THE DOOFAH DIARIES 2009
With the occasional Cheeky Monkey Pony Chapter!
A diary of the trials and tribulations of a
middle aged horse owner and her "boys" - Jake, an
Irish Draught cross, aka The Doofah, and Barney, a
registered New Forest, aka Cheeky Monkey Pony.
Sunday 17th January 2010
FINALLY!!! Managed to get back in the saddle. Gosh, did my hips and knees ache. And we didn't go far for the sake of our old men. (Jake's clocking up 14 years this year, and Barney 17!! - Where has the time gone to?? We've had Jake for 10 years, and Barney for 16 1/2 years so far). The boys were really well behaved considering it's about 3 weeks since they were last ridden. They're such good boys.
Wednesday 6th January 2010
Snow. Ice. Haven't ridden or driven since the 28th and I'm now getting seriously fed up with this weather. Our road isn't gritted, and it's treacherous enough leading the boys down the road to the field. The ground's frozen, so can't ride on grass, either. Sigh!!!!
Monday 28th December 2009
Went out for another ride. Snow is forecast again for tomorrow, so we need to grab every opportunity we can. Another calm ride. The boys are so good - no change in behaviour with an extended gap in their exercise!
Sunday 27th December 2009
Our first chance to ride since the snow arrived. (Seems like years since I've ridden!). There were still odd patches of ice around, but the roads were mainly clear. We were joined by a couple of the neighbouring horses - Jake & Barney behaved very well - Barney got a little excited, but didn't get too carried away. It was really nice to be out again.
Thursday 17th December 2009
SNOW!!!! Has curtailed all our riding activities. Our road isn't gritted, so we're confined to barracks when it gets icy.
Tuesday 15th December 2009
Took Jake out on his own - rain was threatening, so we togged up with our wet weather gear, but came home very smug, as we didn't get too wet!
Sunday 13th December 2009
Had a nice ride with Mike & Barney. The boys were quite well behaved.
Thursday 10th December 2009
Big gap since the last update - have been sooo busy!! Have managed to ride 2 or 3 times a week, and the boys are being quite well behaved. I've finally found time to get the clippers on to Jake, and he's looking an awful lot tidier. (Phew).
The results: a tidy boy:
And, later on that morning, I captured evidence of the squirrel persecution on our hack - look on the fence behind him. (Note his ears - he's not sure, is he?) The blue rope is a swing that Jake likes playing with! He heads towards it, and nudges it with his nose.
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Managed to get organised and find enough time to do a longer hack before work. It was quite windy and threatening rain, but I was determined to ride as I haven't since Tuesday. And Barney hasn't worked since last Sunday!
No problems - boys well behaved - although Barney was in a foul mood, and tried to attack any pedestrians who DARED talk to him. Miserable little ginger headed beastie. I GOT A CANTER!!! Only three strides, but it was a result. First time since the stubble one a few months ago, I think.
The rain started as we were turning them out, so I think we did well to get a ride in, in the dry! Bloomin' weather. Jake is looking like a Clydesdale foal at the moment with his mohican hairstyle!!! Quite cute but VERY scruffy!!
Here's the evidence, from on top. If this is FOUR month's growth, imagine how long it's going to take to get a full mane on him. (Just looked back in the diary, and he was last trimmed on the 12th of July).
Wednesday 18th November 2009
Didn't drive - weather awful!!!
Tuesday 17th November 2009
Took Jake out for a solo hack. It was a nice morning, and he was well behaved. He is getting hairier and hairier!!! I think I probably won't be able to hold out too much longer - my clipper hand is getting very twitchy!!! He is getting quite warm when we ride, too - had to sponge him down on Sunday and today, even though we hadn't gone very far or very fast!
Sunday 15th November 2009
Had a quick hack round the block with Mike & Barney. The boys were good. The ground was very wet, so we didn't do anything faster than a trot.
Friday 13th November 2009
VERY yucky weather. Jake told me he didn't fancy getting wet on a ride, so I agreed with him. He can be so sensible sometimes.
Thursday 12th November 2009
Vet came to do flu jabs. I have very stupidly missed the renewal date, so we have to start the course again from scratch. Poops, pants, and other words too rude to print.
Wednesday 11th November 2009
Took Barney for a drive. All was uneventful until we were nearly home. A bus went by, and squeezed over on the other side of the road, clipping the hedge with his wing mirror, then a van went by and did the same, which was overload for Barney. He shot off in canter, in quite a panic. Mini doofah! The good thing about him is he runs out of puff very quickly (about 5 strides later!). He was still hyperventilating when we were unharnessing him. Silly boy.
Tuesday 10th November 2009
Saddle fitting all day - didn't ride.
Monday 9th November 2009
Took Jake out on his own. Took him all the way round for the first time in ages. (Made me late for work, but hey-ho!) He was a superstar.
Sunday 8th November 2009
Took the boys round the block. Jake led the way to start, and behaved very well. Good boy!
Saturday 7th November 2009
Work all day. No time to ride.
Friday 6th November 2009
Took Jake for a ride in the morning. Managed to get up a little bit earlier than normal, so took him the long(er) way round. He was SO good!! No doofah moments at all. He jumped when a bus let off its air brakes next to him (but who wouldn't?) and gave the white crosses on the road a long hard stare, but was otherwise perfect. And the squished pumpkin's gone, thank goodness!
Thursday 5th November 2009
Saddle fitting before work, so no time to ride.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Took Barney for a drive. Quite uneventful. He spooked at the squished pumpkin, too!
