The happenings at Muletide

Jan is almost over!

2012-01-28T15:11:00.002+13:00

And the weather has continued with being hot and cold, wet and dry!

Still I have managed to get some work done with the ponies.

This morning I trimmed Ata, and did some truck loading with her. She is getting very good, once I have her backing into the space and the partition across I will try her in my "real" as in going truck.

Tika I am putting a real big horse halter on her now, with buckles and all. I did try and get in on video this morning, but we ended up out of the picture.

Sophie, has been reacting to being girthed up and being mounted. And this morning her sweat marks were not as even as they should be so I am on the saddle hunt again. But she worked quite well. I have been trying to get a little canter in most days as she is getting quite excited when we do canter. So we do a canter or two out on the track, and then work quitely so she calms down again. She is very good though, nothing major to deal with.

I also did a bit with Vague.

so here is a little video of what I did this morning.

tired and discouraged

2012-01-23T20:29:00.002+13:00

The weather has been crap, we did not finish making hay till mid January which for us is very unusual. And I have been very busy at work.

But I have made progress.

Ata I have been thinking about sending her away for the ridden part of her training. I just seem to have reached a spot were I do not seem to be able to take the next step.

So I have been teaching her how to get on the truck. Tonight she went in my old truck body, turned round and walked calmly out. She has been worried about banging her bum as she turns. But tonight she was very good.

Tika, I can now get a ordinary halter on her and do up the buckle. I can also slide it over her nose rather than doing it up round her nose. She is a lot calmer now that she used to be.

Sophie is going well, though we still have to work on the nappyness. She is such a sweetie.

Vague I have not managed to do much with, but what i have been doing with her is going well. I am going to try and get her to the Donk and Mule Soc show in Feb.

So hopefully over the next couple of weeks we will be doing a lot more.

a special night last night

2012-01-13T21:07:00.002+13:00

I was tired after a busy day at work, so after riding Sophie, I did not feel like working the Kai's, so took a brush or two out to give them a brush in the paddock. Brushed Vague first, she like having her mane, in a mule a sticky up brush type mane, and her butt brushed.

Then I brushed Tika, she loved it, they are all mouting out a bit at moment, so she was a bit itchy, but she let me brush her tummy, first time ever :) And I brushed her loverly long mane and she liked that. Then I was just standing beside her and talking to her and started stroking her face, then near her mouth, and then right over her chin! And then the side of her nose, over her muzzel, right round her mouth, all those lovely soft parts of a horses nose. And she just blissed out. She has never let me touch her muzle before so this is a biggie. Little things are big steps for this little horse, so I am stoked. I forget sometime how far we have come from when I could not touch her, and then when I could not put 2 hands at once on her, now I can brush her all over and touch her very soft nose.

Then I gave Ata a good brush as per normal she loved it.

Tonight it was blowing a gale, another very busy day at work, was looking forward to having a sleep in tomorrow (Saturday) but now I have to work tomorrow as well, so I only feed out, and now having a glass of wine.

Well back to work tomorrow

2012-01-08T19:43:00.002+13:00

The new year has already had its ups and downs.

The weather cleared on Tuesday, so managed to work and ride the ponies.

Ata is being long reined again, Tika is almost letting me hold her front hoofs, will let me put the halter on over her nose instead of doing it up round her nose, and is sniffing my hands now. This is new for her, she hates her muzzle being touched.

I have been hand walking Vague and she has been going well.

On Friday I took Sophie up to the western arena to ride her there, and Karen turned up to say she has sprayed the edges, that was fine I would ride in the middle, then she said she was going for a ride on the new river track at Awatoto, said I was planning on taking Sophie there as some stage, and she said well come now. So after a bit of dithering I put Sophie back on the truck and drove up to Clive.

The three of us, had a very nice ride along the river bank. Sophie was good with the cyclists, was OK about going under the bridge, but did not like the motor cross bikes. And Musket another horse with us does not like them either, so that did not help. We turned round there and rode back to the trucks.

But it was something I realy wanted to do on Sophie, and I realy enjoyed it.

I have also learned how to milk a goat. My neighbours goat needed a relief milker and after a couple of little issues it is going well. I like goat milk, the Bree is a sweet goat. Not so much fun in the wet though.

On the down side, when I was moving my truck out to clean it, I backed over my little old cat Nutmeg. When I looked up and saw her little body lying where I had backed up, it was the most awful feeling. She was such a little cat, and the truck very heavy. She would have died pretty much instantly, and she was sick and I was going to have to make the decision to have her put to sleep in the next couple of weeks, but to run her over was devastating.

She is now burred in my garden underneath a old rose bush.

And now the weather has packed in again. we have had 72 mls of rain in 24 hours, this time of year we are normally in drought.

Oh well each year is different.

The year is almost over!

2011-12-31T15:02:00.003+13:00

And I have not posted since November!

Well what have I done since then. Hmmmm

Ata was going very well and I was almost riding her, when she got a very nasty allergic reaction to something and the whole underside of her neck was very itchy, and she rubbed it raw, and gave herself a huge hemotoma between her front legs, that made it very difficult for her to walk. Some drugs from the vet and a week or two later she was right again, but I was very busy at work and riding Sophie and Christmas and hay making, that I have only just started working with her again.

And now it is raining. Though I did trim her this morning and she was very well behaved.

Tika, I have been leading her round as much as I can, and she is doing this well, and I have been working at picking up her front hoofs, my goal with her is to be able to trim her before winter. Luckily her hoofs are not rock hard stone chrushers like Ata's and are chipping off naturaly so even though they are ragged and rough, they are not to long and are not causing her any issues at this stage.

Vague, I have been very slack, but she also got trimmed this morning and was pretty well behaved. I have been getting time to lead her round now and then and I think my little comedian ballerina mule is growing up!

Sophie has been going great guns. I have taken her to a western club day, a western fun ribbon day, and the PARC Christmas ribbon day, and at all of these she was very very well behaved. Though she does have yet to learn that jumps are to be jumped over and not just stepped over. She is such a cruisy little mare, but I do have to start hacking her out more and in different places, and get her out on some small treks. I have been a bit slack on her hoofs though, they were not to long but I realy need to keep up the balance work with them. I trimmed her this morning as well

Ben and E are their normal donkey gentlemen selves, they have almost moutled out now (they moult later than horses) They are standing in their shelter in this wet weather.

Zeb needs his hoofs trimmed and I plan on doing him tomorrow.

Lucy is still pretty sound in the paddock, she also is due for a trim tomorrow.

Angel is looking great for her age, carrying good weight, and I will also trim her tomorrow.

Now Amanda! I may have to get off my lazy ass and start working her again. or do some thing with her. I wonder if she would pull a cart? She pisses me off big time riding her, though she is not bad, she just does not want to do anything. And I have to ride her for every step or else she just slopps along. But she has packed the pounds on and is FAT. She gets extra food than the others as she has a long neck and reaches over the fences. I may just start harness training with her and see what she thinks.

Amanda was trimmed this morning as well.

The dog Jesse is doing very well, as is Mr Kincaide, and the ducks and chooks are laying and the ducks do love this weather.

Nutmeg how ever has not long left in this life. She has lost a lot of weight and has some sort of tumor issue in her mouth. It is not worth all the tests and she would not survive another anesthetic, so as at the moment she is eating, cleaning herself pretty well, going toilet outside and seems happy I am just letting her be. As soon as one of these things changes for the worse, she will go quietly to sleep in my arms, if she does not do as a lot of cats do, and find a nice sunny place and slip quietly away.

So that is all I can think of at this stage, I am gearing up for a busy year, with the horses, and with work, and we still have 3 paddocks of hay to cut!

Happy new year everyone

Kirsty

Time to update again

2011-11-12T16:56:00.002+13:00

Well I have not been doing much different with the ponies.

With Ata, I have been long reining her with a bit in her mouth and she has been going very well, as well as starting to teach her to load onto a truck. She has alway gone over the ramp in my paddock, and now I am teaching her to go into and turn round in the old truck body that I have. She is getting the idea.

Tika I have been spending time leading her round from both sides, and she is also going very well.

Sophie, I have been riding her on and off. And she has also been going very well.

I have not cantered her since the western clinic I went to, as I did not make the club day last weekend as my truck would not start.

This morning I popped her over a wee jump, the highest yet (still very low) and not a log like the others I have popped her over and she did almost jump over it.

And I cantered her in a complete circle in the paddock. She did get a bit excited though and got a bit fast, and slipped near the end of the second canter, so I need to take her back up to the arena where the footing is better so she can get her balance with me on her a bit better.

Anyway I made this little video of our ride this morning.

A struggle to do anything this weekend

2011-10-23T17:56:00.002+13:00

Well it is day 3 of a 4 day weekend, and I have struggled to get anything done. The weather has been overcaste, and I have just not been motivated.

Still I have been working away with Ata, Tika, Vague and Sophie.

After much deliberation I have decided to bit Ata, I was going to do all her training in a halter, but she was pushing through it and getting a bit bolshy, so she is now being bitted. She is going well and is now long reining in the bit, just a light sweet iron loose ring snaffle.

I have been a bit slack with Tika and she had become very one sided. Cause I had so much trouble getting a halter on her at all, I did not push to do things on both sides. Hence I could not get a rope near her from her near side at all, or lead her from that side, but when I realised that I could not even turn her that way when leading her I knew I had to fix this mistake on my part.

So over the last week or two I have been working on getting a rope on her from that side, and her giving to me that way. It has been going well, and this morning I managed to lead her from both sides, and turn her both ways from both sides.

So progress is being made.

And last weekend I took Sophie to a western clinic. She was very good and we even cantered in circles. We have not done this before, as the ground has not been good enough at home for a green horse, she also side passed over poles and started to turn over her hocks. I was very pleased with her.

Now to get her going down the road with out napping. I was going to take her out today but I am just not feeling up to the task, so I am off out soon to ride her in the paddock and do the paddock work.

It was sposed to be fineish today but has threatened to rain on several occasions (like now) and is just not an inspiring day.

an even better morning

2011-10-09T12:48:00.002+13:00

Well my neighbour came over again, and we had another go with Ata. First leaning over her, then trying to get on off the block but it was just not working, but in the end I wiggled on from leaning across her. This worked much better, and got me and Ata away from the mounting block so if I had to dismount in a hurry it was not in the way.

I got on her twice, just sat with my arms around her neck scratching her itchy spots, but unfortunately my camera ran out, and I only got a little bit of it. But there is a smidgen with me on her.

Then afterwards Bob (my neighbour) who used to ride on the farm hacks as a kid, wanted to go for a short ride. He has not ridden for years and years, so I chucked him up on Manda and I took Sophie and we went for a ride down the road. Sophie still tried to nap with Manda there, which I was suprised about, but I did manage to ride her through it. More work needed though

a very good morning

2011-10-08T12:04:00.002+13:00

This morning I put the western saddle back on Lucy, for the first time since I thought she was going to kill herself trying to buck it off a couple of years ago. OK I did not cinch it up, I will try that tomorrow.

Then I will work her in hand in it and see how she goes.

Then I was on my way down to do the others, and met my neighbour on the way. I was going to get a friend to lead Ata when I was leaning across as my neighbour is not horse savvy, but he was there, so I gave it a go, and Ata was great. We had a couple of walks with me leaning over her, and she was not fased after the first little bit.

Then I rode Sophie and she was very good as per normal.

Tomorrow I will take the camera down to get some video of Ata again.

Catching up

2011-10-01T12:47:00.002+13:00

Again it has been a while since I have posted.

I have not been doing much realy, but now spring has arrived, and the days are longer I am starting to get out there again.

Sophie has been doing well, and I must now get her out and about more.

Tika I am working a lot more on her not so good side, and getting the leading going well again.

Vague, I am doing a lot of in hand work, so hopefully I can take her to some shows this season.

And Ata, well she has been going very well. I have been taking her for hand walks across my neighbours farm, and I think she is almost ready for me to sit on her. But I think I am going to try and get someone here to help with with that step. Just in case.

This is a video of some work I did with Ata this morning

Scary Morning

2011-08-14T09:23:00.002+12:00

I was feeding out hay to the girls, and was taking the hay cart back to the shed, when I noticed Ata rolling and not eating! Now Ata is a piglet so she would eat if food was there and there was still plenty of hay.

Hmm, I though maybe colic, she got up and walked a bit then went half down again, then walked a bit then went half down again, and she did this serveral times.

But it did not quite look like she had colic, the she walked along with her neck realy low and green snot coming out her nose, CHOKE!

But only a mild case as she could still breath some. So rushed back to the top for a halter and the phone, and back down the her.

She was not panicking in anyway, and I was massaging her neck as I rang the vet. I had to wait for him to ring back.

So I massaged, and rolled her neck from side to side, as well as doing Crocodile stretches, and told her she was doing great.

I also imagined her coughing the stuff up. She had these interesting sounds coming from her through and under her jaw, and slowely green slime started to come out her nose and mouth and I could see her do a bit swollowed a couple of times.

