My next equine project horse

[AdorableAlice]

Alice has placed herself on the re homing list. Please remember anyone who is interested in her will need extensive storage space for all her handbags, make up and designer clothing.

Ted has sent her a text telling her how wonderful his life is at boarding borstal. He has told her every orifice he possesses has been examined, his personal health care lady has visited. He is perfect and does not need dental braces, spectacles or an hearing aid. He has had a luxurious hour with a Mctimoney lady who was impressed with his manly looks and presence. What finally pushed her over the edge was Ted telling her that he only does 20 minutes work a day and has two meals a day.

Now this message was received last night after Alice had been on the lunge trying to grasp that a circle is a circle, not a square or an oval or a stand still and pull faces session. Worse was to come when she announced she knew where the school exit is and thought she would stay there. Alice considers that ladies should merely glow when they are warm, so to have white froth between her back legs and and drips off her tummy was totally outrageous.

Work is a four letter word in Alice land at the moment.

 

[Hetsmum]

Poor Alice........that's what comes from calling Ted a twit though! So glad his workup was all good...... your updates make me smile even on the darkest of days

 

[PinkFairy]

Been checking back for updates, hope all is okay, gone a bit quiet here!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Been checking back for updates, hope all is okay, gone a bit quiet here!

Frazzled, knackered, bad tempered and generally evil - that is just me. Turn the heating down please.

Watching the weather for Saturday, would like to take Ted to a show, he is entered in a heavy horse class but he won't go if the weather does not calm down. It has to be a positive experience for him and it will only be the third time he has travelled.

Alice is going nicely for her stage of training although she finds it all rather odd to be tacked up at 9pm.

 

[Hetsmum]

Fingers crossed for a little drop in temperature for Saturday. I would welcome it too! Here is much better today and we are forecast some rain, although every time I check it keeps getting pushed back an hour and is lighter than forecast. Please take lots of pics of Ted if he does go. Alice should count herself lucky she has a nice owner who is considerate to wait until 9pm to do training.....

 

[AdorableAlice]

Ted has got stage fright and his first public appearance is off.

This weeks heat slowed the loading and travelling practice down and he is not ready to go out. He is not guaranteed to load and the risk of him chucking a hissy fit on the showground is too great. He is a big horse and if he got away from us there would be carnage. We want him to be safe and enjoy the experience, he would have been last in the class but that was not an issue. I have found a little local riding club show at the end of the month which has a led traditional type class. No idea what that actually means but I will enter him for experience.

He had loading lessons this evening and was Mr Perfect, typical !, but the decision stands not to go. It now looks like Alice will the first out in public, she is entered on the 19th July at an ID Show, led part bred. I am quietly hoping she is not last !

 

[Hetsmum]

What a shame but I'm sure the right decision. It is so much better to make it a good first experience for all concerned. Alice I am sure will do well. She is quite the looker (but don't tell her or her head will swell I'm sure!)

 

[AdorableAlice]

Absolutely the right decision, the class was strong and the show was extremely buzzy, I am so glad I listened to the breakers and took their advice.

Alice is very fond of the word NO at the moment and yesterday produced some rather large NO's. In fact the entire period of work was a very firm NO and furious foot stamping. If she was a child she would be the one on her back screaming in the supermarket.

With a pout that could rival Victoria Beckenham, Alice planted herself in the field, in the yard and in the barn. I always said she was too good to be true when we backed her ! She is going hacking later and with the brick out house cob behind her she will find herself shoved down the lane if she stops. She was such a sweet baby horse, I reckon she has saved all the strops up until she needed them ! She is far from stupid though because as soon as a schooling whip was leant against the wall she found the forward gears easily. Little madam !

 

[ester]

She's just trying to get herself into borstal too after all Ted's reports!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Big day tomorrow, Ted is on day release. He is arriving at 10.30 and staying for the morning.

 

[Hetsmum]

Ooooooooo Ted! Best behaviour for visiting young man!

 

[Clannad48]

So how did it go - report with pictures pleeeeesssseee

 

[AdorableAlice]

What a star. David and Paul have turned my bonkers, stresshead, dangerous and nervous carthorse into a polite, willing and pleasure to be with, horse that I am proud of. Pictures were taken by friends and I need to work out how to put them on here.

He loaded well into a trailer with no room to spare, if he gets any wider he will be in trouble, with his wingman Parker at his side. Within minutes of loading an enormous hail storm arrived and battered the roof of the trailer. Not ideal but he coped. He travelled really well, this was just the second time he has travelled without sedation. He has been doing a lot of loading/unloading practice. He was warm when he arrived at home purely because it was a warm morning and not through stress.

We hacked out after he had relaxed for a while. He led the way so confidently with Parker and Martha behind him. Ted marched past the dog hurling itself at the fence without a second glance. Went on to a show him to a friend and use her school for a few minutes. He peeped at the wings but that was it and he worked nicely.