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Didn't ride.
Monday 2nd November 2009
Weather was lovely - sunny and mild - took Jake round the block. All fine (for him!) except for a very scary squished pumpkin - eyed it suspiciously on the way out (it was on the opposite side of the road) and had a major freakout at it on the way back - had to stop the traffic to get past it. Plonker. Will ask Mike to move it next time he walks the dog past.
Sunday 1st November 2009
We'd normally ride, but the weather was awful - windy and very wet. Mike's back still isn't up to riding, so I decided to give Jake another day off. Hope the weather's better tomorrow.
Saturday 31st October 2009
Work all day. No time to ride.
Friday 30th October 2009
Stable duties again.
Thursday 29th October 2009
Mike's hurt his back, and can't help with the boys, so spent my riding time mucking out the stables and skipping out the field. (Can't do it in the evening any more as there isn't enough daylight)
Wednesday 28th October 2009
Took Barney out for a drive. Quite uneventful. Weather's still unseasonably mild for the time of year. We're not complaining!!
Tuesday 27th October 2009
No time to ride.
Monday 26th October 2009
Took Jake out on his own. Didn't have a huge amount of time, so did a short one - he was well behaved.
Sunday 25th October 2009
An interesting ride. Decided to go "out the back" for the first time since Jake was ill. (I think!). Started well - it was a very windy day, but he was quite calm. To start with. Got past the scary farmyard without any trauma, and up between two large fields to the left turn. Mike was in front on Barney. Jake stopped to scratch his leg, and as he brought his head up, a massive gust of wind hit us head-on. He launched himself off all four feet (gulp!), but did stop when I asked him to. There were some cyclists coming towards us, one in a very bright pink jacket, which he stared at. Gulp.
Got on to the concrete road and had a long trot to try and tire him out a bit. Saw some horses in the distance. He was quite good going past the scary woods and concrete posts. Turned left and headed back towards the village. Got quite close to the back of the houses, and the other horses passed us, galloping flat out, on the track parallel to ours on the other side of the field. GULP! Jake & Barney both stopped, stock still, eyes out on stalks. Double gulp!. When the other horses had gone, and I asked Jake to walk out, we had a little dance, but it didn't last too long. Phew!. Then a little bit further on, he saw some bricks alongside the track (that I didn't see), and did a massive spook which unseated me, which was a bit unnerving. Luckily that was the end of the exciting stuff and we managed to get home safely. Phew!
Saturday 24th October 2009
Didn't ride
Friday 23rd October 2009
Didn't ride
Thursday 22nd October 2009
Took Jake round the block before work. He was calmer. Still being a bit silly - it was bin day, so bags & wheelie bins all up the road, but he was much better than he has been lately. (Didn't reverse at all!) He is till in desperate need of a haircut. One day, lad - one day. (I have another day off lined up for Sunday, so maybe then?!?!?!?)
Wednesday 21st October 2009
Took Barney round the block in the carriage. We were feeling quite smug as it wasn't raining when we set out, and it looked as though it had rained overnight, but we got caught out in a light shower on the way back. Barney was well behaved - quite mellow, for him!!! (He can be a bit of a grump - typical redhead?)
Tuesday 20th October 2009
Wasn't sure about visiting hours, so stayed off the horse again - it won't hurt him to have a couple of days off. (Saw the baby in the evening - she's GORGEOUS!)
Monday 19th October 2009
Didn't ride this morning - got a text last night to say that Nyki's waters had broken (grandchild number 2 on the way!). Wanted to be around in case the call came through! (It did, at 11 that night - granddaughter arrived safely!)
Sunday 18th October 2009
Went out with Mike & Barney. Jake was better on the way out, but threw a complete wobbly at the house that's covered in scaffolding. There was a line of parked cars outside the church, and traffic behind us, so had no choice but to put Barney in front. Bloomin' pest.
Saturday 17th October 2009
Work all day - no time to ride.
Friday 16th October 2009
Took Jake out. He was a BIG doofah. Has been for the last week - having apoplectic fits at NOTHING. Struggling to get him up the road past the tiger infested hedges. Plonker.
Thursday 15th October 2009
Apologies for the gap - just pressure of work, ha ha! Didn't ride today - farrier visited to fit the boys with new shoes.
Sunday 11th October 2009
Jake was a complete doofah - spooking like a champion. There was a drain that has been marked with a white "X", which threw him completely. He skidded to a halt, stared with ears and eyes out on stalks, snorted, and did a very good turn on the forehand around it. Then had to negotiate the house that's covered in scaffolding (it was windy, and there was some tape flapping around) then there was ANOTHER drain maked with a white X. All VERY scary. Doofah!
Saturday 10th October 2009
Work all day - no time to ride.
Friday 9th October 2009
Took Jake round the block before work. He wasn't too silly. He is getting quite woolly, now, and is in desperate need of a hair cut. I've got a day off on Sunday, so will get my clippers out then, and give him a serious de-fluffing session. (Unless a better idea is thought of!)
Thursday 8th October 2009
A glorious morning after two days of rain, but sadly I had an appointment for an eye test before work, so couldn't ride.
Wednesday 7th October 2009
Took Barney for a drive. He was funny - kept spooking at the puddles! Other than that, he was quite good. And we managed to dodge the showers, so a good morning all round.
