Looking forward by looking back 18/4/16

I love writing my blog, it is really helpful looking back over my previous updates and reminding myself just how far we have come.  The improvement it immense and I'm so happy with Jack at the moment, he is trying so hard and improving and getting stronger every single time I ride him, it's easy to forget that at the end of 2014/early 2015 he was dangerous and unrideable. 

Whilst I wish it had not happened to my horse and it has been a really hard journey at times I have learned so so much about my horse and rehabilitation during the last couple of years.  It's a constant learning curve and I by no means think I know it all now, far from it, but I have learnt one really really valuable lesson and that is to listen to my horse, he is not a horrible horse that just doesn't want to be ridden, he is a willing horse given time, patience, the right tools to do the job he is being asked and correct riding.

So with how well he has been going at home I decided it was time to enter a competition again.  My friend had asked me to ride her horse in a combined training competition at a college not too far from me so I though I might as well take Jack along too!

I entered the intro A and 60cm SJ on Jay and Prelim 12 and 70cm SJ on Jack, Jay is very inexperienced and spooky so wanted to keep things simple for him while Jack found 60cm very easy last time out and has been jumping comfortably at upto 1m at home so I felt a step up to 70cm would be well within his capabilities as would a prelim test.

In the week before the competition Jack was going really well and I was extremely pleased with both his flat work and his jumping so I was hopeful for a good competition on him.  It took me ages to get him cleaned up, everytime he changes his coat he gets lighter and lighter, the horse I brought 5 years ago was almost black and easy to keep clean, he is now almost white and always looks filthy!!

I was a little concerned when I got our times through on the Friday before the comp as I only had 20minutes between jumping Jay and dressaging on Jack!  I usually warm Jack up for a good 30minutes before I pick him up and push him together too much and was worried only 20minutes warm up would not give me time to get him working at his best.  I contacted the organiser and she told me not to worry as it was her mistake and to just jump Jay and do my dressage on Jack whenever we were ready - phew! 

So Saturday was spent scrubbing and cleaning ponies and tack ready for Sundays competition.

Sunday was an early start with my dressage on Jay at 9.20am so I was down at the farm for 6.30am to get Jack plaited, loaded and on the road for 7.30am.  As always seems to be the way there was drama to be had before we got underway!!  Firstly I had not anticipated the freezing conditions and found the trailer hitched frozen solid when I arrived so had to run back and forth to the toilet getting luke warm water (that is the best we get!) to try to defrost it!  After 3 goes the lock came open and I was ready to hitch up when I noticed my hand brake handle was bent double!  My trailer is the last in the line before the work vans and we can only imagine one of the vans had hit it when they were parking and bent it.  Luckily the hand brake still worked and the brakes had not seized on so it cant have been like it long.  There was not other damage so with stress levels elevated I finally got hitched up and could start getting Jack ready!  I quickly plaited him up and removed the stable stains as best I could, threw on a light rug and loaded him up.  Thanks to our recent loading practice he went straight on - yay!  And we were underway!
The journey was uneventful and we arrived as planned at about 8.30am, stress levels now reduced to slightly more normal!  I had a quick look around to find out where the dressage and jumping warm up and arenas where and then left Lucy to tack up Jay while I walked the show jumping course.  It was a nice course with plenty of space, no tight or tricky lines and I was confident it would not pose too may problems.

I got on Jay and warmed him up in the indoor with a couple of other horses, he was on his toes but well behaved and warmed up nicely, when we went through to do our test he had few little spooks but nothing major and not bad at all considering he had never been indoors before!  We trotted round a couple of times and he settled well then the horn went and we were in trotting down the centre line towards the judges car, he performed a beautiful test, the rhythm was consistent, contact consistent and we did everything where it was meant to be done, I was thrilled with him and knew it was a good test.  Fortuantely the judge agreed and we went into to lead.  I then quickly tacked up Jack and then took Jay down to the jumping arena.  Going into the jumping I found out we had maintained the lead and were 4 faults in front of 2nd place!   Jay warmed up well over the practice fences and we were 2nd to jump.  The first horse and rider went in and I took Jay over to the gate ready to go in next, just as the horse refused the first fence depositing it rider who had taken its bridle off in the fall in the middle of the jump and sending poles flying, it took a good while to get the rider who was fortunately unhurt back on her feet, catch the loose bridleless horse and rebuild the fence.  fortunately I'm not a nervous rider but the poor girl after me was having kittens!

