I've just got back from Uganda and have been to see Penny. I am pleased to see that her weight has improved, though I feel that she is looking slightly moth eaten! Her rug has rubbed her shoulders so I am going to try and wean her off it now that the weather is getting better. I think she needs a bit of TLC so on my next day off she will get a good groom!

Well at the end of last week I saw the weather forecast and it said it was going to turn cold Sunday/Monday and we might even have snow. So I dashed out to get Penny another rug. Unfortunately they did not have any medium weight turn out rugs in stock, so I bought a medium weight stable rug to go under her light weight. I'm so pleased I did, as last night was freezing and we had snow this morning. when I gave her her breakfast she was all toasty under rugs.

The vet came today to give her her final EHV. I asked her to look at Penny's condition and she said that whilst she is a little light, she looks fine. If she loses any more weight then I will need to think again. She is now having 2kg of mare & youngstock mix a day and I am introducing her to Alfa oil as it is supposed to be very good for putting condition on horses. I definitely think that her condition has improved since the beginning of March so I am pleased, I think she is going the right way. She is also having hay at night.

Next thing will be for her to have her feet trimmed and swap her on to an Eqvalan womer. I need to worm her asap so that I can do her last one before foaling at the beginning of May.

So Penny seems to be a bit happier, fingers crossed that she will start blooming soon!

The weather has been lovely over the last couple of days, reaching 13 degrees and over. Penny has had her rug off in the day which she has appreciated, it's nice for her to have some sun on her back after all the rain. I am still putting her rug on at night though because it does get cold. She only wears a rain sheet, but it's still an added layer for warmth. The first thing she did when I took her rug off was have a big muddy roll.

I have been having sleepless nights about her weight - she's hardly a welfare case but I did think she looked too thin. I have since introduced sugar beet - or speedibeet - to her feed and whilst it's a bit early to tell, I think it might be making a difference.

Penny is due her third and final EHV jab, which she will be having on Monday 19th. I was hoping that Chris would be able to come but he's busy sadly. I am also hoping to see Mick, my old boss on the Tuesday which would be really nice. I'll plug him for some mare care advice!

I've attached a photo that I took from Penny's field this morning - it was a lovely dawn.

Rather alarmed to see that Peepsie has lost a bit of weight. I can just about see her ribs! So she's now having two feeds a day. 600g of Suregrow and half a bucket of Alfa A for each feed. The dosey mare likes to fling it all outside of her bucket when she eats which is a tad annoying. Her field companion, Lilly, thinks it's great when she does that. Must get her a cast iron very deep bucket! Will see how her weight goes and might start adding some sugar beet. This weather can't be helping, she has started to molt now. One minute it's raining next minute it's freezing. Roll on spring! Thankfully though - dare I say it- she has no signs of mud fever. fingers crossed...

Penny approximately 240 days in foal

Penny is roughly 240 days in foal. Her foal is about the size of a lamb, weighs approximately 3.2 stones and is roughly 24 inches long. She is now having 1kg of suregrow a day with two scoops of chaff.

Penny is definitely starting to show signs of slowing down. She still canters over to see me (or would that be her food?) but is a lot less lighter on her feet than she was! The weather is awful, it's been raining practically every day. I'm very glad that I put her in a rug, I was going to leave her but TB types detest the rain. I must say I am pleased with the rug, it's a light weight Mark Todd, but it keeps her dry and hasn't ever slipped.

I'm a bit suspicious that she might be favouring her foot again. She's not lame but I notice her stamping that same foot as she is grazing, which is what she started to do before she went lame last time.

The field she is soaking wet, though I think that most fields will be like that now. The gateway is so poached they are nearly up to their knees in mud. I think Penny thinks she is a cow. Luckily the left hand side of the field sloped and is in the sun so should have a chance of drying out if it ever stops raining!

I've discovered Horse & Hound's online forum now which I am enjoying. there are lots of people on there with foals due and it feels like a nice community. I've even managed to find out how to have a ticker thing on there!

Penny from March 1st will be going to two feeds a day. She is getting a scoop of Suregrow and two scoops of chaff at the moment which all I dare risk feeding her in one feed...

Penny is definitely starting to show signs of slowing down. She still canters over to see me (or would that be her food?) but is a lot less lighter on her feet than she was! The weather is awful, it's been raining practically every day. I'm very glad that I put her in a rug, I was going to leave her but TB types detest the rain. I must say I am pleased with the rug, it's a light weight Mark Todd, but it keeps her dry and hasn't ever slipped.

I'm a bit suspicious that she might be favouring her foot again. She's not lame but I notice her stamping that same foot as she is grazing, which is what she started to do before she went lame last time.

The field she is soaking wet, though I think that most fields will be like that now. The gateway is so poached they are nearly up to their knees in mud. I think Penny thinks she is a cow. Luckily the left hand side of the field sloped and is in the sun so should have a chance of drying out if it ever stops raining!

I've discovered Horse & Hound's online forum now which I am enjoying. there are lots of people on there with foals due and it feels like a nice community. I've even managed to find out how to have a ticker thing on there!

Penny from March 1st will be going to two feeds a day. She is getting a scoop of Suregrow and two scoops of chaff at the moment which all I dare risk feeding her in one feed...