Charlot's Story

6th October 2009

2009-10-06T12:39:00.001-07:00

Haakon came in to be shod, so I caught Charlot to work with.

I put his bridle on and we started with some lungeing so he trotted happily over 4 poles, picking his little feet up. I am not sure about lungeing as I don't like to lug on Charlot's mouth trying to pull him in the direction I want, so I asked and released, asked and released giving him room to make decisions based on my requests. He was a good boy and got used to the bridle again and dropped his head beautifully to look at the poles to pop over.

After that I harnessed Charlot up and attached the reins to his bit so we could do a spot of long-reining. He liked that and was far more attentive, listening to my voice commands rather than me hauling again on his mouth to get what I wanted. He appreciated the ask/release method and it got to the point where I would just say "Charlot, and st...." and he would instantly halt! "Charlot, walk on" and off we went again. He is not keen on turning and tries to evade that option but we succeeded and I even managed to take some photos. When he stands though, he gets bored easily and starts pawing the ground (see photo below).

While Jo was finishing up, I sat on the physio ball with some pony-nuts and Charlot came to stand in front of me, nibbling the odd nut and generally chilling with me! It was lovely. What a different pony from this time last year. I felt totally safe.

On a roll, Jo trimmed Charlot's front feet with absolutely no bother at all. He even put them up on the stand to be rasped! The backs were the usual fight so we tried a couple of times and then twitched him before he got more and more in a state and he let us do them with no fuss at all.

I am pleased with him. We are getting there. I know we are now.

1st Oct 2009

2009-10-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Easy to catch, easy to lead and very easy to handle, so we tacked Charlot up, in full harness but with an open bridle (no blinkers). I did some long-reining with him while Jo harnessed up the Muppets. When she had finished, I handed over the reins to her to take some photos. She is so much better at long-reining than me!

Anyway, Charlot went very well. Happy listening, getting used to the feel of the bit and the harness around him, with no issues at all. He went easily on both reins with a rogue chicken in the school and remained calm and happy.

On a roll, we added the wood to drag. I pulled it around with Charlot first so he could get used to the noise and we soon realised that he really was not bothered at all. The time came to hitch him up, running his traces through the breeching straps. He pulled it. He didn't flicker. He changed the rein and you could see, in his ancestry, that there is definitely a draught horse in his genetics.

A change of rein, and off he went, as calm as you like. When we unharnessed, we were perhaps more unrefined and careful than usual, making sure all he straps made a huge noise, as they landed on his back and he got used to the feel of the unpredictable.

We left him tied up while the Muppets were driven in pairs. Charlot watched and was bored so pulled the cart down around him, clattered the buckets and talked to the chicken. He wasn't scared at all with the all noise he made around himself!

Jo tried to pick up his back feet and felt a piece of lumpy scar tissue on his off-back which might explain a great deal. There were white hairs too so obvious evidence of some trauma, and we will never know what but it has left a huge scar in Charlot's head as well. He kicked out, almost like a reflex, and then let us pick his back foot up without the usual fight.

I am so proud of Charlot - 3 years old, we think and now 18 months from arriving, he is pulling the wood about, in full harness, like a trooper.

Dear boy!

27 Sept 2009

2009-09-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Charlot was first up to the gateand easy to catch and interested to do something. We had the Muppets too so he had company and while Jo was harnessing them up (pairs), I put a bridle, with bit, on Charlot. He was rather shocked but relaxed with it in and we did a spot of lungeing, over a large material dust sheet, picked up feet (a mild whack from his backs) and I did some in hand work with him, all with the bit in.

It is all about trust. The minute the bit and bridle was on, Charlot came to me for support and courage. I told him he could do this and guided him around his obstacles while he tried to decide what he hated most, the groundsheet, the bit or the new contact on it! He picked up his fronts so I could pick them out, anticipating what I wanted and picking them up on a vocal command.

Next, I taught Charlot to reverse. The bit was fine in his mouth - I found I could be much lighter and give clearer instruction to him. Long-reining him with it, I got him going backwards on command and body language though he only stopped and stood when you get him watching your body language when lungeing.

He tensed himself up, expecting the worse all the time. His little bottom and all his muscles were hard and in a state, his heart a-beating double time but nothing much happened and we are continuously desensitizing his skin to touch whilst not letting his fears become ours'.

