Sid's diary

[Skib]

It was a gentle touch, just brushing his moustache and lips against my shoulder. I thought he might be asking for reassurance, so when he did it I spoke to him gently and stroked his neck. We walked for about half an hour like that, touch-stroke, touch-stroke. I've never had a horse do that before.

That is really interesting as have not found a post on that before.
Ella does the same to me in her box. If I stand by her while she is eating her hay net. I am doing totally nothing. But she touches me. YO said she is lead mare. But then I read about herd behaviour in cows and cows touching each other. To confirm part of the herd. Unlike you, I dont stroke her back. She did the same with my grand daughter so it isnt personal affection for me. But a touch on every mouthful. The Rashid thing is that when I put the head collar on, it signified she is working for me. She doesnt do it with the collar on or when working and leading.

 

[GaryB]

It was a gentle touch, just brushing his moustache and lips against my shoulder. I thought he might be asking for reassurance, so when he did it I spoke to him gently and stroked his neck. We walked for about half an hour like that, touch-stroke, touch-stroke. I've never had a horse do that before.

My friends pony (who I was pretty bonded with) did that when we were breaking him to harness and he was being lead wearing blinkers. Like you i thought it was a reassurance thing.....

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Sid had his first bodywork session today with my friend and equine chiropractor Suzi. He was very good. Suzi says he is stoic, but expressive enough to let her know where it hurt and whether what she was doing was helping.

My RI had forecast that he would be sore in withers and shoulders from a too-tight saddle and on his poll from a too-tight bridle. He was. He was also sore in his pectorals, which Suzi said would go some way to explaining the girthiness. None of it was serious, and as he can't see the saddler until 27 April he has a few weeks off which she said should set him right up.

Like my RI, she adored him and thought he was a real find. He liked her, too, and also turned to me for reassurance a couple of times during the treatments, which was pleasing.

When I went back to the field later on to poo pick and give hay he completely ignored me, but I am cottoning on now that he really believes that evenings are a time for horses to chill and not be messed with. For the time being that is fine with me!

We didn't have any grumpy faces today.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Sid had his first bodywork session today with my friend and equine chiropractor Suzi. He was very good. Suzi says he is stoic, but expressive enough to let her know where it hurt and whether what she was doing was helping.

My RI had forecast that he would be sore in withers and shoulders from a too-tight saddle and on his poll from a too-tight bridle. He was. He was also sore in his pectorals, which Suzi said would go some way to explaining the girthiness. None of it was serious, and as he can't see the saddler until 27 April he has a few weeks off which she said should set him right up.

Like my RI, she adored him and thought he was a real find. He liked her, too, and also turned to me for reassurance a couple of times during the treatments, which was pleasing.

When I went back to the field later on to poo pick and give hay he completely ignored me, but I am cottoning on now that he really believes that evenings are a time for horses to chill and not be messed with. For the time being that is fine with me!

We didn't have any grumpy faces today.

that would also explain his videos not striding out as well etc

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Sid's shoes came off yesterday. My trimmer said the vet had not picked up a couple of deep clefts in his distal bulbs (is that right, distal bulbs?) which are a bit nasty, but treatable with sole cleaner and hoof packing material (Red Horse Hoof Stuff). He (the trimmer) loved Sid and thought he was an absolute find.

After that I put Sid in with Charlie and Mattie. It was a complete non event, they all knew each other and just got on with things. Sid is not terribly social, he likes to stand on his own and eat grass. S'ok by me!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Sid and I went out for a walk today, his first road work since the shoes came off. We walked about 1/3mile along the lane to the bridlepath, then up and over the heath on sand tracks - not many stones yet - and back along Green Lane, which is about 1.5 miles of tarmac. We had 2 little trots to get out of the way of cars.

He started really well but as we went along Green Lane his normally bold walk got slower. I think he was feeling it in his feet. My trimmer said his feet were cut very short at the front, so there wasn't much hoof wall left there and the soles are close to the ground. He needs to grow a bit of hoof down to be more comfortable, I suspect. I have to watch out carefully as he is very stoic.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

We had a lesson today. Sid wore the bareback pad with his new sheepskin girth cover and the Dr Cook's bitless just because. It was very interesting to do simple groundwork with him and see what he knew and what he didn't.

He was wary of my RI to start with but soon warmed to her, except when she lost her balance and stood on one leg with the other leg towards him. He seemed to think she meant to kick him, started, stepped back and flattened his ears. But he accepted her reassurance and didn't worry about it afterwards.

He led very nicely with good control of pace. I wanted to get him started with giravolta, the movement where the horse walks around you in a circle, stepping under as he goes. Working him in hand with a schooling whip was obviously new to him and it took many taps of the whip on his girth to get him moving, but he learns fast and was responding well by the time Sarah handed him over to me. I got a few nice steps on each rein, though the left is very much easier for him than the right.

