Chunky Monkey gang
- Thread starter chunky monkey
- Start date
I need October to just do one.
When it suddenly turned cold last week and with the darker nights upon us, my mental health took a big dive.
Next week is d-day. We loose our grazing. Trying to plan for the future and how we move forward is just getting to me.
Weve got a load of cows going to slaughter next week and then the following week the lambs are going.
This morning they came to scan my mums legs but couldn't get a reading so she now has to be referred to hospital for the scan. So yet more hospital visits and juggling my work to take her.
Im sick of being in constant pain with my leg and hip.
Read something last night in an email which then peeved me off and sparked a disturbed sleep night. Every time i woke up it was in my head winding me up.
Moan over.
When it suddenly turned cold last week and with the darker nights upon us, my mental health took a big dive.
Next week is d-day. We loose our grazing. Trying to plan for the future and how we move forward is just getting to me.
Weve got a load of cows going to slaughter next week and then the following week the lambs are going.
This morning they came to scan my mums legs but couldn't get a reading so she now has to be referred to hospital for the scan. So yet more hospital visits and juggling my work to take her.
Im sick of being in constant pain with my leg and hip.
Read something last night in an email which then peeved me off and sparked a disturbed sleep night. Every time i woke up it was in my head winding me up.
Moan over.
Loosing your grazing must be a huge stress, do you think you’ve managed to get your numbers down enough to manage? It’s such a shame that you’ve had to butcher some.
Have you seen a doctor about your leg/hip? Or an osteo/chiro? You’ve got to take care of yourself to take care of everyone else x
Have you seen a doctor about your leg/hip? Or an osteo/chiro? You’ve got to take care of yourself to take care of everyone else x
Well last week i added to my pain. Another cow who didnt want to leave and protested at the abbatoir by giving me a barrel in my leg. Yes trying to compete with my mother. Its still bruised but i dont think surgery is required. Phew
So quite a few cows went last week direct to abbatoirs. It was a very sad day. They didnt deserve that. Removed the remaining cows from the hill yesterday. So they are now in on my fields grazing. Feeling very sad about the end of near 20 years work. But where one door closes another may open.
Had the farrier today and asked him to watch Billy trot up. He has confirmed that he is most definitely lame. He actually thinks worse now than last time. So agrees i should not ride him. He also agrees that there maybe slight lameness in front but it could be just over compensating. He said he looks happy and well in himself and doesnt look as though hes in pain. I think he is in discomfort walking down the banks, which to be honest is it fair on him as most of my fields are on hillside.
So now i have two horses and nothing to ride. Guess thats life. Yet to decide on Billys future. Im thinking keep him for now as company. Maybe look for another horse, but im not sure if i even want another horse. Dont think i can manage 3 on the grazing. So maybe I'll just find a riding school and have some lesson for my riding fix. Then i have no ties. I can just go ride, go home. Cant see me driving chunky now either so im not sure whether to sell my harnesses and carriages or to keep them in case i get another. If i do get another horse i want to be able to drive it. If i sell my stuff it will probably cost twice as much to replace it. Decisions, decisions.
So quite a few cows went last week direct to abbatoirs. It was a very sad day. They didnt deserve that. Removed the remaining cows from the hill yesterday. So they are now in on my fields grazing. Feeling very sad about the end of near 20 years work. But where one door closes another may open.
Had the farrier today and asked him to watch Billy trot up. He has confirmed that he is most definitely lame. He actually thinks worse now than last time. So agrees i should not ride him. He also agrees that there maybe slight lameness in front but it could be just over compensating. He said he looks happy and well in himself and doesnt look as though hes in pain. I think he is in discomfort walking down the banks, which to be honest is it fair on him as most of my fields are on hillside.
So now i have two horses and nothing to ride. Guess thats life. Yet to decide on Billys future. Im thinking keep him for now as company. Maybe look for another horse, but im not sure if i even want another horse. Dont think i can manage 3 on the grazing. So maybe I'll just find a riding school and have some lesson for my riding fix. Then i have no ties. I can just go ride, go home. Cant see me driving chunky now either so im not sure whether to sell my harnesses and carriages or to keep them in case i get another. If i do get another horse i want to be able to drive it. If i sell my stuff it will probably cost twice as much to replace it. Decisions, decisions.
It’s so hard, I battled with my head and my heart for a couple of years, through a share and plenty of rides on friends horses before I added number 4. I didn’t get rid of much thank goodness, as like you say, it would cost so much more to replace it all.
