My next equine project horse

[AdorableAlice]

41. Long time lurker. Had to give up horses early 90's. Your writing is amazing. You really should write a book! Big horse, Ted, Alice and Martha.. you have all kept me going through dark days struggling with the impacts of the dreaded 'C'.

Sending you love and strength from all in Team Ted, you can do it. The forum kept me company when I was so ill too. So much support and good will. I hope you are getting through the bad days and can see better days ahead.

 

[AdorableAlice]

The all grown up new thread for Ted might be on hold for a minute as he reminded us how unpredictable he can be. I can't make my mind up whether I am disappointed in him or not.

He stood like a rock for his first shoes on Tuesday with not even a shuffle with the burning. He was quite interested in what was going on, polite and patient just like a grown up should be so when I got the text to say all well I was very pleased. In the evening I watched him trot towards me and was relieved to see that he didn't move like a hackney crossed with a baby elephant.

Yesterday he was to be hacked and I left a message to say brushing boots and knee boots on. His hacking buddy was to be Martha ridden by the very sexy soldier you all heard about earlier in Ted's thread, who was visiting us. We haven't seen him for a long time and he is no longer a serving Blues and Royals soldier and is now a very nearly a qualified SRN, 3 years older, than the last time he visited, still single and still very handsome. Good heavens this post is turning pornographic !

I am just so thankful the ex soldier hadn't forgotten his horse handling skills and was present when it all went very wrong. This is the message left on my voicemail. 'We tacked up and Ted was totally chilled, no problem putting his boots on, led him to the block and just as I put my foot in the iron Ted exploded, reared came down went up again and started boxing with his front legs. Don't worry I am ok, but I rode him without boots, hope you don't mind'

WHAT !! it was ages before I could get out of the meeting I was in to ring and speak. Talk about understatement, the ex soldier tells me that Ted didn't like his boots and he is a big horse when he stands up but he managed to grab Ted round the neck and hold on whilst his rider got the boots off. Ted chilled immediately and they had a nice hack out. I needed a gin and a lie down just listening to what had happened.

The horse has worn brushing boots all round as part of his desensitising work before he was broken but he has never had knee boots on and that was such an extreme reaction. I have been flattened by an exploding Ted several times and he was smaller than he is now, not funny at all. That will teach me not to take him for granted and to remember to introduce new things more carefully.

 

[Cobbytype]

Sorry to hear Mr T had a fright with his brushing boots - I bet it's the first time he's actually felt them on his legs (now they are clipped out).

 

[Nici]

Poor boy. All the best with him, he's in very good hands from what I read!

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Glad no one was hurt. These things happen, it's never pleasant when they do though! It sounds like the situation was managed perfectly. I'm sure Ted will get his head around the concept of wearing knee boots eventually

 

[Micropony]

Do you think he would find these easier to cope with? http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/shires-westropp-neoprene-knee-brushing-boots-1812.html
Someone on here recommended them and I wonder if they might feel less restrictive for him than proper knee boots?

ETA these are what I used on my youngster when we were learning to road hack down steep hills without falling over our own legs whilst gawping into people's gardens, pushchairs etc. I have to confess to making him wear them in the stable, for turnout (his friends did laugh) and in the school before venturing out in heavy traffic, but he took to them with no fuss. Micropony isn't as complicated as your Ted though...

 

[Merrymoles]

My own bogwoppit finally had his legs clipped a couple of weeks ago with the help of a bit of sedation - mind you, the finished product is nowhere near as tidy as Ted's as he still did River Dance throughout the process.

However, he had a similar reaction when I put his reflective leg bands, which he has worn for years, on his back legs - only it was a back end reaction with lots of kicking out, rather than Ted's front end explosion. I had to whip them off sharpish, at which point he completely chilled out.

He has since worn them with no issues so I can only put it down to the "feel" of them on his clipped legs - he probably didn't even realise they were there before!

