A Stable Life for Me

The big day came! I was to have my own  tack room, hay barn, pasture and stable - and living with lots of new horses!

Debbie had put a deposit on a nice blue checked stable rug for me.

Sam had been busy preparing my stable.

A nice bank of dust-free shavings for me to sleep on, and a hay rack full of hay.

A bucket for my water, and an old tyre to stop me kicking it over!

A hay-net full of hay.

My tack-room was nicely stocked with things I would be needing for my first few days.

Including a box full of tasty treats - carrots and apples -  for me and my  new friends!

Once everything was ready, Sam had a rest in my tackroom, and a quick bite to eat before bringing me into my new home for the evening.

This was what I saw as Sam led me into the barn. 

How lovely, I would have friends to keep me company at night too!

I could see my tack-room from my stable door.

That evening I met my new best friend, Dylan.

I WAS A VERY HAPPY PONY!

Cheeky? Who? Me?

I enjoyed being in my field, and after Sam bought me a lovely new rug, I felt very posh indeed!

This is what happened one day in my field...

"Ah good, you're here. There is poo in the field. This field. Right here, see??? Come along, quickly woman! Yes, yes, bring that shovel!"

1, 2, 3, ... 11, 12, 13, ... yes, yes, I think you have them all!!!

'sniff', 'sniff' ... hmmm ... well it certainly smells better...

Hmmm ... nom ... nom ... nom nom nom!!

What do I think? ...

Now I can do THIS!!!

Without getting POO on my new rug!!!

Ooooooh! Thats better!

Oh yes! VERY satisfactory!

Don't forget, this needs doing REGULARLY!

I'll soon have her trained! Muahahahahaha!!!!

Cheeky? Me? Whatever gave you that idea?!

Red Letter Day

I had been at the riding school for a week, and my old owner returned to see if the school wanted to buy me.

Sam and Debbie had arrived early to wait for them.

The lady from the riding school explained that she didn't want to buy me, but that one of her volunteer grooms did.

My old owner agreed to sell me, and my passport was exchanged.

He was sorry to see me go - he told Debbie I was a 'cracking pony', - but he was happy I was going to a good home.

But not as happy as us! I don't know who was happiest - Debbie, Sam or me!

Sam was now officially my new 'Forever-Mummy'
I was VERY happy!

Field Day

Once the farrier had trimmed my hooves and advised on treating my split frogs, I was allowed to go into my temporary pasture at the riding school.

The lady from the riding school lent me a rug to keep me warm and dry, and said I could use a field near the pony stables.

After grooming me, Sam led me out to the field with my new head collar and leading rope.

I had the whole field to myself!
I was so excited I didn't notice my sore feet as I bucked and galloped and rolled in glee!

Then I noticed some other horses in a field nearby, so I went to say hello.

I didn't stay clean for very long, but it didn't matter - I was a VERY happy pony!

Hoof Care

When the farrier came, I was on my best behaviour.

Sam and Debbie stood with me, talking to me to reassure me, while the farrier trimmed my hooves and checked them over.

He said I had several problems, but these could be put right with a little care and attention, and gave Sam lots of advice.

HOOF CARE TOP TIPS

There were indications that I may be laminitic because of the prominent white line in my hoof, and he recommended that I see him again in 5 weeks for another trim, and so that he could monitor my progress.

One of my hooves had a split frog, and he recommended that Sam packed the split with sterile cotton wool drenched in Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oils, which would heal it and keep infection out.

He also noticed that my soles were bruised and suspected that these were concussion injuries caused by trotting on hard surfaces - roads - for long periods of time. He said that field rest would help the bruising.

Debbie bought me some liniment to help with my muscular aches and pains as well as my sore tendons. 

I was being spoilt!

No Hoof, No Horse

Before I could do anything else, I had to see the Farrier.
My hooves were long, and in poor condition.

After watching me being ridden briefly on the trial at the school, and watching me walk, the riding school owner put me on box rest.

Everyone was worried that I may have Laminitis

Laminitis (Founder) is a very serious condition, this video by World Horse Welfare, shows the early signs of Laminitis. (opens in new link)

Recognising the early signs of Laminitis

Luckily, the Farrier was due to come to the riding school just three days after my arrival, and he agreed to take a look at me.

Then came the next dilemma...

I had no shoes on. I was a 'barefoot' pony.

Nobody knew if I'd been farrier-trained - if I would be well-behaved and allow the farrier to pick up my feet without kicking him - but everyone knew I HAD to see the farrier.

Between Homes

Debbie and Sam had both fallen in love with me, and wanted to give me a forever home.
It wasn't just buying me, they wanted to be sure that they could keep me, and provide everything I needed too.
Debbie had made some savings, enough to buy me, (which wasn't very much) and Sam knew lots about horses so was more than able to look after me properly.

Sam had been 'loaning' a 5 year old, 18hh Irish Sports horse, Stilton, that she had trained so well while he was in her care, that his owners had decided to sell him to a competition stables where he could be trained to a much higher level, and fulfil his potential.  

With Stilton leaving, Sam could afford to cover what she called my 'running costs'.

