I love this time of year when everything is new and fresh.  The new lambs are in the field, the daffodils and tulips are all around and the bluebells will soon be covering the woodlands like a sea of blue.  But what does it mean for your horse and pony?

Well the spring grass is here and that brings with it not only lovely new green shoots for them to gorge on but also, first thing in the morning especially on dewy grass, lots of sugar.  So now is the time to take special care over your equines feet.  Like everything else they tend to grow quite quickly at this time of year and with the increase in sugar in the grass some association has been made with the advent or worsening of the condition known as Laminitis in some breeds.  So keep checking your equines hoof health and also maintain regular visits from a good farrier to keep the hooves trimmed and, if applicable, well shod.  Since Laminitis is also linked some believe to over eating avoid the temptation to over feed your equine.  The spring grass is often very rich and this should be taken into account in your feeding regime.  As it’s such an important issue especially this time of year we will be touching on laminitis care and best practise in our next newsletter – out soon!

Along with the warmer weather come flies.  I would recommend stocking up with a good fly repellent.  Some of those containing natural products such as tea tree oil are very effective and kind to the horse also.  Be aware of horse flies and look out for them – on dark horses they are sometimes difficult to spot.  Also be aware that ticks are in thick undergrowth at this time of year so extra care and vigilance is needed with your grooming if you ride your horse through such areas.  You may find that some of your favourite bridal paths have become a little overgrown during the winter months and so just be a little careful when riding through them that your horse is not scratched or poked by sharp branches – remember he does not have a hard hat to protect him as you do!  If in any doubt whatsovever stick to walking, not cantering through densley grown areas.

What other hazards are there for the rider at this time of year?  Well apart from the obvious such as the increase in litter in the grass verges as motorists and cyclists sometimes discard their litter carelessly the not so obvious are animals and birds nuturing their young.  Some will have nests or homes in hedgerows and undergrowth normally inaccessable to us but on a horse you may be riding right by their “front door”!  This may in some instances lead them to become noisey and possibly even attack who they perceive to be a possible predator.  So be wary when riding through fields, along hedge backs in the countryside.  Having being once faced with an angry heron protecting her young I speak from “bitter” experience!  She came out from a ditch right next to where we were, wings flapping, squarking and gave chase!  Along the same lines also look out for new rabbit holes.  It has never (thankfully) happened to me whilst on a horse but I have heard of horses suffering injury by falling or putting a foot in a rabbit hole.

What about your horses coat this time of year?  Some, if their horse has been wintered outdoors may not have groomed them much during the winter for fear of upsetting the natural oil balance in the coat.  Now’s the time either way to start if you haven’t already getting your horse’s coat groomed out and the dead hair brushed away as he sheds his winter coat in favour of a much slicker summer coat.  Don’t be at all surprised however if you spend some time grooming him out and then as soon as you turn him out into the field again the first thing he does is goes and rolls in the dust!  You’ve probably just made him itch all over and now he’s off for a good scratch and he’s content in addition to this the dirt can form a natural barrier against insects biting.

How your horse rolls however can be an indication of his general health.  Most healthy horses will be able to roll right over from one side to the other without getting up inbetween.  Some high withered horses will roll vigoruously on one side, get up again and then roll on the other side.  This is because their conformation does not allow them to roll completely over and is nothing at all to worry about.  Some horses however if they have a weak back may roll briefly on one side, get up and then walk away without rolling on the other side at all.  Others will not roll at all.  If you notice either of these two things my advice would be to at some stage have a Vet check your horse for discomfort in his back and/or other ailments.

Many equine chiropractors believe that rolling may help to correct naturally any vertebral subluxations – in fact it has been noticed that horses who are allowed to roll and run freely suffer less frequently with chiropractoral problems requiring treatment.  So by allowing your equine to roll you may be reducing future health problems with him!  There is nothing more satisfying I think anyway than coming back from a hack, untacking your horse, grooming him and turning him out then standing for a few moments and watching him roll to his hearts content!

When your horse rolls he is stretch all the muscles in his spine, neck, flanks, barrel and buttocks.  Rolling helps maintain his strength and flexibility in all these areas.  So – don’t be dismayed at a good grooming job gone to waste, rather rejoice in a happy, healthy horse!