I took Jay in and Lucy his owner had warned me to show him the brush as he had been eliminated at that the previous week with another rider so while I waited for the bell I walked him up to the brush which he seem less than bother by, the bell went and we were off and cantering towards the first jump, Jay spooked left and right stopped and leapt over throwing me out the saddle but we stayed together and made it to the otherside with all the poles still up, he was still spooking at fence 2 and I had to ride him quite hard to get him over, we were also heading towards the collecting ring for fence 3 right by the gate, on landing Jay took off towards the other horses and I lost control going flat out straight past fence 3 and had to circle back but he cleared it nicely at the 2nd attempt, he then settled and I managed to maintain the control a little better for the rest of the round, unfortunately speed was a bit of an issue and we knocked 2 fences down, both the 2nd parts of a double where he just got too fast and flat to the 2nd part.  A real shame as this dropped us from 1st to 6th but a lot of lessons learnt and we will certainly be changing his bit for jumping in the future as a snaffle is just not strong enough!

I then had to quickly jump on to Jack and warm him up for his Dressage test.  I usually warm up for a good 30minutes at home but as I knew I didn't have this long I tested him with a quicker warm up at home the day before and he had been ok with it so I was feeling fairly confident.  He was slightly behind my leg and a little spooky but all in all going ok and before I knew it it was time for us to go in.  I was a little disappointed with the test as he wasn't going nearly as well as I know he can do, he was very behind my leg in the trot and on his forehand, the canter was ok and the walk good, I was actually surprised to find we had managed a score of 30!  I had been expecting at least a 35!  Obviously it didn't look as bad as it felt but how exciting that he can score 70% when he not going well, just think what he could manage if he performs as well in the arena as at home!
So feeling very please and in joint 3rd place we went on to the jumping and well Jack just excelled himself!  He cantered round in a beautiful rhythm and cleared everything with ease with his ears pricked and a smile on both our faces!  I was absolutely thrilled with him, he met every jump on a good stride and he didn't look, spook or falter at anything.  As the leaders also jumped clear we maintained 3rd place yay! Ok it was only a 70cm class but the turn around in his attitude and ability is beyond belief, he would never have been able to do this before his operation and it has taken a while to build his confidence back up but wow the round made everything worth while! 
I'm so excited as I know he has so much more to give now and he is actually happy and enjoying himself!

Next up we have a weekend camp at the end of the month where I hope to build his confidence to the same levels over xc fences and then hoping to do a hunter trial or unaffiliated ODE in May if all is going well.

Eeek so much to look forward to with my super boy :)

27/4/16 Exciting plans

I'm very excited that this weekend sees us finally taking part in a 3 discipline boot camp, some intensive training is just what we need to help us step up another level and keep our confidence high.  We have only actually had 2 lessons since Jack's surgery as until recently I didn't feel like we would benefit that much but now we are most definitely firing on all cylinders and ready to be pushed!
We were originally booked to do one at the end of January with our usual instructor but with me having had pneumonia and so Jack having had most of January off slumming it in the field we had to cancel.  Unfortunately my instructor only does camps in winter so I didn't think I would be able to go to one but luckily we have managed to get a place on one at a fairly local equine college which has lovely facilities including a full BE xc course so I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm not so excited by the weather forecast as for this week it is rain, sleet, snow, wind and more rain!! I'm hoping it's not as bad as all that by the weekend and that the ground holds up so we are able to get out on the Xc course at last as this is my main aim of the weekend!
Now I just need to get everything organised!

