Pictures Penny update - growing up and settling down

[WelshHoarder]

I though some of you might like a quick update on baby Penny, as I’ve just realised it’s a month to the day that she came into our lives

She’s living the life of Riley; covered in mud, working out her place in the herd (still bottom, bless her!), and generally chilling out and being a horse. Other young Welshie, Blaze, is still acting like a bit of a brat, but it’s only around food now; I keep catching them grooming each other so they are getting along really. She’s also made a new friend in next door’s yard cat…

The first visit from our farrier was a success, a bit twitchy with her hinds but she did let him trim and rasp everything, so I’ll take that as a win (Blaze has taken 18 months to let all four feet be rasped). She’s happy in a rug when it’s blowing a hoolie and wet - she’d been indoors a lot in her old home, so doesn’t have the yak coat I’d like for a full naked winter this year. Next year, fingers crossed she’ll grow in a thicker coat! I’ve started a bit of gentle groundwork with her, just working on her being happy tied, groomed (very ticklish belly), feet done and getting out of my space when I ask her. Although her habit of following like a Labrador and nudging you with her head is cute now, I know it won’t be so cute when she’s bigger. On the whole, it’s all a resounding success so far, if a very steep learning curve for all of us! She’s an absolute sweetheart, very people oriented, and more than happy to come up for a scratch and then mooch off to do her own thing again.

Oh, and I’ve managed to do a rough string test on her, which both came out at around 15.1/15.2, which she comes out around that I’ll be very happy indeed.

A few more recent photos for you all:

 

[honetpot]

That looks like a sensible kind young horse. What a face.

 

[WelshHoarder]

That looks like a sensible kind young horse. What a face.

She really is, especially for a Welshie - certainly not too many Welsh histrionics so far, although she did throw some interesting shapes this morning when I dragged a builder’s bag of hay into the field rather than the normal wheelbarrow. She quickly sussed out that the scary white thing had food in it though, and all was good in her world again ?

 

[hobo]

What a lovely sweet face sounds like she is going to be a star.

 

[JJS]

She’s so lovely! And my goodness am I envious of how dry your fields are!

 

[J&S]

Very pretty pony.x

 

[PurBee]

She’s so lovely! And my goodness am I envious of how dry your fields are!

me too…what county/area are in you in op…dry fields in february seem like a miracle!

Penny is adorable…she’s even made friends with the cat ?

 

[Berpisc]

Ah thats a good update, she looks a real star.

 

[usaequestrian]

She looks beautiful! So does the little black and white cat

 

[Birker2020]

Lovely photos, great update!

 

[WelshHoarder]

me too…what county/area are in you in op…dry fields in february seem like a miracle!

Penny is adorable…she’s even made friends with the cat ?

We’re in Kent - they’re miraculously dry really for this point in the winter, normally the little paddock inside the gate is a total bog. They look rather less lovely today after yesterday’s rain - back to slipping around in the top layer of slick whilst dodging snorting Welsh dragons (and that’s mostly the young C!), but on the whole we’ve been really lucky this year. Actually wishing for some rain now though, need the grass to come through on the resting side...

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

She's really lovely ?

 

[maggiestar]

Very pretty! She looks lovely

 

[WelshHoarder]

It’s been ages since I’ve remembered to do an update, sorry! Poor Penny has been a bit on the back burner as little Welshie had an eye problem back in March that ended up diagnosed as uveitis, we!re finally back to normal but it’s been a long couple of months, with box rest on a neighbours yard, and a slow return to turnout and finally work. Penny ended up as box rest buddy, as retired pony had a meltdown at being separated from her best buddy, and the arthritic TB doesn’t like being stabled at the best of times - at least Penny was used to being stabled a lot in her recent past, and to be fair to her she coped really well. The upside of all that is that her and little Welshie are now really good friends, little Welshie is still boss of the pair but she’s stopped being a complete brat ?.

Penny is now growing up, (literally I think!) and starting to fill out now she’s back in the field full time and on summer grazing. Her cheek is starting to show through now she’s settled in - she’s a bit of a madam, but manages to make me laugh every single day, whether it’s spooking at her own snorts, busting some impressive moves or just going 0-60 in the blink of an eye for no reason. She’s getting better with the farrier every time he comes, he was getting a neck groom from her last time, so she’s clearly feeling much more comfortable with him! She was also pretty chilled for the vet for her jabs, teeth and health check.

I’m so pleased with her so far - she’s daft as a brush, full of character, and shaping up to be a lovely young horse

 

[Sleipnir]

What a gorgeous young lady has she become!

 

[Bradsmum]

What a nice way to grow up. She is indeed gorgeous.

 

[J&S]

A nice looking horse, a pleasure to look at!

 

[WelshHoarder]

Golly, it’s been absolutely months since I’ve updated on not-very-little Penny! She’s grown up so much over the summer, stands around 14.2hh now at not quite 2.5, so still really hoping to get the 15hh out of her, and has filled out too. She’s a little monkey (typical Welsh baby), super smart and she can definitely jump - she’s let herself out of the strip grazing a few times, and there’s no evidence of her having gone through. We’ve had a few challenges with her getting a bit bossy and dominant, not helped by having lost our old boss mare in May, and the other two won’t really put her back in her place like Blue used to. The plan was to not do very much at all with her until next spring, but now we’ve started some groundwork lessons with our instructor, to install a few manners and a bit of respect before she gets too big for her boots. She’s so intelligent and picks up everything really quickly. Much better for the farrier these days - the loose end of his work belt is an endless source of fascination for her ?. So on the whole I’m still very pleased with her - she’s challenging, but then most clever babies are I guess. And underneath all the mischief is a typical Welshie heart of gold .

A few more recent photos for you…

 

[crazyandme]

Oh god she reminds me so much of my old Welshie. She is beautiful! I want one!

 

[babymare]

She really is growing up! She is beautiful ?

 

[Ali27]

Oh, she looks just absolutely lovely ?

 

[Jeni the dragon]

She really is growing into a smart young horse!