So it's Raining.....

Looking outside all I can see is giant black clouds above and lakes of water below. The horses are mushing about in the mud, and the arena has ducks swimming happily on it. I have a closet full of clothes on the laundry floor awaiting the washing machine but there's no where to dry them so they'll sit there a while. I really need to buy a dryer.

We have big yards for the horses to spend their days in in the wet weather, but we're lucky. A lot of the horses in the area will be confined to boxes and not getting worked. For me this is the start of the bad things to come. When the horses get to go out again, they'll be feeling fresh and excitable. They'll run and buck and play on the wet paddocks, possibly hurting themselves, but in the mean-time causing no end of trouble to handle them. They need to run and get the energy out, SAFELY!

So what do we do for our four-legged buddies when the weather gets like this?
Cut down their grain intake, and increase the bulk. This will reduce the sugar content while increasing roughage, it will keep them sane and occupied for longer periods of time. It will also stop me ( and people like me) from getting squished when we try to change their rugs and clean their boxes.
Take your horse for a walk. Either in hand or in the saddle, a good one hour walk will not only be good excercise for both of you it will also stimulate your horse's brain making him less likely to go nutty when you get back on for the first time! It will give you a great excuse to practice your ground work, and also may allow you to overcome some of those demons in the bushes! At the moment we have coucil clean-up piles on the roadside - what better way to get your horse used to all sorts of objects than to go investigate them. Those horse-eating excercise bikes and bags will stand no chance against your horse's brave leader: YOU!
Groom your horse. With wet-weather rugs on your horse has no ability to scratch itself, your horse will thank you for the itches and he'll look better for it! Grooming is also a great way to bond with your buddy, it's the way a herd acknowledges each other, and friendships are formed. A great groom that does not end with a saddle on his back will give him no end of pleasure both physically and mentally. Follow with some little stretches to help him stay supple and you'll thank yourself next week.

Finally when you get back in the saddle when the wet weather subsides, remember your horse will not be as fit and supple as he was last week. Take it easy with them, bring them back slowly. The ground will be slippery, and the going a bit mushy so put some protection on for your horse - bell boots, brushing boots/bandages, just in case! Don't forget your own boots and helmet, so we can all stay safe and enjoy our horses.