We hacked on down a green lane to show him a deep ford. This is an area that invariably causes problems and not always just the young ones. It is a very dark area with over hanging trees and quite quickly moving water. All my horses over the years have been suspicious and needed varying levels of help to go through. The last fight I had here I lost and was upended in a spectacular fashion.

There was a couple of foot of water in today and the sun was sparkling through the trees onto the water. Ted did not even slow down, he marched straight in, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I will be ringing Mr FoxPitt, there is no doubt Ted will dive into the lake at Badminton ! Our hack continued and we headed for home with Ted still leading.

He was turned out for the hour we had lunch and then refused to be caught, dancing and prancing around David like an oversize lamb. A bucket of nuts proved too tempting and he gave in. He loaded perfectly and I waved him goodbye.

I need to forget all the problems I had with him and now just look forward to a nice young horse. His behaviour today belied his age and his problems.

 

[Regandal]

That is excellent! Well done Ted. Better start looking out a nice wee dressage test for you & Ted.......are you not itching to get on him?

 

[Gazen]

Wonderful!

 

[Highlands]

Dave and Paul enjoyed themselves as they came and did their youngsters who are with me! You must have fed them well as they refused cake!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Dave and Paul enjoyed themselves as they came and did their youngsters who are with me! You must have fed them well as they refused cake!

Cake, tea, ride, ham cobs, pork pie, crisps, more tea, more cake and David ate a packet of chocolate brazil nuts on the way home.

 

[PolarSkye]

What a star. David and Paul have turned my bonkers, stresshead, dangerous and nervous carthorse into a polite, willing and pleasure to be with, horse that I am proud of. Pictures were taken by friends and I need to work out how to put them on here.

He loaded well into a trailer with no room to spare, if he gets any wider he will be in trouble, with his wingman Parker at his side. Within minutes of loading an enormous hail storm arrived and battered the roof of the trailer. Not ideal but he coped. He travelled really well, this was just the second time he has travelled without sedation. He has been doing a lot of loading/unloading practice. He was warm when he arrived at home purely because it was a warm morning and not through stress.

We hacked out after he had relaxed for a while. He led the way so confidently with Parker and Martha behind him. Ted marched past the dog hurling itself at the fence without a second glance. Went on to a show him to a friend and use her school for a few minutes. He peeped at the wings but that was it and he worked nicely.

We hacked on down a green lane to show him a deep ford. This is an area that invariably causes problems and not always just the young ones. It is a very dark area with over hanging trees and quite quickly moving water. All my horses over the years have been suspicious and needed varying levels of help to go through. The last fight I had here I lost and was upended in a spectacular fashion.

There was a couple of foot of water in today and the sun was sparkling through the trees onto the water. Ted did not even slow down, he marched straight in, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I will be ringing Mr FoxPitt, there is no doubt Ted will dive into the lake at Badminton ! Our hack continued and we headed for home with Ted still leading.

He was turned out for the hour we had lunch and then refused to be caught, dancing and prancing around David like an oversize lamb. A bucket of nuts proved too tempting and he gave in. He loaded perfectly and I waved him goodbye.

I need to forget all the problems I had with him and now just look forward to a nice young horse. His behaviour today belied his age and his problems.

I love him. Really - I LOVE him. Please can I have him?

P

 

[Clannad48]

Wonderful news

 

[meesha]

AA what a fab update, will be following and awaiting pics of their first outings ! They are both gorgeous x

 

[Highlands]

Cake, tea, ride, ham cobs, pork pie, crisps, more tea, more cake and David ate a packet of chocolate brazil nuts on the way home.

I don't know how he keeps so slim! Bless them!

 

[dianchi]

Yay go ted!!!

However I have been asked to send this SOS message.....

Dear Sister Alice,

My world has ended
After outgrowing all the tack owned (amazing effort given the amount of it!),I got a little summer holiday- i "might" have put on a few pounds or kg's.

Apparently being in off the grass for half the day, and lunging, isn't working and I have been bought a muzzle

Darling Alice do not let them get you one, its awful and you cant eat nearly enough and i think i might die of forced slow tiny bites.
Please send sweeties that fit through the hole so that I don't starve.

I have at least mastered the art of legging it so there is no photographic evidence of said torture device, nor of my supposedly "hippo" roundness

Run and eat merrily dear Sister.

Your very sad Sister Bridgette.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yay go ted!!!

However I have been asked to send this SOS message.....

Dear Sister Alice,

My world has ended
After outgrowing all the tack owned (amazing effort given the amount of it!),I got a little summer holiday- i "might" have put on a few pounds or kg's.

Apparently being in off the grass for half the day, and lunging, isn't working and I have been bought a muzzle

Darling Alice do not let them get you one, its awful and you cant eat nearly enough and i think i might die of forced slow tiny bites.
Please send sweeties that fit through the hole so that I don't starve.

I have at least mastered the art of legging it so there is no photographic evidence of said torture device, nor of my supposedly "hippo" roundness

Run and eat merrily dear Sister.

Your very sad Sister Bridgette.

Dear Bridgette,

I have posted sweets, blue smarties, her indoors who must be obeyed, removed all the blue ones from Ted's stash, she reckoned they sent him daft. I have also sent galaxy, just leave it in the sun and it will melt, you will be able to suck it through a straw.