Jack has been on great form again this week, he has schooled well, jumped fantastic, enjoyed hacks and lunged over poles.  Our jumping this week put a huge smile on my face as we flew round jumping a decent 90cm spread and a 1m upright as well as a double of skinny brushes.  He gave me a fantastic feeling over the fences and was keen but not silly.  We had a little discussion about cutting corners as Jack obviously felt that getting a good turn and being straight to the fence were not as important as I did but other than that he was spot on and when I rode the turn better instead of just expecting him to go into the corner he responded with a much more balanced turn and straight approach to the fence.  I was thrilled with how easy he made 1m feel.  I am also finding it easier and easier to see and ride a good stride as he is taking me into the fences.  Pre surgery Jack would have had me kicking and praying and unless we were in a perfect take off position he would stop.  Even when he did jump it was awkward and jerky, often unseated me and/or sent poles flying.  It had made jumping a really unpleasurable experience and prior to diagnosis I had decided he either just hated jumping or I was affecting him so badly with something I was doing I was causing him not to be able to jump.  Fast forward 14months and jumping is a totally different experience!  We both jump round with smiles on our faces and really enjoy ourselves!  I can't tell you how massive the difference is!
It seems so obvious now but at the time I didn't know any different and I thought Jack was just careless and not good at or didn't like jumping!  I have to admit though even though he is going so well I still keep expecting the wheels to fall off and he revert back to the horse that couldn't walk a circuit of the ménage without rearing.  I'm always really grateful when I get off him and we have had another good ride, I will never take a nice, uneventful ride for granted again.

Following our camp, if all goes well and he jumps the XC fences as well as he has been jumping the SJ fences, then the plan is to do a hunter trial or unaffiliated ODE in May and hopefully do some BE80's in the latter half of the eventing season.  Exciting stuff!

Having some help down the farm!

Enjoying a lovely sunny hack

 Working well over raised poles in the Pessoa

27/3/16 A roller coaster few weeks!

Rather annoyingly, when he has been going so well, work with Jack had stalled in the last few weeks as he suddenly became very foot sore.  Nothing to worry about, it was expected as it happens about this time every year and tells me it's time to get him some shoes back on as he is barefoot through the Winter.  Unfortunately my farrier had been unable to fit us in at a time I could manage so Jack had a bit of an easy time of it for a couple of weeks while we waited.  We managed the odd little hack, a small amount of schooling and a couple of lunges but I didn't want to push him when his feet were sore.  It did give me the time to do a bit more ground work with him in the arena and we also managed to do a bit of much needed trailer loading practice.  He has always loaded well onto lorries but has never liked the trailer much.  Whilst I would love to be able to buy him a lorry I just don't have the money so I need him to get used to travelling in the trailer!  He did get better at loading for a while but then he had a year of only ever going to the vets in trailer and he became difficult to load again.  We've not had it much need to travel since but when we have he has not wanted to load so I decided now was a good time to tackle the loading issues and spent a few days loading and feeding him in the trailer.  The first day he hesitated for a while before loading the first time but then went straight on each time after that, the next day we had no hesitation at all and he now trots in happily next to me so real progress was made but we need to keep up the practice more frequently so he doesn't revert back.  It's nice to take the pressure off every now and again so Jack doesn't become bored or resent his work so it's actually not been bad to have a more relaxed couple of weeks however we now need to get back on it as we have entered a competition!!

I'm riding my best friends pony in a combined training competition in a few weeks so I decided as I'm going I might as well take Jack along and do a class on him too so we've got a few weeks to prepare for that, its only a prelim test and 70cm show jumping and he is comfy jumping around 1m at home (well he was before his feet became sore) so this shouldn't be an issue for him.

With a competition now to aim at work to get ready has begun, not only to get Jack performing at his best but also looking presentable, he's been rather roughed off this winter!  He needs a good bath, mane pulled, legs trimmed and mane and tail tidied up so he looks half decent at least!  He hates his mane being pulled and I have to twitch him to get it done so it takes a few days.  I'm looking forward to having a less scruffy pony at the end of it!

