Monday 1 February 2021

Winter Struggles

 Just a quick little update this morning, sadly without any recent pictures - it's been dark and rainy and honestly I've been prioritizing just getting the horses exercised and chores done before sunset.

Sophie has been so, so, full of it. It's the time of year where the paddocks are muddy and she's not a fan. So, she spends a lot of time in her stall looking out at the rain. She was starting to sample some not so great habits like eating dirt, chewing on things, and an interesting repetitive rear/spin/stomp thing. Unfortunately, for where we live and the time of year it is, she already has the biggest turnout space one can find (I'm guessing it's about 80'x100'), and it's already available to her 24/7 so I'm kind of limited. The ground is just not conducive right now to the amount of running and playing she likes to do ( it's a little too dug up and slick) so she's frustrated. She's by far the most active and playful horse I've owned (or actually even met - Amanda's Presto looks like a virtual soulmate though!)


I wish we had her big gorgeous fields here!


I feel like half my camera is full of 'Sophie playing in the mud' pictures right now.

 At a minimum, I get her in the round pen once a day for some exercise, and I've had her out to the club grounds and on the trails a few times this week for some exercise and exploration.  I've also given up trying to weigh her hay appropriately into meals so she has an unlimited supply of hay in strategically placed nets and hay balls to eat or waste as she sees fit - I'd rather that than her eating dirt and fences. I'm dreaming right now of finally getting the plans and permits done for our own place and building her a big gallop friendly paddock with a gravel base for winter. Next winter she'll be able to have a proper job, and making time to have her in a full work schedule will have to be a priority. It's not exactly giving me the warm fuzzies right that her living situation is so obviously not suiting her. For now though I will just have to cross my fingers for a few drier days so the ground can drain and she'll have better footing to play on.




Is not starving under that coat, is just bored :(

And then we have Bridget. Also entirely too full of it! She seemed a little 'up' on Saturday, but it's Bridget and I had some decent rides through the week (even being the calm babysitter for a friends young horse's first trail ride), so I hopped on anyway. And, she proceeded to unload me in a very naughty pony type way :) Nothing hurt but my pride (and B's reputation - why is there always someone watching and ready to gossip when weird stuff happens? It's like a built in law of equestrians or something) so I got back on but she just didn't really settle. It's an odd day when I can't tire B out! Yesterday, I opted to longe the little monster prior to getting on and that was a wise decision. Again, not so great of a ride because she was super spooky and wired and honestly despite all the hiking and yoga I feel a bit too unfit as far as saddle time goes to really manage it as well as I could. It's B, though. By tomorrow I'll probably be struggling to wake her up :)


Fairly accurate representation of normal energy levels.

On the plus side, she's obviously feeling fantastic, is at a perfect weight, and to my eye looks and feels 100% and ready for bit more of a work schedule this spring.



On another note, I have fallen off twice recently after a nice hiatus of managing to stay in the saddle for a couple of years. I also have some new riding tights. I have worn them twice. I have fallen off in them twice. I'm not superstitious, but still...they have a 100% fall rate and while it's not exactly unheard of for me to end up on the ground, this seems a little excessive ๐Ÿ™ˆ Just in case, I think those tights are going to live in the back of the closet for a bit ๐Ÿ˜

So, horses in winter in the BC raincoast. This is fun, right?



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10 comments

  1. The tights would have to go...

    I'm feeling the same thing with my three year old cooped up because of winter weather. It is a tough age, half baby horse and half grown up horse with a need still to play but not quite ready for a five day a week job. I'm doing lots of ground work, and just bought him a giant ball and a lik it as well. You do what you can do.

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    1. lol, yeah, I'm kidding myself that there's really any other option :)

      I keep trying to remind myself Sophie really does have the best situation I think is available in the area, plus I get her out to do something every day. It's going to be a relief when she's able to just work full time :)

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  2. When Steele was a youngster he drove me a bit batty in the winter- he was so bored. They do outgrow it. A 24/7 80x100 turn out is a good thing for her. Does she like jolly balls?

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    1. Such a good suggestion but she's easily bored with them. She has one that dispenses treats she's a bit more motivated with. I should keep trying though, there has to be something that would entertain her!

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  3. sell the tights without fail :) Sophie. I wish you were closer she could be on 7 acres here, nice grass no real mud even by the barn this year (Tho it is muddy in spots).....

    I think Sophie will settle. BUt Bridget. WHAT A BAD GIRL HAHAHAHA (Sorry not laughing at you)

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    1. Bridget is SO sassy...but she is so quiet most people don't generally notice. Then we show up on a day she's feeling a bit more energetic and everyone is shocked at how many opinions she has lol

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  4. I mean... I'd be superstitious of those tights lol

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  5. Those sound like bad juju tights - maybe rub some sage over them LOL.

    I wonder if you have tried a jolly ball like Teresa suggested for her? I fully understand the doldrums that come with owning ponies in Northern BC. everything is wet and icky (and snowy here!) and the ponies be FRESHHHH as dragons.

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    1. Sophie was full on dragon snorting today and getting the other horses at the arena so riled up I opted to leave and spare everyone๐Ÿ™ˆ I need to keep exploring toys for her. She's easily bored with them and not super food motivated but there has to be something she'd play with.

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