Still got it?

Gypsy wonders too

It's easy to wonder after you have stopped working with horses, whether you have still got it in times of need. It's certainly rewarding to see so many youngsters going through the Beaulieu Road On-line sales that have been halter trained using the methods that I have developed. But could I do it again myself?

Unpicking poor halter-training or, let's face it, forceable restraint and jamming a headcollar on, can be far more difficult than putting a halter on a naive pony, and it is even more important in these circumstances not to resort to squashing them up a wall to take it off again. In this foal's case, the aftermath of the headcollar being forced on was made even worse by how tightly it had been fitted and how much his head had grown. He couldn't even yawn comfortably. Add on top of that the effect of a left-handed headcollar (most of them are) and a right-sided pony (many of them are) and it was easy to see why he had earned the nickname 'Feisty'.

With so little time before going away, and a little pressure from the owner, I was not sure if my own 'intent' would be transferred to the pony and therefore undermine what I was trying to do. Yesterday's session had certainly helped us along, and it was easier to separate the mare from the foal once the mare realised that I could be trusted with her beloved son. With the pair side by side, I could work on him alone and soon moved from touching him with the feather duster to touching him with one hand - albeit only on his righthand side. Further in-roads were made once he began to take coarse mix and chaff out of my hand, still refusing the carrots he had also rejected yesterday. 

Once I'd began to rub his neck and to touch around his face and even to manoeuvre his headcollar as much as I dared. it was simply a matter of going over his poll and pulling gently on the strap. As I said "I've undone it" to his owner, the headcollar started to drop very slowly but definitely down his face and onto the floor leaving me, her, and him with slight looks of astonishment.

For him it meant that he could have his freedom out on the Forest with his Mum after six weeks during which she had picked up condition. I hope that next time he comes in, his owner will be able to intervene and ask the transporter not to force a headcollar on him. 

The plan for turning them out didn't go to plan at all. "I'll get them to follow a bucket," said their owner but the ponies had clearly told each other, "I'll get her to follow us with a bucket." 

Off down the cul-de-sac which has direct forest access

A friendly figure shows them across the road and then they were off!

Snippets

I am meant to be taking it easy before we go to Kenya. Just feeding the horses, visiting the Hook ponies, and maybe holding a donkey while he has his hooves trimmed.

Oh whoops! Did I go wrong somewhere? We were just asked for the loan of our trailer so that an owner could take their 22-year-old mare and her unweaned colt to the nearest pound so that she could get his headcollar off and then let the two of them go.

Neither pony was willing to go into the trailer even for a feed without being put in there by force. Nothing else for it but to try taming him enough to be able to remove the headcollar at home but first of all we needed to convince his Mum.

The mare, Snippet, took amazingly well to the feel of the feather duster and stopped kicking after she had been touched with it twice. By seducing her at the same time as him, I succeeded in touching him on both sides of his body and part way down his back legs although he was still extremely sensitive about his head, and more worried about his lefthand side than his right. Whether this is nature or nurture I don't know. All semi-feral foals seem to have a side they prefer to have outwards for danger and he very obviously chose to nurse from his mother with his right eye on the outer side. On the other hand, the headcollar would have been jammed on from the left in the first place,

After a very promising start, he now has another appointment for tomorrow. 

Grazing Gazing

I'm pleased to see that the new Reserves Officer has been out to see his loyal subjects this week - and took these photos. He takes his new post this Thursday and must be both excited and possibly overawed by his new responsibilities. The ponies and I are doing everything we can to make his life easier. Between you and me he is a good choice. 

The ponies seem to think he is one of the good eggs.

It's Coming Home

 Bounty has popped back to the stables at Loisaba for a visit. 

So often we love horses, ponies, mules and zebra for the shapes they make and the pattern of their coats. Whilst Exmoors are like batches of beautiful cookies, zebras oreos make your eyes go funny.

I am looking forward to seeing Bounty, the Grevy's Zebra, next month. 

Hexmoors

Whilst in Hook I took some M and S cakes into the office and brought whole new meaning to the words, 'Grazing Team.' As if summoned, the Trust's new Exmoor mares turned up at the gate so that I could take a few photos. 

Moo-vement

A Friday visit to see the ponies and all was well. For no apparent reason they seemed to be quite lit up and I could only surmise that they were pleased to see the cattle as they joined them and settled down to eat. 

Patsy was the first to appear. She didn't make any noise but was clearly on a mission.

Then Jack appeared, came to check us out for food, but neighing at the cattle.

Nelly and Blue were next...

but Pie couldn't really see the urgency.

Altogether now.

Of melodies pure and true...

It's difficult to get into the yard at Fritham without the donkeys sounding their fog horns. I am sure they think they sound wonderful. Here's Olly giving it his best.

It's a signal for all of the others to amble in while we distribute hay under cover of the barn.

Which fortunately they all share nicely. 

I'm pleased with the effect the concrete has on Henrietta's hooves. 

I was testing a new camera body today and happy to take a few more photos out and about.

An angel at the graveyard outside Fordingbridge...

...and another one wandering about outside the High Corner Inn. 

Study Day

While I was having a study day at home, hoping to make use of my Swahili when we get to Kenya in December, Agent M was out scouting for my ponies at Hook. She recounts a little story every time she goes and this time it ended with Pie giving her a rather saucy wink or perhaps she poked him in the eye.

Nikiwa na siku ya kusoma, nikitarajia kutumia Kiswahili changu tukienda Kenya mwezi wa kumi na mbili, Ajenti M alitafuta farasi zangu katika hifadhi ya Hook. Anatengeneza na hadithi ndogo kila mara anapoenda. Mara hii ilimaliza kwa Pie kumkonyeza kwa kuhusa mapenzi  au labda M alimchochea jichoni.

Bright skies on a Sunday. 

Window into the soul

It is very nice to have a window into the work that people are doing with their ponies, even if I am not present. Ruth has been putting in hours of gentle work with Prince and achieving great results. Not quite there with the headcollar yet but the foundations are the most important. Ruth has one of those transparent faces which shows her absolute delight with this pony, Prince. 

The soft scarf has been reduced down to a very light rope and amazingly, Prince has let it be placed directly between his ears.

He allows this to be around his nose and to be led from it - once the headcollar is on, the leading work is already half done. Note how she cleverly changes direction away from the hoof that is 'stuck' making it easier for her to follow him. 

He's also prepared to be led naked! Just look at the amount of thinking time he takes before making a concrete decision. Who else gives their horse the time to think like this?

Preparation for the headcollar is still going well and he asks for the headcollar to go over his nose. Whether he will allow it to be pulled over his ears eventually, I am not sure; in an ideal world I'd like to see it unbuckled but Ruth has stripped it down to the absolute basics. 

If anyone can do it, it will be Ruth...   

A final reward at the end of the session.