I tried not to worry when Jack was foot sore but as anyone who has had a horse with Kissing spines knows owner paranoia is a major issue when ever our horse has a problem no matter how small.  Jack gets foot sore every spring, it's not unusual but I started to convince myself there might be other causes, that he had lost his sparkle and maybe I should be calling the vet instead of the farrier.  I really didnt need to worry though, since having his shoes back on this week he's got a spring back in his step and he is feeling fab!  I schooled him today and I put some poles out as this always seems to help get him moving more forward and engaging his hind end.  I set out 3poles 1 canter stride apart on one side of the menage and then 2 poles an unknown distance apart on the opposite side.  Having warmed up in walk and trot and over the poles I then cantered him over them and counted the number of strides between the 2 poles and we got 8 on each rein.  This then gave me something to work on as I adjusted his stride to fit in first less strides, we managed 7 on each rein and even managed a 6 on the right rein!  I think the reason we didn't manage 6 strides on a left is because I had positioned the first pole too close to the corner off the left rein so we couldn't really get going before the pole like we could to the right.  We then did a bit more work to collect him and got 9 and 10 strides in on each rein.  This is a huge improvement as adjusting his stride has always been a struggle and resulted in Jack rushing onto his forehand and loosing the quality of the pace.  I'm so pleased with him!
After that I stretched him in canter and he was so loose and did a lovely stretch right over his back and much softer laterally in his neck too.
The improvements this horse is making are really exciting me I just hope I can show him off to his best in a couple of weeks, he's more than ready for it I just need to practice riding a test as it's been over 2 years since I last did one!

In the mean time finally here are the images from a professional photo shoot we had done last Autumn after winning a facebook competition:

10/3/16 - Jack just keeps getting better :)

I have had the most wonderful few weeks with Jack since my last blog, he is going so well, hacking, lunging, schooling and jumping are all better than ever and I am enjoying riding him so much - this is how it should be!!  He is so much fun to ride and it never feels like a chore.  He is pretty much back to full fitness now and is looking trim and healthier than he ever has before.  His winter break really seems to have done his body and mind the world of good and he has come back mentally and physically stronger.

I've even managed to ride with friends this week to so I also have photo and video evidence of how nicely he is working at the moment :) It's been great to see for myself that he actually looks better too!  Whilst I have felt that he is working so much better its nice to actually see it for myself!
What's really exciting is I know that whilst he is getting better and better there is still so much more to come :)

On the flat I am using ground poles to help build his top line and core muscles, as a result he is getting stronger and able to hold his frame for longer, he's much more flexible, responsive and adjustable.  He has honestly never felt so good.  He always struggles with lightening his forehand and he is built quite downhill anyway but I'm now seeing and feeling improvements every time I ride him.  There is no hesitation when I ask for a transition or more impulsion and he has much more bounce and energy in his paces, this in turn helps me to think about my own position and make little adjustments to improve things even further.  I'm so excited by how much he is improving but I know I must be careful not to push for too much too soon so I am avoiding schooling more then twice a week. 

I am continuing to use poles once a week when I lunge in the pessoa too, I use different exercises each time and find it really perks Jack up, he has to think for himself and adjust his stride so its good for his mind as well as his body.