Tuesday 6th October 2009
There was some weird wet stuff falling from the sky this morning. RAIN!!! It hasn't rained here for so long, we'd all forgotten about what puddles and raincoats are! In fact, I think I went through about 5 coats before I settled on which one to wear - talk about confused!! (It was very mild). It stopped raining just as I got on board, which was great, but then it started raining quite heavily when we got about half way round. Never mind. The ground needs it desperately.
Monday 5th October 2009
Did a saddle fit before work, so no time to ride.
Sunday 4th October 2009
Just time for a quick whiz around the block before work. The boys were quite well behaved. I even managed to get a canter out of Jake on the grass track! Barney said "no", so Mike took him onto the stubble near home, and got a nice canter from him. Jake & I watched.
Saturday 3rd October 2009
In the shop all day, so no time to ride.
Friday 2nd October 2009
At June's kind invitation, I took Jake over to her place in Shillington for a play with her Trec obstacles. Didn't start off too well as somebody got VERY silly when the trailer pulled up outside his field. He went galloping, bucking & plunging around the field. When he'd finally finished, I put his headcollar on, only to find that he actually hadn't finished!! More rearing and bucking and plunging. BIG DOOFAH!! So I had to spend five minutes working him on the ground to get him to calm down just a bit please. Luckily, the rope I've got on his Dually halter is longer than normal - just about long enough to work him in a circle around me. I find it very frustrating that my horse can do a beautifully balanced canter around me on a 5m circle (in either direction) but has issues about cantering in a straight line when I'm on board. DOOFAH!
Anyway... when all the toys were well and truly out of the pram, and strewn across the field, he actually loaded quite nicely into the trailer. We had fun at June's - under low "branches", over a tarpaulin - tried to do a tight manouvre through some poles on the ground - failed. Then, to make June & Jo laugh, we had a go at jumping over a little fence. They did laugh. He's such a doofah.
He loaded & travelled home nicely - there was still an hour's daylight left, so I turned him back out.
Thursday 1st October 2009
Where has this year gone to????? Didn't ride today - out saddle fitting before work.
Wednesday 30th September 2009
Took Barney for a drive. He was well behaved. Apart from trying to beat Jake up when they were both tied up on the yard afterwards. Norty pony.
Tuesday 29th September 2009
A bit of a doofah this morning. Shying a lot - at silly things. Daft boy. At one point, he was like a Friesian - head right up, and prancing along! (Apologies to any of you who have Friesians!!). He did a VERY bouncy trot later on, too, because he was scared of the plastic bags dotted along the side of the road (the NSPCC are doing a collection in our area)
Monday 28th September 2009
Took Jake round the block before work. Trotted past the school kids waiting for the bus (there are LOADS of them!) Jake's getting used to them, so he didn't take too big a detour this morning.
Sunday 27th September 2009
Away for most of the day, so no time to ride.
Saturday 26th September 2009
Had a very nice evening ride with Mike & Barney, too. The boys were very chilled - the weather was gorgeous. A good 'un!!
Friday 25th September 2009
Took Jake for a pootle round the block before work. He was quite calm. Neither of us had the energy to try a canter, and I was running out of time, too!
Thursday 24th September 2009
Took Barney out for a drive. Had to get past the bin lorry, which was a little traumatic, but we managed it safely.
Wednesday 23rd September 2009
Didn't ride - spent some time in the morning with a friend, demonstrating clicker training with the boys.
Tuesday 22nd September 2009
He was a bit daft again today. Took him on to the stubble field on the way home - he wasn't impressed, and resisted all the way, but managed to get him about 25 yards up the track. Turned round and he cantered beautifully back to the road. Very pleased with him - it was about 10 strides, so we're getting better and better!
Monday 21st September 2009
I think the "Magic" has kicked in again. Mr Ploddy Pants is back. Very calm and quiet. I'm wondering if I'll have to decide whether to have a very spooky horse that will canter, or a calm one that won't!!!
Sunday 20th September 2009
Went round the village with Mike & Barney. JAKE CANTERED!!!! He's still very spooky, but quite forward going. We had a decent canter on the grass track - about 7 strides long - decent for him! Barney didn't, so Mike decided to take him on the stubble field near home. I originally thought I'd just watch, but got the urge to go with him, and got TWO more canters!!! About 7 strides each way - brilliant. No bucking or daftness. Very proud and happy with my boy.
Saturday 19th September 2009
No time to ride
Friday 18th September 2009
Had a lie in. (Thanks, Mikey!)
Thursday 17th September 2009
Took Jake round the block before work. He's very spooky and silly. No canter when I asked. Had an apoplectic fit at a Fosters can in the grass. Doofah!
Wednesday 16th September 2009
Took Barney round the block in his carriage. He was a good boy. Weather not too bad - a bit overcast, but still quite mild. They have been sheltering in their field shelters more than normal, so I think they're finding the wind a bit chilly. I put their lightweight turnout rugs on today - first time for ages.
Tuesday 15th September 2009
Took Jake round the block before work. The "Magic" calmer ran out a few days ago - we thought we'd leave him off it to see how he goes. Well.... he's a bloomin' maniac. We had to go up the first bit of road on the wrong side, as the hedge was full of horse eating monsters. Then absolutely anything and everything that looked slightly scary (parked cars, garden fences, people, etc) caused him to snort and prance. Plonker. All the kids were queueing up for the bus - BIG snorts and prances. I think we'll put him back on the Magic. Point proven. Doofah.
Monday 14th September 2009
A saddle fit before work, so no time to ride.
Sunday 13th September 2009
WEGOTACANTER.WEGOTACANTER.WEGOTACANTER. Not very stylish - involved some pony club kicks, and rein slapping, but.... wegotacanter, wegotacanter, wegotacanter. Hurrah!!
