What A Whirlwind…

When I start these blogs, I usually have a subject in mind and spend a good thirty minutes wondering how to put it into words. This one however, is flowing from me. I’ve had a whirlwind month or two and not all in a good way. Where to start?

Perhaps first, it’s worth chatting about a subject that’s everywhere at the moment, namely on my doorstep – laminitis. In all my years owning horses, it’s not something I’ve ever had to worry about. I’ve seen friends battle it, I’ve seen friends cry over it and while I was a groom at a very high-end livery yard, I’ve worked with horses that suffered from it. That was as close as I ever got…until now. 

The legend that is Rambo was struck down, overnight it would seem by a pretty hideous bout and what a battle it was. After a misdiagnosis too, the gem of a pony was put on immediate box rest and remained so for a little over four weeks. The poor sod was miserable. Having been used to getting out every day, socialising with the herd, he was a little shell shocked (an understatement I’m sure) to find himself cooped up inside with minimal hay. The huge comfy bed being of no solace unfortunately as I think he was just desperate to get out. Nonetheless, he still handled it like a pro and with the help of the professional grazers, Danny, Hattie, Steve and Jack, we were able to create an almost bald paddock for him. He’s been out in the that paddock now for around two and a half weeks and while he may look a shadow of him former self, he’s looking a lot happier. No more lameness, no more pounding digital pulse. In all honesty, I think he deserves weight watcher of the year coz the boy lost a few pounds.

Laminitis and a new management program for Rambo aside, another tough blow to deal with is the fact that Steve is unlikely to make height. Now I say this lightly as we all know he was initially bought as a friend for Danny – a temporary friend for that matter who we fell in love with and simply couldn’t see ourselves letting go. While I’m not adverse to riding a horse on the smaller side, I am against placing my rotund backside on a horse that’s too small to carry me. They say around 10-15% of their bodyweight right? Well, unless I lose a good two and a half stone, then we’re going to struggle. Though I guess if there’s any incentive to lose the baby weight, it’s that right? Goodbye chocolate, goodbye takeaways, goodbye overly large portions…hello misery. In all seriousness, even with the weight loss, I question his ability to carry my 5’9” self, so what do I do?

On a much brighter note however, Hattie has shone like a beacon this week. Not only has she shown herself to be nothing short of phenomenal when it comes to the headcollar now but she also rather happily had her feet trimmed sans Domasedan. We could not have been happier. The fear was gone, the brattish behaviour disappeared; all that was left was a rather inquisitive chestnut filly who stood impeccably for the farrier. We could not have been happier with her if we’d tried. It seems after a long 18 months, we’re finally starting to see the fruits of our labour with this mare. Instead of reactive and at some times, plain dangerous, she’s actually showing some real calmness, thought and careful consideration of new situations. She’s showing herself to be quite the considerate mare, with a happy go lucky attitude that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. I’m not sure where it’s come from. I’d like to think that perhaps all of our hard work has finally just…clicked. Who knows but what I do know is that she’s become an absolute pleasure to be around, quite the lady in fact. 

On that note, her full sister is now for sale…anyone have any decent youngstock livery in the Essex area???