Talking about headcollars and my lazy slaphappy way of doing things, I must tell you about today's happenings. We still have two young mares here who have not worn headcollars yet (
) one is 4 and one is 5!! Today was the day we wormed the rest of our girl herd (30). Most grab the tube and try to swallow the whole thing and we have to struggle to get it back out of their mouths. But one of these two, the 4 year old, was not going to put it in her mouth. Oh, I said to Cathy, dont think she headcollars. She does, said Cathy, you led her last summer when we had her and her special friend to and fro from the stables to the lush grass field to get them to gain a bit more weight. Well to be honest I usually just let them out and they wandered on their own to the field, but I do remember one day sliding the headcollar on to this little one as she followed her friend and letting her wander along beside me. Anyway Cathy being Cathy, just popped the headcollar on her and wormed her - no problem, even when a crazy party of half the herd dashed past flat out having a fun rush around coz the Mummies were doing things to us. She just stood there until we took it off, then off she dashed after them.
Next was the 5 year old who certainly has never even seen a headcollar. She wouldn't pop the tube in her mouth either, so Cathy just put the headcollar on her, held her quietly and wormed her and even when she stepped back to try to avoid the wormer, she stepped right forward up to Cathy again once wormed. I had said she doesn't headcollar, Cathy said, well she does now!!
We have been much better at getting all our youngsters headcollered by the time they are yearlings now, but in the past many 'slipped through the net' usually because we were so busy at that time and also because it never stopped us trimming their feet or worming them or just generally fiddling with them and it certainly hasn't stopped them being totally in our faces demanding attention and generally being pests. LOL!! Many's the time in the past that mares have been headcollared for the first time when they come in to foal, we just pop the headcollar on to lead them back to the field each morning, they dont mind and they know where they are going so just follow along - easy!!
Not that I would recommend anyone leaving the headcollaring lark for as long as we have done, guess we have just been luck with our kids!
I love how Dinky had to go show her Daddy her new pink bling! How long do you leave it on Lindy and does she stand quietly now for you to take it off?
shes going to be a big girl like her mum I think..shes coming on a treat I love her to bits..shes following me everywhere now Anna which is great even if it with her ears pinned back most of the time
shes still a demon in disguise..shes so hard to take photos of as soon as i get close with the camera she wants to be in my face..no luck with the headcollar yet Heidi
that being a halta in hand rather than a sword!!..Im enjoying everyday with her she will eventually realise Im the BOSS ...wont she