Saturday 12th September 2009
Gina and Steve's wedding, so no riding today - they had a very smart horse drawn carriage.
Friday 11th September 2009
Took Jake out on his own in the morning. Quick hack before work. Quite spooky, but no problems.
Took Barney for a drive in the evening with two little people - Ben and Erin. It was a bit of a squish, but we had fun.
Thursday 10th September 2009
A saddle fit before work, so no time to ride.
Wednesday 9th September 2009
Glynis is on holiday this week, so no partner for driving. Took Jake for a hack instead. We actually caught the squirrels and pigeons having a discussion about tactics to scare Jake. One squirrel looked up and saw us coming, and ran STRAIGHT for us, lept up onto the fence, and gurned at us like a mad thing. Jake gave him a "Paddington hard stare" and walked past with dignity. I think the squirrels are losing the battle. HA HA.
Tuesday 8th September 2009
Saddle fit before work, so no time to ride.
Monday 7th September 2009
Gave Jake a day off after yesterday - we were out for about twice the time we normally ride for.
Sunday 6th September 2009
I LOVE MY HORSE. I'm so proud of him. Went for a long ride with Mike & Barney. Was originally planning to do the normal route round the village, but had most of the day off today, so had a bit of extra time. Got the urge, as we went past the dirt track, to turn up it and head "out back". Jake was in front and he STAYED IN FRONT the WHOLE way round - for the first time ever!!!! Through the scary deserted/tumbledown farmyard, past the scary pond, and past the scary woods. Such a hero. I was tempted on the way back to pop him on the stubble and ask for a canter, but some other riders had caught us up, and were not far behind - I thought it might be a bit rude to canter away from them.
When we got back on the road, we turned right, to take a longer detour home, via the village. Jake was a bit "whaaat??? more????", but he soon settled (still in front) and behaved very well. A little spook at the memory of the pizza box behind the fence (WHEN will he forget about that?). Tried for a canter in our normal spot - we did a really nice trot first, and he was very forward going, so I was quite hopeful, but nooo... Never mind. I was still extremely happy and proud of him. Lovely boy.
Saturday 5th September 2009
Work all day & evening appointment, so no time to ride.
Friday 4th September 2009
Took Jake out round the village before work. He was still a little bit silly, but we had a nice ride. The squirrels sent the pigeons out again, who tried hard to upset Jake, with only moderate success. Couldn't manage a canter.
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Farrier visited before work, so no time to ride.
Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Took Barney for a drive with Glynis. He was a good boy. It was raining as we harnessed up, but we put his waterproof exercise sheet on, and went for it, and luckily, it dried up by the time we set out. Hurrah!
The pesky squirrel-creatures were up early today. One ran across the road just as we left home (they're getting closer) and another one danced in front of us, poking his tongue out, as we headed for home. HA HA you little fluffy tailed horrors - you didn't realise I had the ginger one with me today. He EATS squirrels for breakfast, so bring it on if you think you're hard enough!!!!
Tuesday 1st September 2009
Took him for a quick hack on our own before work. He was VERY forward going - but STILL wouldn't canter when I asked him. DOH!!! One squirrel tried his luck with us, but Jake was in such a daft mood that one squirrel actually didn't make any difference to him.
I did stick his head up the track that leads to a stubble field, and he went very flat, so I didn't push it. He wanted to go home!
Monday 31st August 2009
Took Jake to Shillington for a couple of sessions with Becky Holden who specialises in ground work and clicker training.
He loaded really nicely, on the outward and return journies, which was good!
The first session was spent working him from the ground. I'd explained to Becky that we've been working on getting him off his forehand, and on going forward. She used a technique to "lift" the front end. Jake had his bridle on. She held his bit (thumb pointing upwards), with a finger hooked around his noseband headpiece, and used her other hand to connect with his inside shoulder, also holding the offside rein. She then asked for flexion to the inside, and forward motion. Sorry if that description doesn't make sense - it made my head (and my shoulders!) ache trying to replicate it!! Jake did get lighter, and came off his shoulder quite nicely.
I found it really difficult to do myself. I could see what she was doing, but found it very hard to keep my arms in the right place!! I think I'll practice that at home.
When I rode him, he was quite forward going - in fact, did such a springy trot at one point that he had me giggling again! We did lots of transitions - rein back, walk, trot - all with the emphasis on lightness in front, and driving forward from his engine behind. She complimented us on our rein back - a legacy of the work we did with Mark Rashid last year. (June was going to try and dig out the "I can't rein back" photo to show Becky where we'd come from!!):
Sunday 30th August 2009
No church today, so had a bit more time to ride. Went round the village. Jake wasn't as forward going as he was yesterday. He started out quite spooky - snorting his way up the road. When we reached the church, something was scaring both of them. We couldn't see, hear, or smell anything, but the horses obviously could. I think it was squirrels using stealth tactics. Probably hiding in the trees whispering nasty things they're planning to do to horses. Poor Barney got a double scare when he passed a parked car outside the church and the daft occupant turned her ignition on, just as he was alongside. The spook he did could have produced a scarf if he'd been attached to some knitting needles and wool - his legs went everywhere! Poor lad. That spooked Jake even more, so we pranced our way up the road. I asked him to trot, just to get him moving, and he did such a bouncy trot, he would have put an Iberian stallion to shame. Problem with his bouncy trots is, they make me giggle, and I end up flumping around on his back! Not a pretty sight.