I’m so sorry about the cows, that must have been really tough
I’m so sorry about the cows, that must have been really tough
That is what I do. But, big buts. If it is a RS one has to ride with someone else. Insurance requires it. And I had had enough of falls caused by incompetent escorts new to the routes and sometimes put on horses ditto.
Better to find a share if you can?
@chunky monkey I'm so sorry to read this, what a dreadful time you've been having. All I'll say is don't rush into doing anything you can't undo, and that if you find a good RS they can be not only educational but fun 
As already said, don't rush into anything. It's difficult I know. It always sounds ideal, instead of owning then have lessons regularly on a yard to get a fix. But in reality once you've owned and specially living rurally like you do, I think you might just miss keeping them at home - and the whole lifestyle of being outdoors so much with them and all that goes with it. I know only too well though what it's like not having something to ride. For years and years I had two un-rideable horses and sometimes I don't mind admitting, I'd get upset and frustrated. I loved doing the chores and being with them but sometimes it wasn't enough and I ended up feeling guilty about that too. Now we have Zi but of course he's OH's ride not mine, and there are other factors atm in our life that have prevented us looking for another for me to ride. But all that will come (I think!). Sorry, no help, just thinking as I type here. I sometimes go round in circles, like saying once the girls pass over rainbow bridge I won't buy another and just keep Zi and then I get to thinking I won't do that because he'd need company and then I'm back to square one - having either a companion or ridden. Argh. I'll just be quiet now!
I know exactly what your saying @Trewsers its exactly what im going through now. So many mixed emotions. So feel free to post.
Part of me doesnt even want another, but im missing riding aleady, guilty that someone else is riding my horse, not me, but i dont want 3 horses, so lessons would at least cover me, but then i know i will struggle having lessons and i know i will end up in tears when i cant get something. You get the idea. Its the way i am. Ive already struggled with the few ive had. I count myself lucky, that my first horse has been an angel and got me out of having lessons.
When i got billy he was my replacement for chunky so he could be semi retired. I wanted something a step up from chunky and i certainly have had that but have not enjoyed the quirks that come with him. I had intended to take him for regular lessons. Then my trailer broke and by the time i got the new one he was lame and then mum decided dhe didnt want to tow. So my progress and growing my riding skill with him hasnt happened.
If i get another i want to be able to ride and drive it, funride and i want to take it out for lessons and grow with it. Once they change the towing laws i should at least be able to do this. So i have a plan in my head but its making it happen.
Part of me doesnt even want another, but im missing riding aleady, guilty that someone else is riding my horse, not me, but i dont want 3 horses, so lessons would at least cover me, but then i know i will struggle having lessons and i know i will end up in tears when i cant get something. You get the idea. Its the way i am. Ive already struggled with the few ive had. I count myself lucky, that my first horse has been an angel and got me out of having lessons.
When i got billy he was my replacement for chunky so he could be semi retired. I wanted something a step up from chunky and i certainly have had that but have not enjoyed the quirks that come with him. I had intended to take him for regular lessons. Then my trailer broke and by the time i got the new one he was lame and then mum decided dhe didnt want to tow. So my progress and growing my riding skill with him hasnt happened.
If i get another i want to be able to ride and drive it, funride and i want to take it out for lessons and grow with it. Once they change the towing laws i should at least be able to do this. So i have a plan in my head but its making it happen.
Busy day today getting things ready for the ewes going in with the rams next weekend. Chunkys little rider came to help me. Got the girls back home, one had been lame in the field this week and when i checked her the hoof was badly split. Shes been laying down alot and started to look sunken in so clearly too painful to be up eating. So made her first candidate to be foot trimmed. She thrashed around in the turn crate as i was trying to trim her and in trying to get myself out the way of flayling legs, managed to stab myself in the chin with the point of the foot trimmers as a result. Not a good start, blood running out. Fortunately it stopped quickly. Not as bad as the thumb i stabbed last time.
Poor girl had an abcess hidden in her foot too. So after a good trim we dunked her foot in some zinc footdip solution and sprayed with good old purple spray. Hopefully she'll be back on her feet tomorrow and in less pain.
Get hold of my 2nd candidate to trim, get her to the gate to put in the turn crate, holding onto her horn. She twisted her head round away from me and i just heard this massive crunching, ripping sound. I let go of her horn but it was literally hanging over the front of her face. Blood started running profusely down her face over her eyes. A bit spurting in the air.
In all my years ive never had a horn rip off of an adult sheep. Sure on a young lamb Ive had a couple come off in my hand and they hook them in fences. Ive had one who was a year old rip one, but not on a 6 year old sheep. So panic ensued as im watching the blood pour. I knew i needed to act quick so rushed home and grabbed some blue antibiotic spray that has a glue in it so it doesnt run like purple spray, and i reached into my trusty kitchen cupboard for cornflour and some flour.