Jo pushed the cart around him, let the shafts touch his sides and he looked at it in a bemused fashion, even sniffing it and thinking all the time. He watched the Muppets pull it later on, when he was tied up to the big door, frightening himself by pulling over all the buckets onto himself. He hates the horse football (physio ball) so I sat on it, while he talked to me. It was lovely and very calming gaining his trust every second.

We looked at his teeth and also decided he turned 3 this year. My baby boy! The other 3 year olds haven't even left their field let alone done half the things he has!

24th Sept 2009

2009-09-24T14:02:00.001-07:00

Ok, totally mad day today.

We made Charlot wear a coat and a handbag off his ears! This was to prove a point to a friend who said she wanted him if he could live under her stairs to carry her coats and handbags, having seen his previous exploits!

Then..... Charot had to walk over trotting poles and my coat (of which he is not keen), plus a rustly polythene dust sheet. Well, first a hissy fit and after some encouragement, he did it!

So, then we picked up a front foot or two!

We were continuously working on Charlot's feet all the time. He now lifts his fronts up fine, anticipating what you want and the backs are getting there! He still thinks about kicking but he is far less violent. He happily stood on the rustly sheet or my coat!

Ok, so the mad day continues:-

After that, we draped the rustly dust sheet over Charlot. His eyes are on stalks but he took it, looking like an embarrassed bridesmaid!

We finished by putting all the toys away with Charlot following me around and then I made a huge fuss of him, touching him all over. He flinched for a while and then gave up. There was a very nasty smell about so Jo cleaned his sheath with some anticipation of getting her lights kicked out. A vile job at the best of times, but he just stood there for 15 minutes while she mucked his bits out! Not a flicker! Funny little pony.

So I tied him up in a rather enclosed place while he watched one of the Muppets being trained. He upset the buckets, jumped and watched everything with interest!

20th Sept 09

2009-09-20T08:16:00.001-07:00

Well, today I decided to do some long-reining. Don't know why really, it truly is not my forte but who cares, I had a go.

I found one long-rein, the other is broken, so I substituted with a lunge line which is twice the length of the long-rein! I put an old moth-eaten roller on Charlot and clipped his reins to the sides of the head-collar. A bit of a bodge job, but it all worked, apart from the roller sliding around the rotund belly and Charlot managed to get so tied up in all the string, he looked like a parcel at one stage. But, he took it all in his stride and let me untangle him without a fuss!

So we long-reined about the school while I tried to keep control giving him commands. He did the most well controlled turn on the forehand, swivelling beautifully on one front foot! As I said, I am not the most expert at this, but we muddled along together fairly well!

Then I decided we would work on "things Charlot is scared of", ie the great unknown. I put my coat on the floor and asked him to walk over it. He wouldn't, walking round and round, sometimes a hoof would touch a corner and he even cat-leaped it so as not to touch it. So. having put out some trotting poles earlier, I took out one to make him trot onto it. He knew exactly what I wanted and jumped it the first time, so I made it wider and soon he could trot over it! Success!

So then mean horrible me, drapes all the coats over Charlot plus some ropes and headcollars for good measure - things trailing about his back legs, the unexpected as well as rustly noises! I have to clear up my other toys, so I lead Charlot about on his lunge rope doing my chores while Daisy rides her horse in the school. Charlot is very good and obediently follows taking it all in but taking great exception when I kick a physio ball under his back legs - he sent that into orbit! I let the string dangle about, the coats fall off and he didn't bat an eyelid! It is all good training, teaching him to read my body language, to trust me and to go backwards when asked out of tight turning areas.

Well you know me, ever the optimist! I picked up both Charlot's front feet in turn over and over again. Just him and me and a lunge line wearing coats with trailing ropes about! He did it! I even took the photos as well! He thought about minding, but I suppose he had too much to mind about so he just gave up and did it!

After all that, I gave him a hug, kissed his nosey, tickled his ears and put him back out with his friends. He had a rather bemused look about him!

1st Sept 2009

2009-09-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today, we moved the four lads back to the main herd. Charlot had been living with the nutters for a few weeks while the Shetland Pony Breed Show shenanigans were taking place. He was happy enough being ignored so we left him to his own devices.

To be fair, Charlot has quite a following and I called him up on a few occasions to be introduced to his fanclub and he willingly cantered up to have a fuss made of him!

