28th October 2012
Autumn is certainly upon us. We have had our first couple of frosts and the leaves are falling rapidly. Frodo, Love and Tower still roam the yard freely during the day. The horses are now in 3 groups, Mattie, Basil, Flint, Ash and Roh are on the bottom yard having a small bucket of feed each twice a day and lots of hay. Dougal and Flo are in the Agility field joined by Frodo, Love and Tower at night having hay twice a day. Ollie and Valley are up in the stable with access to the back field, this gives us the additional job of mucking out on a daily basis, thank goodness Ollie poos in one place, at least that makes it slightly easier. The rest of the herd have access to 4 big fields and are all looking good.
We continue to work with Flo on a daily basis, she is so willing to learn whatever I put in front of her. Dougal was very tight in the poll and in the middle of his back, Chris and I worked on him and he now very loose and moving incredibly well, he is catching Flo up quite quickly. We also continue working with Basil, he is becoming a truly brave big fella and not phased by many things at all. We work Mel who always appears reluctant but never refuses to do what I ask. Chris has started to bring Brian in and working with him to build a bond of trust.
Last weekend we had a Horse Agility Competition in our permanent outdoor course it will probably be the last one we hold outside this year unless the ground dries up. Tower never ceases to amaze us, he takes all the obstacles in his stride and at his own free will. Last week he came trotting across the field and promptly jumped over the big tyres, purely because his mum was on the other side and the quickest way to her was over them!!!
The Fieldfares have returned to spend the winter here and the rest of our amazing bird population are busy foraging for food. Buzzards spending lots of time doing their worm dance. Last weekend there was 11 buzzards and kites circularing the agility field, what an amazing sight!! The heron is spending a lot of time in the pond looking for something, not sure what as there are no fish in there!! Maybe they eat the newts!!
Abbie comes up quite regularly and continues to do 'Horse Jobs' as if they are the most natural thing in the world, it doesn't matter what shape, colour or size they are she treats them all the same and the majority understand what she wants, with the exception of Flo, she was long lining her for the first time last weekend, Flo understood the walk on, left and right but didn't quite understand the stop so Abs looked as if she was skiing in sand!! Not at great speed I hasten to add. Abs will have to talk a little louder.
Our 4th grandchild arrived on the 21st October 'Oakleigh', she was due 16th November so a little earlier than expected, a second daughter for Dan and Kelly. Our 5th grandchild that was due 26th October still hasn't put in an appearance so Jo and Patrick have to wait a bit longer!!
I continue to work on the saddlechariot and iBex, selling, manufacturing and developing. The iBex is a truly versatile amazing vehicle.
Our first delivery of winter hay is due to be delivered today, just in time as we have nearly finished what was in the barn.
Rob our volunteer is slowly but surely painting the walls on the inside of the school it really is brightening the place up, we have a new volunteer called Emily who is coming up and learning all about horses as her ambition is to be a veterinary nurse. Mary comes up a couple of times a week to help, she always takes part in the horse agility using Mel. Sally and Carol come up as often as they can. Mandy comes up and is working with William ready for him to go into the saddlechariot, he can be a little nervous about new things so Mandy is taking it very slowly with my guidance.
So far it has been the wettest year I have known, the ground is still pretty sodden in places, fingers crossed the winter won't be as wet!!
Autumn is certainly upon us. We have had our first couple of frosts and the leaves are falling rapidly. Frodo, Love and Tower still roam the yard freely during the day. The horses are now in 3 groups, Mattie, Basil, Flint, Ash and Roh are on the bottom yard having a small bucket of feed each twice a day and lots of hay. Dougal and Flo are in the Agility field joined by Frodo, Love and Tower at night having hay twice a day. Ollie and Valley are up in the stable with access to the back field, this gives us the additional job of mucking out on a daily basis, thank goodness Ollie poos in one place, at least that makes it slightly easier. The rest of the herd have access to 4 big fields and are all looking good.
We continue to work with Flo on a daily basis, she is so willing to learn whatever I put in front of her. Dougal was very tight in the poll and in the middle of his back, Chris and I worked on him and he now very loose and moving incredibly well, he is catching Flo up quite quickly. We also continue working with Basil, he is becoming a truly brave big fella and not phased by many things at all. We work Mel who always appears reluctant but never refuses to do what I ask. Chris has started to bring Brian in and working with him to build a bond of trust.
Last weekend we had a Horse Agility Competition in our permanent outdoor course it will probably be the last one we hold outside this year unless the ground dries up. Tower never ceases to amaze us, he takes all the obstacles in his stride and at his own free will. Last week he came trotting across the field and promptly jumped over the big tyres, purely because his mum was on the other side and the quickest way to her was over them!!!
