Percy finally has the all clear from strangles, five months after being diagnosed with it. He is looking really well despite the prolonged cold weather. He has been wearing a medium weight rug which I'm sure helps.
I hope to bring him in after Christmas. I have to wait for Paris and Pippin to be given the all clear I think, I'm not sure. I am very keen to get Percy in now though, it will do him a lot of good to get back in to the discipline of coming in and going out each day. It will also be good in terms of him keeping warm and dry, he needs to do well through the winter having had such a poor summer.
I need to buy him a turnip for Christmas.
Sunday 21 December 2008
Friday 3 October 2008
Penny
Lady P is apparently doing well in her new home. She is in foal to Catherston Dazzler which I'm sure will be a fantastic foal. I'm so pleased thhat she is happy where she is, she is such a lovely mare.
Autumn is here
Percy is recovering from his strangles and has recently had a growth spurt. So much so that his rug is a bit on the small side. I shall have to get him a 6'0 one as he will not fit in to Penny's yet. He is looking really well, which is the first time in a long time. He still has some swelling under his jaw which the vet thinks is old scar tissue. There is one hard node still under there which I suspect may be an abscess. I am waiting to see if it does anything. If nothing has happened by mid October then I will ask the vet to come and run his tests to see if Percy is finally free of strangles.
Percy has a new stable. While he has been out over the summer the old stables were knocked down and he now has a brand spanking new one. It is in a block of 8 so he has lots of company when he is in. He will be next to his old stable mate Jack though they wont be able to lick each other through the grill like they used to. The new stable even has a top door! I won't get a grill for the door I don't think as he doesn't need one. If he acts like an idiot when he comes in after so long out then I will just shut his top door.
I need to get some tie up rings for the stable etc. I am thinking of getting some good rubber matting and using shavings this year. I figured that this may save me a bit of money and will also help save on hay as Percy has a tendency to drag it all in to his bed and then waste it. I much prefer to much out a straw bed, but shavings are so much more absorbent and if I am using the rubber mats it makes sense to use shavings. I wouldn't worry so much about rubber mats but every morning Percy has found his way to the floor and I don't want him to scrape himself.
I have ordered him a cob size head collar today as his pony one no longer fits. He must be about 14.2 hh now. He is quite big so I am hoping that I can start bringing him in and out again soon, before he gets too big for his boots!
Percy has a new stable. While he has been out over the summer the old stables were knocked down and he now has a brand spanking new one. It is in a block of 8 so he has lots of company when he is in. He will be next to his old stable mate Jack though they wont be able to lick each other through the grill like they used to. The new stable even has a top door! I won't get a grill for the door I don't think as he doesn't need one. If he acts like an idiot when he comes in after so long out then I will just shut his top door.
I need to get some tie up rings for the stable etc. I am thinking of getting some good rubber matting and using shavings this year. I figured that this may save me a bit of money and will also help save on hay as Percy has a tendency to drag it all in to his bed and then waste it. I much prefer to much out a straw bed, but shavings are so much more absorbent and if I am using the rubber mats it makes sense to use shavings. I wouldn't worry so much about rubber mats but every morning Percy has found his way to the floor and I don't want him to scrape himself.
I have ordered him a cob size head collar today as his pony one no longer fits. He must be about 14.2 hh now. He is quite big so I am hoping that I can start bringing him in and out again soon, before he gets too big for his boots!
Monday 11 August 2008
Poorly Percy
I haven't updated Percy's blog for ages because he has been ill. He has had strangles, a horrible disease which causes great big abscess' in his throat. He has been very poorly but seems to be getting better. He still has two huge lumps to burst but hopefully there is nothing new. Obviously he couldn't go to his show as he was infectious, so all our lorry work ended up being a bit of a waste. Though to be fair it's good ground work for him, so I can never really look at it as a waste.
He is quite thin at the moment because he is fighting the disease. He doesn't look terrible as I am giving him plenty to eat, even though there is plenty of summer grass I want to make sure he has enough energy to fight his illness. He is also wearing a rug at night when it is wet, this is so his body doesn't have to work at keeping warm as well as fighting Strangles.