Now it was just a question of where they could keep me.

Sam spoke to the lady who ran the riding school and livery, and was told a livery space would be available in two weeks - but that she could let us use a field and a rug until then. She had begun her career by rescuing a pony herself, and so was more than happy to help.

As soon as Sam knew that she could definitely keep me, she went out and bought me all these things.

My very own grooming kit, a water bucket, a head collar, a hay net, a leading rope and of course, some treats!

Everything was ready for me to move into my temporary pasture, but before I could go I had to see the Farrier to get my sore feet looked at, so that night I stayed in a riding school stable.

Dreadlocked Pony

The Riding School trialled me, to see if I'd make a good school pony, but my feet hurt so much it was difficult for me to do the things they asked.
I wasn't sure of some of the things they asked me to do, and my interesting 'tult' style trot wasn't what they needed.
So they rejected the idea of buying me.

Sam was upset to think that I may be leaving again so soon, on the back of the scrap van I arrived in, so she persuaded my 'Forever-Nanny', her Mum Debbie, to come and see me, explaining that I had an interesting 'dreadlock' in my mane.

Debbie came to see me, just four days before I was due to go back to my owners, and she fell in love with me straight away too.
She told Sam that I was the double of the pony she'd learnt to ride on as a child.
The first thing Debbie did was to give me a nice brush down, chatting to me all the time, telling me I was handsome.
I liked that!

Sam explained that no-one could comb out my 'dreadlock', so it may have to be cut out.
Debbie looked at it, and laughed, explaining to Sam that the 'dreadlock' was a 'bridle braid', a special loop plaited into my mane to be used to hold onto when I was being ridden bareback and bridle-less.
She told Sam these were traditionally used by travellers, but aren't seen so often these days.
She also knew how to un-braid it without my mane being cut or pulled.

Girl Talk

My arrival at the riding school caused quite a stir!  

The volunteer grooms and pony club girls were chatting about me all night on the social networks - some of it wasn't very nice, - but my 'Forever-Mummy', Sam, loved me right from the start.

"B: sorry but that is one ugly pony

Sam: Aww he is lovely bless x

J:  aww bless him is that at the stables? x

B:  no he’s really not xxx

J:  don’t be horrible to the pony B! :) x

Sam:  He is on trial atm, if he is good then yes, but if not, then no. He is a Welsh x Arab but really chilled out x

S:  I think he is really cute. X x

Sam:  Yea me too, he’s bout 12.2hh I think xx

B:  yeah it’s a new one called Ben arrives out of the blue on Saturday I really don't like him. I mean I know Phoebie isn’t the chunkiest of horses but even so that thing is taking it to the extremes

J:  I haven’t met him but he seems cute :) xx

Sam:  Why not B? He is lovely, he gives me hugs when I muck him out. But he does have that horrible scar on his neck. He got bitten by a horse where he came from and he has a huge dip/dent in the top of his neck, it looks and feels horrible x

S:  But that will change with feed n work. X

J:  ahhh poor boy! and B don’t insult little Ben!;) xx

B:  hahaha not insulting IT, it’s just not my cuppa tea

Sam:  Yea B lmao!!! Na he’s cool, x

S:  He just needs some love. X x

J:  yeah x

Sam:  Yea bless him, and I am more than willing to do so. For some reason I have a thing for the strange looking horses lol.

S: Ben is gawjus! X

Sam:  Haha yea, he is sweet, apparently I didn’t look to bad on him, size wise. I do like the ickle ponies to ride lol x

S:  They are fun though.

Sam:  I would have him now but unfortunately all of the livery stables have been taken x

S:  Ohh that sucks is there no yards close by? X

Sam:  Not really, I'll look around tho x

P: anything that has Arab in it is fine by me!!! Really good breeding just needs to put on a bit of weight, but he is soooooooooo gorgeous!! Xx

Sam:  Lol yea he is a cutey x

Debbie: Well I met him today and think the same as Sam, he's not the most handsome of horses but he deserves a chance. So as from Friday, he's mine and Sam's
All he needs is lots of TLC and he'll be a wonderful companion pony if his feet are too sore, or a little star to ride if we can get him back on top form. Watch this space B! x

P:  your new little man! I’m really happy for you, he can join Summer in the half Arab lot!! :D

Sam: Haha yea. Can't wait. X

Debbie: He's having his hooves trimmed on Thursday and we'll be putting some hoof conditioner on them too, to get them back into shape. I've got a good feeling he'll respond well to being spoiled!! xxx

Sam:  I'm not going to be riding him til Easter time coz I want him to get used to me and chill out and relax.

P:  sounds good :) There's no rush to start riding you might as well get a really good bond first

Sam:  Yea, I love him, bless. He's so sweet x "

My Arrival

On January 17th 2012 I was put up for sale.

I was underweight, had sore tendons, bruised feet, a scruffy, dirty coat, and was very depressed.

I was placed in a stable at a riding school, with a view to a sale.

It was here that I met one of the volunteer grooms who was to become my new 'Forever-Mummy'.