I have some blanket repairs to finish up this week, and have taken on two new students. They have wonderful horses, and need some eyes from the ground to help them. One thing I have found with some students, they have been pushed so quickly along, that their training has come to a screeching halt, they are suddenly timid and defensive and their horses are weak and yet a little bullish and pushy.
Once the riders and horses see that relaxation is the most important theme of their first lessons with me, both of them start to relax and you can see a nicer walk, a softer eye, a more relaxed jaw, less tension in the horses back and poll, and the riders are less apprehensive about their perceived lack of ability to ride.
I keep saying that, at this point, we have all the time in the world. We are not on a fast track to compete, we are not in a hurry to learn 'tricks', or to hand ride the horse into a 'frame'. These are things that we do NOT want for our horses and riders. Taking the quick route to training is a disaster that takes more time to 'undo' than the temporary 'look' some riders aspire to have.
The Winter is now upon us here in western NY. Soon, the footing in the arena will be hard and snow covered and filled with potholes of crusted ice. Horses will be searching for blades of left over grass they may have overlooked. Blankets will become stiff and yet a welcome relief from the cold winds and snow and sleet so prevalent here. I encourage my customers to keep those blankets washed on a regular basis if possible, so that when I get them in the late Spring, they are not outlined with salt in the form of the horses body. This not only is uncomfortable for the horse, it can and does rot the threads and lining making the repairs difficult and costly.
I have been making blankets for horses since the mid 80's. I always prefer to allow the horses natural coat be there best protection. However, young horses, old horses, horses that have been clipped or are in regular work should have something on them. If they are going to be outside day and night, need a shelter they can go into, and protection from high winds, sleet and freezing rain. I've never been one to put horses out at night in the Winter because of the unsettled weather patterns of western NYS. Others have different schedules and as long as they are protected and safe, that is fine.
It's preferable to have two blankets for each horse at the very least. Layering is best, and with a mid weight blanket, a liner underneath will make it appropriate for the coldest days. If you put a thin lined (meaning without a filler) wind sheet over the top, most horses will be just fine. Blankets need to be taken off every day to check the horse, the skin, any problems that may arise from rubbing on the shoulders, or hips. Check the fittings, hardware, leg straps and binding. Call your blanket person to repair blankets before the problems get beyond control. I've gotten blankets in shreds in a bag. I've repaired them, but it would have been much easier if they would have been proactive.
Tail covers seem to be tantalizing to pasture mates. It's easy to grab ahold of it and 'rriiiiip', it's gone. Tears in the withers or rump area are favorites of horses who 'play hard'. Remember to check the base of the horses ears to see if he is warm enough. Shivering is not something you want to take place, it can set up a whole litany of other serious problems. Make sure there is enough hay. Make sure there is enough water. Make sure there are more 'hay piles' than horses and that they are far enough apart, that horses don't get pestered or attacked by pasture mates.
Good quality hay, not necessarily high alfalfa, but good first or second cutting Timothy and fresh water need to be available to them all the time, but especially in the Winter when they do not have grass to nibble. I keep hay available to my Harry all the time. He does not get grain, so his hay is paramount to keeping his digestion moving along correctly, and keeping him warm and occupied. Since he has free choice to come into his barn or stay outside, he will monitor himself. His patterns seldom change. He gets breakfast of 1/2 cup of no molasses beet pulp with 1/2 a carrot and 1/4 of a cut apple, cored. He gets changed into his outside clothes.
At night, since it's been very cold here of late, and he is by himself, he gets his heavy wool liner, a puffa liner and an unlined sheet all layered on. In the morning after he has his breakfast, he gets a light grooming, and gets a medium weight turnout with a wind sheet over top, his bell boots and out he goes. He generally goes into his larger field to have a roll, and then makes his tour around all of his paddocks. If it's too wet, I can close off any of the paddocks and open them when they are dry.
He has a hay bag on the front of the barn that blocks the wind and is warmer for him. He has 4 buckets of fresh warm water to choose from, and by the time I check him at noon he has eaten most of the hay and 2 buckets of water. I give him new water and keep an eye on the hay. Since he also has a hay bag in the aisle, and one in the grooming stall, he can come in for a while and rest, although his favorite place to take his snooze is in front of the barn, where it is warmer and less windy.
Photos to follow...