I will ask the vet to come and lance his last two abscesses in the next day or so, they are not quite ready. Hopefully this will make him feel a great deal better again. Then fingers crossed he wont develop anymore!
He is quite thin at the moment because he is fighting the disease. He doesn't look terrible as I am giving him plenty to eat, even though there is plenty of summer grass I want to make sure he has enough energy to fight his illness. He is also wearing a rug at night when it is wet, this is so his body doesn't have to work at keeping warm as well as fighting Strangles.
I will ask the vet to come and lance his last two abscesses in the next day or so, they are not quite ready. Hopefully this will make him feel a great deal better again. Then fingers crossed he wont develop anymore!
Friday 13 June 2008
Percy on the lorry
Percy has been having loading lessons this week. Today he went on and off the lorry twice and had a trip round the car park on his own in the box. He was ever so good, I am very pleased with him.
We started off just walking him up the ramp and into the lorry, feeding him a bit and then leading him off. Today is day three and I am very pleased with his progress.
There are some pics of the boy on the lorry!
He has been entered in to a show on 5th July. I even bnought him a blanket the other day, so tat's the next lesson. I tortted him up and down today and he was an angel. Fingers crossed he stays this way!
We started off just walking him up the ramp and into the lorry, feeding him a bit and then leading him off. Today is day three and I am very pleased with his progress.
There are some pics of the boy on the lorry!
He has been entered in to a show on 5th July. I even bnought him a blanket the other day, so tat's the next lesson. I tortted him up and down today and he was an angel. Fingers crossed he stays this way!
Tuesday 3 June 2008
New herd member
Percy has had a growth spurt in the last couple of months. The spring grass is definatly showing.
There is a new person in the field, a new forest pony by the name of Pipin, who is a two year old. It was a very calm introduction yesterday, all went well.
Percy has the farrier booked for 11th June. I have also entered him in a small show on Sat 5th July. I need to practise loading with him.
To the right is a pic of him taken yesterday, when he was showing off to Pipin.
There is a new person in the field, a new forest pony by the name of Pipin, who is a two year old. It was a very calm introduction yesterday, all went well.
Percy has the farrier booked for 11th June. I have also entered him in a small show on Sat 5th July. I need to practise loading with him.
To the right is a pic of him taken yesterday, when he was showing off to Pipin.
Monday 26 May 2008
PENNY IN FOAL
It's been a while since I updated the blog. Penny is in foal, she caught first time which is fantastic news. She will be due in March time next year.
Percy is approaching his fist birthday and growing fast. He has had a spurt in the last month or so, which probably coincides with the grass! He is really starting to grow into himself, looking slightly less gangly. He came in today and I pulled his mane. I have been doing it gradually but today I tidyed it up. it still isn't really short but I didn't want to push my luck. My friend Kirsty helped. It did involve twitching his muzzle with her hand, but he was very good about it.
I am ever so pleased with his attitude and temperament. I am constantly suprised by his maturity really. People keep remarking on how good he is, I just hope it continues! At a year old he leads well, will walk away from the other horses in the field and cross the road and go to the yard and vice versa. He does this without fuss and without the company of another horse. He also leads with other horses with no problem. He's easy to catch, in fact he comes to me! |He is very good to do, he has no problem with being dressed over and will pick up his feet. He is not yet perfect with the farrier but we are working on that.
I have probably fated myself by writing all of that but it's true and I'm not going to be daft about it. I just really hope that I'm saying the same this time next year!
I hope to take him to a show in July. I need to confirm that as it would be good to get him to at least one this year.
Anyway, that's it for now.
Percy is approaching his fist birthday and growing fast. He has had a spurt in the last month or so, which probably coincides with the grass! He is really starting to grow into himself, looking slightly less gangly. He came in today and I pulled his mane. I have been doing it gradually but today I tidyed it up. it still isn't really short but I didn't want to push my luck. My friend Kirsty helped. It did involve twitching his muzzle with her hand, but he was very good about it.
