1st Sept 2009

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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!