Lils' Story

So last Friday we went to pick up Lil from World Horse Welfare. She is a 4 year old, 13hh black and white (actually more white and black) Gypsy Cob mare.  She is one lucky lady!!

Eli drove with her trailer, I had huge fun sitting in the back with her twins, Billy and Ted who are approx 21 months old and most entertaining!! That left Jo map reading.........Not her specialist subject. Still we made it in time, despite Eli and I having phone sat navs that disagreed with our planned route and each other! Eventually I silenced mine and went on sense of direction, and the vague map of Britain that lives in my head. 

When we arrived Jo filled in the paperwork, while Eli ran around after the twins, and I hung on to Prudence, while re-filling my coffee beaker from the WHW office kitchen! Good job WHW are so professional.....we managed to look like the not far off pikeys that we are. Having imprisoned the twins in a buggy and Pru in the truck, we professionally stood back while Lil was loaded and hurried off before they could change their minds!! 

The trailer was completely devoid of partition or hay, and Lil was travelled loose (as per WHW instructions). She trotted around the trailer for a bit, which we could feel even in Elis' Land Rover!  What I found most disconcerting was when she stood with one eye firmly pressed up against the little window at the front of the trailer. 

After a while she stood quietly and I went back to playing with food with the twins. Yes they ended up covered in chocolate spread, with sweets in their ears, while I wore Prudence on my head, trying to stop her being fed too many treats! We went back a completely different way, and ended up for a brief stop at Burger King, pretty much blocking the entrance for anyone else.  As Lil was loose we had all the doors closed and it was looking like a sauna so I opened the jockey door and fed her a carrot, but was worried she might make a break for it. As we weren't too far from West Meadows at that point I figured if she escaped she would probably end up there. Not an improvement from where she came!!

Lil was rescued with 70 others from a Gypsy Cob dealer in Wales, 2 years ago.  Back in 2012 he was banned from keeping horses and fined £44,000.  But that didn't stop him and by 2016 he had a herd of 70 again, that were tethered all over the place in appalling conditions.  They don't mess about in Wales it seems.  The local council removed the ponies and had him prosecuted again.

The ponies went to various rescue centres. WHW have several more from that rescue, that are ready to be re-homed. As I said....She is a lucky lady.  If it was Suffolk County Council, she would still be tethered and would have had foals by now!!

When we got home, Lil came out of the trailer calmly, just a little sweaty from the sauna effect, but not in the slightest traumatised.  We turned her out with Polly in a paddock-pen between the Biggies and the Minis. She had a drink and a roll and calmly started munching on the grass. Having watched them for a hour or so, we left them to it.

The next day was lots of children and lessons. We moved the fences around so Lil was with the Minis when they came back. Dora stormed into the field all gung-ho, marching up to Lil, full of wrath. Lil gave one squeal, struck out with her front leg and with that Dora stalked off sulking.  Mini just doesn't care whats happening.  So that was that.  Thing is, Dora thinks she is the boss of the Mini field, but in truth neither Mini nor Polly care what Dora thinks...They just do their own thing. Lil is very similar......No big show, just indifference.  So Dora has no-one she can bully.  By the next day they were all grazing very close to each other.  I would say Lil has settled in very well.

We brought her in with Polly when all the children had gone, and gave her a groom, foot clean, fly spray and some carrots. All of which she took in her stride. She seems very laid back at the moment. No doubt she will test the boundaries when she has her feet under the table....

Feeling A Little Blindsided!!!

So i was right about Charlie's eyesight.....And how I wish I wasn't!
For a while i have suspected his eyesight was not all it it should be. For those who have been following this blog, we have had a few problems with the backing process.  I hoped I had just lost my touch, that he was a young lad.
Turns out there's nothing wrong with my instinct (sadly).

The vet came out Monday to give little Dora a tetanus, so I got her to check Charlies eyes. She started with the nearside. When I lead him from the nearside he crowds me. When I try and lunge him anti clockwise, he resists. I don't believe in 'problem' ponies.  Not when they are bright and affectionate. If they obviously love and trust you, but still object to something (obvs not windsurfing or walking through a pit filled with lions), then it is nearly always a physical problem. 