The Fieldfares have returned to spend the winter here and the rest of our amazing bird population are busy foraging for food. Buzzards spending lots of time doing their worm dance. Last weekend there was 11 buzzards and kites circularing the agility field, what an amazing sight!! The heron is spending a lot of time in the pond looking for something, not sure what as there are no fish in there!! Maybe they eat the newts!!
Abbie comes up quite regularly and continues to do 'Horse Jobs' as if they are the most natural thing in the world, it doesn't matter what shape, colour or size they are she treats them all the same and the majority understand what she wants, with the exception of Flo, she was long lining her for the first time last weekend, Flo understood the walk on, left and right but didn't quite understand the stop so Abs looked as if she was skiing in sand!! Not at great speed I hasten to add. Abs will have to talk a little louder.
Our 4th grandchild arrived on the 21st October 'Oakleigh', she was due 16th November so a little earlier than expected, a second daughter for Dan and Kelly. Our 5th grandchild that was due 26th October still hasn't put in an appearance so Jo and Patrick have to wait a bit longer!!
I continue to work on the saddlechariot and iBex, selling, manufacturing and developing. The iBex is a truly versatile amazing vehicle.
Our first delivery of winter hay is due to be delivered today, just in time as we have nearly finished what was in the barn.
Rob our volunteer is slowly but surely painting the walls on the inside of the school it really is brightening the place up, we have a new volunteer called Emily who is coming up and learning all about horses as her ambition is to be a veterinary nurse. Mary comes up a couple of times a week to help, she always takes part in the horse agility using Mel. Sally and Carol come up as often as they can. Mandy comes up and is working with William ready for him to go into the saddlechariot, he can be a little nervous about new things so Mandy is taking it very slowly with my guidance.
So far it has been the wettest year I have known, the ground is still pretty sodden in places, fingers crossed the winter won't be as wet!!
Tower, showing his mum, Love, how Horse Agility is done so she can get more points in the next competition.
11th October 2012
I have decided not to do the diary on a daily basis at the moment as the routine work is very similar every day. Flo has now got her own Facebook page and Chris writes for her a bit most days as Flo finds it very difficult to press the keys!!!! I did think of getting a jumbo key board but then I'd have to teach her to spell and that is definitely out of the question!!! All the horses are well. Ollie and Valley have moved up to the paddock behind the stables where they get feed and hay as the grass is still very poor. Ash and Flint are on the bottom yard with access to the paddocks with a bucket feed in the mornings. Basil, Flo and Dougal are in the Agility and adjacent field and the remainder of the herd having access to the remaining 4 big fields. I have harrowed most of the fields since the last entry and whilst I was harrowing the hay field I was joined by 4 buzzards playing chase, 3 would land in the field whilst 1 sat in the tree, it would swoop down and the other 3 would fly around, they continued this game most of the time that I was there. I have strimmed under and repaired more electric fencing, repaired a leak that we have had for some considerable time on the bottom yard and repaired the barriers in the stables where the old pig stys used to be. Sawn up the majority of the branches that had blown down during the spring ready for winter fuel. Love has had a rug on for a couple of weeks now, she is still feeding Tower. Frodo and Love are getting 2 buckets of feed a day. Frodo has access around the yard during the day so he can have a munch on the vegetation, which is easier for him due to his lack of teeth!! We had a Horse Agility competition that went very well despite the rain!! We had a fun day last Sunday, this was Basils first attempt and none of it phased him too much. Love is finding the tyres and bridge a bit challenging but is slowly getting there, Tower during the morning decided to step onto the tyres with his front feet and stood there looking as if to say 'Mum this is how you do it' Dan, Kelly and Amber-Leigh joined us and Amber-leigh thought the course was especially for her and had great fun on the see-saw and bridge. The ground is still incredibly wet and I guess is only going to get wetter now that Autumn is here. Milo, our sons terrier has come to live with us so him and Mo go off most days looking for rabbits. So far they have had 2 rats that I know of, which is a great help as the wretched things can eat more horse feed than the horses if we don't keep on top of them!! The morning routine is very similar as before, checking the horses and feeding those that need feeding, taking Loves rug off when the weather permits and the same routine in the evening. The daylight hours are certainly greatly reduced, the temperature has dropped and is as wet as the summer!! Most days at the moment we are working Flo, Dougal and Basil in a wide range of aspects. We had done very little with Basil over the last year or so, it was to allow him to be a horse with the herd, working around him with the tractor etc and allowing him to stop and look or walk away, sometimes he would graze in the agility field with all of the obstacles so they all became familiar to him, he has certainly matured, more relaxed and laid back and is coming on great guns, he is a very big boy in body but young in mind and was incredibly nervous about most things. We are working him bitless at the moment and hoping to continue, we can only do things with his co-operation and trust, if he decides to go the other