2nd February 2011 (Part 3)

When the worst of the snow had gone, Auntie H managed to get up for a vist and was thrilled to see a VERY ginger Charlot against the snow with no rug and a happy face. I haven't rugged him at all.

He gets 2 - 3 checks a day or 5 - 6 if sub zero, has hay a few times a day and a wee handfull of basic no sugary crap chaff with a digestive enhancer in a slurpy dinner. He's warm, hairy and I think happy!

He was telling me all through December and now even worse in January that - AHEM wifie! I am a BIG horse too like Spike and I need the same attention.

Spike gets taken in early in the morning for breakfast and a rug change and C stands at the gate 30 yards away giving me BIG eyes. At tea time the last 2 days, I have started taking Spike & Charlot in together, giving them their feeds then going out to get the weans. I swear Charlot looks at me saying ABOUT TIME WOMAN! Occasionally I take the weans in first and OH MY LORD you should see them strut in front of the big boys...

Auntie H came up a couple of weeks ago and we took Spike and Charlot out for a walk in hand for the 200 yards of ice clear track that I had... then back to the cattle court for a roll and munch with the weans. She stood beside him, leaned over, and he didn't bat an eye. She went round the other side, he not quite so sure, she didn't force but didn't back off and there she was leaning over his right side with her far hand scratching his flank. All he did was lean round to look. I confess I teared up.

She managed up a week later, did the same - but got herself far enough over to lift her feet off the ground - he didn't bat an eyelid!

During the week I was working on Spike's indoor training (he gets badly spooked at noises inside but fine outside) and had progressed to having him loose in the wee cattle court with the other 3 for 5 then 10 then 15 mins - now up to an hour while I muck out, do field water etc.

The first day, Spike was still tied up and eating from the haynet that a loose Charlot and Likely were sharing... sooo VERY non BHS, I leaned my full body weight over Charlot to get to Spikes rope to untie it, Likely then budged in to the space I'd made in front of the haynet - I giggled, all 3 kept munching, I untied Spike and off we went. So... adult bodyweight over C's back now a normal everyday occurance and not something to fret about. Oh GOD... I'm teachng to the BHS this year - I'll get barred...

Auntie H works full time, lives on a sheep and cattle farm, has her own sheep as well as the farm flock never mind her own horse... I work Sats and Suns in the winter to see all my equine clients and if there is bad weather both of us have our hands full just looking after basic chores at home...getting free time together in the winter is rare.

I saw the weather forecast for Saturday just past, called a couple of clients, juggled the diary, got up extra early (fed a bewildered spike) to get out to work early enough to get home for the last hour of daylight...Auntie H met me as I got home and we went over to get Spike and Charlot in. I noticed she was wearing jodhs...

Spike was tied yomping into the new delivery of Geordie's finest (best haylage in Aberdeenshire!).

Charlot in a headcollar and leadrope was standing beside Auntie H - ON A BUCKET! Charlot not bothered.

She leans over and onto Charlot and sits upright.
Charlot really not bothered!

Ears flicking back and forwards but back and rump soft and hind leg resting.
Charlot moves forward, knocks over the bucket... H looks at me and says uh-oh can you move the bucket...
Charlot moves forward to investigate the bucket - oblivious to H on his back.

I'd been working all week in the field on C's name recognition - he is now the only one of the 4 who will come to his name. (I tested it when H arrived... C was at the bottom of the 5 acre park and I asked her to call him - remember he's not seen her in weeks... - his was the one head of four that pinged up and he started walking up to the gate) (confess I teared up again - LORDY this boy makes me cry a lot - but always in a GOOD way!)

ALL it takes with Charlot is the basic cowboy tenet - REWARD THE TRY (was it Mark Rashid that said that?).

If you ask him to do something, as soon as he makes the slightest energetic shift of thought - even if he's not actually MOVED yet - if you REWARD THE TRY and say GOOD BOY... he knows he's on the right track and will continue with confidence and gusto.

Soooo... and this bit is on video... I stood about ten feet away from H sitting astride C... and called out his name... he started to take a step towards me, GOOD BOY... and I did it again - and he walked with helen towards me - confess I gave him a carrot and H and I hi fived (yes and we teared up a bit).

I managed home an hour early the next day and Auntie H escaped up to the hill too. She borrowed a tyre on ropes which she dragged from her shoulders whilst leading Charlot, me leading Spike behind her. C initially a wee bit worried but with H's hand on his withers he was fine. Spike had his nose on the tyre whilst behind but passaged at the noise whilst in front. These ponies will be the making of this big eejit yet.

(H then put Likely in full harness, I got Mal in a saddle pad and reins from the headcollar, H longreined Likely while she towed the tyre with Mal and I leading IN FRONT...oh these pirie ponies have SUCH spirit and a thirst for what is out there.)

These ponies are teaching me SO much... I have not laughed out loud so much in a long time... and I have certainly not laughed AT myself so much in a long time.

Spike and Charlot have become best Buds... they share haynets, a water bucket, come in and out the field together. Charlot thinks he is 17.1 and all that. Spike thinks he is 11 hands and one of the gang.

Me...? I cry almost every day I am so happy with my loons.

Pics and vids to follow.

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