The she put her head up and was interested in E walking up the hill, and then was making for the pile of hay! Uh Uh not you don't Ata, and I took her into the Arena for a groom while the others ate the hay.

She snorted a little bit more out her nose and had a couple more big swollows and some very burpy sounds, while I was grooming her, and then I thought I would let her have a little graze, so I unclipped her and she stuck close to me, and snuggled in for a cuddle, it took her about 5 minutes before she would go and have a graze. I think she was saying thank you.

The vet rang back while I was grooming her and said I had done the right things. And that it would be fine for her to have hay tonight.

I also noticed when I logged on here how long it has been since I last posted!

Mainly cause it has been so wet, that I have not been doing much, cept the basics of feeding and caring for them all.

I have been getting a few short rides in on Sophie, catching the others and giving them a quick groom and hoof trim now and then.

I cannot not wait till spring!

A great weekend just been

2011-05-30T06:56:00.002+12:00

The weather was great all weekend, still and fine, though a little chilly yesterday morning.

On Saturday, after letting the horses out for a graze and mucking the paddocks, I took Sophie for a ride across the neighbours place. She went down the track to the creek, where we had a problem before with refusing to go down this and backing up. Sat morning she tried one backup, but I got her through it straight away, and down she went, and then with a minimum of dithering she crossed the creek, we have only crossed the creek once before, this was with a lot of dithering on the edge of it. I was so happy with her. She even went in on the way back, down the little muddy bank, last time we did this the bank was dry and not slippery.

Then we went for a ride over to the road to look at the traffic and she walked past the deer, with only a small look at them. This was also a major improvement from last time she saw the deer, that time I thought her heart was going to jump out of her body, it was beating so hard.

Then after the ride I got her on the truck in its normal parking place, so she had to go past the house, garage, and all the junk to get to it, and I got the bar up while she was in the truck.

So it was a great morning with Sophie.

Then I lunged Vague and did a bit of work with her, and did some work with Ata, with moving her hind end and shoulders when asked.

Then over to the other side and wormed Zeb, E, Ben, Angel and Lucy, and then trimmed Ben, E and Zebidi

Then after lunch I had a good break and only mowed the lawns.

Before feeding up for the night though I did get a halter on Tika, so that was good.

Sunday went much the same, Sophie went straight down the track, straight through the creek and past the deer with out spooking at them.

The I got her on the truck and put the bar AND the ramp up.

We are now ready for a trip out.

I did some body wraps with Vague and she coped with this well, then I took Ata for her second hand walk across the neighbours place, and the first on her own. She is such a confident little pony, and though it was only very short she was not fased at all.

Then I trimmed Angel and Lucy.

I had just enough time before lunch to take the recycling to the recycling station, and then had a very blobby afternoon, sitting in the sun watching a dvd, before taking Tika for a short walk round the paddock, with her halter on before feeding out.

So the only pony that got almost no attention this weekend was Manda, but she just does not seem to want it. I did give her a pat, and a piece of apple, and of course she was graze and feed like the others.

So one of the best weekends I have had for a long time :)

Horse Fudge!

2011-05-21T14:50:00.005+12:00

Well once again it has been a while since I updated this blog! So I will start at the beginning of my day today and try a catch you up as I go.

Though it is Saturday, I still got up at 5 am as normal, and let the horses through for a graze and mucked out the paddocks. Then came in for brekky, and a break till the sun came up.

First job of the day was cleaning out the duck ponds, and this morning I let all 6 ducks in together. I had separated the two little ducks from the 4 bigger ones as I felt sorry for poor wee Emily with 2 big drakes on her as well as Percy. Now it is winter, there is less of that going on, they seem fine all in together. While doing this I also noticed Charlotte and Amelia's (hens) legs looked scaly, so I caught them up, and coated their legs with vaseline and Pestene. Soon figured out that you can wash this off you hands with cold water so had to trek back into the house and wash hands with hot water and soap.

Then off down to the horse.

Caught Sophie up, she has been going so well. Doing little canters out in the paddock, and she also gets on my truck now. I have also been working on leg yelding, both her hind quarters, and shoulder, as well as going sideways. And she is getting there.

Yesterday she was spook city, not sure what was going on, but this morning she was back to her normal self, and I made this little video of what we did this morning.

The I caught Vague, and trimmed her hoofs, she was pretty well behaved, cept for one quick mule type kick.

Then I got Ata in and trimmed her as well, and gave her a brush. She is such a neat little pony.

She has been having a bit of a break from training, but I will start doing a bit more with her again.

I had forgotten that I was not going to let them in for a graze this morning as I was going to worm them. Tika is still not good, and I have not had much time to work with her over the last couple of weeks.

She hurt her leg a couple of weeks ago, and I was very worried about her. I was just a little scratch, but the leg swelled up and I got the vet to her. But unfortunately the vet could not get near her, but gave me some Trimsulp to give her in a feed. I was not sure she would eat this, as she is a fuss pot about whats in her feeds. But she did eat it and her leg has gotten better. So this time I though I would see if I could her her to eat her wormer. She has refused in the past.

She refused again today! But I decided to worm the others anyway, and left Tika in the bottom loop on her own. the others were fine, but Tika was still not eating hers so I put some more molasses in it. She had a bit of a sniff and a nibble but still was not trying.

I left her for a while, while I got Sophie off the grass, and gave her some hay. The others I left in the arena so Tika would not end up being left on her own.

Tika was still not eating it, so here is the the bit about horse fudge. I added some more molasses and massaged it all in, the end result looked like fudge! And Tika started to have a nibble, she would then drift off, but she kept comming back for a bit more. So I left her to it and when I came back after lunch it was all eaten :)

So that is one side trimmed and wormed. Will do the other side next week (run out of wormer)

Well that was my morning, now having a break before going out and mucking out again, and feeding out before dark.

Forgot to add Vagues little kick!

a morning of ground work

2011-04-09T13:03:00.002+12:00

This morning I did some ground work with 4 of my equikids.

First Ata, I had her in the round pen, and started to work with her, but the rest of the herd disappeared off the other side of the paddock. Ata DID not like this, so I left her in the round pen and went to get at least one of them back. I was leading Sophie back and Ata was galloping towards me! Not sure if she went under the one bar across the gate or over it. She was fine anyway, so one I had the others locked in the arena, I went back to working Ata.

Today was her first introduction to a sack, filled with a bit of hay. I intended to dray it beside her and lay it over her back. And all in all this went well.

Next I did some halter work with Tika, and she is getting back to where we were before I wormed her. She is due for worming again, so we have to work up to this again :(

Still having all the horses I am working with on one side of the paddock makes things much easier.

Next I did some ground work with Sophie. Some connected riding stretches with her, and some leading exercises.

Also took this short vid of the cuddle that sold me on her, when I went to try her.

Then I did some work with Vague. She is getting much better at one lining, and does not try and break free from me anymore. This is not bad for a mule!

I did a little in hand work with her as well. I think she is growing up a bit :)

Then it was almost lunch time, so I fed out hay and left it at that for the morning.

I am planning on riding Sophie tonight.

Trip to the ranges

2011-04-03T15:35:00.003+12:00

On march 20 I went on the bus trip into the ranges to see were my two girls came from.

We saw lots of horses, met some great new people and had a great time.

I was very interesting to see the yards they are mustered into when the round up is down, and the type of ground they live in.

My camera's video and still were not up the job, but here is a short clip of the best of what I got. My hand is not steady enough for videoing, but it give you and idea of what it was like.

What a way to end the week

2011-03-18T19:50:00.002+13:00

After a week of feeling quite down about things, I have had a great Friday evening :)

For one I got a halter back on Tika, she has gone a bit ferral on me again, so I must make an effort to at least do a little bit with her each night, or at least as often as I can.

I have been going out with the rope most nights this week and putting it round her neck and slowly getting it over her nose again.

Tonight the halter went back on. That perked me up lots.

And before that, I worked Sophie, she has been very good to ride over this week. I have ridden her Monday, Wednesday and tonight. Also last night I tried to lead her over the truck ramp in the paddock, which I have tried several times now. I got one hoof on by lifting it, but she was not keen at all on this.

Though she is walking over the scary blue packing sheet.

Tonight I rode her in some circles, and her trot is getting more ballanced (or I am on her anyway)

Then I walked her round the paddock, through the cones, over the poles, over the blue thing and then I lined up the truck ramp. She almost stepped on it, but stopped at the last minute.

So I let her look and then asked her to step on. She backed up a few steps.

I pushed her on again and she walked up to it again and almost stepped on it, I kept my legs on her, and thought forward and she stepped up in the ramp. I was only going to ask her to step up and then I would back her off. There is a bit of a step down on the other side and I did not want her knocking her grazed leg.

But she had a good forward movement going, so we walked over and off the ramp.

She of course, got told what a great little horse she is and lots of rubs on the neck.

I walked her round and bit more and called it a day.

Not long and I will have her loading on the truck.

What a great evening.

Sunday Morning

2011-02-27T11:33:00.003+13:00

After a few weeks of being very busy at work, and just not having the motivation or energy to do much at home, I was feeling quite down about my young horses and just not being able to do much with them.

I have been doing bits and pieces but I have found out the hard way (ie a hoof against my leg) not to handle the Kais when I am stressed and tired!

Yesterday before going to look at Sophie, I trimmed Angel, leaned across Ata, spent some time with Tika and had a bit of a play with Vague.

Ata is getting a lot more relaxed with being leant across, Vague is getting much better about being lead, and Tika was more relaxed with me.

This morning I started with Vague, trimmed her hoofs, gave her a brush and lead her round some of the obstacles that I have set up in my paddock. I have some poles to walk over, cones to weave in and out, the old truck ramp to walk over, and a piece of blue packing stuff that is held down with some wood. Vague tackles them all well now, and we also went for a walk across my neighbours place.

Then I did Ata, brushed her, trimmed her hoofs, and lead her over the obstacles and then leant over her. She is getting good at standing now and not trying to walk off.

Then I spent some time brushing Tika free in the paddock, she has been wary of having her halter on again, since I tried to do it when stressed about work.

I was brushing her mane and she was just standing there injoying it! She has let me do this before but she normally keeps on grazing while I am doing it. Today she stood head up beside me and had her eyes half closed and blissed out. Then I played with the rope and after a bit of time I managed to get it over her nose. Keeping it very quite and low key.

The I picked up one front hoof and she was good.

I left it there, and went and caught Lucy to give her a brush and trim her hoofs. Tika stayed standing in the same spot, eyes half shut, processing things, then after about 15 to 20 mins she chewed, but still stayed there standing still, till I have finished Lucy (who did enjoy her brush)

I then went back to Tika and gave her a pat and after a few minutes she started to graze again.

Now about to have some lunch but here is a vid of Vague and Ata walking across the obstacles.

2011-02-26T18:06:00.002+13:00

Well I have bought a new pony! It will be at least 2 years till Ata is ready to do lots of work, and Tika will be longer and I am not rushing them.

Lucy is on and off lame still and Manda is just not into it. Does not like to canter and will buck and kick and refuse to move out.

I will still work Manda, and will see how Lucy goes when the ground softens up a bit.

Another reason for getting another horse is that I find Manda a struggle to ride and seem to fight to get every step out of her. I do not want to teach the young ones this when I start them.

So have bought a 6 year old mare, though green has been well started and is a keen willing little horse. She is a TB but has never raced and has been owned by the woman I have bought her off since she was a yearling, and started by her as well.

She was very snuggly when I was handling her, and was happy being touched all over.

Anyway her is Sophie

2011-02-07T06:18:00.002+13:00

Again it has been a couple of weeks since I posted. I have been so busy at work and it has been very hot and humid here so I have been lacking in energy and motivation.

I have been going along to my polo lessons, which has been fun, and when I can I take Manda as well.

This last weekend has been very busy.

Friday night, I was sposed to got to a polo game down Wanstead, but did not get away from work early like I was planning, so did not manage to get there.

So haltered Tika and she remembered her leading lessons well. I have not put a halter on her for a few weeks.

Then I rode Manda, in the paddock, in draw reins and she is going well in these. I attach them much higher than normal, if I put them where they should be she goes way to deep and over bends badly. I have them on her in an atempt to stop her diving her nose forward and either pulling me out of the saddle, and/or getting so uncoorinated at the canter she disunites/stops or bucks. And so far they are making a change. I have them attachted right up in the dees on the front of the saddle.

Then Sat, I trimmed Manda and Ata, and Zebidi, then took Manda to polo, and rode her just on the edge of the group for 3 chukkus and also rode Pip for one. Manda went very well and even cantered along at the back with out pulling, running away, diving her head or bucking.

The day was very hot, so once I got home I did not do much and had a bad headache. Glad I got the mucking out done though as I did not have time Sun morning. And I did take Lucy for a short ride. I also washed Ben for the show on Sat morning.

