My next equine project horse

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Please can we have more photos of the grown up TED :)

Grown up Ted


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He really has grown into a stunning boy, and a credit to you AA �� I have read this post with mixed emotions from the start, it's so lovely for Ted to have come so far, and for you to be doing so well with your recovery.
 
I just had to go back to your opening post in this thread. I can't believe it's 3 years. Ted has matured magnificently.

Who would have thought that 10 month old gangly creature would turn into Superted. (obviously you were a very good judge of the adult the youngster would turn into).

So.... going back to your original post.... what does hubby think now? ;)
No need to hide Ted any more (blooming good job, he's a bit too big to hide anywhere!!)
 
I just had to go back to your opening post in this thread. I can't believe it's 3 years. Ted has matured magnificently.

Who would have thought that 10 month old gangly creature would turn into Superted. (obviously you were a very good judge of the adult the youngster would turn into).

So.... going back to your original post.... what does hubby think now? ;)
No need to hide Ted any more (blooming good job, he's a bit too big to hide anywhere!!)

It was my dearest friend who is also my vet that spotted Ted as a foal. I didn't really want another and when he arrived I thought he was a load of rubbish. So much for my judgement ! I remember her saying 'he will be a really nice sort' in fact every time he knocked me flat, trod on me or cleared off, I remembered her words ! She was right, as she always is and I am looking forward to her riding Ted.

As for the husband, he warmed to Ted quite early on despite the various incidents, breakages and tantrums from me and the horse. Of course he is not party to exactly how much money disappeared in the breaking process, he didn't notice the 'it will only be 6 weeks' turn into 16 weeks. It did help that I did Alice in less than 6 weeks and I did not take him to see Ted very often, so he kind of didn't notice too much at all. He remains blissfully unaware that I raided the ISA for a new saddle. I am ready in case he does though, he did comment that he hoped to see me ride Ted more than I ride the cob mare. Of course I will I said, just need to find a saddle to fit first - sorted !

He loves all the horses and I couldn't do it without him. His sleep in is about to end any second now, rubber mats to lift and power wash, he will adore that job - not !

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Gorgeous boy. Any pictures of Alice? (Being greedy!)

Alice and her young rider yesterday
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Pleased with Alice, she has not been ridden for a week, but quite happily will go out into the paddock and be sensible. School and studies are getting in the way for her lovely young rider to do much at the moment.

Followed by the superstar special boy giving Alice's young rider a feel of sideways and real paces. The horse is 22 now and has been retired for 3 years following career ending injury. It amazes me he how he can be tacked up once in a blue moon and remember everything. He is so useful for my young rider to get a feel and to learn to sit properly.

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AA, all of your horses are wonderful and a credit to you and the team around you. It's been a roller coaster for you over the last few years, and it's so wonderful to see things going the right way for you. You deserve it!
 
An update from Team Ted and his friends.

Despite having Ted trained to stand by the block for me to get off I decided to get off onto the ground and knackered my knee, how stupid can I get. Hobbling well I decided I must lunge him at least once or twice a week, so last Thursday I tacked him up and put my hat etc on thinking I could lunge him and then just sit on him in the yard to keep my confidence ticking over more than his.

He went nicely and then out of the blue exploded. I had put a neck strap on him because I had planned to get on him. The neck strap had come forwards and as it went up his neck he panicked, it actually ended up flying over his head and down the lunge line. Thankfully he did seek me for reassurance and stopped quickly but he was very upset. I really did not want to get on him but knew if I didn't it would be harder the next time. He was fine and we ambled around the yard before I slithered off onto the block.

Hacked him yesterday but trot was impossible, god knows what I have done to my knee but it hurts big time. He was a good boy and I was relieved I rode him out. Two tiny bits of work in 10 days is not great for a four year old and I am beginning to think he will be turned away. His girlfriend, Slack Alice, how is it possible to be in season all the time ! is going well. She has been hacking across country but yesterday went across her first stubble field. The noise bothered her and she did a silly walk, my friend called it her moon walk.

Today's moment was me shrieking for help following a rope malfunction. The big cob mare was clipped and as I led her back to her box she dived at the open doored feed shed, now bearing in mind I am extremely lame, I hung on for grim death whilst screaming nooooooooooooooooooooo followed by some naughty words and then the rope broke at the clip, new rope and the clip just came apart.

My feed shed is long and narrow with a big door at either end. It is an emporium of mega proportions with lots of interesting things for a marauding cob. My friend heard the screams and arrived at the other end of the shed. We both told the cob to 'don't turn round', the cob at that point was investigating a box of antibiotic sachets. Enticed with an apple she picked her way through to the other end and out into the yard. Phew, what a mess that could have been, I bought her a dually when I first had her, I think I better use it again whilst I am hobbling, she took advantage of me, rotten old boot !

