Peglo
Well-Known Member
So happy for more Zach and Ernie pictures. ? they are gorgeous! Lovely update.
Introducing Zach
- Thread starter Btomkins
- Start date
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Big lad Zach is home. He got a glowing report from the lovely ladies he went to and he’ll be missed there for sure. He will probably go back again in the spring to be restarted once he’s had a winter break and matured some more. We’ve had a handful of solo hacks at home so far that have been drama free and delightful, he just sometimes takes a minute to leave the yard by himself - absolutely nothing dramatic, just a planting of feet and you have to wait for him to sigh and think about it before moving off.
The plan is to do some short hacks 2-3 times a week and do a few in hand sessions in the field over poles etc for the next few months, then he’ll have the whole of the winter off before restarting next spring. He’s a very good boy and although he is handsome with a lot of presence, he seems to be going through another growth spurt and looking rather funny and out of proportion again. His head is ginormous ?
Little man Ernie isn’t doing too bad either. He went to his first pony party a few weeks ago and managed to bag a 1st in the inhand cobs class bless him. He was extremely well behaved except for the incessant calling and waving his manhood about a bit ?? As soon as we get some cooler weather and less flies the poor lad is in for a shock
The plan is to do some short hacks 2-3 times a week and do a few in hand sessions in the field over poles etc for the next few months, then he’ll have the whole of the winter off before restarting next spring. He’s a very good boy and although he is handsome with a lot of presence, he seems to be going through another growth spurt and looking rather funny and out of proportion again. His head is ginormous ?
Little man Ernie isn’t doing too bad either. He went to his first pony party a few weeks ago and managed to bag a 1st in the inhand cobs class bless him. He was extremely well behaved except for the incessant calling and waving his manhood about a bit ?? As soon as we get some cooler weather and less flies the poor lad is in for a shock
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
OOh I love Zach, he looks a real poppet, and Ernie is soooo cute! Brilliant update BTomkins! So glad things have worked out for you.
Laurac13
Well-Known Member
They are both gorgeous ?
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Thank you I am very happy with my unplanned DD purchases! I keep thinking I need to sell some but how on earth can I when they’re all so fab! I’m sure once the winter and mud hits I’ll be cursing myself ?
Thank you, they’re certainly both blossoming and watching their transformations from when they first arrived is such a pleasure.
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
I thought I recognised your big lad. I know who you sent him to for backing.
Glad he seems to be doing really well I hope you have lots of fun with him (and your little cob)!
Glad he seems to be doing really well I hope you have lots of fun with him (and your little cob)!
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Updating the thread had me looking back through old pics - I didn’t realise quite how much he’s come on. Top pic just under a year ago and bottom one this morning.
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
He had a fab time there and it was prefect for him. Lovely lady.
Thank you, hopefully many fun times to come although I may need a bigger box as he bent the ramp on my 3.5 unloading quietly ?
Archangel
Well-Known Member
He looks amazing and so incredibly handsome.
Rumtytum
Have Marmite, will travel
Zach is still such a handsome boy! And Ernie too on a smaller scale ?. Looking forward to many more pics
SashaBabe
Well-Known Member
Oh my goodness. What a difference a year makes. He is absolutely beautiful. Zach is a little beauty too.
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
Zach is beautiful 
rextherobber
Well-Known Member
Gorgeous, and such a lovely face!
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Time for an end of year update as big boy Zach went to his first ever show last weekend.
I had been mildly panicking that I would be doing my best waterskiing impression hanging on for dear life whilst going round the ring. Zach is a real poppet and rarely puts a hoof out of place but he’s so damn big that if he decided he wanted to go I doubt I would have any choice in the matter.
Because of this I didn’t really think to practise trotting in hand. With the others I trot them in from the field regularly so they’re used to it but I don’t want Zach thinking he can barge his way in so I’ve always been extra strict about his manners. It was a last minute decision to go and with a complete lack of preparation I thought if we just chilled in the car park and took everything in that was ok. Last chance to enter a youngstock class and all that…
Well, more fool me ? He ended up doing his best snail impression and wouldn’t shift! Absolutely no inclination to trot when it was our turn, despite much flapping and flustering from me. Thankfully, it was a very low key and friendly show and the judge had great fun chasing after us with his cane to help us move ?
