Top Barn Week 10, Stressage, And Hard Work

 Yes we have completed Week 10 of the Top Barn Challenge.  We have had our Rollover week, but not a Holiday week, so technically Week 11 is the last to complete the challenge, but I am still expecting snow! Ok so the last week has been mostly sunny.....I can feel the warmth of the sun, and layers have been stripped off.

Charlie has been full of spring grass, even though we cannot actually see it growing yet. It may be all in his belly. It is showing in his springy heels!!!

We have not been totally connected.....Charlie has his mind on fresh grass and the mares (probably in that order), so we have spent the last couple of weeks playing at Liberty and working on a dance routine. However although I haven't actually got on him, we are getting close.

We have also been working on our Stressage Competition. What was I thinking? Back in the day, I hated Stressage, the most boring part of ODE. And that was ridden!  In-Hand Stressage? Am I crazy? I have to run! With my Dodgy Lungs!! But anyway we are sort of getting there.  Jo filmed a couple of run-throughs today for me.  Charlie was fairly good. But I wasn't satisfied. So back I went this evening with Mark The Mechanic and Horse Whisperer for yet another take.  Although willing to work, Charlie decided it was too dark to trust me on his blind side.  I would say he 99% trusts me, but when he is struggling with what he can see.....At the end of the day (literally) I am not a horse!!  Yup Sorry to break that to you!  With his feral background he still looks to other horses to keep him safe. 

So more filming to come (sorry Jo).

As much as I have loved my 4th Top Barn Challenge, I may have to take a week off to recover at the end.  Its all been a bit hard core. I am still looking after my Mum 4 days a week.  And the Winter seems to have dragged on (even though its getting warmer).  It's the extra work involved in the Winter months that's the killer! Jo and I are on our knees!!! It hasn't helped this year that our Hay Barn is being restored.  So our hay is delivered once a fortnight. It lives outside, so we have a daily battle with a gigantic tarpaulin and several hundred bricks and pallets to keep it warm and dry.  We should be experts at putting up tents!

Daily we move 4 ponies onto the up-coming grass for 2 hours.(The other 2 stay on the night paddocks as they are Fat Fu****, I mean Good Doers). Then its a round of hanging up hay nets in the field, filling Hay Feeders, Filling Water Tubs, Poo-Picking, emptying Poo trailer, forking up Muck-heap, cleaning trailer, refilling Hay Nets and trailer with hay,  bringing back 4 ponies onto night paddocks. At this point we are exhausted and need to stop for a coffee and a biscuit! We have help at the Weekends, but we desperately need weekday help! It's the hay wrangling that's killing us.  SO.........

Do you have free mornings?  Would you enjoy the fresh air and exercise? Would you like to share a loving Highland Pony in exchange for a bit of hard graft and a small contribution towards her keep? Daisy has so much to give, and although we love her very much, she would love to have her very own human that she doesn't have to share with the other 5.  Daisy is a bombproof, but forward going Happy Hacker. She hacks out alone and in company, is very loving and sweet. She is in her 20's and is not going to set the world alight, but may well light up your world!

 

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED!!!! And Trust Is a Two Way Thing.

 Yes you saw it here first (well actually you may have noticed), SUMMER IS HERE!!!! Finally the temperatures have soared into the 20's.  I have had my old fleece surgically removed from my body. I have cautiously cut a pair of jeans down (only to knee length, I mean I do not want to subject the world to my blue thighs yet). The boots are where they should be at this time of year, in the Boot cupboard, and the Crocs firmly glued on. I may even have a Watch mark appearing!

So after a trip to Papworth recently, I found out my Dodgy Lungs are ever more Dodgy, and my Dicky Ticker is very Dicky. I have agreed to have a Hickman Line fitted this Summer (now its finally arrived). Without going into boring details, a Hickman Line goes from the Heart, pops out of a hole in the Chest area, and attaches to a pump (worn in a fetching Bum-Bag at all times), which continuously pumps drugs in every 5 seconds.  Apparently this is not to be used for recreational drugs....Spoilsports!!!!  This means A) my Heart may cope a little better when its fitted, and B) I have to take it easy until then.

So with this in mind, I have abandoned trying to ride Charlie and resumed with Tricks, Trust and Connection. Charlie loves playing games and learning new tricks. He is curious with new things.  This is NOT because I have desensitised him by flooding. It's because he trusts me. There is a lot of talk in the Horse World about Desensitisation and 'Flooding' is often used. I.E Horse is frightened of the Hose? Hold him down and hose him, until he gives in!!  And there's a mind trick for you!!!! Trying to think of an example of 'Flooding' I came up with Hosing!!!!!! But this happens with anything...Saddles, Clippers, Traffic, Umbrellas, Noise, Dogs, etc etc.  The Horse has not 'got used to it', he cannot get away and has shut down in fear!!  For example if you are out on a Hack and your horse freezes at the sight of a cow? You shout at him, maybe take a whip to him? Eventually he passes the cow. But this has only added to his fear of cows!  Next cow he sees? Same scenario happens.  It is impossible to Desensitise your horse to every single thing.

But if your Horse trusts you its a different matter. Something scary? You gently say "Have a look, think about it. I'm Not Scared. Its Ok". It may take time, but if the Horse trusts you, he will eventually pass the scary cow/dog/giant green alien and Hey Presto....Nothing bad happened. The Horse trusted you, and you were right! Next time out...Cow? Scary? I don't think so.