We composed ourselves, and carried on to the main road. The pizza box that was trapped behind the fence on the football field has finally gone after months of making Jake spook. He still had to do a mini spook, just in case it had become invisible, but was still there.
Across the green with no major problems. Had a BIG spook at some white flowers. Squirrel posies, apparently. Asked for a canter in our normal place - got one stride. Meanie.
As we got near home, we went on to the stubble field where Mike got a good canter yesterday - walked up the field to check out the best line to bring him back - I put Jake in front, turned around, and asked for canter. Noooo... NOT FAIR. I looked back, and Mike was having a nice canter on Barney. DEFINITELY NOT FAIR! Will give it a go when we're on our own next time. Still sulking, though!
Saturday 29th August 2009
Right. I'm seriously sulking with my horse. Mike offered to take him for a ride this morning as I hadn't managed to ride yesterday, and Jake's booked in to a clinic on Monday. Not only did Mike have a great ride, with Jake being very forward going, BUT...... he took him on to a stubble field near home and got a decent canter out of him!!!! I am NOT amused. I think Mikey must have a magic seat at the moment - he said he rode Barney in the week while I was away and got a decent canter out of him, too. Will see what Jake does in the morning.
Friday 28th August 2009
Got home early afternoon. Wanted to go for a ride, but some VERY threatening clouds drew up overhead. Decided to have a pampering session instead. Spent 1 1/2 hours with Jake - hogged his mane, trimmed him legs, shaved off his beard (!) and washed all of his white socks and his tail. Pretty boy! All ready for Monday.
Monday 24th - Thursday 27th August 2009
Enjoyed some lovely weather on the Norfolk coast with quite a few family members. A very nice horse-free escape! Did have a moment of blinding jealousy when some horses went past us on the beach on Thursday. Hmph!!!
Sunday 23rd August 2009
Last ride for a week - going away for a few days tomorrow. Had a quick pootle round the village with Mike & Barney before work. Jake was quite forward going, so we had to push Barney out of the way and take the lead. We went the "wrong way" round the shorter loop, and asked the boys for a canter in our normal place - I actually got THREE strides out of Jake - whoopeee!!! Probably could have got more, but Barney had thrown in the towel, and we'd caught up to him, so had to stop. Good stuff.
Saturday 22nd August 2009
Work all day - no time to ride.
Friday 21st August 2009
Squirrels are still on their holidays. Pigeons getting fed up with lack of response to scare tactics. Tough luck, guys.
Jake was in a VERY silly, spooky, mood. Snorted all the way up the road. Yesterday was bin day, and we must have gone past 100 bins or more. Today there was ONE bin on the side of the road - major problem - very scary - couldn't go past with doing some major snorting at it first.
Pigeons did manage to scare him at one point (EVERYTHING scares him when he's in this sort of mood) - they did a good impression of a grizzly bear lumbering through some undergrowth - Jake moved away pretty sharpish when he heard that. Doofus.
Very scary pile of poo on the other side of the road on the way home. More snorting. (It was the poo he'd plopped out yesterday). Doofus.
Thursday 20th August 2009
I think the squirrels have sub-contracted their Jake scaring duties to the local pigeons. They had a good attempt at scaring him - flying out from bushes towards us, scrapping on the ground in front of us, sneaking up behind us and shouting "Coo". Didn't work. HA HA. Jake flinches slightly, but pigeons are definitely not as scary as squirrels.
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Took Barney for a drive. No problems. Good boy.
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Had to go over to Toddington to pick up Jake's trailer, so no time to ride.
Monday 17th August 2009
Took Jake out on his own before work. Snuck under the squirrel radar. I think they were all in bed still.
Sunday 16th August 2009
Had a quick ride out with Mike before work. The boys were good.
Saturday 15th August 2009
Work all day, and visiting family in the evening, so won't have time to ride today.
Friday 14th August 2009
Went for a ride in the evening. Not usual for us, but I got home from saddle fitting a bit earlier than normal, and the weather was good, and nothing else to do, so....! Mike came, too. Took the boys round the village. They behaved perfectly. The extra Magic is obviously doing it's stuff for Jake. Got one stride of canter (whooppee!). A lovely, lovely, ride!
Thursday 13th August 2009
Took Jake for a short hack around the block before work. Still spooking at his own poos. Doofah! All was going well until we got onto the village green. He looked through a gap in the trees when a horse the other side squealed - and a squirrel hopped along the fence in the gap! Durnit!!! Are they seriously now liaising with other horses??? This is well out of order - akin to cannibalism, methinks! Anyway, it resulted in the next couple of hundred yards being accompanied by snorts (from Jake) with every step. Hmph!
Wednesday 12th August 2009
Took Barney for a drive. It was a bit overcast, but dry and warm. He was well behaved, apart from a couple of spooks at absolutely nothing. (A Barney speciality!) He was also in quite a mellow mood, which is unusual, but welcome.
Tuesday 11th August 2009
Went saddle fitting before work, so no time to ride or drive.
Monday 10th August 2009
Sneaked out for an early ride whilst the squirrels were all still in bed. HA HA. Jake was very well behaved. Only two doofah moments - he froze in the middle of the village - at WHAT, I don't know. As soon as he showed signs of relaxing, he was happy to walk on. And, on the way home, shying at the poo he'd done on the way out. (A regular doofah moment!). He's done a few in the same small stretch of road - looks as though there's been a herd of elephants through there with the giant piles of dung he's deposited!
