on days like today, when it finally stopped raining, the flies came out with a vengeance. Swallows suddenly into action deftly swooping and diving. They have most of Europe to migrate to, so I'm wondering why some come here and obviously return. The yard is somewhat untidy, with its mix of buildings and stables...and of course, horses. So no shortage of flies in reality. Also with all the hay and feed which inevitably gets spilled, another of our resident birds are House Sparrows. Theyre demise has been attributed to modern farming methods, where everything is clean and nothing left or overlooked. So the yard is a haven for more than just horses and all the better for it. Though we could do without the rats...
Meanwhile I've been getting used to having no stable to base myself from. Really it's been more of an adjustment for me than for her. I've realised that despite all the nasty weather and the poor ground and lack of grass. Heather is really quite happy to be out. Even at it's coldest and windiest, I've put a hand under the rug and at worst she's not exactly been toasty warm but certainly not cold. I've constantly now got a smell of carrots and apples in the car. Some people buy air fresheners!
Her leg this week is about the same. She can walk perfectly well..virtually no sign. I can tell, by listening to her footfalls on concrete, when her near fore strikes in walk. But to look at her there is no sign. In trot, a different matter. Still very obviously lame. So I realise that from now on progress might be slow. However I did take her for a good walk around the indoor the other day. It's been a while since we were in here. So I was pleased to see her not stumble in the loose sand as she previously had here.
During the week a bale of haylage was found to be rotten. It found its way into the field for the outdoor underclass to sift through. Heather and co thought they'd won the lottery!!! The feeding frenzy was short lived, as they soon ate the good bits leaving lots to soak up the mud...

Homeless Horse..

At last Spring seems to have arrived. Helped along by the clocks being put forward last weekend. The extra hour of light in the evening makes the gloomiest of days brighter. Although today the wind has turned and is blowing from the North, there is talk of snow showers. Generally the weather has been warmer, with a definate smell of Spring. Indeed during the week at dusk bats were out and the first swallows arrived at the yard yesterday. They looked tired perched on a wire, it still constantly amazes me how far such frail birds migrate.
Heather no longer has a stable! This is the latest challenge which has been put upon me.. Someone bought a pony and so with Heather out most of the time...we've lost our stable, it was the only one available. I do feel that we've been evicted and I got just a few hours notice. I've been told it will only be a temporary measure till a better stable can be found for the new pony. With that in mind I've left my metal cupboard, as moving it may prove too much for its rusty bottom. Obviously the big problem is that I've had to move its contents into the car..or bring it home. Most of it has just been dumped in buckets for now. I need to put some shelves up in the garage really. As usual, not enough time. I have washed her stable rugs and fleeces, plus her lightweight turnout, in my washing machine at home. Something of a risk probably, and I'll be finding horse hair in all my laundry for a while, I'm sure.
As for looking after Heather...hopefully the worst weather is behind us. It has been good to bring her in on stormy nights and to let her have a full haynet to herself once in a while. There is still little growth in the grass, but at least she can keep herself amused nibbling at what's there. My feeding regime seems to be going okay. Combined with the one haynet that I spread out in the field feeder each evening, she so far hasn't lost much weight. It is quite amusing entering the field with a full haynet. I put it over my left shoulder and have a doubled up lead rope for protection in my right. I call Heather over and enter under her protection! I walk along the boundary with the golf course on my left and H on my right. She sees off any horses or ponies eager to get a snatch at the hay. Then I make a dash across to the feeder, she slots in behind me and keeps then away till I can climb up and ditch the load. Like circling sharks they come...!! She has a very good strategy and parks herself broadside on to one side, whilst the others have to argue for places on the other. However, she obviously doesn't get anywhere near a full net to herself. I have found her once or twice hanging suspiciously around the hay lorry.
Her injury still seems to be improving. I've seen her cantering and trotting with the others, though still quite lame. She walks quite well now and for the first time the warmth in her injured knee seems to have all but gone. With this in mind, I encourage her to trot, to and from the field at feeding time.
The downside to the warmer weather is an increase in flies. There are plenty of the little annoying black flies around. I hurriedly had to find some fly spray..lurking at the back of the cupboard since the Summer. I even found one horsefly stupidly trying to pierce through her rug! All in all I feel there is progress and I'm sure she prefers living out. Now that I have knowhere to store anything, it's just making sure I bring what I need each day. If she continues to make progress at the same rate, I'm guessing she might be sound by June. Hopefully...