Percy is ready to be weaned. He has come through his operation well and has barely even noticed that he no longer has bits! His attitude and behaviour haven't changed at all (he still let's me go near him!). I am very pleased with his progress.
Unfortunately it is now time to wean them. I will find it heart breaking as it is very distressing for both of them to be separated. Sadly I don't have the facilities to gradually wean them as I would like. Penny has been naturally weaning him off milk anyway, he rarely suckles now. I was watching them in the field today and Penny was moving away when he went to drink. This is good as this is the natural process. They will find it stressful to be separated whether it is now or next spring and it suits me, or rather my circumstances to do it now.
There are various schools of thought on weaning. The two main options are gradual separation and immediate separation. Gradual separation is considered to be kinder, by allowing the foal to become more independent slowly. Immediate separation is as the name suggests, very quick and instant with the mare and foal being separated and not allowed to see each other again (or for at least 3 months). This latter method was basically man made, with the 6 months of age being the time that foals went to bloodstock sales, so this is the accepted time for weaning. Some people wean earlier, for example Ruby was weaned at four months. This is the earliest that is generally accepted. Hence people have been traditionally weaning at 6 months for a long time.
Gradual separation is again man made, with people putting the mare and foak into stables next door to each other, fitting headcollars that make it uncomfortable for the mare when the foal drinks and turning the mare and foal out in adjoining fields. This method basically concentrates on weaning the foal off milk, before separating them.
In the wild horses will wean naturally, this will happen when the mare has another foal in the spring at which point she will chase her yearling away if he comes near.
As I don't have the facilities for gradual weaning or 'natural' I am going with the traditional method of immediate separation. This is the way I have done it at both studs I have worked at and this is the way I know. That said, I might still have a lump in my throat when I come to do it.
Mark has build a top door for Percy's stable so that he can't jump out when I take Penny away. Penny is going to spend the night in the barn and will then go out with her new friend Rio in the morning. She will then revert to living out, though she will have a rug on. Percy and Ruby will be together, just the two of them and will continue to come in at night until the warmer weather allows them to live out again -possibly back out with Penny.
Mark's top door is fantastic. I needed a custom made one as I want to be able to use the door manger whilst the top door is shut. This is because Percy always tips his feed over by sticking his foot in it when he eats. He then doesn't eat his food off the floor, which in turn encourages rats. A manger means that he can't tip it over and will eat every last bit, without the need for my supervision. This will save me time as I will then need to go and feed lady P in her field.
A door grill varies in price, one for a door as wide as mine would cost around £45. They also attach to the door, which would make using a manger impossible. Mark and I designed our top door with a 3inch gap between the top and bottom door, allowing the manger to be attached, but not leaving a big enough gap for Percy's hoof to get caught.
Mark and I went to B&Q where we purchased some pre treated 4x2 timber and some woven willow. Mark made the frame with the timber and strengthened it at all four corners with metal brackets. He then attached the willow screen, which will (hopefully) prevent Percy from thinking about jumping out, but still allows him to see his neighbours. This is tacked on with steel staples. There is another bar which runs horizontally across the middle of the frame, which gives the frame extra strength. Mark then attached the frame to the side of the stable on three large hinges, so that I can open and close the top door. He has fixed a latch to hold it in place when not in use. We are going to use the big bolts from our garden door (no longer in use) so that we can close the top door. All I need to do now is stain it, which I had intended to this morning but the weather defied me!
I'm a bit concerned that Percy will eat the willow frame, but I will put cribox (nasty tasting stuff) on it if it looks like he is eating it. The other alternative is to replace the willow with wire mesh.
Well we shall see how we get on. Next entry will be after the weaning, so fingers crossed...
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Wednesday 21 November 2007
PERCY THE GELDING
Well the deed has been done. Percy went to the vet on Monday and had his operation. He is now officially a gelding. The trip wasn't without incident....