Today, he was first up, easy to catch whilst the other nutters quivered about, evading the head-collar issue so we felt he was a good boy, was growing up, maturing and we were definitely onto a winner. He walked nicely and considerately along the roads and tracks to our shed, letting me turn and shut gates, and then we tied him up far away from his friends.

Charlot has a new skill - he can undo knots and headcollars, releasing himself and his nearby friends for a laugh! We washed one pony, did its feet and then I thought I would brush his neighbour. Charlot watched me and rested his teeth on the wooden boards, so I threw a pebble at him to get him to stop. He was surprised and stopped, looked around but then did it again. Another pebble later, he realised that eating the boards was not a good idea. So he gave up while I brushed Charlie, his neighbour.

I then decided to brush Charlot who had knots in his mane, was greasy and needed some attention. He was not very keen and so bit the boards again. I told him to stop so he ignored me and did it again. I smacked him with the flat side of the brush on his neck. He exploded, in a rage if disbelief that I could be so cruel after all his "good" behaviour. He wouldn't let me near him and quivered about the brush, my hands on his neck, everything.

It is interesting to note that if Charlot doesn't know where the punishment comes from, it is not an issue, but if he does then he holds a grudge.

After a quick explanation of his behaviour, Charlot let me go on brushing looking resentfully at me and trying hard not to enjoy the grooming! Silly boy.

Jo wanted to do his feet. He let her pick up the first front one fine and then off we went with the hissy fit. Charlot would not pick up his other front foot. No reason, just wouldn't. He broke the string he was tied to, so we short-racked him with two ropes and Jo did not give up until he gave in first. She picked up both front feet again and again.

Then the backs.....and off we went again. She would rest her hand down his leg at different positions. He would react when her hand reached his foot, cow-kicking out at her.

Enough, so he got twitched. He let her pick them up. We untwitched him and he let her pick up both fronts and the backs. No issue, no discussion - he just knew he had to do it.

After that, we let him go out and join his friends.

Why, oh why? He knows we will win. It is as if he enjoys the fight. He is not scared anymore, he just doesn't want to let us do this work with him. His nerves are his and no ours'. This is a very long road we all have to travel.

Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace. Grace is a little girl who wouldn't wash her face! That is what my granny used to say.

Charlot is sorely trying my patience.

10th July 2009

2009-07-11T06:31:00.001-07:00

Today was a "Charlot" day. I caught him easily and led him to the indoor school. We finished trimming and filing his feet. Every time Charlot refused to cooperate, we moved with him so that he could not evade us. He found it easier too if he was besides wall and we sang the Marseillaise loudly while he protested! Eventually, realising that his fighting was futile and our singing loud, Charlot gave in, though we had to resort to using a twitch on his nose to trim and file his back feet. I rewarded him with a piece of carrot after the feet battle. In his mind, it is a battle. He still has his "issues".

So, as the moment was there, we did a spot of lungeing and we put some coloured trotting poles down too in the colours of the French flag! To start with, Charlot had the predictable hissy fit at them refusing to go near but with the help of a bravery carrot, he was soon walking over them, standing in the middle and being fed! We needed someone behind him at the beginning to get him to move forwards. This is what we mostly have to resort to when he slams on his brakes when being led.

Once settled about the poles and their colour, he happily trotted over them again and again, easily picking up his feet and striding cleanly over them. He has a lovely even trot with a nice timing to it.

He, of course, objected to going around the other way because then it was different, but we soon put him right and he quickly got the plot.

Another piece of carrot and Charlot was let go as we had a lesson about to commence.

28th June 2009

2009-06-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

Well, it was a beautiful day and all the horses were down grazing around the house so I went and easily caught Charlot.

He is looking very well on the summer grass and his coat is sleak and shiny, though his mane is a little greasy but with some brushing, it came out looking great.

Firstly we had to do something about his back foot. It was disgustingly long and his heels would start to be damaged soon. Jo tried to pick up his backs but, of course, he would have none of it. As it was not a case of come back another day, we twitched him and I talked to the front end and Jo picked up his back leg and trimmed it as quickly as she could. She took off about an inch in hoof all the way round. It had desperately been needing doing and we had put it off for too long. Apparently he leaned on Jo the whole way through. He had an apple to himself as a reward and we had won! One foot down, three to go (though not in such a bad state!)

