When I arrived at the stables Willy told me he had been taking a look at the videos by Barbara Schultz on youtube. He said that he agreed with everything she said and that we should go and meet her. This is Willy's way...........he likes to work and share with others. You can find the videos via the following link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvjTTo9jX85tHsHMjSD9Pw
Shortly after I arrived Maria ran to us to say that one of the stallions had trapped himself in the stable. We ran to help. The stallion had his left fore foot trapped between the metal partition of the stable and the metal support which held it in place. The horse was calm and didn't move which was lucky for him as if he had attempted to free himself he would have lost his foot! Willy stayed calm and got a hack saw and quietly sawed through the metal support. The stallion had confidence in Willy and didn't mind while he sawed away at the metal. Willy explained that this is why it is important that the horse has confidence in us and trusts us to do what is best for him.
In the morning Willy backed 3 horses which have already been sold. They were very well accustomed to the tack and working as they had been worked in the pessoa with all the tack before. Willy explained that when the horse is backed the most important thing is that he has confidence in the trainer on the ground. The rider is simply a weight to be carried. The rider does nothing. In a way it is better that the rider is a beginner who attempts to do nothing than an accomplished rider who fiddles about! Willy encouraged the rider to mount and dismount from both sides and then to sit behind the saddle directly on the horses back. He said that sometimes this feeling can happen to the horse when he jumps so it is important that it is not a shock. Patience and preparation are the keys to success.
This morning we were lucky. The stallion was not hurt. The last horse to be backed this morning was less lucky. He was born in a field with a stallion and the stallion mauled him. His injuries were very bad. According to Willy the vet was called and stitched and bandaged the wounds at a cost of 700 euros. Within 2 days Willy could smell there was a problem. He removed the bandages and discovered that the wounds were septic. He removed the stitches and advised that the wound was kept open and thoroughly cleansed twice a day with the Schaette disinfectant. See http://www.schaette.de/shop/pferde/wunden/wundstein-essenz-481.html. You can follow the story of the healing process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5qLtawn0G0. Here is Bolero being ridden for the first time and afterwards having his shower in the wash box. He is another lucky horse!
I guess you're all wondering how Tamtam is getting on? Well this morning the worms are being excreted as can be clearly seen in the following photos:
Better out than in is the immediate thought!! In contrast Eric's dung is normal....but then again he is regularly wormed and I pick up the poohs in his paddock each day. Eric and Tamtam are staying in their boxes until Tamtam is clear of worms.
In the afternoon I rode the two lovely dutch mares again. Before I rode Willy warmed them up lose together in the manege. I noticed the grey was full of energy whilst the chestnut seemed dull. It was the same when I rode them. The chestnut had no energy or enthusiasm for her work.....the grey lots! We worked over raised trotting poles and then did a lot of canter work before finishing with walking on a long rein. Next week I will accompany Willy to Holland to return them to their owner.
When we put the horses back in their boxes I noticed that the grey immediately started crib biting. Geertrude told me that the grey cribs and the chestnut weaves. I asked Willy about it and he said it is impossible to stop once it starts. You can mask the symptoms and try to stop the horse doing it but the desire to do it will always be there. He said it starts normally when the horse is a foal. It has a stressful experience (often a poorly executed weaning from it's mum) and the behaviour starts from then. When I am stressed I pace up and down and if I am really stressed I rock back and forth. Willy said it is the same with the horse.....it has a calming effect.....Willy explained that he only weans the foals when the last foal is showing signs of independence (regularly spending more time away from his mum). Then he parts the mares and foals into two groups but still in sight of each other. This way the foals have company but can still see their mum......
Willy has no problems with vices despite the horses being stabled 24/7. This is because they are carefully raised and then the environment they live in is very open. They can see and touch each other. They have plenty to eat. The horses are happy.
Later in the afternoon I traveled with Willy to see Josephine. Willy coached her over fences working on control and rhythm between fences. He helped her correct some of the problems she had been having the day before with her trainer. Here are the happy team:
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