Ragwort - The Struggle Is Real And Halloween Agility.

 As usual I have to mention the weather!!!  We are back to normal,  with normal rainfall and our fields are coming back nicely, which is some sort of miracle after looking like dustbowls all summer.  The mega dry spell encouraged the Ragwort and it got away from us. We spent hours with pickaxes digging the bloody stuff out of concrete hard ground. In the meantime it seeded........

Then it rained.  The baby Ragwort plants have sprung into life. Thousands of them. Like Cane Toads they multiply faster than we can clear them.  At least now the ground is soft they are easier to get out. So we have made it into a game.  We do 10 minutes a day.  As they form into family groups, or cities in our case, we pick a spot and uproot as much as we can in the time allowed.  We can do a 100 plants in 10 minutes!!! Jo generally uses a RagFork which gets the roots, but I find the bending over to pick up the plants hurts my lungs, so I just use the poo picker. This is OK on soft ground, but i have to watch I get the roots rather than cut through them.  I've noticed the roots spread out and they all join each other like buttercups. We are determined to have a better summer next year, and not put ourselves through hell uprooting tall seeding plants!

And so onto the Halloween Agility Course!!   Its been fun.  I love Halloween and have several decorations and costumes!!!!  The course is easier than last months where Charlie and i had to learn Sidepass and Send Away.  We managed a First Place in the Online Pony Class, and a 3rd Place in the Liberty Class, so not too shabby.  I thought I could get this filmed quickly. Hmmmm.  First the wind carried off my Witches Hats!!! Then Charlie took a sudden dislike to weaving through the cones!!!!  I thought he had got out of bed the wrong side, then I realised the sun was glinting off my fake blood covered plastic knife, and shining into his partially sighted eye.  Not being able to work out the source of this spooky light, he chose to hide behind Mummy!!  

Third day of filming (and me wandering about like The Grim Reaper), The Pivo went on strike.  It needed a charge.  Day 4, Charlie brought the Curtain down on his back.  To give him his due, he didn't bat an eyelash, but I don't think demolishing the course constitutes as 'Passing through the Curtain safely'. Day 5 he took a dislike to the Halloween curtain.  To be fair, it was quite straggly at this point and he'd already stood on it and wrapped it round his face.  He stopped dead, backed up, looked at me on the other side, and calmly walked around the scary corner to reach me.  The Thinking Pony, solving a problem.  I was pretty impressed!!

After all that I have given Charlie a couple of days off, and took Lulu out for a hack with my friend Viv on Daisy.  The weather was kind (warm sun) and we found another route avoiding the busy village of Snape at Child-Kicking-Out time from the local school. We had a chilled ride, with Lu only going into Arab mode once when she saw some people picking Lollo Rosso in a field (scary I know).

In other news, Charlie had a Craniosacral session with Jade Monahan the miracle Holistic Healer.  Turns out he has a lot of tight muscles to go with his non existent chest.  He was also very stubborn about letting go, and very vocal about where she could put her hands.  He backed up, barged forward, side-passed, reared! But he would not admit to any pain, and just let it out!  We got some releases, but it was a very physically and mentally tiring session for all 3 of us.  Luckily Jade is still willing to come back in a couple of weeks for another session!

https://www.facebook.com/jademonahan.esmt

Whoa! Its Nearly October. A Visitor and Revelations!!

 Wow Its nearly October!! How did that happen???? So much happened in September my head is spinning!!!!!  So first we will start with the weather like a good Brit should.  It rained.  Off course it did!  I mean its Britain.  It always rains, except for June, July and August.  But finally it happened....and has been happening.  The temperatures have dropped severely and having got used to the high 20s / 30s we are now freezing at 13c today.  But the grass greened very quickly and although its growing again, we are still feeding hay.

