Two things - exercise sheet rec's and napping out hacking

SaffronWelshDragon

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A two birds one stone thread. Very slightly related.

In October, Saf had her first ever bout of colic (I've had her 10 years, she's 18). We'd hacked an hour to get to a hunter trials, it was bitterly cold but we were out of the wind most of the time. When we arrived we had a long wait for our turn, the wind was blowing a gale across the fields, I tried to keep Saf moving around to keep her warm, but with no trailer there was no way of getting out of the wind. Anyway, long story short, she came down with colic (the shock of the cold is the only thing we can think of which caused it). My poor girl was so frightened, then we had an hour's wait for the vet to arrive, she must have been in pain :( Anyway, got a lift home and she's made a full recovery :)

So this is the thing. I am now paranoid about taking her rug off to ride her now, it's so cold in the wind. I'm thinking about getting her an exercise sheet, but never bought one before and wondered if a fleece type would do the job. I'm looking at the Equi-Theme ones on equestrian clearance, so if anyone had any experience with these please let me know (must be cheap).

The other thing is, I've not ridden much since, mainly because Saf was going to have a winter holiday anyway. She's now very reluctant to leave the yard, napping so badly I literally can't get her halfway up the driveway - she used to hack alone happily). Do you think she could be associating hacking with colic? How on earth do I go about getting her hacking alone again? Thought sod it in the end and we had a bareback canter around our fields instead.

Sorry, just got a lot on my mind and needed to get it out!
 
Can't answer your question re. association with colic/hacking, BUT can recommend a blimmin good exercise sheet!!! :)

Try here: www.equafleece.co.uk They've got two types; I've got the quarter sheet and paid the extra to have the tail-piece as well which IMO was well worth it. My boy's clipped out and his bottie gets really cold, poor lad, and this really does the trick. You can use it if its raining as well and the warmth of the horse's body will stop it from getting wet through.

PS: they've also got a lovely selection of fleeces for riding - I've got their Endurance top which keeps me as warm as toast even when its raining, plus the dogs have got their stuff as well. I really can't recommend them enough!!
 
The equitheme ones are quite thin, got one for my cob mare. The Rambo ones are nice a thick, got them for the tb and appy who feel the cold. They are expensive but the fleece is soooo thick and warm.
If she is feeling the cold I'd go for the Rambo one.
 
I got a premier equine fleece lined waterproof one the other year at Olympia which was cheap (can you bully someone into looking if they have them on offer this year if you're not going?). That's the thickest I have. Also have one of the rambo newmarket stripe fleece ones which is pretty thick fleece and nice and warm.

Shame she's not 6" longer as I have a woollen one which is far too big for any of mine now you could have.
 
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