So remember Lu was lame on the day of The Suffolk Show? Well its been intermittent. When we took her to the vet she was sound. So last week she was definitely lame so Jo called the vet out. After quite a lot of trotting up and down and lunging it finally showed up! It seems her adrenaline masks the pain....Tough ole gal! A nerve block proved it was in the foot somewhere so the vet returned for x-rays.
Lu was as good as gold, standing on the blocks. Charlie was stabled to keep her company, and for his own experience. The X-ray was really interesting. Lu has a crack in one hoof, and some bug had gone up the crack and was nibbling away at her pedal bone. Not an easy one to diagnose without x-rays!!!
Anyway she is on iodine (in her feed) and the farrier will be out next week to open up the crack.
It was also the worst day of Sweet Pea's life. She needed a passport (simple enough), oh and a micro-chip. Not so good, but the vet managed to get it in before she reared. While Jo and the vet were filling in the paperwork, I decided to lunge her which she hates. Next up was a grazing muzzle. As usual after her gigantic rears, as soon as I got my phone out to take pics, she allowed Jo to put the muzzle on! Typical.....Never work with animals!
Anyway...the reason for the passport? The minis are going to do unicorn parties for children. Apparently its all 'in' at the moment. There are actually websites to buy unicorn accessories for your pony! Strap on horns (P'naff P'naff), glittery hoof oil, mane extensions, glitter spray! Yes there are some dodgy sites if you google unicorns!!!! As with a lot of horsey equipment there are many double entendres!
So, after the botched gate mounting I was delighted that Charlie wasn't so traumatised that he wouldn't let Sarah ride him last week. In fact he was a good boy, and I led him round the 'arena' several times with Sarah on board. After about 10 laps in each direction, I could tell by his eyes that he was bored and wondering what to do next....so we did a bit of mounting and dismounting and ended on a good note.
Since the I have decided to go back to basics for a while and try and establish the standing still bit. Having been brilliant at just standing....by the block, on a towel etc, for a few days I was surprised at how far back to basics we had to go yesterday!
Sweet Pea was off out with little Nancy, Lu was having a good groom with Jo. But Charlie just didn't want to be caught! I just wanted to re-plait his mane and apply sunblock and fly spray to make him more comfortable, as it is still sooo hot! So....Waaay back to basics!!! I had to keep sending him away, despite the fact I really didn't want him galloping in that heat. Eventually he dropped his head and moved towards me. I sat down and waited until he came right over. He was pretty sweaty at that point, but I had a point to make. With a youngster you just cannot let them get their own way.
Having tied him to the gate (only on baler twine, not the bungee), with Lu on the other side, Jo and I went off to get my grooming kit and a cold drink. When we came back I was fully expecting Charlie to have broken the baler twine. However I was pleased to see him just standing quietly tied where I left him. Lu however had removed her head-collar and was a little way off, with an innocent expression on her face... "Mummy, my head-collar just fell off, but I waited here for you".
So last week was the end of term for the RDA. Expecting to move to the new premises over the summer holidays we had a "Goodbye Sutton" party. It was a great day, and we presented a book of pictures to Shirley Green, who started the whole thing 30 years ago. Rather preemptive though, as due to planning updates we are not now moving till November-ish.
On my 'last' hack on Friday, I videoed the ride for prosperity. By the time I have edited it, we will probably have moved!!
Ok, so being on an enforced go slow, on Sunday I fitted the harness on Charlie, and went for a very short long rein. He wasn't too keen about the crupper.....but they never are.
However yesterday I got bored lunging (him too), so started stopping him at the mounting block and leaning over. I should point out I had the western saddle on for a bit of weight. Now Charlie always backs up at the mounting block, so to position his head by mine. Any tips for this gratefully received.....as I have now tried everything to get him to stand in place while I get up on the block.
And so....I had this blonde idea.....Please look away now if are in any way sensible, related to me or worried about my health (mental or otherwise).
I took Charlie and the mounting block to the gate. I put the lunge line round the bars of the gate, holding the loose end. There was a hedge behind him, a gate to his offside, the block to his nearside. I put a leg over, lunge line in one hand, phone in other (like you do, when you have already stated out loud that "This could end in disaster", and thinking of this blog).
Charlie backed into the hedge, leapt forward and this being a high backed western saddle, my right leg got caught on the cantle. By now the mounting block pinged out from under my left leg, leaving me hanging. I could have let go and landed on my back, but I didn't fancy that, so I lunged forward, pulling on the horn to pull myself up......onto a panicking pony. A quick shuffle and I dismounted, somewhere under his neck, and dropping the line. It would have all been fine, except while legging it away from the mad woman, Charlie kicked back, catching my ankle. Result swollen ankle and big bruise.
However.....I did accidentally press the video record button on my phone! And I did have long tough boots on. (Although maybe if I wasn't wearing the boots my leg wouldn't have got stuck!).
So the moral of this story is; Don't mount your young pony whilst he is tied to a gate. It never was a good idea!