On the weekend we managed to jump with a friend, I've not jumped him under saddle in nearly 3 months but I loose jumped him a couple of weeks ago and he was brilliant so I was looking forward to seeing if the improvements were as good under saddle.  It's safe to say the answer is yes!  He blew me away with how well he jumped and far exceeded my expectations.  He was suddenly able to use his shoulders and back and bascule over the fence releasing behind, the difference in his jump was immense, for the first time in years I didn't feel like I was being launched out of the saddle!  He has always been very tricky to jump and would often stop, even when he did jump I was always getting thrown up in the air or left behind as he couldn't use his back so would try to cat leap with all 4 feet at the same time!  I thought it was just me and I was rubbish at jumping but now I know I'm not - I can actually jump and stay in balance with my horse!!  We set out 5 fences across the E - B line of the ménage 2 on angles so we could ride a nice flowing course of 5 jumps with 1 double and all the fences were nice and small to start with both horses warmed up well and jumped all the fences individually before jumping them as a course.  Jack just made it feel far too easy so we put all the fences up and had another go.  Again Jack jumped round like a pro well within our comfort zone.  We decided to put the fences up once more and then leave it for the day as the grey clouds were gathering above us and looking very threatening!  The 2nd part of the double and the 3rd fence were now 95cm high!  As I set out to jump round again the heavens opened and a hale storm ensued but Jack bless him just put his head down and kept going.  We go very close to the first fence and in the past Jack would more than likely have stopped or knocked it down with his front legs but not now, he never even hesitated, he just tucked his legs up quick and twisted his body to clear the fence!  He jumped through the double beautifully making it feel like it was only about 50cm!  Again he got a little deep to the bigger 3rd fence but still cleared it with ease and finished nicely over the gate and skinny.  We had jumped all those fences and never touched a pole, he has never been what I thought was a careful horse but he was really pinging and picking up his toes.
As we were with a friend I got videos and photos again too!

We also got to join the Sunday morning hack this week so early Sunday morning 4 of us headed out together, this is the first time in over 3 months that we have managed to hack with anyone else!!  Jack was a little excited but very well behaved and both lead and followed.  We had lots of trotting and some canter where possible and I was pleased with how well Jack felt, he didn't feel tired or like he was struggling at all.  He was the most sensible out of the 4 and lead the way when there was some scary building work by the side of the road.

So I think it is safe to say the magnetic boots and rugs we have been using lately are definitely having a positive effect and I will be using them daily to keep Jack happy and able to work to his best ability.

It's taken a long time and a lot of effort but my horse if feeling better than ever and I can start to believe we might achieve what I brought him for and compete at eventing after all :)

22/2/16 The improvements continue

I am so, so, so pleased to be able to write again about how well Jack is doing!  The change in him for the better since before Christmas is immense! 
Basically before Christmas I felt like he just didn't like me much anymore!  He wouldn't come to me when I called him in the field and generally just didn't seem as friendly towards me.  It sounds silly I know but he has always been quite a affectionate horse and now he was pretty much ignoring me.
Maybe he just needed a bit of a break as since he was left in the field for a few weeks over New Year while I was too ill to go down he has been back to his friendly and affectionate self that I love!  He comes cantering over to the gate when I call him and grooms me back when I'm brushing him etc.  He seems so much happier and happy to see me too everyday which is lovely :) There has only been 1 day where he was difficult to bring in from the field and I do think it has to do with when the mares are in season, they get split up from them in the Spring so it shouldn't be a problem, I'm hoping anyway!

His ridden work continues to impress me and we have just started cantering out on hacks, we can't do that much as the ground is too deep and sticky in a lot of places but we have managed a little canter along the edge of a field which is drier, Jack was very well behaved and calm the first time which surprised me!  We are mostly hacking and increasing the distance as well as the amount of trotting plus adding canter where possible.  He is really behaving well out hacking and his nappy behaviour from pre op has completely disappeared, we can now pass other horses out hacking without a battle, this is a major improvement!  We also do a couple of lunging sessions a week in the pessoa over poles and 1 schooling session a week too, this really seems to suit Jack, he is feeling fitter and stronger and when I do school him he feels fantastic!  I still carry a whip but I never have to use it now as he is foward and responsive to my aids.  The biggest difference is in the trot to canter transitions, he used to find these a real struggle and would often go crooked and hollow in the transition taking a good 3/4 strides before actually making the transition.  That was an improvement on pre op where he would not canter at all and if asked would just stop and rear however it still needed a lot of work.  Now I just have to sit and move my leg back ever so slightly and he bounces instantly into a lovely energetic canter :)

I was pushed for time one day last week so I decided to see how Jack felt about loose jumping, I popped up a little cross pole and warmed him up on the lunge then let him go and he flew round leaping about and enjoying himself, he was doing a wonderful extended trot down the long side of the ménage!  He jumped beautifully and actually ended up jumping about 1m, he was enthusiastic taking out strides and going for long ones,I got some stills from the videos I took when the jumps were a bit smaller :)

I might even try jumping with me on this week!

