We have been spending these cold winter days getting our mind and body ready for good weather. Even though we can’t do much together, it is a time to keep mentally and physically fit for the moment the weather breaks.
Hay is the thing of the day. A little for the drafts (fat as they are) and a lot for a hot blooded Arabian- Collateral. Silly Collateral waits for me to get home from work. I would not DARE going into the house without graining him. Actually “graining “ is not exactly correct. Since coming to us -underweight and dull coated- he has been getting a pellet called Trifecta by Buckeye. It is a high fat concentrate and he got his weight back up easily and is now on maintenance. Collateral eats almost a bale of hay in this cold weather. The draft types are rationed with only a couple flakes because they are TOO FAT. We produce our own quality hay and have large, lush pastures. The point of this disertation is, we have to watch our horses. No one, single, feeding plan is going to work for all horses. Each individual will need their own plan with a follow up monitoring. For example, in the spring I will have to keep at least one of my Halfingers off of the high sugar grass to prevent grass founder. Five years ago, I had no clue but yes, “easy keepers” are not necessarily “easy”.
Exercise is tough right now. Footing has been lousy since we have either mud or snow. They get lots of movement in the pasture but little solid conditioning. Some winters are a little more cooperative with less precipitation. Not so now. Use what little time and space for some ground work. This keeps up the relationship betweem horse and rider and develops communication skills. It also provides a time to really see how they are doing. Any skin conditions? Hidden lameness? Weight loss or gain.
Back to our mind.
I’m big on mental preparedness. Balance coming from within.
We are finishing http://www.amazon.com/Klaus-Balkenhol-Man-Training-Methods/dp/157076378X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294809898&sr=1-1-spell Klaus Balkenhol- The Man and HisTraining-Methods by Brita Schoffmann. This is much like two books in one. Along with the text that discusses his traing methods are notes at the bottom of the page that describes his journey from policeman to Olympic star. Very inspiring on many levels. I am particularly taken with his intense interest in forming a bond with his horses. This is something i have always felt. I left showing very early on because I was disturbed by the way many show princesses treated their horses. I thought, “if this is what it is about, I want no part of it”. I retreated to my farm and that was the end of competition. Now I know that these riders probably made it no further than me because they could never bond with their horse and blamed the what could have been a partner for their own shortcomings.
This leads me to say, weather or no, days need not be wasted. Any day you spend with an equine companion is not lost.
Hay is the thing of the day. A little for the drafts (fat as they are) and a lot for a hot blooded Arabian- Collateral. Silly Collateral waits for me to get home from work. I would not DARE going into the house without graining him. Actually “graining “ is not exactly correct. Since coming to us -underweight and dull coated- he has been getting a pellet called Trifecta by Buckeye. It is a high fat concentrate and he got his weight back up easily and is now on maintenance. Collateral eats almost a bale of hay in this cold weather. The draft types are rationed with only a couple flakes because they are TOO FAT. We produce our own quality hay and have large, lush pastures. The point of this disertation is, we have to watch our horses. No one, single, feeding plan is going to work for all horses. Each individual will need their own plan with a follow up monitoring. For example, in the spring I will have to keep at least one of my Halfingers off of the high sugar grass to prevent grass founder. Five years ago, I had no clue but yes, “easy keepers” are not necessarily “easy”.
Exercise is tough right now. Footing has been lousy since we have either mud or snow. They get lots of movement in the pasture but little solid conditioning. Some winters are a little more cooperative with less precipitation. Not so now. Use what little time and space for some ground work. This keeps up the relationship betweem horse and rider and develops communication skills. It also provides a time to really see how they are doing. Any skin conditions? Hidden lameness? Weight loss or gain.
Back to our mind.
I’m big on mental preparedness. Balance coming from within.
We are finishing http://www.amazon.com/Klaus-Balkenhol-Man-Training-Methods/dp/157076378X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294809898&sr=1-1-spell Klaus Balkenhol- The Man and HisTraining-Methods by Brita Schoffmann. This is much like two books in one. Along with the text that discusses his traing methods are notes at the bottom of the page that describes his journey from policeman to Olympic star. Very inspiring on many levels. I am particularly taken with his intense interest in forming a bond with his horses. This is something i have always felt. I left showing very early on because I was disturbed by the way many show princesses treated their horses. I thought, “if this is what it is about, I want no part of it”. I retreated to my farm and that was the end of competition. Now I know that these riders probably made it no further than me because they could never bond with their horse and blamed the what could have been a partner for their own shortcomings.
This leads me to say, weather or no, days need not be wasted. Any day you spend with an equine companion is not lost.
No comments:
Post a Comment