way there is not a lot a human can do!! He is doing really well. We mix his long lining with music, noises and flappy things. Flo continues to be a star, totally trusting and doing all that is asked of her needing very little re-assurance, although she still has a tendency to want to do everything quite quickly, Dougal is not far behind her and does everything far slower. Flo continues to work with the saddlechariot and iBex although a bit fast for the job I want her to do, great fun for the individual but could be concerning for the novice, hopefully Dougal will stay working at the slower pace then we will have one fast horse for the experienced and one for the novice. This week it was a bit of a surprise when Pam came into the school to say that Ollie and Val were wondering around the yard, there is a small piece of electric fence on one side of the stables that hasn't been connected for quite some considerable time, when Ollie and Kevin lived there they never realised that it wasn't on so whether Ollie was the first through or Valley I will never know, but it is all up and running now!! They were both very good to get back in, Chris went down and shut the middle gate while I drove them back up, we encouraged them back into the stable area with some hay. Kevin has settled very well into the herd. The horses have managed to eat the majority of dying nettles and thistles whilst Basil goes around hedge trimming. Most days when we bring him in his mane is full of hawthorn leaves, he really enjoys munching the hedge!! Our new volunteer, Robert has been clearing the overgrowth and brambles from around the stables and this week has started to paint the walls in the school to brighten it up. Mary still comes up on a regular basis to help out. There is a big flocks of Seagulls, Crows and Rooks about, happily scattering and picking out the bugs from the horse poo, it sure beats harrowing with the cost of diesel!!
Keep looking for diary up dates.
13th September 2012
A lovely day. Chris bought Love and Tower in and gave Love her bucket. Chris put Tower's head collar on outside the school this morning and walked up and down the track, this was the first time he had done it in the open air and did it really well. We then put them back into the herd. Mary turned up. I bought Flo in and walked her down the lane to see if there was any post. When we got back to the school I gave her a bit of a fuss and put her out, I then bought Mel in so that Mary could do some work with her. Chris and I then had a go with Mel and returned her to the field. Mandy turned up, Chris went and got Flo again, we long lined her around the school then up to the stables, me taking her up and Chris bringing her down. Mary went and Mandy went to get William while Chris and I finished with Flo and returned her to the field. Mandy, Chris and myself lunged William in the school and I gave him a gentle massage as he was a bit tight in his shoulders. Mandy took him out for a ride while I had some lunch. When Mandy got back I trimmed Williams feet. She returned him to the herd, had a cuppa and she left for home. Chris and I sorted out the rubber for the seesaw and pedestals in the agility field ready to fit tomorrow. Off to post a parcel and when I got back it was time for Flo's 3rd session. We long lined her around the school a couple of times, out the door and down to the gate, Chris took over and took her up to the stables, back down to the school ensuring that she went into the school slowly as she normally likes to rush in. Untacked her and returned her to the school. The end to yet another busy day. The reservoir must have had at least 15 rabbits on it this evening and one of them was black.
12th September 2012
A reasonably good day with the odd shower. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris gave Love her bucket and then worked Tower. We then got Flo and took her for a walk down the lane, picking up the post on the way back. Worked her in the school for a while then long lined her up to the stables then back down to the school. Time for me to get on with some more phone calls so left Flo to have a wander around the yard. Mandy came up and had a cuppa with Chris. I went down to the school and long lined Flo around the school again while Mandy got William. Took Flo up to the stables and back down again, Chris took over for a while. Mandy bought William in, we returned Flo to the herd and Mandy long lined William around the school, she then tacked him up and went for a short ride. I fetched Mel in taking her around the agility course on the way into the school. Worked her in the school for a while, then Mandy had a go, Mandy went and I trimmed Mel's front feet. Chris and I played with Mel for a while in the school then returned her to the herd. Time for lunch, we spotted a weasel out of the living room window today, it really is like living on a nature reserve!! The afternoon was spent doing saddlechariot bits as they are being collected by the courier tomorrow. Chris bought Love in and gave her her bucket. The end to another day.
11th September 2012
Dry most of the day but quite cool. Checked all the horses then had to get on with filling in some forms. Tower decided that he was going to have the morning off and didn't leave the hay field, although his mum did come over to the school and have a bucket of feed. Bought Flo in and played lots of silly games with her. I let her have a munch around the yard while I had my lunch then continued with the silly games. Decided to roll a couple of lumps out in the field before returning the roller to my neighbour. A big Ash branch had snapped off of one of the trees at the beginning of summer so decided to cut it into logs ready for the winter. Autumn has certainly raised its head as the track and drive were lightly sprinkled with leaves this morning. A busy day but very rewarding.
