Saturday the girls are in charge!

On Saturday I saw Mum and Benji were up very early to help boss man, John with the cows.  Peaches and Melba (I though that was a dessert not a cow???? humans are very confusing sometimes) have to come in to give their foster calves milk and the humans milk too, why the humans cant make their own milk I'll never know.

Then Zippy and I watched from our lovely field while boss man, John, left the farm not to return all day!  This is very unusual especially as boss lady, Delia was left behind.  That meant the whole farm was left in the hands of the girls - oh no this could mean trouble!

Nondus arrived to help too on Saturday and they were very efficient and got all their duties done without issue - boring!

Mum and Nondus set off on Suzy and June to meet Tina's new pony.  He is a replacement for Brian.  I'm not quiet sure whether Brian got sacked or not from companion duties, it's all been hushed up and I can't believe anything Dave tells me because he thought he should have gone up to keep Tina's horse company in the first place.

Anyway her new horse is a lovely coloured cob (my favourite after Dales ponies - have to say that Zippy is reading this over my shoulder!) whose name is Indie - he does look like an indian's pony.  I wonder whether he will be up for playing cowboys and indians?

It was yet another lovely day so the three ponies and humans had a lovely ride, I'm not sure why Mum didn't take me?  June had to take Mum so she won't be happy as Mum makes her work on the bit!

Still meant I could have a rest, Zippy and I are loving the huge field we are in, lots of yummy grass.

Fun Friday

We are still grounded to the farm because those nasty motorbike things are still hogging our forest, hope they aren't making a mess up there!

As both Dave and Vince had passed the Larry legs test so easily yesterday Dave got introduced to a new challenge today - long reining, not as easy as it looks. Mum started the session with some traditional lunging which I could watch from my field and all went well. The the boss (Delia) took over and Dave was kitted up for long reining. Now before I explain what happened I want to offer up two items of fact in Dave's defence. To date he has been lunged with a black lunge line and today out of nowhere they suddenly turn bright white! Also humans you do not long rein a youngster in an eggbutt snaffle, you need a full cheek bit please.  

Bearing these points in mind it's hardly surprising that Dave took off in fright at long white reins trailing behind him and then didn't do as he was told because he had the wrong bit in and it was pulling through his mouth.  Honestly humans, really! Considering all this he did manage to pull himself together and vaguely grasp the concept by the end of the session. Though he is still blotting his copy book by not being the most co-operative pony to have his bridle put on and stupidly even more silly about taking it off. So all in all not the best session of the workiday.

It then got far more interesting for me and Zippy as we were both brought down to the stable block from our field. I got to go out first and finally had a chance to test out the racetrack I had seen Mum riding all the other ponies around when she came without me. I was not alone. I had Suzy for company and Nondus was her jockey. They thought Suzy would have the most chance of beating me in a race. Nondus wanted to understand how fast us Dales ponies can go and me and Benji dog were more than up to the challenge.  

I have hired Benji as my speed trainer because he is so quick and I reckon if he can teach me to gallop as fast as he can run, I would beat all the other ponies and probably all the horses too. So today was a good chance to see how my training has been progressing. We lined up level for our first gallop up the field, too easy Benji and I won hands down and Suzy came a good last. So in the spirit of sportsmanship and recognising I am fitter than Suzy because Mum takes me out lots and only has me to ride whereas Delia has three to ride and 12 ponies to look after, so Suzy can't be expected to be as fit as me, I let her have a head start on the second race up the hill - still beat her!  Better persuade Mum to buy Benji some bonio's as a reward as his training is certainly paying off, still can't quiet beat him yet!

Once I and Suzy were settled back into the stables all the old girls got to go out together for a potter.  Mum rode June, Nondus rode Zippy again and Delia got to ride Katy. Old girls refers to the age combinations of either horse, rider, or horse and rider - I'm not making any comment beyond this, it would be more than my life is worth!  They were very boring and just had a walk and short trot around the racetrack, it's a race track ladies your supposed to race not wander along chatting!

After their leisurely stroll we were all turned back out into our fields for a good munch on some grass.  Zippy and I have a whole big field to ourselves. I like to wear my ghost rug, the other ponies call me a southern whimp, but hey I'm not the one getting bitten by horse flies!