As I anticipated, Mr Percy was not too keen to get on the lorry. It is a lot to ask a young horse to walk up a steep ramp and in to a dark lorry, added to this it kept hailing and peeing down with rain. After several attempts in vain I went to get a tea towel to use as a blind fold. We put this over his eyes and got him to the top of the ramp, when he reared up and charged back down the ramp. Kim and Ange were pushing and I was pulling or rather 'guiding' because pulling only makes them rear. Several more attempts proved fruitless, he refused to move.
Meanwhile the clock was ticking and we had asked the groom at the vets to come in early so we could drop them off at 8. We started loading at 7am. There was nothing else for it, we rang Tony and asked him to come up and help (Mark couldn't as he was on his way to London), we needed some brute force. We also enlisted the help of one of the farm guys. Our plan was to shove Percy in.
That didn't work, they didn't fare any better than us girls. Percy just dug his feet in and refused to move. I was thinking to myself, oh dear we might have to ring up and say we can't load him. I wasn't too keen on that idea.
We weer just standing next to the ramp having a breather when, still blindfolded, Percy took it upon himself to walk up the ramp. Nobody was touching him, I barely even held the lead rope! He walked straight up and in to the lorry! I shouted "Quick get Penny" and Ange ran and untied her from the side of the box (we'd had to unload her because she was going frantic when Percy wouldn't get on) and quickly put her on. I used all my strength to pin Percy in the box while ange grabbed Penny and we shut the ramp. None of us could believe it, he literally walked up by himself, blindfolded without so much as a shove!
Percy travelled really well. Penny is a very good traveller so she kept him calm. He just balanced himself and sniffed the floor. At the other end I expected him to take a great leap from the top of the ramp which is what youngsters normally do, but he trotted down sensibly.
Once at the vets (after apologising profusely for being late) we put them in a stable and did the paperwork and left them for the day. We decided that we would take the big lorry on the return leg as the vets had a loading bay which enables you to put the ramp out flat. The little lorry wasn't tall enough to use it.
We manhandled the partitions in the big lorry which truly is no mean feat! We rode out on Rupert and Babs (my 3rd last ride on Rupey doop) and whilst out, Debs rang to say that Percy had come through his operation ok and it had all gone well.
We collected Percy and prepared ourselves for round two of loading. We put the lights on in the lorry (it was dark outside) and had the ramp flat in the loading bay. Percy reared when his mum disappeared round the corner of the bay, but when she returned he followed right behind her. Ange asked penny to walk very slowly across the ramp, which she did obligingly, and Percy followed right behind her. He walked straight in. He travelled really well and once again he unloaded very sensibly.
I was very pleased with Percy's behaviour. After the initial drama it seemed almost as if he had thought about it and decided to give it a go. It even seemed that he had learnt from his first trip ready for loading the second time. Now whether he remembers this for the next time remains to be seen! I doubt it!
RECOVERY
Percy had a bit of swelling the morning after his op, but it had gone down again by the evening when I got him in from the field. He is having antibiotics once a day which he has eaten up in his feed. He looks really bright and well, so fingers crossed he has come through it ok. Watch this space....
As I anticipated, Mr Percy was not too keen to get on the lorry. It is a lot to ask a young horse to walk up a steep ramp and in to a dark lorry, added to this it kept hailing and peeing down with rain. After several attempts in vain I went to get a tea towel to use as a blind fold. We put this over his eyes and got him to the top of the ramp, when he reared up and charged back down the ramp. Kim and Ange were pushing and I was pulling or rather 'guiding' because pulling only makes them rear. Several more attempts proved fruitless, he refused to move.
Meanwhile the clock was ticking and we had asked the groom at the vets to come in early so we could drop them off at 8. We started loading at 7am. There was nothing else for it, we rang Tony and asked him to come up and help (Mark couldn't as he was on his way to London), we needed some brute force. We also enlisted the help of one of the farm guys. Our plan was to shove Percy in.
