'im Indoors

 

Temporarily at least, Prince has his own stable and Ruth is taking the opportunity to get him used to it. Prince was always worried about small spaces. 

Atlantic Crossing

I have sold a few books in the USA recently and one copy of No Fear No Force has gone to assist with the training of Fern, a Friesian x filly who is already 14.2 h.h.  She was a bit wafty with her back legs and so her owner, Theresa, is using the leg handling techniques which are further on in the book. Fern and her quieter mate, are going to be lovely horses. 

A Wing Waggle

It was a goodbye to the RAF and Army cadets yesterday who will be leaving the farm early this morning in order to avoid a clash of 100 parents at the school gate as another load of students come back from a skiing trip. I wonder which lot will be the most tired. Ours have walked miles and miles, learning how to orient themselves in open countryside. They received their silver or bronze awards yesterday evening and tucked into fish and chips as a treat! 

Inevitably the constant footfall to and in the main tent caused the already wet field to get very muddy, but it's good to see teenagers who are not afraid of a bit of dirt, and always great to have a helping hand with the horses when they have an hour or two free. Yesterday I gave Rachel the honour of letting the horses into the first summer field (which will no doubt get wrecked because it is so wet).

Theoden took a little while to realise that the others were not waiting for hay  alongside him, although we will still be giving them some every day in the new field.

Theoden still doesn't look right despite being fed ad-lib hay all winter and a considerable amount of feed. I am still not convinced that he had laminitis last summer and wish I hadn't put him on a laminitis regime at the time. This horse has thrived on grass all his life and never had a problem before. Let's hope he picks up over this summer. 

Blue is changing coat and moulting faster than the others. She's an angel of a pony and I love her to bits. I know that I can trust her to be kind to cadets!

My cadet friends, thank you for helping me this week, and for giving the ponies lots of attention and brushing. I know they have enjoyed your company too. You all impress me so much with your hopes and dreams. You've been through so much what with the pandemic and the feeling of uncertainty about the world, but somehow you have found your balance in this mad old world, and your discipline and politenes, your loyalty to each other and your focus will see you through. 

Domestic Bliss

Snippet and Mulibwanji have taken to a domesticated life like proverbial ducks to water and I am pleased to see that Mulibwanji's education has begun. 

Meanwhile, Snippet is being thoroughly spoilt after a lifetime of survival on the Forest. Every pony deserves to have a pink princess in their life for a little while at least!

Such Fun

A couple of times a year. I have been letting the cadets from the Basingstoke area use my field as their base for orienteering camp. It was tempting to cancel this year thanks to the relentless rain but I would have missed out on a lot of fun. There's a little group of the cadets who love spending time with the horses and I am taken back to when I was 16 and not 61. 

The Barn is like a hairdresser's salon but Rachel in the bottom photograph goes above and beyond, letting my horses into the additional grass in the mornings, and helping with the chores in the evening - sometimes helped by Keston or Alex. Both of them are Lance Corporals in the cadets now and used to taking on additional responsibilities. Rachel is studying Animal Husbandry. 

Principality

Ruth sent me this rather gorgeous photograph of Prince. Although it annoys the staff when he actually joins in with the classes in the school arena (they only need to shut the gate!) he  now stands and observes everything that is going on in the yard and last week that included a Pony Club Rally. 

The things he has taught Ruth are immeasurable. She wasn't a horsey lady in the slightest but now she is sent to catch any horse that is being difficult. Prince needs to look out though because his next feat will be having his teeth cleaned. 

After 77 days of recovery I can drive again although putting the car into reverse is painful. I've been walking two or three miles a day with various non-horsey friends (it's interesting to talk about other things for a change!) I am duty with the horses this week although I hope to have a small assistant - more on this to follow. 

Circle of Friends

One of the best things about having written a book about semi-feral ponies is that people like to keep in touch and tell you about their progress. Where they feel they need some hands-on help, I have trusted Recommended Associates and graduates of my No Fear No Force courses that I can point them to and know they won't come up with some fancy techniques, like lassooing them or backing them up into a corner. Probably my favourite is Jenny Major who was working at the Exmoor Pony Centre just as we started up the courses. She then came on board as a trainer at the Dartmoor Pony Centre when we ran later courses there. She was one of those people who just gets it from the outset.

That was some 17 years ago and Jenny became a Recommended Associate soon afterwards, became one of the founding members of Hands On Horsemanship at Horseworld and since worked with HorseWorld staff on and off for a very long time. 

When Susie, the owner of two Exmoor semi-feral ponies contacted me for help, I knew exactly who to send her to, and her fabulour progress with her ponies has been assisted along the way by the book No Fear, No Force and the hands on help of Jenny. 

Not only can Susie catch her ponies, but she can lead them, pick up their feet, and ask them to accept a syringe in their mouths. 

"It has been invaluable to have both your book and Jenny to refer to for experience, tips and reassurance. I've had horses since a child but have never started from the beginning, and with semi feral ponies too, it has been an amazing chance to really learn about them and how they’re responding, and truly earn their trust. I respect them so much, such clever ponies with strong instincts."

 

Meanwhile at the other end of the south coast, Shirley is making great progress with her two Dartmoor Hill  ponies, Buzzard and Raven (above). She has taken her time to befriend and tame them. Halter training them with No Fear, No Force and then beginning to build up their confidence about doing other things. 

Raven, who went through the Chagford Pony Sales, arrived with lugs of his winter coat still attached but has blossomed ever since.

Raven too is look a lot smarter.

More recently Shirley received a rather stern warning about preparing her ponies for the attention and intervention of other people - such as the vet and the farrier. I put her in touch with Suzanne Halsey, but before her visit, a sympathetic vet came out and managed to give him his booster jab after spending some time getting to know him. The farrier too was able to trim all of his hooves. Suzanne was able to assess the progress of each pony and was the very first stranger to attempt to catch Raven and then to lead him around.   

"Suzanne was very encouraging about progress so far, she ‘got’ Raven straight away. She has recommended some exercises for Raven, to improve his trust with other people, and for Buzzard, with poles to encourage him to be more aware of where he’s putting his feet." Shirley

Friend, Sarah Tallents who rehomes polo ponies, is getting on well with her young New Forest, Gin, who arrived at her yard in a headcollar. Sarah and her daughter were luckily able to get if off and their patient work is paying off. Gin has become friendly and affectionate. 

Mulibwanji and his mother Snippet are making new friends at Melanie's and Snippet, who is 22, is allowing Melanie to slip a lead rein around her neck to lead her!

Meanwhile Prince and Ruth are looking out for an ark as the river next to their livery yard has burst its banks.

 My lot are spending every night munching hay together in the yard...

and the days squishing about in the mud after more hay in the field.