Sun I woke up with the head ache still, and no panadol in the house. Let the horses out for a graze and started to get ready for the North Island Donky and Mule soc show. did not have time to muck out, and only just managed to get out the drive way at the time I wanted.

2 hour drive down to Feilding, to find that the times I had been given for starting where wrong and it started at 9.30 and not 10 like I thought, so I missed the first class.

Ben did well in his classes, he is such a sweetie, but not a show donk. But we did get lots of vet tape and a couple of ribbons. And he did a very good, if slow, performance challenge.

Zebi did very well, got me more vet tape, a couple of bars of choccie and a halter and rope.

The show went longer than usual and I did not get home till 6. Thought it was hot in Feilding, but much hotter when I got home.

Had all the mucking out to do, and watering the pots on my deck, and such like. Did not ride any of the others.

Now it is Monday morning and I need to get my a into g and get ready to go to work!

So thats all for now

I have puddles!

2011-01-23T09:44:00.002+13:00

I am so glad I got all the horses trimmed yesterday, I was going to leave a couple to do today. While I got damp yesterday trimming them, today I would have got soaked.

We had 15 to 17 mls of rain from friday night to Sat evening, and 50 mls overnight, and it is still raining steadily.

I of course have the old truck to trim in now, but since it has been delivered the attachments that attached it to the truck deck have sunk into the ground and I cannot get the ramp down far enough to get a horse in it.

I am going to cut the ramp off anyway, just have to get the stuff to do it, and for the time being put it in my paddock at another training aid. Will get the young ones used to going up and over a small rise of a ramp, in prep for getting on my truck. And just a good obstacle to train over anyway. Hope to do that sometime this week.

I was to wet yesterday to go ride, and far to wet today, so I guess I had better do some house work or something :(

Oh well off to eat my porridge that I have cooked for my brekky

busy but productive morning

2011-01-15T12:33:00.002+13:00

Well, slept in a bit this morning.

Got up at 7 am, let the horses in the arena for a graze, mucked out and fed Ben and the ducks and chickens. Also filled up Emily and Percys pond and replace the 4 big ducks pond as it had a hole in it. They were very pleased :)

Then I had brekky and did a load of washing, hung it out. Then headed back down to the horses and truck body with a load of stuff on my quad and trailer.

Some halters and ropes and brushed that will live down there, an old metal cupboard that was taking up to much space in my tack shed, a sledge hammer, a crow bar and a thistle chipper.

Got the ramp down on the truck body with the crow bar, and got the jammed partition out with the sledge hammer. Got the hinge pins out and lifted it out with no damage. I am going to look at putting 2 of these partitions in my working truck, as I only have bars and they are awkward and the 2 mules and donks fit under them. And the partitions have bit grills and Manda bites.

Then I rode Lucy, and she went well, we even had a little lope.

Tika had gone into the RP by herself, so I put her little halter on her and carried on worm training her. I got the empty syringe into her mouth and left it there for a bit. I had the wormer with me, so filled it up with 25 mls, enough for a 500 kg horse ( realy kicking myself that I did not put 30 mls in it) to see if I could get the syringe into her mouth with the wormer in it. I could always put it back in the bottle.

It would be next weekend before I would get another chance to do this as I want to be here for 24 hours after worming her just in case, and I am going to a concert in a vine yard tomorrow and then of course back at work.

But I did get it in her mouth and taking the chance I squirted it in. She of course got a fright with this, and did spit a bit out, maybe 2 to 4 ml, but I am pretty sure the rest went down :):):):):) I just hope she only weights about 400 kg's

She let me up to her to pat her head and take her halter off, and tomorrow I will again play with her with the empty syringe. Then she can have a bit of a break before I do it all again for next time.

Then I caught Ata and stood her beside the mounting block and leaned across her. She was very good.

Then I took Vague for a hand walk across the neighbours farm, and she was the most relaxed she has even been.

Now I am having a nice cool very low alc beer (0.5%) and thinking about what I am going to have for lunch.

Will take Manda for a ride tonight, and also be keeping a eye on Tika just in case.

But I am very please with my mornings activities

new "shed" in my paddock

2011-01-14T20:23:00.005+13:00

This week I managed to get an old horse box, I have been looking for one for a while.

To use as a shelter, to trim in, when it is wet, for Lucy when she has to be separated, and for any horse of donk that may be a bit off colour.

As well as a storage shed at the bottom of the paddock, which is also the flat bit where I school and ride.

And as an added bonus it is going to be great to start truck training the young ones.

And this one shows all the weeds and thistles that are growing on my "arena"

My holidays end!

2011-01-09T16:51:00.002+13:00

This morning I got Tika to lead through the RP gate! She has been getting good at leading but she does not like to go through gates, either the round pen one or the openings in the electric fences I make. She goes through quite happily when loose though.

This morning I was working with her, getting her to the stage where I can worm her. I have now got her used to having my finger in her mouth, and can get the syringe in a little way so it should not be long now.

Any way when I finished I thought I would try again to lead her out. I have not tried for a while. To get out of the RP she has to step over the 4x2 and 2 peices of irrigation hose that make up the gate. They lie on the ground together.

She walked right up to it, let me take it down, took one more step and then stopped, and did not want to walk over it. So I walked her in a circle and walked straight up to it and over she went :):):):)

It is slow going but we are getting there.

Did not work with Ata this morning, lunged Vague for a short time then took Manda for a 3 hour ride across the farm that is down the road. It showered on and off but was not to unpleasant.

Oh well back to work tomorrow and will have to fit the horses in again when ever I can.

Ata had her first hand walk over the neighouring farm

2011-01-06T21:21:00.002+13:00

Today the young lad that is coming riding with me brought a friend with him who also wanted a ride if he could (he did ask nicely before turning up with said friend)

Any way I though what a great chance to take Ata out for a hand walk. We only went for about 20 minutes but it is the first time Ata has been off my property since she walked across the same farm from the yards they were dropped off at, some 2.5 years ago. Her and Tika following Manda very closely with friends also walking along behind just to make sure they did not run back towards the road, though the gate was shut it was only a normal height gate.

Any way Ata walked out boldly, and freely, she looked at a few things but did not really spook at anything. She was also happy striding out in front or walking along behind.

She is going to be a awsome little riding horse.

2011-01-05T10:48:00.002+13:00

Well it is 2011!

And I feel like I did not get a lot done in 2010, but looking back I did achieve a few things.

I managed to get Tika halter trained, Manda back in work, start learning to play polo, in the beginning of the year I got Lucy out and about with Rachel, so I guess I did a few bits a pieces.

In the last week or so I have been working with Tika so I can try and worm her. She will not eat it any more in her feed. We have gone from me not being able to touch her muzzle to being able to get a finger in her mouth. I also have used the chin rest quite a bit in doing this.

I have also been working with Ata and leaning across her. She now stands quietly and relaxed while I lean across her. She is lunging and long reining well.

Vague I have started to hand walk across the neighbours farm and she has been going well.

Manda is fairly fit now, but I need to get her some more herbals from Everdien, to help her MMS (moody mare syndrome)

This morning I lunged Lucy in both the size 3 and size 2 boots and though the size 2's are just a bit tight with the comfert pads in she moves much better in them so I will be riding her in those.

Well going to have a cuppa now before taking the car in for a WOF and going for polo lessons.

Ata can BUCK!

2010-12-27T16:18:00.002+13:00

This morning I tried out my newly mowed Round Pen.

First I put the roller on Vague, she has not liked this at all, but today she was great and I also lunged her a little. I am getting her ready to long rein.

Other than doing her hoofs and worm training her, I have not done much with my ballerina mule.

Then I put a halter on Tika, and lead her round a bit in the paddock, she was good considering she has not had anything done with her for a month or so. I also gave her a brush.

Then I got Ata, lead her into the RP and brushed her, then I put the roller on her and the other rein on her halter, well she stood on it as I was sorting my self out, she has been very good with ropes round her legs before but today she spooked her self with the other rein round her legs and bucked, and kicked and reared and bucked. I managed to keep hold of the other rein and after only a minute (seemed longer) I had her under control again, sorted out the reins (one line ropes actually) and long reined her, then leaned across her and she was great.

Then I also one lined Lucy, by this stage it was getting very hot, so going to ride Manda out this evening with the neighbours lad on Angel.

I had all the mucking out and feeding done before 8 so could retire in out of the sun. Painted my outside chairs and table that my brother has just made a new tops, seats and backs for.

Holiday is going well :)

2010-12-26T16:27:00.003+13:00

Well I have not been on again for a while, I have been so busy at work I have not done much with the ponies, donks or mules.

Xmas has now been and gone, and I now have two weeks off.

Now what has happened, hard to remember, Zebidi came down with colic, but it was mild and he is OK, but is two of them down with it in a month! Maybe it is the weather, or the grass growth, or their age, they are both in the middle 20's, I am not sure but I am keeping a close eye on them all.

I have done very little with Ata and Tika, other than the basics. Ata has had her hoofs trimmed and she has been wormed, she is so good, I even managed to worm the donks with the syringe rather than giving it to them in their feed. Zebidi still has to have it in his feed and Tika will not even eat it in a very yummy feed!

My mission this holiday is to play with her mouth and get her wormed properly.

I have been riding Manda a bit, and have been taking her to polo lessons when I have time. I hope to take her this wednesday.

I have mowed the round pen in preparation for doing some training with the Kais in the next two weeks, so hopefully I will have more to post about soon.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is looking forward to the new year

2010-11-20T11:02:00.002+13:00

This morning put a halter on Tika and lead her round the paddock again, and touched her front legs all the way down to her hoofs, and picked her hoof up for a second or two. She is quite relaxed about it as long as I do not hold her hoof for to long.

The I caught Ata, and long reined her round the paddock, she was reluctant to move away from the others but she did and went really well. Then I took the roller of her and lead her up to the log, and leaned over her. The first time I did it, I got my feet off the log and she walked away, with me leaning over her, but she did not stress and was fine about it. She also stepped over the log at one stage which made it very easy to lean over her. We finished on her standing still and letting me put my weight on her.

Then I lunged Vague for a little bit, and rode Lucy for about 10 minutes. I am going to bring her up very slowly

Any way here is some more video of Ata, I have posted the first bit before but there is more on the end now of me leaning over Ata

2010-11-18T07:50:00.002+13:00

Again no camera arrg, this morning I lay across Ata, with my feet OFF the log I was using.

And she stood still and relaxed. I have been getting her used to me being on the mounting block (which is not high enough, I have ordered another one ) and a log I have in the paddock, and learning over her.

This morning she was just in the right spot for me to take my feet off the log. She is such a star, will not be long till I am sitting on her. Must remember to take my helmet down with me now!

And I picked up one of Tikas front hoofs.

I have been getting her used me touching her all the way down her legs, and suggesting she pick up her hoof for me, and she has been doing well. Giving her hoofs to me, but not letting me hold them untill this morning. This morning I held one of her hoofs for a second or two and she like Ata was relaxed.

She was loose in the paddock at the time, I have not taught her to tie up yet, but she ties to me so that is a good start.

2010-11-13T12:26:00.002+13:00

Had a good long reining session with Ata this morning, I am only getting to work her in the weekends at the moment, but not only did she go just as well as she did last week, and the week before, today she was across in the arena working while all the other horses were out of site right over the other side of the property. I was very pleased with her.

This morning I also washed BOTH donks! Ben is used to being washed and I do him quite often with neem oil shampoo, which helps keep the lice at bay. Today I decided to try and do E as well, as he has been very itchy. I have never managed to wash him before or get a sponge near him. Today he was OK, not thrilled with the idea, but I did get him all soaped up and scrubbed, I also managed to pretty much rinse him off as well. I was so proud of him he was so brave. Donks are not keen on water at all.

Was going to take Manda up to see what she thinks of polo, but it is so hot, I just cannot be bothered. I will take her for a ride this evening, when it is cooler

Just a quick update

2010-11-08T20:05:00.002+13:00

I am shattered tonight, so off to bed soon. Did not get much sleep last night, but I will post things in order.

I have been riding Manda and she has been going well, I hope to get her out for some treks this season. I took her for a long ride across a near by farm on Sunday and realy enjoyed riding her again.

Ata I have just been consolidating the long reining, and she has been halting well, and is turning well as well.

Tika again just consolidating having her halter put on and off.

Vague, leading without pulling me round.

So that is what I have been doing the last week or two.

I have also started to think about getting Lucy back in work, and she was going well.

Last night Ben came down with colic, my fault, put him in the arena and he gorged on fresh green grass, he does not normally do this and also as he does not have many teeth left he cannot chew so well.