I did some leading work and he had forgotten nothing so I went on to lunge work. The lunge was taut for the first few laps and he trotted out beautifully with lovely rhythm and pace. Helped along with two of the muppets, Charlot managed to concentrate and even work sense on both reins.

It was fun. I haven't lunged for ages so have forgotten all the techniques like picking up the lunge rein so you don't fall over it so forgive the complete lack of health and safety!

31st May 2009

2009-05-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

We had some friends round for the day. They wanted to meet the horses so we went out to the field where everyone was milling around the gate. Charlot was not about so I called him and his little orange head popped up from behind a wall. He came over for a chat and was very relaxed with the new folk, happily chatting and making friends with them.

It was funny watching him. At first he didn't want to talk and stayed on the outside of the social group but you could see him desperate to chat and receive the same attention they were getting. So he sidled up and waited until Donal took notice of him and then contact was made. He got on very well with Dorothy and they quickly understood each other! It was lovely to see.

Everyone behaved well but Charlot is easily led into the idea of chasing the dogs with some of the more opportunistic Shetlands. The minute he thought it, I told him off and he backed down quickly and went back to being stroked, even initiating some mutual grooming too.

2009-04-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, today we moved the last four horses from their winter grazing to their spring/summer grazing. All went well and Charlot led nicely along the road, reading my slow body language and walking with me while everyone else shot ahead at a brisk walk. While we ambled along the road, he would touch my hand with his nose as if to ask why we were going so slowly and everyone else was going so fast. I tried to grab his mane to get him to pull me up the hill but he always stopped refusing to pull! He was polite and did not barge, shove or push me, turning around for me to close the cattle grid gates as the last one through on the road.

We turned him out with the others in a field with little grass but a huge bale of silage (they will all be moved once the silage is finished). Charlot was not interested in the bale. He was more interested in new friends and instantly started to play with Floyd (a large black Shetland pony).

Lots of shenanigans, lots of squealing, lots of argy-bargy and the herd, after about an hour, re-established their pecking order. Charlot is at the bottom, and on the outside at the moment, though he managed to get to the silage bale, even though I gave him a pile to himself. He has, as usual made his peace with the Shetland fraternity and joined up with the mad Icelandic (Ljosfaxi) and Iacs who stay out of the fracas, wanting only a peaceful life.

They will settle down hopefully and once, all the politics has been sorted out, we will start working with Charlot again. Anyway, fingers crossed. He led well so that must be a start (again!). He seems alot calmer at the moment.

4th April 2009

2009-04-04T14:55:00.001-07:00

We took Charlot's winter rug off yesterday - he was easy to catch whilst calm and happy for one of us to undo the straps under his belly, legs and chest, whilst another held his head-collar. What a change!

Charlot is not looking too bad after a fairly harsh Shetland winter having lived out 24/7 on only grass and silage if it snowed. Settled in the herd with friends, I let them into a newer pasture, which everyone was very enthusiastic about. We removed 2 Icelandics and 2 Shetlands and he doesn't seem to miss them or look for them at all. It is nice to see him take things in his stride.

So what next? I suppose when the grass really starts to grow, we will move Charlot up to the fields nearer the indoor school and restart his training. That should be interesting. I wonder if he will remember how it all deteriorated last year. He has been with us a whole year now and I can see a difference in his attitude, his take on life and his whole demeanour - he is far less nervous and has adopted the curious calm attitude of the Icelandics, which is a good way to go. Long may it last!

So......here we go again!

18th February 2009

2009-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

Today, Jo and I went to change Charlot's rug. It has been trashed a little by his friends and some fairly rough games. One cross-strap was swinging down so Jo marched up to him, bunged on his headcollar with rope and took off the old rug. This involved her moving her hands around his back legs and under his belly to unclip various straps. I stood in the sidelines with my camera ready to help if required but, no, Jo managed to take off the rug and put on a new(er) one with absolutely no problems at all. He took it all in his stride as if he had rugs changed every day. What a pro! This time last year, he was still in a field in France so he has come along way since then.

We looked at his weight and he has a lovely thick coat and he is spot on for this time of year. Not too fat (like some Shetlands and Icelandics we know), appears calm and settled. We chatted with everyone, spending lots of time just relaxing with them. It was a lovely afternoon, peaceful, therapeutic and with absolutely no hassle from any of the lads.

