Equines
An endless supply...
Monday 14 May, 2007
Now that Smokey is at home (or as near as makes no difference), I have taken it upon myself to keep the field clear of poo. The first few times I collected it, it went on some of the vegetable beds. Then I made a big pile for autumn application. Then...
my friend Carol took a trailer load and there's another trailer load ready to go.
And a half full wheelbarrow waiting to be emptied into the next empty trailer.
And just as I finished tonight, in the rain, Smokey lifted his tail and deposited another pile, and looked at me as if to say "Don't worry, Mum, I'll not let it run out".
For horselovers
Thursday 10 May, 2007
As you will know, Smokey and I have been learning to drive over the winter and into spring. It's all been going very well and he has been an absolute star.
Last Wednesday, however, we had a bit of a setback. For various reasons that I won't bore you with, there was a bit of a carry-on in the field, so Smokey was a bit hyped up. I wanted to take Smokey driving (a pal of Dan's was going to backstep for me), so I caught him, harnessed him up and started to lead him along the track to the road, where I usually get on. I'm not really sure what happened, but Smokey got more distressed and bolted. I simply couldn't hold him. He went along the track, on to the road, round a 90 drgree bend, then tipped the buggy at the next 90 degree bend.
Smokey, the rodeo horse!
Saturday 21 April, 2007
Last weekend, Chris smoothed a track round the field for training his trotting horses on. On Monday, he took Coalford Legend round the track in the exercise cart. Smokey (and Johnny) went wild! Obviously, PULLING a cart is not the same as seeing a cart BEING PULLED by another horse! This was quite interesting, since I plan to use the circuit as well for driving. Smokey's reaction indicated to me that harnessing him to the buggy and taking him out with Coaly was NOT a good idea.
By Wednesday night, Smokey and Johnny were grazing quietly while Coaly did his laps.
Come on, Silver Birch!!
Saturday 14 April, 2007
I picked the winner of the Grand National today. I studied the form, the weights, the jockeys and picked Silver Birch because I like grey horses and a horse called SILVER Birch had to be grey. Of course, Silver Birch wasn't grey but he still won!
What will I spend my winnings on...
Luxury nests in Alloa
Friday 13 April, 2007
Since Smokey lives out all year without a rug, he develops a pretty heavy coat. So when it gets to thsi time of year, he has a lot of hair to shed. There are white patches all ovet the filed, where he's rolled and huge clumps, where I've brushed him or simply pulled out handfuls of hair.
Today, I noticed a flock of starlings collecting huge beakfuls if this hair - presumably to line their nests. Combined with their diet of fat cakes and "gourmet robin food", I expect a bumper crop of young starlings later in the year.
We go driving...
Sunday 25 March, 2007
I've had such a nice weekend (and it's not over yet!). Claire and I took Smokey driving yesterday. It was quite hard work for him - uphill in trot with the gig and two (lightweight) passengers - but he rose to the task. He CAN move when he wants (see him in the field!) but I think his preferred working gait is trot. When he settles into a rhythm, he feels like he could go forever with very little effort.
Claire took some video from the backstep. Note the modern handheld camera techniques - Oscar next year.
Moving on 2
Thursday 8 March, 2007
Now that I've got Smokey at home (or near enough), we had to bring his gig down. We could have put it in a horse trailer, but we, ie Claire and I, decided to drive him home. Now, this was a kind of openended decision because we'd never had him on the road before, so we'd never dealt with sloping surfaces. So for the first time, Smokey would be expected to provide the brakes for the gig on downhill slopes, by taking the weight on the breeching strap of the harness, which runs round his thighs.
Moving on
Thursday 8 March, 2007
Dan has finally decided to take the plunge and resign from his job at the Council and go freelance. But that's not what this diary entry is about.
Partly because Dan will be working away a bit, we decided to approach our neighbour and ask if we could graze Smokey with his horses. A trial period has been agreed so weekend before last (is it that long since we posted anything?), I long reined Smokey from Blackfaulds home. Claire came with me for moral support.
There are three other horses across the road - one retired trotter called Johnny's Decision (Johnny); one trotter called Coalford Legend (Coaly) and a two year old soon-to-be trotter called Winning Hand (Andy). Smokey was turned out with Johnny and Andy and we waited to see what would happen. In an ideal world, we would have kept Smokey in a seperate area for a while, so they could get used to each other. But it's not an ideal world!
Bruce Logan in the UK
Sunday 14 January, 2007
Smokey and I are lucky enough to be going on a three day foundation course with US horseman, Bruce Logan. Bruce was a Parelli 3* instructor before going off run his own Foundation Station in Texas. He's worked with some of the greatest horsemen of our times including Ronnie Willis and Buck Brannaman (the "Horse Whisperer" of Robert Redford's film).
Bruce is coming to the UK for the first time in February to do the three day Foundation Course for eighteen horses and riders, including our good selves, and a ten day colt start at the new Scottish National Equestrian Centre at Oatridge, West Lothian. Spectators are welcome at the Foundation Course - �25 for one day, �45 for two and �65 for three. For advance tickets and info, email [email protected]
Working ponies
Sunday 7 January, 2007
I spent a few (!) minutes surfing the web tonight and found two sites that I thought were interesting, so thought I'd list them here.
The first is www.daleslogger.com which is the website of the Working Dales Pony Centre in North Cumbria. I'm planning a visit already.
The second is www.suffolkpunchtrust.org, which is the website set up by the Trust to publicise its work in protecting and promoting the Suffolk Punch horse. If any of you have read Paul Heiney's books, you'll remember that it was Suffolk Punch horses that he worked with. The Suffolk Punch is in the RBST Critical category so could use our support!!