10th Sepember 2012
An overcast and damp day. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in, Chris carried on with Tower's training she is now leading him on a neck line, they are both doing really well. Returned them to the herd and I spent the rest of the morning on the phone and computer doing office work. After lunch I did some strimming then spent an hour or so working with Mel in the school. The end of another busy day, most of it in the office YUK!!
9th September 2012
A very nice morning. Will and Abbie up early with a constant bombardment of questions!! Checked the horses then off to set up the agility course. Mary turned up ready for the fun day. Chris and Abbie went first with Flo, Abs did very well considering she had not done it before. Will decided he would like to have a go with Flo and did well too. Carol arrived to pick up her trailer as her hay was ready to be hauled so couldn't join in the fun. Mary, Pam and I went down to the course. Mary did Mel and Pam did Dougal they both did well and enjoyed themselves. Abbie decided she would like to take Dougal around, he plodded along behind her going wherever Abbie decided to go!!! It was then time for a cuppa and Abbie wanted to ride Flo before she went home. Abbie rode Flo bareback for a while then it was time for lunch. Nicola and Andrew arrived to take them home, they stayed for a while then time for them to go as Nicola had to go to work. I cut some more wood for the fire as it was beginning to get chilly already. Bought Love in for a groom, returned her to the herd and called it a day.
8th September 2012
Very misty start to the day, then it lifted and turned out glorious. Managed to check all the horses through the mist!! Bought Love and Tower in for Tower's morning lesson. Abs led Love around while Chris got on with Tower. Put them out and bought Kevin in, had a quick session with him, walking the school, down the lane and then back to the herd. Bought Flo in, Abs walked her down the lane to the gate then into the agility field and around a few of the obstacles then back to the school. Abs rode her bare back for a while, we tacked her up and drove her around the school with the leveller. Back to the herd. Time now to get ready for the Usk Show, Pam came home from work and organised Will and Abs and off we went to meet lots of old friends and make new ones, spreading the word about the saddlechariot, iBex and The pure Feed Company. Had a really great day we were all totally shattered when we got home. It was an early start and a late finish.
7th September 2012
Another super day. Checked all the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris carried on with Tower's training. We returned them to the herd and bought Kevin in. Only his 2nd session in the school since he has been gelded, lots of ground work and confidence building, we took him down the lane and up to the stables then back into the school, we worked him with the big back door shut to hold his concentration, otherwise he is distracted by the group of mares the other side shouting at him!! This took all the morning, once we returned him to the herd it was time for lunch. We then bought Flo in and spent the rest of the day working her, a wander down the lane to stand and watch the traffic, letting her have a good graze on the way back, Chris then took her into the agility field, back to the school where we had a cuppa and we let her loose, she chose to stand and wait. After our cuppa we took her into the field and drove her around in the chariot for a while and then swapped her over to the iBex, once this session was over it was back to the school, a short break for her again and we had another cuppa, Chris then rode her around bare back. By this time Nicola, Andrew,Will and Abs turned up, Abs led Flo around the school for a while then Abs and I took her around the field and returned her to the herd. Nicola and Andrew left leaving Will and Abs for the weekend. A positive day, lots of learning for both the horses and me.
6th September 2012
Another super, sunny day after a bit of a cold start. After checking the horses the first job was to trim Love's feet. Mary turned up, Chris worked with Tower and then we put Love and Tower out and I went and bought Mel for Mary to practice some ground work, her confidence is now building really well, she is working Mel from a line around her neck instead of a head collar. We then put Mel out and bought Basil in and let him have a munch on the verge while we had a cuppa. It was then time to trim his feet, they are so huge and heavy this is a long and strenuous job!! Managed to finish the front ones and get the back basically trimmed before being totally exhausted, by no means is he bad he is just big and heavy and likes to move about occasionally. It was then time to nip into town. When I got back it was time for a late lunch. A couple of phone calls then bought in Sweetpea, spending a lot of time to re-assure her as for some reason she gets very anxious but not quite sure what the thing is going to be. Things she has done many many times suddenly become confusing. Sally came up and we had a chat, she went and got Winnie and took her for a walk. The end of the day.
