Pippin the pony

[Titchy Reindeer]

As I have already posted about him in at least three different threads, I thought I would create his own thread for my first (and likely only) home bred pony.



Peregrin, "Pippin", was born on the 2nd of April and has been growing like a weed ever since. He's introduced himself to solid feed within days and is now merrily stealing his Mum's and his Aunt's food. Mum doesn't seem to mind, Aunt can get a bit grouchy and have a squeal and a leg wave at him: thank goodness someone is trying to teach him some manners as Mum is definitely a bit of a soft touch. He's a curious little thing and feels the need to put everything in his mouth, I caught him trying to pull his Aunt's fly mask off the other day and Mum's head collar is fair game as well when she's wearing it. I've just had my own hair cut, which should reduce sneaky tugs on my plait while my attention is elsewhere.


Licking Mum's bowl


Stealing Aunt's food

The little guy is getting better and better at having his headcollar put on and yesterday I led Pippin and his Mum down from the field through the village and my dad lead Aunt Old Lady. The plan for next week is for me to try leading all three with Dad there for back up and hopefully after that I should be back to being independent for moving horses around.


I got the three in one picture! (I really need to up my photographic game)

We also practiced the first tiniest bit of separation from Mum. Pippin stayed inside the stable while I trimmed one foot with Little Madam just outside the stable and easily visible. I did the other three feet inside the stable. Next time, we'll try to do two feet outside the stable and I need to work on Pippin giving his own feet, but one thing at a time. In the field, he is an independent soul, almost giving me a heart attack one evening when I arrived to see Little Madam on her own - he was was just off with his Aunt out of sight in the other section of the field.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Oh big big like….andso envious of that green stuff!

 

[onemoretime]

He's gorgeous. What is his and mums breeding?

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Oh big big like….andso envious of that green stuff!

We're supposed to be getting alternate rain and 20°C over the next week or so, so I suspect the green stuff will be growing like crazy! Along with all the other plants that I wish would take a bit more time.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

He's gorgeous. What is his and mums breeding?

Thank you.

Pippin is by Ugo des Clas * Dorchamp (Machno Carwyn x Thunder du Blin)
Little Madam is by Melvin Candy (Linaro x Selim de Siam)

 

[ycbm]

He's a smart little thing
.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

He's a smart little thing
.

Thank you.

I'm completely in love. He's cute, bold and clever. Mum and Aunt are both very sensible horses, so I'm hoping that between us we can bring up a useful member of the equine population.

 

[Barton Bounty]

He is a little cutie

 

[tda]

I've found mares can be very tolerant of behaviour from their colt foals! Good job he has auntie to help

 

[FinnishLapphund]

He looks absolutely adorable!

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

He's divine

 

[94lunagem]

He’s absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Trouper]

He's just gorgeous.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

I've found mares can be very tolerant of behaviour from their colt foals! Good job he has auntie to help

Yep, he's definitely mommy's little boy!

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Congratulations, they’re all beautiful

 

[SEL]

Gorgeous!

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I will pass them on to Pippin and his mum. Though I may ration them a bit, just in case Pippin gets big headed!

 

[Sanversera]

He's totally completely 100% adorable

 

[LeneHorse]

Aw what a sweetie pie - no wonder you are besotted

 

[Merry Maxmas]

Oh he's gorgeous

 

[AppyLover1996]

Oh Pippin - aren't you just the cutest little boy

I echo about Momma's being chilled with their colts - Rabbit my 2 year old got away with everything with his Momma and was effectively raised by the other mares who had no problems in telling him to pack it in when he got too boisterous He's a well behaved member of equine society now, but he does like to try his luck with the other horses in the field - he's currently sporting some missing mane, a cut on his butt, a few scratches on his face and a small cut on his hock from his recent antics...

What are your plans for Pippin? I know it's a long while away but it would be exciting to hear what you have planned for the little cutie pie

 

[MuddyMonster]

Oh gosh, Pippin is just adorable Even more special for being a home bred. I shall eagerly await more updates!

