My journey to more positive training.
Winter has been a little trying – wet, wet, wet. We don’t seem to have many dry days and the fields are waterlogged. The horses have been in more often but seem to like the respite and get to eat their hay in the dry.
Mojo continues to be good for his hoof trimming, and usually comes in the night before so he is dry.
The fields have turned into wild life areas, there were 2 Egyptian geese in the horses field.
Mojo has been wearing his fly rug, and I bought him a fly mask too, so he is more comfortable out in the warmer weather. The horses have plenty of shade, and do come in to their stables if it gets too hot.
He has been reasonably good with his feet, just the right hind he doesn’t like to lift too high.
He also had his teeth looked at by an equine dentist in July. He was mildly sedated but was very good.
Mojo was in his stable whilst we waited for the physio to look at my daughter’s horse. I did his feet and he seemed little stiff so took him in the school. He was quite unlevel walking to the arena and reluctant to walk much once in there.
The physio had a look and couldn’t find anything obvious, so we turned him out to see if it was just being stiff due to standing still for too long.
The next day he walked over to me in the field and didn’t look lame, so will see how he is next week, the hoof trimmer is coming so we can assess him then and decide whether he needs the vet to take a took. He is bright, eating, and mooching about in the field. If at any time he looks lame again the yard owner will call the vet.
Winter is always a tricky time for horse owners, rain and muddy fields make life challenging at times. Mojo is out most of the time unless the weather is very bad, but he doesn’t like being in for too long. I went one day and he had been a bit of a handful for the yard owner as he didn’t want to be in his stable. However he was very good for me doing his feet and he enjoyed being the in the arena to stretch his legs.
The hoof trimmer had been a few times and mostly he is now good with offering his feet, he has a little rest between doing the ends, and usually a hay net now instead of constant feeding. He still has carrots or something else yummy as his hinds are off the floor.
I did have to cut some tangles out of his mane and tail, and trim his feathers – so they don’t drag in the mud.
The end of summer is sometimes difficult for humans, less daylight hours, more bad weather to cope with and horses getting their winter coats. Mojo is out most of the time, unless the weather is really bad and/or the fields flood. He seems happy out with his friend Smoke (my daughters horse). Sometimes though I worry that I don’t see him often enough, but does he care – I suppose not as long as he is fed and checked daily by your wonderful yard owner.
Yesterday I went to check on hm and he enjoyed the treats I brought for him, I don’t often give him treats outside of training, I usually do his exercises and then give them. It does not make horses nippy if you hand feed, I know some people say it does but it all depends how and when you give them. Mojo knows now how to take them gently and to not ask for them all the time. Of course it can cause frustration if we give food and then walk away – I like to use an all finished sign so he knows that is the end of the session.
No photos today as I didn’t take my camera, but autumn can be a beautiful time of year with the changing of the colours in nature, so try to enjoy all the seasons of the year with your horses.
Mojo had his feet trimmed on Wednesday 12th July, he was bit fidgety as it was hot and there were a few flies around. The front were done as normal and then he stood on his mats for the hinds, all in all a good boy but not as relaxed as last time.
He is due to be sedated in a couple of weeks for his teeth to be rasped so I will rasp his feet and trim his feather then.
A few years ago I did a course with the NAC on equine behaviour, I passed level 1 and started level 2 but lost interest in doing this as a career. So just read it for my own benefit. Recently the NAC has been taken over by some excellent behaviourists and their courses updated and added to, and accredited by the ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council).
Take to look – it is an excellent place to train and learn.
Mojo was brilliant with his feet, the hoof trimmer did 3 feet without him standing on any mats. We then realised and stood him on the mats for the off hind to be done. His hinds are looking much better now with the regular trimming, well done Mojo.
Mojo had his feet trimmed on Tuesday 28th February 2023. My daughter took him in the school first and free lunged him, didn’t video until the end but he did trot and looked sound.
I used the calming spray and he did seem to be very calm and let Penny trim all four feet.
Very pleased with his progress and do hope it continues, he has physio next week so all see what she says,
Mojo had the hoof trimmer today, 29th November 2022. He was good with the fronts and stood with his front feet on the mats so she could do his hinds. I also gave him some calming spray – it contains valerian and seemed to work. Although it is difficult to tell whether it was the mats and treats, or the calmer that did the trick. I don’t give him anything to pick out his feet and he has been good with them since his last trim, and has let us put them on the hoof stand. So once he seems ok more often I will not give him any.
Today he got a bit fidgety as we had to move him from the yard due to a hay delivery, so we went in the school to do his hinds. However he soon settled and had his hinds on the hoof stand for trimming and the flair rasping.
Positive Horsemanship. 