Mum brought us up some tea which included Zippys medicine to help with her arthritis. Then the humans all disappeared off down the road, oh we know where you were going, it's no good pretending  otherwise, they were off to the Red Lion for a big pub dinner and a glass or two of wine, I'm not too sure I approve but they were back at a reasonably sensible hour. I know because Zippy and I were keeping watch as our field is alongside the drive, so they couldn't sneak out or back without us watching them!

Day two or my workiday (holiday to humans)

We have been grounded to the farm because of something called the Welsh Enduro, which Mum says involves noisey motorbikes riding along our forest tracks (spoil sports) and everyone is banned from going into the forest or even down the roads for two whole days - boring!

This meant Mum, Delia and Nondus had something planned to keep us all entertained. Both the boys (Dave and Vince) got to meet Larry legs, though he needed repairing between lessons. I should explain Larry legs is used to get us ponies used to things jangling on our sides, for my pony readers it's like carrying a very bad rider who just wants to kick you all the time, with the added disadvantage of them not being very balanced in the first place - I know, if you can cope with Larry legs then humans seem a lot easier to handle. 

Below is Dave, making easy work of the legs, though he did manage to break them, but through no fault of his own and he didn't mind when Larry legs slipped out of the stirrup iron and continued to bash him in the side, due to a maintenance failure to ensure the strings were up to the job - honestly humans you are going to have to try harder, if you want to fluster a Dales pony. 

Even when the legs get back to front.....

After some maintenance Vince got a go too, and was equally unperturbed by the experience.

Both these talented boys are for sale and I am on a bag of carrots for each pony I can help sell, so if you are interested in either of these handsome youngsters please call Delia at the Akhurst Stud and tell her I sent you, I really need those carrots. 

In between Larry leg sessions June and Katy were also put through their paces in the arena. Nondus got to ride Katy and poor June got my Mum which meant she had to work extra hard, but she was looking good over the poles.....

Finally Mum got to practice working out whether I was on the correct canter lead or not. She is definitely getting better at feeling whether I have got it right or not.  I try and get it right most of the time now but like to throw in the odd left canter lead on the right rein or visa versa just to make sure she is paying attention and doesn't take it for granted I'm always going to get it right.

Us ponies had a fun day and the boys definitely enjoyed getting the better of Larry legs, much to the disappointment of humans who were hoping for some more entertaining action.  Everyone finally got turned back out into the fields for some much deserved R&R (rest and recuperation) so we will be ready for whatever tomorrow brings.......

The whole family is on the move

Dave is still sending me distressed reports of cruelty even though I know from Mum's last visit he is just being silly. However I have managed to convince Mum that perhaps if she took me to Wales I could show Dave how it's done and lead by example.  

I thought this was a bit of a longshot but Mum fell for it on condition Zippy and Benji came along for the ride too. So last Wednesday we were all packed up into the box on wheels and off we went to the current home of Dave, and my old home The Akehurst Stud in mid Wales. 

We arrived in time for lunch, so Zippy and I were put into our rooms, most of the crew were already in there, including Katy who came to stay with us for a while (but Zippy didn't like her). Mum disappeared off for lunch while we tucked into our hay. 

Then Zippy & I got to stretch our legs, by going for a little walk around the racetrack. 

Zippy met her new rider Nondus, she likes Nondus because she's nice and light weight. Zippy enjoyed herself so much she even offered a canter up the hill for Nondus. Mum told me I had to keep behind because if Zippy thought it was a race she'd go faster and hurt herself.  Humph, I could have beaten her, but Benji won like usual. 

We posed for a family photo afterwards, think Benji was a bit tired!

Then we got a real bonus and were turned out into a beautifully cut field, which turns out to be our home for the week - yummy.  Plus it's next to Dave's field, so we can chat to all three boys.

This is our standard view of them, they are like the three musketeers!  Brian is on the left, he's two years old. Then it's my old mate Dave in the middle, who I have come to sort out and then there is Vince on the right. Dave and Vince are three and Mum is just helping back them. All three are for sale, all enquiries to Delia Weedon at the Akehurst Stud, but make sure you tell her I told you, as I'm working on commission and have been promised a whole bag of carrots for every pony I find a lovely human for. 

Mum and Nondus then took Katy and June out. Mum got to ride Katy who is very proud of her new shoes, it's the first set of shoes she has ever had and she loved being shod, standing like an old pro, she was so excited to give them a test drive. She also likes the noise they make against the metal bars in her pen - not sure the humans share this view!  Below is Mum on Katy, she's my half sister. 

