I am absolutely fed up with the number of bite marks the two older boys are putting on Ace. The problem is that they are in the barn to have their food restricted, and although I drip feed them they are without any for several hours at a time. So they pick on Ace.
Ace needs more food than them anyway as he has a muzzle on overnight, so I tried an experiment today where I left Ace on the yard with a nice bed in a stable and all three stables open, and Buttie for company. He had ad lib hay. The other two were in the barn with their usual rations. I was a bit trepidatious, because the last time Ace was separated from Radar, even though he was still with Buttie and Jazz, he jumped the gate into the yard and skinned his knee :-00000 !
But it all went very smoothly and I have to say that all four horses seemed to me to be more relaxed about life. Ace was having a lie down in the stable when I went to turn him out. I even put his muzzle on before he got up. I saw Ace and Buttie doing a mutual rub after I turned all four out together for the night, too, which looked very sweet and happy.
Buttie got his muzzle off some time this morning before he came in. I hope that isn't a regular occurrence or he will have to be in full time - someone have a word with him will you ?
SH walked a mile today, and did it really easily. His pulse stayed below 100 and was completely rythmic. It did not wear him out and he is very bright this evening. I reckon he'll be walking four miles again before the end of June!
C
Brilliant news about SH, it must really make you smile to be able to start enjoying life together again
ReplyDeleteWow, SH is certainly living up to the "S!" Fantastic news.
ReplyDeleteSending mental messages to Buttie, but he's not being very receptive. Hope your alternative turnout system keeps working. I too hate seeing one horse picked on by the others. The low man in the herd always needs plenty of room to escape.
It was a slow mile, but it was an easy mile, so it gives us both a good boost Sarah :-)
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how it goes tomorrow Jean, but I'm not sure I have ever seen Ace that relaxed.
C
Two miles today and no ill effects. Weather was foul though so I haven't ridden.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I simply have not got the motivation to ride while it is cold and raining! All's fine, normal service resumed soon I hope.
ReplyDeleteC
Fantastic - SH walking a mile! And easily at that. So nice to be on this side of the operation.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you have settled on a summer routine for the horses night time accommodations. It's frustrating when they pick on each other. At our barn, one horse was pulling another horse's tail out, through the bars separating the runs. They got separated right away as she is trying to grow her horse's tail for show season.