henryhorn
Well-Known Member
Is what I did this morning, it was time to move the main herd of 23 onto a new field not grazed since last July, so there is plenty of grass on it, and I have to move them by a shout.
This has evolved into a sort of loud yell of Coooooop!, Cooooop! (abbreviated years ago I think from come up and I just copied my boss' call)
Like magic every single horse appears from any of the three fields they are currently grazing, and all apppear at a canter.. The old, the slightly lame, the babies, all speed up to a gallop and hurtle through the gateway as fast as their hairy legs can carry them, they charge round a few times, inspect where Minty was pts last week, then after a few bucks and leaps, settle heads down to serious grazing.
All look in really good condition considering it's near the end of the winter, as do the ponies out on Dartmoor, it's not been a hard winter for them really, but nature often sends us blizzards and lots of wind in April so I'm not saying it's over just yet.
The only real problem is how to catch Charlie aged 36 who is a mini shetland, he really shouldn't have access to all that grass but went through the gate so fast I couldn't slam it to keep him out quick enough. He knows full well if I get him he will be removed to the bare grazing so a battle will now ensue over several weeks of me dropping carrots within his reach every time I see him then eventually pouncing on him and hanging on for dear life, he's sufficiently clever enough to know me putting my arm round his neck means capture, and it doesn't work taking a bucket into a field of so many horses, I'd get followed like the Pied Piper..
Oh I'll get him eventually and hopefully before his tummy reaches the floor (his tail already does so that needs trimming desperately)
Watching them this morning reminds me why I keep horses, there is nothing quite so nice as seeing them all eating in decent grass with beautiful scenery all around.
Now if I can just find my charger for the camera I can take some pics...
This has evolved into a sort of loud yell of Coooooop!, Cooooop! (abbreviated years ago I think from come up and I just copied my boss' call)
Like magic every single horse appears from any of the three fields they are currently grazing, and all apppear at a canter.. The old, the slightly lame, the babies, all speed up to a gallop and hurtle through the gateway as fast as their hairy legs can carry them, they charge round a few times, inspect where Minty was pts last week, then after a few bucks and leaps, settle heads down to serious grazing.
All look in really good condition considering it's near the end of the winter, as do the ponies out on Dartmoor, it's not been a hard winter for them really, but nature often sends us blizzards and lots of wind in April so I'm not saying it's over just yet.
The only real problem is how to catch Charlie aged 36 who is a mini shetland, he really shouldn't have access to all that grass but went through the gate so fast I couldn't slam it to keep him out quick enough. He knows full well if I get him he will be removed to the bare grazing so a battle will now ensue over several weeks of me dropping carrots within his reach every time I see him then eventually pouncing on him and hanging on for dear life, he's sufficiently clever enough to know me putting my arm round his neck means capture, and it doesn't work taking a bucket into a field of so many horses, I'd get followed like the Pied Piper..
Oh I'll get him eventually and hopefully before his tummy reaches the floor (his tail already does so that needs trimming desperately)
Watching them this morning reminds me why I keep horses, there is nothing quite so nice as seeing them all eating in decent grass with beautiful scenery all around.
Now if I can just find my charger for the camera I can take some pics...
