Josie's Journal

23/10/2025

Josie had a busy week last week.

First she had the weighbridge and she's lost another 9kg, which although it's not a big lose, Im happy her weight is still dropping.

Then it was time for the dentist for a check up and a rasp of any sharp bits. She was a good girl for her Aunty Corrine who held her and took her picture.

27/07/2025

Josie and Hector would like to thank Polly Godsafe for their massages, they're both looking much less tense and much more comfortable.

21/07/2025

A bit of rain has turned Josie's dust bath spot into a mud bath 😂

08/07/2025

A rare treat for Josie, licking the crumbs out of Hector's haylage bag.

29/06/2025

Because of my two back surgeries, Josie's two bouts of laminitis and general life stuff, the last time I rode Josie was 4 years ago!!

Our saddle fitter, Natalie was visiting the yard yesterday so I got her to check Josie's saddle to see how well it still fitted much to Josie's astonishment (I think she thought she'd retired lol). With Josie's weight loss she's gone down a gullet size in her saddle !!

I popped on Josie so Natalie could check the fit with me riding her and feeling a little apprehensive about my back, we walked a few circles and had a tiny trot too. Josie was foot perfect and I felt like a sack of potatoes 😂.

The next step before bringing Josie back into work, will be getting Polly out to make sure her back is all properly aligned and to give her a lovely massage.

So pleased with my girl for being a superstar and for looking after me.

13/05/2025

Grooming time

11/05/2025

11/05/2025

11/05/2025

Yesterday was Josie's first turnout since January. She's been pottering round the patio for the last month whilst our lovely yard owner made her a special almost grass free turnout paddock. Ingrid had said she would need a bare paddock with weeds to prevent a flare up of her EMS and laminitis.

In an ideal world it would be lovely to turnout all on the lovely grassy fields but Josie's health is far too important to risk this.

She's managed to sting her nose on the nettles while hunting for thistles.

10/04/2025

So today Carl came out to Josie to put a new shoe and gel padding on the foot that she refused to pick up two weeks ago. The gel in her right foot made a big difference and she was much more comfortable.

Carl was really pleased with her foot, he had been worried that there may have been some bruising from her putting more made weight on it but it was fine and she had plenty of growth on it too.

After her shoe was on we had a good groom to make her look more respectable 😂. Here she is looking beautiful and a bit sleepy from the sedation and a picture of Hector with his ears forward 😂

24/03/2025

So this morning Carl, our farrier came out for trims and new shoes with the gel pads in for Josie. Unfortunately things didnt quite go to plan.

Josie is still not wanting to put her weight on her front right foot while Carl trims and changed her shoe on her left foot. After some discussion we decided to trim her other three feet and just apply the gel and shoe to her right foot. Hopefully this will make her comfortable enough to the do the left foot in a couple of weeks time.

Carl is not 100% convinced that this is all a laminitis attack, he's wondering if it could be ringbone or sidebone issues. I'm waiting to hear back from Ingrid to see about arranging some xrays to confirm things one way or the other.

Here's some pictures of Josie modelling her feather covers and looking very sleepy after her sedation. She's having the sedation as she's not very keen on the smoke from the shoeing.

24/03/2025

We've had this beautiful girl 9 years now, how quickly has that time gone!

She really is my best girl 💕💕

Here we are having a morning nap, only half in the bed lol