Back down to the sheep shed. Blood still dripping. I got hold of her. My little rider is throwing a wobbly that she does do blood. Im telling her to come and help me, shes like i cant, whinning and crying. Im telling her that the only option to relieve this sheeps pain and discomfort is to cut off the hanging horn completely. So we can then apply something to congeal the blood and stop bleeding. I need your help to restrain her so i can get two hands on the horn removal. Rather reluctantly she came and helped. Little by little i used the foot trimmers to cut through the still attached bits of horn. I got too close to the attached skin on a couple of occasions and poor sheep felt more pain as i snipped skin not horn. Each time sheep tried to get free so my helper let her go. Eventually when i had snipped almost through she pulled away and then started swinging her head round and the horn came flying off. Poor helper was getting more upset. I restrained ewe again and she came in with the spray and flour.
So sprayed the wound. Then chucked loads of cornflour and flour over the top of the head. Did the trick and the blood stopped running down. We moved her into a small pen on her own to let her stand or lay down quietly for a while.
We then carried on with more foot trimming. Fortunately the rest went fairly smoothly. A few more still to finish next week but was a good session.
Turned the single horned ewe back out with her friends and theyve gone onto some fresh grass so hopefully she'll be content eating. I'll take some pictures off her head tomorrow when i check her. It will take a week for the live nerves to die back and harden off so i figure shes better be in a large field than in the shed here she will get hay and dirt stuck to it, and is more likely to bang her head.
Got the ram lambs back from my neighbours field. I have a few going tomorrow to the abbatoir. It feels more difficult this year, having only just lost the cows but its time, they are ready and i need them gone more than ever with grass limitations. They will only start loosing weight now its turning cold.
Poor girl had an abcess hidden in her foot too. So after a good trim we dunked her foot in some zinc footdip solution and sprayed with good old purple spray. Hopefully she'll be back on her feet tomorrow and in less pain.
Get hold of my 2nd candidate to trim, get her to the gate to put in the turn crate, holding onto her horn. She twisted her head round away from me and i just heard this massive crunching, ripping sound. I let go of her horn but it was literally hanging over the front of her face. Blood started running profusely down her face over her eyes. A bit spurting in the air.
In all my years ive never had a horn rip off of an adult sheep. Sure on a young lamb Ive had a couple come off in my hand and they hook them in fences. Ive had one who was a year old rip one, but not on a 6 year old sheep. So panic ensued as im watching the blood pour. I knew i needed to act quick so rushed home and grabbed some blue antibiotic spray that has a glue in it so it doesnt run like purple spray, and i reached into my trusty kitchen cupboard for cornflour and some flour.
Back down to the sheep shed. Blood still dripping. I got hold of her. My little rider is throwing a wobbly that she does do blood. Im telling her to come and help me, shes like i cant, whinning and crying. Im telling her that the only option to relieve this sheeps pain and discomfort is to cut off the hanging horn completely. So we can then apply something to congeal the blood and stop bleeding. I need your help to restrain her so i can get two hands on the horn removal. Rather reluctantly she came and helped. Little by little i used the foot trimmers to cut through the still attached bits of horn. I got too close to the attached skin on a couple of occasions and poor sheep felt more pain as i snipped skin not horn. Each time sheep tried to get free so my helper let her go. Eventually when i had snipped almost through she pulled away and then started swinging her head round and the horn came flying off. Poor helper was getting more upset. I restrained ewe again and she came in with the spray and flour.
So sprayed the wound. Then chucked loads of cornflour and flour over the top of the head. Did the trick and the blood stopped running down. We moved her into a small pen on her own to let her stand or lay down quietly for a while.
We then carried on with more foot trimming. Fortunately the rest went fairly smoothly. A few more still to finish next week but was a good session.
Turned the single horned ewe back out with her friends and theyve gone onto some fresh grass so hopefully she'll be content eating. I'll take some pictures off her head tomorrow when i check her. It will take a week for the live nerves to die back and harden off so i figure shes better be in a large field than in the shed here she will get hay and dirt stuck to it, and is more likely to bang her head.
Got the ram lambs back from my neighbours field. I have a few going tomorrow to the abbatoir. It feels more difficult this year, having only just lost the cows but its time, they are ready and i need them gone more than ever with grass limitations. They will only start loosing weight now its turning cold.
Crikey, I’ve never heard of adults horns pulling off!
I hope your chin is ok, can you round the tips off for safety?
I hope your chin is ok, can you round the tips off for safety?