He was so so well behaved and stood like a rock in the line up and was very careful with his (giant dinner plate) feet that the fact we placed low did not matter one bit.
I’ve learnt my lesson for next time and we will have a good practise in the spring before the next one. Trust the horse more and sack the handler!!
I stopped riding him about 6 weeks ago and he will have the rest of the winter off to hopefully start up again in spring as a 4 year old. All 3 babies have done me proud this year. I really should sell at least one but I just can’t right now, they’re all so special in their own way to me ?
Here he is in all his winter woolly glory.
I had been mildly panicking that I would be doing my best waterskiing impression hanging on for dear life whilst going round the ring. Zach is a real poppet and rarely puts a hoof out of place but he’s so damn big that if he decided he wanted to go I doubt I would have any choice in the matter.
Because of this I didn’t really think to practise trotting in hand. With the others I trot them in from the field regularly so they’re used to it but I don’t want Zach thinking he can barge his way in so I’ve always been extra strict about his manners. It was a last minute decision to go and with a complete lack of preparation I thought if we just chilled in the car park and took everything in that was ok. Last chance to enter a youngstock class and all that…
Well, more fool me ? He ended up doing his best snail impression and wouldn’t shift! Absolutely no inclination to trot when it was our turn, despite much flapping and flustering from me. Thankfully, it was a very low key and friendly show and the judge had great fun chasing after us with his cane to help us move ?
He was so so well behaved and stood like a rock in the line up and was very careful with his (giant dinner plate) feet that the fact we placed low did not matter one bit.
I’ve learnt my lesson for next time and we will have a good practise in the spring before the next one. Trust the horse more and sack the handler!!
I stopped riding him about 6 weeks ago and he will have the rest of the winter off to hopefully start up again in spring as a 4 year old. All 3 babies have done me proud this year. I really should sell at least one but I just can’t right now, they’re all so special in their own way to me ?
Here he is in all his winter woolly glory.
LadyGascoyne
Well-Known Member
He is absolutely gorgeous. Just wonderful. If he’s the one you end up selling, message me!
Rumtytum
Have Marmite, will travel
The first pic is a framer! He is a gorgeous boy with such a pretty face and kind eye.
nikicb
Well-Known Member
What a handsome and kind looking chap! Well. done. 
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
He really does look fabulous!
Peregrine Falcon
Looking forward to drier days
Lovely pics. Parties are learning curves and good experience for them.
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
If you do decide to sell him, I'm calling dibs ? He's just perfect
chaps89
Well-Known Member
He’s absolutely gorgeous and a superstar
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Trust me you don’t want the mucking out, he has elephant poohs ? I think your elegant ladies might enjoy eyeing up the handsome hunk he is though!
I’m sure I’ll make it known if he’s seriously for sale, I’ll see how spring goes and how much time I have for them all
I have ordered a framed version of that one! Thank you, his eye is what drew me to him in the first place. I think he’s a kind old soul.
What a handsome and kind looking chap! Well. done.
Thank you although we didn’t actually place well at all ?
Thank you! He’s a big gorgeous lump.
And me it would seem! Many more planned next year.
Haha I’ll let him know although his head is big enough already!
Thank you he really is, he’s such a special boy.
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
I think the time may have come to start thinking about Zach finding a new home. As much as I adore him and may well still keep him, realistically there are more reasons to sell than keep.
It’s a real heart/head situation and I swing from one decision to the other daily. I just really really don’t want to do anything I regret long term.
I have 4 at the moment and maybe it’s just the tail end of winter getting to me but it’s a lot to keep on top of and I feel like he’s such a friendly oaf he would love more one to one attention and to be someone’s everything. I already have my heart horse who is in his prime and two other youngsters to bring on.
I’m off to Norfolk on holiday this week but when I’m back I’ll start re-backing him after the winter just being a big young horse living out and playing with his mate. I think I’ll see how I feel and go from there. I’m guessing he’d be more saleable with a little work put in to get him going so I have a least a few weeks to have a serious think about it all.
Picture of Zach still in his winter scruffs enjoying some fresh grass in the new summer field with his mate Ernie.
In other news my little filly went out to her second show and was a superstar, she placed 1st out of 8 in her class even in her winter woolies
Gosh I wish I could spend all day every day at the yard with these horses, any tips on how to win the lottery?? 