Sunday 9th August 2009
Dammit. The bleddy squirrels are back. And they've got new tactics. I think they've been away at an Al-Quaeda training camp. They're working in teams now. One of them hopped across the road in front of us, getting Jake's attention. A second one was sat on the fence to the left of us. He waited until we were alongside, then skipped along the fence, jumped down, skipped along the floor, jumped back up on the fence, and proceeded to do his utmost to freak my horse out. They weren't wholly successful.
Jake was quite forward going and managed one stride of canter when we asked - whoopee!
Saturday 8th August 2009
Work all day, so couldn't ride.
Friday 7th August 2009
Another nice hack - good weather - after last night's monsoon. (We got SOAKED. Why were my boys stood out in the rain, not in their field shelters, and for once wouldn't come to call??? Thanks, lads!)
Tried the "Neue Schule" lozenge eggbutt snaffle for the first time. Seems OK.
Thursday 6th August 2009
Was going to drive Barney, but got wires crossed, so it didn't happen.
Wednesday 5th August 2009
Didn't ride - gave him a day off, and went saddle fitting all afternoon.
Tuesday 4th August 2009
Another hack on our own. Still squirrel free. Hee hee. Perhaps they've moved on permanently?? Jake was quite forward going - still spooky (we're going to "up" his Magic!) - tried to have a canter, but he only managed a fast trot.
Monday 3rd August 2009
A lovely morning. Brian came and put Jake's foot back on, and we went out for a nice hack. Went the whole way round the village. Still squirrel free. Hurrah!
He's quite spooky at the moment - he spooked at something in the hedge near home, and did a very clever lateral canter across the road - then there was a blue portable loo thing parked in someone's front garden - Jake went completely rigid - I tried to urge him on, but he was really scared, and started reversing. The hackamore was flipping upside down as I was trying to keep him straight, which was a bit of a pain. Time to get the new bit out & attached to the bridle. After a good scare, he walked past it, which was good.
Sunday 2nd August 2009
Went for a ride with Mike & Barney - a short one round the village as Jake still has a loose shoe. The squirrels have been noticeable by their absence. I think they have de-camped and gone elsewhere to torment someone different. We met Ollie, a Bichon Frise (I think! - small, white and fluffy). His owner urged Ollie to "go see the squirrel" - gulp - are they back??? It was quite amusing to see Jake trying to hide behind Ollie.
There was a poor squished hedgehog in the road, but a squished hedgehog isn't as scary as a squished squirrel, so we only had to make a slight detour around it.
Saturday 1st August 2009
At work all day, so no time to ride. Mike's going to take Barney out on his own - will be interesting to see if he's different after his Dr Dave session. Will let you know! (Update: no - he was very sluggish and not interested in cantering!)
Friday 31st July 2009
Last night, when we went to the field there was evidence of a serious hooning around session. Did a foot count, and Jake still had all four shoes on, which was good! But this morning, I noticed that one of his shoes has been pulled away from his foot slightly. I debated whether to ride or not, and decided to go for it - the shoe is in place, the clenches are there, and we're not going far or fast.
Jake was a good boy. Started by snorting with every step as we went up the road, but gave up when I called him a great big narny noofter. Still forward going, with ears pricked. Stayed in walk because of the shoe situation, and did the "short cut" ride.
Thursday 30th July 2009
Had a saddle fit before work, so no time to ride. Had a rare evening off, and was (slightly!) tempted to ride, but the offer of a takeaway chinese meal won me over. (Haven't had one for a couple of months!)
Wednesday 29th July 2009
Took Barney out for a wet drive - it started drizzling as we were putting him to, and the rain got a bit heavier when we were out. Barney was wearing a waterproof exercise sheet under his harness, and we wore a spare on over our laps. (A good target for rain when you're sitting down!) Despite the rain, we had a nice drive, and we did congratulate ourselves on not being fair weather drivers, just before admitting that, if it had been raining that heavily before he was harnessed up, we probably wouldn't have gone!!
In the evening, Dr Dave (who works for Mark Rashid in the States) visited to give Barney a physio session. He noticed that Barney was quite stiff on one side. Dr Dave is really interesting to watch - he involves the owner, and has us feeling the joints he's working on, before and after treatment. Barney had a thorough treatment, and it will be interesting to see if he's a bit more willing to canter when Mike rides him next.
Another member of our group brought her gorgeous coloured cob to our field for his session. He was a little bit shorter than Jake, but possibly a slightly heavier build. He had a very expressive face, and he pulled some great faces as he was being worked on!
Tuesday 28th July 2009
Our first solo hack in over a month! We went out a bit later than planned as somebody (Charlie!) needed to go to the vets with a slight case of conjunctivitis. Jake was very well behaved. He spooked at a green bag of hedge clippings that have been left on the side of the road, but they'd both done that on Sunday. We got a bit further up the road, and he froze suddenly with his head in the air - I think he'd heard Barney calling from the field - he was probably wondering where Jake had gone as he'd been out there for about 2 hours by then! Jake called back, and then carried on.
He was quite forward going, and ears pricked, so I think he's enjoying being back out in the big wide world. I was tempted to ask for a canter on the green, but knew it was a bit naughty as it's only our second ride. I touched his sides very gently with my legs, and whispered "go on then", but he chose not to hear me. I did giggle a bit!! I am norty!!
Monday 27th July 2009
Didn't ride - letting yesterday sink in!
