Flibble
Well-Known Member
Here is todays yard move report. I will try and get it in chronological order no piccies I am afraid just 2 gallons of rescue remedy!!
Cleaned out old stable completely as I had been scraping back to bare matting all week it was quite therapeutic.
On advice took a bag full of old bedding with me so Drifter had his smell in his new home. His thin stable rug also stinks so he should be content.
As I got his trailer ready he knew something was up and stood transfixed watching our every move. He had a controller head collar with a lunge line and an ordinary head collar and lead rope. After several attempts to dissuade mothers and toddlers from congregating in our way (I didnt want him to leave hoof prints on any small child we attempted to load the beast who had by now grown to 18hh plus.
He went up to the ramp and a now brilliantly trained OH just touched his bottom with the end of a broom and he went straight in.
He travelled well and went straight into his stable (I think he thought he was just visiting). After a week struggling to get him to eat my friends Hay he tucked into the yard Hay with gusto.
OH and I retreated to a Coffee and Mars bar break while he took stock of his surroundings. Half an hour later we did the deed. Brushing boots and his Gay Boy Fuchsia Pink and Navy turnout rug and we were off up the muddy track to his paddock.
Well when I say we were off he was off and I was bouncing off the post and rail fencing. I should have stopped and told him to have some manners but I was so glad he hadnt reared I decided to just keep going.
We arrived at his paddock and I managed to get his controller head collar off and left the ordinary one and he went ballistic. You cant really blame him he hasnt been out on grass since Nov 9th.
Head up tail up double snorting and galloping and then a very nice elevated trot indeed. Thank God he seems to know that the green electric tape which I cannot see at all is in fact a fence and so far no attempt has been made to jump out. This said he only probably spent 5 minutes being silly it just appeared an age.
The horses in the adjoining fields rushed up to their fences gawping at the silly boy and wondering what all the fuss was about. Nancy boy must have rolled a dozen times.
This afternoon I went back and got him in and he had spent a good 3 hours mooching and grazing. He thought he was going back home and kept questioning me when I went in and out of his stable. Thankfully he has four shoes four brushing boots and did not appear to have done himself any damage.
So the only blot on the whole experience was the mare in the stable next to him who is also new somewhat grouchy and was tied beside our stable door. I asked if it was ok to come past her and was told she was fine and as I put Drifter in she struck out at him and got me squarely on the shoulder blade.
I think her owner who has only had her 6 weeks was as shocked as I. I wont be caught like that again.
Tomorrow I will try and lunge him in the lungeing area either before or after turnout depending on when it is free.
So no rearing monster no battle to load no jumping out of paddock and when I returned he was not stood drenched in sweat under his turnout rug even though the sun was shining.
Cleaned out old stable completely as I had been scraping back to bare matting all week it was quite therapeutic.
On advice took a bag full of old bedding with me so Drifter had his smell in his new home. His thin stable rug also stinks so he should be content.
As I got his trailer ready he knew something was up and stood transfixed watching our every move. He had a controller head collar with a lunge line and an ordinary head collar and lead rope. After several attempts to dissuade mothers and toddlers from congregating in our way (I didnt want him to leave hoof prints on any small child we attempted to load the beast who had by now grown to 18hh plus.
He went up to the ramp and a now brilliantly trained OH just touched his bottom with the end of a broom and he went straight in.
He travelled well and went straight into his stable (I think he thought he was just visiting). After a week struggling to get him to eat my friends Hay he tucked into the yard Hay with gusto.
OH and I retreated to a Coffee and Mars bar break while he took stock of his surroundings. Half an hour later we did the deed. Brushing boots and his Gay Boy Fuchsia Pink and Navy turnout rug and we were off up the muddy track to his paddock.
Well when I say we were off he was off and I was bouncing off the post and rail fencing. I should have stopped and told him to have some manners but I was so glad he hadnt reared I decided to just keep going.
We arrived at his paddock and I managed to get his controller head collar off and left the ordinary one and he went ballistic. You cant really blame him he hasnt been out on grass since Nov 9th.
Head up tail up double snorting and galloping and then a very nice elevated trot indeed. Thank God he seems to know that the green electric tape which I cannot see at all is in fact a fence and so far no attempt has been made to jump out. This said he only probably spent 5 minutes being silly it just appeared an age.
The horses in the adjoining fields rushed up to their fences gawping at the silly boy and wondering what all the fuss was about. Nancy boy must have rolled a dozen times.
This afternoon I went back and got him in and he had spent a good 3 hours mooching and grazing. He thought he was going back home and kept questioning me when I went in and out of his stable. Thankfully he has four shoes four brushing boots and did not appear to have done himself any damage.
So the only blot on the whole experience was the mare in the stable next to him who is also new somewhat grouchy and was tied beside our stable door. I asked if it was ok to come past her and was told she was fine and as I put Drifter in she struck out at him and got me squarely on the shoulder blade.
I think her owner who has only had her 6 weeks was as shocked as I. I wont be caught like that again.
Tomorrow I will try and lunge him in the lungeing area either before or after turnout depending on when it is free.
So no rearing monster no battle to load no jumping out of paddock and when I returned he was not stood drenched in sweat under his turnout rug even though the sun was shining.
. I was trying to find your number on my 'phone and failing miserably 
- take some arnica for your shoulder - be sore in the morning!!!
