Pictures FINALLY! New boy is here ?

[tatty_v]

Well they were both very obliging this evening so here we have the matching pair and two headshots...

Tomorrow’s job is to deal with new boy’s mane ?

At the moment everything is focussed on fat fighting. He really is far too chunky so the plan is to get his metabolism working with plenty of walk hacking and stable overnight with soaked hay. I’m going to look into a grazing muzzle as well, although the greenguard one he had with his previous owner rubbed a hole in his chin in a matter of hours ?

Hopefully if we can get him slim and trim then the plan will be some dressage (for me), hacking and hunting (for OH). Hopefully he’ll be a good all rounder.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Lovely looking chap...they match very well ??
Matchy matchy isn't just for horse wear lol.
Something very masochistic in having TWO greys though ?‍???

 

[tatty_v]

New boy update - we now have a properly fitting saddle (two gullet sizes bigger ? that weight WILL be coming off!) and a new set of shoes (also two sizes bigger).

He’s settled into the yard routine extremely well. The box walking has all but stopped, he lies flat out snoozing in his stable and has been good to catch and lead etc.

He’s been an absolute superstar hacking in company. Sticky to hack alone at the moment but it appears that the cause is....sheep! We are surrounded by sheep here (including our own) and having never seen one before, I think he’s feeling under siege. Luckily another horse or a foot solider are acceptable cannon fodder for the sheep in his opinion so I’m hoping continued desensitisation will be successful ?

 

[ycbm]

Good luck with that

My guy is surrounded by sheep on all four sides when turned out and still manages to spook at sheep out on a hack ?

 

[ArklePig]

My sister had a Connemara who absolutely pee'd her pants everytime she saw a sheep but nothing else bothered her. It was the weirdest thing. You'd think they have some sort of in built evolutionary thing that told them sheep=grand. Especially given Connemara is quite literally full of sheep.

He is absolutely beautiful, hope the weight comes off okay and you have loads of fun together.

 

[tatty_v]

Good luck with that

My guy is surrounded by sheep on all four sides when turned out and still manages to spook at sheep out on a hack ?

Noooooo, it has to work ? he got all snorty coming in yesterday as one of our sheep had the temerity to wander up near the gate with her lambs! Took me a moment to work out what on earth was the matter ?

 

[tatty_v]

My sister had a Connemara who absolutely pee'd her pants everytime she saw a sheep but nothing else bothered her. It was the weirdest thing. You'd think they have some sort of in built evolutionary thing that told them sheep=grand. Especially given Connemara is quite literally full of sheep.

He is absolutely beautiful, hope the weight comes off okay and you have loads of fun together.

We’ll be stuffed if we can’t cure him, they are literally in every field around here as well as our own! ? my other Connie can’t work out what the fuss is all about. He only spooks at really serious horse eating things. Like piles of dead grass, his total nemesis ?

 

[southerncomfort]

According to my lot, the sheep in the field next to theirs are absolutely fine, but any other sheep in any other field are deeply suspicious and not to be trusted.

 

[FinnBobs]

He's absolutely gorgeous! but then I am partial to grey Irish horses

 

[Nicnac]

Can't beat two Irish greys.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

On the muzzle, I got some sheepskin offcuts and lined my boys muzzle with it. I have loads left over so get in touch if you want me to pop some in the post. It might not work with a Greenguard muzzle. If it is rubbing at the bottom of the chin you need to consider if the sheepskin you attach will get wet / in the way when drinking.

I have two different types of muzzle which rub in different places so as well as the sheepskin, I switch between the two weekly.

 

[ycbm]

I lined the chin of a greenguard with cloth backed wool of a numnah and it worked fine. I cable tie it on so I can snip it off to wash it and replace it easily.

 

[tatty_v]

Well we’re a month down on the fat to fit campaign and I think I can see a difference! It’s hard when you look at them every day ?

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Definitely well on the way!

 

[fetlock]

He does look slimmer.

He's lovely.

 

[Shady]

Yes, much slimmer, and very beautiful .