I am ever so pleased with his attitude and temperament. I am constantly suprised by his maturity really. People keep remarking on how good he is, I just hope it continues! At a year old he leads well, will walk away from the other horses in the field and cross the road and go to the yard and vice versa. He does this without fuss and without the company of another horse. He also leads with other horses with no problem. He's easy to catch, in fact he comes to me! |He is very good to do, he has no problem with being dressed over and will pick up his feet. He is not yet perfect with the farrier but we are working on that.
I have probably fated myself by writing all of that but it's true and I'm not going to be daft about it. I just really hope that I'm saying the same this time next year!
I hope to take him to a show in July. I need to confirm that as it would be good to get him to at least one this year.
Anyway, that's it for now.
Friday 18 April 2008
I miss Lady P
I'm missing Lady P more than I thought I would. It's quite odd not seeing her waiting for her breakfast. I emailed Charles at Langaller Stud and he was kind enough to reply, saying that Lady P had travelled well and settled in. He said that he was really pleased with her. More recently I had an email from him to say that she was covered by Catherstone Dazzler earlier in the week. Fingers crossed that she will be in foal first time.
It's such a relief knowing that she is in good hands. As soppy as it sounds, I was struggling to sleep when she first went! I was worried about her.
Percy had his mane pulled the other day. I've been doing it a bit at a time. He has been under whelmed by it so that is very good! Found out today that I am too late to enter him in the South of England show. what a muppet I am, I didn't realise that it would fill up this quickly. I'm quite gutted.
There are more photos and videos of them on my facebook page - Twig Fairweather
It's such a relief knowing that she is in good hands. As soppy as it sounds, I was struggling to sleep when she first went! I was worried about her.
Percy had his mane pulled the other day. I've been doing it a bit at a time. He has been under whelmed by it so that is very good! Found out today that I am too late to enter him in the South of England show. what a muppet I am, I didn't realise that it would fill up this quickly. I'm quite gutted.
There are more photos and videos of them on my facebook page - Twig Fairweather
Sunday 13 April 2008
Lady P had gone to a new home
Penny has been sold to a stud in Devon, called Langaller Farm. They stand quite a few stallions there, including Prince of Darkness whom I used to look after! Penny will be going to Catherstone Dazzler this season, so that is a very exciting prospect. I hope to be able to keep track of her and her progeny over the years.
I am very sad that she is gone, I miss seeing her every morning and giving her her feed. She was such a wonderful mum to Percy and was such a joy to have around and look after. She was never any trouble and always so well mannered. I do hope she is well looked after in Devon, I'm sure she will be. I hope she will have a good life there, she truly deserves it.
Percy has been very good also. he is very well behaved, though blotted his copy book today when he dragged me into a flower bed! Not exceptable behaviour at all! He had been upset by a big van zooming up behind him and spraying water, so i will forgive him this once...
I hope to take him to a show or two, though I have no idea what I am doing. As far as turnout is concerned I have no qualms, I used to turnout for the Tattersalls sales at Newmarket, so I think I know a bit about that! But with regards to what I wear and do... I have sent my hacking jacket to the dry cleaners having dug it out of the loft, so that is a start. Next thing is to bit Percy and get him used to walking, trotting and standing. I'll see how I go with that.
I am very sad that she is gone, I miss seeing her every morning and giving her her feed. She was such a wonderful mum to Percy and was such a joy to have around and look after. She was never any trouble and always so well mannered. I do hope she is well looked after in Devon, I'm sure she will be. I hope she will have a good life there, she truly deserves it.
Percy has been very good also. he is very well behaved, though blotted his copy book today when he dragged me into a flower bed! Not exceptable behaviour at all! He had been upset by a big van zooming up behind him and spraying water, so i will forgive him this once...
I hope to take him to a show or two, though I have no idea what I am doing. As far as turnout is concerned I have no qualms, I used to turnout for the Tattersalls sales at Newmarket, so I think I know a bit about that! But with regards to what I wear and do... I have sent my hacking jacket to the dry cleaners having dug it out of the loft, so that is a start. Next thing is to bit Percy and get him used to walking, trotting and standing. I'll see how I go with that.
Thursday 6 March 2008
Percy wormed 05/03
Percy was wormed yesterday. He is due to see the farrier on Monday as is Penny. Lady P may have found a new home, so she won't be with us for much longer :( Well as long as she is looked after and is happy then that's not so bad.