A few years ago I had an ex stunt horse. He bucked for England. He would bite me when I tacked him up.  I had been told by several people he was nuts, dangerous, blah blah. Once he learnt to trust me, I would go in his stable when he was laying down. He never got up. I would sit down and he would put his head on my lap for a cuddle and stroke. I decided there was no way a dangerous horse would behave like this.....so I spent a lot of time and money getting to the bottom of his problem.  Turned out he had broken vertebrae in his back.  Eventually as he grew, he couldn't even bear a rug on, and was very lame. So I had him put down. I was gutted.....But even more gutted it had taken me two years to find the problem.  

So back to Charlie. He is so bright and sweet and funny. And willing to please. I knew deep in my guts it was physical. The near side eye was fine. I started to think I had got it wrong.  BUT.......The vet found a cataract on the offside, right in the centre of the retina. This means he can only see light and dark and shadows on that side.  She thinks he was born with it.

I was slightly puzzled, as I thought it the other eye. But the Vet worked it out. When I lead on the nearside, he can see me but not the world, so he huddles in for protection.  When I lead on the off side, he gives me space, because he knows its me and can see everything else. Same with lunging.  He's happy to have his bad eye towards me, as he knows I have his back. 

We can continue as normal, now I am armed with this knowledge. He must trust me, so we can build on that and hopefully we will get to the point where he is less spooky and trusts me when I am on him, not just in front or beside him.

I am sad that this brave and beautiful pony has this problem at such a young age.....but we can do this together.  I can be his right eye and he can be my lungs.

Day Two (Again)

A bit of a gap between Day One and Day Two.....Thats how we roll here. I have a genuine excuse....up to Hospital again for drug trial check up.  So back to lunging.  Charlie didn't put a foot wrong today. 
Despite the cold North Wind, he lunged like a pro.  No pulling, bucking etc. Just calmly trotted and cantered. Came in when I asked, swapped rein without  a tantrum. So either a) he does know what i want, and was just trying it on before, or b) he learnt his lesson real quick.  I'm going for option A.

So, a short session, no sweating up, so no hose, a feed and back out. Lesson learned? Day 3 will tell.

Back To Basics and RDA Party

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!!

Don't Try This At Home!!!!

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!

Charlie Backed (Again), What Show?, Bloody PH, Papermill Progress And A Book!

I know, its been a long time since the last update!!!!  Going back....the Suffolk Show. Hmmmmm.. At 6am we arrived at the yard. Everything was ready. Jo put the coffee on, I went to get Lu in.  She was lying down.  She got up, limped a bit.  Oh No!  I told myself and the pony that she was just a bit stiff, had a dead leg etc etc...The excuses you make to yourself when you can't accept the truth.
By the time we were coming down the hill, it was obvious! Lulu who has never been sick or lame in nine years.....was lame on the day of the Suffolk Show! I walked her about in hand, desperately hoping she would come sound. No. Lunged her....still lame.  Not hopping, but definitely not sound. We turned her loose while we had a coffee.....I kept going out and checking, but no cigar. Disappointing? Hell yeah.  We consoled ourselves with lunch at Gracies in Leiston (well worth a visit by the way).  Lu is still oddly unsound.  Its very intermittent. 
She was sound the day after the show, then not.  We took her to the vet. I ran up the concrete as fast as, I could hear from the rhythmic hoof sound that she was fine. But even now she is slightly noddy in trot.  Its a mystery for sure.

And Charlie?? Well what a boy!! My brave friend Sarah has been helping me. With me at his head, she has sat on him, and even ridden him round the work area several times.  He has worked out where his feet go and even seemed really proud of himself.  Our next mission was for Sarah to lead him, while I rode.