No, believe it or not the point is excellent for digging out the muck and gunk if the out wall comes away from the main hoof. Then you use the point bit to wittle down the hoof wall back to where it is fixed to stop more dirt getting up between. Really great trimmers but darn leathal.
Looking at the horn i do wonder if it was fully attached. There looks to be a little hole at the base of it. Im wondering if shed already caught it at some point so it wasnt attached on the outer horn, or some horn flies or maggot had got in and eaten the skin away.
There are some growth rings and some narrowing near the base too. She has always been a slim sheep who puts her all into her lambs so i wonder equally if she had a lack of nutrition. I was thinking of retiring her from lambing i think i may well now.
Off to get some mineral buckets for them to lick this week.
Looking at the horn i do wonder if it was fully attached. There looks to be a little hole at the base of it. Im wondering if shed already caught it at some point so it wasnt attached on the outer horn, or some horn flies or maggot had got in and eaten the skin away.
There are some growth rings and some narrowing near the base too. She has always been a slim sheep who puts her all into her lambs so i wonder equally if she had a lack of nutrition. I was thinking of retiring her from lambing i think i may well now.
Off to get some mineral buckets for them to lick this week.
Oh yeah the bit nearer the head def looks like something has changed, some weakening would be logical
I got put off having lessons a long time ago. I used to have three a week with a teacher I liked. But moved yards and that wasn't an option. But I've always had a hang up about folk watching me ride and someone made a sh*tty comment and it put me off and dented my confidence one time. So after that I sort of stopped having the lessons altogether and just pottered about on my own. I can relate to struggling with lessons and not getting it, and ending up upset.
Wow @chunky monkey you have a lot of interesting things to cope with from time to time! All the years I lived in the middle of the sheep farm I never actually saw any of the farmers sheep lose a horn - they used to get themselves into all manner of twisted stuck positions in the fencing too - but wow that sounded pretty nasty for all concerned. Your helper won't forget that experience!!!!! I hope mrs sheep's head is okay too minus the horn.
Just been over to feed sheep in the dark, so only viewed with headtorch tonight. Face looks a little cleaner than yesterday, probably due to the few rain showers we had today. She was in eating her tea with the other girls so i think she'll be ok. Did disappear off quickly mind and i went to see her and she wasnt hanging about. Im obviously evil.
Had the physio today for Chunky. Restricted movement in hocks and definitely tight in his back. Shes not sure whether its the hocks causing the back tension or the back causing hock restriction.
It took her a while to free up the back. Although i dont think shes managed it fully from what she said. She says he can have some gentle exercise but avoid the hills. That ones tricky being where i live but i get what she was saying and i need to pick the flatest routes.
Shes recommending bute daily rather than just when ridden.
Shes going to come out again in the new year.
It took her a while to free up the back. Although i dont think shes managed it fully from what she said. She says he can have some gentle exercise but avoid the hills. That ones tricky being where i live but i get what she was saying and i need to pick the flatest routes.
Shes recommending bute daily rather than just when ridden.
Shes going to come out again in the new year.
Bagging going on in the bagging area.
Pitta patta of tiny feet.
If dates are correct next Tuesday.
Pitta patta of tiny feet.
If dates are correct next Tuesday.
Forgot to post this. Happened earlier than i expected.
Walked the dog down the road Friday night to go feed the ram lambs and could here some mooooing going on. I knew it wasnt the normal cow moo. More of a quiet moo. They cows were in the paddock right near the road fortunately. So had to go and check the cows. To be greated by a bunch of stressy cows. I could make out in the moonlight a cow on the wrong side of the electric fence, and with her a little baby. Not long born. It had gone through the electric fence after being born. Fortunately the electric fence was swiitched off. Mumma had trashed the fence to stay with her precious babe. The other cows were a bit miffed and i think if i hadnt arrived when i did i think they would have stepped over to join her.
Mother and baby are doing well. Today we made the calf official and gave it a lovely blingy set of yellow earring. Poor thing.
Walked the dog down the road Friday night to go feed the ram lambs and could here some mooooing going on. I knew it wasnt the normal cow moo. More of a quiet moo. They cows were in the paddock right near the road fortunately. So had to go and check the cows. To be greated by a bunch of stressy cows. I could make out in the moonlight a cow on the wrong side of the electric fence, and with her a little baby. Not long born. It had gone through the electric fence after being born. Fortunately the electric fence was swiitched off. Mumma had trashed the fence to stay with her precious babe. The other cows were a bit miffed and i think if i hadnt arrived when i did i think they would have stepped over to join her.
Mother and baby are doing well. Today we made the calf official and gave it a lovely blingy set of yellow earring. Poor thing.
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