Well we have no grass at all on the summer paddocks now, Tess is going into the winter field during the day, Gem is only getting a few days in there as she has put on excess weight so slimmers paddock for her most of the week on her own and with TEss on a night, Tess can get to all ponies over fence during the day so she is coping so far, Farrier this weekend then we will look to putting Myst in with her, but due to the amount of grass in the winter field which Tess needs to maintain weight due to her condition and age we will have to bring her out half a day otherwise she will put too much weight on, just wish it would bloody well rain at some point to kick start the grass. We are down to our last 2 bales of hay and this is needed to feed Charlie as he needs to pop a bit of weight on, they all get a maintenance feed morning and night so its not like they have nothing, a bit of hay thrown into the Shetlands - Acorn and Myst are together at moment- every other day to maintain their weight.
Weighed them all at the weekend with a view to starting their 5 day worming course.
Tess 375 kg - good maintenance weight
Gem 415kg - over weight - now in slimming world and upping the exercise, loss of Nuts has meant disruption to her normal routine and this is the result.
Acorn 151kg - spot on
Charlie - 230kg under ideal weight of 250kg so managing this
Myst 175kg - would like her around 165-170kg so not too bad at all
WE go by weigh tape and eye for weight recording so not necessarily what it would be on the weighbridge but enough for us feel no health compromised. we try to maintain all year round not letting them get fat in summer and work it off in winter we have too much Winter grass for that to work for us, although the boys winter paddock is slowly been eaten off by Tess not that shes complaining, badly need the rain to kick start the summer paddocks and freshen the winter field.
Hay had all been cut now off the winter field.
Myst's eye is much better now, cleaning it down to every other day, she has decided like most Shetlands that she will be caught if something in it for her, currently a sugar free polo mint does the trick, little madam. but she will come up now and see if you have anything, allows herself to be caught and then gets her treat. another couple of days and she will find she doesn't always get one, hopefully the thought she might will be enough, don't like using treats but in her case a means to an end.
The Head collar is off and she just has her fly mask on to protect her eyes. we are now teaching her that having the head collar on and off is not a big deal and she is getting the hang of it, the fly mask does allow us to hold her whilst this process takes place, she no longer runs in the other direction when you approach her with the head collar and lead rein slung over shoulder, we have only had her a week so the short bursts of attention and training are coming along a treat. Once she will be caught and allow the head collar on with no fuss she can go in the bigger paddock with Tess.
We have found she is not too keen on dogs, which is a bit of bummer as daughter and her fathers dog do come down, good enclosed safe exercise and allows them freedom off the lead, she gave Fraser a nip yesterday, ears flat back chase , broodmare protective mode , Nuts was the same when we first got her but eventually she came good and tolerated him so we are taking it slowly and safely to try and achieve the same with Myst. Evidently she is not good with her feet done, so we are picking them up daily, getting there, farrier will be pleased we never get him an easy one, but is he is very good fair but firm and has never not been able to win them round.
These are all little quirks we were mostly made aware of by seller, she was very honest about them, we have sorted them before and quite enjoy seeing them come right, we have found with both of the Shetland ex broodmares we have had they appear to be thrown out , do the business, come in maybe a couple of times a year so get very little one to one so really have never had the handling , I know a lot of breeders who make great store by daily handling and conditioning to situations and applaud them for it, as those stand a better chance of getting good forever homes or can make Child's ponies.. Nuts did after working with her and I am hopeful Myst will, early days, fortunately Myst is a lot younger and hasn't been passed around too much. They can miss out , very often overlooked and certainly misunderstood, they are not nasty just insecure.