It's Snow a Fluke

We had our first proper snowfall on Friday, luckily though it was all gone by Sunday.  After the initial rolling and yee ha around the field, Wolfie was like, this is rubbish, where's the grass.  

One of the horses on our yard was recently put to sleep.  He was very old and had a number of conditions.  However, it was discovered during his autopsy that he also had liver flukes.  I had heard of liver flukes in cattle but had never associated them with horses.  We have regular worm counts down, but apparently fluke eggs are not seen in a normal worm count and you have to get a specific fluke test done.  Wolfie and the ponies are being blood tested today for a liver function test.  Then depending on the results, decisions will be made with regards to any treatment for the Flukes.  There is no licensed product for the treatment of flukes in horses.  Wolfie will also have his skin looked at today.  It has got better, although last night he started scratching again.  Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know of Wolfie's hatred of Vets.  I'm not looking forward to this visit today.  If anyone has any experience of liver flukes in horses, I'd be really interested to hear of it. 

Wolfie's heart shaped top lip is very evident in this picture.  I would like to read Getting in Touch, Understand and Influence Your Horses Personality by Linda Tellington Jones which details how to determine your horses personality characteristics.  I have read it before and I worked at 2 week long clinics with Linda Tellington Jones whilst I was working in America.  I'd like to read it again and profile Wolfie and the ponies. As fa as I can remember a heart shaped upper lip, is an expressive, curious and extroverted nature.

January so far has been a quiet month.  The weather is now more consistent with winter.  It's been pretty cold but at least we don't have the huge amounts of snow that have engulfed England, although the forecasters are saying that it's heading this way tomorrow.  We haven't really been up to much, a little bit of ground work when we can and yesterday I tacked Wolfie up and rode him around the yard.  I haven't been on him in about 3 months.  He stood at the mounting block like a rock whilst I got on and waited to be asked to walk on.  Normally after Wolfie has had a lengthy time off like this, he needs reminded, but he was very good.  The nights are beginning to get longer and I really can't wait until there is enough daylight to ride at night.  It was lovely to be back on him yesterday and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself even though it was just 5 minutes wandering around.  Although I would like to apologise to him, for not warming his bit up before I put it in his mouth.  I didn't realise just how cold it was until I touched it as I was putting it in his mouth.  Sorry Wolfie, I won't do that again.

Happy New Year!!!!

We hope you New Year is filled with health and happiness!!