So last night when he came up for his dinner (soaked old donk food) and he did not finish it I knew something was wrong. He just wandered back down the paddock and lay down. He did not roll or kick, but donks can present quite different to horses, so I caught him and brought him up, temp was OK but though his respiration was good he was not breathing as he normaly did, and his gut sounds were horrendous, so a after hous callout to the vet who confirmed it was spasmodic colic and gave him a does of Buscapan (sp) and 3 hours later Ben pooped so all was good and I went to bed (midnight) but I did get up at 3 am to check on him. He was braying for his brekky this morning, and for his dinner tonight so he is AoK again.

This evening I took Lucy for a hand walk up the road, and came to the conclusion that she is actually quite dangerous on the ground. She looses it and runs over me, into me and through me! So I am going to research some exercises to get her to focus on me when I am on the ground. She is not as bad when she is being ridden. She does not mean to hurt anyone, and I am not sure why she does this, maybe it is she has had very little training on the ground other than beeing tossed when she was a baby, or she has been trained lots before I got her by someone that realy did not like her or what. But I have a focus with what I need to work on with her now.

Well that is me for the night I am off to bed.

and a quicker one of Tika

2010-10-27T18:21:00.002+13:00

A another quick vid of Ata

2010-10-27T17:55:00.002+13:00

I am on holiday

2010-10-24T14:38:00.002+13:00

For the next week and plan to spend lots of time with Ata, Tika, Vauge, Manda and Lucy, as well Ben, E, Zeb and Angel.

Along with spending some time in my garden and such like.

I have been long reining Ata, and getting her used to standing beside the mounting block. and Haltering Tika and leading her around, and teaching Vauge some manners!

Ata has been going so well she is such a neat little pony, and Tika has been leading well. And Vauge is almost lunging! Quite a lesson for a mule :)

I have been taking lots of video so as the week goes on I will put some of it together and post it up.

I have also just come back from a very nice ride along the river on Manda with friends.

Lucy is only just sound, and even then I am doughtfull, so we will see how she goes. She has a home for life even if I cannot ride her.

Right now I am having a nice glass of bubbles while I wait for my very late lunch/early dinner to cook.

Life is very good

Los Vegas of Peach Hill

2010-10-11T18:45:00.002+13:00

I got bored today so did a quick vid of Vague

I HAD a camera!

2010-10-10T20:50:00.002+13:00

Ata is doing so well, Tika is as well. With Tika we are just concentrating on getting the halter on and off and it is going well.

I have the two best Kaimanawa ponies ever!

There is never a camera handy

2010-10-02T13:08:00.002+13:00

when you want one.

This morning I sat on Ata :) Ok she was lying down on the ground at the time, in the sun, but she was not at all worried. First I sat on her side ways like on a couch, then I put her halter on her and she still did not want to get up. So I sat on her astride, she was fine about it.

But as I wanted to time her hoofies I got off and asked her again to get up and she did.

Also my neighbour walked past, and commented on her when I was working her in the round pen. Said she thought Ata was very impressive. High praise indeed coming from Tiny White.

Also this morning I put the halter on Tika again and lead her round for a bit. She is getting more relaxed about it.

Trimmed Zebidi, Vague, Ata, and Manda.

I tried to trim Lucy and I was going to ride her afterwards, but she is still so sore in her front hoofs that she could not hold them up for long I did not think it was fair to ride her.

So after I trimmed Manda I saddled her up and took her for a ride. I so much wanted to go for a ride. Manda was very good.

So all in all I spent a very good morning with my horses.

And one about Tika

2010-09-19T14:35:00.002+12:00

A brief Video of Ata's progress

2010-09-19T12:05:00.002+12:00

Tika and Te Ata arriving over 2 years ago

2010-09-18T12:57:00.003+12:00

A video of Tika and Ata arriving

and the rest of my weekend

2010-09-05T15:31:00.002+12:00

Yesterday I also worked Ata on one line, and trimmed her hoofs, played with Vague and trimmed her as well, and worked Lucy. I also brushed all of them to get some of the spring moult out.

Then I had freinds for lunch and made some yummy soup.

Then in the afternoon it was dry enough to mow the lawns.

Today after working Tika, I worked Ata, then trimmed Zebidi, trimmed Lucy as well and took her for a ride up the road.

Ata is now one lining well on both reins. As soon as I get some boards between the springs on my truck ramp I am going to teach her to load on to the truck, and soon I will be getting on her back :)

Then it got cold, so came inside and played with getting videos up here.

Oh and also got four loads of washing done.

Bread is in to have with my soup tonight, and all I have left to do is plant some pampas grass, and feed out again tonight.

Just about Tika

2010-09-05T11:54:00.004+12:00

Tika has made some great steps in over the last week.

She enjoys a good groom

And she is starting to lead with a rope round her neck

Tika having a look at her halter

And Tika having the halter put on, she had moved to the far side of the RP but is still about 2 meters from the rail.

Massive day with Tika

2010-08-28T12:03:00.002+12:00

Over the last week I have been working with Tika with my 12 foot training rope, and she has been good. I have been getting the rope round her neck and also along with combing on the rope, I have also been able to put quite a bit of pressure without Tika panicking or running away. She is almost leading.

This morning I also worked a bit on her other side and she was good about this. And I pretty much lead her a few meters.

But also when I had finished up, I stood beside her and had one hand under her chin and the other on top of her nose stroking her nose. This is a first for her, I have not managed either to get 2 hands on her head at one time, OR be able to reach under her and put my hand on the other side of her.

OH and when working her with the rope, I also managed to loop the rope over her nose, sorta like a halter, and twist it a little into a halter like feel for her.

I was over the moon :)

I also rode Lucy, worked Ata and trimmed her hoofs, played with Vague, brushed Manda and Angel.

So I had a good morning.

But I forgot to take the camera with me so will have to try and remember that tomorrow

2010-08-22T18:53:00.002+12:00

Well I had a fairly good weekend.

Last week my goal of taking Lucy on the horse back wine trail disappeared when the trek was cancelled. Bummer, I will have to find something else to work towards.

Yesterday I rode Lucy in the paddock and she went quite well, today I rode her down the road and she was good. Still keeping it very gentle but I hope to get her out and about again.

Ata I one reined on both reins for the first time yesterday and she went very well. Today I just brushed her and trimmed her hoofs. She is sheding like crazy.

Tika I brushed yesterday and reintroduced the rope. She was much more relaxed. I hold one end of the rope and rub her with the other end. This way she gets used to having a rope going between her and me.

Today I used my 14 foot black training rope, and she was good. I rubbed her with it and then draped it over her neck. This is the first time I have been able to do this with this rope. She did not run away. I was holding the other end, and when she did walk away once or twice I followed her holding my end of the rope and she did not panic and stopped again so I could aproach again. Then I ran my hands down the rope in a hand over hand type action. just on my end of the rope (rein combing in connected riding terms) and she thought about it but stood there like a champ. Then I took the other end of the rope as well, that was draped over her neck, and combed on both ends. She was a star. Even when I pulled the rope back over her neck she stood stock still.

So a very good session with Tika :)

Back to work tomorrow :(

2010-08-08T11:32:00.002+12:00

Well a couple of weeks have gone by again and I have not updated!

But then not that much has happened. I have been sick with the flu for the last week, so was feeding out and not much else. The weather has been fine then showery and back again. But the mud is not as bad as it was and the sun is out today.

Yesterday I trimmed Manda and Lucy, had a very short ride on Lucy, and groomed Ata and Vague, and spent some time with Tika The then weather packed up again.

This morning I trimmed Angel, and Zebidi, groomed Ata and Vague again, and then spent some very good time with Tika, included fully brushing her mane. and then I just stood beside her and patted her and rubbed her back and such like and she really relaxed. I think I have been a bit slack with Tika in this. I did heaps of just being with Ata and patting her and such like, but Tika took so long to get near she has missed out on most of this. So I will leave off the ropes for now and just spend lots of time with her.

This afternoon I plan on taking Lucy for a hand walk up the road.

2010-07-22T15:01:00.002+12:00

Well after a couple of fine days and the mud starting to dry up a bit, it is now raining again! and sposed to continue to rain for a couple of days.

RIGHT over the weekend.

Anyway, the horses are grazing on more grass every night and this seems to have settled them a bit. I think they were getting sick of dry hay all the time, when they could see green green grass just on the other side of the electric fence.

I was worried that I would not be able to work with Tika as I would not be able to get her into the round pen, but so far this week I have got her in several times, but again we seem to have hit a bit of a block.

May try doing something a bit different with her this weekend to see if we can move on.

I have been doing a little bit of work with Lucy and depending on how much it rains this weekend I will still ride her. Her and Manda have been getting their goodies.

Not much else has happened cept I bought a new laptop. Still finding my way round it as I decided to make a bit of a change and bought a MacBook. Have been a pc user since 94 and macs have changed a bit since then!

Still liking it so far.

Had a bad morning

2010-07-19T12:24:00.003+12:00

Slept very little last night, not sure why, but as a result had a head ache this morning so stayed at home from work.

Got up though and fed the donk and let the horses through for a graze, even though it was still very muddy.

That went well, was hungry so had some breaky and blobed out on the couch trying to get a bit of sleep.

This mist eventually lifted so thought I had better wander out and move the horse of the grass, and give Manda and Lucy their drugs.

Getting them in the arena was easy, the others where milling around a bit once they saw that Manda and Lucy had hard feed, then Angel pushed Tika through the fence and into the big hay paddock.
Now I graze mine on a track, to keep them moving a bit, and so there is enough grass all year round, as well as enough to make hay. I do graze the middle a bit and they have been having bits.
So now the fence (electric) was down and the horses were through. Dam, I said a few choice words and treanted them with being in a can.
I had to trudge to the top trhough the mud to turn the fence off, so I could fix it. And got the feed bowls to try and get the horses out.
But NO they did not want any hard feed NOW GRRRRRRRR

So they are still there, and I am in a very bad mood and so sick of horses, work, and mud everywhere.

I am going to have to try and work out a plan to make things eaiser for a while, cause I have had it at the moment.

Maybe not track grazing for a while, and not mucking out cept for in front of the barn where they stand when they are sheltering from the rain.
Surly if I only graze the middle bit some of the time and then get it harrowed before letting it grow for hay that would be OK
They would then be getting the green grass they are craving. If Lucy founders I will just have to deal with it as she is one of the worse at getting through the fence. I will just keep a close eye on her.
I may split it into 3 bits so they are not grazing the same bits all the time, which should hopefully help with the mud abit.

But at the moment I am wondering why on earth I bother with horses !!

2010-07-18T13:01:00.004+12:00

Well it is wet wet wet and very muddy here, but perversly I am feeling better about things.

The cause of this would have to be that I have actually ridden this weekend, and had some good workout with the rest of them.

I had a short ride on Angel yesterday, just cause I wanted to and she is willing and sound.

I had a sit on Manda and though she is better again, still not right to ride.
I also did some one line work with Lucy in prep for riding her next weekend. Some one line work with Ata in prep for riding her at some stage. Caught and led Vauge round a bit, but Tika was not into it yesteday so I spent some time with her and just rubed her with the rope.

It was just dry enough yesterday to get the quad down to the hay barn so I brought another bale of hay up for the boys (Ben and E) and took the old truck mats down, as well as this big blue packing compressed foam thing.
I set the truck mats up as a T shape in the arena and the blue thing with some poles holding it down as obsitcles to lead the horses (and mule) over.

Boy did it rain last night and my almost dryed up lakes were fuller than ever! I woke at 5 as normal, when I normally get up and let the horses through into the middle for a graze, heard the rain (they only get to go though when it is not to wet) and put my head back on the pillow and went back to sleep.

The horses and donks were pretty pleased to see me when I did get up. Got Tika in the arena, and then into the round pen. Good start. Got Lucy and Manda in to give them their drugs(Manda Hira Labs Hormone stabiliser, Lucy the Hira Labs Mobility and Ginko) Then let rest in and caught Ata. She was not keen on being caught she just wanted to eat the thistles.

Any way lead her over the T shape a couple of times. She has already been lead over sacks and such like and walked across these last night when she was loose in the paddock so I expected her to walk straight across. Which she did.
Then I aproached the blue thing with her. This is very bright blue and much more scarey. I expected her to balk a bit. But she walked straight up an sniffed it. I walked across to show her it was safe, and then asked her to walk across. She walked straight across. She is such a great little horse and I am so looking forward to starting her under saddle this summer.

I got Vauge in next and was suprised when she also walked straight across the T shape. She is a very spooking and high strung mule. I was not even going to attemt the blue thing but as she was so good with the T I though I would just let her sniff it. She was so calm when I showed it to her, and when I walked across it, and suggested that she might try. She was not keen on going the long way but she went across the short lenght of it. and steped one hoof on it. I was so very pleased.

After that I got some hay and feed out the horses in the arena. It is drier there and this afternoon I hope to trim Ata and Vauge. Their hooves were so muddy though.

