HHO's "Bear" project pony...

[Michen]

Loving this thread and just caught up with the last few days worth. On the jealousy thing, I wouldnt have believed it either but just before Coronagate we bought a little Sec b for our granddaughter to learn on. My gentle highland turned into a horror almost overnight when he realised the interloper on the edge of his field was actually his new little brother. He became almost dangerous to handle for a few days, refusing to lead nicely and proper full on tantrums on the end of the rope. Fortunately for me hes not as brave as he makes out and a bit of firm but gentle reprimanding put him back in his box. He still refuses to engage with the little one who is desperate to make friends, but is at least, behaving with me. I was a bit dubious that it was jealousy but it seems it was/is. Like you, the big one is just going to have to deal with it Im afraid, he still gets more of my time and is still my special boy but the little one is likely here to stay

Unbelievable eh! I can't believe Boggle's level of anger. He actually quite likes Bear when I let them meet over the door etc, but when I lead Bear in to the barn Bog has started actually squealing in annoyance....

This is generally how he looks at me when I'm grooming Bear..

 

[tristar]

i have those ``you are guilty looks`` all the time, mainly its jealousy around who is going to be ridden, they don`t like being left out, i`m soddin worn out sometimes

 

[Fraggle2]

How are the boys doing?

 

[Fraggle2]

How are the boys doing?

 

[Fraggle2]

Duplicate

 

[ycbm]

Do you have to do Bear in full view of Bog? It doesnt seem very fair, sorry if that upsets you.

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[Michen]

How are the boys doing?

Really good thanks for asking!! Bog is doing great, about two thirds of the way through his box rest now and really holding it together all things considered. He does spend about 2 hours out of his box hand grazing, walking, being groomed etc now thanks to Corona virus so really not too bad for him.

Bear is barefoot and doing tons of groundwork, have got really in to the Richard Maxwell stuff (watching far too many videos), he is super quick and if you've seen any of the halter work he does Bear got it within about ten mins flat and remembered it all perfectly the next day. Going to spend loads of time really building up a relationship whilst Corona virus is at the forefront of our minds and make sure we have a super solid foundation before picking him up again when things hopefully calm down (and Boggle has finished his rehab).

Not sure if I posted this pic but a funny one of them both, they seem to get on very well now and it’s nice I can make sure Bog gets some horsey interaction. They’d play for hours if they could!

 

[Michen]

Do you have to do Bear in full view of Bog? It doesnt seem very fair, sorry if that upsets you.

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Not at the moment, I could tie Bear outside instead of in the barn if I really wanted to albeit all my "stuff" is outside Bog's stable. At some point fairly soon Bear will be moving into a stable opposite Boggle though, so sadly he is going to have to get used to it anyway, so I don't really see the point in prolonging it!

He really doesn't have much to complain about in reality, and does hush up if I chuck him a treat ball or whatnot so he can't be that upset. Plus he gets at least twice the amount of time from me that Bear does and is loving playing with him over the stable door- it's the only horsey interaction he gets.

 

[Michen]

Howdy all! Hope everyone is coping with lockdown ok. A little Bear update...

We have been doing tons of ground work and desensitisation and really chuffed with him. Took it a step further today tying wellies to saddle which flapped around his sides (had a few bucks- fair enough!) then filled them with stones and added an empty big bottle with stones to the saddle too which made a decent noise (sound up!) A week Or two ago this would undoubtedly have caused a huge scared reaction and had him shaking like a leaf after. He has a definite flight response to things he feels he can’t cope with and he’s really learning to stop, slow down, think. As you can see from the video although he’s a bit stuffy thinking what the hell is this mad woman doing now- he’s pretty chilled! Also put him into a decent canter and remained the same.

Next up is bikes, then a big bouncy beach ball I’m waiting for from Amazon. He is really settling in and just generally so much calmer, I think I made the mistake of thinking he was more settled/less nervous than he actually was as I’m now starting to see a huge change. Hopefully the groundwork and lockdown will work in my favour for a super educated pony. We will start long reining again soon and hopefully riding in a month or two, with the idea that I’ve created a safe a youngster as I possibly can under the circumstances.

 

[splashgirl45]

just thinking, they would make a nice pair for driving....2 handsome boys...glad all is going well with both of them

 

[Michen]

just thinking, they would make a nice pair for driving....2 handsome boys...glad all is going well with both of them

They’d be so cute!

I am trying very very very hard not to compare the two but it is a bit tricky

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Awwww he's really coming on isn't he ❤❤

 

[Michen]

Awwww he's really coming on isn't he ❤❤

He is! Obviously we are well "behind" on the ridden work but I think this will pay off long term. If I’m honest I’m not sure he will be my cup of tea long term...which is ideal as selling was always "the plan" and he will be someone's for sure - I think he's a bit too drippy for me. But.. it's very early days, and he will be fantastic for someone if not for me!