5th September 2012
A super day, beautiful and warm. Love and Tower first thing, then watered the school. Off to town to do a few chores before the day really began!! Came back and had an early lunch. Sorted out the electric fences in the main field, a few new posts, new clips and lots of new handles on the gateways. Once I had finished this I managed to fill the truck with logs then back to the yard for a quick cuppa before starting work with Flo. We went around the agility course a few times then Chris had a go, off down the lane for a bit of munching on the hedgerow and more familiarisation of the wider world. Two figher jets flew over, you could almost see the pilots!! Dogs and cars, absolutely no problem, a man coming by on a push bike..... Oh so scary!!! I never cease to be amazed to what will concern them! Back to the school eating lots of hazel, some ash and the odd mouthful of grass on the way back. In the school I gave her a good groom, bit of a trim round her feet to take the rough edges off then back to join the herd. On returning Flo to the herd I observed a super new horse sport, only for horses, it involves every move imaginable throughout all disciplines and is a cross between relay and tag, I think its called pass the bott fly to your mate. 26 out of the 27 joined in, Frodo chose to stand quietly in the corner! It appears the rules are, Once you have given the bott fly to your mate and he runs off with it you can graze, it looked like great fun. I guess one of them had lost it, after a while they were all grazing again. It has been a really good day, I enjoy nothing more than watching horses enjoying themselves doing what comes naturally.
4th September 2012
A duller day with the sun coming out at the end of it!! Started the day as usual and bought Tower in for his lesson. Mary came up, we put Tower back in with the herd and I bought Mel in so that Mary could practise some ground work with her. Put Mel out and bought Dougal in and I did some ground work with him. Put Dougal out and bought Nounnat in who threw her teddy out of the cot a couple of times!! We are obviously not speaking the same language yet, we are both working hard to get there!! Returned her to the herd and Mandy came up, she went and got William and Chris got Sweetpea. Mandy groomed and played with William while I worked with Sweetpea, around the school and then down through the field, she lost the plot totally a couple of times and by the time we got back to the school I was totally worn out, took her around the school a few times and lunging her a couple of times and finishing on a really positive note. Time for a cuppa and a bite to eat, a bit late but much needed. Time to bring in Flo, Chris gave her a good groom while I made a couple of phone calls. Chris lunged her for a while then we tacked her up and levelled out the school. I'm so pleased that today one of the horses understood what I was asking!! I'm wondering if their bellies were too full of all the grass they had eaten from the field they broke in to!!! A relatively small field for 27 horses!! The end of the day thank goodness I am totally shattered!!
3rd September 2012
A misty start but turned into a gloriously warm day. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris continued with Tower's head collar training. Rob came up and carried on with his bramble cutting. We then put Love and Tower back into the field. Mandy came up and did a bit with William and Mary came up and did my town chores for me while I got on with some phone calls. Off up to the top to repair the electric fence that the horses had destroyed over the weekend!! I then strimmed beneath the fence from the stables up to the Crug while Chris made sure that there weren't any branches touching the fence adjacent to the woodland. Back to the school and un-loaded the truck, quick cuppa, hitched up the topper to the tractor and topped 2 fields. If nothing has been growing the dock leaves certainly have!! The lines were full of House Martins this morning a sure sign that Autumn is on its way, the Swifts and Swallows have already gone. Time to get Flo in, we went around the agility course a few times, down the lane to the road to watch the traffic and guess what.........all the time we stood there only 1 car passed!!! Back up and put her back in the field as it was already getting dark.
1st and 2nd September 2012
A nice start to Saturday 1st. Checked the horses and they had all got into the field I was saving for later. They were quite happy so left them where they were as I was off to Bristol.
Chris checked all the horses and reported that they were all fine, still munching in the field they shouldn't have been in!! I got back from Bristol early this afternoon having had a lovely time off with my Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law and Pam, I had to take her otherwise she would have got the hump!!!! All the horses were quite happy so gave them the rest of the day off, we will start again tomorrow morning.
I have decided not to do the diary on a daily basis at the moment as the routine work is very similar every day. Flo has now got her own Facebook page and Chris writes for her a bit most days as Flo finds it very difficult to press the keys!!!! I did think of getting a jumbo key board but then I'd have to teach her to spell and that is definitely out of the question!!! All the horses are well. Ollie and Valley have moved up to the paddock behind the stables where they get feed and hay as the grass is still very poor. Ash and Flint are on the bottom yard with access to the paddocks with a bucket feed in the mornings. Basil, Flo and Dougal are in the Agility and adjacent field and the remainder of the herd having access to the remaining 4 big fields. I have harrowed most of the fields since the last entry and whilst I was harrowing the hay field I was joined by 4 buzzards playing chase, 3 would land in the field whilst 1 sat in the tree, it would swoop down and the other 3 would fly around, they continued this game most of the time that I was there. I have strimmed under and repaired more electric fencing, repaired