We woke up to heavy rain which persisted until about 11.30. As we were galloping at Towcester yesterday we rode everything on Sunday morning before we left for the P2P. All the staff worked the weekend so today we've adopted the Sunday routine. Everything goes on the walker for a minimum of 30 minuets whilst their stables are mucked out and other jobs are completed. All the horses seem to have come out of yesterdays work really well. They all ate up last night and their legs handle beautifully.
I received a trail pallet of cardboard bedding this morning, bedding and the payroll are my 2 biggest expenses. Wages are unavoidable but if I can find a cheaper alternative to shavings that doesn't compromise the horses in anyway at all I'm all for it. I am always totally shocked when I go to some other yards and see the horses bed compromises of a few rubber mats tossed on the floor with a scattering of shavings. I'd rather not have horses if the business can't afford to look after them to a high standard. We feed 1st cut seed haylage to everything and the horses have an above average amount of bedding under them. Young horses spend a huge amount of time lying down as they are growing. I like to see them lying down and I wouldn't want to sleep on a cold damp floor.
Once the yard was finished this morning I took a horse over to Paul Webbers yard to swim for a week or so. He's only a young horse who's been busy so I'd like to give him a break from ridden work whilst maintaining his fitness. Paul has an amazing set up and a swimming pool that is second to none.
Panda our youngest daughter is now at school for the whole day on a Tuesday so I may even enjoy a race or 2 on Attheraces this afternoon before heading back to do evening stables.
