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......

31 January 2010

Well, it has snowed again with a vengeance over the past few days, rendering roads undriveable and fields inedible!

We are back to putting out silage for everyone. Charlot seems to have stopped being quite so mad and lets me adjust his rug and replace his straps. Today, I caught him and put a bungee strap around his neck while Richard put his belly strap back. He was happy enough and let us sort him out with minimal fuss and his face in some silage I was holding for him.

He even came up to have his photo taken!

30th December 2009

Well Charlot is being a little bugger and won't be caught to have his rug straightened, though we did manage with the help of a Christmas carrot! I refuse to run around after him and he seems warm enough in his rug even if it is a bit wonky. There is no evidence of rubbing and he is always pleased to see us when we bring the silage in the morning.

The snow is not too bad, just sheet ice everywhere, which is terrifying and lethal. Any snow melts during the day only to freeze over at night. Despite that, everyone is managing fine and there is definite evidence of playing.

20th December 2009

The fat boy had his rug put on because it is snowing. What was a rug that fitted very well last year is now rather a snug fit with a large expanse of belly showing now.

Yesterday we put the rug on and he was reasonable, letting me catch him and put the rug on, fiddling about with straps between his legs and under his belly. Today, he was wild and free! He kept looking at Ljosfaxi for inspiration. I managed to grab him as he went wittering past and rearranged his rug to be a bit more central on him. A strap is twisted under his belly but he wouldn't stay still long enough for me to correct it. He was being a pain.

On retrospect, I should've put a headcollar on him rather than expected manners. He was warm and happy so I gave up my idea of a cooperative pony.

26th November 2009

Charlot and his friends were moved to another winter paddock having eaten that one down. They usually spend a month in each paddock until Spring. These fields have been left all spring and summer to grow so no one goes hungry. They will only be fed if it snows. There is running water in each field too.

We caught the ring-leader, Fakur, and the others all dutifully followed him into the new field with absolutely no deviation. This sort of thing lulls us into a sense of false security!

Charlot is rotund. He has not got a rug on yet, but it has not been cold, just very wet and he is keeping the weight on so far! He is definitely one of the boys and is looking well. We didn't do anything, just walked through with 5 dogs and no one batted an eyelid or chased the dogs. A nice relaxed time.