Educating Caitlin - Part 2

Last month we introduced Katie Duxbury and her new Fell mare, Greenholme Caitlin, that she bought in December. Here Katie explains their progress in the last month…..

‘Caitlin is now happily walking round our country lanes on the long reins confidently. She has seen some traffic and so far nothing has phased her. In the school she walks, trots and canters on the double lunge lines very well and her fitness is really improving. She gets worked six days a week, I keep her sessions short – never more than about 20 minutes.  I feel that is plenty for a five-year-old as I don’t want to bore her and she is still immature.

I have had quiet sit on her and been led around the school which she took in her stride.  I will wait until her groundwork is a little more established before I ride her off the lead. 

She is becoming quite a little character as she grows in strength and we had a little issue when lungeing recently. When cantering on the long reins she would nap and pull me toward the exit gate. This sort of ‘testing the water’ is only to be expected and we quickly resolved the issue by keeping her on a smaller circle and moving the circle around the school.  I also had someone standing near the gate to encourage her past, rather than letting her run towards it. 

As our fields were very wet, we weren't turning the out in the early part of the month, so to let her have a play we turned her out three times a week in the arena with a friend and she really enjoyed it, as well as helped socialise her. I think it’s important to let young horses let off steam as it keeps them sweet and content. 

She's has had her feet trimmed and was a total star for the farrier, he was very gentle and patient with her which resulted in her being more than willing to stand like a complete professional! She has also had her second booster vaccine and health check from the vet who was pleased with her progress. 

Her weight and shape are changing constantly. I don’t like to put too much feed into the breakers as you never know what fireworks you may light, so Caitlin is on two high fibre feeds a day. These consist of a good coarse chop and some fibre nuts and micronised linseed. She gets ad lib good quality haylage too which she likes to dunk into her water bucket!!  

My aim for this month is to be riding her off the lead in the school and then to progress from long reining her around the lanes to hacking out under saddle with a friend.

Caitlin long reining

As for getting her to a show – I would like to get her back in the lorry as I think it helps if they make regular short journeys when young. If they associate travel with fun and not stress it helps so much throughout their career.  I would really like to take her to an in-hand show this month but you will remember I mentioned that she had lost her feathers on the Fell and I may wait a little longer for them to grow back… let's wait and see.   


As for her mane and tail - these were very matted and burred up they have come along really well. I keep her mane in large plaits – to protect it – and always cut off the elastic rather than pull them off to avoid breaking the hair. I undo the plaits every three days and spray it with Moisturise and Condition and then re-plait and we are really seeing - and feeling - the benefit of using this regularly.

Plaits in Caitlins Mane

I also adjust the position of the plaits to keep hair breakage to a minimum. I only comb her mane once it has been washed, conditioned and detangled. I do the same for her tail – which I run my fingers through – but never brush as that thins them too much. I have been using Mane and Tail Builder twice a week and now as it's growing tenfold! We had snow up here in Lancashire and the wind was really chilly so she started wearing a neck cover too. I wash her mane weekly to avoid a greasy build up on the neck cover. 

Moisturise and Condition

Mane and Tail Builder

She’s fully rugged now and moulting like mad so it’s all hands on deck with the curry combs to get the dead hair out. "

Katie

Brought to you in association with The Showing Journal.

For more information, visit www.theshowingjournal.co.uk

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