As every year, it is this time when many horse owners check the weather forecast frantically - 'Do I need to have the rugs on or off?'
On this note: the growths of the winter coat is connected with the shorter days. I had noticed quite him loosing his summer coat quite early this year, as early as July in fact. I noticed his fur growing thicker gradually.
The changeover time is always a little tricky as the sunny intervals are still very warm. At the beginning of my journey with 'Mr F' this rug topic was driving me crazy! At the time I had been working from home so it was OK to run out at lunchtime taking the rugs off when the warm sun decided to come out after all.
But circumstances change and I have learnt a fair bit and observed. One thing has become clear, I rather have the horse a little chilly for a day or two than having it sweat inside a rug. At least if they are a little chilly they can run around to warm themselves up. But if they are too hot they cannot take their rugs off.
This year I have not yet felt the need to put his rugs on while in previous years I probably would have. If it would be 10 or less and raining all day yes he'd be out there with his lightweight rug now but as the sunshine is still warm when it does appear I rather leave him be.
There is still amble food available and 'Mr F' is keeping his weight. He is also not yet showing the 'I am desperate for food' signs which in previous years he had. In fact I recall that where we had been before he would by now be in a pasture of very little grass and already fed soaked hay to add to his feed.
His feet will need special attention this year as his pasture circumstances are different. He is now on soft ground 24/7. I am so very grateful that we have so far had a very dry late summer / beginning of Autumn. Let's hope it continues this way!
Eventually 'Mr F' will be moved to a different pasture where he has access to a stable at night, together with probably 'Luke', not sure yet. He has not been stabled at night before so that will be interesting to see how it affects the health of his frogs, perhaps they will fare better than they have so far. Wet winters when their feet are stuck in inch deep mud is always a struggle. Mud fever, rain scald, disintegrating frogs ... and so on.
Overall 'Mr F' seems to be changing still, I feel closer as a being to him than ever before. It isn't a 'human & horse' situation, its just to beings joining together.
We still go on our walks, enjoying the beautiful autumnal sunsets when the landscape is soaked in the golden, warm light. Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons.
'Mr F' is completely trusting me, so much so that when we have to deal with traffic I indeed have to observe every of my moves and how they affect his because he blindly trust me to lead him where he is safe. The route from the house (where he is often fed when we return from the walk as all his tack is there too) to the field requires us to go along the busy main road going through the village.
As the field is at the end of the village, the speeds the cars travel at even though there is a '30' sign is quite staggering at times. School busses, tractors, 4x4 with rattling trailers, home delivery vans and loud motor bikes, nothing seems to bother 'Mr F' nowadays. If I stand still he just waits right next to me, looking at whatever I am looking at. As the verge is also quite covered by bushes, oncoming traffic cannot always see us until they are more or less on same level. So in most cases, they wiz past at high speeds. 'Mr F' simply and very patiently stands to my side and waits for me to move.
He generally seems quite content apart from the occasional 'Victor Meldrew' moments. (Victor was a very grumpy old character in a British sitcom called "one foot in the grave").
Oh, for some reason, his so far well fitting hoof boots are starting to twist on his back feet. It appears it is time to re-measure his hooves. There is a new, even simpler to fit hoof boot out, perhaps I give that one a try.
It's time to upload some photographs as well when I get a little more spare time. For now text will have to suffice.
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