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 - 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...........