Quick update from Bicky's ranch!

[bicky]

Morning everyone, just thought a quick update was in order as I've not been around much! Hope you're all well and looking forward to spring! I am!

Kinzzy is her usual fab self, although I've not ridden much with crimbo, work, weather and the crap feeling of being exhausted after mucking out 3 horses every day! I'll hopefully motivate myself to do a bit more in prep for spring and the riding club activities start again in April! How much riding have you all been doing?

You won't believe the change in Teddy...do you remember me at breaking point last year with his abscssess? At least 20 of them and he's only 19 month! He was on the verge of being pts and that thought was horrible. I couldn't sleep or concentrate on anything else but finding a way to get him better, including x-rays and nerve blocks...and a huge vet bill! Well, I'm happy to say I think I've done that! I spoke to Sarah Braithwaite at Forageplus (and she's written a book called Feet First - highly recommended) and she's been my saviour! Sarah felt he was deficient in certain minerals and advised a receipe be given to him...so I bought them and started feeding them in November, together with a total change of diet to a low sugar/starch and high fibre (Fast Fibre, top chop lite, wheat bran, micronised linseed and hi fibre nuts) with no carrots! This, together with a change in management to ensure he's brought in a night when its wet to allow his feet to dry out and the difference is amazing!

By this point I'd still not had my hay analysed to ensure the mineral receipe to exactly right, but I've had that done now so his receipe has changed slightly but not that much...so Sarah was definately on the right lines. Plus, his coat is amazing and he's growing like a mushroom! It's cost a small fortune, so selling a kidney on ebay is still a very real prospect!

I've learnt an amazing amount and still am, but now I can look to the future (fingers crossed) Early days still I suppose, but I just wanted to share my good new so far!

Khan continues to be as cute as ever, although elec fencing is proving no barrier when he decides to go for a wander!

If anyone else is struggling with abscesses and I can help, please contact me and I'd be happy to share what I've learnt if it would help someone else and their horse!

Sherry if you've made it this far!

[fell lover]

Glad to hear all is going well - will try and get out to see you soon xx

[clippi]

If thats the sarah braithwaite that i know, thenshe is ace. She has done a lot of barefoot stuff

[bicky]

Yes thats her Clippi, she's been so supportive!

Sandy - you welcome anytime!

[lil_legs]

Nice to see things are looking up with Teddy. Lovely to hear from you. Any pictures?

[annmarie]

so glad things are going well pics please xx

[bicky]

Thanks everyone, I'll try to take some recent pics soon. Got 100's of older one, but you've seen loads of them!

They all look a bit like a herd of cows at the min!

[ness]

Glad yo hear that Teddy's feet are better and you are feeling optimtistic!
I feel optimistic too-just back from a nice relaxing hack with R up the mountain.