Daisy's First Work, Pony Tricks and A Successful Partnership

First Published 6 Oct 2019


So with all the Yuck out of Daisy's hoof, we are now cleaning daily with Hydrogen Peroxide, then plugging the hole with cotton wool covered in good old fashioned Stockholm Tar.  At last we have a sound Daisy.  When turned out with Lu and Charlie, she is galloping up the field bucking with joy. On Friday we started her long journey to fitness, with a 10 minute pole session. Good job the 'poles' are plastic down pipes!! 

We have new friends joining us at the Weekends now. An old friend of mine (Shes NOT old. I have just known her a long time) has been coming up with her teenage daughter, who has very high functioning Autism. Way more intelligent than all of us put together, she has a very special relationship with the ponies already. She has been riding Lu who is NOT a riding school pony, but who has been calm and relaxed under her rider.  And as for Charlie...Wow!  Anyone who has followed the Blog will know he is very precious about his mustache. This lovely teenager has been able to stroke his muzzle and tache without a murmur!

The great thing about Autism is the Black and Whiteness of it all. Logic. A control over the intelligent part of the brain, without interference from the primeval illogical emotional side, that hinders us mere mortals. The ability to 'Be in the Moment'. Horses get this. They live in the moment. There lives are clear cut. They do not ponder the past, or worry about the future. They don't judge their human on what they look like, or stress about the fact that they should be at a certain level in dressage or whatever. The great thing about Autism is seeing it as it is, without the filter of social politeness. Thats why they get animals...and animals get them!

In between Vets, Doctors and some rather astonishing Autumn rain (haha), I have managed to do a little Trick Training with the Three Amigos (Dora, Lil and Mini).  Lil is very interested, Dora curious and Mini?  Well she is Mini!! She knows what I want and when ignored will trundle over, touch the target etc, get the treat and bugger off again.  Or sneak up when my attention is on another pony, and try to steal a treat from my bag! Check out the latest video on You Tube 
https://youtu.be/AmQqEMY1i6E

Daisy in Work

Pony Party, Hole In Hoof and Exciting News

First up we had an End Of Holidays Pony Party on 28th August.  It was a little quieter, and a lot cooler than the last one!!!  Same sort of format as before.....Minus the cooling off under the sprinkler!  A friend of mine (Shona) turned up unexpectedly, with her son Ben, unaware of what she was walking into. Ben was more than happy to join in.
After grooming and tacking up, everyone went out for a hack, followed by a lesson.  Then it was Poo Picking time, and tractor driving. Its amazing how quick this daily job is using child labour ha ha.  After lunch we had Gymkhana games, followed by Sparkle Up a Pony.

Next day we took Polly a feed with half a Bute in, as she had been very enthusiastic during the Games.  She didn't seem as if she needed it, as she cavorted around the Paddock bucking.  Dora meanwhile looked as if she had measles.......

Meanwhile Lu looked unlevel.  Being a tough old bird, it could have been anything.  After a good foot scrub we found a hole in her foot, so called the Farrier.  After a poke around he found the hole was quite deep.  We had been poulticing it for several days until there was no gunk.  On the Farriers advice we have plugged the hole with cotton wool soaked in Stockholm Tar (which was fairly hard to find being quite an old fashioned remedy). Lu is such a good pony, she was quite happy to stand in a bucket of Iodine water. Top Tip......If your Horse is lame call the Farrier first!

Charlie is nearly ready to be ridden again.  I have been working on getting him to stand at the mounting block without moving since January, using Clicker Training. In the last two weeks I have been leaning over him and getting a leg over (Phnarff Phnaff). Today Sammi (who he is very taken with) leant over him, followed by Eli (who couldn't resist), who sat on him. No drama at all. We are nearly there.

WHW have approved our application for LIv/Lil so we are picking her up on Friday.  Very exciting!!! Watch this space for her arrival.