We gave him lots of thinking time, and he used it to think - lowering his head, blinking, licking and chewing. At the end of the lesson I was standing at his head chatting to Sarah and Sid put his head over my shoulder, I put my arm around his neck and stroked his ears and forelock. Sarah said, "This is the horse that doesn't like cuddles!" She said she thought he had been someone's loved pet at some point but that he had perhaps forgotten how nice it is to be petted by a human.

That's all right, I can remind him. I love him to pieces already.

 

[Skib]

Lovely Jane

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

We had a lesson today. Sid wore the bareback pad with his new sheepskin girth cover and the Dr Cook's bitless just because. It was very interesting to do simple groundwork with him and see what he knew and what he didn't.

He was wary of my RI to start with but soon warmed to her, except when she lost her balance and stood on one leg with the other leg towards him. He seemed to think she meant to kick him, started, stepped back and flattened his ears. But he accepted her reassurance and didn't worry about it afterwards.

He led very nicely with good control of pace. I wanted to get him started with giravolta, the movement where the horse walks around you in a circle, stepping under as he goes. Working him in hand with a schooling whip was obviously new to him and it took many taps of the whip on his girth to get him moving, but he learns fast and was responding well by the time Sarah handed him over to me. I got a few nice steps on each rein, though the left is very much easier for him than the right.

We gave him lots of thinking time, and he used it to think - lowering his head, blinking, licking and chewing. At the end of the lesson I was standing at his head chatting to Sarah and Sid put his head over my shoulder, I put my arm around his neck and stroked his ears and forelock. Sarah said, "This is the horse that doesn't like cuddles!" She said she thought he had been someone's loved pet at some point but that he had perhaps forgotten how nice it is to be petted by a human.

That's all right, I can remind him. I love him to pieces already.

delighted for both of you, he will blossom, poor little fellow

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Another walk through the Sheepwalk yard today, so busy with a field full of quizzical youngsters, diggers, bulldozers, deer (including a cross stag who challenged us!), foals and their mothers, pigs, howling dogs and all. Sid was quite hesitant on the way up, but settled once we were past the yard. I turned and came back the same way, something I don't usually like to do but which seemed like a good idea today because I was keeping the walk short - new bare feet and all.

He was good on the way back and not bothered by anything except the charging stag, who got a dragon snort and a polite move by Sid to put me between him and the stag!

Alas, his feet are as dry as bones and he lost a big chunk from the right fore on the way home. It looks awful

but my trimmer told me to chill, it is normal when there are nail holes, just cosmetic and will grow down. He recommends I get some Red Horse Hydra Hoof to moisturise while it's so dry, so I have ordered some.

Poor Sid, now every other day I am going to be packing the clefts in his frogs, hydrating his feet, greasing his heels and oiling his mallenders! He must think I am off my trolley, or some kind of horse foot fetishist.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Another walk through the Sheepwalk yard today, so busy with a field full of quizzical youngsters, diggers, bulldozers, deer (including a cross stag who challenged us!), foals and their mothers, pigs, howling dogs and all. Sid was quite hesitant on the way up, but settled once we were past the yard. I turned and came back the same way, something I don't usually like to do but which seemed like a good idea today because I was keeping the walk short - new bare feet and all.

He was good on the way back and not bothered by anything except the charging stag, who got a dragon snort and a polite move by Sid to put me between him and the stag!

Alas, his feet are as dry as bones and he lost a big chunk from the right fore on the way home. It looks awful
View attachment 106414
but my trimmer told me to chill, it is normal when there are nail holes, just cosmetic and will grow down. He recommends I get some Red Horse Hydra Hoof to moisturise while it's so dry, so I have ordered some.

Poor Sid, now every other day I am going to be packing the clefts in his frogs, hydrating his feet, greasing his heels and oiling his mallenders! He must think I am off my trolley, or some kind of horse foot fetishist.

poor boy, my two cobs has really good feet, he is just unlucky

 

[Kite_Rider]

Yup, nail holes, dry hooves and rough ground will do that. He’ll survive and as your trimmer says, once the holes have grown out he’ll probably be fine.
Although I’ve found that plain and simple aqueous cream (chemist own brand) is just as good as anything else and much cheaper.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

poor boy, my two cobs has really good feet, he is just unlucky

Well, I've only had him a month and he came with issues! My trimmer thinks his feet will pan out ok, fingers crossed...

Yup, nail holes, dry hooves and rough ground will do that. He’ll survive and as your trimmer says, once the holes have grown out he’ll probably be fine.
Although I’ve found that plain and simple aqueous cream (chemist own brand) is just as good as anything else and much cheaper.

Oh that's worth knowing! thanks!

 

[Skib]

Take care of stags Jane. One of my first falls was when my escort walked round the stag leaving him to confront me and my mare. She span to avoid him (not Maisie) and I came off.
We always used to say ignore the deer and keep a distance. But there are now notices up warning of the danger. However with Covid, round there are far more walkers about who ignore the risk and try to feed the deer, for which the deer are now coming close to the car parks, tho sandwiches are bad for them.
If one is riding a horse, the stag will often turn away. Or justr regard you as a passing animal. But it doesnt always happen and I prefer to diverge from the track, or just stop and wait to avoid trouble.

