Fab ride around Rockley

Life is good. Zippy & I were loaded up into the box on wheels again this morning for another adventure.

It turned out we went on one of Mum's favourite rides around Rockley.  We parked up on the hill and Benji was allowed to come with us because the ride is all tracks.

It was a beautiful day and Zippy and I really enjoyed the ride, especially the grass tracks where we had some fun canters.

On the last canter Zippy was ahead of me but as we went around the corner I went into racehorse mode and used the bend to accelerate past her and won the race!

Benji was really really good as we had to stop to let a car go past, and while we standing in the grass he spotted a chicken cluck clucking around, he thought about chasing it but Mum said no, so he said ok and came and sat by us while we waited for the car to go past.  He got LOTS of brownie points!

He was also quite tired by the end, think he will sleep well tonight!

Eating the field extension

I've had a lovely relaxing day off today. Mum walked Benji around the farm this morning and then popped in to give Zippy & I breakfast.  

After breakfast we went out to investigate the extra field, it's a big bank. Being King of the Castle I climbed to the top for the best bits while Zippy grazed the bottom section.

It's very yummy, what a lovely day 😃

Learning to be at home in my box on wheels

Busy day today. Mum & Benji walked around the farm before picking me & Zippy up & walking us down to the house for the day. Why? I hear you ask, well it turns out the lovely gentleman of the Wiltshire Canal Trust were giving us a field extension and Mum thought they wouldn't want my help - charming!

So we arrived at the house, and before I knew it I was in the freshly mowed dressage paddock practicing cantering circles and jumping, fortunately not for too long, Mum had to go to work!

This afternoon it was decided I needed another trip in my box on wheels, I kept checking behind, as we went further than normal and I was chauffeured through Wootton Bassett town centre before heading back home.

This is me after my trip. Please note how quiet I'm standing, Mum's getting very excited about the prospect of being able to take me out on my own.  I'm getting excited about all the new adventures I will be able to go on.

As if this wasn't enough we then went for a quick hack around the farm fields, Zippy and I were pleased to get back to the field.  After some yummy (and well deserved I feel) tea we have gone off to explore our field extension as there must be new yumminess to eat.

Solo box on wheels travelling

No sign of Mum yet today, but I have started to take my solo box on wheels exams.  I didn't do very well with the partitions in, I kept kicking the rubber matting and breaking the back panels and that was before Mum had even thought of moving the box.

So Mum decided we ought to change the test.  So Saturday she turned up with a big empty trailer with absolutely nothing in it, except some hay, no partitions to kick, no Zippy either.  That's fine I was happy to walk in and out.  I get tied to either side but I can still move my feet LOTS which is good, I feel much happier with that.  I have a mirror so I have a very handsome pony travelling next to me all the time too.

It's so exciting I jump up and down a lot, demanding to get going.  On Saturday as Mum had her friend Sarah with her she decided it was time for us to actually to see if I could travel on my own.  So they loaded me up and off we went, I was all on my own and moving in the box on wheels!

We went down the lane round the roundabout and back home, it was ok.  When we arrived back I stood very quietly, which Mum was surprised about, she thought I would leap out as soon as she opened the side door.  I was given some yummy snacks and had a chat with Mum before unloading and getting some yummy tea (extra big rations).  

Tony and Mum turned up on Sunday and took me out again in the box on wheels, again on my own.  It was just another short trip, but they are really pleased with me.  I'm not sure I have passed my exam yet, but I think I am making good progress.

Another show day...

I was somewhat surprised to find Mum turning up this morning to give me a shampoo and set.  Shortly after we (Zippy & I) were loaded up into the trailer and set off to Cricklade Show.  This is a BIG show, with lots and lots going on, Georgie says it is a County Level Show, but I don't know.

After we arrived I was given another groom before we headed off across the huge show ground until we found Ring 7, as they were calling our class.  It turned out it was divided into sections so we had to hang around for a while, so we had a photo shoot instead.

This was my favourite picture of me and Mum.

It was quite disappointing because I was all geared up and ready to trash the competition.  When we entered the ring for the In-hand Large Breed Mountain &Moorland class it turned out we were the only entry.  So we came first and last all at the same time, which I think is quite clever.

We only had to wait a short while for the next class, which was Home Produced Large Mountain & Moorland, we had twice as many entries but I was up against a big stallion, he looked very smart.  I was a bit tired so didn't do my best walk and trot, I was too busy trying to eat the leather coupling under my chin!  I got a lovely 2nd rosette and came last again too, getting two places each time is quite clever.

My performance in these classes meant I was allowed into the In-Hand Championship and I was up against a lovely grey mare who had already won two classes, two beautiful stallions and another bay mare.  I did my best to look like a stallion and leaped around especially when the horses in the other arena starting charging around in the opposite direction, didn't get my the championship though!  The beautiful grey mare won and the stallion came in reserve.

They are very smart rosettes, I'm modelling them below.

