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Post by nicxf on Feb 27, 2019 20:13:39 GMT
A nice couple of hours with The Mooole and friends today - first just hanging out in the field with them in the sunshine - all but the very timid hinny who is still scared of the mobility scooter took turns to come and say hi, and even timid boy did actually edge closer behind me when he thought I wasn't looking. The Moole had got very difficult to catch at his previous yard - a sign he was unhappy and one of the reasons his owner bought him back to live with the rest of her gang - so it was great to gain his trust in the field today as he investigated the book I was reading, and spent some time just having his ears scratched. Definitely something to do more as the weather warms up. Then tried on the halter I made - not 100% happy the knots are in all the right places but he gave me some lovely soft, responsive bends, it felt like real progress today. He had the chiropractor treat him at the weekend and I think it has helped to release the tension he was clearly carrying in his head and neck. She said he had a very stiff jaw and a sore atlas area (which I had picked up on and mentioned to his owner, so it was gratifying to find out I am not a complete pillock and may, occasionally, know what I'm talking about). All I asked for today was for him to yield to the weight of the rope - just bending his neck without moving his feet. It was the softest and least resistant he's ever been so I have hopes for progress! Here's The Moole in the halter wot I made.
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Post by snigsby on Mar 18, 2019 12:52:05 GMT
Smokey and I went on our first outing of 2019 - a sponsored BHS ride round the estate of Dumfries House (saved for the nation by the intervention of Price Charles and now being thoroughly brought up to date - very interesting story). There is a Duchess of Cornwall Way which leads to a temple.
I was a bit worried as it was the first time I'd been in a group of 30 horses and I had also forgotten the connector for my air vest. However, the leader of the group told me to tuck in behind her - we stayed there the whole way. Smokey was a very good boy It wasn't very long, about an hour and mostly walking but we zoomed up a short,very steep hill at one point, most exhilarating! There was also one pleasant canter near the end. Luckily, the rain stayed off until we finished and after stuffing Smokey in his trailer with a haynet, us humans went into a barn for tea and home baking.
Then we got a rosette and a goody bag
Enjoyable day
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Post by nicxf on Mar 18, 2019 19:14:27 GMT
That sounds like a very awesome day! 😍
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Post by nicxf on Mar 20, 2019 18:01:51 GMT
Nice ride out on The Moole today; I haven't been at all well recently so it was with some trepidation I agreed to ride. I am so glad I did! Felt better for the fresh air and exercise. The best thing was that we seem to have finally found a padding solution for his saddle, to stop it moving! Moooles are notoriously difficult to fit as they have a funky shape - treeless can be a good option but it can still take a bit of trial and error to get that right. Turns out western real felt pads are very excellent things. 😀
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Post by snigsby on Mar 21, 2019 9:19:34 GMT
Now that's what I like to hear,nic! I am far too often convinced that I am too sore/tired/miserable to inflict myself on my poor ponies but 100% it is always a better idea to actually get on and go out in the fresh air soothes the soul and sometimes that is more important to me than the body - as long as the body will cooperate sufficiently,of course.
Got the vet coming to Khan today. He has had fairly minor dental troubles for a couple of years (he is coming 22) and had 2 out 18 months ago. Now he has another very loose one so its coming out today, at home under standing sedation.
No doubt BB will jump at the chance to don his nurse's uniform........(I kid you not, he has got one its on the computer somewhere and when I find it,I'll post it
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Post by snigsby on Mar 24, 2019 17:10:57 GMT
I am not getting much riding done due to the extended horrible weather! We do get the odd hour or so of dry weather but mostly it is rainy and windy and very unpleasant.
Khan had his tooth out in 2 seconds flat - it was very loose and wobbly he was shouting for his dinner as soon as he came to from the sedative
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Post by nicxf on Mar 24, 2019 17:23:50 GMT
Glad Khan is ok, definitely want to see BB in his nurse's uniform! Bugger about the weather, I hope it cherrs up soon. It's finally cleared up here after weeks of rain.
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Post by snigsby on Apr 2, 2019 11:59:16 GMT
Smokey and I had a lovely day in sunshine and spring like temperatures doing a ride at Irvine beach on Sunday. Just to ease us back into the season ahead. I am not sure how much we'll be doing as I will be 69 this summer - how that happened,I do not know! I am still fairly functional but just getting less so with every year. It's pants, this old age thing
And today it is snowing lightly! Horses are well rugged up to go out. I know I should be encouraging Smokey to lose weight but I can't bear seeing any of them out all day in the cold and wet. There is some natural shelter in the field but evne so......
The birds are still singing merrily despite the snowflakes
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Post by kas on Apr 4, 2019 7:01:57 GMT
I seem to be constantly shovelling shit and pissed on hay because Celeb is still yarded with his poorly hooves!!
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Post by nicxf on Apr 11, 2019 6:56:39 GMT
Ooh, bonkers weather, Snigsby!
Sorry to hear that Kas, I hope he gets better soon.
I had fun playing with Trevor-the-Donkey yesterday, working on his leading as he can be a bit reluctant if he doesn't see the point.
My vague goal is to have a go at in-hand agility with him, so I wanted to start working on getting him to lead nicely from the mobility scooter. We had a short session but by the end of it he was going really nicely - he decided he liked our game of me leading him around the yard to find tasty bits of spring greens that had been blown off the trees. It was a really good, natural way to motivate him and turned it into a fun interaction which really got him on-side. A good start and great fun.
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