Wishing you all many years of fun & future adventure's together X

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Oh Pippin - aren't you just the cutest little boy

I echo about Momma's being chilled with their colts - Rabbit my 2 year old got away with everything with his Momma and was effectively raised by the other mares who had no problems in telling him to pack it in when he got too boisterous He's a well behaved member of equine society now, but he does like to try his luck with the other horses in the field - he's currently sporting some missing mane, a cut on his butt, a few scratches on his face and a small cut on his hock from his recent antics...

What are your plans for Pippin? I know it's a long while away but it would be exciting to hear what you have planned for the little cutie pie

I really must ask: how did Rabbit come by his name? It's a lovely and unusual name and I'm curious.

Part of the plan is to get Pippin a companion of a similar age before weaning so that he can play and use up his energy with a (hopefully) willing partner. Unfortunately the one that is sort of earmarked for me (nothing official yet) isn't due until August, so a bit more patience required.

My overall plans for Pippin is to keep for myself. I'm hoping to back him myself and later on compete him, probably at least show jumping, but eventing as well if I can manage it. I also want to go on adventures with him, hacking out, beach rides, forest rides, etc... So much to look forward to, and so much to teach him yet...
Current loose program is:

• improve leading and headcollaring (though he's pretty good at that already) - we have to go through the village to get to my various fields, so he's getting exposure to "stuff" (dogs, cars, people...)
• learn to give feet and have them picked out
• we've already got touching all over the body covered, and he's addicted to scratches. I'm taking the opportunity while he's still small enough to lean over him to scratch the other side
• sometime before weaning, have a go at loading and traveling in the trailer with mum
• get him castrated - I don't have the set up to deal with an entire male while having two mares at home
• the BIG one: weaning
• start some longer in hand hacks during his yearling summer, probably with alternating companion (Mum, Aunt, eventually the same aged friend, possibly throw in a dog as well)
• as a two year old, start in hand hacks on his own and see if I can trailer him to the riding school to discover surfaces, donkeys, more "stuff" and people, possibly ask if I can take him on a competition day and leave him in a paddock to soak up the atmosphere (Mum would be along for the ride as support the first few times)
• currently considering backing the summer of his 3 years and doing gentle hacking out over the summer before turning away for winter
• start "proper" work when he turns 4

This is of course subject to change depending on Pippin, life, etc...

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Oh gosh, Pippin is just adorable Even more special for being a home bred. I shall eagerly await more updates!

Wishing you all many years of fun & future adventure's together X

Thank you!
I'll try and post regular updates, which will act as a kind of diary about Pippin's growth and progression.

 

[AppyLover1996]

I really must ask: how did Rabbit come by his name? It's a lovely and unusual name and I'm curious.

Part of the plan is to get Pippin a companion of a similar age before weaning so that he can play and use up his energy with a (hopefully) willing partner. Unfortunately the one that is sort of earmarked for me (nothing official yet) isn't due until August, so a bit more patience required.

My overall plans for Pippin is to keep for myself. I'm hoping to back him myself and later on compete him, probably at least show jumping, but eventing as well if I can manage it. I also want to go on adventures with him, hacking out, beach rides, forest rides, etc... So much to look forward to, and so much to teach him yet...
Current loose program is:

• improve leading and headcollaring (though he's pretty good at that already) - we have to go through the village to get to my various fields, so he's getting exposure to "stuff" (dogs, cars, people...)
• learn to give feet and have them picked out
• we've already got touching all over the body covered, and he's addicted to scratches. I'm taking the opportunity while he's still small enough to lean over him to scratch the other side
• sometime before weaning, have a go at loading and traveling in the trailer with mum
• get him castrated - I don't have the set up to deal with an entire male while having two mares at home
• the BIG one: weaning
• start some longer in hand hacks during his yearling summer, probably with alternating companion (Mum, Aunt, eventually the same aged friend, possibly throw in a dog as well)
• as a two year old, start in hand hacks on his own and see if I can trailer him to the riding school to discover surfaces, donkeys, more "stuff" and people, possibly ask if I can take him on a competition day and leave him in a paddock to soak up the atmosphere (Mum would be along for the ride as support the first few times)
• currently considering backing the summer of his 3 years and doing gentle hacking out over the summer before turning away for winter
• start "proper" work when he turns 4

This is of course subject to change depending on Pippin, life, etc...