Percy has spent a weekend out at night, when I went home to Wales. It was a mild weather forecast so I thought he'd be better off out than coming in and out while I was away. He seemed to have coped with that ok and it has helped him settle in to the herd. There are now 5 of them, Penny is the boss, then Fox the old gent, Rio who is three and the two yearlings, Percy and Paris. It's quite a good little band.
Percy has been incredibly well behaved to lead to and fro the field. I am so impressed that he walks away from the other horses with no fuss, past spooky tractors, flapping plastic and the other day a fire! What a star, he takes after his mum.
Percy has spent a weekend out at night, when I went home to Wales. It was a mild weather forecast so I thought he'd be better off out than coming in and out while I was away. He seemed to have coped with that ok and it has helped him settle in to the herd. There are now 5 of them, Penny is the boss, then Fox the old gent, Rio who is three and the two yearlings, Percy and Paris. It's quite a good little band.
Percy has been incredibly well behaved to lead to and fro the field. I am so impressed that he walks away from the other horses with no fuss, past spooky tractors, flapping plastic and the other day a fire! What a star, he takes after his mum.
Monday 18 February 2008
Percy moves fields
Percy has now moved back into the big field with his mum, Penny. He bucked and kicked when I let him go, he was very pleased to have some space to run in, having had just a small paddock for the past few months.
The others all came thundering over to see him, all were pretty civilised apart from Penny who chased him, so much for mother love! I took her out for a pick of grass which gave Percy time to pluck up the courage to talk to some of the others. I think he'll probably make friends with Paris, the other little foal or rather yearling, out in the field. As I left him earlier he had made friends with Rio and they were grazing together.
Ruby is now with her mum, Lily on the other side of the road. I decided to seperate Percy from Ruby as I want him to learn to be independant and get an education in a herd type environment with other young horses. Rio is three this year, Paris is the same age as Percy and then Penny is the top mare, with Fox as the old senior gent. It's a nice small herd for him to learn to socialise in.
That said I do envisage it not being easy. Percy was an absolute star to lead across the road this morning, he didn't stop once. But we have three gates to encounter and a road so I will have to have my wits about me. I purchased a hi vis jacket this morning so that I can lead him at dusk and be seen.
To the right are some pics taken this morning.
The others all came thundering over to see him, all were pretty civilised apart from Penny who chased him, so much for mother love! I took her out for a pick of grass which gave Percy time to pluck up the courage to talk to some of the others. I think he'll probably make friends with Paris, the other little foal or rather yearling, out in the field. As I left him earlier he had made friends with Rio and they were grazing together.
Ruby is now with her mum, Lily on the other side of the road. I decided to seperate Percy from Ruby as I want him to learn to be independant and get an education in a herd type environment with other young horses. Rio is three this year, Paris is the same age as Percy and then Penny is the top mare, with Fox as the old senior gent. It's a nice small herd for him to learn to socialise in.
That said I do envisage it not being easy. Percy was an absolute star to lead across the road this morning, he didn't stop once. But we have three gates to encounter and a road so I will have to have my wits about me. I purchased a hi vis jacket this morning so that I can lead him at dusk and be seen.
To the right are some pics taken this morning.
Friday 1 February 2008
Difficult Decisions
I have decided that I can't afford to have another foal from Penny this year. Both the financial and time commitment is too much. I am gutted as I had chosen the stallion, Primitivie Proposal and was greatly looking forward to starting the process. Unfortunately there is no point in me keeping Penny if I am not going to use her, so I need to find her a new home. I am in the mean time playing the lottery, you never know....
We took her to the vet the other day to see if the damage to her cruciat ligament in her stifle has repaired sufficiently for her to be ridden. Sadly it has not and so she will be a brood mare forever. I don't think this is terrible, as she is such a good mother, a good doer and so well mannered and easy to do that I think she will have some fantastic foals if she goes to the right place. So the search is on to find her a good permanent new home where she can have lots of foals. Hopefully we will be able to keep track of her prodgeny as they go on to compete.
