Quick Update on the Youngsters

Tonight it's the youngster's turn for an update. It's nearly midnight and I'm lying in bed desperately trying to stay awake whilst writing this. I just think if I don't do it now it will never get done. No matter how many times I expect to either be home early or have a day off, it never happens and I still have no down time at home!
Chad went off to Sue and Gary at Cheltenham Dressage about a month ago to be turned out to grow and refresh himself during the winter. He has been in work since last summer so as a four year old I would really prefer him to have another season of just nothing, as I strongly believe that once the basics are put in, they all get to the same level by the time they are 9 whether they've had season's out or not! He should be really enjoying his holiday though :)
I have had Bertina in half-work for the past month, as she is also going to Sue and Gary's tomorrow to be turned out with Chad. She is only three and really, really does need some time to grow up! She is so big anyway so just time for her joints and bones to develop before any further pressure is put on her.
Not all has been fine with Bertina, however! Last week I had the vet out to check her respiratory system and she was wheezing and coughing a bit. As he listened to her chest, he discovered something totally unexpected - an irregular heartbeat, suspected atrial fibrillation. I was devastated, how can my 3 year old baby have a heart problem?!
After a week of worry finally the cardiologist Lesley Young came out to look at her and do an ECG and ultrasound. Thankfully, the ECG showed her heart was certainly not as bad as expected although there is a slight mis-beat in there. I exercised her with the ECG on (like a heart monitor) and it showed no abnormalities when working which was great, and the ultrasound showed a good, healthy heart.
All that we had to address was the fact she was in very early stages of an irregular heartbeat and it was best to treat now as soon as we caught it and get the all clear from the vet to say it had been treated. The earlier the treatment the better, and the treatment is only sachets of powder in her food rather than the toxic drug that would normally have to be administered via stomach tube.
So that's great news for Bertina and now she can go off on her holiday with everybody having peace of mind. I really wanted to take her to just an unaffiliated competition before her holiday but there's just been so much going on I just ran out of time! Oh well, it can wait until next year.
Right I really am going to fall asleep right now but I'll try to do another update ASAP - there's SOO much to tell you all! Alarm set for 5.30am, done, goodnight :)