Well the poor traumatised (he has been forced to move to Essex lol!) lad is settling in well and is slowly coming to terms with the fact that everything he's ever known has been ripped away from him.....sounds dramatic? Well it's true if you think about it!
Ziggy has been in the same home from birth for four years, living with the same horses, being handled by the same people and in the last few weeks he's put up with being worked by a stranger, poked and prodded by a vet, popped on a wobbly metal box completely alone for a few hours and walks off at the end to be met by that strange lady in a strange place. For a horse with such fine breeding and sensitive nature I'm amazed that he's settled in so well!
He's still a little wary and watchful, but Ardiente is giving him such a good lead bless him....RD came to me as an incredibly shy 10 month old colt who'd lived in a headcollar from weaning as couldn't be caught without trickery by anyone other than his breeder (and even then only on HIS terms) and wouldn't let me within 10 ft of him when I first had him. With gentle patient handling he's now like a big affectionate dog who wants nothing more than to be scratched cuddled and fussed by the people he loves. He is truly adorable and he's such a steady chap he's the perfect companion for Ziggy.
Ziggy has been taking a bit of persuasion to be caught. I generally work on the mirroring movement / totally still approach with very low energy and non threatening body language. It's meant that every time I've wanted to be able to do something with him (from brushing, to doing a little in hand work, putting on fly spray, bathing his eye or just catching scratching and stroking and letting him go) I've been able to...it just takes maybe 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Not ideal when he'll be going down into a ruddy great 16 acre field in a few weeks!
With it being the weekend I've had the benefit of being able to go out on and off all day, pootle around, offer good quality scritches and I'm thrilled to say that by this evening Ziggy was finally approaching me for a stroke, letting me hold his headcollar if I wanted and generally giving me the vibe that he was happy in my company...phew!
I'll have to take the great leap of faith that is taking his headcollar off at some point in the next few days...the clicker might come out for this as when I've gone to change his fieldsafe one for my working rope halter it's been met with snorting wild eyed panic that takes real softly softly handling so far. I know I can work him from a neck rope, but I'd rather lay good foundations and have him happy to be approached and handled / caught with him completely at ease about the whole situation....we'll get there...slowly, steadily and with patience and sensitivity!
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
He's Here!
Have spent most of the day on tenterhooks, but all's well that ends well!
Top marks to Boothroyden Horse Transporters, we had a shared load at a great price...and Cezar spent the whole trip on his own in a very smart 3.5 ton box!
As he'd never loaded, never mind travelled before, we were all wondering how well he'd take to it, I'm thrilled and delighted to say that Cezar walked onto the box like he'd walk into a stable (a million times better than either of his other siblings I've had did!!
The driver said he'd stamped about a bit for around ten minutes, then settled down and took the journey like a pro.
Meanwhile I went over to the yard to do my stable chores and to get RD out of the paddock and walk him home for his job as companion to new boy.
Mr cool, calm and collected blotted his usually clean copy book and got horribly upset, neighing full blast in my ear for a good 10 minutes, dancing around at mowers, combines, and nearly giving a cyclist and I heart failure as he had a melt down about his presence.
Luckily he soon calmed down and I got my lovely dependable dude back and we had a lovely walk across the fields and up the bridleway to home.
I popped RD back in the smallest paddock and although he was a bit unsettled on his own, we didn't have long to wait before the driver called to say he was five minutes away!!!
Well Cezar popped off the box cool as a cucumber and led like a gentleman into the paddock next to RD's! Not even a hint of sweat - he'd travelled like a true pro!
We left them to sniff over the fence for an hour or so and get acquainted, but in the absence of any squealing or leg throwing from either boy, we popped them both on lead and I led RD into the big paddock. He got a threatened boot for attempting to sniff up C's bum, and there were a couple of grumbles, but all looking good we let them go.
Instant best buddies! They wandered off to graze together quite happily.
We went out a short while ago before it got dark to check on them and Cezar now feeling a little more sure of himself made it quite clear I wasn't allowed to come near him and turned his back on me and let fly with a hoof, just making contact.