I am so pleased you have learnt the 'leg it' procedure it is one I adopt every time I see a head collar approaching. It is simple mathematics, headcollar and human = long walk around strange places = tired out me.

My diet didn't get as far as bondage, Dim Tim, my half brother who I am jealous of because he is all legs and no belly, and I have visitors who go into our fields before us. Gigolo, a gigantic limousin and his girlfriends, honestly it is pornographic at times. His girlfriends have some Belgium Blue in them and wow do they have big bums, make me look like Twiggy.

The downside is poop, projectile poop, I have to be very careful where I put my feet. Now the other morning Gigolo and his harem escaped and came in with Tim and I in the ryvita paddock. We ran to the corner where there is a treehouse and I tried to climb inside, it was so frightening. Luckily mum and her friend arrived and saved us. Mum is scared of bulls so she was very brave, she ran, well stumbled, around with a big stick shouting 'yorkshire pudding and horseradish' at the bull. One of his girlfriends trotted towards mum, much to my surprise my mum, who is not built for speed, exited the field like Linford Christie.

Sis, life is hard for us good do'ers, but it is puppy fat and will soon be turned in muscle, all we need to do is keep legging it when we see a human. Love from Alice xx

 

[Hetsmum]

Am I allowed to be proud of Ted too! The is a total star and it just shows you found the right guys to put him on the right track. Fox Pitt better get his name down for him now! There is a new kid on the block!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Am I allowed to be proud of Ted too! The is a total star and it just shows you found the right guys to put him on the right track. Fox Pitt better get his name down for him now! There is a new kid on the block!

I will join you in being proud of Ted. Not too long ago Ted would not have got anywhere near a ramp. I love these two pictures from Sunday, especially the first one, he is looking at me as if to say 'what's the problem, easy peasy'

He is almost too big for the trailer but for a horse that was claustrophobic when asked to go through a stable door, he really has moved on now.

 

[Fun Times]

The guys you have helping you with Ted are clearly miracle workers. Do they do humans too? My other half could do with a bit of a training refresher and I feel they may be just the people to get the results....

 

[AdorableAlice]

The guys you have helping you with Ted are clearly miracle workers. Do they do humans too? My other half could do with a bit of a training refresher and I feel they may be just the people to get the results....

They have a sense of humour, I facebooked them last night and asked 'how is my furry champion today' the answer - I am fine thanks.

Their mantra is 'just get on with it'. That is the answer to everything, good, bad or indifferent it is 'just get on with it' worked for Ted !

 

[gmw]

Lovely lovely Ted and Alice and Dim Tim and all the other equines too. Love these reports goes to prove what can be achieved with time patience and the right owner.

 

[teacups]

They have a sense of humour, I facebooked them last night and asked 'how is my furry champion today' the answer - I am fine thanks.

Their mantra is 'just get on with it'. That is the answer to everything, good, bad or indifferent it is 'just get on with it' worked for Ted !

Haha - that's great. Nice that you have such a relaxed relationship with them, too (and can my OH go on their waiting list, too - couple of small training issues, his mother was on valium at the time).

In fact, they sound relaxed altogether in their approach. Although if it were me, a tiny part of me would be saying 'why couldn't he have done that for me, the little *s*d' on the whole I'd be thanking my lucky stars at finding just the right people to teach Ted his grammar & maths, and watching with interest.

Good boost that Alice is doing so well (despite the odd hiccup) and remains in high spirits - at least she has now given away her stash of blue smarties - perhaps they were the cause of the tantrums. <g>
Love her idea of leaving Galaxy out in the sun so you can suck it through the holes of a muzzle in a straw! Not sure the Limousin is a going to be a good influence, though...

 

[AdorableAlice]

Haha - that's great. Nice that you have such a relaxed relationship with them, too (and can my OH go on their waiting list, too - couple of small training issues, his mother was on valium at the time).

In fact, they sound relaxed altogether in their approach. Although if it were me, a tiny part of me would be saying 'why couldn't he have done that for me, the little *s*d' on the whole I'd be thanking my lucky stars at finding just the right people to teach Ted his grammar & maths, and watching with interest.
.

I have thought that more than once Teacups, and had interesting conversations about it with his breakers. Various conclusions became apparent. I did a good job with Ted in his first year with me, despite various accidents and mishaps. He trusted me to an extent and we progressed with manners on the ground. He remained virtually untouched as a two year old due to my health. The lack of handling didn't hurt him as such but it did give him a year to grow and become somewhat feral.

I started on him again in mid 2014 and to a degree I was 'frightened' of him. I could not let him barge into me, I was markedly weaker in body strength, I am right handed and the surgery I had was on the right. There was no doubt his anxious outlook was feeding off my anxiety. Looking back I should never have tried to start him myself and I forgot I am 20 years older than I was when I did the last one.

He and I have been on quite a journey in the last 3 years and he has certainly moved on from the little scrap of a horse he was in 2012.