I See Snowdrops, Tulips And Spring Grass Shooting – Lots For Horse Owners To Consider! is a post from: Horse Photographers | Horse Photography | Equine Portraits | Horse Portraits | Equine Art | Horse Photographer

We want our newsletter to be informative as well as including offers so we thought we’d write a little about different aspects of horse ownership

in each edition. For this issue we are looking at a fairly common behavioural problem and that is headshaking. Although headshaking is a fairly common behavioural problem it is amongst one of the least understood. Headshaking often increases during the summer months and is frequently more noticeable on sunny days as opposed to overcast ones.

Whilst some equines will simply shake their head from side to side others will vigorously nod their head up and down and in addition may try to rub their head on their forelimbs. Headshaking is more common in ridden horses and during the summer months.

The exact cause of headshaking can be difficult to identify but can include: ear mites, ill fitting tack, lameness, allergies, fly attacks. It is thought that bright sunlight also has an effect on some equines and more seriously can be indicative of a tumour or nerve problem.

Headshaking can be a challenging condition to treat and may require some persistence from you and your veterinary surgeon as you look to find the cause of your equine’s discomfort. Possible solutions may include changing the field your horse is turned out into in order to eliminate irritants in adjacent crops and possibly introduce more shade, changing the nature of work your horse is engaged in and the wearing of fly masks along with application of insect repellent.

Horses do not normally headshake without reason so it’s important that if your horse develops the habit of headshaking that you look carefully to see if you can establish what the issue may be and if necessary consult a veterinary surgeon for assistance. Often headshaking is one of the first indications that your horse will give that something is wrong, the skill rests in determining exactly what your horse is trying to tell you!

January Sale Now On!

Here’s hoping you all had a great Christmas and New Year.

To start 2013 off with a bang we want to make all our fans and visitors some exclusive offers!

Especially For Those Who Have Horses “At Livery”….

We’re offering a series of “Livery Stable Days” throughout February, March and early April. If you’re a very organised type of person you could earn yourself some fabulous rewards if you’d like to take on the challenge of organising a photo-shoot for your livery stables.

The way the Livery Stables photo-shoot days work is one person takes responsibility for organising the day which means booking off either a large stable or indoor arena for the photo-shoot to take place if the weather is poor, collecting £20 per horse to be photographed (we need a minimum of 5 paid horses booked to go ahead) and allocating time slots for each horse to be photographed throughout the day – we provide you with a booking chart for this purpose. We have some great rewards for the organiser: book 5 – 9 horses plus your own and enjoy a free photo-shoot and 10” print of your own horse portrait, book 10 or more horses to be photographed and we will reward you with a framed 16” canvas of your favourite image. Please note we require payment for the horses to be photographed 1 week prior to the photo-shoot and once booked the payment is non-refundable in the event of cancellation unless we can refill the cancelled slot. We will provide you with posters etc. to advertise the day.    

Call Sharon on 01423 323776 to book NOW!

Especially For Those Who Are Looking For A Little More Pampering And Some Amazing Images Of Their Horse….

  For those of our friends who prefer a more individual photo-shoot and more time spent    with you and your horse our bespoke horse portrait is the ideal way to enjoy some fun time with your horse. Normally costing £95 and including several different “looks” together with a wide variety of beautifully presented images to choose from at your viewing session this is on offer for February and March for only £49. This price includes up to 100 miles travelling from our North Yorkshire base.

Call Andy or Sharon on 01423 323776 for details and available dates!

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Enjoy the show!

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Taking place in the Grantham Room at Newby Hall and Gardens throughout the whole of July, our first major exhibition comprises of 74 individual images plus 4 storyboards and 1 multiple frame.  With the exception of the storyboards and multiple frame each image has been printed onto canvas and finished by hand with several coats of varnish.  They have then been either frame mounted or stretched and block mounted, each one an individual art piece.  Some of the pieces are offered for sale as limited edition art works.  If you would like to visiti the exhibition please do get in touch as we have a number of family complimentary tickets (2 + 3 children) available for July.  Aside from our exhbition Newby Hall and Gardens is one of our favourite places to visit and makes for a fantastic family day out.  Situated between Boroughbridge and Ripon it is handy not only for the A1 but also York, Harrogate and Leeds.

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