Whoops not a good start! So I sent him off sharpish and put him on a big circle at liberty making him trot, change direction, trot, change direction...not chasing him or making a massive fuss about it - just basically keeping him doing the moving around me. I stopped, he stopped and I approached him. He let me catch him this time and I did some of the close foot moving work, sideways, forwards, backwards until he relaxed and I stood him up. Result! He stood and visibly relaxed, even to the point of resting a hind leg. He stayed where I'd put him as I moved around, came back to square and gave him plenty of praise.
The kick didn't worry me particularly, he was disrespectful as he did not feel comfortable with me - he did the same to RD when he felt that he'd overstepped the personal boundary, but working him precisely like he's used to put him totally at ease and hopefully got the message across that everything might be different but it's all going to be the same!!
We finished off with a lovely bow loose in the field so I could let him know he was all done. I only had to touch his leg and he gave it willingly and dropped his head, a bit of a wiggle as we balanced, but he gave me a super bow, a last scratch and stroke and it was goodnight boys!
He definitely suiting the tentative nickname we'd had in mind for him - So Ziggy (as in Ziggy CeZardust) it'll be, he's certainly rockstar material!!!
I hope Gordon & Zenda are happy with their choice of owner, all I can say is that I am truly thrilled to be that owner and of such a fabulous horse too - Definitely as happy as Larri :-D
Top marks to Boothroyden Horse Transporters, we had a shared load at a great price...and Cezar spent the whole trip on his own in a very smart 3.5 ton box!
As he'd never loaded, never mind travelled before, we were all wondering how well he'd take to it, I'm thrilled and delighted to say that Cezar walked onto the box like he'd walk into a stable (a million times better than either of his other siblings I've had did!!
The driver said he'd stamped about a bit for around ten minutes, then settled down and took the journey like a pro.
Meanwhile I went over to the yard to do my stable chores and to get RD out of the paddock and walk him home for his job as companion to new boy.
Mr cool, calm and collected blotted his usually clean copy book and got horribly upset, neighing full blast in my ear for a good 10 minutes, dancing around at mowers, combines, and nearly giving a cyclist and I heart failure as he had a melt down about his presence.
Luckily he soon calmed down and I got my lovely dependable dude back and we had a lovely walk across the fields and up the bridleway to home.
I popped RD back in the smallest paddock and although he was a bit unsettled on his own, we didn't have long to wait before the driver called to say he was five minutes away!!!
Well Cezar popped off the box cool as a cucumber and led like a gentleman into the paddock next to RD's! Not even a hint of sweat - he'd travelled like a true pro!
We left them to sniff over the fence for an hour or so and get acquainted, but in the absence of any squealing or leg throwing from either boy, we popped them both on lead and I led RD into the big paddock. He got a threatened boot for attempting to sniff up C's bum, and there were a couple of grumbles, but all looking good we let them go.
Instant best buddies! They wandered off to graze together quite happily.
We went out a short while ago before it got dark to check on them and Cezar now feeling a little more sure of himself made it quite clear I wasn't allowed to come near him and turned his back on me and let fly with a hoof, just making contact.
Whoops not a good start! So I sent him off sharpish and put him on a big circle at liberty making him trot, change direction, trot, change direction...not chasing him or making a massive fuss about it - just basically keeping him doing the moving around me. I stopped, he stopped and I approached him. He let me catch him this time and I did some of the close foot moving work, sideways, forwards, backwards until he relaxed and I stood him up. Result! He stood and visibly relaxed, even to the point of resting a hind leg. He stayed where I'd put him as I moved around, came back to square and gave him plenty of praise.
The kick didn't worry me particularly, he was disrespectful as he did not feel comfortable with me - he did the same to RD when he felt that he'd overstepped the personal boundary, but working him precisely like he's used to put him totally at ease and hopefully got the message across that everything might be different but it's all going to be the same!!
We finished off with a lovely bow loose in the field so I could let him know he was all done. I only had to touch his leg and he gave it willingly and dropped his head, a bit of a wiggle as we balanced, but he gave me a super bow, a last scratch and stroke and it was goodnight boys!
