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Post by beksnjake on Jul 9, 2013 20:55:22 GMT
What a brilliant weekend - apart from the loading, you must have the patience of a saint!
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Post by snigsby on Jan 2, 2014 8:43:46 GMT
Well,what happened next was that the boys got a pony for Xmas LOL Due to the appalling weather and having to be sociable at this time of year,I haven't been able to spend much time with Smoke but I have ridden him once in the arena at the farm (will have to wait to get Khan's old saddle fitted to Smoke properly as I discovered) and once when Rhona rode Khan and I lead Smoke up to the village and around the lanes.All perfectly behaved. First task is to practise standing still at the mounting block. He's good at being led up and down to the field and moves around from my body language very well. He's learning to step away and turn to change rein on a long rope and does it without any argument or attitude. I like him.
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Post by kas on Jan 4, 2014 10:29:56 GMT
But... they haven't taken any photos for us to see yet!
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Post by snigsby on Jan 4, 2014 10:41:02 GMT
Well,they have taken some but they are pathetic. It would also be nice to see him dry. The forecast for today was no rain but guess what.......pouring as usual. I will try to take a decent pic or two if it clears up later
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Post by snigsby on Apr 4, 2014 9:27:54 GMT
Well,I now have some photos - ta dah! But will have to spend some time slowly uploading 'em. It's quite busy riding two horses and looking after Rafferty as the midge season gets underway. Smokey is just a dude - obviously (for those of you who know him) Seamus's brother by another mother,just a different colour. Nothing fazes him. We've been to the beach and to a training day and he was good as gold. And his resting heart rate is 32,which is going to be wonderful for endurance. I'm so looking forward to riding at Martin's clinic. I really feel I am going to learn such a lot,even though I am riding Ruby,a 16h ex-polocrosse horse. Gulp! My inner confidence is growing with Smokey being so good. I'm quite a brave person but that isn't at all the same as being confident.I can realx with Smokey. No arguments or fuss. He has comfortable regular paces. Hi saddle has been fitted so we've been riding a couple of times a week and I have a new friend from the village who comes to fuss over him and ride out with me and Khan about once a week. Khan has settled in slowly with Smokey. I think he was keeping aloof until he was certain Smokey was staying. Poor boy,he hasn't a lot of experience of herd dynamics - at which Smokey is expert. I think Khan has calmed down significantly since he came and is even loading more quickly - average 15/20 mins now The Third Man is proving to be an excellent idea for all of us. (Not me,says BB. I have to share my food and visitors with him. The cheek of him! he looks all cute and they give him carrots which should be MINE,all MINE)
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Post by beksnjake on Apr 4, 2014 14:52:48 GMT
Lovely to hear how well its all going with your herd.
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Post by nicxf on Apr 6, 2014 9:10:17 GMT
That sounds brilliant! Must be great fun to be able to enjoy getting out and about again. I'm definitely looking forward to pics!
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Post by kas on Apr 12, 2014 17:28:39 GMT
That's a great update Snigs.
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Post by snigsby on Jun 12, 2014 8:29:40 GMT
Well, while Khan languishes in the paddock with supplementary rations,Smokey and I having been continuing to get out and about. Khan is on day 11 of his pergolide and has finally put on a bit of weight. He looks almost normal and I think his fitness has stood him in good stead. This week,he has had a snotty nose and a gentlemanly cough - another expensive vet visit but it's only a slight upper respiratory thing and may even be caused by buttercups so I've not to worry,just no strenuous exercise for 10 days or so. The work I did with the lovely Ruby at Martin's clinic has helped me hugely. I have a lot of my confidence back and last night,along the beach, I held the buckle and asked for canter. Sweet little Smokey just did as asked and he is soooo comfortable.And we had a stretch of bushy sandunes to weave our way through on a twisty narrow path. He trotted through perfectly as I tried to be as soft as possible with my asks. Rafferty would like you to know that he is a busy and interesting pony,too,BTW. Now that he is wearing his "Vamoose" rug,he is a little bored with the Rubbing Tree and has turned his beady little eyes on the young cattle in the next field. He seems to be teaching them to chase him up and down the fence line........
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Post by el on Jun 12, 2014 16:04:53 GMT
Great to hear this
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Post by snigsby on Jul 9, 2014 9:13:54 GMT
Smokey continues to delight me. We went for our annual Pony Party weekend at Broughton, in the Scottish Borders and he was super. He coralled alongside about 40 strange horses and went out on the 20k pleasure ride OK. He was a little disconcerted to be "left behind" when he saw the horse in front of us starting and we were still waiting so he gave a few skips and wiggles,including,I do believe,a quick buck of frustration. But all was well as he calmed down within a couple of moments. I remembered what Martin had said about needing to allow them to move their feet so didn't drag on the reins trying to make him stand still. I couldn't think of anything else to ask him to do but again, I remembered Martin telling us we can always (usually) get a horse to stop/slow down but it can be easier to let them run a few steps till they feel safer before doing so. So my confidence whooshed back and all was well. We were nominally on our own but rode most of the way alongside other folk as Smokey could easily keep up,despite being little,and it would have been a struggle to do otherwise just for the sake of going less fast. He completed at 10kph with a HR of 38/48 (on a hot day) so I was happy and so was he. He loaded and travelled brilliantly both ways Khan and Rafferty were fine when we got home and I think Khan is maintaining his weight a bit better. He will be getting his second Cushings test next week so we'll see how the pergolide is working. Rafferty now has The Cough and also a bit of a snotty nose *sigh* I am looking forward to the imminent arrival of our new (well,preloved LOL) Saddlechariot................
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Post by snigsby on Jul 21, 2014 10:54:47 GMT
Khan had his second blood test today so we'll know by the end of the week how effective the pergolide is. The vet is pleased with how he looks,not too skinny although a completely different shape. He looks as if all his topline has "melted" downwards into his lower half. I am told I must treat him completely normally and that it would be best to resume normal service as far as riding and fittening is concerned. I asked if he should just be restricted to pleasure rides but was told,no,we can still go for our Bronze Thistle - just listen to my horse as I normally do,he will tell me if he's happy or not. I am sooooo pleased. Smokey continues to please and has now got two rosettes on the mantlepiece for pleasure rides. We are going to try for our 5-branch rosette this summer. Rafferty,fingers crossed,is recovering well from his cough although he has rubbed a lot of fur off his ears and now looks like a well loved teddy bear. He helped me a lot with some gardening this weekend. Apparently the newly planted little holly bushes were put in wrongly - he removed them from the planter so I could put them back in correctly
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Post by kas on Jul 27, 2014 14:07:37 GMT
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