Watch this space......
Percy has been staying in his field since Mark mended the fence, so fingers crossed this appears to have worked. He is looking really well and getting quite strong and sure of himself. He's (touch wood) pretty well behaved so far and I am very pleased with him. I am hoping to take him to some shows in the spring. Cathy Mann, one of the girls up at the yard has a yearling bridle that she has offered to lend me, which is fantastic and saves me some money!
We took her to the vet the other day to see if the damage to her cruciat ligament in her stifle has repaired sufficiently for her to be ridden. Sadly it has not and so she will be a brood mare forever. I don't think this is terrible, as she is such a good mother, a good doer and so well mannered and easy to do that I think she will have some fantastic foals if she goes to the right place. So the search is on to find her a good permanent new home where she can have lots of foals. Hopefully we will be able to keep track of her prodgeny as they go on to compete.
Watch this space......
Percy has been staying in his field since Mark mended the fence, so fingers crossed this appears to have worked. He is looking really well and getting quite strong and sure of himself. He's (touch wood) pretty well behaved so far and I am very pleased with him. I am hoping to take him to some shows in the spring. Cathy Mann, one of the girls up at the yard has a yearling bridle that she has offered to lend me, which is fantastic and saves me some money!
Monday 21 January 2008
PERCY KEEPS ESCAPING
Percy Farrier 15/01 - due next w/c 03/03
Percy has been constantly getting out of his field. He got out one day and then has continued to do so. He and Ruby had to stay in for four days whilst Andrew mended the fence. They went out today and Percy got out AGAIN. I couldn't believe he had got out again, but on closer inspection discovered that the new higher fence only ran down three quarters of the field and so the problem was just the same as before.
I've managed to get hold of some posts and so Mark is going to fix the fencing properly tomorrow. Kim is going to attach a third strand of electric fencing and so we should have a fence high enough and low enough so that Percy can't get out.
The fencing just isn't man enough for the job basically. The ground is so wet that the plastic posts come out if they are lent on and then the horse escapes. I don't know what I'm going to do if this doesn't work, short of look for a livery yard that has proper substantial fencing. I don't want to leave that yard as I like it, but this is madness. Fingers crossed that Percy stays in his field tomorrow!
Percy saw the farrier last week, 15/01. He was naughty to begin with, but when I twitched his muzzle with my hand he was as good as gold. It only took 10 mins which was a vast improvement on last time.
Penny is looking really well. She is carrying good condition, despite only having a token feed. Her tail has been chewed but that doesn't seem to be getting any worse lately. Touch wood she doesn't seem to have any mud fever and appears quite happy with her band of friends out in the field.
Percy is having a lot more to eat now (seems to coincide with the escaping....) He is having a bowl and 1/2 of M&Y mix and a bowl of Alfa oil with sugar beet, three times a day. He is also having 60g calformin a day, which is a supplement recommended by my vet and old boss Mick. Mick suggested that I increased Percy's feed as what I was feeding him was not really enough. So from the beginning of January he is having a late night feed that Andrew gives him at about 10pm. He look well, though is rather long in the body. I'm hoping he will start to grow up rather than along!
Percy has been constantly getting out of his field. He got out one day and then has continued to do so. He and Ruby had to stay in for four days whilst Andrew mended the fence. They went out today and Percy got out AGAIN. I couldn't believe he had got out again, but on closer inspection discovered that the new higher fence only ran down three quarters of the field and so the problem was just the same as before.
I've managed to get hold of some posts and so Mark is going to fix the fencing properly tomorrow. Kim is going to attach a third strand of electric fencing and so we should have a fence high enough and low enough so that Percy can't get out.
The fencing just isn't man enough for the job basically. The ground is so wet that the plastic posts come out if they are lent on and then the horse escapes. I don't know what I'm going to do if this doesn't work, short of look for a livery yard that has proper substantial fencing. I don't want to leave that yard as I like it, but this is madness. Fingers crossed that Percy stays in his field tomorrow!
Percy saw the farrier last week, 15/01. He was naughty to begin with, but when I twitched his muzzle with my hand he was as good as gold. It only took 10 mins which was a vast improvement on last time.
