New Pony Alert!

So we had a free stable (stall) that is already paid for and it was for the new foal that wasn’t meant to be…… meet Sidney 

He is a bit of a rescue Job and is in poor shape, but I’ve always fancied having a mini cob (gypsy vanner) in the herd and he certainly is that.

8-9 months old and around 10h and a Grey Blagdon (not sure what your US equivalent is)

he had been tethered on scrub land and I don’t think has ever been handled, led, wormed, groomed, had his feet done or anything, matted up and in a bit of a state.

But this little lad, mark my words will turn out to be a swan rising from an ugly duckling, still a colt but a very sweet eye and inquisitive nature.

Can’t wait to get him sorted and cleaned up, he will be a stunner. 

Destined to be a grass cutter and also put on the cart to give him a job. 

His education starts tomorrow….. 

Stable update (because I know how you love it 🤣🤣)

Angel - she really has got over loosing the foal well, back in work and loving the round pen work, she has driven carts before so ground driving is second nature to her, although turning and softening the head is a challenge to her as she has been taught to not bend! Grasped the code very well and her attitude has returned (dominant mare who loves a fight) - couple of rides, all good 

Flicker - the old girl has worked the code but doesn’t really understand anything much and given her age that’s fine, discovered a tumour in her front hoof so that’s bad news as she is to old to operate on

Sargent - making good progress with moving forward, he is a master at the code and ground driving is coming on, back in the saddle for him soon although he has taken to trying to roll lots to get out of work so nipping that in the bud 

😔 Unfortunately our much anticipated first foal arrived in the early hours of the morning today and we arrived shortly after (cameras) to find it unresponsive as the sack had not broken and it suffocated, absolutely heartbroken to say the least, she was a big filly and colour exactly as we wanted, the wish list was ticked in all aspects.

As sad as it is my thoughts now turn to Angel the mum, can I draw on collective experience of how to proceed in terms of occupying her, bringing her back into work, conditioning her etc

She was ridden lightly before been in foal by myself 

thoughts would be appreciated as this was our first and only foal we have bred and have no knowledge. 

Richard Boatwright really appreciate your input on this also please 

Had a Great few days with the horses since I returned from SC.

I’ve taken Sarge the Friesian back to basics with speed control and moving forward on command and it’s paying dividends as things are getting softer and less pressure to get desired results, a little ground driving which went really well but until I’m happy with this momentum I’m keeping that in the locker.

Stan the youngster is flying along, started the ground driving and he really is taking to it well, moved out of the rubber bit into a French link snaffle and he’s becoming really soft, slight hesitation and resistance in one eye and we are patiently working through it and each day I’m seeing an improvement. 

Due to the imminent arrival of a foal into the herd I’ve let Seeta the young mare go to pastures new, she really was a disruptive force in the herd, all the horses are much more relaxed.

even managed a few rides on the old girls, ditched the mecate for Richard Boatwright’s flat rein set up and wow they are so good to ride with, thank you for the extended length on them Richard, very thoughtful and definitely needed. 

If you don’t have a set, get some is all I can say! 

I did get them for the wife’s horse but she is not getting them now 🤣🤣

Well maybe a set for Christmas 

Hope your all making good progress 

Howdy all, on the back of my recent visit to ride and learn from Richard he helped me work on ground driving in detail and we worked through the process to help me get a handle on effective ground driving, I thank Richard Boatwright for this, I know it is basic stuff but essential for making the horse a success.

It got me thinking what do you want to see in terms of videos and subjects in the library that is not already covered? (It probably is but you’re not found it yet as the library is extensive!) 

Suggestions might help Richard for future reference, I know how busy he is but I also know he is passionate about the program and helping as many people as he can and records new content on a daily basis. 

Fire away with suggestions 

Also mention which series has helped you the most and is your go to currently for help and inspiration/instruction.

For me the Nachees colt starting and also Stardust softening the older horse collection has helped me massively 

So tomorrow is my last day in South Carolina before I head back over the pond to Blighty, reflecting on the past week or so spent with Richard Boatwright at the B1 HQ.

What a fantastic trip over again and I can’t thank Richard enough for his time, patience and willingness to explain in detail all aspects of the ES program and share his knowledge on Horsemanship. 

I leave more enlightened than when I arrived yet again with a fire inside me to do better for my horses and just be a better person to be honest. 

Big thanks to Richard, Lilly and of course Gus who Richard entrusted to me for the duration, I hope I have not ruined him too much! 

Watching him rope today made me realise what a great horse he  is when in the right hands and what a poor rider I am! 

Just for a bit of fun but with an interesting point to make, my good lady today went on a horseback archery tester day, I played groom for the day, her ride today was Flicker, her 27 year old Vanner who only last year converted from English to Western riding, not just tack but also riding method, a forward horse at times and nervous but she has done a few Clinics and has taken to non contact and pressure free riding well having previously been ridden full contact and constantly on the bit. 

All the other attendees were 100% English riders in every way, and not 1 of the 5 others could sit at standstill with no contact on the bit and shoot an arrow without having to mess around with reins and be out of balance, the worst horse was dancing around and bolting. 

If I ever doubted the decision to change our riding style and follow new principals like Richard teaches then today was vindication, other people were saying oh well she is just a relaxed horse and not wanting to acknowledge a different approach makes a difference to a horse that used to be highly strung! 

Now I have to buy her an archery set as she has the bug! 

So today I took the plunge and decided I was far enough advanced to get on Stanley my rising 3 Shire/Vanner (Cob) gelding - he is having an operation Wednesday to remove a blind wolf tooth so thought I would have a ride before his recovery period so he can ponder things, unfortunately I can’t upload the video here, Richard Boatwright when you try it only allows uploading of your videos and not from our library! 

Well it went well, went through basics as per normal then put weight in the stirrup a few times, he did walk off but I recall Richard saying it’s not really an issue at this stage, on the 4th time I committed and swung my leg over and we were off! 

Only a couple of minutes riding around or so, a couple of nice 1 rein stops and moving away, he took it all in his stride, lots more ground driving to do as he will be by nature more woe than go as we say in the UK but over the moon with the big lad.

My aim is to once recovered to have him sufficiently backed to bring him to Richard’s clinic in the UK in May to help bring him on, not sure yet if I will be riding or my better half but as I’m more confident than her I decided to throw my leg over today, even though this is the first youngster or any horse for that matter I’ve done a 1st ride on! 

My big worry was I am too big for him at present but he seemed to deal with it all, he is 14.3h and I am 6ft 1”.

Will try to get a couple more rides before his operation 

Just wanted to give some feedback Richard Boatwright on your weekly emails, I like to call them “Richard’s Ramblings” and that’s meant in a complimentary way, really useful incites and quite often thought provoking texts, I for one do appreciate them and I know how busy you are on the ranch and how much time and effort and thought you put into your horses, thanks for taking the time to send out these emails 

Well I started my 2 youngsters on the ES20 Colt starting yesterday, such a contrast between the Vanner cross and Friesian cross, the former is just a plodder and so compliant in everything asked, making him move faster than a walk is a trial in itself but he listens and moved on to bridle and snaffle and worked him well, missed so many cues it was laughable.

Now on to the mare, the opinionated acrobatic, leg kicking, turning on a sixpence speed merchant, so much fun to work around the round pen, naturally turns in but the attention span of a knat, everything is 100 miles an hour with her, a bit of work on the head collar/lead before it got dark.

let’s see what we all digested over night….. I may get my old mare out today to start plugging her gaps also! 

more revision watching videos overnight, thanks Richard Boatwright