JASON'S FEED

I have just changed Jason's feed, to hopefully help a little more with his condition and 'top line'. Due to the cold winter we are having, the feed Jason has been having is no longer having the desired affect.

After a lot of research and asking around in the horsey world, I have decided to put him on: Calm and Condition (this is fed soaked and warm, like a gruel, so it is easier for him to eat and digest. It is excellent for putting on weight and top line.) Alfa A Oil (this is a relatively large 'chop' of alfalfa which has added soya and linseed oil, which will help put on weight and also be useful for Jason's joints and will make his coat shiney!) Sugar beet (fed soaked, this is a good bulking food and has slow release energy) Crushed barley (again slow release energy). Also added into each feed is: milk powder, biotin (to keep Jason's hooves strong) brewery yeast (helps maintain a healthy gut), garlic granules (for heart, blood and will be good as a fly repellent in the summer) soya oil, and a supplement which has been recommended called 365 supplement. This is an excellent all round supplement.

Jason still has 3 feeds per day and still has hay available all day.

I have a young lady helping me with Jason now too. Sally is giving Jason lots of tlc, love and attention. She visits 3 or 4 times a week and grooms Jason and rides once or twice a week. He is loving all the fuss!!

Jason's new friend.

It's time for Jason to finally do some work to start to build up his muscles! My Uncle's partners daughter, Sian, has wanted to learn to ride for a while, but up until now, hasn't had the opportunity. Jason needs exercising, but I am too big to ride him and my children are too small. So, it makes perfect sense for Sian to start riding Jason!

Sian's first ride went very well. She did very well, especially as she hasn't ridden much before. Jason was a super star, even though he hasn't done any work for at least 6 months!

Next ride will be a trip along the cliff top this Saturday. Weather permitting of course!!

Cheeky boy!!

Snow pony!!

I have been struggling with guilt during the cold weather. Jason lives out in the field 24/7. I had planned to convert our woodshed/outbuilding into a stable for him before the winter set in, but father-n-law has put the dampers on that idea. Unfortunately, we don't see eye to eye and as the farm belongs to the out-laws, I have to toe the line.

So, plan B came into effect. Make sure Jason is as warm and dry all the time as much as possible.

When we had our 'large' snowfall last week, I was dreading putting my hand inside Jason's rug to check he was warm. To my surprise, he was/is lovely and toasty!!

Jason is now wearing a thick stable rug (similar to a 20 togg duvet) and a heavy weight turnout rug with a neck attached. He is eating half a bale of hay a day, along with 4 times the amount of hard feed my thorough bred horse is eating!! His breeding also goes a long way towards him being used to the harsh weather. Welsh ponies are used to living out on the Welsh mountains with no rugs or hard feed!!

Horses and ponies who live out, do pretty well in the cold frosty/snowy days. It's the driving rain and winds which could cause a problem if the animal is not kept warm, dry and well fed. So, I really shouldn't feel guilty. Jason is warm, well fed, happy and cheeky!!

Pedicure!

Last month, my farrier - Billy Scott, popped over to trim Jason's hooves. Billy was very pleased with what he found! Jason has lovely sound and solid hooves!! This means there is a pretty good chance he will be able to be ridden 'barefoot' - which means he wont need shoes on when he starts to be ridden again. This is brilliant as a set of shoes costs £60 a time and need replacing every 8 - 10 weeks! Saving money with horses- almost un heard of!!!

Update.

Just a quick update, to let you know I haven't forgotten you!! Jason is doing very well. He is piling on the weight and looking less like a hat stand and more like a pony - all be it a skinny pony!!

I have discovered Jason has quite bad sweet itch, which is an allergy to a type of midge, causing him to scratch his mane and tail. I am a little concerned by this, as he is 'itchy' at the moment whilst it is cold, so I am doing research into what I can do come summertime. There are a lot of different products on the market, some to go in his feed, others for topical application. I'll keep you posted with what I find!

I have increased Jason's feed a little now the weather has turned chilly, so his energy goes into building body condition, not just keeping warm.

So, on the whole, Jason is doing fine!

A lovely sunny day!

It such a fabulous sunny day today that I have decided Jason would really benefit from feeling the sun on his back.

I can't get over how well he looks in such a short time! There is obviously a very long way to go yet, but we are well on the way.

His coat is lovely and shiny and he has a little tubby belly!

I left him resting a back foot, eyes half closed, sun bathing!