 

[chunky monkey]

Yep nail holes are the weakest part of the hoof on a shod horse apparently. Very often when the horse looses a shoe thats where the hoof will break too.

Not all horses can go barefoot, but you do have to allow time for the transition and being fed on a proper diet. He will hopefully come good. Theres no way to know if his diet has been good or bad, even if he is well covered. As long as hes being fed correctly now, he will hopefully develop some lovely good feet over time.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Take care of stags Jane. One of my first falls was when my escort walked round the stag leaving him to confront me and my mare. She span to avoid him (not Maisie) and I came off.
We always used to say ignore the deer and keep a distance. But there are now notices up warning of the danger. However with Covid, round there are far more walkers about who ignore the risk and try to feed the deer, for which the deer are now coming close to the car parks, tho sandwiches are bad for them.
If one is riding a horse, the stag will often turn away. Or justr regard you as a passing animal. But it doesnt always happen and I prefer to diverge from the track, or just stop and wait to avoid trouble.

Thank you @Skib, yes, had the stag been able to get to us I would have given him a wide berth! Fortunately they are fenced in. He was only a little fallow hind but still, he meant business.

Yep nail holes are the weakest part of the hoof on a shod horse apparently. Very often when the horse looses a shoe thats where the hoof will break too.

Not all horses can go barefoot, but you do have to allow time for the transition and being fed on a proper diet. He will hopefully come good. Theres no way to know if his diet has been good or bad, even if he is well covered. As long as hes being fed correctly now, he will hopefully develop some lovely good feet over time.

Trimmer is hopeful that he will come through it OK. I am sure he got lots of cheap feed rather than good feed, he certainly prefers McDonalds (Baileys Hi Fi Nuggets) to the proper food he is being offered (Agrobs organic chaff and grass cobs, with ForagePlus Summer Skin And Hoof Balancer). I'm not in a hurry, and if he seems sore, which he doesn't at present, I'll lay out for some hoof boots and pads to help him out.

 

[Mary Poppins]

Ben’s feet looked dreadful as he transitioned and they still don’t look ‘pretty’ but they are very strong and support him well. Ben’s feet have not been touched at all in over 3 years, he is completely self trimming and this suits him well. I’m sure Sid will enjoy being barefoot.

 

[Skib]

What are you doing awake so late Mary P? Take care of yourself during Covid.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Sid had chiropracty again today. He was much more relaxed this time, I think he almost enjoyed himself, when it didn't hurt!

Very much improved all over, pelvis level, no poll pain. Still a bit sore in withers and pectorals, but a nice fascial release helped the chest...

Suzi likes treating him because he is very expressive and makes it absolutely clear whether something hurts and what helps. Also, although expressive
he is polite - he may look as if he's about to bite but he doesn't!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

What a sweetheart this horse is.

He's been with me 6 weeks. He's not been ridden much, but my goodness, he has a lot done to him. Today was typical.

• Groomed him. He likes being groomed. He got a chest massage.
• Tacked up with bareback pad (still no working saddle, hey ho) and bridle (no noseband or browband, perfectly functional). He doesn't mind the bareback pad but still swishes his tail when it lands on his back and swings his head as if to bite every time I do the girth up a hole. I'm not surprised, he's got a big rub on one wither from a too tight saddle, his withers are still sore all over and so is his chest.
• Once I've got it all on he gives a huge heaving sigh when he realises it's not going to hurt today.
• Today we did 20 minutes' work on standing at the mounting block. 2 weeks ago he would swing his quarters away from the block when he arrived at it, when I moved around to the mounting side, when I lifted the reins over his head, when I put my hand on his withers, and when I stepped on the block. Today he stood perfectly still and relaxed until I leant over him and bounced up and down, then he moved his quarters. I put him back sharpish and after that he stood like a pro.
• I took him to the gate to try him with our little portable steps. Still a pro.
• Back to the stable, tack off, smoothed soothing lotion into his wither rub. Such faces of ecstasy!
• Now to the feet. 3 times around. First time, pick out feet and spray soles. Sid holds up foot for me.
• Second time around, rubbing Heal to Hoof into all keratosis and mud fever areas. Sid tilts hoof and lets it go floppy so I can manipulate it to get into all the little folds behind his fetlocks. Doesn't move when I rub behind his knees, even though some bits are still sore.
• Third time around, he stands still while I paint his feet with hoof moisturiser.
• Put on rug (heavy rain due tonight and I fear that a horse that gets mud fever might get rainscald too). Fiddled with leg straps for about 10 minutes. Sid stands perfectly still, rolling his eyes. He already knows I am a tack dork.

Not a cross word throughout, apart from saddle on and girth up. Happy face, perky ears. I left him in the shelter with a net while I fed Mattie and poo picked, and every time I went past the door he stretched out to sniff me and get a tickle.

I love him. He is such a dude.