Recent content by whirlwind

I try to give ad lib hay but if they’ve run out for any reason a bucket of chaff whilst I give them a flick over/ tack up is enough to line the stomach and as it’s fibre shouldn’t cause any issues :)

We strip graze the middle of a wide grass track over winter- it’s at least 5/6 acres in the middle and normally does them with just a bit of extra hay for roughage. This year they’d completely cleared it by the new year as had to let them in so early due to the wet weather. With hay at £150/ ton...

Could you look into changing bedding? We get ton bags of sawdust/ shavings delivered from a guy who does logs for people. They’re £15 a bag delivered and 2 does a very generous bed in a 24ft shelter. We put 6 down across the 3 shelters in autumn and then top up with a bag across the 3 maybe 3/4...

My biggest cost by far is hay. Luckily they live out barefoot on our own land so minimal other costs but they’ve been going through nearly 120kg a day between the 8 of them since they’ve eaten most of the middle grass 🙈. No way round it though until the grass starts coming through so just making...

Just put the horselyx one in a bucket and tie it to your tie ring with some bailer twine is what I do for the exact same situation! Or in one of those over the door buckets.

If they live together on a yard setup can you not just get one round of haylege at a time and drop it on the yard for them- If you get a big bale net (I’ve found tricklenets although expensive compared to others last way longer) and let them just share it? That way no nets to fill or separation...

Mine are still barely eating any hay (last big 6 string Heston did 3 weeks between 8!) in favour of their quite stingy strip of grass each day and are all looking well on it so must still be some goodness there. They have 10 nets in and around their shelter area between them so it’s totally...

If you have water but just no pressure get one of these! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cordless-Pressure-KKnoon-Portable-Rechargeable/dp/B0BVBCQ1TK/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=DMKRVB4K1J31&keywords=battery+pressure+washer&qid=1700832204&sprefix=battery+press%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-5 We have ibcs plus a stream for...

We’ve got an pony that gets this, it’s just food build up. You can just push it out with your finger inside her mouth. She does have regular dentals but is an old pony with a couple of missing teeth.

I did. I’ve got an elderly shogun which I love and pulls like a train but similar to yours is not the most economic vehicle 🤣😳 i don’t do loads of driving day to day though and found by the time I’d mot and insured both I wasn’t saving anything. Also we’ve got loads of dogs and they didn’t...

Can she not have them packed? One of mine had a fairly severe diastema (young horse and rest of mouth good so presumably from wedging a stick or something) he had it cleaned and packed a couple of times maybe 3 months apart (he did have to go up to our local hospital) and on last dental...

I teach by sitting on the floor with them with legs out stretched but slightly off the floor then asking them to get a treat from under your knee if that makes sense. So they have to lie down to fit!

You need a very nice horse/ pony to do well in HOYS qualifiers. I’ve got a lovely fell who would win locally every time out but isn’t good enough to qualify. We go to our county show as she always gives a nice ride and doesn’t blink at all the hustle and I get a lovely picture in the main ring...

One of mine got bitten, she’s fairly hard so we didn’t actually know until a massive abscess came up on her side. Took to vets and they found the bite marks. It was a while ago but apart from all the skin coming off her side I don’t think she was actually very bothered and recovered fine so...

Friends, freedom, forage. However with the caveat that I’m very lucky to have my own land so lots of space and no real competition for resources and a stable herd that doesn’t change apart from horses coming out for a couple of hours to be ridden.