teapot
Well-Known Member
Oh he's edible 
Pippin the pony
- Thread starter Titchy Reindeer
- Start date
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
He's way too lovely to eat!Oh he's edible
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Well Pippin is now 3 months old and he's definitely a cheeky chap.
Saturday when I went to feed the horses, I found the headcollars that normally hang on the fence post pulled into the field (well, 2 out of 3, the third was in the water bucket! ) and the top strand of the gate had obviously been dragged along for a ride. Luckily, no one had thought to jump out of the field. My days of owning only sensible horses are over! I can't wait for his prospective friend to be born, so that he can entertain himself in a species appropriate way, and stop turning his attention to mischief!
He has also discovered carrots that are no longer safe in my waist band while I do Little Madam's carrot stretches.
I had to take Little Madam just out of the field to trim her feet in peace and the were both rather relaxed about it. I just had to switch the electric to the top strand for a bit as Pippin was getting ideas.
He's still cute and adorable, but growing fast and getting quite adventurous.
Please excuse Little Madam's too big headcollar. Hers is the one that got dunked, so she had to borrow Old Lady's temporarily.
Saturday when I went to feed the horses, I found the headcollars that normally hang on the fence post pulled into the field (well, 2 out of 3, the third was in the water bucket! ) and the top strand of the gate had obviously been dragged along for a ride. Luckily, no one had thought to jump out of the field. My days of owning only sensible horses are over! I can't wait for his prospective friend to be born, so that he can entertain himself in a species appropriate way, and stop turning his attention to mischief!
He has also discovered carrots that are no longer safe in my waist band while I do Little Madam's carrot stretches.
I had to take Little Madam just out of the field to trim her feet in peace and the were both rather relaxed about it. I just had to switch the electric to the top strand for a bit as Pippin was getting ideas.
He's still cute and adorable, but growing fast and getting quite adventurous.
Please excuse Little Madam's too big headcollar. Hers is the one that got dunked, so she had to borrow Old Lady's temporarily.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
He is utterly adorable though..
Orbi is a roaster and still in at everything and he is 5 so good luck with that
Orbi is a roaster and still in at everything and he is 5 so good luck with that
Dopeydapple
Well-Known Member
He's so utterly adorable
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Oh, I'm quite aware that the boys seem to be far more playful than the girls as a general rule. Nothing will be safe near him for at least the next decade! I'm going to have to be more disciplined with putting stuff out if reach.He is utterly adorable though..
Orbi is a roaster and still in at everything and he is 5 so good luck with that
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Thank you. He is adorable, it's his clever plan to try and get away with murder. I've just got to be strong and not fall for it.He's so utterly adorable
Dopeydapple
Well-Known Member
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Another first for Pippin, one I wished he'd wait another decade or two to carry out: the great escape.
All bar one of my fields are not attached to the house and stables, so don't have any water or electric to them. I have a large (250L) soft plastic water tank with a hose that goes in the back of my car with the seats down. In my wisdom, I decided to top up the horses water during my lunch break. Got there, let my car into the field, closed the gates before the horses ambled over from their shady spot at the end of the field. Horses had their feed while I filled up the water troughs (no frogs in there today!).
I go to let myself back out. Old Lady id busy drinking the fresh new water, Little Madam is intently grazing away and Pippin is trying to pull my rear windscreen wiper off. I open the gates, and start to turn the car round when Old Lady, who should know better, decides to amble out of the gateway onto the grass lane that lead to the field. I hop out of the car to turn her around and instead, she picks up speed turning right down towards other fields. Pippin thinks this is a great game and follows. Cue Little Madam suddenly remembering she's a mum and must supervise her son's escapades. All three are now cantering down the lane. I grab a headcollar, thinking if I can catch one, the others will follow. They've reach the field at the bottom of the lane and appear disappointed by its dried out state. Little Madam trots back towards, making my heart lift, she's coming back to me and I get them all back in the field and still be on time for my 2pm meeting... and she trots right past me! Back up the lane, picking up speed as she goes, followed by Pippin and Old Lady, and me far in the rear.