It did get a bit too much after the championship were we heading back across the big field a horse got loose charged past and scared me, so I starting leaping, rearing, bucking and making myself as huge as possible.  This made it difficult for Mum to manoeuvre me back to the trailer, as I was fairly exuberant, and sent people and other horses flying in all directions, but we did make it back in one piece.

Phew safely back at the trailer I calmed down and happily snacked on my hay next to my best friend and travel companion Zippy.

Benji came too and guarded the trailer and kept Zippy company, he looks so cute in his picture.

We are all now safely back home, resting in the field.  My first place, meant I also got a little plate trophy too, Mum is going to get it engraved for me.  I have also qualified AGAIN for the SWPA Championship and had I been a NPS member I would have qualified for their championship too, cool hey!

Do we have to?

I really wonder about humans sometimes, its 28 degrees and humid with it, when my Mum turns up thinking its a great idea to go on an adventure.

But no not any adventure, lets make it as difficult as possible and go for a ride up the hill (read mountain)!

I was not in favour of this action and took every moment on the ride to tell Mum so, this included a really big stop not before the cow farm (I've given up trying there) but my new tactic was just after and embarrass Mum as much as possible in front of a lovely showing yard, with lots of beautiful champion natives while I throw a paddy and simply refuse to go on.

Much to Mum's embarrassment (hee hee hee) a lovely lady came out and gave me a lead up the road, she was very nice and we had a nice chat but eventually I had to go on on my own because she had to wash her ponies for the New Forest Show tomorrow - good luck ponies of Royal Wootton Bassett.

I very slowly made progress up the lane and then up the hill, making it as difficult for Mum as possible, but she is very persistent and wouldn't be put off.  Having got hot and sweaty climbing up the hill, before I had much chance to catch my breath she wanted me to canter around the field - really human!

I did the most uncomfortable sideways wonky canter I could manage - that soon put pay to the idea and I was asked to trot instead - ponies rule!

At least I was allowed to head home after that, doing my usual charge down the steep hill, I know I could canter down if only Mum would let me try, having insisted on cantering around the field, I now offer her canter down the hill and she doesn't want it - there is no pleasing some people.

We finally got home, had a much needed shower and some yummy tea.

Chased by a Wolf

Wow yesterday was scary, its taken me until now to pull myself together enough to be able to relive the experience while I write this.

Our hack started as normal, Mum had decided I needed to exercise Benji so that meant we were going for a ride around the farm. As usual when I leave Zippy I had to double check Mum was sure she wanted us to go out on our own - you know the usual few sideways and backwards steps.  Mum was sure so then we set off at a good walk.

Just over the canal we met a couple of ladies walking a dog which was on a lead, Benji went to say hello and Mum decided we would head in the opposite direction, so she called Benji and off we went for a trot round the field.  We eventually came back to the beginning and the women were on the canal bridge so we headed up to the really big field, this is away from home again, so I did have to double check Mum was sure, but she was.

We went through the gap and turned right into the field and then I just had to run for my life, I shot forward at a hundred miles an hour, Mum hanging on for grim death wondering what the hell was happening - honestly humans are soooo slow sometimes, she didn't even know we were being chased by a wolf!  Finally she thought to look behind us to see why I was running at such a wild speed, then it dawned on her we were being chased by a wolf.



Initially the agreed action was to keep running but Mum thought that this wasn't a good long term strategy so started to slow me down and turn me to face the wolf.  Benji came to my rescue and stood guard protecting us.

Mum was cursing like a tropper, it turned out the wolf belonged to the two old ladies, we could hear them calling him from over two fields away.  We were a bit stuck, because we knew if we ran again he would chase, there was nothing to do but wait it out.  Mum kept me facing the wolf and every so often encouraged me to take a few steps forward, which meant the wolf backed off a bit, and even Benji realised I was scared and told the wolf to go away, Mum was very impressed with this.

Mum says some people shouldn't be allowed animals and when the lady eventually arrived told her if she couldn't keep her wolf under control it should stay on the lead.  Now you would like to think that was the end of it, but oh no - the wolf had other ideas and just ran around and around me in circles while the lady chased him, he didn't want to go back to her.  The lady was very silly and didn't listen to Mum that she should really keep her distance from me because I was young and scared and might move at any moment.  Well clearly she must have been deaf because she just kept walking around and around in circles so close to me I could have knocked her over if I moved.  So to counteract the lady's stupidity I stood stock still as Mum asked.  Benji even came and sat down in front of me to try and stop the wolf running around.

Well to cut a very long story short she did finally get her wolf under control only after Benji and I had driven it slowly back to her other friend and they finally managed to work a pincher movement on the wolf.

Needless to say I was very wound up and sure there were a hundred other wolves in the hedges around the big field.  Mum made me walk around it twice just to show me and check there were no more wolves.  Well I have to say I did come home a very sweaty mess and I was soooo pleased to see Zippy.

Benji and I got huge hugs for being a super brave pony and doggy and behaving impeccably under very trying circumstances.  I got a lovely cold shower and a big tea so it all ended well, phew.  I was very glad to be home and have a rest.  No sign of Mum yet today, wonder what we will be doing?