a leak that we have had for some considerable time on the bottom yard and repaired the barriers in the stables where the old pig stys used to be. Sawn up the majority of the branches that had blown down during the spring ready for winter fuel. Love has had a rug on for a couple of weeks now, she is still feeding Tower. Frodo and Love are getting 2 buckets of feed a day. Frodo has access around the yard during the day so he can have a munch on the vegetation, which is easier for him due to his lack of teeth!! We had a Horse Agility competition that went very well despite the rain!! We had a fun day last Sunday, this was Basils first attempt and none of it phased him too much. Love is finding the tyres and bridge a bit challenging but is slowly getting there, Tower during the morning decided to step onto the tyres with his front feet and stood there looking as if to say 'Mum this is how you do it' Dan, Kelly and Amber-Leigh joined us and Amber-leigh thought the course was especially for her and had great fun on the see-saw and bridge. The ground is still incredibly wet and I guess is only going to get wetter now that Autumn is here. Milo, our sons terrier has come to live with us so him and Mo go off most days looking for rabbits. So far they have had 2 rats that I know of, which is a great help as the wretched things can eat more horse feed than the horses if we don't keep on top of them!! The morning routine is very similar as before, checking the horses and feeding those that need feeding, taking Loves rug off when the weather permits and the same routine in the evening. The daylight hours are certainly greatly reduced, the temperature has dropped and is as wet as the summer!! Most days at the moment we are working Flo, Dougal and Basil in a wide range of aspects. We had done very little with Basil over the last year or so, it was to allow him to be a horse with the herd, working around him with the tractor etc and allowing him to stop and look or walk away, sometimes he would graze in the agility field with all of the obstacles so they all became familiar to him, he has certainly matured, more relaxed and laid back and is coming on great guns, he is a very big boy in body but young in mind and was incredibly nervous about most things. We are working him bitless at the moment and hoping to continue, we can only do things with his co-operation and trust, if he decides to go the other way there is not a lot a human can do!! He is doing really well. We mix his long lining with music, noises and flappy things. Flo continues to be a star, totally trusting and doing all that is asked of her needing very little re-assurance, although she still has a tendency to want to do everything quite quickly, Dougal is not far behind her and does everything far slower. Flo continues to work with the saddlechariot and iBex although a bit fast for the job I want her to do, great fun for the individual but could be concerning for the novice, hopefully Dougal will stay working at the slower pace then we will have one fast horse for the experienced and one for the novice. This week it was a bit of a surprise when Pam came into the school to say that Ollie and Val were wondering around the yard, there is a small piece of electric fence on one side of the stables that hasn't been connected for quite some considerable time, when Ollie and Kevin lived there they never realised that it wasn't on so whether Ollie was the first through or Valley I will never know, but it is all up and running now!! They were both very good to get back in, Chris went down and shut the middle gate while I drove them back up, we encouraged them back into the stable area with some hay. Kevin has settled very well into the herd. The horses have managed to eat the majority of dying nettles and thistles whilst Basil goes around hedge trimming. Most days when we bring him in his mane is full of hawthorn leaves, he really enjoys munching the hedge!! Our new volunteer, Robert has been clearing the overgrowth and brambles from around the stables and this week has started to paint the walls in the school to brighten it up. Mary still comes up on a regular basis to help out. There is a big flocks of Seagulls, Crows and Rooks about, happily scattering and picking out the bugs from the horse poo, it sure beats harrowing with the cost of diesel!!
Keep looking for diary up dates.
13th September 2012
A lovely day. Chris bought Love and Tower in and gave Love her bucket. Chris put Tower's head collar on outside the school this morning and walked up and down the track, this was the first time he had done it in the open air and did it really well. We then put them back into the herd. Mary turned up. I bought Flo in and walked her down the lane to see if there was any post. When we got back to the school I gave her a bit of a fuss and put her out, I then bought Mel in so that Mary could do some work with her. Chris and I then had a go with Mel and returned her to the field. Mandy turned up, Chris went and got Flo again, we long lined her around the school then up to the stables, me taking her up and Chris bringing her down. Mary went and Mandy went to get William while Chris and I finished with Flo and returned her to the field. Mandy, Chris and myself lunged William in the school and I gave him a gentle massage as he was a bit tight in his shoulders. Mandy took him out for a ride while I had some lunch. When Mandy got back I trimmed Williams feet. She returned him to the herd, had a cuppa and she left for home. Chris and I sorted out the rubber for the seesaw and pedestals in the agility field ready to fit tomorrow. Off to post a parcel and when I got back it was time for Flo's 3rd session. We long lined her around the school a couple of times, out the door and down to the gate, Chris took over and took her up to the stables, back down to the school ensuring that she went into the school slowly as she normally likes to rush in. Untacked her and returned her to the school. The end to yet another busy day. The reservoir must have had at least 15 rabbits on it this evening and one of them was black.
