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.
So Jo and Lulu are still in the Top Barn Challenge, and week 7 is now finishing. Jo has used the last week as her rollover week, and so from Monday we buckle down to finishing the last 5 weeks. This week has been a non-starter. Jo has had home stuff to tackle, I am still next to useless (Chest Infection gone, but low on energy, breath and ribs still painful), and no sooner had Storm Ciara gone, then Storm Dennis rolled in.
Storm Dennis seems never-ending. He must have a very whippy tail, as the wind has not dropped below 20 mph, generally being around the 30mph mark, and according to my weather app, there is no end in sight. Despite being naked and on top of the only hill in Suffolk, the ponies are doing well. They are all like polar bears! Its at this point Winter seems to drag. Now the nights are drawing out, and the blossom and daffs are beginning to bloom, I get impatient for the T-shirt days to begin.
Last weekend it was so wet and cold that we brought Mini into the Tack-room so Nancy could dry her off before a quick ride. That child is hardcore!!! Mini amused us by showing how good she is at saying Please!
Speaking of Minis.....We are looking for another Shetland. Preferably a Standard Mare. Older rather than younger, but unbroken to ride is ok. Our Mini has spent the best part of her life with Sweet Pea (another Shetland who passed away 18 months ago) and just seems a little lost still. She would like a friend her size. We would be happy to do a loan swap with Dora The Explorer, a Welsh Sec A who is wasted with us at the moment. Dora would make a great 2nd pony, is fully papered and has great paces. She is just not really a lead rein pony.
So as I am still crook, and unable to do anything too strenuous with Charlie Bear, I brought him in for a breakfast date. I set us up a table and chair, and he had brekkie from the table, while I had my morning coffee. Was a great date.
While this may seem a little strange, you can't beat just bonding with your pony.
As Humans, we are always in a hurry. We often put pressure on ourselves to hurry hurry hurry, to 'achieve' something. Every moment with our horses must be spent doing what we feel is important (schooling, jumping etc). Horses live life at a much slower pace. They don't get the need to get on and learn something every time they see you. They don't go back into the field satisfied that they have learnt shoulder-in. If you work your Horse every time you see him, he is not going to look forward to you appearing in the field with a head-collar. If you really want to create a bond with your horse, just spend time together. Hang out with no agenda. Bring him in for a Breakfast Date. Spend time just scratching him. Give him a pamper session. Go for a walk together.
To learn some tricks check out my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLYQBYhWqo_WPVdz9MFkCtA/videos?view_as=subscriber
Or follow us at https://www.facebook.com/charliehorseandfriends/
Ok I am being very English again and giving a weather report!!!! Its been HOT!!
For the last 3 weeks its been up in the high 20's with blazing sunshine every day. Being by the coast we have had the odd cooling breeze, but NO RAIN. Being English we like a bit of rain, its what we're used to. Our grazing now consists of standing hay, the ponies leaving behind a dust bowl with no signs of life. We are already starting to think the grass will never come back. Oh yes...Very English....Moan about the weather!!!!! I actually like the heat, I have an awesome tan, But.......Just a bit of rain would be gratefully received.
We have been continuing with the kids lessons.....Polly who was born to teach children is loving it, and positively skipping around. The big girls have had a few gentle hacks, and have been fairly laid back. Charlie is being Mr Superstar. The clicker training is paying off. I have been working at getting him to stand still at the mounting block whilst 'targeting ' a traffic cone. Its working. I can now lay a leg over his back, or lean on him.....when he backs up, I say target and he moves forward to the cone.
As England are doing well in the World Cup (that is if you are reading this before the match against Sweden) , I have been playing with an England flag. Charlie was more than happy to hold it in his mouth and wave it!! Lu was very wary of it. Funny how the baby is just curious, but the herd leader is cautious!!
Today we took Polly and the Shetlands to a local school fete. Yes we crammed all three into a trailer as it was just 2 miles away. We were given a spot next to the Bouncy Castle and I am happy to report that none of them batted an eyelash when it was inflated. We spent a happy couple of hours with the children pouring glitter over the ponies (unicorns) and stenciling them. They were all really good......Until we were packing up.......
