The downside to native ponies with feather combined with clay mud is not pretty. Pait's feathers are currently sporting a very rasta look at the moment with her living out 24/7 and me not oiling her legs before the gateway became a swamp.
I've spent 2 hours this afternoon soaking her front legs in hot water with fairy washing up liquid added. Also had to gently break the clumps apart just to try to get them out. I have not even begun trying the back legs yet as the poor girl had already had to stand with her leg submerged in the bucket (an hour roughly per leg).
Made sure to put a lot of leg oil paste on the now mud-free front legs so they don't get as bad again.

Am so looking forward to doing the back ones! Not!

Well seeing as Rory has currently put a sick note in (just as the season is about to start Thanks Ror), Pait has been upgraded to main riding pony or rather main project. This weeks lesson with Laura we were getting her going a lot more forwards, still ignoring her head and contact at the moment as she will overbend if allowed. We achieved canter on both reins now granted it was only a few strides and very untidy transitions but it was still canter.

Popped on her again today in the school and finally had a photographer (sister) around to get some great shots. The majority of her work is very babyish but occasionally some amazing moments peek through and show this little girl is meant for great things.

Not managed to ride either pony today but did get a good snap of Rory. This is what happens when I leave the lid off the feed bin.

Just found this pic of Rory in 2010 so he'd have just been turning 4. Bless him he was an ugly youngster.

A new milestone achieved with Pait today! I did a little bit of school work then decided to brave going out solo for the first time. Now bear in mind the poor lass has been out in company twice I think and in hand maybe 3 times she doesn't have hardly any experience behind her. But finding a sensible partner that is hacking at the same time as me is easier said than done so the bullet had to be bitten in going solo.
 Well she was such a good girl! As per usual taking a novice horse out turned the village into the M62. I had only gone about 200 yards when I met the bus, as the people in the garden were currently swinging a hosepipe like a skipping rope I decided that discretion was the way forward and promptly hopped off and led her past. At this point I was also past by 2 cyclists going opposite ways (mental note to do a bit of bike behind her practise as she was very on edge at that one) continued to the end of the road and asked her to stand so I could remount from the floor. Bless her she stood like a rock and headed for home so we then promptly met the other bus. This point I decided to just wave madly for him to slow down and stay on board, Pait just scooted in next to the kerb but kept walking like she'd been past traffic every day of her little life.
Got back to the yard and gave her a very well deserved tea. I do love her horizontal dales attitude at times.

The lovely moment when out hacking that you ask for extended canter and pony shows you he's installed a gallop button instead <3 just goes to show all the collecting work etc is finally paying off with Rory and he's maturing into himself. I'm so proud of my little pony at times like this. Continued the hack with playing over a few logs etc and in the water in the quarry. Must remember though not to mess with his head and hold him too much in his hacking bridle on approach to jumps as it's much stronger than his schooling/ jumping bit and he will back off too much.

Dentist day

Today both Pait and Rory had the dentist. Pait is currently losing her baby teeth so I'd wanted her checking and Rory was due his 6 month checkup. Both were good as gold for the dentist and thankfully for my wallet neither needed any work doing. Pait was given the go ahead for work so I rode her in the school. Just did a bit of walk and trot getting her attention was a challenge as Em's mare decided to go taking fencing out next to the arena and commenced doing fly-bys. But she didn't try to join in so I counted the session as a success.

Also have a minor confession that I broke the sacred Dales commandment thou shall not cut the mane.

Just a quick post from yesterday. Every fortnight I've been having a lesson with a local instructor I've known Laura for quite a few years and after not having any lessons for a couple of years thought it was a good idea to restart as it's always useful to have an impartial pair of eyes on the ground. Usually I do half an hour on Rory then half on Pait (requiring oxygen afterwards) but this week due to Pait losing her baby teeth I haven't ridden her since her last lesson and the dentist was duethat morning to check her over and give me the ok to ride but he'd had to cancel due to an injury so I cried off riding Pait.
This was Rory's first lesson in his show pelham and maybe the 2nd or 3rd time he's ever been ridden in it. To start off we had a major strop as he thought he was going hacking but got made to go into the school whilst his friend went out. Eventually he settled and although hard work he did give me some lovely moments of work including Laura introducing a show trot for us which felt amazing. Still got a lot of muscle to build up but he is getting there it's just for me to keep getting him fitter and building up on the length of time he will work properly. Sadly my photographer was too busy chatting/ drinking coffe so no pics but I think Rory is going to suprise me in the showring this year.

spoilt pony alert

Rory has a monthly laser session with Neil from equine laser healing. He had a fall as a 4 year old and had tension in his poll which went unnoticed until he was backed and in work so to keep everything right we have routine laser. Yes I am aware that my pony gets better treatment than me! So today was his session and he got the day off.

Pait is currently having a mini vacation until Thurs when the dentist is out to see her and Rory. I make sure they have teeth done at least every 6 months sometimes earlier if they are being fussy in their mouths. But Pait is currently losing her baby teeth and so I want her checking before doing more work as she was messing with her head a lot in her last lesson. She is also spoilt as her feed is currently calm and condition slop as she's taking ages to eat chaff and nuts.

Rory aims for the year-
Get him fit currently he's a good weight (bit over to be honest) but he isn't greedy and doesnt put much on in the summer so Im not worried.
He currently has a equilibrium session before work and laser once a month to keep his back right and I must admit he's starting to build the topline back up now.
We are doing fortnightly lessons with L so working on getting him to engage the hindend fully and really carry himself.
Current pic as of today 1/2/2013