The other major happening was Amanda Cowsill came to visit.  She brought the rain from oop North.  Literally in a glass jar, which we are keeping for the next drought.  But she also dragged the clouds with her.  And brought a massive insight about Charlie. On day one of her visit, she and her daughter Debbie came together.  Debbie and I bombed around on Lu and Daisy, while Amanda got to know Charlie.  They got on really well and he connected with her immediately, which is a really big deal, as for many years he wouldn't go near anyone else!!!!  Whats more Amanda addressed the problem I was having getting Charlie to sidepass.  All while Debbie and I were riding around at random on Lu and Daisy in a homemade 'school' measuring 15 x30. Ish.  Next I got on Charlie and we tried to move off.  At this point Amanda had an Eureka moment.  She sussed out why Charlie is OK with me mounting, but not OK with walking. She noticed he has non existent chest muscles and concluded with the extra weight on, he was frightened of falling over!!  Oh how did I not see this?? Its been apparent for a while that me sitting on him was cool, but moving off caused a problem.  I put it down to him being unsure as I wasn't in front of him. What with his poor eyesight and all.  I never noticed his weak chest.  He has great Topline and a big arse and muscled quarters, but thats no excuse to not notice that you could barely get a fag paper between his front legs!!!!   I feel terrible.  Especially as I have been here before with Harry, my ex stunt horse.

When i bought Harry he was only 5 years old, but had been a stunt horse. He had a reputation for being mean and dangerous.  I was sure it was a problem I could fix.  But Harry did not have a bad bone in his body.  He was so sweet and affectionate.  I would go into his stable while he was laying down and sit in the straw with him, and he'd lay his head on my lap.  But he could buck for England, big huge 'Get Off' bucks.  Or throw himself on the floor when he couldn't dislodge me ( I could ride in those days!!!!).  It got worse as he got older and I began to realise it was pain, not a mean temperament.  So the investigations began as he deteriorated to the point where he was lame and would pin me to the wall if i tried to rug him.  We discovered he had a broken vertebra that was sticking up, and so at 7 years old I had him PTS as there was nothing that could be done and he was in pain.   

So imagine how guilty I feel for not seeing that Charlie has a physical problem. Again I thought it was a mental problem.  I should have asked myself Why? But there we go. No point beating myself up even more.  Amanda has shown me some exercises to build up his chest muscles.  We have changed Farrier (not going into that, but they all needed a lot of work) and I have the fantastic Jade Monahan coming on Friday to do the Masterson Technique.

And so back to Amanda's visit.  On the Saturday, with Debbie working all weekend I went to Norwich and kidnapped Amanda.  Having put her to work poo-picking, I then took her to The Suffolk Punch Trust.  Amanda loves Suffolks, and being in Suffolk, we unsurprisingly have the biggest stud just down the road. We watched a demo in the indoor school.  Then the heavens opened. It poured. Tropically.  No-one could leave the school for at least half an hour! Including the demo horse and groom.  Who were at our mercy as we asked a million questions.  Did you know its about double cost to shoe a Suffolk!

When we were able to leave I took Amanda to Shingle Street, the weirdest beach ever, because it changes weekly due to the North Shore Drift.  Now I knew Amanda doesn't like the sea, whereas I love it and have a hobby/business beachcombing.  But she was keen.  Yup too keen. We scooped up a few hagstones, some seaglass (not usually found here, but just as I said that, Amanda pointed a piece out - which she possibly planted -) and made our way back to the car, where she tipped her 'finds' into my hands.  This included a 'Gold' chocolate coin!!!! Obvs this made me laugh.  Even more when I told Mark the Mechanic and Part Time Horse Whisperer that we had found gold on the beach and for half a split second he believed us!!

Amanda's visit went downhill from that moment!  We cannot have anyone stay at the house because our crazy Belgian Malinois likes to kill and eat visitors.  But we have a camper van.  The plan was to stay in the van somewhere nice.  But Mark was in the middle of welding it.  So lovely Leiston was the destination.  Leiston is not that bad, but I warned Amanda if anyone knocked on the door in the night to say she wasn't buying or selling.  We went into town and had fish n chips and by about 9pm I was knackered from having dodgy lungs and a dicky ticker and left Amanda to it.  

On Sunday things went downhill even further!!!! Yeah so we had breakfast at the Beach and the sun was shining. Great for a beach bum like me, but we already know beaches are not Amandas thing!!  Then it was off to work, picking up poo etc.  We had a short session with Charlie and then set off to a local nature reserve to check out the wild herd of Konig Ponies.  During the Summer they graze Aldeburgh Marshes and are easy to find.  But in Winter they are driven further up the coast to Minsmere Bird Reserve.  Which is massive!!!!   