We still have nothing definite in the pipe line but will hopefully take part in some pairs hunter trials over the summer to get back into the swing of things and maybe even get some ODE's in before the end of the season if all goes well but I'm not setting my sights too high and just want to enjoy having a fit, healthy and happy horse again :)

17/2/16 Beginning to get fitter

When I wrote my last post I had just got back in the saddle but stormy weather was making conditions less than desirable!  Well, thanks to storm Imogen, following that first windy little hack Jack ended up having a couple of days off and was even treated to a night in the stable, a rare luxury for him!   This actually coincided with hospital and Dr appointments for me so it would have been difficult to fit in riding anyway so as timing goes it was actually good for once!
By Wednesday the storm had passed and calm resumed so we headed out for another slightly longer hack, the plan is to go slightly further each day, we were alone again but Jack behaved beautifully and was much more forward and working well over his back into a nice long, low and soft contact.  His back felt great and I could feel him swinging through which I don't usually feel, even out hacking he usually needs some encouragement to step through and not just dawdle along as a leisurely pace but I wasn't having to use any leg at all and he was nice and soft into the contact too. His back muscles will be building up nicely working like that!  As he was going so nicely I wanted to keep up with the hacking, straight lines are best at this stage to build his muscle evenly so we ventured out again on Thursday and again increased the length of the route we took also including a couple of short bursts of trot.  Jack felt so good, he had a real spring in his step, lots of energy and enthusiasm but no silliness or spookiness and we had a really nice ride.  He found coming back down the bridle path very exciting but he managed to keep a lid on it. I let him have a trot on the slightly uphill bit and he was very keen indeed, the grass verge was very soft and deep so I stayed on the path as the last thing I want to do is have him slip or pull something in deep going when he's not fully fit.  I was really pleased with him again and he seems to have just the right amounts of energy without so much he's naughty or spooky, he is also looking nice and trim now too which is great as its always a struggle keeping his weight down.  I'm glad he isn't carrying any excess weight coming out of winter, I don't have to worry quite so much about the spring grass!!
I couldn't ride Friday due to childcare issues and appointments so Jack got another day off!  Not ideal but nothing I could do about it and in the long run its probably good for him, there is no rush to get him fit at this stage, we have no date we have to work to, no pressure on us and one of the things I learnt while rehabbing after his surgery is to take your time.
We managed to get out again on Saturday and enjoyed another nice hack with lots to like about Jacks way of going and attitude, he has just the right amount of energy to work to the best of his ability without being silly.  It's a good job he will hack alone as we've not seen anyone to ride with all week!
Sunday was a busy day with family so I just lunged in the pessoa but again I was impressed with Jacks attitude and way of going, much more forward and enthusiastic :)
On Monday I didn't get to the yard in time to go for a hack so decided to take him in the school instead, he had been less than enthusiastic the last time we had been in there so I got my spurs on ready.  I also borrowed a friends magnetic rug to pop on him for half and hour before I rode.
Now at the moment I can't say what's making the difference but WOW he felt amazing!!  I honestly don't think he has ever felt so light, forward, responsive, adjustable and soft!  I could have ridden all night he just felt so wonderful but I kept to a steady 30mins with several breaks for stretching so not to over do it.
So what is it that's making the difference, is it the food now I've changed him onto the higher energy mix, the magnetic boots, magnetic rug or combination of all 3?  I'm really not sure at this stage but I'm just absolutely thrilled that he is feeling so good.  I have never got that feeling from him before and I'm really excited by it, if we can keep that as he gets back to full fitness I will have got my horse back better than ever!  I'm thrilled for him too as he is getting his confidence back 😀
So I will be continuing with using the magnetic rug and boots before and after exercising him as well as  doing carrot stretches before every ride.  I will be hacking again this week and building up the amount of trot work each day, if the weather allows as forecast is heavy rain and snow!!