Although we had erected electric fencing it wasn't live, or very low! Polly had been freed first as she never wanders off. So we let the Shetlands loose to graze aswell. BIG MISTAKE!! Never, Ever, Ever Trust A Shetland Pony!! After grazing near to us in angelic manners, they suddenly took off at high speed to the opposite side off the fence, ducked under and legged it down the school playing field. I started to run after them, was swiftly overtaken by Ellies Children and Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays, remembered my dodgy lungs and dicky ticker and slowed to a walk. Out on the bridleway at the bottom of the school I could here lots of giggling, and the girls appeared with the somewhat chastised Shetlands in tow. Like I said.....Never Trust a Shetland!
And so. On Tuesday the Vet and the Farrier were meant to coincide at 2pm. I arrived at around 11.30am to find the Farrier had already arrived and Jo, caught on the hop had to leg it to catch in Daisy, Polly and Lu, as the Farrier wanted to get the shod ponies out of the way. Turns out it was a good thing, or we may have been there till midnight.
Although Charlie had Dora in the next field he was apoplectic at being without 'his' mares. He raced around in the mud and rain, got hot and rolled....and was absolutely caked in wet mud when I went to get him. Luckily he had enough time waiting in a stable to dry off a bit, and I rubbed him down with handfuls of straw and apologised profusely to the Farrier for his wet muddy feathers! I know a lot of people struggle in the Winter with Mud Fever in Hairy Cobs, and clip their feathers off. Believe me though, it is better to leave them on. They are natural protection against any bacteria. Constant washing of clipped legs causes the skin to weaken and the pores to open, which allows bacteria in. Scruffy as wet muddy feathers look, if you part the hair you will find nice clean, healthy skin underneath....so please leave them be. Lecture over.
Eventually the Vet arrived and started the ex-ray procedure with Sweet Pea. She was not too keen on standing on the blocks, and apparently at one point reared right up. She is very good at rearing vertically! I had buggered off to do the hay and water. When I came back the verdict was in. No arthritis at all and the feet were perfectly aligned with the Pedal Bone. And so.....back to soft tissue damage in the Fetlock. Mmmmm....thats what I suspected in the first place.
Box rest was advised. So after a long tiring day with the light fading we bedded down the biggest stable and popped both Shetlands away for the night. Sweet Pea would have had a nervous breakdown without Mini. They are surgically attached. Initially they seemed thrilled to be having a night out of the persistent rain, at a 5 star Shetland Hotel. I guess the mini-bar ran out too early......
The next day, we were met with very grumpy Shetlands. Sweet Pea refused her breakfast with pain-killers in. The only answer was to set up a very small pen outside again. It could be a long job!
Shaved Shetland leg after nerve blocks. As you can see she is not putting her foot flat on the floor.
Sweet Pea temporarily enjoying the 5star Shetland Hotel.
Happier in an outdoor pen.
Its been a bit of a day!!!! So we had the Shetlands in a small pen, due to SweetPeas' lameness. All Good. But with 40mph winds predicted we were worried the Barn might fall on them. So yesterday we set up an electric fence...Oh yeah...Yesterday. A Nightmare day. Wind and Rain. Lots of rain. Unexpected rain. I was NOT dressed for that. I was dressed for the dentist. It was like a sudden Power Shower. I left drenched. As I dripped in the dentist its not surprising they asked me to come back for a filling....by that time I was shivering and leaving pools of rain water everywhere.
So today the sun was out...all calm. I arrived to find the Shetlands mooching around on the drive. I thought Jo had opened the gate. Mid coffee Mark the Mechanic arrived with a van to fix. During a casual conversation we realised the Shetlands had in fact opened a gate and were not meant to be free-range. Off we went to look for them. They were fairly near and Mark The Mechanic and part time horse whisperer went to catch them. We Should Have Known Better!!!
Of course they ran off up the drive, Jo in hot pursuit. Armed with two carrots, I climbed over a couple of fences hoping to head them off. Initially I didn't run...with my lungs its actually slower than walking. But when I saw them heading down the drive towards the road I broke out into a sprint. They were quicker! With hearts in mouths, we could only watch them head out of the gate. They could have gone onto the road, but thankfully chose to turn the other way, and flat out headed across the beet field. SweetPea looked pretty sound!
At this point I had climbed over a third fence, not to mention forcing my way through some spiky Blackthorn Trees. Jo threw the headcollars at me. She was about to go and get a car, while I was thinking of throwing a bridle on Daisy and going in pursuit. While safe from the road, they were now loose in 35 acres of farmland!! Suddenly they appeared over the horizon heading back. Guess the grass wasn't greener. Avoiding my out-stretched arms they headed full tilt back up the drive. While Jo was putting up barriers, I caught up with the little buggers near the hay-barn. Dropping the head-collars, I knelt down, carrots outstretched and persuaded them into a stable......Whereupon I firmly slammed the door on them!