Penny is looking really well. She is carrying good condition, despite only having a token feed. Her tail has been chewed but that doesn't seem to be getting any worse lately. Touch wood she doesn't seem to have any mud fever and appears quite happy with her band of friends out in the field.
Percy is having a lot more to eat now (seems to coincide with the escaping....) He is having a bowl and 1/2 of M&Y mix and a bowl of Alfa oil with sugar beet, three times a day. He is also having 60g calformin a day, which is a supplement recommended by my vet and old boss Mick. Mick suggested that I increased Percy's feed as what I was feeding him was not really enough. So from the beginning of January he is having a late night feed that Andrew gives him at about 10pm. He look well, though is rather long in the body. I'm hoping he will start to grow up rather than along!
Tuesday 8 January 2008
PERCY - 2nd FLU JAB 03/01/09 NEXT DUE MAY
Percy had his 2nd flu jab and was good. The vet looked at him and said that he was a very nice foal. He looks a bit long which is something I had thought myself. However his limbs are straight and he has a very good temperament. The vet advised that I make sure I am feeding him enough, without feeding too much. I have reviewed this and I don't think I was feeding him enough. A weanling should be consuming approx 1lb of hard feed per month of his age per day roughly - or about 4Kg according to most advice. Percy hasn't been getting this much and so I have increased his feed. I have split the feeds in to three so that he now gets in each feed:
1 1/2 scoop Mare and youngstock mix (1.5 lbs)
1 scoop alfa oil (.5 lb) (not hard feed)
1/4 scoop suregrow (16oz)
1/4 scoop speedibeet (.5 il)
This is a very large feed, but when it is well mixed with the Alfa oil, it takes him a long time to eat it, meaning that he does not rush his food and there is time to diegest it. I have had to go to three feeds in order to safely give him what he needs.
I have also ordered some calcium supplemnt from the vet as he advised this. He also advise surelimb, but I mistakenly got suregrow. I may take the suregrow back and get surelimb instead.
This makes 6 lbs of cereals a day with alfa oil and speedi beet counting as a forage. He is fed ad lib hay which equates to about two slices a night. He eats that or leaves some if it's three. I'll increase to three before long.
It's such a worry, making sure you feed them right. It was a worry with Penny when she was in foal and lactating and it is a worry now with Percy. I can only go on experience and advice frome the vet and feed suppliers. Hopefully this new diet will see him looking a bit better, though he isn't skinny, just short!
I'm sure there will be loads more sleepless night to come...........
Percy had his 2nd flu jab and was good. The vet looked at him and said that he was a very nice foal. He looks a bit long which is something I had thought myself. However his limbs are straight and he has a very good temperament. The vet advised that I make sure I am feeding him enough, without feeding too much. I have reviewed this and I don't think I was feeding him enough. A weanling should be consuming approx 1lb of hard feed per month of his age per day roughly - or about 4Kg according to most advice. Percy hasn't been getting this much and so I have increased his feed. I have split the feeds in to three so that he now gets in each feed:
1 1/2 scoop Mare and youngstock mix (1.5 lbs)
1 scoop alfa oil (.5 lb) (not hard feed)
1/4 scoop suregrow (16oz)
1/4 scoop speedibeet (.5 il)
This is a very large feed, but when it is well mixed with the Alfa oil, it takes him a long time to eat it, meaning that he does not rush his food and there is time to diegest it. I have had to go to three feeds in order to safely give him what he needs.
I have also ordered some calcium supplemnt from the vet as he advised this. He also advise surelimb, but I mistakenly got suregrow. I may take the suregrow back and get surelimb instead.
This makes 6 lbs of cereals a day with alfa oil and speedi beet counting as a forage. He is fed ad lib hay which equates to about two slices a night. He eats that or leaves some if it's three. I'll increase to three before long.
It's such a worry, making sure you feed them right. It was a worry with Penny when she was in foal and lactating and it is a worry now with Percy. I can only go on experience and advice frome the vet and feed suppliers. Hopefully this new diet will see him looking a bit better, though he isn't skinny, just short!
I'm sure there will be loads more sleepless night to come...........
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