Of course, they don't turn back into their field, where would the fun be in that?! and head up onto the village road but I can't see which way they turn. I stop to grab all the headcollars, my car and my phone. I call in reinforcements (read parents) and decide to check the most dangerous way first in case they've headed towards the main road. Luckily for my heart, they're not that way. Then head back towards home and the stables, I've left the garden gate open, so perhaps they'll have gone in there. You guessed it, nope! I meet my reinforcements on the way. For some unknown reason, they have decided to come on foot, in sandals and without their mobile phone.... I decide to check the horses' other field in the village, in case they've decided to go somewhere familiar. Still no sign. I carry on driving around, call my neighbours on the bluetooth as I go. IN this time, my parents have vanished. Finally find my reinforcements again, and they take the car and mobile phone with them as they help me search this time.
I finally spot a horse up by the water tower, halfway to the next village. It's Little Madam and Pippin soon comes into view as I get nearer. Old Lady, realising she's on her own, makes an appearance from the other end of a stubble field. I give our location to the reinforcements and a carrot helps me collar Little Madam. Pippin was then surprisingly good to headcollar, seeing as we'd never done it in a high excitement context and he hasn't had it on for a few weeks. Dad grabbed Old Lady around the neck, but couldn't figure out the headcollar (he does know how, but I think a refresher course is in order!) so he had to let go and hold on to the other two while I caught my escape artist.
I then lead the lot of them back to their field, while dad shifted my car out of the middle of the road and followed me back. I didn't undo any headcollars until the gate was properly shut. Then lift back to get my car and back to work, having missed my 2pm meeting (luckily nothing too important). I currently hate my horses, which I am determinedly hanging onto, because I know I will forgive them the minute I see them tonight.
All bar one of my fields are not attached to the house and stables, so don't have any water or electric to them. I have a large (250L) soft plastic water tank with a hose that goes in the back of my car with the seats down. In my wisdom, I decided to top up the horses water during my lunch break. Got there, let my car into the field, closed the gates before the horses ambled over from their shady spot at the end of the field. Horses had their feed while I filled up the water troughs (no frogs in there today!).
I go to let myself back out. Old Lady id busy drinking the fresh new water, Little Madam is intently grazing away and Pippin is trying to pull my rear windscreen wiper off. I open the gates, and start to turn the car round when Old Lady, who should know better, decides to amble out of the gateway onto the grass lane that lead to the field. I hop out of the car to turn her around and instead, she picks up speed turning right down towards other fields. Pippin thinks this is a great game and follows. Cue Little Madam suddenly remembering she's a mum and must supervise her son's escapades. All three are now cantering down the lane. I grab a headcollar, thinking if I can catch one, the others will follow. They've reach the field at the bottom of the lane and appear disappointed by its dried out state. Little Madam trots back towards, making my heart lift, she's coming back to me and I get them all back in the field and still be on time for my 2pm meeting... and she trots right past me! Back up the lane, picking up speed as she goes, followed by Pippin and Old Lady, and me far in the rear.
Of course, they don't turn back into their field, where would the fun be in that?! and head up onto the village road but I can't see which way they turn. I stop to grab all the headcollars, my car and my phone. I call in reinforcements (read parents) and decide to check the most dangerous way first in case they've headed towards the main road. Luckily for my heart, they're not that way. Then head back towards home and the stables, I've left the garden gate open, so perhaps they'll have gone in there. You guessed it, nope! I meet my reinforcements on the way. For some unknown reason, they have decided to come on foot, in sandals and without their mobile phone.... I decide to check the horses' other field in the village, in case they've decided to go somewhere familiar. Still no sign. I carry on driving around, call my neighbours on the bluetooth as I go. IN this time, my parents have vanished. Finally find my reinforcements again, and they take the car and mobile phone with them as they help me search this time.
