Rachael - Petplan Equine Ambassador

It’s been a long while since our last update, winter has taken hold and we have had to contend with the ‘Beast from the East’. In all my years of owning horses, this has by far been the worst winter I have ever had to get through! Bare minimum riding, and a lot of mucking out and making haynets!

Sleet

Sleet has been his usual winter hating self, given the option he will happily stay in and avoid it all! When the ‘Beast from the East’ hit, it was blowing directly into his stable, he had snow banks all up the wall and at first I just didn’t know what to do! Thankfully, being an engineer’s daughter and logical thinker, I managed to block up the open eaves in the stable with an old quilt, and hang an old turnout rug over his door (as we don’t have top doors). Wrapped up in his rugs and stable bandages, we managed to keep him warm, but at one point I was seriously considering taking him home and putting him in the garage!

Work-wise Sleet has been doing well, happy hacking a few times a week and babysitting Blee (who was on lead). Sleet never faults or disappoints me, he is so good leading out, either ridden or on lead himself, and I think it cheers him up being out with someone else rather than just trundling along on our own.

Tristan

The ‘Little Wing Man’ has been back at the vets this winter, but not for his Uveitis, for his manhood! It was about time that he was castrated and it’s much easier to manage getting them done in winter when there are no flies to bother the wound. He was a fab patient and took it all in his stride. Due to his age it was a closed castration and the wound had dissolvable stitches so he didn’t have to go back. I kept an eye on it and it healed well.

On a ‘happier’ note Tristan’s gorgeous little saddle came! He had a show cut Saddle Company saddle, made on a 14.5” panel as he’s so compact. His new rider Lexi (as I’m obviously too big to do anything with him) has been riding him, on lead, and he’s going so well! We were intending on getting out to our first show but as with many events, the horrendous weather and snow caused it to be cancelled (and I didn’t want to tow in that anyway!)

Lordie

Lordie’s having a fab time, doing nothing and getting fat! Over winter, as he doesn’t hack to the school, and I have no arena at home, his workload depends entirely on the ground conditions.

He’s had roughly two and half months off now, a few weeks ago we started bringing him back, only to be stopped by snow again! Not that he’s complaining! Newark and Notts county show hold an ROR class and I’d love to take him but at this rate he won’t be fit, conditioned, or well schooled enough to go!

Blee

As with all my horses, nothing is ever straightforward. Unfortunately with Blee, this theme has continued. In the first week of having him, he kicked himself in the leg, breaking his splint bone and resulting in 7 weeks box rest!

Trying to keep a 5 year old, who hasn’t been stabled much, was new to the yard and wasn’t settling was a nightmare at first! He box walked, called, stressed, and generally wasn’t doing anything to help his leg heal, so after discussions with the vets, he went on to a calmer that worked wonders! He was so much happier with the situation.

On our trip back to the vets for his final scan, my back luck struck again! The belt on the Landrover snapped, leaving me with no real steering, brakes, or fan to cool the engine! I was stuck in rush hour traffic with a horse that wasn’t happy and had no real choice! We limped it to the vets at 5mph! On arrival Blee went to get scanned and I went about fixing the truck (with the eventual help of Equestridad, who also had a broken foot at the time).

With Blee getting the all clear, he could begin walk work. We started with long lining, and then moved to ride and lead with Sleet. I wasn’t sure how well they would work together, but they got on great. Blee got used to the amount of traffic we have here with an excellent ‘teacher’ and he didn’t mind my love for hi-vis either!

After four weeks walk work, I tried him on the lunge in trot to see how he was and he was fine, so I started ridden work with him. Walk hacking to start with to condition him, and then we went up to the school. The aim wasn’t anything major, it was more a case of seeing what he would do, when asked to trot and canter. Would he erupt and turn into a bronking monster? Or would he be sensible and behave?

Thankfully he was a good boy, considering the tractor was emptying one side of the school, and the yard horses all came cantering over to ‘say hello’ on the other side! He walked, trotted and cantered on both reins like a pro! I was so happy to have my new pony back and going!

Since then we’ve done a couple of little schooling sessions, just working on the basics and he’s still very green. I cannot wait to get him going a little more!

Marcus

Over December Marcus had a chilled month but in the New Year we were back on it and decided to start getting some practice in the side saddle.

A local venue runs dressage and combined training so we booked prelim 7 and battled the miserable rain. On arrival it was pouring and occasionally snowing, which meant we couldn’t decide whether to go astride or aside (as the side saddle has a doeskin seat and is extremely difficult to clean to EQ standards) but as the tiniest peak of blue sky shone through, we braved it!

Marcus warmed up really well (aside), and did a reasonable test (side saddle) considering he hadn’t done any since the nationals, and neither had I! His biggest issue aside is drifting his quarters inwards on the right rein, as he’s unsupported by the right leg. But we have lots of time to work on that! Results were ok, with 66.81%, and lots of positive feedback to work on over the next few months.

After the past few months of misery, snow, and not really being able to do much with the boys, I am desperate to get them out and going. Blee and Lordie need time in the school, and Tristan needs time under saddle with his jockey (and so I can practice my lead rein ‘lady run’!)

Marcus has lots do over the next few months, with our first side saddle shows looming in April, and dressage with his mum Amanda in between. Positive vibes required… think sunshine, sunshine, sunshine!