8/2/16 - Back in the saddle

Finally this week, after what feels like forever, I was able to get back in the saddle!
I've been lunging Jack everyday to build up his muscle, we've been doing a variety of different pole work exercises to really get him lifting his back, engaging his core and hind quarters and flexing his hocks all of which he really needs to do to support his spine and the poles make it really easy to achieve.  He seems to enjoy doing the poles and it certainly makes going in endless circles a bit more interesting!  There are so many different ways to set the poles out too so it doesn't become boring and repetitive.
I'd not ridden yet as I really wanted his saddle checked first just to make sure I wasn't going to create anymore issues by riding in a saddle that wasnt quite right.
Friday came and the saddler was booked for 12.30pm to check his saddle fit for me, she was running very late due to an accident but fortunately I wasn't in too much of a rush and spent the time giving Jack a good groom, not that you would know it, he still looks very mud coloured!  I did manage to get a brush through his tail for the first time since before I was ill thanks to a big helping of nettex mane and tail detangler!
When the saddler finally made it I tacked him up and she checked the saddle surprisingly finding it still a good fit, she then checked it with me mounted and after a few minutes of riding and again it was still sitting perfectly so no work required :) I just rode in the school for 15minutes in walk and a little trot to finish.  Jack felt lazy but very relaxed!  Probably should have put my spurs on!
It also made me think about his food, he's only been getting a small amount of healthy tummy and safe and sound chaffs which are both low energy.  I have to be careful with his weight and through summer this is usually plenty alongside the grass but I do normally add a higher energy mix in winter and fibrebeet to give him a bit more enthusiasm, again that's not happened due to my illness this winter and for almost 6weeks he pretty much lived on just grass.  How lucky are we to have enough good winter grazing to do that!!  He looks in very good condition and has not lost weight from it but I felt that now he's in regular work again he needs a bit more so as I needed some more gastro-kalm anyway for his tummy when I went to the shop I got a bag of spillars response slow release energy too.

The awful weather put paid to any riding on Saturday, it was howling winds and throwing it down by the time I got to the yard to meet my friend Jo for a ride, we both decided to wimp out and leave it for another day!
I also didn't ride out with the other liveries on their regular Sunday morning hack, I would have loved to but they go for a good hour with lots of trotting and cantering so we will have to wait a good few weeks before we are ready for that!  I rode in the afternoon instead, I wanted to go for a little hack but the wind was still very strong and I wasn't too sure if taking Jack out for the first time in months on my own in high wind was a good idea!  After a good talking to myself I decided to just get on with it and I was really glad I did, he was on his toes but never put a foot wrong and had a lovely ride.  Hopefully the wind drops off a bit but the forecast is for storm imogen to bring more high winds and heavy rain the next few days, maybe Jack will get another day or 2 off!

I also received some magnetic hock boots from Equine Magnetix this week and was keen to give them a try so I've started putting them on a couple of hours at a time. Too early to tell if they have any effect yet but looking forward to seeing some positive results on his arthritic and slightly stiff hocks as he gets used to them.  Hopefully they help keep him comfortable, they have lots of positive feedback from owners of horses with conditions similar to Jacks so fingers crossed they can work for him.  I'm also considering getting him a back on track rug but would like to see some results from the boots before I spend that sort of money.  I may also treat Jack to an equiami lunging aid rather than the pessoa as they have such a positive following amongst other kissing spines horse owners.

You can see in the below picture where the river has burst its banks and flooded the bottom part of our field, fortunately most of the field is on higher ground and well draining so other then the bottom part getting flooded and the gateway being a mud bath the rest of the field is pretty good, Jack decided to photobomb my attempt at photographing the flood water!