So with just a few weeks to the clocks changing do I turn the four year olds away or do I expect them to be ridden twice a week and behave.
 
lovely update, as always, and your old horse looks fantastic.....I would say turn them away so you can all have a nice break but still do a bit of ground work if you can just to keep them disciplined.....your horses all look great ..hope your knee soon gets better....
 
I'm hoping to turn Sister Bridgette away after this weekend.
Although struggling with the world asking me why would I do that? (errrr she is 4)

Leave them on a good note and come back to them in spring :)
 
I'm hoping to turn Sister Bridgette away after this weekend.
Although struggling with the world asking me why would I do that? (errrr she is 4)

Leave them on a good note and come back to them in spring :)

That is good to hear. I have been stressing over Ted doing nothing because of my knackered knee. I need to get it into my head that he is now a normal young horse, rather than a full of anxiety wild carthorse. I had an in depth chat with the breaker who assures me Ted will not forget anything. In reality it is only a month until the clocks change and riding will be weekends only anyway, so why am I stressing in the first place !

Alice does not worry me at all, she is 4 going on 14 in her outlook of life. I most certainly need to put all the bad and difficult experiences I had with Ted out of my mind.
 
Lovely photos a usual, many thanks!

Re turning him away the other thing is that should you feel nervous in spring, you could always have the breakers do a little refresher course. Even if Ted doesn't need it, he'd enjoy it and it would help you.
 
What a big wuss.

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Now listen Ted, having a girl test out the deadly pole is just cowardly. Telling her to go first is not helping your image.

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Who needs girls
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So pleased with the babies today, neither of them ridden for over a week, but both hacked out, passed heavy traffic and played in the school, all under the wing of their rock steady Aunty Martha.


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It seems I have to issue an apology to Ted the not such a Twit.

Can't believe I am typing these words. Ted is actually very intelligent. Finally his brain, body and feet are communicating and wow, does he soak education up.

Yesterday he was shown leg yield from the ground using the word 'over'. He got that very easily in both directions, so we progressed to mounted, put the aid on and used 'over' again. My furry little lad sailed across the arena with such ease we could not believe what we were watching. Must have been a fluke, do it again, perfect in both directions. He is gradually developing a little presence and he did have a little 'look at me' about him when he was rewarded for his work.

He hacked home from the school and passed a huge tractor with a plough on. Little things please little minds I suppose, but I felt rather emotional when I turned him out. It really is all starting to come together now, at last he is a horse that wants to be with people, to try his best and enjoy the experience of being cared for properly.
 
It seems I have to issue an apology to Ted the not such a Twit.

Can't believe I am typing these words. Ted is actually very intelligent. Finally his brain, body and feet are communicating and wow, does he soak education up.

Yesterday he was shown leg yield from the ground using the word 'over'. He got that very easily in both directions, so we progressed to mounted, put the aid on and used 'over' again. My furry little lad sailed across the arena with such ease we could not believe what we were watching. Must have been a fluke, do it again, perfect in both directions. He is gradually developing a little presence and he did have a little 'look at me' about him when he was rewarded for his work.

He hacked home from the school and passed a huge tractor with a plough on. Little things please little minds I suppose, but I felt rather emotional when I turned him out. It really is all starting to come together now, at last he is a horse that wants to be with people, to try his best and enjoy the experience of being cared for properly.

Such a dude!
Hope Alice is watching in horror and thinking of how she can out do him in the "good ranks"
 
What a fantastic update, you have been so patient with him and it was his lucky day when he joined your herd!

No wonder you felt emotional, your youngsters have done so well and they seem to show so much promise for the future.

Hope your knee is recovering.
 
Such a dude!
Hope Alice is watching in horror and thinking of how she can out do him in the "good ranks"

Alice is strutting her stuff, she had to give Ted a lead over a pole. He thought it was a crocodile.

My knee is improving at last, apparently I have been a miserable and bad tempered old bint for a month according to the husband. I rode the barge cob this morning and remembered to dismount onto the block, avoiding a crash landing on my nearly mended knee.
 
Ted has been promoted and trusted to do a special job today. My special old lad is poorly and in his barn, Ted is alongside and in charge of keeping the old lad calm. I did have to explain twice and do a diagram for Ted but the penny dropped and he is taking his caring duties seriously.

Having been up in the night staying awake during this mornings meeting is going to be a struggle. Red Bull purchase on the way to work I think !
 
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