The New Normal, A Feral Pony, Football Mania, and The Top Barn Show.

 Well its all been happening!!! I got the call from Papworth to go in and have my Hickman Line fitted.  I was held captive for 2 whole weeks!!! And I mean held captive. Due to Covid, I was literally stuck in my room the whole 2 weeks, except for the day a nurse felt sorry for me and snuck me outside for 10 minutes. I was literally pacing the room (all of 3m x 5m), and was thinking how a stabled horse must feel.  Although I am pretty feral, I am after all a Human Being and designed to live indoors. However, horses are designed to live outdoors, and in a herd. I also had stuff to occupy me mentally. Reading, Binge watching Heartland, I even learned to French Knit!  But a horse does not have that luxury. If i was box walking, imagine how they feel.....no wonder stabled horses develop "vices". 

Anyhoo, I am now attached 24/7 to a pump (called Paddy Pump after my old pony). I wear it in a fetching Bum-Bag or an elasticated "pocket" at all times. It pumps drugs up a line which dives through a hole in my chest, into my heart. Its a pain in the arse, and I now spend at least half an hour a day changing the line and mixing new drugs. But I do believe I am starting to feel a little better, and am not panting like a sex phone line worker at the slightest exertion. If you are squeamish, please scroll through the next pic.  This is the New Normal.

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We had set up a track system before I left, in The 3 Acre.  Big Ponies to the right, Minis to the left.  But typically the Big Herd, couldn't wait for Jo to expand their grazing so barged out, breaking yet more expensive plastic poles. So Jo let them out into the middle ground, while poo-picking and rearranging the fence configuration. And so Charlie became feral, refusing to be caught, and spending at least one night alone in the middle knee deep in grass. He had become allergic to his headcollar.  When I came back, I childishly expected him to have missed me as much as I had missed him. In my fantasy, he galloped over, jumping up and whickering (like the dog had). In reality though, he accepted a scratch and blew through his nostrils, before returning to the more important grass.

I thought it may take a while to re-tame him. Coinciding with Football mania in England, The Trick Academy had a challenge to send in ball playing pony vids. I donned my England shirt, blew up an inflatable ball, collected my England Flag and set off to the Field to make a video with the Feral Charlie. As expected his head-collar allergy was still there, so I pottered about with the ball and flag, and his curiosity got the better of him.  Soon we were playing Football and waving flags. Charlie the Trick Pony is back!

Now I have a real challenge on my hands!! Whilst bored in Hospital, I entered the Top Barn July Competitions.  I must have been High on painkillers!!!! I have entered the Groundwork Comp, which includes lunging.  Charlie DOES NOT lunge!!! Errr...so thats 2 weeks to teach him then! Big challenge as he prefers to work at Liberty and being partially sighted in his O/S eye, he like to stick with me, rather than move away. Hmmm.  I also entered Prettiest Head. Well I think he has a beautiful head!  And then I entered Best Pony. Get pony bathed, Yup, Get Dressed Up, Yup, Walk, Trot (maybe Yup, the drugs should allow me to run a little), but before my incarceration I literally hacked off his mane in case it was blazing hot. Now I have to figure out a way to plait a thick short stubby main 😅

Backing, Hacking and Bucking

And so to the weather report!!!  Its been Hot. Yes HOT.  18c hot!! An Early spring!. (It can't last)

And so we have been backing!!!!  Last week I lent over Lily (no reaction), and got on Charlie (no reaction).  A couple of days later, Shona came over, and sat on Lil. Again no reaction. Meanwhile i got on Charlie on the qt, no holder etc. No reaction.  This is all brilliant.

Shona on Lily



















Me on Charlie















Then it was Saturday!!!! Sammi's Birthday Party.  Before the party there was lessons.  All the ponies were in, doing various things. Eli brought Twix, her very handsome bay gelding. Not sure if it was the presence of another boy, the warm weather, some spring grass or what.  But the Big herd went wrong!! 

First up I tacked up Charlie to join in a lesson with Tia on board (small, quiet and light).  He was nothing short of a GIT.  He was behaving like a teenage boy, throwing his toys out of the pram. He had a serious case of FOMO.  The parrot mouth was present, and he just wanted to be somewhere else. So I ended up just leading him in the lesson and on the Walk Out.  When I turned him out......

Next up Daisy and Lu.....  Between lessons and Party, we thought we would let Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays, and Grace (Eli's 2nd daughter), ride the mares.  Lu was already tacked up, so went up to the school, while I tacked up Daisy.  Jo thought I would be using the western saddle which takes a while, and as Lu was a bit full of it, went for quick ride down the lane.  Meanwhile I thought she was waiting for us, so opted for quick English tack. Daisy was already agitated, so I told Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays, to take her up to school while I grabbed a drink. I meant lead her up, but Chanice had hopped up already.  When we got to school I realised Jo had gone out.  At this point I should have got Chanice off.  Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?? EXCEPT.... Daisy may get excited.....But its never unseating!  And Chanice has been riding her a long time and knows her as well as I do, and can cope with her.  

And so... i told Chanice to do her usual circling, cones, disengaging Daisys rear end, chill, relax etc.  They understand each other. Normally.  Daisy had started to relax, when she heard Lu coming up the drive. Daisy went nuts!! She must have thought she was at a rodeo!!! She went into proper bronc mode....Never thought she had it in her.  Chanice did really well and sat out the broncing, until Daisy finished with a huge buck, and face planted poor Chanice. 

Chanice has had a few falls with us (learning process), and usually gets up and laughs.  Daisy normally stops and waits.  This was different.  Chanice didn't get straight up...or laugh...and was pouring with blood from her nose.  Daisy was galloping round wildly! We caught the pony, and helped Chanice to the tack-room, just as the Birthday Girl turned up!!

All turned out Ok.  Chanice went off to A&E and was just bruised.  The Party Ponies behaved and Sammi had a good Birthday Party. 

So we concentrated on Daisys odd behaviour.  We put it down to Spring Grass, but were not happy with her reaction to Lu being missing.  So we have turned her out with the minis and fenced a large gap between them and Lu. Buddy sour horses not allowed!  Its not something we expect, as they all get worked alone, and go off to different places. 

Having brought Daisy in and lunged her for 2 days, I hacked her out today with Jo and Lu.  Its what she needed. Slightly "springy", but normal Daisy we were out for an Hour and a Half, in the glorious sunshine.  It was really nice to be hacking along the country lanes in t-shirts!! But this is England. Expect rain or snow by next week!