My next equine project horse

Well, equines have a habit of springing surprises, hope they are nice ones when you see them in the morning.

Seems like a great week, the train ride to Mallaig is memorable. Were the autumn colours starting, hoping to see some when we go next week. Autumn colours along Loch Lomond were spectatacular when we were there two years ago.
 
Honeymoods sounds like it was fab! I expect you found your all a lot more fluffy than you left them. Mine are sprouting coat like there is no tomorrow! :)
 
Fluffy or what !, I have only been gone 7 days and the old boy has turned into a moose. Ted and Alice have not started changing their coats yet and I was rather chuffed to find Alice has grown a little taller, Ted has grown a lot taller in 7 days, how does he do it.

Adopter, The Highlands had not started to turn much at all last week, but it was so warm, 20 degrees plus every day and even overnight it was warm. We spent the whole time in cotton tops and just a sheet on the bed. I had rammed the car with thick musto jackets and heavy trousers so we ended up buying cotton stuff to wear whilst we were there. Everybody was saying how unusual the weather was for the time of year. Even on the seal watching trip I only added a waistcoat and was plenty warm enough. Have a fab time on your trip.
 
The honeymoon sounds wonderful, and how great it must be to get back to find all have done a bit of growing (whether coats or height) instead of err anything else they might have done.
 
AA.. Not been about much recently so just caught up. Firstly congratulations on your nuptials. Honeymoon sounds lovely and how lucky were you with the weather!
Sounds like Ted and Co were well behaved in your absence so double bonus there.
 
It is official, Alice has reached the brat stage. Ted, bless him, is in the angel stage, won't last but nice whilst it does.

Farrier this morning, Ted, Alice, the broodmare and the yearling - Alice's half brother. None of them had halter on for 3 weeks or been out of the field. Peeing down, blowing a gale and a fair walk to the yard.

The old mare was nothing short of rude and her daughter was unspeakably rude. The yearling was a little darling and Ted ambled over tripping and yawning.

Alice threw a massive tantrum at the farrier and after being asked politely to behave herself her antics resulted in the first ever meeting with Mr Blue Pipe. Her face was a picture, she didn't see it coming as I did it and of course, the thwack is very impressive, especially when the bottom is as well padded as Alice's. She stood sulking whilst the job was finished and then threw her toys out again when she was left tied up. We had stamping, rearing, squealing and a lot of poo !

I was rather embarrassed but we had a laugh when the farrier commented, if Alice was human she would be in hotpants smoking around the back of the bike sheds. With the 'she will grow up' words from the farrier we left her on the naughty peg and did the other 3 in front of her. She stood with the biggest bottom lip pout whilst her baby brother, just 14 months old, carefully placed each of his feet into the hands of the farrier, no fuss and ears pricked.

Ted is well known for being unpredictable and I was so relieved when he put his 'yeah whatever' face on and gave the farrier an easy time. We turfed the lot back out and watched Alice gallop off and have a hissy fit by herself in the middle of the paddock. No idea what was going on with her today but she certainly had sand in her pants.

My farrier has worked for me for 32 years and is the most quiet and caring horseman, without him Alice would have grown up with a wonky front foot, ungrateful madam.
 
I'm a bit shocked that you want to publicise beating your horse to make it behave for the farrier, especially after leaving it unhandled for three weeks before he came to do it.
 
joycec said:
I'm a bit shocked that you want to publicise beating your horse to make it behave for the farrier, especially after leaving it unhandled for three weeks before he came to do it.
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I believe that AA is perfectly within her right to give a big stroppy young mare a smack on the rump in order to keep herself, and her farrier safe. I bloody would. Its no worse than how another horse would tell her off in the field.
 
joycec said:
I'm a bit shocked that you want to publicise beating your horse to make it behave for the farrier, especially after leaving it unhandled for three weeks before he came to do it.
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We are all different in how we deal with horses. I bred Alice, she has been raised properly and is quiet in all ways. In the first 12 months she had corrective trimming every 3 weeks to right a wonky foot. She does not fear the farrier in any way.

Yesterday she came out of the field in a strop and remained in a strop which escalated to pushing the farrier around with her shoulders, sitting down and a couple of rears when her fronts were on his knee. This was all done with ears back, a rolled back eye and a tight mouth. In my opinion it is the owners responsibility to produce a safe horse for the farrier to work with, it is not the farriers responsibility to train a horse. I am lucky with mine as he is a good friend and spent a lot of time with the feral cart horse before attempting to trim him.

Sadly Alice choose yesterday as her first real 'try it on' day, there will be more to come no doubt. Her punishment was one very well timed and sharp smack with a tool that makes an impressive noise but does not cut into a horse. If you have not been around horses for many years I doubt you will see blue pipe around many yards now. The end result was a very shocked horse that remained tied up and was given several minutes to digest what had happened. The farrier remained at her side but no one was at her head. When she dropped her head, released her back and began to lick and chew the farrier finished her without any further problem, and rewarded her with a scratch, kind words and a polo mint.

She threw another tantrum whilst tied up (I expect mine to tie up and stand for however long without question). She was not punished, just ignored and left to get over herself. She does not try to break away because I use the pressure and release methods to convince them they cannot break away. Today she will come over alone and be tied up again before being left stabled for the day. I am responsible for ensuring she has every chance to become a pleasant and polite horse in the future and whilst she is unlikely to ever be for sale, I still have to ensure anyone could handle her.