We walked into the Visitor Centre to be greeted by several long lens cameras!!  Yes I thought as we shimmied down the steps.  Either they know we are here.....or they are excited over a rare feathered bird instead of The Lesser Spotted Great Northern Explorer !!!  They were looking at Finches or something equally common.  I inquired as to where the ponies were and we were pointed in a vague direction.  We walked about 5 miles (well it felt like that) checking out some bird hides along the way.  They were inhabited mostly by Great Bearded Tits getting excited over Ducks!!!!  While looking for the ponies we saw an Egret (although I have no idea if its rare here) and a Heron took off over our heads (definitely not rare here).   When we reached the gate to the Konigs ten square mile 'paddock', I looked through my phone camera at 30x.  I thought I saw something moving in the distance.  I also thought I saw a mountain lion (or maybe a Lemur).  So we walked alongside their perimeter another mile or so.....and found hay bales.   At this point I had walked way too far, and the walk back was slow to crawling.  We considered stealing someones off road mobility scooter, but they were still using it.  Another thought was Amanda dragging a bench with me laying on it.  But in true Brit Grit fashion I put one foot in front of the other and we made it back.  I bet Amanda was glad to get back to Norwich!!

So gluttons for punishment, Debbie and Amanda came back on Tuesday.  We were after visiting a Tack Shop.  But first we went for lunch at a local Riding Centre, which has a great cafe, and you can eat lunch while watching their Camel grazing with the ponies.  So we rocked up in the Cafe.  We ordered food.  "So wheres the Camel?" I asked.  "He died" whispered the waitress.  Oh No!!!! 2nd Fail!!!  Still we found a tack shop via Debbie's highly intelligent talking car.  And hopefully we had a laugh.....even if a few things didn't go to plan!!!

So since Amanda has left I have been working on Charlies's chest with excercises and lateral work. Co-incidentally the LHS task on Top Barn Level 3 was turn on the Haunches and Turn On the Forehand. We had a go. Charlie has never been good at Turn on The Haunches and left a leg behind, as well as doing more of a 'Turn on The Belly', but its been a good excercise.  In better news we did real good in The International Horse Agility August competitions, getting a First in the On-Line First Level, a 2nd in Liberty and a 2nd and a 4th in The Summer Of Sports competitions.  We have been working on the September Competitions.....and Daisy is sound so we have been on a short hack!

October promises to be an exciting month, so tune in next month!

Top Barn Summer Challenge Continues and An Addiction To Agility

The Top Barn Summer Challenge Continues. Charlie and I have completed 3 stages. The 10,000 steps a day for 14 days - Done. Not without some sweat, but no tears. The 1000 minutes training over 21 days - Done.  It went to the wire, but we got there.  The 10 Challenges in a week was no problem, although I had to change what I had planned due to the Weather.  One of the Challenges was Bath Horse.  That's long overdue, but it just wasn't warm enough! When exactly is Summer starting this year????  I don't mean to be so British and continually bang on about the weather...But Really?  Its June, and I don't consider rain and wind and still wearing a Winter Fleece as 'Summer'.  I did manage the 'Sit in The Field with The Horses and Do Nothing'.  Harder than it sounds, but very interesting, just watching them graze.  The Alpha Mare, having initially stood near me, while falling asleep, then wouldn't let the others near. After about 40 very relaxing minutes it started to rain!

And so I am onto the 4th and Final Stage.....100 miles in 30 days! You have to laugh. I mean on a bad day I struggle to walk for a 100 inches without running out of breath!  I have bagged a couple of willing riders for Lulu, so I can ride Daisy and lead Charlie. He's been a star.  Due to the Holiday traffic I daren't go up the main road, so we have been going down the lane and through a busy campsite. It's been surprisingly uneventful, despite barking tents, flapping awnings, flags and banners everywhere, children playing on whirly-gigs, helpful neighbours on ride-on lawn mowers, people chain-sawing trees, loose dogs and some very surprising electric gates opening!  Charlie has taken it all in his stride.