I was interested to know how old Charlot is. We think he may be younger than we thought. He still has his baby teeth and so maybe we were asking too much of him last year as he was only a green youngster. I think he will be a slow to mature but his nature is changing, and that was very obvious today. He seemed completely unphased by the general rug flapping, straps moving and Jo resting on him!

I remain hopeful about this lad and his outcome. It will obviously take time but he is mellowing every day but having said that, we didn't try to pick up his back legs! Too muddy, was our excuse!

17th February 2009

2009-02-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while for various reasons, the main one being my back operation and subsequently being confined to barracks.

Anyway, today we are heading towards my 6 week anniversary and so I decided to take the dogs for a walk down to Finnigert, where the horses are.

They have had a good winter, no one is thin and Charlot's rug is standing up well to the rigours of Shetland pony playing and general wear and tear. He managed to get stuck in one part of the field and ended up relying on a human being to sort out the problem, ie help him jump the burn. Winnie (Icelandic/Fjord mare) showed him, jumping to and fro endlessly in front of him but he could not get the plot at all. With the help of Jo, he managed this huge feat and had to have a good 30 minute rough game with Jackson afterwards, the Shetland, to make up for his "loneliness". Idiot! It was good though that he didn't panic and just waited for human help to arrive.

So, today, armed with my camcorder that can also take the world's worst photos too, I went and talked to my chaps. It was so good to see them and everyone looked well and pleased to see me too. They all came charging down for a good snog and general scratch. Charlot is definitely part of the gang, both Shetland and Icelandic which is nice to see. He let me kiss his nose and joined in like everyone else. He has lost his summer stand-offishness (is that a word?) and that can only be good.

He has the most amazing winter coat too - a regular fluff ball, like the Shetlands and has lost no weight this winter, despite some fairly hefty snow last week. No one has been short of rations, though, and the whole gang have been regularly moved about Finnigert into different long grassed fields all winter or had unlimited silage. Everyone was in a very good mood and appeared relaxed. I did not feel nervous or worried about my safety at all. Although, I am not very steady on my legs, there was always an Icelandic to hang onto if needs be.

It was so nice to get out and about. I have been stuck indoors for far too long.

1st December 2008

2008-12-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Just to say that Charlot has been moved away from the house to his winter quarters, along with the big guys, 2 pregnant Shetland mares and his new best friend, Merkisayre Jackson (small, little black sweetie).

We have decided to give him some time off. We do this sometimes with our youngsters, ie work with them in the spring/summer/autumn, then turn them away for the winter and re-start them again in the spring. It is a training practice popular with Icelandic trainers and one that we sometimes use.

Charlot seems to be going backwards in his training. I was looking at photos of him happily having has his back feet trimmed in the school, with someone holding him. He was calm and co-operative then but now he uses for target practice and that is not fair on any of us.

Weather and back permitting, I will go up and take some photos to show everyone that he is happy in his huge field, with his friends and plenty of grass. He has a rug on and is maintaining his weight.

12th November 2008

2008-11-12T13:50:00.001-08:00

Well, another day - new strategy. To ignore Charlot and just work with his friends so that he can see they are not being killed by picking up their back feet!

We approached his back leg and he aimed as usual. Then we tried running a looped rope up and down the leg. We picked up the front leg using this rope and he was happy about that. We approached the back and he lamped out, bang! and we managed to get the rope around (you need a heavy rope) his back leg and ran it up and down like on this YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdfSQ_f0bA8

Surprisingly, we were quite successful. Just did the one back leg, gave him some food and left it at that. I think we need to look more into this back leg rope thing abit more - I wish that video had spent more time on the back legs rather than the fronts!

8th November 2008

2008-11-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

I caught Charlot easily, though he was hiding beside his new best mate (Jackson). Eggwub has been sold and moved south so Charlot has had to team up with another Shetland. Luckily Jackson loves me and believes every word I say so when Charlot was turning away from being caught, Jackson came up and I fed him the ponynut intended for Charlot instead. That caught Charlot's attention and he turned back to me, I popped on the headcollar and gave him the ponynut.