And that's when my bloody lungs/heart got in the way. PH is a progressive condition, but as I have been stable for 6 years, I had pretty much forgotten I had it except for the tablets three times a day. I kind of knew I was a bit worse, but put it down to a chest infection (in the winter), the wind, the heat....You know, the excuses you make to yourself when you can't accept the truth!!  A trip to Papworth last week shocked me despite the self denial. After two days of tests the docs said my heart had enlarged and was in danger of failing. Basically PH has caught up with me. They wanted me to have a Hickman Line in (drugs infused directly into the heart 24/7 via a pump worn at the waist and an intravenous line into the heart.  Not being ready for that I said I'd think about it and legged it. They have since phoned with alternatives - one being a drug trial, and the other a new drug, but in the meantime, No backing or riding dangerous horses!!! It's given me a lot to think about.......I now have a harness thanks to Hollesley Rda and a cart, so can begin teaching him to drive.  As I can't expect Sarah to continue riding him, I am trying to get him to Boot Camp.....Summer at a local riding school.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to slow down, I have written The Ridgeway Romp. A tale of 2 idiots (me and my mate Tess), riding The Ridgeway in ballgowns on my slightly quirky ponies in 2007.  It is mostly the Blog Tess wrote at the time, with some infill from myself.  It is now published on Amazon......Please check it out...

Finally the Papermill ponies have been fenced in, and all bar a few who are having veterinary treatment, are off tether.....This has been a long hard road for the girls that started the group, and they now have Asbos for harassment!!!!! But it just goes to show what can be achieved via social media!

Bungee Cords on Gates Plus A Pony With The Mentality Of A Teenage Boy Equals Disaster!

Its safe to say since Charlie turned 5 he has turned into a bit of a rebellious teenage boy! He seems to have realised his strength now and has the odd teenage tantrum, throwing his toys out of the pram and stomping off!  He was really arsy about having sunblock on his nose (again).....I mean really?  Would he rather have a crispy sore nose?  I think not. Unfortunately my horse communication stops rather short of trying to explain that to him. 

So yesterday when I went to catch him he legged it. Something he hasn't done since last summer!! Although he gave in quickly, it possibly didn't bode well. Now we have a bungee cord on the gate to tie him to. This has stemmed from him pulling back and breaking hundreds of bits of baler twine. DELIBERATELY I may add.  Just because he realised if he leaned back the string would break and it was a bit of a joke to him. So secured to said Bungee, I started to plait his forelock...nothing fancy, just so he could see. He pulled back very hard, the bungee stretched to maximum, and the gate popped open....smacking me from behind with all the force of a freight train, sending me flying!  The worst pain was from my calf/shin.  It happened to be the one that was smashed up in a previous life and is a little fragile. So for a few minutes I just knelt there, whilst finishing the plait and rubbing my calf, wondering weather it was safe to put any weight on it.  Charlie being very concerned and kept nuzzling and nudging me. When that didn't get me up he pawed at me!!  I couldn't be cross, but my boy is not too subtle!

We had a rather wild session.  He pulled too hard on the lunge, in my hobbling state, so I let him free-school over the jumps, which meant we had another hose down fight as he got hot. Meanwhile in the next field Jo was lunging Daisy, who has just been shod after another bout of Seedy Toe.  Feeling rather well in herself she hurtled around with Jo water-skiing behind her.....Setting a fine example from a mature mare to a young lad!

With the Suffolk Show tomorrow Jo got Lu in for another bath, while I had a much calmer session with Charlie.  But not before Jo stabbed herself in the leg very deeply with the secateurs!  As neither of us are capable of running tomorrow Shona is very kindly stepping into the ring for that part.  When she rang to see if we needed help, we told her to stay in bed all day so to avoid injury!!!!  But her boys wanted to see the dogs, so we made sure she was very safely away from attacking gates and marauding ponies. 

Thankfully Charlie was very chilled today and we had a very reasonable long reining session followed by him standing quietly at the mounting block as I hung over him.  He then stood very quietly watching Lu being rinsed with the hose, and enjoying the fuss of some real teenage boys.

So with the lorry packed and ready, I may well be off to bed very soon as we have a 6am start!!!! YAWN.

Full of power!!

Much Calmer

I Love The Western Saddle and Poplar Park Horse Trials

Woohoo its been warm!! Tee-shirt weather. The Daffs are everywhere, as are bumble bees at the moment. We have spring cleaned the hay shed and removed miles of tarpaulin that kept tripping us up. And we have been working the ponies. They have been naked and shedding winter coat at the speed of light. The fields look like a pillow fight in a kids dorm!