12th September 2012
A reasonably good day with the odd shower. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris gave Love her bucket and then worked Tower. We then got Flo and took her for a walk down the lane, picking up the post on the way back. Worked her in the school for a while then long lined her up to the stables then back down to the school. Time for me to get on with some more phone calls so left Flo to have a wander around the yard. Mandy came up and had a cuppa with Chris. I went down to the school and long lined Flo around the school again while Mandy got William. Took Flo up to the stables and back down again, Chris took over for a while. Mandy bought William in, we returned Flo to the herd and Mandy long lined William around the school, she then tacked him up and went for a short ride. I fetched Mel in taking her around the agility course on the way into the school. Worked her in the school for a while, then Mandy had a go, Mandy went and I trimmed Mel's front feet. Chris and I played with Mel for a while in the school then returned her to the herd. Time for lunch, we spotted a weasel out of the living room window today, it really is like living on a nature reserve!! The afternoon was spent doing saddlechariot bits as they are being collected by the courier tomorrow. Chris bought Love in and gave her her bucket. The end to another day.
11th September 2012
Dry most of the day but quite cool. Checked all the horses then had to get on with filling in some forms. Tower decided that he was going to have the morning off and didn't leave the hay field, although his mum did come over to the school and have a bucket of feed. Bought Flo in and played lots of silly games with her. I let her have a munch around the yard while I had my lunch then continued with the silly games. Decided to roll a couple of lumps out in the field before returning the roller to my neighbour. A big Ash branch had snapped off of one of the trees at the beginning of summer so decided to cut it into logs ready for the winter. Autumn has certainly raised its head as the track and drive were lightly sprinkled with leaves this morning. A busy day but very rewarding.
10th Sepember 2012
An overcast and damp day. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in, Chris carried on with Tower's training she is now leading him on a neck line, they are both doing really well. Returned them to the herd and I spent the rest of the morning on the phone and computer doing office work. After lunch I did some strimming then spent an hour or so working with Mel in the school. The end of another busy day, most of it in the office YUK!!
9th September 2012
A very nice morning. Will and Abbie up early with a constant bombardment of questions!! Checked the horses then off to set up the agility course. Mary turned up ready for the fun day. Chris and Abbie went first with Flo, Abs did very well considering she had not done it before. Will decided he would like to have a go with Flo and did well too. Carol arrived to pick up her trailer as her hay was ready to be hauled so couldn't join in the fun. Mary, Pam and I went down to the course. Mary did Mel and Pam did Dougal they both did well and enjoyed themselves. Abbie decided she would like to take Dougal around, he plodded along behind her going wherever Abbie decided to go!!! It was then time for a cuppa and Abbie wanted to ride Flo before she went home. Abbie rode Flo bareback for a while then it was time for lunch. Nicola and Andrew arrived to take them home, they stayed for a while then time for them to go as Nicola had to go to work. I cut some more wood for the fire as it was beginning to get chilly already. Bought Love in for a groom, returned her to the herd and called it a day.
8th September 2012
Very misty start to the day, then it lifted and turned out glorious. Managed to check all the horses through the mist!! Bought Love and Tower in for Tower's morning lesson. Abs led Love around while Chris got on with Tower. Put them out and bought Kevin in, had a quick session with him, walking the school, down the lane and then back to the herd. Bought Flo in, Abs walked her down the lane to the gate then into the agility field and around a few of the obstacles then back to the school. Abs rode her bare back for a while, we tacked her up and drove her around the school with the leveller. Back to the herd. Time now to get ready for the Usk Show, Pam came home from work and organised Will and Abs and off we went to meet lots of old friends and make new ones, spreading the word about the saddlechariot, iBex and The pure Feed Company. Had a really great day we were all totally shattered when we got home. It was an early start and a late finish.
7th September 2012
Another super day. Checked all the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris carried on with Tower's training. We returned them to the herd and bought Kevin in. Only his 2nd session in the school since he has been gelded, lots of ground work and confidence building, we took him down the lane and up to the stables then back into the school, we worked him with the big back door shut to hold his concentration, otherwise he is distracted by the group of mares the other side shouting at him!! This took all the morning, once we returned him to the herd it was time for lunch. We then bought Flo in and spent the rest of the day working her, a wander down the lane to stand and watch the traffic, letting her have a good graze on the way back, Chris then took her into the agility field, back to the school where we had a cuppa and we let her loose, she chose to stand and wait. After our cuppa we took her into the field and drove her around in the chariot for a while and then swapped her over to the iBex, once this session was over it was back to the school, a short break for her again and we had another cuppa, Chris then rode her around bare back. By this time Nicola, Andrew,Will and Abs turned up, Abs led Flo around the school for a while then Abs and I took her around the field and returned her to the herd. Nicola and Andrew left leaving Will and Abs for the weekend. A positive day, lots of learning for both the horses and me.