That didn't work, they didn't fare any better than us girls. Percy just dug his feet in and refused to move. I was thinking to myself, oh dear we might have to ring up and say we can't load him. I wasn't too keen on that idea.
We weer just standing next to the ramp having a breather when, still blindfolded, Percy took it upon himself to walk up the ramp. Nobody was touching him, I barely even held the lead rope! He walked straight up and in to the lorry! I shouted "Quick get Penny" and Ange ran and untied her from the side of the box (we'd had to unload her because she was going frantic when Percy wouldn't get on) and quickly put her on. I used all my strength to pin Percy in the box while ange grabbed Penny and we shut the ramp. None of us could believe it, he literally walked up by himself, blindfolded without so much as a shove!
Percy travelled really well. Penny is a very good traveller so she kept him calm. He just balanced himself and sniffed the floor. At the other end I expected him to take a great leap from the top of the ramp which is what youngsters normally do, but he trotted down sensibly.
Once at the vets (after apologising profusely for being late) we put them in a stable and did the paperwork and left them for the day. We decided that we would take the big lorry on the return leg as the vets had a loading bay which enables you to put the ramp out flat. The little lorry wasn't tall enough to use it.
We manhandled the partitions in the big lorry which truly is no mean feat! We rode out on Rupert and Babs (my 3rd last ride on Rupey doop) and whilst out, Debs rang to say that Percy had come through his operation ok and it had all gone well.
We collected Percy and prepared ourselves for round two of loading. We put the lights on in the lorry (it was dark outside) and had the ramp flat in the loading bay. Percy reared when his mum disappeared round the corner of the bay, but when she returned he followed right behind her. Ange asked penny to walk very slowly across the ramp, which she did obligingly, and Percy followed right behind her. He walked straight in. He travelled really well and once again he unloaded very sensibly.
I was very pleased with Percy's behaviour. After the initial drama it seemed almost as if he had thought about it and decided to give it a go. It even seemed that he had learnt from his first trip ready for loading the second time. Now whether he remembers this for the next time remains to be seen! I doubt it!
RECOVERY
Percy had a bit of swelling the morning after his op, but it had gone down again by the evening when I got him in from the field. He is having antibiotics once a day which he has eaten up in his feed. He looks really bright and well, so fingers crossed he has come through it ok. Watch this space....
Thursday 15 November 2007
Percy was very naughty for the farrier. We had lots of rearing and frantic reversing around the stable. All three of us were sweating when we finally finished. I will not leave it so long next time, he will be due again in 6 weeks. That will be Christmas though so may have to make it the week before, around the 20th december.
I don't think percy's behaviour was entirley helped by the fact that the farrier was 40 mins late and I had given up on him (Scott) and had just got half way across the yard with them to turn them out when he appeared. Dragging them back in again did not please them!
However I am pleased to report that they have all been very good to lead and turnm out. I lead Penny and Percy together today and Percy was a very good boy. He even lead on the 'wrong' side which will be good when it comes to leading him and Ruby together. For some reason this often causes them great confusion, leading on the wrong side, they often just don't get it and try and walk on your right.
They are staying in now until they are weaned and Penny goes out. There was a hard frost this morning, it's dropping down to -3C at night so it was a good week to bring them in.
I don't think percy's behaviour was entirley helped by the fact that the farrier was 40 mins late and I had given up on him (Scott) and had just got half way across the yard with them to turn them out when he appeared. Dragging them back in again did not please them!
However I am pleased to report that they have all been very good to lead and turnm out. I lead Penny and Percy together today and Percy was a very good boy. He even lead on the 'wrong' side which will be good when it comes to leading him and Ruby together. For some reason this often causes them great confusion, leading on the wrong side, they often just don't get it and try and walk on your right.
They are staying in now until they are weaned and Penny goes out. There was a hard frost this morning, it's dropping down to -3C at night so it was a good week to bring them in.