 

[D66]

42. you could always write stories about sexy soldiers and taxi drivers if Ted decides to be boring - which I don't think he will.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Wow...naughty Ted!!!

 

[hibshobby]

Oh crikey - but it sounds like you had the right jockey at the perfect time. Sexy (ex) soldier sounds like a real poppet. My horse cannot cope with brushing boots and refuses to walk with them on, preferring to drop his head and rub them in front and to stamp if they are on behind. I never have worked out why but ten years on he's marginally better with back boots, but the same with fronts. I reckoned the possibility of a wound from brushing was worth the risk and have never used them since. He's like it with travel boots as well, and bandages with gamgee on his legs. Mine is IdxTB and has hairy legs, rather then feathers if that makes sense, but has had his legs clipped out for the last year. Maybe some just don't like things on legs ? Interested to hear other opinions.

 

[AdorableAlice]

The featherless fool and his girlfriend did a Cricklands/beginner dressage morning. I will cover it with the good and the bad.

The good - they didn't squawk at one another. The venue's cake was exceptional. I got home in time to see most of Badminton on the red button.

The bad - just what part of WHOA do you not understand, you great big fool. This is prelim 1 not the blooming 1.20 at Kempton Park.

There were only 4 comments on his sheet and 3 of those were 'hurried', god knows what the judge's comment said as her writing resembled spider vomit.

Prelim 14 followed, Ted's rider announced he was going to try to ride very quietly in the hope that Ted would relax, well Ted didn't, in fact he went at the speed of light frightened the be jesus out of his rider who then forgot the test - wait for it - 3, yes THREE times. Very few comments again, 'against the hand', understatement. 6 for the riding which is unheard of and triggered a huge sulk with much muttering of 'bet she couldn't ride Ted'.

I found solace in another piece of cake at this point.

Alice tried hard, she had never been to this venue before and was a little spooky but she got through both tests with lowish scores and no drama. Again few comments and couldn't read the judge's comment again.

We came home and were very much saddened to read that Auslander's Little Ted had lost his battle. Big Ted sends his best wishes to Auslander and I am sure all who follow this story do too.

 

[Roxylola]

Very sad news indeed about little Ted.
To be fair to the judge if your rider was trying to ride quietly and Ted was ignoring this he probably seemed a bit ineffective (no need to pass this on as I realise he is anything but ineffective) that probably is how it looked.
Cross the judge off as one to avoid, if you can't read the comments it's useless!

 

[splashgirl45]

oh dear, one step forwards and a few back...naughty ted.. at least the cake was nice!!!!!!

 

[AdorableAlice]

It was always going to happen and I suppose the fact he has been broken almost 2 years now and he has not produced the 'WHY' card until today has to be judged as a bonus. He has been thoroughly searched, all pockets and secret stashes under the hedges, for the 'MAKE ME' card. I sincerely hope he hasn't got one of those hidden away anywhere.

We had a lesson with Nicky Patrick today, who thought Ted was rather sweet. Ted spent the 45 minutes along these lines -

Bend around the inside leg, can't, try again, why ?
Slow down - you mean stop ?, no, but I want to?
Do a 10m circle at E - Weeeeeeeeeeeee, I am a motorbike, try it on the other rein, weeeeeeee, I am a motorbike with a puncture.

Take a break, oops, I tripped up and nearly went splat. Rider complains of whiplash.

Just try to collect the trot a little - emergency stop ?- NO ! get on with your work Ted, can't I need a wee.

Have a flipping wee then, can't too tense, well walk a bit and relax, can't I need a wee, are we done yet ?

So the journey home was a little awkward. My rider asks me what I got from the lesson, well, erm....he travelled well and was polite and there were bits when he looked lovely and light in the hand and in front of the leg and he had a wee - eventually. Plus Nicky said we could go back and I think she meant it.

We are competing tomorrow, I just hope Ted The Twit is a bit more on side than he was today, because if he isn't I am leaving him tied to the fence at Swallowfields and going home without him.

