7th March 2010

We started our day with the usual brushing, general feet cleaning and chat. Charlot was quite nervy this morning so we were careful not to make things worse.

He pulled his log again but started off getting his back foot over the trace. Jo went and calmly picked it up and put it within the trace and we both marveled at the fact that this time last year, he would not have allowed that, got in a state and made things much worse. So, on retrospect, we have come a long way! You just don't see it sometimes until something brings it smartly to your attention.

Anywho, as I said, he was a bit jumpy and rushing and spooky but Jo just kept control and brought him back quickly to working sense. It didn't take long and we remembered when we long-reined him a few years back while he reared and refused to listen. Taking things slowly and steadily is a good way of training with Charlot. He really cannot be rushed. It is very good that he doesn't mind the traces around his back legs considering he has had a "thing" about us touching them.

After now managing to trot happily around with his log, without batting an eyelid or napping to his friends, Charlot was unharnessed and stood waiting tied up for our next madcap idea. The basket saddle! Be-Anne, my dog, sat on his back for a short while and he didn't care so we put the Victorian basket saddle so he could get used to the feeling of something different on his back.




So he stood there, looking faintly embarrassed and turning back to examine the saddle. He was totally unperturbed so Jo lunged him in walk and trot on both reins with it - not a flicker!

He really does have a lovely trot. I know I keep saying this, but he does!

What a great day!

6th March 2010

We attached the log! We attached the log!

......and Charlot pulled it perfectly happily, like a pro. He didn't spook, worry or anything, just kept plodding around and around listening to the whoosh of the sand being flattened by the wood. He was such a good boy, and listened to Jo all the time.

He started by napping towards his friends who were tied up but we reminded him that they are not his friends as when we took his rug off, they tried to bite his legs when he rolled! He soon got the plot and walked past with his job to do, working and listening beautifully.

We are very pleased with him. He lets us pick up each foot and now even forgets to kick out. He will pre-empt requests for the fronts, lifting them before you even ask.

So pleased and so proud!

3rd March 2010

Well today was a good day. We brought everyone into the school to do some basic training in leading, wearing harness, etc. Charlot is with 3 others to be trained and so everyone was caught, tied up, brushed and their feet cleaned out.

He has been wearing a rug 24/7 and living out in the snow, but is looking in good shape and just right for coming into spring.

So, I brushed his mane and tail and various muddy bits and Jo did his feet. Absolutely no problem. He offered his fronts and there was no issue with the backs!


Jo put on his harness while I took photos and bless him, Charlot even picked up a front foot when she was looking for the girth to do up!

Jo did some long-reining in harness and Charlot settled quickly into his work, walking past his friends without napping and had a lovely trot too. We are training him with no blinkers as he likes to know what is going on before he is happy with what we do. He is trusting us more and more, which is lovely.


After the long-reining, Jo removed his harness and he remained tied-up while we started another. In the meantime, I decided it was time he was backed so I plonked Be-Anne, my terrier, on his back. Jo talked to him, while I picked up Be-Anne, introduced her and put her on his back. Charlot didn't mind at all. With one ear back, he stood calmly stood there wondering what mad scheme we would do next!

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!