Aha - everyone asks how Rabbit came by his name - it has a short but cute story to go with it :

Rabbit was born on the 30th April which is known as National Buggs Bunny Day, I didn't know this day even existed until his breeder told me about it. It is apparently the day when Buggs Bunny first appeared in a cartoon on the tv back in 1938, and coupled with Rabbit's curious and cheeky nature, it made Rabbit the perfect name for him. It's actually one of the reasons I went to go view him at the stud - he had a cool name and he ticked all the boxes I was looking for when horse shopping The day was invented by Warner Bros Studio who are famous for all the Looney Tunes cartoons etc.

Aww that sounds amazing for Pippin - keeping everything crossed that it all pans out for you x

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Aha - everyone asks how Rabbit came by his name - it has a short but cute story to go with it :

Rabbit was born on the 30th April which is known as National Buggs Bunny Day, I didn't know this day even existed until his breeder told me about it. It is apparently the day when Buggs Bunny first appeared in a cartoon on the tv back in 1938, and coupled with Rabbit's curious and cheeky nature, it made Rabbit the perfect name for him. It's actually one of the reasons I went to go view him at the stud - he had a cool name and he ticked all the boxes I was looking for when horse shopping The day was invented by Warner Bros Studio who are famous for all the Looney Tunes cartoons etc.

Aww that sounds amazing for Pippin - keeping everything crossed that it all pans out for you x

That's a cute story. And I've just learned about Bugs Bunny day!

 

[AthenesOwl]

He’s utterly adorable!

 

[Trot_on]

Oh he's beautiful!

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Well Pippin is thriving and he's a joy to be around. I've been a bit down this week and his little nose stuffed in my face sniffing my tears definitely cheered me up. Welcome to the world of human emotions, Pippin, sorry it's so soon, but you may as well get used to it. I also got into a three way mutual grooming session with Pippin and Little Madam. Pippin loves scratches and I'm happy to oblige, but he's not allowed to groom humans back as he doesn't yet quite understand that teeth aren't acceptable, so he grooms his mum instead. Mum in turn grooms me (she's allowed to because she's ever so delicate and uses top lip only). It's lovely to be accepted as part of their little group and I'm currently in high demand due to my horsefly swatting skills. I'm always amazed at how well they judge intention as I have to hit quite hard and fast to kill the flies, the kind of movement that would normally have Little Madam shying back, but she happily stands there loose while I carry on with my insect murdering ways.

And here's my first attempt at linking a video, I hope it works...

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Well Pippin pony is two months old today! Time has been doing that weird thing where it feels like he's been around forever, but also how can it already be two months since he was born!

In two months, the little lad has already learnt quite a bit. Yesterday I led all three horses in from the field through the village on my own and the same again today the other way. Old Lady goes on the left (traffic side over here in France), Little Madam on the right and Pippin sandwiched between the two adults. This works well for us at the moment because the girls are a steadying influence and if Pippin tries to rush forward, I can easily block him with my elbow and the horse next to him. Today was surprisingly busy (think five cars - one with a trailer, a van and a digger emptying rocks over the wall into a truck parked in the road) and Pippin did incredibly well, he was little worried but took his cue from the mares and remained calm. I'm so proud of him.

Today was a day of firsts. We also picked out feet for the first time. I've been working on picking up his feet, but it's the first time I've managed to free up the second hand to actually pick them. All three horses also saw a chiropractic vet. All good with Pippin and she was impressed with his handling which I'm quite chuffed with. The Old Lady is doing really well for her age, though the chiropractor says she's got some arthritis in her hocks (not surprising at 28 yo) and she would benefit from a course of boswellia when the weather turns wet again in autumn. Little Madam has the most that needed sorting out, but that's what you get from foaling. Nothing terrible and I've been instructed to start some stretches with her to start building her abs back. Pippin was so relaxed he was snoring and the chiro had to step over his legs to do Little Madams stretches!

I've picked up Pippins wormer from the vet and I'll try to get it in to him tomorrow.


Pippin having a lie down in the stable. His foal coat is starting to disappear on his face and it looks like he might be darker than mum.



Pippin and Little Madam having a grooming session


Pippin checking out Mum's headcollar


And a video of an exhausted Pippin after the chiro visit. Who knew that foals snored?!