23rd February 2010

Well, he finally did it!

Today, Charlot ran away.

Jo came round with Charlot's mended rug. It has been snowing a lot and we were both worrying that he would be suffering so we intended to catch him and put the rug on. He started by pratting about and refusing to be caught in his field, hiding behind friends. Jo opened the field gate and I herded him out through the gate into the enclosed yard where we intended to herd him into the indoor school. Well, we thought it was enclosed, the yard gate to the hill track had been left open by mistake and Charlot took one look, kicked up his heels, and ran away down the track into the distance bucking and farting feeling very pleased with himself.

Jo rushed after him in her car and apparently Charlot had turned right onto the road leading through the open hill and was happily going a fair pace with absolutely no intention of being caught or coming home.

This was until he met a large yellow snow-plough coming in the opposite direction. Jo reversed her car to block the cattle grid and Charlot took one look at the snow-plough monster and then Jo's car and decided his best option was to go home as fast as he could! I blocked off any thoughts of going past our gate and galloping into more hill.

After Charlot's little escapade, he allowed him self to be caught with a carrot and we put his rug back on and he was returned to his field, where no doubt he told everyone of his exploits. Little bastard!

21st Feburary 2010

Well, today is Day 1 of Charlot's training (or is it re-training again!) and he got off to a good start.

Easy to catch, once in the school and Jo did his feet very matter-of-factly. He didn't mind and so we did some lungeing, where he sped around in his good trot not really listening to anyone. At one stage he had 5 little Shetland ponies following him at liberty but once taken out of the picture, Charlot started to concentrate and listen to commands.

Charlot is still very sensitive. He lunges looking at your body language to react to. The slightest movement and he will try and interpret it somehow, either changing direction, standing still or jumping 6 foot upwards. Silly boy.

He needs to work now and stop dining out on his nerves. We are bored of them. He is getting very appreciative of having his head scratched but when we touched his back, he jumped in alarm and we laughed at him. I think he needs a terrier to sit and go to sleep on his back. It will be arranged a bit later on!

Really with some de-sensitizing, Charlot will make a lovely little pony. He is much more relaxed in the field, enjoying the sun on his back with no rug and has fluffed up beautifully. When he is with nervous ponies, he tends to latch on to them and copy their behaviour. This herd are quietly confidant, each wanting attention so he watches them now!

Jo was pleased with him so she picked up all his feet one more time, one at a time, and he was very relaxed about it all.

20th Feburary 2010

Well, we brought the lad back to the fields by the house to spend the rest of his winter with the Shetlands-in-training. He was fairly easy to catch, a bit wary but I caught him with the promise of silage.

I led him home, he still touches your hand with his nose and once home, we took off his rug to see what sort of state he was in. Not bad for the time of year. Spot on in fact, with no rubbing or sore bits. His rug was a bit ripped from playing - thank you Andy.

Anyway, he is out now with no rug and seems happy enough. I can always replace it if it gets wet and windy. The boys he is with are a happy little group and he fitted right in immediately, having met most of them before, I think.

This afternoon, I popped back to the field with my camera to take some nice close-up photos of him with my posh camera. He was very pleased to see me and was calmly coming up to be scratched, hugged and generally made a fuss of.

Dear boy seems alot more settled and alot more grown-up. So, here is the year ahead of us......