And below is Nondus on June.

Had to send Mum to Wales

After my mate Dave the Dales sent me a distressed message about abuse and mistreatment I thought I had better send Mum to find out what was really happening. So a couple of weekends ago Mum went on a crisis mission to find out what the problem was. 

It turned out he is having to learn to grow up and start wearing a bridle and starting circle work.  Dave doesn't like the bit and is very silly about having it taken out of his mouth - silly pony I'll have to sort that out, but he is quiet good at the circle game and can be controlled quite well by voice alone now in walk and trot. Ironically Vince is the opposite and is quite good about having his bit in but likes to tank around the arena, so Mum tried to install some manners into them while she was there.

Now I sent her to do serious work sorting out these youngsters so they can follow in the clever hooves of all other Dales ponies and in fact she was out having fun.  Delia and John specially mowed the field into a race track so all the ponies could have a blast around the field. I'm really cross because whenever I go we can only really walk and trot around the mountain tracks and now they have their own personal racetrack.

Even Benji got to join in the fun, he's fast. He beat Katy around the field no problem. 

June struggled a little, she's not so used to speeding along and it is quite an up hill stretch. 

This is Suzy, she is a bit faster and nearly caught Benji, but by then he had raced around the field with all three riding horses several times, so he did well to keep ahead of Suzy. 

Hmmmmm not fair. I want a go.  Still I have been having my own pony adventures out on another fun ride, but more about that next time. Off to race around my field just in case I can go use the Welsh racetrack!

First competition of the year and.....

Wow mum woke me up this morning, she found me laying down snoozing! I was excited to see her and both Zippy and I were brought in for breakfast. Yummy!

Then I had a bath, yuck I hate having my mane washed but it was over and done with fairly quickly. The horrible horse flies are out so Mum was really kind & put my ghost rug back on. The flies are even worse than the shampoo.

I got loaded into the can on wheels. Poor Zippy was left on the concrete yard with a tiny bit of hay & a big bucket of water. She did have access to the hay stable for shelter from the sun, unfortunately we had already eaten all the hay!!! She looked grumpy when we left.

Me I was off to Breach Lane for a circles competition. To be honest I was still quiet tired from my session yesterday but today there were lots of other horses. My blonde friend Wilfie was there who did the pleasure ride with me a couple of weeks ago - go Wilfie go!

Lots of Mum's friends were there too, so it was great fun. I was quite keen to show the judge my canter work but Mum tried hard to make sure my first test was just in walk and trot. I kept trying to offer canter before A and then spooked when I saw myself in the mirror, I didn't realise my duplicate friends had come with me! 

Because of my antics Mum was so shocked when we came.........1st!  Well the judge couldn't resist my charm though she did say I needed to relax more. So with top marks in the bag time to show off my canter work.

I was sooooo excited about this, but I was a bit too keen. At each corner I offered Mum canter, ummmmm, evidently this was not required. It was so exciting I got my legs muddled up too, oops. The summary from the judge was I was rushing, tense & excited but when I do relax I'm lovely. Lady this was important. Sorry Mum I tried my hardest.

Mum says because I got a red ribbon on the first test and because I tried sooooo hard on my second test, she still thinks I'm the best, phew, I love you too Mum.

Zippy was very pleased to see us as it meant she could go back out in the field. I had lots to tell her, I enjoyed my first ever canter test, must try to be less excited next time. 

Where was the rain?

Hmmmm it was forecast for horrid thunder and torrential rain today and as I was skidding & spinning around the back garden yesterday including performing an unasked for canter pirouette, Mum decided to book the very posh indoor arena with lots of ponies like me in there. In fact they are identical and copy my every move.

So I loaded up and off we went, at 1pm we arrive, errrr in baking hot sunshine! Great! That meant an hour of hard work sweating my little pony coat off! We were supposed to being smug enjoying the dry but instead we were wishing to be outdoors - weather men get you act together, it's hard work practicing your canter transitions in a boiling hot box.

I was up for the challenge and kept offering Mum canter, now? Now? NOW?

Evidently I was a bit keen and canter isn't needed in a walk, trot test - well if that's the case why the hell has mum been teaching it me!!!!! I was just trying to show off my new skills!

Honestly being a pony can be very confusing sometimes.