Paddy Muir

Winter Sets In

It really is like the frozen north in North Yorkshire at the moment and frozen fields and arenas make it difficult to keep any constant work going with the horses. We try to keep the horse walker defrosted so at least they can walk for half an hour a day if we get really stuck.

I thought this month would be a good opportunity to mention how we cope with the change in rountine at this time of year. I think it is very important to alter the feeding regimes in good time before you end up with a stable full of lunatics that have been under-exercised for too long! I feel that when they're stabled for longer the horses really look forward to their feeds and it is unfair to cut their rations to nothing so I increase the amount of Dengie Hi-Fi and feed less oats. I make the Alfa-Beet quite watery and mix it with the Hi-Fi then add a few oats or low energy pony cubes and whole carrots. Feeding this way you can give the horses a good substanial meal with no fear of 'heating' them up.

We have a pony on the yard, Hope, with a bit of a weight problem and she gets her flat scoop of Hi-Fi mixed with water - one handful of pony nuts and a couple of carrots twice a day. I limit this pony's haylage to three small amounts per day. She only really gets exercised at weekends when the kids are off school, so it is important she doesn't become too hot headed or fat. I find this method of feeding keeps her content, slim and level headed, fit enough to work at home and to take indoor show-jumping at the weekend.

Kept on a controlled diet of high fibre feed and haylage I find the horses remain sane enough to ride whenever the conditions allow without being lunatics. If ever any of our riders have any doubts about the sanity of their horses they will always lunge them for a good 20mins before exercise or make sure they go on the walker for half an hour. This way we all stay in one piece!

Hopefully the weather will improve in the new year as we up the fitness regime to prepare for the oncoming season.

Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Paddy