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....

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.

A Wedding, A Tantrum and WHW

So last Saturday the ponies were invited to a wedding! Some way of amusing the kids for a bit.  They loved it. We were stormed by very well dressed children, who ended up covered in glitter.
We  took Mini and Dora. It was the first time Dora had been out on a Pony Party, but she was a star. She loved all the attention and stood like a dream.  She was very popular and looked stunning as a unicorn with a pink and purple mane.

Sunday we returned to real life. While Chanice groomed Daisy ready for a lesson,  Jo took Lu to the tack room for a trim.  Meanwhile I took Charlie into the school fully tacked up for a mounting  session.   But he couldn't concentrate without knowing where Lu was. So I took the reins off and let him loose to buck it out. Once he was settled he was a good boy.  We are nearly there.  He surprised me Wednesday.   It was hot, so while filling the water tubs I sprayed him and Lu. He normally wanders off but Wednesday he turned his backside to me and backed up towards me so I could thoroughly soak him.  Finally at the end of summer he has realised its nice to be hosed down! He even came back for a second hosing.

We have even had time to ride this week. We took Daisy and Lu up through the village to the Burger Van.  They were both very good. ....despite having a huge lorry pass us on the hill. Daisy had a moment where she thought about bolting,  but listened to me and kept fairly calm.

Thursday saw Jo and I heading to Norfolk once again to WHW (World Horse Welfare ), to look at a pony to rehome.  Last time I went there it was the ILPH and was at a different yard.  I have to say, I was really impressed. The yard was immaculate. There is a visitor centre that's open weekends, with a lovely cafe overlooking an indoor school.  Most of the ponies were turned out, but there is also a big barn type stable block with a few in.  There are lovely small/ all weather arenas for laminitics. The staff were really friendly. The whole place is like some sort of heaven for the ponies they rescue. Apparently they currently have around 130 ponies.  A Lot are young gypsy cobs.....
I would  seriously recommend going for a visit. ....especially if you are looking to rehome a pony. It's a never ending job for them. Until the laws are changed, it will continue to be a never-ending job so please if you are looking for a pony try them first.  They do an amazing job.

Anyway the mare we went to see has proven a little uneven and in need of more physio, so we were shown 2 other similar mares. We saw them in the paddocks where we were greeted by other friendly happy ponies.  Both mares we looked at had been part of a big rescue from Wales where a big herd had been abandoned on waste ground.  Both black and white gypsy cobs.  One was 3 years old,  with good  markings and looks as if she will grow into a bruiser. She was also very friendly.   The other was a 4 year old called Liv.  She was slightly  nervous  of 3 people coming at her, but she stole our hearts.  So that's the one we chose.  Now we have to have an inspection which shouldn't be a problem  and once shes ok to travel we can welcome another rescue girl to our herd.  Watch this space.

It Finally Rained And The Search

So it finally rained in August!!  June and July were completely dry. Not a drop of wet stuff. Our grass became standing hay.  The ground was like concrete. The temperatures hit 32c . We almost became used to it. Almost..... We finally said those words "Its Too Hot" which we vowed not to utter in the extremes of the worst winter we have seen for 10 years. Truth is we don't do extremes in England.  A baking hot summer has been as trying as a freezing snowy winter.

So we haven't ridden. We have spent the heatwave working in the heat to keep the horses cool, fly free and fed (we have even had to feed hay!!) Its amazing how extreme heat saps you, as does extreme cold. The Ponies look amazing and have coped as well as they did in the snow. They were getting used to being hosed down. Lu even stood under a sprinkler.  And Charlie positively loves fly spray now, coming over to get it (and trying to eat it).

But at last we had blissful rain.....Oh how we loved getting soaked. Another short heatwave followed the rain, but the last week or so we have had a few cooler rainy days. The ground is softer, and greening up.  Theres hope yet.

