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