 

[McFluff]

Aww poor Ted. We all have off days. Hopefully he was getting it all out his system before tomorrow. Good luck ��

 

[Clannad48]

I can just imagine a long row of HHO Forumer lorries waiting just in case you do decide to leave him tied to the fence tomorrow. Pity he won't fit in my trailer

 

[ycbm]

Just try to collect the trot a little - emergency stop ?- NO ! get on with your work Ted, can't I need a wee.

Have a flipping wee then, can't too tense, well walk a bit and relax, can't I need a wee, are we done yet ?

 

[meesha]

Another brilliant and hilarious report, sounds like Ted has big big pants on and is growing up, I am sure he will redeem himself today.

 

[teacups]

Good luck today! Sounds as though you will need to take some four-leaf clover, a rabbit's foot, some lucky heather, and a stiff drink. :biggrin3:

 

[AdorableAlice]

FREE TO A BAD HOME.

It is official we are in the Kevin stage, I knew we were close but this morning has confirmed it.

The feral fool is in dire need of a clip, oh the joy of owning carthorses. So I climb out of bed at 4.30am with the aim of getting him done whilst it is still cool and the yard is quiet. He comes out of the field with 'Suspicious' stuck on his forehand and is immediately a pillock when he sees the extension cable. By 5am he is climbing the walls and I am preparing a noose to strangle him with.

By 7am I have nearly finished him, I am exhausted and so wanting to beat the holy xxxx out of him and so wishing I had taken the easy route and filled him with ACP before I started, but no he was reasonable when I did his body the last time and I don't want to resort to dope for anything other than his hind legs, plus I wasn't doing his legs this morning, just his furry and very large frame. He is 6 next month, a grown up, polite and obliging young horse who has achieved so much and I have almost forgotten all the grief I have been through with him. Maybe I am too complacent now.

With the end in sight I just had the lines to do on his off hind stifle to do, that is when he lost it and kicked the clippers straight out of my hand smashing the head off them and catching my wrist, thank god it is just the clippers smashed, I can do without a summer in plaster. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. He has gone for a long hack with his rider with instructions to tie him up somewhere and leave him for the gypsies to find and I am trying to find the tube of arnica. Flipping creature !!

 

[Meredith]

Oh dear, AA, it happens to us all, doesn't it? We get in a perfect frame of mind in a seemingly perfect situation and then the "beloved" horse decides they won't follow the script!

Hoping the clippers can be repaired and more importantly your wrist is OK soon.

Perhaps you might give Ted the script the night before so he has time to learn it thoroughly

 

[Adopter]

Tedis almost 6, time does fly. It is said big horses do not fully mature until 7 or 8, so maybe as you say you will have a Kevin not Ted for a while.There are times when we all wish we could make our animals understand we are on their side and trying to help and make things more comfortable.

Ted will probably have given his rider a lovely hack, and I hope your wrist is soon better, Ted has some aim, glad it is not more serious for you.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Beyond repair by the look of things, the casing is sheared. They are very old and a spare set, had it been the good set Ted would have been make into sausages immediately.

 

[JenHunt]

wow that is some damage!! hope your wrist is ok AA!!

 

[thistledonicely]

Hope it was the clippers that bore the brunt and not your wrist!!

 

[ycbm]

Beyond repair by the look of things, the casing is sheared. They are very old and a spare set, had it been the good set Ted would have been make into sausages immediately.

Ooops.

 

[JenHunt]

finally all caught up!! what news from Team Ted and Alice?

 

[AdorableAlice]

finally all caught up!! what news from Team Ted and Alice?

Well yes, Ted is sulking because Alice only went and won a whole £12.00 on Saturday and she spent it on make up and tights instead of sweets and bubble gum.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I know you have another life, AA, (like work, for instance, boo), but we're waiting here for a report here on Alice's exploits on Saturday, seeing as she has been mentioned in despatches on a certain ID stallion's FB page .

 

[Greybird]

I'd love to see photos of Alice looking beautiful too, and I was wondering how Tim was getting on?