It seems that about every other blog post I write, the temperatures are scorching. I’ve previously mentioned several tips on how I look after my horses in the heat, but here are a few more!
One thing I haven’t mentioned previously: I always ensure the horses in the field have a big chunk of rock salt on the ground near the water trough. For weeks, it has been untouched. However I noticed the other day that there are definite lick marks on it. I am pleased about this as Diva and Mabel are currently living out with no supplementary feeding, and it’s nice to know they are using the lick.
One money-saving tip is to buy chips of rock salt in a sack from your local feed/farm supplier as these generally are about £5 whereas the ones with holes bored through and rope for tying them up are more like £5 each! I put chunks of salt in their mangers when in the stable so they have free access to salt at all times.
Another thing I have to watch out for is Mabel getting sunburnt where she is hogged. A fly sheet with neck would prevent the skin on her newly hogged neck from burning, but as she currently is roughed off without a fly sheet, I just make sure that I hog her only when the weather is likely to be cloudy or rainy for several days. Subsequently, due to the current heatwave she is sporting a rather long and untidy hog!
We have also had several thunderstorms in the past few days, some with accompanying torrential rain. My girls seem completely unfazed by the thunder and lightning, however, Treat isn’t quite so keen and is happy to be indoors.
Poo picking is essential and I do it daily in the summer, especially when they are out all the time. Nothing is more satisfying that seeing the paddock clear of droppings. Diva pony often inspects my work, as the photo shows. She never helps though!
Do any of your horses ‘help with stable tasks’? I would love to hear from you and see photographs.
Diva enjoying a leg stretch
Do any of your horses help out in the field?
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.
This show almost passed me by as I was unaware of the show organisation. Luckily, the schedule was posted on one of the Shetland pony Facebook groups that I am a member of. The show was being held at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, which is where I should have gone to a show a month or so earlier, but was ill and unable to take Diva (Melland Queen of Scots).
Since the show, Bob’s been enjoying a bit of a rest with a few lunge sessions and being lightly ridden, but I’m gearing him up hopefully for a show either this weekend or next. Wish us luck, and the poor arena pole pickers too, as he does like to send some sailing!