Sunday 26th July 2009
Back in the saddle after a month off! He doesn't seem to have lost any muscle tone, which is great. We started with Barney in front, but he wasn't walking fast enough, and Jake was trying to bite his bum (their favourite hobbey when they're out), so I put Jake in front. He wasn't too spooky, although he did start breathing quite heavily as we went across the green. He also gave his usual "Paddington hard stare" to a new fence that's gone up in the village since we last went out.
Apart from that, all was normal. It was great to be back in the saddle, although I'd forgotten a few things - forgot my half chaps, so the stirrup leathers rubbed my legs a bit - and forgot to put some treats in my pocket to reward him for standing still at the mounting block - but he forgot to ask for one, too, so I got away with that!!
We just did a short hack - I'll try and get him out for a few shorter hacks on alternative days, with rest days in between, and gradually build him back up.
Saturday 25th July 2009
Jake's last day of convalescence.
Friday 24th July 2009
Nothing to report!
Thursday 23rd July 2009
Jake had his routine 3-monthly Osteopath visit. He was VERY cheeky! He took off when I was trying to trot him up, and whizzed around in front of me, and he wasn't too happy about standing still in his field shelter for his treatment to start with. He did settle, though, as he finds the treatment quite relaxing. I think he'll be fine to bring back into work at the weekend!
Wednesday 22nd July 2009
Took Barney out for a drive. I can't remember much about it - was chatting to Glynis most of the time, so Barney must have been well behaved, tee hee! It does seem odd being on the village green at the moment - when Jake's in work, we're across there most days, and of course, haven't for ages. Only a couple more days to go.
Did have a bit of a fright in the morning - the insurance renewal's come through, and they've excluded anything to do with the "gasto-intestinal tract or digestive system". Gulp!! Spent the day in a mild panic imagining my stoopid horse with colic and me with no money (which is normal situation!). When I mentioned it to Mike in the evening, he said not to worry, he's got an empty credit card with a £7k limit on it, and if it was a case of the boys needing life saving treatment, we could use that. What a hero!!! I will set up a regular payment into an ISA as well, just in case. With Jake's track record, it's quite likely to be needed at some point in the future.
Tuesday 21st July 2009
Nothing to report!
Monday 20th July 2009
Nothing to report!!
Sunday 19th July 2009
Daft boy. It was raining when we went to get them in. Barney was VERY sensible, and sheltered behind his field shelter while we poo picked. Jake decided he was waterproof enough (they did have their rugs on) and he followed us round. Daftie. I'd have stayed in the field shelter if I'd had a choice!!!
Saturday 18th July 2009
Jake had a slight nosebleed in the morning, but it was light, and from one nostril, so we've ignored it. (It's happened before, and that was the vet's advice). He was fine in the evening.
Friday 17th July 2009
It was windy and wet when we went to get the boys in this evening. They were both playing up a bit - and twice while we were poo picking, Jake took off across the field, doing some huge bucks - absolutely lovely to see - he must be feeling well!! Thankfully he calmed down for the walk home!
Thursday 16th July 2009
Weather was lovely and we had a nice drive. Barney was quite chilled (for him!). Jake was quiet this morning, but eating well, so will keep an eye on him.
Wednesday 15th July 2009
We normally drive on a Wednesday, but I had an appointment so we've postponed until tomorrow. When I got up, I was very glad we had - it was pouring!!!
Tuesday 14th July 2009
Got a welcome phone call at 8:17am to say that all the blood tests returned normal results - hurrah!!! And he's had his final dose of the oral antibiotics this morning. Mike & I will be glad once that's through his system - he's currently producing some elephant sized cowpats that smell rather like something we shouldn't discuss. Let's just say YUK and be done with it! And the volume he's producing, now that he's on some extra grazing, is impressive to say the least. A whole wheelbarrowful of it yesterday - and that was just from 7.30am to 8.30pm. But it does mean that his appetite is back (with a vengeance!) and his system's all working properly, which is good news.
I asked again about bringing him back into work, and the vet said to give him another week and a half off.
Monday 13th July 2009
Hectic day. Went to work, had someone "in the wings" to take over when the vet gave me a time to come and take Jake's blood sample. But the vet called and gave me 5 minutes' notice. Aaarghh! No answer from the mobile of the person who was going to cover. Double aaarrggghhh! Decided to shut the shop and leave a note on the door "back in 30 minutes". Whizzed down to the field, and my brave boy didn't bat an eyelid as yet another large needle was plunged into his jugular. My cover arrived at the shop (hero!) while I was at the field, so I drove the blood samples directly to Rossdale's for testing. Was hoping to get the results today, but didn't. Never mind.
Sunday 12th July 2009
A day off and no horse to ride. Sigh.... So spent the morning titivating my boy. Started with a slightly overdue haircut. (I'd planned to do it on the Tuesday that he ended up in Rossdale's!). Trimmed his mane, beard, and legs. He's had a touch of mud fever on his rear left pastern - no signs of it at the moment, but he gets very itchy - he loves it when you give him a good scratch around that fetlock! I washed it a week ago in the Dermoline insecticidal shampoo, in case there were any bugs in there, but he was still waving that leg at me today, asking for a scratch. So I gave it a thorough scrubbing in Hibiscrub, and put some Dermosolve cream on. I noticed when his hair was wet that the skin underneath is quite pink - I wonder if the sun's getting to it?? He gets sun cream on his nose on sunny days - I think I'll put some on his legs too, just in case.
I finished off with some hoof dressing, and he did look a very smart boy.
Saturday 11th July 2009
Mike's put some electric fence across the bottom of the hay field (which has now been harvested), so Jake has some extra grazing. We've left Barney where he is for now - he's still a little on the porky side.