I finally spot a horse up by the water tower, halfway to the next village. It's Little Madam and Pippin soon comes into view as I get nearer. Old Lady, realising she's on her own, makes an appearance from the other end of a stubble field. I give our location to the reinforcements and a carrot helps me collar Little Madam. Pippin was then surprisingly good to headcollar, seeing as we'd never done it in a high excitement context and he hasn't had it on for a few weeks. Dad grabbed Old Lady around the neck, but couldn't figure out the headcollar (he does know how, but I think a refresher course is in order!) so he had to let go and hold on to the other two while I caught my escape artist.
I then lead the lot of them back to their field, while dad shifted my car out of the middle of the road and followed me back. I didn't undo any headcollars until the gate was properly shut. Then lift back to get my car and back to work, having missed my 2pm meeting (luckily nothing too important). I currently hate my horses, which I am determinedly hanging onto, because I know I will forgive them the minute I see them tonight.
Jeni the dragon
Well-Known Member
What a naughty gang! Mine used to be a real escape artist so I can full remember that sinking feeling watching her bog off in the wrong direction!
AppyLover1996
Well-Known Member
Oh Pippin you cheeky gremlin - how could you give your poor Mum a heart attack like that! Although you do get some brownie points for being a good boy to have your headcollar on x
It's always the older ones who know better that start the great escape in my experience - Baggs my 20 year old cannot be left alone if there is a gateway open/possible escape route out of where he is supposed to be (restricted grazing as we currently have way too much grass and he's prone to laminitis!). In fact, my friends borrow Baggs to check that their fencing is secure and that their horses won't escape
. Luckily the yard is surrounded by lots of fields and there's no way that Baggs can escape off the farm!Then you have Rabbit - my lovely 2 year old - who this morning stood in the middle of the field and didn't budge an inch, but politely let me know that I had left the electric fencing gate open (by looking at me and then throwing his head in the direction of the electric fence gateway) and that Baggs was making a beeline for it. Baggs was most pissed that Rabbit foiled his escape plan and promptly bit the poor lad on the arse as he stormed past him!
I've also inadvertently left Rabbit's stable door open before and he's just stood there too. Baggs on the other hand when I once left his door open was out quicker than the Roadrunner from the Looney Tunes cartoons!!
Hopefully things calm down for you a bit and I sympathise with the temporarily hating the horses - I was muttering under my breath last night, fixing the electric fencing that Baggs had destroyed, that I would quite happily trade the horse life for a different one. Of course this morning, both boys are firmly back in my good books and gave me lots of snuggles and kisses - so all is obviously forgiven
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Followed by the despairing feeling of "how can I not find three large horses?!".
To be fair to them, they're normally very good. Little Madam won't go near a clicking electric fence and Old Lady can't/won't jump out even if the top tape is on the ground. I think they've escaped roughly once a year since they've been at home, I just wish they wouldn't do it quite so spectacularly.
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Baggs sounds like a real character! Quite useful to have around, a bit like a white hat hacker to check your security, but perhaps not the best for an easy life. Rabbit sounds like an angel!Oh Pippin you cheeky gremlin - how could you give your poor Mum a heart attack like that! Although you do get some brownie points for being a good boy to have your headcollar on x
It's always the older ones who know better that start the great escape in my experience - Baggs my 20 year old cannot be left alone if there is a gateway open/possible escape route out of where he is supposed to be (restricted grazing as we currently have way too much grass and he's prone to laminitis!). In fact, my friends borrow Baggs to check that their fencing is secure and that their horses won't escape
Then you have Rabbit - my lovely 2 year old - who this morning stood in the middle of the field and didn't budge an inch, but politely let me know that I had left the electric fencing gate open (by looking at me and then throwing his head in the direction of the electric fence gateway) and that Baggs was making a beeline for it. Baggs was most pissed that Rabbit foiled his escape plan and promptly bit the poor lad on the arse as he stormed past him!