So that's why i work at Liberty with Charlie. There is no reason for him to stay with me, when I introduce something new. But there is also no reason for him to run away. He trusts me. I do not chase him down, but stay put with whatever weird 'toy' I produce. I let him come to me. Last week I collected a Carrot Cannon from my friend Amanda.  It's genius! Two short pipes that swivel on a wooden frame. Treats go in one end, the Cannon is tilted up, and the Horse has to work out to push on the pipes to get the treat out.  When I first put it in the Field, there was snorting and spooking from both Lu and Charlie.  But when they realised I hadn't been eaten by the scary contraption, they both came over. Charlie approached first, but Lu figured out the connection quicker (It's a Girl Thing).

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Don't forget, Trust is a Two-Way thing.  You cannot expect your Horse to trust you, if you do not trust him. I often work in bare feet with Charlie. I like being bare-footed!  It does not occur to me that he might stand on my feet, because I trust him not to. I like to lay down with the Herd. I trust they won't stand on me....because they don't. I used to ride back from the Pub in the dark on my old pony Paddy. Couldn't see a damn thing....But he could, so I trusted him to get me home.

Have a good Summer with your Horse. 

Autumn Grass? More Massages, More Maligation, Feral Charlie and Horses of Old.

 Wow we are nearly into Autumn (Yes Please).  We moved the Ponies onto the Autumn Grazing (The Hill Field) as it had some regrowth.  We hoped for the usual September growth spurt....but it hasn't happened. Its still HOT with little or no rain. So the herd ate the grass....and we have been feeding hay for a week! The Biggies have all lost weight. They needed to, but its unexpected in September. As they all live out, naked, through the Winter, we need them to go into the into the cold months a little fat. So Hay it is. Happy Hay Man !!!

Yesterday Lu and Charlie had a massage from Jade Monahan.  Lu as usual communicated very clearly what hurt!  She even bared her teeth. Lu is never subtle and very easy to understand.  Anyone that wants to learn how to listen to what a horse has to say, should come and spend a week with Lu. She might as well write it down!!  Lu had a few sore places and let Jade know!  Fortunately Jade doesn't need a week to get to know a horse.  She instantly reads the horse and responds accordingly.

Charlie was a bit of a dick.  After 5 minutes his attention started to wander. What can I eat? What is that on the floor? Is it edible? Can I go get some grass now? Can I untie the halter rope? Shall I bite Daisy over the stable door? It seems Charlie is very healthy in the muscle department, so nothing was tight.  He has got an over developed muscle on his near-side shoulder, but Jade figured out it was because of his dodgy off-side eye.  If something is happening on his off-side, he turns his head right round to that side so he can see with his good eye. As Jade massaged this muscle, he relaxed and gave several yawns.  Then he got a bit bored again....until Jade got to his quarters.  He like that. He liked it so much he dropped (willy out!). 

Daisy, who was just in the Barn so she wouldn't be alone in the field, really wanted a massage as well. She wickered to Jade when she saw her.  Sadly (or happily) for Daisy, Jade fixed her last time.  She has been moving so freely in the field.  I had Shaneece (Who helps on Saturdays) ride her today in the "school" and I couldn't believe how she was going!!  She looked like a dressage horse!!!

As I am working on a dance routine with Charlie (for the last in the 25 Things To Do With Your Horse On The Ground series on Youtube) and also have The Maligator with me, I have taken to pulling up in the Hill Field, first thing in the morning and doing 5 mins dance practice with him, while the Maligator yaps in the truck.  Charlie has been doing well. The Maligator then gets five mins out of the truck on the lead, as I try and get her to sit calmly and just watch the horses.

But last Sunday, I had a whole puppy free morning.  Work done, I got Charlie in with his mares as Lu was being ridden. Charlie was a complete arse to lead, not wanting to leave his mares heading for the Barn, while we continued to the Round Pen. I quietly drank coffee, while he careered round, bucking and squealing. Eventually I got his attention. For a nano-second.  Lu appeared, to be mounted, Daisy was bashing the stable door in the background. Charlie lost the plot, and raced through the wire fencing, pulling up several fence posts! I could put this down to jealousy of the time I am spending with The Maligator, but Charlie is not a deep thinker!!!  But he does go feral quickly. While he is happy to spend 5 minutes in his field dancing with me, if he is not properly worked away from the others, we lose our bond, and he quickly becomes herd-bound.

 

So yesterday i was reading a post from Karl Greenwood (horse trainer, people trainer).  He was talking about our relationship with horses throughout time. How they have empowered us. They gave us speed and strength we don't have. They were our transport (our taxis, trains and lorries), our Farm Machinery (ploughing, harvesting) and our war horses. Without the horse, we would have evolved much slower. Nowadays horses are mainly just for sport and leisure. But they haven't changed. They are still brave, bold and obedient. If we let them!  The Horse hasn't changed, but we have. We don't give them enough credit, or trust. We treat them as big wimpy pets instead of hard working brave companions. We may go to the Barn/Stables and decide not to ride because its Wet/Windy/Hot/ or its Bin Day, or the road is busy, or there are sheep in a field a mile away. Maybe there is a combine in the next field, or a rook scarer, or its Pheasant season. We have somehow come to believe our horses are brain-dead wimps!! 

Its time to give our horses the credit they deserve and trust them.  After all Ned who pulled the milk float in 1878, went out every day, whatever the weather.  War horses rode into gunfire and flames. They faced shield walls, while their friends pulled heavy loads of post/coal/firewood over the hills. Meanwhile small ponies went down mines, heavy horses ploughed fields, and carriage horses transported people around busy cities.

When Tess and I did our 120 mile ride for charity (The Ridgeway Romp), we had to ride each day, whatever the weather.  Even through the worst storm Oxfordshire had seen for 50 years.  We went through towns, over motorways, up ravines. We had no clue as to what was coming next. But we had trust in our ponies. And we didn't die!!

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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.

Shetland Wrestling and Hope For The Papermill Lane Ponies

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!!