Daisy had a Masterson Massage from the very talented Jade Monahan. She has been a different pony!  She was always quite strung out and prone to the odd trip. Now she is 'underneath herself', head up and has found power in her back end. She is picking up her feet, springing along and has found reverse gear, including up. Never spooky, she took a dislike to an overgrown Bridleway. She slams the brakes on. I say "Walk On", Charlie obliges, while Daisy goes into reverse, leaving my arms somewhat stretched. "Whoa" I say, Charlie halts. We reorganize ourselves. "Walk On" I say, with a couple of pony club kicks thrown in for good measure.  Charlie obliges, Daisy backs up, then gives a very balanced half rear. In the end I had to get off and lead them both in tandem!  Luckily Lu ridden by Debbie, quickly learned how to undo the gate. Next time out was smoother, mostly because the Bridleway is now a little trampled by us.

Anyhoo, despite this I have still only done about 7 miles so far!!!! The weather has conspired against us, and trying to find times when we are all free to go out is not easy.  So anyone else willing to join in my Challenge??? All you have to do is sit on a pretty palomino pony and lead the way, while I wrestle the other two into some sort of formation. 

And then there's the Agility Club!!!!  I was persuaded by my friend Amanda to join a Horse Agility Club. I'm hooked. We are working our way through Course Modules.  Having built the course, I have submitted a couple of videos and passed 3 sections. Charlie and i are loving it.  Its in-hand on a loose rope at the moment. At this rate I'll never be riding him! My last score for a 10 Obstacle Course was 99/100.  I only have one more Section to complete before I finish Module One. There is also world wide competitions if you become a Club Member.  So of course my competitive nature has sprung into action.....and I've joined the Club and am now looking at entering a competition!!!!

https://youtu.be/VsKf-dKuJQ4

That may or may not be the Link to our entry if you are interested. Even if your not interested, I would appreciate it if you could subscribe to Charlies YouTube Channel......after all, we only need another 3961 subscribers before we can earn his treats!!!!!

BTW - If anyone is interested........I still have a lump on my eyebrow! Nearly a month after the head-butting incident!!

Catch up soon x

Hot Hard Summer, Goodbye Dora and Maligation

 Its been sooooo long......I have been officially Maligatored!!!! Yup that is the official term for owning a Belgian Malinois pup!!  They are not called Maligators for nothing.  They are officially the most trying, nippy, attention seeking pups ever. They rarely sleep!  They constantly want to be with you, they demand your full attention at all times. They have huge amounts of energy and want to be entertained at all times. They have a Tasmanian Devil Mode, which switches on at Midnight, where they demand you play with them for 2 hours. If you don't they try to rip you to pieces.  If you tell them off.....they rip you to pieces!  If you try to sleep.....they rip you to pieces! Even the most dedicated Mali owners will tell you....they are horrible puppies!! Thankfully Freya is now 5 months old and we are starting to understand each other.  There is light at the end of the tunnel. We are nearly up to 4 hours sleep a night 😊. I am able to walk about without the leather arm guards now....mostly.

The herding instinct still has to be dealt with.....She cannot be let loose with the ponies yet. She just wants to herd them, they just want to kill her....and she has no fear. To avoid tears, I have had to abandon any training of Charlie, and just content myself with cuddles, while Freya is in her cage in the truck (just enough time to poo pick). 

Still it doesn't matter. Charlie doesn't mind and we get a once a week slot when we can have proper time together.  It is not exactly working time right now. The summer has been Hot...And Dry!!  The ground is baked hard and we are looking like Burnt Grass Ranch again.  The temperatures have been in the Thirties regularly and we are Brits.  We cannot cope with anything above 20c and we need rain!!

So Dora went off to her new home. She hasn't gone far, and now belongs to a little girl and her siblings, where she can hopefully fulfill her potential.  I got on really well with Dora, so thought I would miss her heaps.....but I kinda don't.  She used to try and 'help' me move the fences back.  I don't miss that. We also thought Lily would miss her, as they were always entwined around each other. But Lil has shown no signs of missing her........She is more than happy with her Shetland Herd.  So Good Luck Dora....We do love you.....but ....