I've also inadvertently left Rabbit's stable door open before and he's just stood there too. Baggs on the other hand when I once left his door open was out quicker than the Roadrunner from the Looney Tunes cartoons!!
Hopefully things calm down for you a bit and I sympathise with the temporarily hating the horses - I was muttering under my breath last night, fixing the electric fencing that Baggs had destroyed, that I would quite happily trade the horse life for a different one. Of course this morning, both boys are firmly back in my good books and gave me lots of snuggles and kisses - so all is obviously forgiven
They're all back in my good books after my visit to them last night for cuddles and scratches.
AppyLover1996
Well-Known Member
Oh Baggs is the king of mischief making - but he's always forgiven as the poor lad had a bad start in life xx So naturally he gets away with pretty much everything and anything he turns his mischief making hooves to
Ah yeah Rabbit is the golden child - there was one time he got a bit too close playing tag in the field with me and he almost got me with a back hoof in his excitement - the poor lad was absolutely horrified and spent the next 15 minutes nuzzling me all over and checking I was alright
Even when I told him that it was my fault for winding him up and playing with him, he still was checking me all over and giving me cuddles.....
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Pippin is 6 months old!!! How did that happen?!!
He looks so grown up already, more like a small pony than a fluffy foal. And I definitely can't hug around his girth any more. He's outgrown his tiny little leather headcollar that was too big when he was born and looks like he will soon outgrow is current foal headcollar. I have a couple of pony headcollars on the way: One for Pippin and one for Sassy.
So Pippin has had his first hoof trim, he was a bit of a monster, but a quiet word with the farrier and he settled right down. Farrier is happy with Pippin's feet and his legs, so all good on that front. Vet is coming out on Monday to do first vaccinations for Pippin and Sassy (her breeder doesn't believe in vaccinations apparently, though she has been wormed regularly, thank goodness). Pippin will also get his chip and description done for his passport and a blood sample for DNA testing (so that the IFCE are sure he is the descendant of the parents listed on his passport). I was hoping to get him castrated about now as well, but his testicles are not yet around to be removed.
Now that he has a new friend in Sassy (wow, it came as a bit of a shock to him that there are more than three horses in the world when she arrived!), I've started slowly building Little Madam back up and increasing separation times between them. Little Madam seems almost relieved, but Pippin does a bit of shouting and running about, before settling with Aunty Old Lady and Sassy. Little Madam id quite taken by Sassy, a bit like the mum who's unruly son has brought home a nice polite friend from school. Sassy is always very polite to Little Madam, you can almost see the "pleases" and the "thank yous" in her behaviour. Aunty wasn't quite so taken in with the new girl taking her favourite nephew's attention away. Pippin rose to the occasion and told his Aunty to leave his new friend alone. Old Lady seems to have warmed to Sassy now and I have caught them eating out of the same feed bucket. Sassy is still quite shy of me, but she's only been here a couple of weeks and will need a bit more time to settle in. She seems happy with her new horse family, so that's what matters the most.
I still haven't loaded Pippin into the trailer, which was on my list of things to do, but I'm hoping to do that soon. Sassy loaded extremely well if quite hesitantly to come home from the breeder's. For her first time ever in any form of transport, she was brilliant.
Now to the next six months of watching Pippin and Sassy grow, the herd evolve and Little Madam coming back into work. Winter's going to be busy, but hopefully fun.
Pippin, looking all grown up
But he still needs his mum!
Pippin's herd from left to right, Aunty Old Lady, Mum Little Madam and New Friend Sassy (you can just spy Pippin in the back)
He looks so grown up already, more like a small pony than a fluffy foal. And I definitely can't hug around his girth any more. He's outgrown his tiny little leather headcollar that was too big when he was born and looks like he will soon outgrow is current foal headcollar. I have a couple of pony headcollars on the way: One for Pippin and one for Sassy.