6th September 2012
Another super, sunny day after a bit of a cold start. After checking the horses the first job was to trim Love's feet. Mary turned up, Chris worked with Tower and then we put Love and Tower out and I went and bought Mel for Mary to practice some ground work, her confidence is now building really well, she is working Mel from a line around her neck instead of a head collar. We then put Mel out and bought Basil in and let him have a munch on the verge while we had a cuppa. It was then time to trim his feet, they are so huge and heavy this is a long and strenuous job!! Managed to finish the front ones and get the back basically trimmed before being totally exhausted, by no means is he bad he is just big and heavy and likes to move about occasionally. It was then time to nip into town. When I got back it was time for a late lunch. A couple of phone calls then bought in Sweetpea, spending a lot of time to re-assure her as for some reason she gets very anxious but not quite sure what the thing is going to be. Things she has done many many times suddenly become confusing. Sally came up and we had a chat, she went and got Winnie and took her for a walk. The end of the day.
5th September 2012
A super day, beautiful and warm. Love and Tower first thing, then watered the school. Off to town to do a few chores before the day really began!! Came back and had an early lunch. Sorted out the electric fences in the main field, a few new posts, new clips and lots of new handles on the gateways. Once I had finished this I managed to fill the truck with logs then back to the yard for a quick cuppa before starting work with Flo. We went around the agility course a few times then Chris had a go, off down the lane for a bit of munching on the hedgerow and more familiarisation of the wider world. Two figher jets flew over, you could almost see the pilots!! Dogs and cars, absolutely no problem, a man coming by on a push bike..... Oh so scary!!! I never cease to be amazed to what will concern them! Back to the school eating lots of hazel, some ash and the odd mouthful of grass on the way back. In the school I gave her a good groom, bit of a trim round her feet to take the rough edges off then back to join the herd. On returning Flo to the herd I observed a super new horse sport, only for horses, it involves every move imaginable throughout all disciplines and is a cross between relay and tag, I think its called pass the bott fly to your mate. 26 out of the 27 joined in, Frodo chose to stand quietly in the corner! It appears the rules are, Once you have given the bott fly to your mate and he runs off with it you can graze, it looked like great fun. I guess one of them had lost it, after a while they were all grazing again. It has been a really good day, I enjoy nothing more than watching horses enjoying themselves doing what comes naturally.
4th September 2012
A duller day with the sun coming out at the end of it!! Started the day as usual and bought Tower in for his lesson. Mary came up, we put Tower back in with the herd and I bought Mel in so that Mary could practise some ground work with her. Put Mel out and bought Dougal in and I did some ground work with him. Put Dougal out and bought Nounnat in who threw her teddy out of the cot a couple of times!! We are obviously not speaking the same language yet, we are both working hard to get there!! Returned her to the herd and Mandy came up, she went and got William and Chris got Sweetpea. Mandy groomed and played with William while I worked with Sweetpea, around the school and then down through the field, she lost the plot totally a couple of times and by the time we got back to the school I was totally worn out, took her around the school a few times and lunging her a couple of times and finishing on a really positive note. Time for a cuppa and a bite to eat, a bit late but much needed. Time to bring in Flo, Chris gave her a good groom while I made a couple of phone calls. Chris lunged her for a while then we tacked her up and levelled out the school. I'm so pleased that today one of the horses understood what I was asking!! I'm wondering if their bellies were too full of all the grass they had eaten from the field they broke in to!!! A relatively small field for 27 horses!! The end of the day thank goodness I am totally shattered!!
3rd September 2012
A misty start but turned into a gloriously warm day. Checked the horses and bought Love and Tower in. Chris continued with Tower's head collar training. Rob came up and carried on with his bramble cutting. We then put Love and Tower back into the field. Mandy came up and did a bit with William and Mary came up and did my town chores for me while I got on with some phone calls. Off up to the top to repair the electric fence that the horses had destroyed over the weekend!! I then strimmed beneath the fence from the stables up to the Crug while Chris made sure that there weren't any branches touching the fence adjacent to the woodland. Back to the school and un-loaded the truck, quick cuppa, hitched up the topper to the tractor and topped 2 fields. If nothing has been growing the dock leaves certainly have!! The lines were full of House Martins this morning a sure sign that Autumn is on its way, the Swifts and Swallows have already gone. Time to get Flo in, we went around the agility course a few times, down the lane to the road to watch the traffic and guess what.........all the time we stood there only 1 car passed!!! Back up and put her back in the field as it was already getting dark.
1st and 2nd September 2012
A nice start to Saturday 1st. Checked the horses and they had all got into the field I was saving for later. They were quite happy so left them where they were as I was off to Bristol.
Chris checked all the horses and reported that they were all fine, still munching in the field they shouldn't have been in!! I got back from Bristol early this afternoon having had a lovely time off with my Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law and Pam, I had to take her otherwise she would have got the hump!!!! All the horses were quite happy so gave them the rest of the day off, we will start again tomorrow morning.