Leading into the school on a windy morning was achieved with no additional help. He walked in, was tied up next to others and we started the clicker training to pick up his feet. This time Jo had a hoof-pick so that we could actually achieve something. Charlot was not very helpful and while quite successful with the back, he actually lashed out with his back leg before we had even mentioned what we were going to do. We won eventually through patience, an infinite supply of pony-nuts and the clicker. Not our best day, by any means.

I think we might get Jackson in and line them all up, picking up everyone's feet and showing him that no one else is having this hissy fit about it and it is an everyday occurrence in their lives. He might catch on if he watches his friend.

Why can't this horse be easy? I am trying hard not to lose faith in him, to be honest. We have had him only 6 months, I know, but you would think he might have got the plot a bit more. No one has murdered him yet....... could someone tell him that? Picking feet up is a very basic skill and one we are failing at!

No photos coz and I can't click, feed and photo at the same time. Sorry.

5th November 2008

2008-11-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

Clicker training again.... and again..... and again...!

Got the herd up, caught Charlot and tied him up in the school with a few Shetlands for company.

With me on the front end with the clicker and a pocketful of pony nuts and Jo with the four potential missiles (ie legs), I clicked and fed merrily away for good results while Jo picked up all four feet and did a tiny bit more.

This time, she ran her hand down each leg about 6 inches at a time, said "click", I would click and feed Charlot 2 pony nuts, then she would keep going downwards, 6" at a time, with the appropriate click and feed 2 nuts if he stood still. Then, when Jo had got the whole hoof up in the air, I clicked repetitively and fed Charlot a whole handful of nuts. Jo handled the foot for as long as he would let her and then she put it down for him, not letting him grab it away, kick out or plant it down again. We were in control. It was a quiet, efficient working environment and Charlot behaved allowing us to pick up each foot in this way.

Success, big kiss and another handful of nuts, I led him outside, took off the head-collar, kissed a few more hairy noses and went back to working with the Muppets! (little dun 37" geldings who we have had since foals!).

Mission achieved.

2008-11-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

We started the day by calling everyone out of their grass-filled field and the whole world and his wife arrived except for Charlot and two mares. So I walked down and caught him very easily (by giving the food to the mares!) and then Charlot refused to walk up to the school from the field, where all his friends were milling about. Jo had to come down and walk behind him. We then took off his rug so he could roll and get some sun on his back as it was a nice day for a change.

So......here we are outside, like Jo's son recommended (see previous blog). You can guess how well we got on! We didn't!

To be honest, we were not holding our breath (Charlot was starting to hyperventilate) and he was at least consistent in his complete lack of co-operation. I actually think he has no balance on three legs, he just falls over when you pick up one of his front legs.

We tied him up outside and tried Robert's suggestion of "going near Charlot's back legs when he was outside - apparently he doesn't mind that in the slightest!!". He minded more than in the slightest.

So, new idea - CLICKER TRAINING!!! I had previously found the clicker and put it in a safe place (so spent 5 minutes trying to locate my safe place), filled my pockets with pony nuts and off we went. Jo placed her hands gently on each leg, told me when to click, I clicked and gave Charlot food. We did each foot with quite minimal violence from Charlot and left it at that. Perhaps clicker training is the way forwards. Charlot is not stupid and very quick to learn. He worked out the relationship between the required deed, the click and the food fairly swiftly so we will persevere with this method and see where it leads us.

NB - it is not easy to take photos, click and feed at the same time. But believe me, there was far less target practice from himself!

1st November 2008

2008-11-02T06:55:00.001-08:00

Well, they've managed to finish the grass in the hill park - a clean plate has been made and it is time to move them down to the other half of this field - the lower field.

Firstly, though, we noticed that Charlot's rug was squint. So Jo went up to him, put on a headcollar, which I held, while she put everything right. He just stood there, in the middle of the herd (with others offering to "help") while we tugged and pulled and shoved his rug back around his fat big tum-tum so that it was symmetrical again. Didn't mind in the slightest, wasn't bothered at all.

Then we went an opened the gate into 25 acres of ungrazed pasture. This field has been left all summer and autumn, the grass is fantastic and it is all theirs (13 ponies + 2 goats in total). The whole herd was very enthusiastic and galloped through the gate and stopped dead, with heads down to eat - not that anyone is looking thin or peaky.