Over the last couple of days we have moved the ponies to the Winter Grazing. Yes its very early, but we are hoping for September revival!!  We still have four acres of standing hay (which is getting greener).  Piggy has gone home as Mini seems to be recovered from the shock of losing her best friend and Piggy is prone to laminitus.  We loved having him.  Mega thanks to Sarah who owns him. 

So the search is on for another mothers dream on loan.  We decided against another Shetland, as Mini is actually doing a sterling job with the little kids.  Who knew??? After 15 years of being sweet on the ground, but unrideable she has finally grown up. With her buddy Sweet Pea she has always been L'Enfant Terrible.  But now she seems to accept she has to take up responsibility and its time to grow up, buy a semi, and play squash with Gerald on a Friday Night!

So we have decided to find another Polly instead.  Polly is actually enjoying her teaching and is full of life, but she is 26/7 so may want to share the burden. To this end we drove to Kings Lynn yesterday to look at a Dartmoor Hill Pony. Very sweet pony but only 6 and sadly already ruined by a child!!  Yes shocking, but this 12/13 year old girl was so rough with her, the pony was totally freaked out by having her bridle on. And wasn't good with the farrier, and didn't travel. And they had had her since a yearling. With the right handling this pony would have been perfect, but unfortunately the child had wreaked her.  The mum was lovely and kept telling her child to be gentle.  Too nice.  If it had been my child, it would have been banned from riding until it quietened down. Sorry Mum if you are reading this.....But you know your child is a brat.......Sort her out. Hopefully this sweet pony will find a home with children that love her.

Although we are set up to sort out problem ponies, in fact I relish it, what we are actually looking for ourselves is a mothers dream.  Good with children is essential, quiet, been there done it.  We have to have a mare because of Charlie. Must live out 24/7 although in my experience ponies thrive out 24/7 as its natural. We need a 12.2hh to 13hh for the older kids, preferably stocky so I can ride it out. The pony will have a 5 star home, in a natural herd, but in return must be willing to teach youngsters and put up with petting, grooming and glittering.

Thanks please share .

Ps.... I would love another Fell Pony although it would have to be a smaller one.

Fell pony (my Paddy)

Polly.. A Mothers Dream

Pony Day and Tarpaulin at Burnt Grass Ranch

Its been quite a week........

Poor little Mini has been missing her friend Sweet Pea badly...as are we. So we have borrowed a Shetland friend for her.  Piggy, a little boy who is even smaller than Mini.  He is besotted by her.  Not sure she feels the same, but it has perked her up anyway. I think she may be feeling irritation rather than sadness at the moment, as he follows her about constantly. Not to mention Dora who has decided Mini was HER bff and is constantly trying to come between them. Polly is ignoring everybody.

And so on Tuesday we had a Pony Day...with 10 girls and errr 1 boy.  The boy most definitely did NOT want to be there, but had no choice as his mum Eli was teaching.  He spent a fair bit of time in the tack-room on his I-Pod ....Sensible boy!! The temperature naturally was about 28c (Nothing natural about that for England, but after 2 months of hot dry weather it has become the norm).

Elis' daughters (Grace and Georgie) rode their ponies (Twix and Sammie) over to help out. Jo bought the entire glitter supply for Europe, spare crisps and squash, and by 9.30am we were ready for the arrival of clients at 10.30am. We even made a make shift toilet in a stable with tyres and paper!!

Upon arrival, the girls had the safety talk, and learned where to go in the event of a fire. Then it was catch in, groom and tack up time.  The girls were split into two groups......Group A having a lesson, while Group B helped with poo picking, including a ride in the trailer, then we swapped.

Lunchtime saw the girls turning out the ponies for a welcome rest, and drink, before we all returned to the relative shade of the tack-room for a picnic lunch and a super-fun session running, cartwheeling and jumping through the sprinkler until everyone was thoroughly wet. When I say cartwheeling...that didn't apply to the adults!!! 