It’s a real heart/head situation and I swing from one decision to the other daily. I just really really don’t want to do anything I regret long term.
I have 4 at the moment and maybe it’s just the tail end of winter getting to me but it’s a lot to keep on top of and I feel like he’s such a friendly oaf he would love more one to one attention and to be someone’s everything. I already have my heart horse who is in his prime and two other youngsters to bring on.
I’m off to Norfolk on holiday this week but when I’m back I’ll start re-backing him after the winter just being a big young horse living out and playing with his mate. I think I’ll see how I feel and go from there. I’m guessing he’d be more saleable with a little work put in to get him going so I have a least a few weeks to have a serious think about it all.
Picture of Zach still in his winter scruffs enjoying some fresh grass in the new summer field with his mate Ernie.
In other news my little filly went out to her second show and was a superstar, she placed 1st out of 8 in her class even in her winter woolies
Gosh I wish I could spend all day every day at the yard with these horses, any tips on how to win the lottery?? 
SatansLittleHelper
Well-Known Member
Awww I'd kill for one like him, I loved him when I first saw his advert. I hope you keep him lol
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
I hope you sell....to me!
Floofball
Well-Known Member
Only just seen this thread and the lovely Zac - how big is he now? He looks such a good sort - hope you enjoy restarting him and decide to keep him 
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Update time.
He’s still here and I’m pleased he is
I wrote out his advert a few times but when push came to shove I just couldn’t post it. I don’t think I’ll find another like him easily.
I’ve had a ridiculously busy year and with four horses to keep ticking over I haven’t achieved much with him, but then he’s a big lad and only four so I keep telling myself there’s no rush.
The rebacking in April couldn’t have gone smoother. It was like he’d had no time off and was just a sensible lad from the get go. Since then we have just done some nice slow hacking throughout the summer, both in company and alone. He is verrrry slightly less confident alone which I guess is to be expected, but is totally happy first or last in company. He’s been fab in traffic and has just about come across everything now from motorbikes, to cycle races, to combines without so much as a glance.
However, because life gets in the way, I’ve been very start/stop with him and I haven’t done any ‘proper’ schooling as the school I have access to down the road is rather on the small side and I think I’d get four strides of trot and reach the end
So in a few weeks time he’s being sent to boot camp at a yard ten minutes down the road from me. They have a huge indoor and outdoor school, cross country course and lovely hacking. My plans are for him to get some basic schooling and polework and continue with his hacking as much as possible. I will be having lessons on him whilst there and I’m so excited!
I will of course post some updates now that he’ll be doing something a little more worthy to write about.
Picture of him in his rave/hacking gear
He’s still here and I’m pleased he is
I wrote out his advert a few times but when push came to shove I just couldn’t post it. I don’t think I’ll find another like him easily.I’ve had a ridiculously busy year and with four horses to keep ticking over I haven’t achieved much with him, but then he’s a big lad and only four so I keep telling myself there’s no rush.
The rebacking in April couldn’t have gone smoother. It was like he’d had no time off and was just a sensible lad from the get go. Since then we have just done some nice slow hacking throughout the summer, both in company and alone. He is verrrry slightly less confident alone which I guess is to be expected, but is totally happy first or last in company. He’s been fab in traffic and has just about come across everything now from motorbikes, to cycle races, to combines without so much as a glance.
However, because life gets in the way, I’ve been very start/stop with him and I haven’t done any ‘proper’ schooling as the school I have access to down the road is rather on the small side and I think I’d get four strides of trot and reach the end
So in a few weeks time he’s being sent to boot camp at a yard ten minutes down the road from me. They have a huge indoor and outdoor school, cross country course and lovely hacking. My plans are for him to get some basic schooling and polework and continue with his hacking as much as possible. I will be having lessons on him whilst there and I’m so excited!
I will of course post some updates now that he’ll be doing something a little more worthy to write about.
Picture of him in his rave/hacking gear
Btomkins
Well-Known Member
Sorry floofball, must have missed your reply! He’s currently measuring a smidgen under 17.2, with the string test looking likely to reach 18hhOnly just seen this thread and the lovely Zac - how big is he now? He looks such a good sort - hope you enjoy restarting him and decide to keep him
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
I love him. Such a handsome chap. no wonder you can't part with him!
Laurac13
Well-Known Member
Glad you still have him he’s a smashing lad 