Thursday, 30 April 2020
Monday, 27 April 2020
Thursday, 23 April 2020
Life As We Know It!!! And 25 Things
So, nearly the end of April.....and life is still weird!! In fact with 6 ponies to look after every day, life is actually pretty normal for Jo and I. Except it isn't!
Everything seems in slow motion. Its blissfully quiet at the Farm, with a lot less traffic going past on the road. April has given us warm weather, vast blue skies and nature in abundance. Its almost like everything is in HD. And we seem to have slowed down too. Not in the sense of getting the basic work done. In that respect we have got it down quick. But it almost seems we get done and go home.....as if being outdoors for too long is dangerous, or illegal!
With me being one of these boring people that are supposed to be shielded, everyone is avoiding us. Its OK to come up. We are missing you all. Just treat me as if I have the plague....and don't be offended if I stay 12ft away from you at all times, wearing a bandanna. We have soap, hand-sanitizer, buckets of bleach and a system for scolding the cups every day. I have my own towel and will not touch anything anyone may have accidentally picked up. The ponies would love to see someone else!! As would we!
The Ponies are of course unaware that the World As We Know It has changed. Although they may be missing certain people. Mini has asked me where Nancy is!! They could all do with baths!! Any volunteers???
Daisy is in self isolation...of a fashion. Although fit and well, we are so scared she may get into trouble with the Spring grass, that we have confined her to a Pen within the Hill Field. The Minis surround her, and she spends a couple of hours each day out with them having a bit of grass, before returning to her pen with a feed full of EMS fighting supplements and 3 soaked hay-nets.
Its a Catch 22 really. She could do with the exercise right now, and its a brilliant time with the roads so quiet to hack out. Just fighting with the guilt of What If? Its ridiculous. I have never even come close to coming off Daisy, and of all the falls I have had, over a lifetime of competing and working with horses, the last time I ended up in A&E was when I was 17! 35 years ago!!! Ridiculous but there's always Sods Law!!! Jo had never fallen off Lu, ever, until last week, when a sudden spook n spin unseated her. Shes Ok, but had a huge bruise and now has protesting back muscles. Not to mention the fact that before the pesky chest infection in Jan/Feb that floored me, I had high hopes of riding The Gypsy Cobs by now!!
But anyway....Worst Things Happen At Sea and all that!! So I have been steadily working on a series of short videos called 25 Things to do With Your Horse on The Ground. I have just posted Number 9 entitled 'SMILE'. If you missed them (shame on you 😊), I have covered #1 Hang Out, #2 Lunch Date,
#3 Lunging, #4 Follow Me, #5 Begin Clicker Training, #6 Correct Leading, #7 Ground Tie, and #8 Long Reining. Still to come is Parking At the Mounting Block, Pole work, Backing, Teaching Pick-Up and more (12 more if my math is correct, which is highly doubtful).
So check out YouTube UCLYQBYhWqo_WPVdz9MFkCtA. Please hit the subscribe button. 🙏 I only have 12 subscribers 😩. It doesn't cost anything to subscribe. But once i get a 1000 subscribers I can monetize the videos and that could pay for next years hay!!!
Yours beggingly
xx
https://youtu.be/nnhrn4XVQOE
Everything seems in slow motion. Its blissfully quiet at the Farm, with a lot less traffic going past on the road. April has given us warm weather, vast blue skies and nature in abundance. Its almost like everything is in HD. And we seem to have slowed down too. Not in the sense of getting the basic work done. In that respect we have got it down quick. But it almost seems we get done and go home.....as if being outdoors for too long is dangerous, or illegal!
With me being one of these boring people that are supposed to be shielded, everyone is avoiding us. Its OK to come up. We are missing you all. Just treat me as if I have the plague....and don't be offended if I stay 12ft away from you at all times, wearing a bandanna. We have soap, hand-sanitizer, buckets of bleach and a system for scolding the cups every day. I have my own towel and will not touch anything anyone may have accidentally picked up. The ponies would love to see someone else!! As would we!
The Ponies are of course unaware that the World As We Know It has changed. Although they may be missing certain people. Mini has asked me where Nancy is!! They could all do with baths!! Any volunteers???
Daisy is in self isolation...of a fashion. Although fit and well, we are so scared she may get into trouble with the Spring grass, that we have confined her to a Pen within the Hill Field. The Minis surround her, and she spends a couple of hours each day out with them having a bit of grass, before returning to her pen with a feed full of EMS fighting supplements and 3 soaked hay-nets.
Its a Catch 22 really. She could do with the exercise right now, and its a brilliant time with the roads so quiet to hack out. Just fighting with the guilt of What If? Its ridiculous. I have never even come close to coming off Daisy, and of all the falls I have had, over a lifetime of competing and working with horses, the last time I ended up in A&E was when I was 17! 35 years ago!!! Ridiculous but there's always Sods Law!!! Jo had never fallen off Lu, ever, until last week, when a sudden spook n spin unseated her. Shes Ok, but had a huge bruise and now has protesting back muscles. Not to mention the fact that before the pesky chest infection in Jan/Feb that floored me, I had high hopes of riding The Gypsy Cobs by now!!