So, Charlot, the only one with a rug on, seems to have re-integrated himself with his chums. The spring/summer girlie rivalries are forgotten and everyone is acting as one in this herd. Today was Charlot's turn to guard against the potential tigers while the rest had a snooze. So he ate, and they snoozed, either standing up or lying (blob on bottom right of photo is someone lying down). You can see the length of the grass too. Oh they are in for a nice winter. You can also see that Charlot is the with the Shetland pony contingency rather than the big 'uns that are the other side of the stream.

5th October 2008

2008-10-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I'll be ...........totally gobsmacked!

Sorry no ponio photos.

Yesterday was a day of shite, as we say - it rained, sleeted, snowed and blew a northerly gale (constant 8, gusting 10), wind chill factor minus several somethings. So it was very cold with blizzards all day. The snow couldn't settle much because of the rain and wet ground but it was disgustingly cold.

I felt so sorry for the ponies - they all live out and all I could do was hope that Charlot copied the others and used the available shelter - 5 foot high dry stone walls. I also remembered that he is quite fat so there are some reserves in there he could shiver off!

Today is much better. The wind has changed direction. It is warmer and everything has calmed down too (about a Force 5). Jo, the dogs and I went into the field to call the horses home as we wanted to put a medium-weight rug on Charlot. Of course when you want them, they just stand there and look at you refusing to budge. So we walked up the field (I slowly limped unable to keep up). Jo then announced that she actually hadn't got a head-collar with her, just a piece of rope. So, she went up to Charlot, put the rope round his neck and he followed her for about 1/4 mile home where we put him in the shed, found a "real" headcollar and put it on him.

I was amazed. I expect that sort of conduct from the majority of our long-term boys but from a rescue pony owned for 6 months, that kind of behaviour is amazing. When you can do stuff like that out of the blue, who cares about the feet drama - it will come together eventually. So, well done that lad!

Anyway, we put the new rug on. There were no kicky moments around the back end when Jo did up the leg-straps even though she nearly clipped Charlot's manly bits by mistake! I told him he had my full permission to kick her if she did that again!

With the new rug on, we put Charlot back with his friends hoping they would not start ribbing him and tearing the rug up like last time. I am watching!

24th September 2008

2008-09-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Strike action at school so we had Robert (Jo's lad) to help today.

I caught Charlot, with no problem. Good start, I thought. He walked calmly into the indoor school and I then remembered that we had no "inspiration", ie food! Never mind, Jo said, he couldn't dine out on his fears forever.

So, front feet were done easily enough though Charlot does have a tendency to fall over if he has to stand on three legs. He just topples over!

Then "hello back feet" and off we went again. Round and round in circles with some fairly vicious kicks aimed at Jo. He really is vile about this issue (though, I am fairly sure there will be others but we only know about this one for the time being!)

Jo decided to use a Parelli method which involves touching the horse all over with a rustly bag on a stick. Being not up on Parelli and his methods, I am not very sure of the theory and benefits here but Charlot didn't seem to mind any of this, including when Jo touched his back legs with her weird "training aid".

So, we left it at that. Jo didn't go near Charlot's feet again with her hands and we put him out into his field again to rejoin his friends. Funnily enough, Robert announced that we should try going near Charlot's back legs when he was outside - apparently he doesn't mind that in the slightest!! Always open to suggestions, we will give it a go another day!

21 September 2008

2008-09-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Well..... as we have the girls around to help us (they are usually away at school off the island), I went an caught Charlot very easily. The trick is to show him a piece of apple and then to put on the headcollar around his nose, give him the apple, and to do the headcollar up. Works a treat!

Mission accomplished, Daisy held him and Jo went for the feet. Fronts, again, were fine. He even anticipated and offered to pick them up. Then for the back ones.

.... well Jo did it and it took half the time but there was still the usual lashing out with target practice. With Daisy on the front end with a pocket full of apple and carrot, Jo would run her hand down Charlot's back leg. If he lashed out, no apple. If, on the other hand, he allowed her to stroke/scratch his back leg, then he would get some apple. This time we won because he decided to have a poo!

With Charlot, it doesn't take long for him to work things out and, note to self, we really must find that clicker (I know it must be somewhere!) as I think he would make a prime candidate for clicker training.

This is a pony that needs constant work and reinforcement on a daily basis. At this moment, it is not the time. Funny little lad, though. I was stroking Charlot's head and he was doing his best not to fall asleep! His motto is never trust anyone coz they might be a tiger!