 

[RHM]

He is! Obviously we are well "behind" on the ridden work but I think this will pay off long term. If I’m honest I’m not sure he will be my cup of tea long term...which is ideal as selling was always "the plan" and he will be someone's for sure - I think he's a bit too drippy for me. But.. it's very early days, and he will be fantastic for someone if not for me!

And that someone is me ?

 

[Michen]

And that someone is me ?

Well I'm busy making him the best I can with my (limited!) ability, so fingers crossed

 

[RHM]

Well I'm busy making him the best I can with my (limited!) ability, so fingers crossed

You really did buy him at just the right time, clifden has been postponed (rightly so) until god knows when and I have a empty stable that I am desperate to fill! Your little one couldn’t be any more my type!

 

[Michen]

You really did buy him at just the right time, clifden has been postponed (rightly so) until god knows when and I have a empty stable that I am desperate to fill! Your little one couldn’t be any more my type!

Yes funny how it works out, a week later in the horse search and I'd have an empty stable too. Though having lost a massive chunk of my monthly salary and in an industry which is currently dead in the water (hospitality tech), I definitely wouldn't have bought him if I'd known what was going to happen.

Everything happens for a reason though... I hope.

 

[RHM]

Yes funny how it works out, a week later in the horse search and I'd have an empty stable too. Though having lost a massive chunk of my monthly salary and in an industry which is currently dead in the water (hospitality tech), I definitely wouldn't have bought him if I'd known what was going to happen.

Everything happens for a reason though... I hope.

Yeah I bet! It’s such uncertain times for so many people at the moment! I am a big believer in things happen for a reason and I don’t think anyone could ever regret buying bear when you look at that gorgeous face!

 

[Michen]

Also cheerful chick video for anyone who needs a smile. The yellow one is definitely a cockerel- he’s a little git!

 

[ycbm]

I think he's a bit too drippy for me.

I'd wait until he's five before you say that. I spent two years saying I was going to sell this horse because he was too quiet for me. At five I could barely manage him! He's six here. We thought he was a terrible jumper at first, because under a metre he couldn't be bothered, and hit so many fixed fences I thought he was going to kill us both ?

 

[Michen]

I'd wait until he's five before you say that. I spent two years saying I was going to sell this horse because he was too quiet for me. At five I could barely manage him! He's six here. We thought he was a terrible jumper at first, because under a metre he couldn't be bothered, and hit so many fixed fences I thought he was going to kill us both ?

View attachment 44480

Well, I'll have him until he's 5 in theory so we will see! I think I won't really get a chance to do enough with him now to know I guess (initially I thought we'd be doing a baby XC, hunter trial by autumn), I certainly wouldn't keep him unless he's bold as brass around an XC course like Boggle and Basil and we won't be doing that any time soon, reality is he will probably be up for sale/loan before he's ever gone to an event or really done much... I can't see myself wanting to spend the time on doing that with him vs getting Bog up and running fully, as the two would overlap time wise if I bought Bog in from the field in time to be fully fit mid next year.

Anyhow, goodness knows where we will all be in a year! Bog may stay out longer, maybe I'll pay for Bear to be produced a bit more whilst I bring Bog back.. will see.

 

[ycbm]

Well with confirmation like that he isn't going to be difficult to sell. That shoulder is magnificent!

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[Michen]

Well with confirmation like that he isn't going to be difficult to sell. That shoulder is magnificent!

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Hehe, and to think the slating the poor fella got from the other half of HHO when he was in his winter woollies with awful shoeing.

He is a brilliant mover, the few times I've trotted him under saddle- wow! Doesn't feel like a pony at all.

 

[ihatework]

Hehe, and to think the slating the poor fella got from the other half of HHO when he was in his winter woollies with awful shoeing.

He is a brilliant mover, the few times I've trotted him under saddle- wow! Doesn't feel like a pony at all.

I don’t remember him getting a huge slating? Wasn’t it generally positive?

 

[Michen]

I don’t remember him getting a huge slating? Wasn’t it generally positive?

I think it was a fairly mixed bag on initial photos. Tbf no one could tell with the photos and fluff what may have been reality, and when he got a slating it was a severe slating, because he did look like he had a deformed fetlock and the feet made everything 10 x worse.

But yes half of HHO is probably inaccurate statement, I just remember the question marks because, well, I didn’t have a real life image to go on and was taking a risk.

 

[ihatework]

I think everyone was just relieved you weren’t buying the lame yak ????

 

[Michen]

Still sort of wish I had bought the lame yak... ?


No. No I don’t.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I liked him from the start, couldn't see the faults that some thought they could see. Such a gorgeous looking horse now.

 

[Michen]

I liked him from the start, couldn't see the faults that some thought they could see. Such a gorgeous looking horse now.

Little canter video I found, installing that stop/woah button! And me running like a loon to keep him on a bigger circle with a not very long rope ?? He’s very cute and tries very hard!!

 

[Nevin's Run]

Little canter video I found, installing that stop/woah button! And me running like a loon to keep him on a bigger circle with a not very long rope ?? He’s very cute and tries very hard!!

I love that you're cantering too