Meet the VHS Horses

MEET THE VHS HORSES

VHS Hercules

Spring 2008

Hercules has gone through the Winter well this year spending the nights in his stable beside his best friend Alibi and often having the pick of his fields during the day. Having lost weight earlier this year dropping down below 800kg, Hercules’ feed has increased yet again to two scoops of build up. His bed has also increased in size moving further towards the front of his massive stable as with another year added onto his age he lies down more often and prefers to lie next to the window to Alibi’s stable. He has had a few new additions to his rug collection including an olive check medium weight turnout and a new blue lightweight rug kindly donated by one of his supporters. His lymph gland problems have been much better so far this year and his legs have not been anywhere near as swollen, making it easier for the big boy to have a good old canter around the fields when the mood takes him!
The protein content of his feed has now increased coming into the winter, fed twice daily on:

1 Chaff
2 Build Up
1 16+
1 Sugar beet
Supplements
Garlic
Grande Meadows Complete
Echinacea
1/8 Pint Soya Oil

Autumn 2007
Now adopted by Welsh International Rugby Star, Colin Charvis has once again been thrown into the public’s eye.
Hercules like so many horses this summer, has spent all his time in his rugs, even stretching to his heavy weight during August. As we approach the winter months, the weather has turned summer by day and cold by night. Hercules has been stabled at night since 1st October and really appreciates being in. He weight fluctuated during the summer months and only went onto his low protein feed for 1 month. Now as his weight has stabilised we have already raised his protein levels and sugar beet is already introduced. We have now dropped the amount of garlic each horse has as the flies seem to be dying off.

Fed twice a day now below is how we will start to introduce his high protein feed.
1 Country Cubes
1 chaff – moli chop
1 sugar beet
Supplements.
Garlic
Flex – Grand Meadow
10 ml Garlic
1/8 pint of Soya Oil
We always much appreciate any rug donations for Hercules, as he weighs nearly a ton and fits 7.3” to 7.6” and often takes buckets off when rolling.
Thank you for visiting Hercules this Autumn and for all your much appreciated support.

Spring 2007

PAST HISTORY

Hercules July 2004

Hercules has come through the winter and yet again is becoming the most photographed horse at the centre, featuring in many magazines through the winter.
His huge size and personality makes him a favourite with the crowds on Open Days and is a favourite for adoption.
Hercules suffers from his lymph glands and has slight swelling around his joints. His diet was a little higher in content this winter and Build Up was needed to keep his weight. He has lost a tooth this winter too.
He has come into the spring very well and like his companions enjoying some early summer sun.
Hercules diet
During the winter diet he was on 16+, Build Up, Sugar Beet and Chaff, with supplements of Garlic and Cortaflex and Soya Oil
From transition from winter to Spring, we slowly reduced his protein feed to a high fibre diet. We lost the Build Up, Sugar Beet and Chaff and he was slowly put down to 1lb of 16+ Cubes, 2lb of Fibregy and 1lb Pasture Nuts. This is done as the spring grass comes through and he stays out at night.
He is rugged at night in April and May and only has a morning feed when he is groomed and fly spray and hoof oil applied.

Hercules is one of the largest Cleveland Bays and horses on record measuring a staggering 18.3 1/2 hands and weighing a ton, but he is a gentle giant and is on livery at the centre and is cared for by Linda Goodman, pictured here with Vinny and Founder Julianne he demonstrates his immense size and gentleness. He is one of the most photographed horses by visitors and if you would like to meet this gentle giant and his stable mates please contact Head Office to arrange for an appointment

Our largest boy - pictured here underneath a hanging basket that is attached
8 ft up! Need we say more!!!

Our largest boy - pictured here underneath a hanging basket that is attached
8 ft up! Need we say more, Herc is one of the largest horses in Wales, and
eats over 350 bales of hay a year, your donations for him are more than
appreciated.

Summer 2006

Hercules has gone into the summer very well and content, with best friend Alibi he is enjoying some much needed summer sun. As ever, he has a string of visitors wanting to see him and have their photographs taken with him.
His old friends in the next door paddocks were pleased to see him and he adores the foals that were born in the spring.

He still has slightly problems with his lymphatic system which causes one of his legs to swell if he is standing for any length of time, this is helped in the winter by bandages. Bathing Hercules can be problem and its all hands on deck when the time comes to do his mane, as his head reaches a remarkable 7ft, 4” when he is alert.Photo of Herc looking alert.Summer Feed
During the months that he is out 24/7 this is his routine and feed.

The yard wakes up at 8.00am and all the horses are brought in for feed. Depending who is in which paddocks depends on where in the line they come in. Hercules and Alibi come in 4th on the top yard so usually this is about 8.30am

He is fed
4lb of Fibregy
1lb of Pasture NUTS.
15ml of garlic
100ml of equivita.
1 pint of water.
He is then thoroughly groomed and effol put onto his feed or his feet soaked in water.

Thoroughly covered in fly spray with a little coat conditioner added to keep him clean and cool.
He is then turned out with Alibi into the barn field.

At 3pm he is taken from the middle with Alibi and into his night paddock The Barn field. Where a large dutch barns allows the thoroughbreds and larger horses to have plenty of room to shelter from the sun or rain.
Hercules and Alibi were 2 horses which are currently undergoing a trial for the stable mate boredom buster. Currently still on trials with other ponies. Results from this and other trials can be found in our magazine. However we do only recommend this product for horses with good teeth.

Thank you for visiting Hercules this summer and hope you are able to meet him in person. Admission to the centre is free.

John worked for the VHS from June 05 - June 06, and now has left to travel the world. He will be greatly missed and is pictured here saying goodbye to Alibi and Hercules, his two favourites! Hercs head stands at 7ft 4", and
John was the only one who could reach him easily, so the girls are back to standing on grooming boxes to reach him