Boggle- USA bound!

[QuantockHills]

What a good baby. He’d stuffed himself and nearly finished a very full haynet. Put his head down to drink some water mixed with a handful of grain. Didn’t kick off whilst waiting at gas station.

He’s sweated a little but he has a thick coat so not surprised, I’ve opened another window and my clippers are with me as I suspect he will need a bib clip or something when we get to Tucson where it’s 25 degrees during the day.

And yes he’s wearing Boggles HHO head collar, maybe that’s a bit weird but I didn’t want to travel him in a nylon one. Plus it’s too beautiful to not be used I think. IDK!

3.5 hrs until we get to our horse motel and I’m not ashamed to admit to playing the spirit movie soundtrack as we go


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it's a beautiful headcollar so you shouldn't feel strange using it. Can you have an Atlas name plate put on the other side?

 

[Alibear]

If what you've done works, I'd leave it, but I am a function over form person

 

[Carrottom]

Rather than clip half the head, I just do under the jaw.

 

[Cowpony]

If he wasn't totally happy with you clipping him I wouldn't do the head at all. It's a sensitive area and you really don't need to clip the head. He's only young, has put up with two very long journeys in the space of a few months, has a new owner, a completely new climate, barn etc to get used to, and he's been so good. I really wouldn't risk giving him a bad experience of clipping which will take years to sort out.

 

[Michen]

Yes well in an ideal world I wouldn’t have clipped him at all and certainly not in a hurry but unfortunately I didn’t have much choice if I wanted him to be cooler today. He’s been unrugged down to -5 degrees and has a thick winter Colorado mountain coat. He’s now at highs of 26/27 (albeit twenties is a more normal temp here so it’s just a hot week) and is sweating just stood still, including from his head/ears hence my comment about whether that will likely stop given the other bits I’ve taken off if he’s cooler all round.

 

[Cowpony]

Oh yes, absolutely not a criticism! You did what you had to in order to ensure his comfort. I think I was mainly responding to the fact that other people were talking about clipping heads

 

[meleeka]

Yes well in an ideal world I wouldn’t have clipped him at all and certainly not in a hurry but unfortunately I didn’t have much choice if I wanted him to be cooler today. He’s been unrugged down to -5 degrees and has a thick winter Colorado mountain coat. He’s now at highs of 26/27 (albeit twenties is a more normal temp here so it’s just a hot week) and is sweating just stood still, including from his head/ears hence my comment about whether that will likely stop given the other bits I’ve taken off if he’s cooler all round.

It should help. I had to give my mini Shetland a bib clip first because he was just getting too sweaty to give him is normal clip. He didn't sweat round his girth after that, so was able to clip him properly. I don't ever clip his head and he doesn't sweat round his ears, so it must be because he's generally cooler.

 

[Michen]

Ok good to know! I’m hoping I can take a bit off around his girth area today but yesterday the sweat hadn’t dried enough to.

There are horses at the barn with much thicker coats than him that seemed fine but he is a horse that runs hot. Do feel bad though I just went out to the car and it’s 4 degrees!

 

[setterlover]

I would tidy up the lines particularly around the top of the legs usually they are diagonal then finish the clip ending under the belly like this but I would leave the head on and come lower on the body I like this Irish clip

 

[alibali]

Ok good to know! I’m hoping I can take a bit off around his girth area today but yesterday the sweat hadn’t dried enough to.

There are horses at the barn with much thicker coats than him that seemed fine but he is a horse that runs hot. Do feel bad though I just went out to the car and it’s 4 degrees!

Don't worry he'll be absolutely fine. My Welsh pony was out all day happy as Larry during the Beast from the East unrugged with a clip like setterlover posted above except head on. He came in voluntarily at the normal time with the snow piled high unmelted on his back. He had the option to bring himself into the barn at anytime but elected to stay out all day in the snowstorm. The same pony shivers miserably at the slightest bad weather in autumn before his coat is fully in and is well rugged at that time of year. Just goes to show how effective a full back of winter coat is at protecting them.

 

[Michen]

Thanks all! I’m going to try and tidy him up a bit tomorrow.

Took him for a walk around the ranch today, found a step for him to try out and popped him in the round pen to encourage him to stretch his legs a bit. Please ignore my incessant clicking haha- not sure what I thought I was achieving really

He’s very cute! But kind of reminding me of something.. welsh pony like.

 

[Ahrena]

As long as he doesn’t remind you of a *certain* Welsh pony -shudder- though at least if you rang 911 now you’d get the right services

 

[j1ffy]

Thanks all! I’m going to try and tidy him up a bit tomorrow.

Took him for a walk around the ranch today, found a step for him to try out and popped him in the round pen to encourage him to stretch his legs a bit. Please ignore my incessant clicking haha- not sure what I thought I was achieving really

He’s very cute! But kind of reminding me of something.. welsh pony like.

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He's lovely. He looks naturally engaged behind in the trot and has a great attitude, you're going to have loads of fun with him. I think he'll be comfy too!!

 

[Michen]

He's lovely. He looks naturally engaged behind in the trot and has a great attitude, you're going to have loads of fun with him. I think he'll be comfy too!!

I hope so, just still unsure if I’ll like how he feels with his shape… but time will tell!

He’s a very cool little horse I like him a lot so far.

