Michen
Well-Known Member
Been a while since Ive done an update on the bog pony! He was bought direct and unseen from Ireland after I lost my horse of a lifetime to a broken leg in colic surgery recovery.
He has been such a nightmare! What arrived was a very weak, thin and poor pony which behaved very sweetly (though certainly with a cheeky edge). We then had reoccurring issues with seedy toe, resulting in a resection. Things went well for a while after that and he was looking super, but I discovered he had some serious travelling issues which resulted in lots of damage to my lorry (thankfully not to the pony). A pro failed to sort the issue out so I was on my own and after lots of blood, sweat and tears (and bruises on me!) I had a pony who travelled like a dream- though he was for sale for a few weeks but I managed to put off anyone viewing him! He was very sharp and explosive which seemed reasonable given his age, general temperament etc, suddenly feeling "well".
But then he started to get cross and resistant going into canter so a full work up was performed, MRIs later and he was diagnosed with mild bruising in his front feet. He was prescribed 6 weeks quiet walk work but actually had a few months off in the field. He was then vet checked, shoes removed and I started long reining him out on hacks to build back up. He was appalling. Nappy, rearing and spinning at absolutely any opportunity. Some days he would be foot perfect others he would be abysmal to the point of me skiing across the fields to keep hold of him and having to constantly be ready to manage a rear/fly buck/spin. I vividly remember thinking Id never, ever get on him again.
So I got a young local rider advertising her riding services involved. He never actually did the things under saddle that he did on the long reins to the same degree, but she was the best decision I ever made. She got him out hacking and after a couple of months he was back to the jolly, fresh little horse but not twattish that he had been before. I got back in the saddle and started to enjoy riding again. His rider took him to his first dressage competition where he behaved impeccably in the warm up, winning his first ever test and coming third in his second.
I have been taking him out and about to clinics and lessons, hes still very emotional and feels like an unexploded bomb when we go out but he has.. touch wood not reverted to exploding and has really kept a lid on his excitement. Ive been hacking him out on my own and really enjoying him, and mucking around at home plus doing boxing day pub rides.
Exactly this Sunday a year ago I took Basil to some dressage and he won both tests. So a year later Im putting on the brave pants and taking Boggle.. we shall see how it goes!
I really hope I can get back out of the start box again some day, the plan is for him to do some low level eventing this season but with me very much on the ground. Im hoping that I can invest enough in him to make him into the horse I need him to be for me or maybe Ill get a grip and do it myself. We shall see. For now it is just nice to actually love the little dude quite a bit, its not the same and I dont know that it will ever be what I had with Basil but I am really excited to see what 2018 brings. I am so glad that I bought a "project", even though I have enlisted the help of a rider it is immensely rewarding and satisfying to watch him blossom, despite the huge amount of stress he has caused. But good things never come easy right...!?
Here he is a few days after he arrived and one before. Looking like a skinny foal/ugly ducking
And more recent..
Re creating funny facebook videos (please no fun police on the lack of hat!)
He has been such a nightmare! What arrived was a very weak, thin and poor pony which behaved very sweetly (though certainly with a cheeky edge). We then had reoccurring issues with seedy toe, resulting in a resection. Things went well for a while after that and he was looking super, but I discovered he had some serious travelling issues which resulted in lots of damage to my lorry (thankfully not to the pony). A pro failed to sort the issue out so I was on my own and after lots of blood, sweat and tears (and bruises on me!) I had a pony who travelled like a dream- though he was for sale for a few weeks but I managed to put off anyone viewing him! He was very sharp and explosive which seemed reasonable given his age, general temperament etc, suddenly feeling "well".
But then he started to get cross and resistant going into canter so a full work up was performed, MRIs later and he was diagnosed with mild bruising in his front feet. He was prescribed 6 weeks quiet walk work but actually had a few months off in the field. He was then vet checked, shoes removed and I started long reining him out on hacks to build back up. He was appalling. Nappy, rearing and spinning at absolutely any opportunity. Some days he would be foot perfect others he would be abysmal to the point of me skiing across the fields to keep hold of him and having to constantly be ready to manage a rear/fly buck/spin. I vividly remember thinking Id never, ever get on him again.
So I got a young local rider advertising her riding services involved. He never actually did the things under saddle that he did on the long reins to the same degree, but she was the best decision I ever made. She got him out hacking and after a couple of months he was back to the jolly, fresh little horse but not twattish that he had been before. I got back in the saddle and started to enjoy riding again. His rider took him to his first dressage competition where he behaved impeccably in the warm up, winning his first ever test and coming third in his second.
I have been taking him out and about to clinics and lessons, hes still very emotional and feels like an unexploded bomb when we go out but he has.. touch wood not reverted to exploding and has really kept a lid on his excitement. Ive been hacking him out on my own and really enjoying him, and mucking around at home plus doing boxing day pub rides.
Exactly this Sunday a year ago I took Basil to some dressage and he won both tests. So a year later Im putting on the brave pants and taking Boggle.. we shall see how it goes!
I really hope I can get back out of the start box again some day, the plan is for him to do some low level eventing this season but with me very much on the ground. Im hoping that I can invest enough in him to make him into the horse I need him to be for me or maybe Ill get a grip and do it myself. We shall see. For now it is just nice to actually love the little dude quite a bit, its not the same and I dont know that it will ever be what I had with Basil but I am really excited to see what 2018 brings. I am so glad that I bought a "project", even though I have enlisted the help of a rider it is immensely rewarding and satisfying to watch him blossom, despite the huge amount of stress he has caused. But good things never come easy right...!?
Here he is a few days after he arrived and one before. Looking like a skinny foal/ugly ducking
And more recent..
Re creating funny facebook videos (please no fun police on the lack of hat!)
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