Friday 10th July 2009
No change.
Thursday 9th July 2009
I'm really missing my riding. (I bet Jake isn't!)
Wednesday 8th July 2009
Took Barney for a drive. It was threatening to rain, so we put his exercise sheet on, but we only felt a few spots. He was a good boy. Jake's doing well.
Tuesday 7th July 2009
I think we've finally sussed it! Gave him his breakfast FIRST today!!! He ate it with no problem. AND.... he's eaten all his hay overnight - hurrah!! - that's a really good sign. He's had his antibiotics, and will have his final Bute tonight. It's all looking good.
Monday 6th July 2009
Different tactics with the meds today. Gave him his antibiotics orally before his breakfast, and will give him his Bute in his tea. He was a bit iffy with his breakfast - suspicious probably! - but ate it after I sliced another apple into it. He didn't eat all his hay last night, but did eat all his tea with the Bute in, which was good.
Sunday 5th July 2009
We're on a bit of a learning curve with his meds!! He has to have Bute for 3 days (1 sachet per day) and 45ml of a liquid antibiotic. I tried putting both in his breakfast. He had about 1/3 of his breakfast, then decided it was just too yucky. The vet's given me a lovely big syringe to measure out the medicine, so I used that to give a top up dose orally. Jake wasn't too impressed, but he's such a good boy, and let me get it all in.
He hadn't eaten all his hay overnight, which was a bit of a worry, but otherwise seems fine. Mike took Barney out for a ride on his own, and I spent a while giving Jake some tlc before turning him out.
Saturday 4th July 2009
Independence Day for Jake as well as the USA!!! He's home. We turned him straight out. Barney did a lovely extended trot along the fence line when he saw the trailer coming. Jake wasn't impressed, and headed straight into his paddock. We gave him the hay that was left in his haynet from the journey, and he tucked into that. We'd put his fly spray and sun cream in the car, and when we went to spray him, he was not impressed! I think the vets were spraying him before jabbing him with needles, poor lad, so he's gone off sprays! Hopefully he'll soon forget.
He has to have a month off, so the diary's going to get a bit boring, but never mind! Will get Barney out a bit more often than I normally manage.
Friday 3rd July 2009
A morning visit. Thankfully it's a little cooler today. Jake was out in his paddock, and he looked up when he heard the car coming. He came straight over to see me, and I got some nice snogs over the fence. He's still intent on trashing the grooming kit (the apples are in there), so I had to keep everything outside the fence and out of his reach. He followed me round the field when I went for a little walk, and everything's looking really good and normal. Next time I come up here, I'll have the trailer with me, and he'll be coming home with me - hopefully - hurrah!!!!!
Thursday 2nd July 2009
Stacey (the vet that's looking after Jake) phoned early this morning to say that the results were all looking good. White cell count back to normal. Temperature normal. So we're still on track to get him home on Saturday. Hurrah! Will post another update when I've been to see him this afternoon.
Very encouraging signs when I visited this afternoon. He was in his stable, and looked across the yard with interest when he saw me coming. He came straight to the door, and we had a big snog, which was a bit tricky as there was a grille across the top!! I took my grooming kit and treat bucket in with me. I had to put the treat bucket back outside as somebody is feeling much better, and decided that helping himself was much better than waiting for Mummy to dish them out. I took a brush out of his grooming kit box, and started grooming him. He attacked the box, and managed to turn it over and undo the lid, leaving a pile of brushes on the stable floor. It was wonderful! The Doofah's back!!! I spent about an hour with him, grooming him, snogging him, slicing up apples, and hand feeding him his hay. (Well, when a Doofah's feeling poorly, he does need a little bit of help!). So we're still on for bringing him home on Saturday.
Wednesday 1st July 2009
More encouraging signs today. When I arrived, he was just being turned out, and he was a bit sweaty, which worried me, but the vet explained that she'd taken some more fluid off his tummy, and the sweating was as a result of the sedation he'd been given, so nothing to worry about. Phew!. They've tested for protein which is negative (good!), and sent the sample off for further analysis - will hopefully get results later today or tomorrow morning.
There were shavings in Jake's tail, which is very good news - it means he's laid down for the first time since Saturday night. He was eating quite enthusiastically. Turned his nose up at the carrots I offered him (he's usually a bit fussy about carrots) but ate the apples happily. After I'd gone yesterday, they'd turned out a mare & foal and Jake had been trotting around his paddock showing great interest in the foal! So all the signs are good. The vet said she's started him on oral antibiotics today, and if he responds favourably, he could possibly come home on Saturday. That'll be SO good!!!
I took some pictures of him in his paddock this morning. Here's one showing him being nosy at activity in a neighbouring paddock - you can see what a lovely place it is:
And one other bit of detail I'd forgotten from the night he was admitted - the admission form asks for the horse's weight. I wrote down "682kg per weigh tape" as I'd measured him just a couple of days before. They put him on a weighing machine, and he was 691kg, so that was interesting to have his weight confirmed - I've always been curious, but never had the chance to confirm it before. His weight has fluctuated between 680kg and 720kg in the 9 years I've had him, so it's good that he's at his lightest at this time of the year. He looks a bit fat in the picture, but I think his tummy's a little bit swollen. Anyway, he hasn't got a crest, and his shoulder is well defined, so I'm happy with his condition at the moment.
View the 2009 Q2 diary (April - June)
View the 2009 Q1 diary (January - March)