Then I went into the round pen with some hay and my little rope to work with Tika. I got the rope round her neck which she is pretty good about now. and she is so much calmer having me around as well.
And then put some presure on the rope. She has been getting used to this, but normally once she has got her mouth full of hay, she walks away. I am not interesteing in getting into a tug of war with her so I let the rope slide through my hands when she does this and let her loose. But she has been getting much clamer about it, not runnning away in panic.
So today when she went to pull away I kept a light presure on her rope and showed her the hay. And she gave and come back for the hay. While she still had hay in her gob I asked for her to give again, hay still in front of her nose, but even though she was still eating she followed me. I ended it there. This is quite a big step for her. After that I just patted her as she ate the hay out of my hands.
It has been a long haul with this little filly but I think it will pay off in the long run.

So it has been a good morning with my babies.

Oh and I also got rid of the dangerous rusty old incerater, that was full of glass and tin and ash (don't even ask, it was a dumb bloke that thought this was a good idea to have) and took it and the rest of the rubish to the dump. and did the reclcying, vacumning and such like. Now waiting for a late lunch to finish cooking, leek and spud soup and fresh bread in my breadmaker, before going out again to do the horses and trim if it is not to wet.

Lucy does not make things easy!

2010-07-12T12:55:00.002+12:00

The weather in the weekend was fine, though a bit windy on Saturday.

I spent quite a bit of time with Tika, I managed to get her to "give" to the rope around her neck, though it was helped along with a handfull of hay. But this is a big difference from running away from me each time I put any presure on the rope. And on Sunday I managed to cut out the witch knots in her mane. She has had them for ages but will not let me brush them out, her mane has a few short bits now but no knots.

I also started to teach Ata to one line. And she caught on real quick.

I had a very short ride on Manda, just bareback, but it was enough to tell me she is still not comfertable so I got off her. Will try once a week or so and see how it goes.

Lucy I took for a hand walk down the road. She was quite well behaved, cept for always tryin to grab some grass.

Vauge I did some ribbon work with (this is to teach her that it is OK to have ribbons round her neck when she has won something!) and she also did good.

I did lots of other little bits and peices over the 2 days as well

But it was this morning Lucy annoyed me. Sometimes I think she just does not want to help herself! First she would not eat the sandwitch I made for her with some good oil in it as well as geletine (now I am not keen anyway on the geletine and am going to get something else, it is just not right for a horse to eat geletine!) She sort of sniffed it and pissed round and as I had 2 other noses right there trying to get it they got it. Manda inhales her sandwitch of Vitis Agnes (SP)

Then when I went down to the hay barn I wanted to get Tika into the round pen but she would not come near it. Lucy tried to barge past me, and then put herself in a corner with Angel behind her so I had to leave the RP to get her out of the corner (this is not normally there, but I had moved the fence to try and get Tika in the RP) and then she would not move away so I smaked her on the bum. She then went off and sulked and I felt bad for smaking her but. BUT sometimes she just seems so clueless!

On my way to work I formulated a plan for her and Manda. I also want Manda to get some oil but it is not realy practable to put it on bread as it runs off.
So in the morning I will separate Manda and Lucy out, when I try and get Tika into the RP and give them a little feed with their additives. Work with Tika if I can and also maybe Lucy or Manda.
I cannot afford time wise or money wise to give all the horses a feed each morning, and I cannot just feed in the paddock as then Lucy and Manda might not get the correct feed.
To feed them all I have to get them all into the yards and sometimes they do not come up, and when it is wet and slippery I only have them on one side and the yards go between to the 2 sides, just a corridor where I put tape across to keep them separate.

So I will see how this goes and weather it makes a difference. The only thing I can see other than this is to separate Lucy again, but I ready do not want to do this.

Manda knows whats good for her!

2010-07-09T13:57:00.002+12:00

Well I have been feeding Manda caste berry for just over a week now and though she is normally picky about different stuff in her feed, she gobbles this stuff down and licks the bowl clean.

Lucy on the other hand does not like her geletine much, so either it tastes real bad or she does not need or want it!

But getting a feed out to just these two, or feeding the lot and making sure Manda and Lucy get the right feeds is just to much at this time of the year.

So last night I tried Manda with her caste berry (I can spell this but not the V.... A..... that it is also known as) on a peice of bread. I have never feed her bread before to my knowledge, and again she gobbled it down.

This morning I tired Lucy with geletine on a piece of bread and she would not touch it. Angel took it pretty quickly though.

Anyway Manda's whole demeaner has changed for the better, she seems lots happier and seems to be moving better, so after giving her a couple more weeks on it I am going to try riding her again and see what happens :)

Lucy may be the one that gets semi retirement early. She is never been totaly sound, so I may just do the odd very low level show on her and some small short hacks and not worry about keeping her to fit.
Will just have to play it by ear with how the two of them come along.

2010-07-07T10:42:00.002+12:00

Well I am in the middle of a quagmire again! Mud and puddles everywhere.

I have the donkeys on one side and the horses on the other.

It gets so slippery on the hills, so the side the horses are on is less steep and the donks do not run round like the horses. Specially in this weather!

Feeding out 3 to 4 bales of hay a day at the moment.

But with this wet windy weather I am not getting much done with Tika. Over the weekend and last week we were doing well, oh well, it will fine up again at some stage.

I managed to trim them all in the weekend (bar Tika of course) and gave Ata a couple of lessons on walking out well on the lead.

Also did lots of little jobs round the house, washing, lawns, gardens housework and such like. Felt good to get so much up to date.

The chaste berry seems to be making a difference to Manda, so I have ordered her some more. Lucy and the geletine well I just dont know, but will keep at it to see.

If Manda carries on as she is I may ride her again this summer :)

Not much more interesting to say at the moment, cept that I have joined the ranks of iphone users

2010-06-30T10:44:00.002+12:00

had a bitsy morning this morning.

Yesterday I bought geletine to put in Lucys feed, and some cheap little bowls to feed them in. The ones they have are so big and a pain to carry, and as they are only getting a handfull of food, I thought little ones would be easier.

To start with I was tired as I did not sleep well due to coughing most of the night,

Then when getting the feeds ready I could not find my perminant marker so I could mark the bowls and know which one was Mandas (chaste berry) and which one was Lucys (geletine) the others just got a hand full of feed so they did not feet they were missing out! Eventually found one in the house

Got the right horses in the right bowls but one of the bowls is broken already. Will have to find some tougher bowls.

Then Tika presented a change to get her in the round pen by herself, so I did that then fed hay out to the rest.

Took a good handfull of hay to Tika and worked with her and the bailing twine again, and this morning got back to the stage of where I got to when she was in the round pen for a week or so.
After reading Simones post about training the two she has this year (www.kaimanawahorses.blogspot.com) I realise I will have to work much more consistantly with Tika. Ata was so easy, but I am so pleased I had her as well as other wise I would have felt very useless!

By then I was running late for work so did not muck out so will have more to do tonight. But it was worth it.

Not good news for Manda or Lucy

2010-06-29T15:57:00.002+12:00

On Sunday I spent a lot of time with the horses. It rained all day saturday so did not get much done then.

I spent some time with Tika in the yard, and learned the lesson that Kaimanawa's will not alway "remember" what they have learned before.

Trimmed Ata, Lucy and Vauge and did all the other little jobs that needed doing.

Then at 3pm Toni Bekker come to see Manda and Lucy. She is an ortho bionomy practicioner.
As I was leading Manda up the hill to the yards, Tika got a fright at something and jumped out of the round pen. I did not see her do it, but found the bit she went over due to some hair left behind. She has scrapped her leg a bit but not major.
Must remember not to leave her in there when I am not home just in case.

any way back to Manda and Lucy.
Toni did Lucy first, she has tendon injuries in her front legs, both front hoofs are sore and the off side one has an injury or problem on the pedal bone. Her hocks are stuffed and she will probley never be totaly sound!
She did some work on her and recomended feeding her gelatine, which I must buy some off.
And said I may get her to be a bit better but probley not perfect.

Manda, as so many people have said before does not have muscluar or skeltal problems, BUT (and I knew she had some sort of problem) she has an problem with her girly bits. Cycsts probley on her overies. and they have been getting worse. I knew this! So she did some work on Manda and recomended feeding her chaste berry, which I have feed her in the past and it did make a bit of difference.

Manda has been yawning a lot since her treatment, even more than she normaly does, and Lucy has been standing round the paddock a bit depressed. Or she could be tired.

So we will see how they go, but that is my two riding horses out!

Will have to wait till Tika and Ata grow up :)

an average week day in the winter at Muletide

2010-06-16T11:01:00.003+12:00

get up at 5 am
put porridge in the pot to simmer
go out and fed Ben and let the horses through for a graze on some new grass
go in and have brekky, catch up on emails and if I have time do some housework.
go back out at about 6.30 and muck out, put out hay, and chuck horses of the fresh grass.
Feed the ducks and chickens and water seedlings
back in for shower, change and get to work by 9 am (40 min drive)
Work

Work

Work

Leave work between 4.30 and 5pm
drive home (40 mins)
change and put head lamp on and go out and fed Ben, ducks and chickens
Muckout and put hay out for horses.
get back in about 7pm.
Feed cats, dog

And then I can make my own dinner, and have a short break before going to bed.

And I feel bad for not being able to spend more "time" with my ponies. They all get checked and a pat as I go around my chores, and a brush and such like in the weekend.

Roll on summer so I can ride as well.

All the other chores seem to take much less time when not done in the dark as well :)

E in my new donkey shelter

2010-06-15T12:33:00.000+12:00

2010-06-14T11:31:00.002+12:00

Well I had a good weekend.

I put Ata and Vauge, and Tika in the arena area for the weekend so I could work with them. Tika going into the round pen for the days.

Ata got a hoof trimming lesson, and a leading lesson, Vauge the same.

And Tika is now getting used my black training rope. I have got bailing twine round her neck and she was doing well before the weather turned to custard and I had to let her out. So now she is getting used the training rope.
I have got it to behind her ears, but not round her neck as yet. I will bring her in every fine weekend and carry on working with her. There is just not enough time in the weeks at the moment.

Also on Sunday my neighour and good freind came across and build me a very solid and very good looking donkey shelter. Photos to follow. The donks now have there own shelter that will not fall down when they rub their cute buts on it!

Also did some little jobs like moving the fence in to the barn so the horses could shelter in the front of it, now that I have used some of the hay there is room, some washing, puting another grazing ring in and bits and peices like that.

All in All a great weekend.

frosted mule

2010-06-10T11:49:00.002+12:00

This morning I had a very pretty, and slightly frosted mule.

It was very cold and we had a 4.6 degree frost, and I wish I had a camera when I was mucking out!

Vauge has a very thick, and stand up stright (like most mules) mane, and she is amost black and the end of her mane was frosted. This looked very pretty as it was, but then when the sun came up and glinted off the frost she just glittered.

Must remember the look and when I show her next she might get glitter in her mane!

2010-06-09T10:42:00.003+12:00

Well I have decided where I want to build yards, as I cannot afford protable ones at this stage. Now need to get the area flatened and then built. But flattening this area, the yards well get some shelter, and be right next to the hay barn.

Looking at building a large yard with a post in the middle. Then adding 4 gates that hinge back to the sides of the yards and clip to the post in the middle. That way I can have one large yard, two mediums or 4 small or a combiination of small and medium.

Tike eventually ate all her wormer, but the weather packed in so I did not get much else done.

I did however find where the mousies were coming in to the house, up behind the dishwasher. I had a devil of a time getting the dishwasher out, but when I was looking behind it there was no skirting board or anything and a large gap down to under the house. And as I was looking a little mouse poked his little head up and looked around. He was told very smartly to get back outside where he should be and I plugged up the gap with no more gaps, and tin foil.

I have not pushed the dishwasher back in till I am sure the mousies cannot get back up through the back of it.

the rest of the day was spent cleaning up what the mousies had left behind, behind the fridge, dishwasher and cooker!

Weather looks OK for this weekend so hopefully will get lots done with the ponies

Sunny Saturday

2010-06-05T12:28:00.002+12:00

Sunny day and paddock mucked out, most horses wormed, there are a couple I have to put it in food as there is no way I can get it into their gobs without hog tying them! The 2 donks and mules for starters and Tika who is not yet halter trained (but we are getting there)

I think Vauge is eventually eating hers, Ben, and E have eaten their and I am still waiting for Tika and Zeb to eat theirs.

Manda, Angel, Ata and Lucy took their wormers well, Ata though being a baby was the best, and I have trimmed their hoofs as well.

2 loads of washing on the line.

Now it is lunch time and I have a bread roll with garlic butter in the oven to go with me leek and potatoe soup.

I woke up with a sore neck, which after trimming is now a bit sorer.

Still a good mornings work, might trim Ben and E after lunch, and Zeb and Vauge some time this weekend.

Long Weekend

2010-06-04T15:48:00.002+12:00

Almost time to head home and have a 3 day weekend!!!!!

This morning I managed to get Tika, along with her muster mate Ata and Manda who is aunty mum to these two into the arena area, so I can spend some time with Tika tomorrow.