So Pippin has had his first hoof trim, he was a bit of a monster, but a quiet word with the farrier and he settled right down. Farrier is happy with Pippin's feet and his legs, so all good on that front. Vet is coming out on Monday to do first vaccinations for Pippin and Sassy (her breeder doesn't believe in vaccinations apparently, though she has been wormed regularly, thank goodness). Pippin will also get his chip and description done for his passport and a blood sample for DNA testing (so that the IFCE are sure he is the descendant of the parents listed on his passport). I was hoping to get him castrated about now as well, but his testicles are not yet around to be removed.
Now that he has a new friend in Sassy (wow, it came as a bit of a shock to him that there are more than three horses in the world when she arrived!), I've started slowly building Little Madam back up and increasing separation times between them. Little Madam seems almost relieved, but Pippin does a bit of shouting and running about, before settling with Aunty Old Lady and Sassy. Little Madam id quite taken by Sassy, a bit like the mum who's unruly son has brought home a nice polite friend from school. Sassy is always very polite to Little Madam, you can almost see the "pleases" and the "thank yous" in her behaviour. Aunty wasn't quite so taken in with the new girl taking her favourite nephew's attention away. Pippin rose to the occasion and told his Aunty to leave his new friend alone. Old Lady seems to have warmed to Sassy now and I have caught them eating out of the same feed bucket. Sassy is still quite shy of me, but she's only been here a couple of weeks and will need a bit more time to settle in. She seems happy with her new horse family, so that's what matters the most.
I still haven't loaded Pippin into the trailer, which was on my list of things to do, but I'm hoping to do that soon. Sassy loaded extremely well if quite hesitantly to come home from the breeder's. For her first time ever in any form of transport, she was brilliant.
Now to the next six months of watching Pippin and Sassy grow, the herd evolve and Little Madam coming back into work. Winter's going to be busy, but hopefully fun.
Pippin, looking all grown up
But he still needs his mum!
Pippin's herd from left to right, Aunty Old Lady, Mum Little Madam and New Friend Sassy (you can just spy Pippin in the back)
Bluewaves
Well-Known Member
They are a lovely bunch. What type of breed is Sassy?
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
Sassy is a bit of a mix. Her dam is a leopard spot appaloosa type. Her sire is a double dilute, described as a mix of American (I assume this means quarter horse or paint but unregistered), Connemara and Arab. I'm hoping she'll grow into a nice mix of sporty and leisure type. Pippin's got the full on sporty side covered!
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Well Pippin has been vaccinated and so has Sassy (her breeder doesn't believe in vaccinations, apparently).
This made it rather apparent that Sassy needs more handling. She is handled, but obviously doesn't entirely trust me yet. TBF, she's only been with us 2 weeks. So that's something to work on steadily.
Pippin whilst better handled than Sassy, is not very patient when it comes to standing still. I think it's a bit early to be teaching him this for now as he's only six months old and not yet weaned. He does headcollar, lead and give his feet, which I feel is plentiful at his age. He is now also chipped, and he really didn't like that, poor thing. I was impressed by the vet though, she got it in really quick despite his energetic reaction. Now I just need to send off his paper work to the SIRE to get his passport made. I have the little tubes with the labels from his vaccinations to add to his passport when it comes.
Now for the fun bit: weaning! I've started taking Little Madam out for up to 15 - 20 min for in hand walks and last night I even hopped back on her bareback. It felt like coming home. My aim is to increase the frequency and the length of the time she spends away and see if they will "naturally" wean. If not, Little Madam will probably go on livery for a month or so. I have noticed that Pippin is spending more time with Sassy and they're both straying further from the "grow ups" than before. Also Little Madam merrily ran to the apple tree rather than waiting for Pippin when she was turn out first. She now also bites his bottom every time he starts suckling, so I have the feeling that the milk bar will be closing soon.
If I bring in, which is relatively rare, Pippin and Sassy now share a stable, as opposed to Pippin and Little Madam. Little Madam is just over the gate though, so contact possible for reassurance.
This made it rather apparent that Sassy needs more handling. She is handled, but obviously doesn't entirely trust me yet. TBF, she's only been with us 2 weeks. So that's something to work on steadily.