Then it was off to get Polly and Mini back in for Glittering. Freddie the only boy, having enjoyed the sprinkler, (and having his character on his game killed off), joined in and found he was actually having fun!!  The ponies being suitably decorated were then used for gymkhana games (in walk and trot only as the ground is so hard).  We used Sammie and Polly for Gymkhana, while Mini was de-glittered.  Sammie and Polly are both old hands and you could see them raring to go as were some of the riders.....but we kept it calm!

Very quickly 3pm came around and parents appeared to pick up children. Those that were left helped me bath and turn out Polly. (I don't mean they were left indefinitely!!)  We all had a really fun, if hot, day.  There were NO TEARS which has to be good. Only squeals and laughter.  We are already planning the next one......Maybe on a cooler day!!

And as the heat wave continues and gets hotter Mark The Mechanic (and part-time horse whisperer) and Jo spent yesterday creating shade for the small ponies with the lorry and some tarpaulin.  The bigger ponies had their field extended to include the shady dip. Were they grateful??? Were they ****.

This morning saw them all out of their paddocks, having trashed the minis paddock!!  Luckily the paddocks are enclosed in the 3 Acre Field which is surrounded by stock fencing and thick hedges of trees and gated and padlocked.  And so Jo and I spent all morning repairing the damage. Thankfully Charlie didn't take the lorry to pieces, which is a miracle as he loves vehicles!!!

Sweet Pea ....Over the Rainbow Bridge X

It is with great sadness that I must report that Sweet Pea passed over the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday. It was a complete shock. She hadn't been ill and was only 18. Jo found her dead in the field in the morning. There were no signs that she had been stressed, or in any pain. We can only conclude that her heart gave out. Although she seemed fit and well, we have no idea what damage may have been caused by her early life.

Jo rescued Sweet Pea as a yearling from the back of a truck at Watton Horse Fair. She was shivering inside the truck, with ribs you could stack dinner plates in, covered in lice and had Strangles and Pneumonia. Jo had to borrow a trailer to bring her home in, with another Shetland, suffering from Strangles as well which her friend Jane bought. Jo's vet thought it best to put her to sleep.

Jo thought otherwise.... She fed her with a turkey baster, and gave her daily injections of antibiotics. Slowly both ponies turned around and became fit and well.

Despite such horrific treatment at the hands of humans, Sweet Pea turned into the sweetest pony, teaching many children to ride over the years. She was never bad tempered or difficult, although she had a few hang ups.  She was greedy......having once been starved, Sweet Pea would scoff for Britain. We had to strip graze her, as given a whole field of grass she would not stop eating. She didn't like having a grazing muzzle on, preferring to rear up and over backwards than have it on. And injections (or maybe just vets?).......The vet had to be quick!!!

3 years after the rescue, Jo bought Mini (Winter Jasmine) . The two mares were inseparable ever since.  Wherever one went, the other was sure to follow. Together they were the most loving rascals.  Mini, having never suffered at the hands of humans, is more self assured and opinionated.  Whenever we brought a new pony in, Sweet Pea would be the first to make friends, Mini reserved judgement. In all their adventures and break outs i am never sure who instigated it. I think it may have been Mini, but she then pretends she was just following Sweet Pea. However, Sweet Pea was always the first to be caught, and then Mini followed.

Sweet Pea was never needy...She would come for a cuddle, but patiently wait behind Mini ( who demands attention). She was calm in all situations. She just was. Only last year, she piloted Nancy with mum Meg in their first show at the Suffolk Showground, coming first in the class.  She could always be trusted to nanny children.

We are sorely missing her.  Mini, who was laying by her body, is extremely sad. Dora, who only knew her for a short time, but was her friend is very needy at the moment, as is Lu who grew up with her. And us humans? We are heartbroken.

Run free Sweet Pea......There are a lot of people mourning you...xx

Living In a Dessert and A Pony Party

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!