Herd Antics

02/03/2024

After the last post about Bethy and wondering if I am doing the best by her, I think she answered that herself.

Bethy has already shared a few things with me, like where she needs a scratch, where she's found some tasty grass and where she likes to roll. But this time...🥰🧡🥰

Story in the captions 😊.

01/03/2024

So, Lucy. What can I say?

A bit of back story: Lucy is our third longest herd member.

When she first came to us, she would do amazing light back ups and when she picked up her hooves, she would not place any weight in your hand at all. We felt that was a bit weird. And it soon stopped once she realised that we were "different".

From then she would plant her hooves on the ground and refuse to pick them up or pick them up for a few seconds only.

This is a concern mostly because she can be prone to laminitis and needs her hooves done regularly. Positive reinforcement works, but Lucy gets very heightened with food. She stress eats.

I am trying to help her relax and accept being touched. She would often pin her ears when approached but not so much now.

A snippet of Lucy's progress below.,.

27/02/2024

Harry, too, was happy to have a brush that morning. It's been a while since he's wanted a brush but today was the day.

He gave me a hug while I brushed his mane. Harry hugs are the best!

When I had done his tail, he walked over to Beth and they had a mutual groom. Beth is the only one of the mares who will do this.

26/02/2024

I had a beautiful morning, yesterday with Bethy, Dandy, Harry and Lucy. We had some lovely conversations. Piper kept herself to her self in the background or snoozing with Harry.

I thought I'd share my chat with Dandy first.

24/02/2024

Sometimes, I beat myself up for not getting on with training Bethy. And most often, what stops me going out there and doing stuff is the notion that I'll get it wrong. Or fail in what I wanted to achieve.

I also realise that this is a human perspective.

I'd like to share what happened when I got a halter and went out to see Beth.

How slow is too slow, or is it that it takes the time it takes to build trust and understanding?

23/02/2024

Yesterday, I was woken by a thundering of hooves. I leapt out of bed in time to see the herd go "galloping" past the house! Such a wonderful sight! Even Piper was cantering! She used to follow at a sedate walk! 🤣

After that the youngsters were hungry and came knocking at the porch!

21/02/2024

The herd is enjoying the cooler weather today. It has been close and into the 40's
Today is cooler and cloudy. A day to rest and recover. Enjoy the peace.

20/02/2024

The course of young love never runs smooth! 🧡🧡

This is a follow up to Bethy and Dandy's little interaction the other day. It might have happened that same afternoon or the next day.
This time, Beth takes the initiative.

To put things in perspective, Bethan is a 4 1/2 yr old Welsh cob filly and Dandy is a 3 1/4 yr old waler brumby. They are both exploring and learning about life. 😍

Story in the comments 😊

19/02/2024

There's somebody at the door!!! 🫣

Check the captions 😊

18/02/2024

There was an interesting conversation between Dandy and Bethan by the shed the other morning.

I'm pleased to say that Dandy remembers what he learnt the other day about asking for a scratch politely. He is such a cool dude for someone so young!

Story in the captions.
Enjoy and share if you like 😊

15/02/2024

Bethy is such a sweetheart! 🧡

This morning the herd was standing by the shed waiting for breakfast. Bethy took a step forward to greet me then did some strange stepping with her hind legs.

She placed her right hind almost on top of her left then shifted her weight back and forth. Her hind hooves were so close together. I had to investigate.

I found that she had knocked a bit of skin off the inside of her hock.

Bethy wanted to tell me! Once she had, she was happy to trot off to find some hay! 🥰

14/02/2024

To all my followers, thank you!
And here's a 💐 that will not be eaten! 🧡

Who knows how many of our horses were like this today 😝💕

Picture credit: Simply Horses

14/02/2024

Well, I wasn't expecting this on our walk with the hounds this morning.

So Horse Speak is understood by cows, too! 🧡🐮

Story as usual in the captions 😁

13/02/2024

Of course there is a story behind this picture.

It was Tuesday Hoof day. Lucy came up to me first...only just getting there before Beth!

I put her halter on and was asking her to come with me away from Tyson who, as usual, was barking loudly. Edward was just about to call him away, when...

Piper walks gently up to Lucy, points her nose at Lucy's "jump up button"* then looks at me.

What Piper was telling me was that Lucy felt vulnerable because of Tyson.

Yes, I know that was obvious, but for another horse, in this case, Piper, to show such care and believe that the human would take note, I feel, is amazing.