I also plan to give Ata some training lessons, trim her hoofs and such like

In fact I need to trim all their hoofs, and worm them. Got the wormer today.

Gonna try and get most outside things done tomorrow as the weather is sposed to pack up later on Sunday, so will save the house work till then or Monday.

I spose it is winter.

anyway Happy Birthday Queen :)

Man its been almost 6 months

2010-05-31T10:02:00.002+12:00

since I have come on here and updated! I am soo hopeless at this.

Much has happened, summer is gone, last day of autum today and winter tomorrow.

Lucy was doing realy well and I was hacking her out with a freind untill she went lame again. My fault for letting her front hoofs get to long and then her bad one breaking away and unballencing her hoof something wicked. She is now turned out for the winter. I also bought a saddle britching (well had one made) for her and her saddle now stays put so much better.

Ata is doing very well and looking quite mature.

Tika is getting over her fear of ropes and I can now put one round her neck.

Manda and Angel are pretty much retired.

Vauge did very well at the North Island Donkey and Mule soc show. She has a very flash in hand bridle, made buy the same woman who made my britching.

Zeb E and Ben are all doing well as well. I have added soy bean meal to Bens food and he is putting even more weight on.

I also have some new additions, don't worry not horses, but 6 ducks, 3 girls and 3 boys. Duck eggs are YUM.

Well I will try and get on her more often.

A short video of Lucy

2010-01-05T14:58:00.001+13:00

This hopefully shows how Lucy's movement is improving.

2010-01-05T14:55:00.002+13:00

Told you I was shocking at keeping a blog up to date!

Christmas has been and gone and it is the new year.

All the ponies are doing well, Manda is turned out at the moment, and I am working with Vauge, Ata and Tika all of whom are doing well.

And I am riding Lucy, even out across the farm next door.

I had a great time at Peggys clinic, and leant lots with Lucy, was busy after that at work and helping with the hay making at home.

Chirstmas was OK, New Year as per normal, quite.

I am now back at wor getting ready for the season start up!

The mud is drying

2009-10-14T10:50:00.002+13:00

But it is due to rain again later this afternoon.

Over the last few days I have managed to trim Ben, E, Vauge and Zebidi. also worked Lucy and Amanda a couple of times. Just connected ground work, but at least I got something in.

Hopefully the rain will hold off this afternoon and I can get a couple more workouts in.

I have also booked myself in on a nurition seminar this Saturday run by Dr Lucy Tucker, down in Feilding, so that should be good.

Then the next two weeks I am on holiday, the HB show is on and the last weekend of Oct I am doing a do dayer with Trish Wren. I am planning on taking Lucy. Hopefuly I will get to ride her before that.

And hopefuly the weather will be OK most of the time.

After that I will be counting down to the Peggy Cummings clinic in Cambridge, which I am also planning on taking Lucy.

Its October!

2009-10-10T13:11:00.003+13:00

I have been so busy, so much has happened.

At work I have been very busy with an upgrade on our network. Going from AD2000 to AD2008 and SQL 2000 to SQL2008 as well as exchange 2003 to exchange 2007 so big changes.

I also had to server my bus dweller with a trespass notice. Long story but the short version is, her puppy mauled Penelope (hen) and when I asked her to make sure her dog was supervised, she packed a sad. We sorta got through that but she made no changes and the pup killed Pene 5 days later.

She blamed me, the pup, my dog but never took the responsibility that she was at fault for not looking after her dog.

When I gave her written notice to move her bus she pulled down the fence around it, so the horses could not graze on that side of my track where the shelter is as well, and scattered the nails from the fence round my track.

Hence the trespass order and her off my place asap.

I have cleaned up the nails, by hand and with a large magent borrowed from work. And in this bad weather they are back on that side with their shelter.

The bus is still there, but she is not, and the bus will be towed off as soon as it is dry enough.

But Ben my donk, is to scared of the horses to share the barn with the horses, and as the bus dweller did not want to move her shed, she sold it to me for next to nothing. So on Thursday I dragged it up the hill on its roof and put it in the yard area and now Ben shelters in there.

But I have had very little time to spend with the horses, or donks or mules.

Tika is betting much more relaxed with me patting her so this time off seems to be helping her.

I have started Lucy on Co-Operate, and herbal remedy for anxiety, and have ordered Cushy Life for Amanda, who I am pretty sure is in the very early stages of Cushings.

I hope to ride tomorrow if the weather allows, or at least to handle a few of them.

They do come up each morning for their feeds and I muck out twice a day and feed hay twice a day. So they are seeing me quite a bit.

Roll on more settled weather!

And in one week I will be on holiday for two weeks so I have so much planned ;)

Been a while since updating

2009-09-04T14:00:00.003+12:00

Saturday the 29 dawned clear and still and stayed that way.

I took Vauge to the trainging day we had organised, she was very excited when I got her off the truck.

She tried to break away from me serveral times but with the halter done up in a connected riding style I kept hold of her. It gives me so much more controll of her head.

Then when the midget pony and tiny cart started round the paddock, boy did we have google eyes, spins and wanting to run away. I again kept hold of her.

and againg when we were over looking at all the things we could go over through and round.

Vauge and I could go round things but that was about it! But again I kept hold of her and towards the end of the day she had settleed pretty well.

Then it was time to load her to come home, she did not want to leave this place with all the new things and people watching her and would not get back on the truck.

After turning down help and an offer of roping her on, they left me to it while they went to look at carts. Once the audiance had left the fun went out of it for Vauge and she loaded.

I was very tired when I got home, and I think Vauge was as well.

It has been good weather all week and I have been workiing Vauge, Ata and Tika in the round pen. All are going well, and I have been doing stretches and one line work with Lucy and Manda.

I hope to ride Lucy this weekend, and Manda in a couple of weeks. She needs more ballence work first.

I will see what the weather is like, I might give Lucy some inhand work with the saddle on for a week or so first. it is a new saddle and needs breaking in. I might also ride Angel in it to soften it up a bit. It is a treeless.

Good start to the day

2009-08-28T11:38:00.002+12:00

This morning I worked with both Ata and Vauge.

Caught Vauge first, and lead her up over the hill behind the house and down to the RP. She did very well.

In the round pen I went back a step and she did not go tearing round like she did the other day. She workd well and is very attentive to me. As soon as I release her she she is across the pen to say hello to me.

Then I went back across the other side of the paddock to catch Ata (I was hoping they would follow me) It was the longest leading stint I have done with Ata and it was away from the other horses. She was great. Got to the RP and started working her. Started out very slow and rewarded just for a step forward. She cottoned on quick and would walk off with just a click of my tounge. Then went for a few steps on the rail, she did well here as well, only trying to change direction once or twice.
No sad faces today and will see how she goes tomorrow.

Then I feed out, put Ata back out with the others and went to catch Vauge, to put her back out, she ran away. I was sorta expecting this, as she likes to graze on the sweet new grass.
In the past I have had to herd her back into the round pen and catch her there, or run her back out onto the track.
But this morning she ran over to the corner where Ata was eating hay on the other side of the fence, so over I wandered, and I though she was going to bolt round the paddock again, I stood still, made not atempt to corner her or stop her and she walked straight up to me, I put her halter on and lead her back to the track and gave her a good scratching.

They were both so good. A great way to start a Friday, yipee weekend tomorrow.

getting close to the weekend again

2009-08-27T09:56:00.002+12:00

It has been so windy this week! And I have not go much done.

I have how ever had a leading session with Vauge, and also a Round Pen session. Vauge went realy well and responded realy well as well.

I am going to do some more with her in the round pen.

I also put Ata in the round pen this morning. First we had a presure and release lesson when trying to cross the large patch of mud. She did well and it only took us about 3 minutes to get across.

Once in the round pen I think she was wondering why I was pushing her round rather than being her freind. But she cottoned on and did well. I had forgotton what it was like to work with such a young horse.

At the end she was a bit subduede, and not sure of her self. She hung her head under the rail and did not want to talk to me. But I gave her a scratch and told her she had done well, and she started to graze. I left her there while I went and put the hay out.

She was no problem to catch and move back out to the paddock.

This brings me to why I decided to RP her at this stage.

On Tuesday Ata decided to take Angel (my alpha mare) on and got sent through the electric fence for her troubles.
Then on Wednesday she moved Manda, who was most definatly higher in the pecking order before.
She has started to be a bit grumpy with me and not pick up her feet, and such like, so it was time to do some "I am the boss" work.

When Ata was moving round the round pen you could see a real araby aspect to her movement.
She is so pretty.

A busy weekend

2009-08-24T10:16:00.002+12:00

The weather was OK, but not brilliant.

On Saturday I fed and brushed all the horses, and did all my normal chores as well as moving my neighbours cow, then I went to Dannevirke to pick up a new saddle I had bought. It is a BTB treeless western saddle. Second hand but never been used.

Got home again (2.5 hour trip total) and had lunch then tried the saddle on Angel. She did not object to it and I found it comfy. It is bridging but as there is no tree I would presume that this is because the leather is very stiff and not worn in yet and when I sit in it the bridge will not be there. Any way I will be keeping a close eye on how it goes.

I also mowed my lawns on Sat

On Sunday, I again fed, mucked out, moved cows and then trimmed and worked Lucy, she also did not abject to the saddle though I did not ride her in it as she needs a bit more ground work first.

Then I trimmed Manda and boy I should have done her a while ago, only been one month but she had lots of growth, and it took quite a bit of rasping away. Still got it done and her hoofies look much better, did some ground work with her as well.

Then did a little work with Ata, then after a quick bite to eat I went to a saddle fitting clinic at the local feed merchant. I know the person doing it as she is realy good.

After that there was only enough time to do the evening chores and settle in for the evening.

But all in all it was a good weekend

It is not raining

2009-08-20T11:08:00.002+12:00

And I have opened up the paddock again. I still have a mini lake down the bottom of the hill, but there are lots of dry spots as well.

Will be a hoof trimming weekend this weekend.

Was busy this morning as I am also moving my neighbours cow, but still got to work sort of on time.

I have also recently noticed a shift in the hirachy of my herd.
Angel is still tops when I am not there, then Manda, then it gets a bit hazy, Lucy was at the bottom, but bossed the the two Kais around, but the two Kais seemed to sit under Angel and Manda with Lucy at the bottom.

Vauge and Zebidi move around a lot and don't have a perminate place. And the donks are a little herd of 2 with sometimes Zebidi joining them.

The shift has been with the two Kais, Tika was above Ata, and Ata used to shelter behind Tika, but as I have been working more with Ata, she has got a lot more confidant.
The shift has happened since I have been doing a lot more with Tika. Tika is much better about me doing things with her, still loose in the paddock at this stage, but I brushed her with a plastic curry brush this morning.But now Ata is definatly boss over Tika, and I would hazard that at the moment Tika is the bottom. She followed up at the rear of the others this morning for her breaky.

I will keep an eye on her in case she is not so well. But there has been a definate shift in the peeking order.

Some one turn the tap off!

2009-08-19T14:40:00.002+12:00

After one great day of sunshine, and the paddocks getting a bit puggy instead of wet and slippery, it is pouring down again! And realy pouring down, it is wet wet wet.

I am soooo over it.

Still at least I do not have to water the gardens.

I left the donkeys on the west side of the track today with the area behind the house to shelter in, it is a much steeper and slippery side, and I shut the others on the east side with the barn.
The east side was acutally not to bad except for one corner, which slopes down to the fence. So decided to play it safe.
The donkeys are so much more carefull than the silly young horses.

Will have to don the full rain wear to feed out and muck out tonight. I did muck out this morning so it would be easier tonight. And it was a bit wet to ride, so had to fill in the time before going to work.

I also cleaned out the bunny poop from behind the stove. It has been sitting in the middle of the kitchen since Tuesday morning.
On Monday night I heard a bump behind the stove and presumed the rat had some back in and was going to put the live trap out on Tuesday morning to catch it and return it outside.
But on Tues morning I looked behind the stove and there was a cute little baby bunny so I caught it and put it back outside. But did not have enough time to clean up behind the stove.
I also had to catch a bird and release it outside the same morning.

All the horses are wet and muddy but it is not that cold. Roll on spring.

Bad nights sleep

2009-08-17T13:00:00.002+12:00

Last night was wet and windy, and at about 3 am the horses started galloping round the track. Then one of them started winney out, but there was no answer from the others.

This happened for a couple of hours and though I went out to try an see what was happening it was raining hard and very dark. The touch light was swallowed up. What I think happened was that all the horses bar one, ran across to the east side 0f the track and one (I think it was Ata) was stuck on the other side and could not remember how to get across with the others.

They were all together on the west side again this morning all was well.

I fed the hay out on the east side and got them all across to eat it. The two young ones will soon get used the going down the track behind the house.

I had to put a rail down where I dug a cable in over the weekend to get power across the gate way as it is so wet that they are sinking into to the trench. Hopefully the rail will get them to step over it, not into it, untill the ground settles.

