Bella has had a busy time of late – 24 June was her six month birthday, woot!! To celebrate, I introduced her to carrots. It took a while, only because Layla and Eden would swoop out of nowhere and steal the carrots I was offering. How rude! Anyways, Bella now has the gist of carrots, including how to eat them – for a while she nibbled on them rabbit style. While she loves carrots (and can locate which pocket has the carrots in it), she is gentle about endeavouring to acquire them.
I’ve been reiterating her lead lessons. Every now and then Bella stands and looks at me as if to say “I don’t really understand what is wanted” but never makes a fuss about it – no pulling back or any carry on – just looks at me then walks forward as requested.
I did work with Bella ages ago re picking up her hooves. I’ve been slack lately (picking up muddy legs really doesn’t appeal…) so I was a little anxious about her first hoof trim. Mike (our farrier) is great with the horses and how he handles them. I held Bella next to the wall so she could balance easier. She moved back a little but never tried to get away – it was more to correct her balance. She did wobble a little occasionally but was calm about the whole ‘ordeal’. By the time Mike did her hind legs, she was happily resting her head on my shoulder – so cute!!
A storm is due – again – so while Bella am stabled at night, I felt it appropriate to rug her for when she is outside. She couldn’t have cared less about having a rug put on, and stood quietly while mum (Yvonne) and I faffed about with belly straps and hind leg straps. The rug is 3’6” but needs darts in the shoulder to fit correctly – Bella didn’t even flinch when I hauled the rug back into position when it slipped. I'll have some darts put in the shoulder so it fits her better.
I noticed today that Bella spent the whole day with the other ‘girls’ (Tami, Layla and Splash) at the far end of the race, while Eden grazed at the top end of the race – weaning time perhaps? I’ve read a lot about weaning methods and prefer the gradual/with friends method. I know some people employ the cold turkey method but I feel that works better with a herd of foals due to their similar ages. As I only have the one foal, I prefer the gradual weaning process – I gradually introduced an ‘aunty’ (Layla) and just recently put all the horses together as a herd: Eden, Bella, Layla, Splash and Tami. So, tonight Layla and Bella are inside while Eden, Splash and Tami are outside. Bella and Eden can see each other and in the 5 hrs they’ve been separated (albeit in sight of each other), I’ve not heard a peep out of them.
Bella is such a delight – so easy and trainable which bodes well for the future
I’ve been reiterating her lead lessons. Every now and then Bella stands and looks at me as if to say “I don’t really understand what is wanted” but never makes a fuss about it – no pulling back or any carry on – just looks at me then walks forward as requested.
I did work with Bella ages ago re picking up her hooves. I’ve been slack lately (picking up muddy legs really doesn’t appeal…) so I was a little anxious about her first hoof trim. Mike (our farrier) is great with the horses and how he handles them. I held Bella next to the wall so she could balance easier. She moved back a little but never tried to get away – it was more to correct her balance. She did wobble a little occasionally but was calm about the whole ‘ordeal’. By the time Mike did her hind legs, she was happily resting her head on my shoulder – so cute!!
A storm is due – again – so while Bella am stabled at night, I felt it appropriate to rug her for when she is outside. She couldn’t have cared less about having a rug put on, and stood quietly while mum (Yvonne) and I faffed about with belly straps and hind leg straps. The rug is 3’6” but needs darts in the shoulder to fit correctly – Bella didn’t even flinch when I hauled the rug back into position when it slipped. I'll have some darts put in the shoulder so it fits her better.
I noticed today that Bella spent the whole day with the other ‘girls’ (Tami, Layla and Splash) at the far end of the race, while Eden grazed at the top end of the race – weaning time perhaps? I’ve read a lot about weaning methods and prefer the gradual/with friends method. I know some people employ the cold turkey method but I feel that works better with a herd of foals due to their similar ages. As I only have the one foal, I prefer the gradual weaning process – I gradually introduced an ‘aunty’ (Layla) and just recently put all the horses together as a herd: Eden, Bella, Layla, Splash and Tami. So, tonight Layla and Bella are inside while Eden, Splash and Tami are outside. Bella and Eden can see each other and in the 5 hrs they’ve been separated (albeit in sight of each other), I’ve not heard a peep out of them.
Bella is such a delight – so easy and trainable which bodes well for the future
Early July '09