The "replacement" i.e Coco is quite a lot cuter!!! She is no trouble at all. She has just fitted in sooo well. Her poos are so small, I can't help think of Coco Pops when I pick them up. Today she had a massage from Jade Monahan which she thoroughly enjoyed.

https://www.facebook.com/jademonahan.esmt

A New Addition, A Pony For Sale and A Massage

So first off let me introduce you to our new addition.  Coco the Miniature Shetland.  

Coco was rescued a year ago by some friends.  She had been starved!  A year on she is looking sooo much better, but was living with big horses and had a Shetlands habit of escaping.  We have always felt Mini would love to have a friend her own size (since losing Sweet Pea) so she has come to stay. Mini is thrilled and they have bonded already.  To facilitate this, we have kept them together, away from the others, in various pens, all over the yard, where they are acting as lawn mowers!! 

That leaves us with 7 ponies again.. And so Dora is now for sale.  We love Dora and she is a character, but she is wasted here.  
If anyone is interested.....Dora is an 11.2hh Welsh Sec A mare.   She is about 12/13 years old (haven't checked passport!!) and a fully registered and passported Sec A.  Again I do not have her papers in front of me, but she comes from a very respected stud in North Wales.  She has cracking paces, and a huge jump.  She is good to box, clip, trim etc and is good with the Farrier.  She has clearly been shown in the past, as is fine when being bathed, having her mane pulled and plaited etc. 
We used her for children's lessons (which we no longer do) and she was fine as a lead rein pony (although does not like being held on a tight lead), and brilliant with older kids who can ride.  She can be nappy, so not really first ridden, but would definitely excel as a Pony Club Pony with a confident rider. She is up to a little weight......I have ridden her with no protest, and I am nearly 9 stone with clothes on!!  I would ride her more often as she is great fun, but my long legs nearly reach the ground!
Dora currently lives out all year round, is barefoot and not rugged. She lives on fresh air and gets fat just looking at grass, but has never had laminitus.   In fact she has never needed the Vet for anything other than her jabs. (Frantically touching wood). 
We have also used her for pony parties, and she loves being fussed over and painted, and makes a great unicorn.  She is bright and has learned a few tricks, such as saying please for a polo and smiling. Dora would love to be owned by a little girl, who would love her, fuss her and do exciting things with her. Price is negotiable as Jo would rather she went to the right home.

Today Daisy had a massage from Jade Monahan, an Equine Massage Therapist. Daisy has always been crooked, and strung out.  I spent a whole summer schooling her to round up a little and push from behind, instead of dragging herself along from the front.  Although her way of going became better, she was never going to be a dressage pony!!  But she has always enjoyed hacking, so that's what we do. Daisy has had a hard time with her EMS as well, and has been lame more than she has been sound.  But with Jo's extensive knowledge of EMS, and the excellent foot care from Vince Buckman, plus our track system, we have managed to keep Daisy sound this Summer.  So we felt she deserved a massage.
Jade immediately noticed her uneven muscle build up, and the weird lumps in her neck. She thinks Daisy may have had a accident in the past which wrenched her neck.  That tallies with soooo many things about Daisy.  A few years ago we were having lessons off a guy, who thought Daisy may have been pulled over at the mounting block.  Daisy has always been nervous when mounted at the Block, and takes off immediately your foot is in the stirrup. She also plunges into canter, will not jump, and prefers to wander along with her head down.  For a long time now i have ridden her on a loose rein.  Any pressure on her mouth results in her tensing and pulling against the bit. So everything Jade discovered makes sense.
Jade worked with Daisy for a long time, in a quiet, calm manner, and heard Daisy when she said "Ouch".  Daisy was enchanted with her new friend, and totally relaxed.  Her bottom lip drooped, her eyes closed and when Jade released the tension she was holding in her muscles, she yawned profusely. 
Jade has just started her business in Equine Massage.  I thoroughly recommend her and we will be using her again.
Jade has a Facebook Page.....Jade Monahan Equine Massage Therapist, and her phone number is 07464 948381.