Thank you, Piper. 😍
And thank you Lucy, too. 😍
And good boy, Tyson, for going back in the house! 😍

*The "jump up button" in Horse Speak is the area behind the girth. It is the area that a predator would go for because there is not much to protect internal organs. The horse shows his vulnerability by presenting this area to a mentor, or, as in this case, the mentor drew attention to it.

11/02/2024

Taking advantage of moments!

Beth was having a scratch on the flag pole. We have it there to flap around in the wind. Desensitisation of sorts.

I gave her a scratch, covered her with the flag. Why not? She was not perturbed in the least! 😍

08/02/2024

A little lesson learned by both Dandy and me. 🥰

Story in the captions.

07/02/2024

Bethy, you are the sweetest 🧡🥰🧡
Story in the captions 😊

04/02/2024

I think Bethy enjoyed the myofascial release I was trying out on her neck. Just the lightest touch.

But it must have worked as she very slowly and carefully folded her legs and lay down beside me.

I sat down next to her and we took some time breathing and then she fell asleep.

Dandy came over to watch over us and after a long while I got up and left. (Humans always have something to do 🙄)

When I looked back, she had got up but was still sleepy. Her expression was "Where did you go?"

🧡

04/02/2024

AppaLucy! 😂

03/02/2024

I love watching the interactions of the different members of our herd. It is fascinating.

Here Harry and Lucy are grazing side by side which is quite unusual in itself. But notice Harry's left foreleg. It is extended towards Lucy.

This was not by chance as I saw him deliberately, firmly but gently putting that hoof down in her direction three times.

I think it was an invitation from him to be more part of the herd. Lucy has always been a bit of a loner, keeping her distance but recently, she has opened up a bit.

30/01/2024

Major cause for celebration today!! 🎉🎉🎉

Dandy not only "gets" what to do with his big body and extra long legs in order to have a hoof picked up, he's so proud of his new skill he shows Lucy how it's done! 🧡

Story in the captions 😊

28/01/2024

After reading a post by Equine Bodyworks By Mary Sargeant about owner responsibilty and speaking up for your horse or any other animal in our care, I feel compelled to share this experience I had in the hope that it will encourage people to think.

We were walking our dogs on a very windy day when we heard a piteous whinny. It was deep and pleading.

There was a horse tied to a pole between a she, a round yard and a tree. As I said it was very windy and the branches were blowing about.

The horse looked at us as we passed and whinnied again. It made me feel very sad. But not my horse Not for me to interfere with the way other people train their horses. I hoped that the human would come and untie the horse.

The horse was still there an hour later when we were on our way home. This time, the whinny was despairing.

Yes, I know horses need to be comfortable being tied up. But there must be a kinder way.

🧡

26/01/2024

With Piper, it's sometimes a case of "Do as I say!" Not "Do as I do!"

Story in captions

25/01/2024

It was dark. Beth had fallen asleep and hadn't noticed the others had gone. Did she panic? Of course not! She called out to her human!

I went out to see what was wrong. We started off across the paddock and I saw two pale shadows coming towards us. Lucy and Dandy came to es**rt us to where Harry and Piper were waiting.

😍🥰🧡

21/01/2024

I saw a post on FB yesterday about riding 'back to front'.
Somehow, I don't think this is what they meant 🤔😁

19/01/2024

A conversation between Bethy and me.

It's a two way thing: request, demonstration, request, agreement.

The story is in the captions. I hope you enjoy this as much as Bethy and I did. 🧡

17/01/2024

And a day or so later, here's Dandy encouraging Bethy to take the lead!

Bethy stops to look at Edward and me taking the hounds for a walk. Dandy reassures her first by touching her down by the side of her tail, then asks her to walk on by nosing her hip.

Harry looks on, mentor and teacher.

I love watching these horses work together 🧡

16/01/2024

Each horse has a role to play in the herd. Often, in a small herd, they can fulfil more roles than one. For example, Harry is teacher and sometimes map maker. Piper is mentor and protector. Lucy is peacemaker and map maker. Dandy is joker and protector.
And Bethy?
I don't think she's sure yet. But the herd are helping her to try out different roles.👇

13/01/2024

Go, Bethy!! Or rather, stand, Bethy! 😁

Here's Bethy standing patiently waiting for her reward for having her hoof done.

We were in the Big Paddock. The treats were easily accessible to her, but she chose to wait as I'd asked her to!

This is the first time she has ground tied 🥰🥰🥰

11/01/2024

Evening feed 🧡