Charlie has been long reining daily and is being a star. The other day I tripped over a molehill and face planted the ground. As I let go of the reins so as not to jab him in the mouth, he lept forward one stride, then came back for me. Many horses would have galloped off at high speed. He's also had a sack of bran on his back and me leaning over him at the mounting block again. My other half (Mark the Mechanic) has been working on a car at the yard all week with tools and blankets etc spread around. Charlie walked straight onto the blanket to eat the carrots I had left there. Later I rode Daisy over it with no hesitation. Madam Lu kicked up a fuss, but at last put one foot on it. Charlie is so nosy he stuck his head in the back of the van and also examined the engine. 

I hacked Daisy out Tuesday. Having not been ridden since about last October she was slightly excited. Having failed to get a girth around her I abandoned my english saddle and used the Western one, even though the breast plate is too big to do anything. I thought I had cinched it up tight enough. Anyway she jogged everywhere having a fine old time, while I lounged around and experimented with just hooking the reins over the horn so I didn't have to use my hands at all. Riding for the chronically lazy. I love it! On the way home, unusually she spooked at at pheasant. Then followed it up with a bronco bucking fit. That saddle is brilliant for bucking. You just don't move. Poor Daisy...she throws her all into it, but its still not unseating. I laughed all the way home. When I get off remembering to step down, the whole saddle swung with me. Guess my cinching needs to be a lot tighter!!

Last weekend it was Poplar Park horse trials. They are the first biggish ones in the eventing calendar and Jo and I did a couple of hours on the gate....all in aid of the RDA. The weather was spring-like and we had a fine old time watching riders coming up and down the track.....either off to jump, or trudging back having finished. Pippa Funnell seemed to have so many rides, I asked her if she had a twin. She is a very nice lady, not to mention extremely talented, and introduced us to her horses each time she passed us (once every 10 minutes). I gather she did very well....So well done Pippa.
We were able to watch a bit of show-jumping and walk the course which was very well built. I used to work at Poplar Park, and its a great course. Very undulating and sandy soil so always good underfoot. Always makes me want to jump again............

When The Wheel Falls Off and Western Tack

Since the snow that never happened it has been COLD.  Yes thats COLD in capitals. The water pipes completely froze, leaving us lugging water containers from the Tack Room. And just when we need the tractor and trailer....the wheel fell off the trailer! One minute I was trundling along....next minute I wasn't.  
Course the trailer was full off poo. Try as we might we couldn't lift or remove the trailer so we had to shovel the poo out where it was. Turns out the split pin had jumped off the wheel. Yes, you couldn't make it up.  Using the metal detector the next day failed to find it. Scrabbling around in the poo we had dumped (Phnaff Phnaff) did. So no harm done, except we had a pile of poo to shovel up and then off load at the muck heap, making it 4 times we had handled it.

Having been coveting a western saddle kit for Charlie for months, I finally got it. Very cheap, but it came as, saddle,bridle,cinches, and blanket. Today was the day to try it on him. To be fair he has been very hormonal the last few days, trying to mount Daisy at every opportunity. So he needed a distraction. A bit full on after months chilling in the fields and growing. He took it all in his stride, despite Mummy not knowing how to cinch it up properly, and the rain pouring down. Once in the "Arena", he had forgotten lunging basics, preferring to come in to me.  So I let him loose and picked up a whip.  Sending him away sent him into a temper tantrum......bucking, squealing, generally being a boy! Eventually he settled and worked a little. Time to start regular work methinks.

An Exciting Buy and Merry Xmas From Us xx

Well what an exciting time.....Jo has only gone and bought a lorry. Its well cute. Ford Iveco, 2 horse, side loader. We went and picked him up last Saturday...I had the easier task of following her back in her Subaru. Oh yeah.....Its a boy lorry.  Harry the Horsebox. Top tip here though......If driving a car with a seat-belt sensor do not have a loose Jack Russell with you.  Or any dog come to that. Or a handbag! At first I was alarmed at the beeping....then I realized it was Scrumpy, my Jack making the beep. Unable to reach the seat-belt and plug it in at 60mph, I turned the radio up.....Which was fine until it starting playing the chart of 1966.  No offence to 1966.....its when I was born, but i like slightly newer music. A plus point is Harry the Horsebox almost fits in the barn, thus becoming a really solid Dove-pigeon baffler.  My other half came along Sunday to check out Harry......he's a mechanic....Mark the Mechanic.  We waited with baited breathe until he pronounced we had a good un.