I am sorry I upset you Joycec, three weeks is not a long time to leave a horse unhandled if they have been raised properly. Last year they were left for 12 months due to my illness and still behaved for routine stuff handled by other people. I am hoping yesterday was a one off, but Alice is just coming into the 'make me' stage so it is interesting times ahead.
 
I'm sure she will be back to her usual sweet self soon. Perhaps Ted had been teasing her about her fat bottom and put her into a bad mood. Yes, it must have been that Ted. Why else would he have behaved so well yesterday.
 
Chris&TheBoys said:
I believe that AA is perfectly within her right to give a big stroppy young mare a smack on the rump in order to keep herself, and her farrier safe. I bloody would. Its no worse than how another horse would tell her off in the field.
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I agree. We have a gelding at our yard who is a perfect example of why big, strong horses need to have boundaries in place at all times. Unfortunately, this lad has a novice owner who spoils him rotten, and to be honest he's becoming downright dangerous. A good thwack on the bottom from an experienced horsewoman is just what he needs.
 
joycec said:
I'm a bit shocked that you want to publicise beating your horse to make it behave for the farrier, especially after leaving it unhandled for three weeks before he came to do it.
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Well shoot me down and report me, I have smacked mine on the rear - snout - chest many a time and told to behave.
Don't think AA has done anything wrong with reprimand the mare in this fashion as for you thinking she is wrong for publicizing it, either like it or lump.
 
Sweet as a nut this morning, apparently Ted kissed her bottom better.

She spent an hour on the wall, resting a leg, no trout pout and very peaceful whilst I fed the others and has now gone to bed. Mr Blue Pipe was leaning against the wall and she gave him a wide berth !

On a positive note, I have a pony on the market at the moment and the last people to try him were show cob producers so I asked them to assess her. All positive comments and I was rather pleased, just need her to do 15.1 and we might have a bit of fun with her.

On a less positive note the farrier merrily told me Ted must be nearing 17h and had grown lots since he saw the horse last - oh joy.
 
Mine is given boundaries too, it does them no favours to coddle them!

AA it is so good to know that somewhere out there is a horse that will be forever taller than mine :)
 
Now look here, I am short, fat, ancient and windy (in more ways than one !), my big horse days are over. Remember back in 2012 you all encouraged me to buy the cob mare, all 15.2 of her and I had never ridden anything under 17.2 for years beforehand. I have grown to like a little one now.

I have just looked at the picture on page one of this thread, what the heck has happened, even I am wondering if it is the same horse.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Now look here, I am short, fat, ancient and windy (in more ways than one !), my big horse days are over. Remember back in 2012 you all encouraged me to buy the cob mare, all 15.2 of her and I had never ridden anything under 17.2 for years beforehand. I have grown to like a little one now.

I have just looked at the picture on page one of this thread, what the heck has happened, even I am wondering if it is the same horse.
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He's really blossomed...admittedly into a Giant Redwood...just shows how well he's been looked after! What are you going to do with him?
 
Well said AdorableAlice. We have always trained our horses to be well mannered and the occasional reminder does them no harm. I find it's more the noise that Mr Blue pipe makes that has an effect.
 
AA, am I right in thinking that the blue pipe in question would make a kind of echoing 'bong' sort of sound? I think I remember seeing something like it in the past.
As the owner of a homebred mare who has always tested the boundaries, particularly with farriers ( although it has to be said, for the last three trims she has exhibited exemplary behaviour 😊) a very occasional smack on the behind with something that surprised rather than hurt her might be just what I need. Where would I purchase such an article? Or might you be persuaded to chop a lump off Mr BP and send forthwith to Kent?
 
AdorableAlice said:
We are all different in how we deal with horses. I bred Alice, she has been raised properly and is quiet in all ways. In the first 12 months she had corrective trimming every 3 weeks to right a wonky foot. She does not fear the farrier in any way.

Yesterday she came out of the field in a strop and remained in a strop which escalated to pushing the farrier around with her shoulders, sitting down and a couple of rears when her fronts were on his knee. This was all done with ears back, a rolled back eye and a tight mouth. In my opinion it is the owners responsibility to produce a safe horse for the farrier to work with, it is not the farriers responsibility to train a horse. I am lucky with mine as he is a good friend and spent a lot of time with the feral cart horse before attempting to trim him.

Sadly Alice choose yesterday as her first real 'try it on' day, there will be more to come no doubt. Her punishment was one very well timed and sharp smack with a tool that makes an impressive noise but does not cut into a horse. If you have not been around horses for many years I doubt you will see blue pipe around many yards now. The end result was a very shocked horse that remained tied up and was given several minutes to digest what had happened. The farrier remained at her side but no one was at her head. When she dropped her head, released her back and began to lick and chew the farrier finished her without any further problem, and rewarded her with a scratch, kind words and a polo mint.

She threw another tantrum whilst tied up (I expect mine to tie up and stand for however long without question). She was not punished, just ignored and left to get over herself. She does not try to break away because I use the pressure and release methods to convince them they cannot break away. Today she will come over alone and be tied up again before being left stabled for the day. I am responsible for ensuring she has every chance to become a pleasant and polite horse in the future and whilst she is unlikely to ever be for sale, I still have to ensure anyone could handle her.

I am sorry I upset you Joycec, three weeks is not a long time to leave a horse unhandled if they have been raised properly. Last year they were left for 12 months due to my illness and still behaved for routine stuff handled by other people. I am hoping yesterday was a one off, but Alice is just coming into the 'make me' stage so it is interesting times ahead.
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Well said - you did exactly the right thing.
 
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