The rain has eventually stopped and the sun is being a tease with quick little peaks out from behind the clouds.

I will be feeding out and mucking out by torch light tonight as I have a 4.30 meeting. Ah well hopefull the rain will hold off that long.

a wet Sundays work

2009-08-16T17:43:00.001+12:00

Today I planted the pittos, in the pouring rain. I got very wet, I also made the area between my sheds safe for the horses to go through and opened up the whole track again for them.

Then this afternoon I planted what was left of the flaxes after mucking out and feeding out.

The ground is very wet and slippery, made it hard work dragging my hay cart up the hill.

I am back inside warm and fairly dry, having a nice glass of wine while my dinner cooks

Plant Sale was good!

2009-08-15T14:19:00.002+12:00

I bought 30 flaxes, 10 toetoe, 12 pittos, 6 native green grasses for my border, and one flowering gum.

I have planted most of the flaxes and need about 20 more (only a dollar each) the green grasses and 4 of the toetoe's

I am planning on putting the rest of the toetoe in front of my hay barn that doubles as a horse shelter and may be some flaxes, the gum down by my round pen, and I cannot figure out where to plant the pittos! They make such a great wind break and grow well on my property. I have many places where I can plant them just have to decide on where I am going to plant this lot.

I have made my track narrower

2009-08-15T09:36:00.002+12:00

This morning I went out and tightened up my track. It was starting to get wider and wider, from the times when I steped it in a bit to give bits of grass and never stepped it back out.

I have to be carefull with how wide it is as I have mostly mares and do not want one to get trapped get badly kicked. But I think I have found a nice medium of good saftey and narrow enough to keep them moving.

Also I have let the young ones and the old ones trhough into the west side of the track to eat the new grass, there is not much but I want to get them in there before spring realy hits and the grass takes off. It is over case today and a bit wet, so thought it was a good day to move them. this side has been having a worm break, which I try and give each side once a year just to keep on top of the worm burden. I also muck out each day.

Lucy, Zip and E who are prone to laminitis are still on the other side and are none too impressed!They can go through in a day or two when most of the grass is eaten down.

I am of now to the local plant shop that has a sale. They sell natives, and shelter belt trees. I hope they have some toetoe and flaxes on sale.I find these make good fast growing wind breaks.

My Hay barrow

2009-08-14T09:46:00.004+12:00

This is the hay barrow I made so as to be able to spread out the hay round my track
And this is it with most of a bale of hay in it.

And no my paddocks are not flat or smooth. You do need a barrow with phnumatic tyres and with a reasonabley long handle or it will bounce and be realy hard on your arms and shoulders. I drah mine behind me, rather than push it in front of me. Draging I have found to be easier and much much easier up the hills.

Why I went barefoot

2009-08-13T13:57:00.004+12:00

I was asked the question recently "Why did you go barefoot?" Meaning the horses of course.

And I had to think about why and when I first started thinking about never putting metal shoes on my horses again.

I guess the story starts way back with my first pony, oh I knew so little back then and I was from a non horsey family. What that poor pony put up with a survived is amazing, but she did survive well and I loved her.

She had shoes on when I got her, and I continued to put shoes on her as I thought you had to to be able to ride them. Probely about a year after I got her my blacksmith told me she had contracted heels and would get navicular disease and would have to be put down as she would be lame! Well there was no internet back then, and I read every book I could find (I was 13) and could not find out much different about this navicular disease. But the black smith did say I could help her by taking her shoes off and walking her on stones. Did not say why but that was his only advice. So her shoes came off, and I did walk her on riverbanks quite often, and rode her for the next 4 years with out shoes. I can remember being so carefull on the tarmac that I did not wear her hooves away as I was told would happen in an unshod (Barefoot what was that back then) horse. Of course her hooves never wore away and soon I forgot to keep in eye on them in case they disaperaed and rode as the same as all my freinds rode their horses and she was just fine, better in fact, never went lame, never slipped, was a very healthy little pony. This was back in '82. Incendently I also rode her bareback and in a halter, much to the horror of pony club. I sold her on when I was 17 and left the area to work in a racing stable.

The next horse I owned, about 3 years later, was an old standbred, and he had this habbit of putting his front hoof in the fence and playing with the fence. He would get the wire caught under his shoe and then be stuck there untill I got to the paddock to free him. So off came his shoes and again he went just fine, did every thing with him that I did before, and he was sound of mind and hoof.

I then had a break from horses when at CIT, and it was not till much later that I again ventured into having a "unshod" horse.

I had already ventured into trimming though as I had bought 2 donkeys and no one else wanted to trim them. To stuborn, to little etc, so I started doing them myself, with advice from a freindly black smith that prefered to advise than do them.

After moving back to hawkes bay in '99 my mare Hannah started being unsound, shod all her life, contracted long heels, in her late teens, and had a very hard life. The navicular word was mentioned again and this time as a syndrome not a disease. Now of coures there was the internet and lots more access to literture. Off came Hannahs shoes, and the word barefoot also became known to me. After some paddock trims Hannah was much better but not realy sound enough to ride. She was older so I retired her.

I had already got a couple of other horses by this stage and was trekking Manda, in the winter I would ride her unshod, get her fit and then put shoes on her so that I could trek her as of course you cannot trek a horse without shoes now can you.

One year, about 2003 I was skint, just finailised a property settlement after separating from my husband, but still wanted to trek. I can remember it was Janurary, and I had been riding Manda with just a paddock trim and was having no problems, so without a word to any one I took her on a couple of one day treks. She went just fine, so again not mentioning the lack of shoes I started to take her on some multiday treks. No one noticed and Manda just kept on trekking.

Then disaster, 2 woman went on a trek, proclaiming for all to hear how great barefoot horses were, and how they could go anywhere with no shoes (i was not on this trek so could not comment on the state of these horses hooves) and both horses had to be trucked out at great expense.

Now all the forms said the horses must be "well shod" and people where checking. I was now not allowed to go on a lot of these treks, dispite the fact that Manda had done most of them before on her bare hoofies.
I still laugh at some of the "well shod hooves" that turn up on these treks with risen clenches, hoofs half as much again to long and many other faults.

Any way for me this was how I was introduced to my freind who is a bare foot trimmer and hoof boots!

Manda had her first "barefoot" trim as well as her first set of old macs. This was just so I could trek. Manda did not "need" boots on but she had to wear them anyway.

So we did many treks with boots on, and on many of these treks I saw many shod horse go lame, and limp home. Times are changing a bit and many treks now let me just carry my boots on my saddle just in case.
I have not had a problem yet and bar accident I do not realy expect to. I never trek my horses unless they are fit enough to trek, and that includes their hoofs. The amount of horses I see dragged of paddocks, not ridden for yonks, made to do a trek, come home lame and the lack of shoes is blamed! The poor things have not even been treated to a trim!

Anyway soon after my first set of hoof boots I decided that as I did my donkeys, there was no reason I could not trim my horses as well. So I started to the "inbetween" trims and soon was only getting Lynne to check them or trim when I had a problem. When trimming course was advertised near me I attented it and I have never looked back from their. I have done a couple more trimming courses and intend to do more. You never stop learning.

All my horses are barefoot, and I do not intend to ever put shoes on them again.

My motto is if my horse cannot do it barefoot then I should not be asking her to do it at all!

Breakthrough with Tika

2009-08-13T11:30:00.002+12:00

Tika has been very shy with me and it took me about 10 months just to touch her. I was very stubborn and refused to use a yard, I realy do not want to "trap" or "force" this young horse.

I have been patting and rubbing her for a few months now and she tollerates it, but that is about it. I have rubbed her with a rope, and a halter, but she got a fright at the rope one day and this set us back a bit.

But this morning I brushed her butt with a brush, first time. Then moved up her back and she was good.

But the realy break through was her realising that scratches are GOOD

She has an itchy spot on her chest and up under her neck. She has been rubbing on posts to itch it. I have been trying to scratch this itch for her but she has been unsure.

This morning I was scratching this spot and her head went up and she arched her neck a bit and her little nose started to twitch and she looked at me as if to stay "This is what you have been trying to do me me? This is not so bad!"

Vauge does have manners

2009-08-13T11:23:00.002+12:00

Well while at a seminar I was chatting to a freind of mine who drives ponies and donkeys and we are going to organise a group to get together for training and help with starting out young ones to harness. I am going to take Vauge.

Vauge has been a bit of a hassle to lead and will break away from me. Mules can be like donkeys and turn there heads away from you and off they go. Very hard to stop with an ordinary halter and lead on.

I have been planning to try the connected riding style of halter and rope on Vauge with the rope crossed across her nose (as in the stye of connected riding) but the one time I tried it the halter was to big and it did not work.

When talking to Nancy she mentioned she used a chain across the top of the nose in this manner when teaching a very difficult donkey to lead.

So while I am not going to use a chain, I found a halter that fitted Vauge very well and attached the rope in one side cross over the nose out other side and tied up the cheek ring of the halter.

Vaugh tried to break away one, did the combing thing (conected riding) and she has been so good the lead.

I am leading her out and about round the paddock and even trotting in hand and not loosing her.

Paddock post

2009-08-13T11:13:00.004+12:00

I forget I have this going, must remember to get on here more often.

Since last post, I have attented a great Wild About Hooves seminar. The presenters Jen and Jermey were great and passed their knowldge on well. Learnt lots about hooves, envoiment and diet. And it reinforced that the way I keep my horses sits well with me.

All my horses live on a track, and have done for a couple of years now. Since having them on a track they have been fitter, healthier and sounder than ever before. They are also all barefoot, and have been for even longer than the track. I trek, have done endurance, small ode's (very small) western, games and just general riding with less problems than when I had them in metal shoes. And another benefit is that I went out and learnt to do it myself so save myself quite a bit in money by trimming them myself, and in doing this I have also learnt much more about my horses, mules and donks.

After getting back from the seminar, I put the track up round my arena again. I had been grazing the arena, but will now just put the youngsters and the oldie in every now and then to keep the grass down. I also made a hay cart out of a cut down plastic drum and a sack barrow so I can put a bale of hay in it and spread it out round my track and encourge more movement. This has also cut down feeding time scuffles.

Here is a little pic of my track. The round things are were I have trees planted or are planning to plant trees.

Been a busy muddy time

2009-07-21T13:24:00.002+12:00

The last month has wizzed by with lots of rain, mud and wind. Plus I have had a head cold that will not go away.

Have been doing very little with the ponies, just a bit of rope work with Tika, leading and tie up work with Ata and for all of them feeding and brushing them in the paddock.

Every one is very muddy, but at least the hoofies are easy to trim!

I am having a weeks holiday soon so hope to do much more with the lot of them soon. It is time for Tika to wear a halter, and as Lucy is due for her tentus booster, Ata can start hers, and we will see with Tika.

Lucy is a little lame which is not unsual, she has been a lunitic running round in the mud so probley has pulled something. Has not stopped her being a loon though.

Ben is still keeping his weight on which is great for him. This is the second winter he has kept weight on and his coat is so much better since I have been feeding him Mitivite Proforma 3 oil.

Oh well hopefull the mud will dry up soon and I can do something with them all

The little Kai's I sponsered this year

2009-06-25T19:04:00.004+12:00

I recieved a photo of the 2 Kaimanawa's I sponsered of this years muster. It sounds like they are in a great place :)

Very frosty morning

2009-06-24T12:18:00.003+12:00

It was white this morning, all the ponies got a small feed with some vit + mins and some oil. Ata and Tika who get feed outside the yards got quite impatiencent waiting for their feeds.

When down feeding Lucy I also did a bit of ground work with her untill my hands became to sore with the cold.

Ata and Tika were screaming round the paddock by now complaining that I had not moved the fence so that they could have some more grass.

Tika is growing into such a nice big strong horse and Ata is such a pretty little thing.

This weekend I am moving them to the other side of the driveway, which will make things easier over the winter as it is the same paddock as the hay barn so will make feeding out easier as well as they can use the front part of the hay barn for shelter.

Sposed to be wet all weekend so it will be fun getting their paddock sorted out.

A good week with the little ones

2009-06-17T12:23:00.001+12:00

The weather has be realy nice one day and horrible the next, but this morning Tika let me pat her very easily WITHOUT having any food with me.

And the other night I checked them before going to bed and Ata was lying down. She let me right up to her with my torch and pat her. She was so sweet all curled up there.

Have not ridden, but done some ground work with Vauge, and that is about it.

Discovered Hay Pillows

2009-06-10T12:55:00.002+12:00

While the weather has not been good for either handling my young ones or riding, I have done some other stuff round the property.

My worm farm is almost up and going, just for my garden and scraps, not to sell or anything.

I spent some time with Ata and Tika and did Atas feet.

I also do some leading work with Vauge, she realy has very few manners.

But the discovery of the weekend was Hay Pillows.