He definitely suiting the tentative nickname we'd had in mind for him - So Ziggy (as in Ziggy CeZardust) it'll be, he's certainly rockstar material!!!
I hope Gordon & Zenda are happy with their choice of owner, all I can say is that I am truly thrilled to be that owner and of such a fabulous horse too - Definitely as happy as Larri :-D
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Hello & Welcome!
This is the blog for a rather special little horse who came into my life quite by accident!
I took a trip up to see Gordon & Zenda Galley at Peak Lusitanos, breeders of my first Luso the beautiful Safira and my loan horse Bailarina. I was looking for a foal and one in particular; this years full sister to Bally as I love B to bits and what better to replace her when she heads back off North to her owner than her full sibling!
When I got there I watched Gordon work with the small but perfectly formed Cezar. As all their youngstock are he was by Assirico the same sire as my girls, but out of a pure Alter mare Lequia, four years old, recently gelded, stunning to watch.....and then Gordon threw me the rope and asked me to work with him.
What can I say, his quiet watchfulness, sensitivity and generosity of spirit wowed me, I think the look on my face at the end says it all...I was smitten from the word go!
I worked with Eclipse and played with Destina & Faisca, met all the mares and foals. I liked several of them but just couldn't get Cezar out of my mind
Luckily for me, my rather lovely husband knows me only too well and made a call to Gordon...result?? His offer on Cezar was accepted and this stunning boy was going to be mine!!
I've been up to see him twice since, once to work with him again under Gordon's eye, to make sure I was able to pick up the fine nuances of the sterling work he's done with Cezar over the last couple of months and again...well we were sort of in the area so I just went to say hello to him and give him a fuss and a cuddle - we live 3.5 hours away..I think that's what you call true love lol!!
He passed the vetting with flying colours, although I was quite amused when the vet told me that he saw who he was down to see and thought "oh Bollocks, not him" Apparently he'd been a little bit full of himself when he'd gelded him in April, but he was thrilled to tell me how calm and accepting Cezar had been throughout the whole very thorough vetting process and his parting words were "That is a FABULOUS little horse you've got yourself"
Well after a few hiccups, the transport is all booked and my beautiful boy will be hopping on a lorry and heading to Essex tomorrow. I can't wait!!
I took a trip up to see Gordon & Zenda Galley at Peak Lusitanos, breeders of my first Luso the beautiful Safira and my loan horse Bailarina. I was looking for a foal and one in particular; this years full sister to Bally as I love B to bits and what better to replace her when she heads back off North to her owner than her full sibling!
When I got there I watched Gordon work with the small but perfectly formed Cezar. As all their youngstock are he was by Assirico the same sire as my girls, but out of a pure Alter mare Lequia, four years old, recently gelded, stunning to watch.....and then Gordon threw me the rope and asked me to work with him.
What can I say, his quiet watchfulness, sensitivity and generosity of spirit wowed me, I think the look on my face at the end says it all...I was smitten from the word go!
I worked with Eclipse and played with Destina & Faisca, met all the mares and foals. I liked several of them but just couldn't get Cezar out of my mind
Luckily for me, my rather lovely husband knows me only too well and made a call to Gordon...result?? His offer on Cezar was accepted and this stunning boy was going to be mine!!
I've been up to see him twice since, once to work with him again under Gordon's eye, to make sure I was able to pick up the fine nuances of the sterling work he's done with Cezar over the last couple of months and again...well we were sort of in the area so I just went to say hello to him and give him a fuss and a cuddle - we live 3.5 hours away..I think that's what you call true love lol!!
He passed the vetting with flying colours, although I was quite amused when the vet told me that he saw who he was down to see and thought "oh Bollocks, not him" Apparently he'd been a little bit full of himself when he'd gelded him in April, but he was thrilled to tell me how calm and accepting Cezar had been throughout the whole very thorough vetting process and his parting words were "That is a FABULOUS little horse you've got yourself"
Well after a few hiccups, the transport is all booked and my beautiful boy will be hopping on a lorry and heading to Essex tomorrow. I can't wait!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)