Over the last 3 days I have been taking pix of the ponies wearing xmas hats...Or trying to.  Last year I photo-shopped a hat on Charlie and myself.  This year, with the trust between us pretty strong he was happy to wear a hat and pose with me loose in the field for a selfie. Trouble is what with holding the hat on in the wind, and not having gorilla arms, the pix ain't that good.  Daisy wore the hat but wouldn't stop eating, and Lu ran off snorting. The Shetlands on the other hand are born models. With smaller ears I was able to secure the hats and they stood and posed.

Meanwhile at the Rda we had our final session before xmas.  We played pass the parcel.  As the speakers are all packed away for the move I ran around holding my phone aloft as it played xmas songs. Oh did I mention I had an elf tee-shirt and hat on?  Tilly wasn't at all sure of me.....I thought it was the music coming from my pocket, but it was the hat.  After kneeling down to let her sniff the hat, she then realised it was just me. And guess what was in the parcels? Yes a carrot in all of them. All the riders got a pic of themselves mounted on a card.

So its Merry Xmas from me, The Super Model Shetlands, and Him.

The Shetlands

Me and Charlie

Harry the Horsebox

New Shoes For Daisy and A New Experience For Charlie

First the weather report......And the heat goes on.  It was 32c the day before yesterday and Jo and I were muttering about mad dogs and Englishmen, as we shoveled shit during the hottest part of the day.  We have moved Lulu and Charlie onto the 3 Acre with Polly and Daisy, as the grass is all burnt, albeit still quite tall. We have separated them though, Charlie has moved in with Daisy and Lu with Polly. It seems to be working. 
Today the Farrier came to sort out Daisy's feet. I brought Charlie in as company, and to give him a good groom, and plait his mane, hoping it will make him a bit cooler. Following the ex rays the Farrier cut away a fair bit of Daisy's toes, to expose the rotten bits.  He then put front shoes on her to give her something to stand on, and make it possible for us to work her......The last thing we need right now is Laminitus. 
I was in the stable with Charlie putting the longest, thickest plaits ever in his mane in the hope it will make him feel a bit cooler, when he suddenly spun away. I realised the Farrier had started his forge, and there was a good chance Charlie had never heard that before. When Daisy's hot shoes were put to her feet, Charlie grew to about 15hh and had eyes out on stalks.  He must have thought she was on fire! All good education, as he will certainly need shoes at some point in his life.
But best of all when we turned them out Daisy galloped away bucking.  Her feet must feel soo much better already.

cut away toes

Flip Flops, Happy Hacks, Success....And Backwards Again

Ok back to the weekend....The Flip Flop Incident. Absolutely no horse book would recommend wearing Flip Flops around horses. But I like my feet free. Its been hot.....I am now saying....Do Not Lead Horses In Flip Flops!!  On Saturday, we got all 3 biggies tacked up etc.  Jo went off to lunge Lu.  I took Charlie into the round pen to long rein and do a little desensitizing with a fag packet on a stick. Meanwhile I told Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays to sort out Daisy's girth and mount. We then swapped places, and I sat on a chair, and gave vague instructions while holding Charlie.  It did Chanice the world of good.  I told her to plan stuff in her head...ie walk, trot, left, right, halt etc and be absolutely firm with Daise.  She did really well.  I lounged around Charlie, resting my feet on his neck etc. Then we all went out for a hack.....me leading the boy.  Halfway down the drive he stepped on the back of my flip flop.  A brief struggle ensued between my middle toe and the flip flop.  They both lost. One broken flip flop and one very bruised toe.  Not to be deterred, I carried on barefoot.  Not wanting to get stood on again, and limping a bit, I leant my arm on the saddle, my weight on Charlies side and guided him with the reins.  He was a star.

Sunday, we had a brilliant long-reining session.  He stopped, started, turned, backed up....All good. Monday I rode Daisy.  We had a lovely hack through the Corn-On-The Cob fields.  We have permission off the farmer, and as yet the plants are only stirrup height.  I made sure......so I thought....that Charlie wasn't jealous, by spending an age scratching his belly, which he loves.