I was at CHB Stockfeeds picking up my hay cubes, low gi and low sugar feed for the fatties and my frozen kibbled mince with good oils for my old dog and Megan mentioned the hay pillows, showed me hers and what she made them from. What a great idea.

So on Sunday after work (yes had to work for a couple of hours on Sunday) I went off to the hard ware store and bought plastic garden trellis netting stuff, cable ties and a couple of dog clips. And made Lucy a hay pillow. Lucy gets almost no grass, and scoffs her hay down very quickly. Now it goes in the hay pillow and it takes her ages to eat it. It also stops it blowing away, and you can clip them on a fence so then the hay does not get wet and muddy. Lucys I just through on the ground.

Cold fingers yesterday and cold feed today

2009-06-04T14:21:00.002+12:00

Yesterday dawned fine and frosty, so I worked Lucy on one line and Manda on the lunge. And my fingers froze. They were not at all impressed when I tried to warm them up under their manes.

This morning I rode Manda up the road, but I had my nice warm gloves on, but this time I got cold feet. I was not mean enough to put a cold bit in her mouth, so rode her out in the bitless.

Ata and Tika got petted, Tika is getting much better about being aproached in the dark.

Roll on summer

It SNOWED

2009-06-01T10:19:00.002+12:00

Here in Sunny HB. Saturday was a great day, cold but the sun was out, and I got 3 loads of washing done and out on the line, trimmed Angel, Manda, and Zip, took Manda for a short ride up the road. Worked Lucy on one line with a body wrap, her movement is getting lots better.
Did some leading work and tie up work with Ata, and she went very well as well.
And spent time with the rest of my herd.
Yesterday, it started out cold and windy, then it started to drizle when I was mucking out the paddocks, so I moved the donkeys in behind the house where they have a bit more shelter (donkeys do not have a water proof coat) and Lucy who is paddocked on her own (she stesses when in with the others) was moved from her exposed paddock down into the hay barn paddock. The others have shelter under the trees up the top of the paddock and all of them were given extra hay.
We had several snow showers during the day, and it was COLD. When I was feeding out hay for the night, I notice that Manda seemed a little off colour, she has coliced twice before, and she looked a bit pre colicy so I moved her up with the donkeys so I could check her over the night. One check in the night it had just snowed again, and it was sitting on my back doorstep. Manda was fine, and is back witht the others this morning.

Today is the first official day of winter, and it is drizzly and cold and I am holed up inside. All the horses are feed, paddocks mucked out, and I am going to watch some Star Trek Voyager DVD's
Last long weekend (Queens Birthday) for a long time, and the weather sucks :(

Photos of my Kais

2009-05-29T12:26:00.001+12:00

When they arrived

Ata with her halter on

Tika

My journey with my Kamianwas in the last year.

2009-05-29T12:13:00.000+12:00

It has been a year since I got my Kai girls, and a lot has happened since then.
They only stayed in my neighbours yards a couple of days as he needed them for sheep drenching, so with a couple of freinds to help, I led Manda back across the paddocks through to my place. Those little girls where not going to let Manda out of their sight, and followed along very closely.
Since then they have not been back in a yard. It has taken me longer than many others to get to know these girls, but what is the hurry. Cause they were in a paddock full of grass, it took a while to get them to eat hard feed, but now they do try and keep them away from it.

I went down morning and night and feed them, and started to get to know them.

Ata came round first and was soon letting me pat her when she was eating, it took a lot longer to pat her when there was no food involved, but she loves her scracthes and cuddles now. She is halter trained now and will pick up her feet, I can put towels and things on her back, and my next step is to teach her to tie up.

Tika has taken longer, she is a lot more wary, but she too now loves her scratches and pats. We are working on from there.
They both run with my other horses, and take no notice of my car and truck going up the driveway right next to them.

This year I did not have the time to take another one of the muster, but have sponsered two.

The start of my journey with the Kai's Written last year

2009-05-29T12:11:00.000+12:00

My journey with these two started about 3 weeks before the musterof 2008 went ahead. I was reading the nzhorses board and there was a post that the muster was being brought forward and they were short of homes for the mustered horses. I responded to the post with the comment that I would love to take one, but as I only had electric fencing in my paddocks I would not be able to have one. And I got the reply that if I took a baby then the electric fencing would not be a problem. I do have deer fencing as a boundry.So I applied for a weanling filly. Of course then I discovered I needed yards to off load the little girls, so I asked to be able to use my neighbours yards, and was it OK if I made them a bit higher temporally. My neighbour was fine about this so I sent in the application, only just 2 weeks before the muster. I had a home check that weekend and all was deemed OK for me to take a baby.The next problem was that there was only my one coming to my area, and one other going to Masterton, so transport was a problem. Sharyn rang me up to ask if I would go shares in the cost of hiring a truck with the owner from Masterton s we could get out babies. Without hesitation I said yes, then worried all night how much it was going to cost!So I rang the trucking firm in the morning as asked and it was not so bad.So all go again. Then about 2 days before the muster, I was rung to ask if I could take 2 yearling fillies as they had heaps of homes for weanlings but not many for yearlings. Again said yes. As it turned out there would have been enough homes for the babies, but as mine left from the muster and did not make it to the yards, because of our transport arrangments. That would not have been known at the time, mine left.The muster was getting closer, they other yearling coming on the same truck as mine would be a colt, he applied for a filly, but was happy with a colt.Wed night saw me putting lots of electric tape round the top of the yards to take them from 5 foot to 6 foot high. Then Saturday I also put old irrigation pipe round the top as well, and in the afternoon just one more rail of wood over a gate, if the muster had taken any longer I don’t know how much more I would have altered Bobs yards!Was rung Sat to say my ponies would arrive Sunday. And again rung on Sunday. Truck left Carterton at 5 in the morning, and expected to be at Wairoru at about 8, hoping to leave again at 9 and head over the Gentle Annie to my place, and then on to Masterton. Sharyn arrived about midday to help us unload. The truck arrived and overshot the entrance to my property, but instead of going past and turning round and coming back he jammed on his anchors and came to a stop and backed up and in the gate. The ponies scrambled but all three were OK.They were all in one compartment in the cattle truck. The driver thought they were all fillies, but on inspection one was a colt. That caused a problem as he want ed to deliver a filly to masterton. I had spoken to the new owner in masterton and he was expecting a colt, so after a couple of phone calls it was confirmed with him that he was more than happy with the colt. I would have taken him no problems as well, but I knew that he was expected down in Masterton.BUT it meant I got a gray, after jumping around in excitement for a couple of minutes we went about trying to get the babies off the truck. They were not at all willing to leave the comparative safety of the truck. But after a bit of persuation and a bit of stick poking we were lucky to separate the colt from the fillies in the truck and my little girls were very brave and came down the stock ramp and into the yards. Lead by Tika, to meet Amanda the pony I had taken across to be their mentor in domestic life.They were obviously still in shock, but remarkably calm and coped well with everything.I felf so sorry for the little boy as he headed out on the truck for another 3 hours to Masterton. He had the sweetest little face you ever saw.So after giving my girls some hay and just looking and talking to them for about an hour I headed home to do my other ponies.I came back about 3 hours later and all were still OK, they were eating and drinking from the bit scarey blue water container I had put in for them. Ignoring the black soft unobtrusive one, I had bought specially. After looking and talking to them and Manda for about an hour, I went home again.Only to go back 10 minutes later to double check I had caught all the gates properly. I had of course but I had to check.

Los Vegas of Peach Hill

2009-05-29T12:04:00.000+12:00

I have been vaugley looking for a larger mule for a while, but any I saw were either in the south island, I missed out on them or cost a small fortune. I also realy wanted a bigger Zip.

When I saw Vauge come up for sale she imediatly appealed. She was sposed to get to the height I wanted, I was told her mum was a full sized pony.

So I bought her sight unseen and drove to Auckland to get her.

She certinaly is very much a larger Zip, and can be a challenge to handle and train. She is comming up 3 now, and is not going to get quite a big as I was wanting, but that is OK. Her mum it turns out is only 13.1 if Vuage gets to that then that is quite big enough for me to ride.

I am needing to spend more time with her, but with winter it is getting hard. Never mind we will get there.

Zebidi

2009-05-29T12:01:00.000+12:00

I have always been facinated by mules and when I moved back to HB and had lots of room I started to look for a mule. There were even less out there back then (2000) and I grabbed Zip when he came up for sale. I had known him when he was owned by the people that sold him to the lady I bought him from.

He is one very livley little lad and thinks he is the biggest and bestest man in the paddock. He is very cute and can be quite shy. He is too small for me to ride, and though he is harness trained I have never driven him. I do show him in hand sometimes, other than that he is a very muched loved pet.

Ben and E

2009-05-29T11:53:00.000+12:00

My 2 donks. Ben I have had for over 10 years now. I had bought a property in Raumati with my ex husband, and it had a couple of acres with it. The land was covered in gorse and not suitable to graze my horse on and as I had always wanted a donkey, I bought 2! Ben and his brother Zebulin. I no longer have Zebulin, lost him in the divorce, but still have Ben. Ben has very bad teeth and needs to be hard fed morning and night, but other than that he is a box of birds and loves playing with his mate Eeyore.

I got Eeyore when we moved back to HB, he was a jack and we were going to use him for breeding donkeys, however try as he might he never got a jenny in foal, so after my divorce I had him gelded so he could run with Ben, and the two have been best mates ever since.

Ben is harness trained and can be ridden. E is good to handle and lead but I have not done much else with him.

Ben is the grey and E the skewbald

Lucy

2009-05-29T11:45:00.000+12:00

Lucy I bought 2.5 years ago. Was probley a impulse buy. My father had just died of a heart attack. He left me a bit of money and I had alway wanted a horse to do western riding on a bit more competivly than I did on Manda. So I went looking for a young and small quarter horse. I prefer riding smaller horses. And Lucy came up. I should have checked her out more, but she had good breeding, and what I thought a good start. And was the age and size I wanted. When I went to look at her her feet were bad and she had not been ridden in ages. But I liked her and she had nice paces. So I bought her. She has be unsound a lot of the time I have had her, and has also had back problems. Her "good" start I later found out included spins and sliding stops when she was a tiny 2 year old, that has also contributed to problems with her hocks.

She also panics under presure, and can buck. But she is a sweet little horse and now her feet are starting to come right with good trimming, and we are sorting out her back issues.

She is also responding very well to the connected riding teqniuque and I hope to maybe show her this year.

Angel

2009-05-29T11:35:00.000+12:00

I have had Angel for about 9 years, she belongs to a freind of mine that lives in Aussie. I used to ride her a lot, but she became a head flicker and also started to become unsound. She is much better now with a good barefoot trim, and only head flicks when the little bugs are about. I still ride her on the odd accasion

Manda

2009-05-29T11:29:00.000+12:00

I got Manda about 8 years ago. I never intended to buy her but was riding her for a freind of a freind, so that she could be sold. Manda has a bit of an attitude, and was being agressive defensive. But once I started riding her I just loved her and bought her for myself. I have done a bit of everything on her, only at low levels. She has done some western riding, small ode's, games, trekking, endurance, CTR and Le Trec.
She can be a trail at times but she is such a good horse, and I love riding her. She has had some long term physical issues that were for ages put down to behavoiral issues. While she has never been lame or shown pain, she is now going much better since having some chiro done on her and is repsoding well to connected riding exercises.
She is moving better and becoming a much more comfertable ride.

29 May 2009

2009-05-29T11:14:00.000+12:00

Right I am not good at keeping up with things like this but will do my best. And you will have to excuse my spelling!

I hope to cronicle the ups and downs of my time with my horses, donkeys and mules.

At bit of history first.

I live on 10 acres in Central Hawkes Bay, I have 4 ponies of my own and look after another for a freind of mine, 2 donkeys and 2 mules. They are

Angel, 20 something 14.2 hh appy cross mare that belongs to my freind.
Amanda 14 year old 14.3 hh TB cross mare that is my main riding horse
Lucy (Spinning Tulip) a 6 year old 14.1 hh Quarter horse, that that has "issues" both physical and behavoiral.
Kaimanawa Te Ata a rising 2 year old wild born filly of the 2008 muster
Kaimanawa Tika a rising 2 year old wild born filly of the 2008 muster

Fairymount Benjamin and 21 year old 12.2 hh donkey
Eeyore and 16 year old tri coloured skewbald donkey

Zebidi of Muletide a 20 year old 10 hh mule (Zip)
Vegas of Peach Hill and 2 year old mule. (Vauge)

I also have a dog Jesse and 2 cats Nutmeg and Mr Kincaide

And 3 hens, Henrietta, Penolope and Victoria.

This morning after feeding all the horses, I got Vauge into the yards to handle her a bit. With all the wet weather, and work she was going a bit wild again. So I gave her a good brush and trimmed her feet and then gave her an apple and lots of cuddles. She is such a character, and is a joy to be around.
She can also be very cheeky.
There is not much time in the mornings before coming into work, and no light time at the end of the day.