Never ever has a loose horse left the premises. Polly is often free-range. The Shetlands, who are escapologist experts (great fans of Houdini) , normally find grass, or turn the tack-room upside down. The moral of this story is ....errr.. NEVER TRUST SHETLAND PONIES!!!!
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| Penned In! |
Yes on Sunday we took the Shetlands to a show at The Suffolk Showground. The jockey was Nancy, Megs little girl. It was her first show. Megs too. Having studied the schedule, we decided apon Thelwell, Prettiest Mare, and The Pony The Judge would most like to take home. Our calculations were that these novelty classes wouldn't start before 2pm. How wrong we were!! It seems the classes in the ring before had very little competitors, and they had finished by the time we got there.
So a panic ensued as we entered Novice Horse and Rider (not really a lead rein class) and Best Rescue. No time to tell Meg any etiquette!! Still SweetPea behaved impeccably and Nancy was thrilled with a 1st and 3rd rosette.
Mini who we took for company behaved appallingly. Standing with Jo by the ringside, she pawed, neighed, stuck her head into the ring! The steward was enchanted, and asked if she could take photos. At that point we said she could take her home!! Having given up showing a long time ago, I was thrilled to find a bunch of chatty, helpful horse owners there. May even get back into it myself!
The day before was a challenge! Meg brought Nancy over to ride SweetPea. Chanice who helps on Saturdays was also there. I wanted to take Charlie out, so decided we would all go together, with Chanice on Daisy, who hasn't been ridden for a while, and myself on Lu (who hasn't been ridden since May due to her foot problem), ponying Charlie off her.
SweetPea went in front. Daisy behind, me Lu and Charlie in the middle. Lu and Daisy were both like cats on hot bricks. Chanice did very well, and Daisy settled once out on the road. Charlie was a star, keeping his head by my knee, ears pricked, enjoying himself. Lu was errrrr, Not so Good. Spooking aside, once she realised I was merely using her as a seat, she decided she would force me to pay her attention, by refusing to be ridden one handed. She kept veering off onto verges, forcing me to use both hands to steer. Charlie then had to move closer, at which she laid her ears flat back.
Once back, as Chanice needed help to dismount, I took off Lu and Charlies bridles, leaving them to browse the hedge. As punishment for my lack of attention, Lu buggered off, still wearing my saddle, and tried several times to fold up to roll, with me sprinting after her yelling NO. Not the best activity with my dicky ticker and dodgy lungs!!
And Storm Aileen? With threatened winds of 50mph, Jo and I spent yesterday fencing our winter grazing, making large paddocks so the horses could run if frightened. We turned the Shetlands loose in the 3-Acre (we may never catch them again). We picked up, and put away anything we thought might blow away......Except the Barn!
The horses thought they had gone to heaven. What no strip grazing???
Today the wind died down around midday, and we went to check the chaos. Apart from a few branches down, happily all was fine. Time to strip graze tomorrow!
Sadly I have no photos of SweetPeas show, as we were in and out before you could blink, and in the panic to get to the ring I left my phone in the lorry. But here are some happy ponies in their Winter Field!
Have you ever tried to put a muzzle on a Shetland Pony? Easy right? Well Sweet Pea is something else. Yesterday Jo managed it in about 20 minutes with no lasting injuries. I had put a controller head collar on Sweet Pea...which didn't work anyway. Despite being smaller than a large dog, she is a champion rearer. Up she went. Down went Jo. I just went with the pony in a very helpless manner. After much wrestling Jo got the muzzle on. It was then I realised the headcollar wouldn't come off. Off came the muzzle. Off went Sweet Pea. Oddly I caught her with a lunge-line. More Wrestling. She rears so high she goes over backwards....and doesn't care! Lucky she's not 16.2hh really. Eventually Jo wrangled the muzzle back on. Sadly there are no pictures as it takes 2 pairs of hands to get the job done.
This week I have been working on trust with Charlie. We went out for a "hack" at the weekend, with Meg and her daughter riding, and Jo and the dogs on foot. I spent most of the time leaning on Charlie and steering from a normal riding position. Arm-ache!!
Great news for the Papermill Lane Ponies this week. The council are at last fencing the footpaths, which effectively encloses the ponies so they can come off tether. Its been a long hard fight, and now I need to lay in a dark room for a month!!
