The snow puts a halt to any riding and I start preparing for Spring

Winter really set in a few weeks after Christmas. It started with the frost, which looked so pretty, but made the lanes around us too dangerously slippery to ride or lead Zano out on. Zano tried his super warm rug for the first time – I think he looked pretty handsome in it, don’t you?

After the frost, came the snow – and it fell really hard! Even the school surface froze. Zano only had one day when he went a bit doo-lally; I think he felt the need to let off a bit of steam and whizzed up and down at full pelt, slipping all over the place! Luckily he stayed upright – just!

A Winter Wonderland - but not much good for
riding in the school to the left of the photo!

While temperatures plummeted it was really important that Zano had plenty of fuel to keep him warm. That meant making sure he always had loads of hay to eat – whether he was in his paddock or in his stable, and lots of fibre in his feed.

Zano having a morning snack - he was topped up as soon as he finished while he
was out in the snow!

Even though we’re still in the depths of winter, surrounded by snow, it’s already time to start thinking about the springtime. That’s because I’ve got to be fully prepared for the return of the midges! Last year I discovered half way into summer that Zano had sweet itch. He was driven mad by the midges which hovered in clouds over him all through the summer. It’s important to start the battle of the midges early – if you wait until your pony starts itching, it’s too late! Well, this year I’m determined that he won’t suffer in the way he did last year. He rubbed his mane against anything and everything, and he lost most of the bottom half of it. It’s growing back, slowly, but I don’t want him to lose any more this year. So, I’ve come up with a robust plan!

Back in November I started to feed him a herbal mix from Hilton Herbs called Bye Bye Itch. This was to boost his immune system and get his skin in really good condition ready for spring time. I’ve also just bought a new ‘bug rug’, which is silver so it reflects all the sun’s rays. This way, even though Zano’s wearing a rug while it’s hot, he will hopefully keep as cool as possible. This rug’s got fly repellent soaked into it, so hopefully the bugs will bypass Zano while he’s wearing it! I’m taking every precaution this year, so midges beware!