But anyway....Worst Things Happen At Sea and all that!! So I have been steadily working on a series of short videos called 25 Things to do With Your Horse on The Ground. I have just posted Number 9 entitled 'SMILE'. If you missed them (shame on you 😊), I have covered #1 Hang Out, #2 Lunch Date,
#3 Lunging, #4 Follow Me, #5 Begin Clicker Training, #6 Correct Leading, #7 Ground Tie, and #8 Long Reining. Still to come is Parking At the Mounting Block, Pole work, Backing, Teaching Pick-Up and more (12 more if my math is correct, which is highly doubtful).
So check out YouTube UCLYQBYhWqo_WPVdz9MFkCtA. Please hit the subscribe button. 🙏 I only have 12 subscribers 😩. It doesn't cost anything to subscribe. But once i get a 1000 subscribers I can monetize the videos and that could pay for next years hay!!!
Yours beggingly
xx
https://youtu.be/nnhrn4XVQOE
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Sunday, 19 April 2020
Thursday, 16 April 2020
Monday, 13 April 2020
Friday, 10 April 2020
Lockdown Continues - The Weirdest Spring Ever!!!
Wow..... So we continue into Lockdown Spring. This has to be the Weirdest spring ever!! Apart from the fact that if I catch this virus I will probably die, I am liking the slower pace of life. Fewer cars roar by the yard, everything is quieter and spring seems to be reveling in the stillness of the planet.
Those that are lucky enough to have their horses at home, or on private yards, at least have the pleasure of equine company, but with the BHS recommending not riding, may be at a loss of what to do with their horses. But this is a brilliant time to increase the bond. And also to get all those boring yard jobs done.... Anyone for rug cleaning? Fence Repairs? Washing all those dirty numnahs?
We have moved our herd onto the Hill Field and building a track system that is moving daily. Not only are we restricting grass this way, but as each track section is extended, the ponies have further to walk for water. Daisy is now with Lily, Dora and Mini as they need less grass, and accept the fact they have to traverse a maze. They also have a hay container still, to supplement the rationed grass.
Charlie and Lu are not so compliant with this system. Both are perfectly able to lift up fence posts and hop over the laid down fences to find new grazing. A couple of days ago we found them out in the main field looking as if they had been partying all night. We brought them into the stalls in the Barn while we repaired the damage they had caused, only to have to wait at the water butts while they both drank for England. It seems they couldn't possibly jump back over a clicking electric tape to get water, even though we reckoned they had been out at least 16 hours (based on droppings). So we spent a long, long, long time wrapping electrified wire around all the posts so they cannot grab them without getting a shock. Their track system is slightly less meandering than the others, but they still have a trek to the Water Butts.
And so to that bonding I was talking about. I have come up with 25 Things to do With Your Horse on the Ground and am frantically making short videos for You Tube. Number 1 is simply Hanging Out. Just spend time with your horse in the field. Sit quietly and observe the herd dynamics. If your horse trusts you, you will be able to go and sit with him, while he is laying down.
Number 2 is a Breakfast Date with your pony.
Number 3 is all about Lunging.
Number 4 is about to be uploaded and covers "Join-Up", "Hook Up", "Bonder", "Follow Me" whatever you call it, its all the same. In the next few days I will cover Beginning Clicker Training and Correct Leading.
Please follow my YouTube Chanel for more videos.
Stay safe.
P.s...... If you are suffering from Hay-fever, and you find sneezing in public causes mass panic, it's always nice to know your best friend is on hand with a hanky 😄
Those that are lucky enough to have their horses at home, or on private yards, at least have the pleasure of equine company, but with the BHS recommending not riding, may be at a loss of what to do with their horses. But this is a brilliant time to increase the bond. And also to get all those boring yard jobs done.... Anyone for rug cleaning? Fence Repairs? Washing all those dirty numnahs?
We have moved our herd onto the Hill Field and building a track system that is moving daily. Not only are we restricting grass this way, but as each track section is extended, the ponies have further to walk for water. Daisy is now with Lily, Dora and Mini as they need less grass, and accept the fact they have to traverse a maze. They also have a hay container still, to supplement the rationed grass.
Charlie and Lu are not so compliant with this system. Both are perfectly able to lift up fence posts and hop over the laid down fences to find new grazing. A couple of days ago we found them out in the main field looking as if they had been partying all night. We brought them into the stalls in the Barn while we repaired the damage they had caused, only to have to wait at the water butts while they both drank for England. It seems they couldn't possibly jump back over a clicking electric tape to get water, even though we reckoned they had been out at least 16 hours (based on droppings). So we spent a long, long, long time wrapping electrified wire around all the posts so they cannot grab them without getting a shock. Their track system is slightly less meandering than the others, but they still have a trek to the Water Butts.
And so to that bonding I was talking about. I have come up with 25 Things to do With Your Horse on the Ground and am frantically making short videos for You Tube. Number 1 is simply Hanging Out. Just spend time with your horse in the field. Sit quietly and observe the herd dynamics. If your horse trusts you, you will be able to go and sit with him, while he is laying down.
Number 2 is a Breakfast Date with your pony.
Number 3 is all about Lunging.
Number 4 is about to be uploaded and covers "Join-Up", "Hook Up", "Bonder", "Follow Me" whatever you call it, its all the same. In the next few days I will cover Beginning Clicker Training and Correct Leading.
Please follow my YouTube Chanel for more videos.
Stay safe.
P.s...... If you are suffering from Hay-fever, and you find sneezing in public causes mass panic, it's always nice to know your best friend is on hand with a hanky 😄
Saturday, 4 April 2020
Thursday, 2 April 2020
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