Pippin whilst better handled than Sassy, is not very patient when it comes to standing still. I think it's a bit early to be teaching him this for now as he's only six months old and not yet weaned. He does headcollar, lead and give his feet, which I feel is plentiful at his age. He is now also chipped, and he really didn't like that, poor thing. I was impressed by the vet though, she got it in really quick despite his energetic reaction. Now I just need to send off his paper work to the SIRE to get his passport made. I have the little tubes with the labels from his vaccinations to add to his passport when it comes.
Now for the fun bit: weaning! I've started taking Little Madam out for up to 15 - 20 min for in hand walks and last night I even hopped back on her bareback. It felt like coming home. My aim is to increase the frequency and the length of the time she spends away and see if they will "naturally" wean. If not, Little Madam will probably go on livery for a month or so. I have noticed that Pippin is spending more time with Sassy and they're both straying further from the "grow ups" than before. Also Little Madam merrily ran to the apple tree rather than waiting for Pippin when she was turn out first. She now also bites his bottom every time he starts suckling, so I have the feeling that the milk bar will be closing soon.
If I bring in, which is relatively rare, Pippin and Sassy now share a stable, as opposed to Pippin and Little Madam. Little Madam is just over the gate though, so contact possible for reassurance.
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Update on Pippin and co.
They've been in for the last two nights as the weather has been horrendous: really strong winds and heavy rain.
I was pleased this morning to find both Pippin and Sassy lied down in their stables when I went give them hay. It's the first time I've seen Sassy lying down and I'm happy she's comfortable enough to do so in her stable despite the racket made by the wind. The two older mares were standing watch. I creeped away and came back half an hour later to not disturb them.
Sassy is a sweet little thing, but doesn't appear comfortable with me touching her head or putting her headcollar on. So I'm working on that at the minute. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to know what a carrot is for now, so one more thing to learn. Luckily, she is very partial to a good scratch, so R+ is not completely off the table. I'm putting her headcollar on a few time a day while she's in the stable to try and get her used to having on and off. Also a bit of yielding to pressure on the headcollar. She leads pretty well, but I need more manoeuvrability.
Pippin is still a cheeky monkey. Guess who tipped over his water bucket to use as a toy instead? It's now tied down to the gate post. He is also putting off his castration as long as possible, by simply not having his testicles down yet.
I'm also pleased with how well Sassy has slotted in with the others. She is besotted with Little Madam, who seems to actually like her. Doesn't stop Little Madam pulling faces at her over the gate when I'm giving Sassy too much attention, though!
pippin, still growing like a weed
Little Madam *sharing* her food with Sassy!
They've been in for the last two nights as the weather has been horrendous: really strong winds and heavy rain.
I was pleased this morning to find both Pippin and Sassy lied down in their stables when I went give them hay. It's the first time I've seen Sassy lying down and I'm happy she's comfortable enough to do so in her stable despite the racket made by the wind. The two older mares were standing watch. I creeped away and came back half an hour later to not disturb them.
Sassy is a sweet little thing, but doesn't appear comfortable with me touching her head or putting her headcollar on. So I'm working on that at the minute. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to know what a carrot is for now, so one more thing to learn. Luckily, she is very partial to a good scratch, so R+ is not completely off the table. I'm putting her headcollar on a few time a day while she's in the stable to try and get her used to having on and off. Also a bit of yielding to pressure on the headcollar. She leads pretty well, but I need more manoeuvrability.
Pippin is still a cheeky monkey. Guess who tipped over his water bucket to use as a toy instead? It's now tied down to the gate post. He is also putting off his castration as long as possible, by simply not having his testicles down yet.
I'm also pleased with how well Sassy has slotted in with the others. She is besotted with Little Madam, who seems to actually like her. Doesn't stop Little Madam pulling faces at her over the gate when I'm giving Sassy too much attention, though!
pippin, still growing like a weed
Little Madam *sharing* her food with Sassy!