Today I thought I might get on him again.  Jo caught Lu.  Charlie wasn't having it.  So i walked off leaving the electric fence gate open.  He came through as planned into the small area between electric fencing and the main field gate. I tried to catch him......No go.  So I sent him away.  Jo took Lu away to work her. I sat down.  Charlie came over, but would not let me put a headcollar on. So I sent him away.  This carried on for half an hour.  Jo then came and tried. He had his stubborn face on, and half an hour later still no joy. We drove him back to his field and I walked off.  He followed. I ignored him. I may well ignore him tomorrow as well.  Its to be expected with a boy with his history, and I am not going to take it personally...........(really I'm NOT)

Playtime...And Work Time

The ponies were in a playful mood today, with Charlie and Lu racing around just for the fun of it.  It's so nice to see them just galloping around and being horses.  It also causes gasps of joy from Jo and myself, as Charlie is so balanced and surprisingly light on his feet. His changes of direction are a so swift, his trot so floating and he has a very collected up hill canter.  I hear the show ring calling!!

We brought all 3 biggies down to the 3-Acre where my round pen is.  I gave Charlie a swift lunging session and spent a whole packet of polos teaching him to say Please.  Once the other two were tacked up, I shushed him out to go graze the rest of the field. Jo went off on Lu and I started to give Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays an intense lunge lesson....with knotted reins and no stirrups (Don't tell her parents).  We had been working for less than 5 minutes, when Charlie appeared under the gate-rope and joined us. While this is not at all BHS, he was happy to quietly graze and didn't get in the way (much).  Chanice did really well, getting a really good sitting trot while holding the pommel.  I gave her lots of weird exercises to do, to not only to loosen her up, but to help her balance and confidence.

Jo came back and asked if i wanted to ride Lu.  Hell yeah.  She is amazing. Chanice and I played 'Follow my Leader', with me alarming Lu by waving my arms and legs around.  I then went into school mode and asked Lu for rein-back and what I call 'sideways stuff'. Lateral work always sounds a bit pretentious. Its Sideways Stuff until you got it. Lu was a little huffy...resisting the pressure of my legs, but kinda got 'Turn on the Belly', sideways along the fence line and a couple of steps of rein-back.  I would like to do more, as I have a fascination with bringing ponies on. 

Why Does Your Pony Dig A Hole? Because He Is An Archaeologist...Or A Pig

Well there are lots of theories....mostly to do with vitamin needs. Maybe they are digging up the root of the grass.....maybe they need vitamins from the soil?
Charlie has dug small holes before.  I started giving him pink powder in his feeds, in case he was deficient in some important mineral. Not so in his case.
Sorry to dwell on the weather ( I Am British), but this week has been cold.  We have had a strong North Wind and showers. The ponies are all fat and have grass, but we succumbed to rugging Polly as she is old and as close to a TB as possible for a pony.  Then we rugged Daisy (she was tucked up and shivering pathetically).  Lu and Charlie have shown no signs of being cold.
And yet.....he has done something new to Jo and I in all our years of being pony girls.  Over the years I have looked after at least a 100 ponies, and I have never seen a pony dig like Charlie......
He has made a hole a foot deep and spread the dirt over about 6ft x 4ft. And he used it for a dust bath! Every inch of him is black....his feathers, his mane, tail, his face.  He looks like a coal-miner fresh from the pit!  And he seems to have dug up what looks like a stone age flint knife!  What he doesn't realise is when summer arrives he is having a bath!!!

A Rider For Polly and Charlies Long reining Sucess

What an excellent day we have had.  We have found a rider for Polly.  A little 7 year old, who fell in love with her, and was more than capable of cantering her round whilst still being able to steer.  Result for Polly, who needs to be doing something.
Chanice Who Helps Saturdays had an excellent ride on Daisy.  Her leg position is so much better, and she was able to deal with Daisys attempt to tank off. 
Meanwhile we had another attempt at long-reining Charlie.  This time with Jo at his head, just to reassure him. The boy was awesome, and totally listened to me behind him, without freaking out.  A lot more of the same is needed methinks.
As I led him back to the field, very casually, with the lead rope loose and him just following, it struck me how far we have come from the tense days of leading him around with him ready to spook and rear.