He is also looks like a little porker! Well, winter will be harsh and he needs it since he will be living out 24/7. You could make quite a few sausages out of him now! Perhaps someone ought to tell him and then he might behave!

20th September 2008

2008-09-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I bought Charlot a 4'9" heavy duty winter turnout rug. I know he will need it for the forthcoming winter or, failing that, we will have to put him in a stable. We don't have any spare stables at present. Jo's stables are already booked for this year's foals and Indie this winter and Charlot will not have a peaceful winter if he is stuck in a separate field gazing at them whilst waging war against Indie. Hence the rug purchase.

The last time we put a rug on Charlot (last spring), he nearly went into meltdown but this time, he was mellow and unphased by this, including having the fillet string passed through the back of his legs with straps done up underneath his belly. Charlot's behaviour cheered me up as we have done nothing with him this past month. He remained calm, interested in yet another mad scheme and co-operative. I am glad we tried it on him now rather than in an emergency situation (you know, Gale Force 10, rain lashing down and trying to get a rug onto him while he shook with cold, wet and misery).

Daisy calmly led him around the school (and btw, he was also fairly easy to catch too) and then, on a roll ,we decided to "do" feet, ie Jo picks up each hoof, cleans it out and puts it down with no fuss. Well, that is the theory anyway and the practice was actually completely different.

The front two hooves were no problem but the back two resulted in Charlot becoming more and more adept at target practice. He would not give in and lashed out the minute he felt Jo's hand on his back legs. Not good, not good at all.

Never one to give up, Jo persevered until Charlot became used to feeling her hand on his leg reaching as far down as his hoof. At times, he was dangerous and panicking. Jo said you could hear his heart beating very very fast. She kept going until she could run her hand down his back leg without him lashing out.

We know that we have to keep going but our luck has run out for the time being. I have wrecked my back and doctors orders are to rest with gentle mobilisation. Hanging onto a rope with nearly half a ton of horse trying to evade an issue is not "gentle mobilisation" in any language! We will do our best but it is probably more beneficial to let him learn to be in a herd environment rather than to try and train him occasionally without all our strength and concentration. We cannot help him if we are not firing on all cylinders.

23rd August 2008

2008-08-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

We haven't worked with Charlot in a while. Just let him enjoy the summer with his friends with little, if any, human pressure.

So, today I decided we would do a small something in the training department. I caught him with no bother (a piece of apple thrown did the trick) and led him into the indoor school. Whereupon Jo brushed his tail and plaited his mane, picked his feet out and that was it. Nothing too strenuous and he coped admirably. Everyone was calm.

We are busy with training other Shetland ponies who are already sold so there is much to do that doesn't involve Charlot. He is interested in our work and taking it all in, which is a good sign. We let him watch and I am sure that one day he knows it will be his turn!

30th July 2008

2008-07-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well, not our best day at all today. In fact, a disaster on all fronts. Charlot can't be caught, is jumpy and nervous around folk. So after failing to catch him the day before, I made the decision to work with him.

I followed him around the outside of the school a couple of times trying to catch him with a carrot but he would have none of it. Pony friends consistently offered their services which did not help and gave Charlot time to move away. In the end he sought refuge from being followed by me and went into the indoor arena.

The door was shut and the bars went across and I decided that he was not scared of me, just didn't want to be part of the team. Join-up was initiated and it did not take long for him to lick and chew. Although, he would not follow me, he would let me walk up to him and replace the head-collar. We did this head-collar on and off a few times.

Then Jo brushed him. He jumped at her every touch, trying to evade the situation. When she picked up his back feet, Charlot tried to kick her and I feel we have gone back very quickly to the bottom of our snake or ladder. However, we ended on a good note and I slipped him back into the herd group.

After lunch, I went back with a head-collar and after the initial wander, I caught Charlot fairly quickly. He appeared much calmer so we did a small amount of quiet lungeing, just small amounts of walk and trot on both reins, nothing stressful. I just wanted him to listen to me in a calm fashion. After that, I put him out with the others.

He has been moved to live around the house. This is where the fatties are and I can see him all the time. I popped out every few hours with a biscuit, baby carrots or a treat so that he could see there was no pressure to be talked to. Let's hope he gets back into the idea of people because at the moment, Charlot is taking the piss big time.