 

[Northern Hare]

Atlas's clip looks great to me, especially if it's helping him control his temperature - you could name it the "Tucson Clip"! You have chosen an amazing State to move to, so I hope you are very happy there - and I think Atlas looks like he's going to be a terrific horse for you.

 

[Michen]

Atlas's clip looks great to me, especially if it's helping him control his temperature - you could name it the "Tucson Clip"! You have chosen an amazing State to move to, so I hope you are very happy there - and I think Atlas looks like he's going to be a terrific horse for you.

Thank you! I'm quite surprised by how I feel about him. I thought maybe it was just chanelling my Bog emotion to him as a "rebound" but I don't think it's that. I really didn't feel like this about Bog, when I got him after losing Basil.

He's just so nice and fun to be around, he's also super affectionate and has a genuine cuteness factor that I've never had in a horse to this extent before.

I REALLY hope I find him an enjoyable ride. Funny that when he turned up I said if I viewed, I wouldn't have bought him. Yet if I knew him as he is now, I would 100% have bought him.

 

[Trot_on]

He is fantastic <3

 

[Northern Hare]

Thank you! I'm quite surprised by how I feel about him. I thought maybe it was just chanelling my Bog emotion to him as a "rebound" but I don't think it's that. I really didn't feel like this about Bog, when I got him after losing Basil.

He's just so nice and fun to be around, he's also super affectionate and has a genuine cuteness factor that I've never had in a horse to this extent before.

I REALLY hope I find him an enjoyable ride. Funny that when he turned up I said if I viewed, I wouldn't have bought him. Yet if I knew him as he is now, I would 100% have bought him.

Don't worry Michen, it will work out fine. Often the most amazing horses arrive in our lives when we're least expecting it!

 

[Trouper]

Look Bog knows best - I'm convinced he sent Atlas as just the sort of character you need now!! Go with the flow.

 

[Michen]

Last of the Atlas spam for the next two weeks. Finished the clip but didn’t make it perfect as he stood like a rock for ten mins then got fidgety and I didn’t want to push. Weirdly he loved his jaw being clipped most of all lol!

Then I took him for a 30 min walk around the ranch perimeter and he was perfect, polite, curious, brave and jolly.

I’m really excited about him, I’m so glad I bought him with me as leaving him in Colorado at Helos owners house was an option. Bog was right when he approved of him straight away.

BTW the last pic is the irrigation system for the pastures for spring/summer. Pretty cool. The ranch is an hours drive for me but it’s really worth it to get proper turnout for him which is hard to find in Az, I didn’t want him in a corral which is so common.

 

[splashgirl45]

It’s great that you have another horse to focus on after Bog. You did the right thing for Bog and now you are giving Atlas a good life. He seems like such a sweet boy and pretty sensible so far. You are sounding a bit more cheerful in your posts as well.. all good !!!

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

Atlas is stunning and super cute! Looking forward to seeing more photos of what you get up to with him, he looks like such a nice person and I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with him.

 

[palo1]

Bog endorsed Atlas - say no more ! He looks such a good horse to me tbh but it does also seem quite important that Boggle instantly approved - who knows what horses really know and understand but I always err on the side that they know more than we give them credit for. I'm so glad Atlas is there for you and with you on this part of your adventure and you for him too. x

 

[Michen]

He really did kind of like his last gift to me. Weird how things happen.

I am so torn between where to fly on Saturday (totally first world problems I know) I had plans to spend a couple of weeks in Costa Rica as it’s such a great time of year to go travel without using any precious PTO, because I can work from anywhere and it’s quiet with calls etc so my hours don’t matter.

But I have a sudden pang to get on a plane back to the UK. Just how bad is the weather at the moment, lol? I was there 8 weeks ago so it’s not like I haven’t seen everyone fairly recently.

 

[mavandkaz]

After the weekend (wet and a bit windy) the next 10 days are looking alright. Pretty dry, chilly but overly cold BUT I don't think we are due much sun. It's just a bit grey and dreary, I swear it was just dark all day the other day.
Costa Rica sounds like a much better way to spend some winter holiday time!

 

[Michen]

After the weekend (wet and a bit windy) the next 10 days are looking alright. Pretty dry, chilly but overly cold BUT I don't think we are due much sun. It's just a bit grey and dreary, I swear it was just dark all day the other day.
Costa Rica sounds like a much better way to spend some winter holiday time!

Gah! I am just hankering after a big glass of red wine at the Watership Down though!

But I have a feeling I'd regret not using the time to go travel, when I can easily work from the UK almost whenever I want... I guess when it's been a rubbish few months you just get the feeling of wanting to go "home" though.

Hope baby horse is doing well

 

[Apercrumbie]

I think it's normal at this time of year to want "cosy" and if you're really craving it, do it. Costa Rica will still be there another time.

 

[Michen]

I think it's normal at this time of year to want "cosy" and if you're really craving it, do it. Costa Rica will still be there another time.

It’s weird how the mind works! I hadn’t really planned CR other than booking flights but still fully intended to go. A UK Christmas hadn’t even been on my radar. And then this morning I wake up with a cold, feeling tired and with a total change of heart. I think I’ll just follow that

Thank goodness for flexible flights where you can get the credit back and rebook elsewhere!

 

[Cloball]

If you come to the UK can I go to Costa Rica? Been dark and hailing all day here.

 

[Ahrena]

Come visit me!!! No rain forecast for 10 days and you can take Nutmeg for a spin