Bee Is Off and Work Resumes....And a Sick Pen

Dare I say it......its warmed up.  Ok so its still hailing at times.  But the sun is generally warm enough to leave the ponies naked. Bee is off tomorrow.....to a forever home hopefully.  She has chilled so much, I hope she will settle in quickly. I will miss her cuddles, but I think she'll be fine. She has so much more confidence in humans now.
Today we had Roz and Shona to help, so I suggested we do something with the bigger ponies.  Charlie has had enough time off to digest what he has already learnt.  While Shona rode Daisy and Jo rode Lu...just around the 'school' and 4 acre, I tried to long-rein Charlie.  I may have found the reason he panicked and dumped me.  Seems he is only confident while I am at his head.  We set off round the 4 Acre behind the others in long reins.  While they calmly walked ahead, Charlie freaked, rearing, pulling and spinning.  I dropped one rein and brought him on a circle, thinking of the havoc he would cause if I let go. So glad they didn't turn round and see my fight.  I quickly ditched the long reins in a corner, and just led him.  No stress.  As soon as I took up the reins to walk by his saddle...panic.  He likes to follow. No problem.  I will get Jo to walk by his head while I get him used to me being behind.  
Daisy looked sound, which is great.  Her and Polly are currently sharing a 'sick pen'.  Basically a long strip around the edge of the field with only old grass....just in case!!

My New Groom

This week I got a new groom! My poor mum who has always been scared of horses, popped in to pick me up yesterday.  As I was just bringing Charlie in for a tidy up (His vision has been compromised lately by his very thick, long forelock), she found herself keeping him quiet.  He is normally groomed by the gate to the field, or in the barn with the others.  So this was actually his first time tied up to the post by the tack room alone.  Not wanting her to be knocked over if he barged about, I gave her a bucket of carrots to keep him quiet. 
Easily bribed lad, stood reasonably quietly for a feather, tail and forelock trim. At least I can now see his feet, and he can see......well everything.  As much as I love him looking like Phil Lynott, or indeed Slash from Guns 'n' Roses, its probably better that he has some vision. It was a bit of a hatchet job, practical rather than pretty, but it will take some time to get the tail and feathers thinned nicely. I also managed to cut my finger with the scissors.....being on warfarin, there was copious amounts of blood😊

Blossoms Rescue Centre

I hope a few people have watched the video of Charlie (real name Sparky) by now, and have seen what a lovely pony he is.  He is sweet, affectionate, cheeky, trusting, nosy, and funny.  Not to mention he has fantastic conformation and stunning paces.  If if wasn't for http://www.blossomsrescue.co.uk/, he wouldn't even be alive.  Please check out the website.  This isn't a huge rescue centre like ILPH or Redwings.......but a small concern run by one dynamic lady called Sara Higgins.  They also rescue dogs, cats, chickens.....if it is in need of rescue, rest assured Sara will be on it. With a a few voluntary helpers, Sara looks after all the rescue animals herself....on a shoestring.  Trust me if I lived closer I would be helping. 
So if you can help in anyway please do......If you check out the site, you can donate......or if you live nearby, maybe take on a rescue pony or dog.
Believe me it is way more rewarding to see an animal that has had a bad start in life develop into something special.
Does this look like a rescue pony??????

Charlie Life of a 3 Year Old Rescue Pony

What A Good Boy

I am so pleased with Charlie......that probably means something will go wrong. But so far all is good.  He seems to be really enjoying his 'work'.  I don't really like using a cavesson....I find them heavy and unnecessary, so I am just working him off a head collar.  The last 2 days he has been wearing a poly pad on his back with a surcingle. It hasn't been a problem at all.  He has got the hang of 'lunging' very loosely. As in he's picked up the going round in circles.  At the moment we only have trot and whoa.....but the other pace commands will come in time.  We have been carrying on with the 'follow me' games, and getting used to the mounting block.  He is happy to stand next to it, while I lean over him.  Soooo tempting to slide a leg over.  But not yet.
Today I lead him up to a pallet that was laying around.  He sniffed it, then walked over it.  Family Pony here we come..............

Proud in grown up clothes.