I didn't realize that Canada had a burr problem. In the South, between the cuckle burrs, sand spurs and beggar lice I almost don't want to ride in the fall (almost). Did learn to clean them away from the paddock or pastures. No need to add more to the few that make there way in. It's difficult enough to keep the numbers down as it is. I'm always tempted to just do away with the feathers, since they pick them up easiest.
Here we go, another battle, and once again I have a helper, just not so little!
Take one tail that looks like this
Pour over a large amount of baby oil, and massage into the burr knots, leave to soak while you de burr the forelock, and explain to Mr G how lucky he is to have only 2 burrs in his mane, Ace's mane is 100% safe, Haffie manes are 90% safe, they MAY get pulled or cut a little if needed. Appy Gilmore mane, I swear the first time it get s burred I'm roaching it all off for sure!
Anyway back to the story, when the oil has soaked in some, then get in there with your hands (for me gloved hands, or I get horrible rashes) and tear the lumps apart, starting at the bottom, to about half way up
Feel something breathing in your ear, turn around to find you have someone inspecting your work
Waste some time talking to helper and kissing them on the nose, just so delighted that she wants to spend some time with you, this is after all stand offish Bert
Start with your gloved fingers just combing through the knots and teasing all the burrs out, gradually getting to this
Then start breaking up the knots higher up the tail, sometimes you have to odd more oil to these, they always seem to be worse.
When I get to this stage, just a few knots left, this is the first time I've used a comb on the tail,
Just comb out the last of the burrs and tangles and there you go, a nice pic of your helper
And one finished tail
Time stamp on first pick 12.29, time stamp on last pic, 12.49, 20 minutes, including playing with Bert
You wanna come help Lets see we own over 1400 acres, the horses currently have 160 odd acres of paddocks and rough grazing. The place has been a cattle and sheep farm for a long time, so the battle of the burrs will be going on for a while yet I'm afraid
You wanna come help Lets see we own over 1400 acres, the horses currently have 160 odd acres of paddocks and rough grazing. The place has been a cattle and sheep farm for a long time, so the battle of the burrs will be going on for a while yet I'm afraid
I'll come help, you got room for a dozen more critters right?...1400 acres sounds heavenly!
It will be heavenly from now until snowfall, because it is mostly harvested now, so I can ride all over the place, if I can find where I left my BGP's and a brace for my knee that will let me ride pain free (or just less pain) but won't scratch up my saddle
Just want to say that I feel your pain. Isabel seems to be the only horse to come in covered, the other day her forelock was almost as bad as Ace's, but for some reason they were knotted in such a way that it was standing up out from her head and made her look like she had a unicorn horn. :)
On a serious note, I get worried when they are hanging down so close to their eyes. Anyone ever had any injuries when burr met eye?
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Lets see we own over 1400 acres, the horses currently have 160 odd acres of paddocks and rough grazing. The place has been a cattle and sheep farm for a long time, so the battle of the burrs will be going on for a while yet I'm afraid