Monday 12 November 2007
Horses in for the winter
Percy wormed 08/11/07
Farrier on 14/11/07
Castration 19/11/07
The horses came in today, it was so cold this morning, they were freezing. It was nice to see them cosy in their stables. There was quite a lot of neighing initially but they'll get used to it soon enough. One of the women at the stables was peed because her horse was upset by the neighing and was concerned that she wouldn't be able to ride it tomorrow. Not sure we've got any influence on that....
Percy was good to lead in. He reared twice but nothing major. He is very strong however and took all my strength to lead him. Hopefully he'll get over being so keen! All in all, quite successful. Kim the star is meeting me at the stables at 0530 tomorrow morning so that we can turn them out. I owe her big time.
I think Percy will be a plum for the farrier. He's taken to kneeling down when I pick his feet up. Interesting..
Ice on the windscreen tonight and this morning. Brrr! Winter is on it's way!
Farrier on 14/11/07
Castration 19/11/07
The horses came in today, it was so cold this morning, they were freezing. It was nice to see them cosy in their stables. There was quite a lot of neighing initially but they'll get used to it soon enough. One of the women at the stables was peed because her horse was upset by the neighing and was concerned that she wouldn't be able to ride it tomorrow. Not sure we've got any influence on that....
Percy was good to lead in. He reared twice but nothing major. He is very strong however and took all my strength to lead him. Hopefully he'll get over being so keen! All in all, quite successful. Kim the star is meeting me at the stables at 0530 tomorrow morning so that we can turn them out. I owe her big time.
I think Percy will be a plum for the farrier. He's taken to kneeling down when I pick his feet up. Interesting..
Ice on the windscreen tonight and this morning. Brrr! Winter is on it's way!
Tuesday 6 November 2007
Penny and Percy both had a bit of TLC today and had a groom. I have purchased a new rug for Penny which I tried on her, it looks to fit perfectly. Percy and Ruby thought that the rug was very spooky, before trying to eat it. It is a medium to heavy weight rug to keep Peepsie snug when it gets really cold. She probably won't wear it till after Christmas when it gets really cold. Neither of them are wearing a rug until they are weaned. I plan to put Penny's lightweight one on her then.
I was going to bring them in today - I keep saying this - but the weather looks to hold out for another week at least, so I am going to leave them. I now hope to bring them in the night before Percy's operation and have them in from then. Whilst it is dry and sunny they are best off out.
I think I will have an 'untouched by human hand' foal. I anticipate that he will be rather difficult to lead for a while, having been out for months. Oh well, that was the trade off I made to save a bit of money over the summer. It is also better to have them out while you can, so that they can learn about herd etiquette etc.
Penny is desperate to see the farrier and Percy also needs doing. I was trying to wait until I bring them in, but as I have kept putting it off, I think I will need to sort it out soon.
I have pretty much decided on Primitive Proposal for next year. I knew his sire and dam, having worked at the Louella Stud. Primitive Rising and With Love both had lovely temperaments and I have heard that Proposal is the same. I have seen some very nice photos of him. I hope to go and see him in the spring. I'll put some info about him on the right hand side.
I was going to bring them in today - I keep saying this - but the weather looks to hold out for another week at least, so I am going to leave them. I now hope to bring them in the night before Percy's operation and have them in from then. Whilst it is dry and sunny they are best off out.
I think I will have an 'untouched by human hand' foal. I anticipate that he will be rather difficult to lead for a while, having been out for months. Oh well, that was the trade off I made to save a bit of money over the summer. It is also better to have them out while you can, so that they can learn about herd etiquette etc.
Penny is desperate to see the farrier and Percy also needs doing. I was trying to wait until I bring them in, but as I have kept putting it off, I think I will need to sort it out soon.
I have pretty much decided on Primitive Proposal for next year. I knew his sire and dam, having worked at the Louella Stud. Primitive Rising and With Love both had lovely temperaments and I have heard that Proposal is the same. I have seen some very nice photos of him. I hope to go and see him in the spring. I'll put some info about him on the right hand side.
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