Rackil's Horses

...Another lovely hack out.

2009-08-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

Today I took Troy out with my friend Liz and her little mare. Another different environment for the wee boy, and again, he surpassed all of my expectations. The ride was around a very large dairy farm which is local, and its probably easiest if I list the things we encountered.

- Verrrrry large puddles. After a lot of hesitation, we are now the Puddle King. spent most of the ride with Troy actively hunting the puddles down, and sploshing through them.

- Big boom irrigators. Walked underneath no worries at all.

- walking over electric fence tape on the ground. Even after getting it tangled in feet (mum nearly poohed herself at that point) - we have discovered that it is best hopped over.

- Hills. Bring it on.

- Big piles of silage with black flappy plastic and tyres all over it. Yawn.

As seems to be his method, Troy marched out ahead of his company. He walks at a cracking pace, taking it all in, but always going forward. I think soon he'll be ready to tackle the big hacks out on his own.

Thanks Lizzy and Kindy!!!

Sunny weekend

2009-07-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

Well, after all the rain we've had lately, it was lovely to get a fine and frosty weekend. Managed to ride both days - the sad part is that I took Friday off work and it rained constantly (never mind) and had a great time with Troy.

Yesterday, we played here in the paddock, then went for a quiet ride down our right of way and onto Simpson Road. All good, and despite all the scary things, Troy was very trusting and stayed forward all the time.

Today, we floated up to my friend Kelly's place in Waverley. Troy had his first long-ish ride, in the company of Kelly's lovely schoolmistress hunter. We had a lot of new things to encounter - crossing SH3, Railway lines, road signs, herds of cows grazing the roadside, and we had an absolute ball. All up only riding for an hour, but it was plenty for a little horse to think about, and he took it all in his stride.

I am so pleased with the way he loads and travels, too - as soon as he sees the float he's waiting at the gate, and climbs up the ramp on his own as soon as I head that way. :o) It was a good half hour trip in the float which was all taken in stride.

So pleased!!! An awesome day...

My next random post.......

2009-07-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

OK, so it seems that I tend to post on here once every two months or so.....lol. There are far too many websites to keep up with these days, and I imagine anyone who was following this has long since given up!

Anyway, I'm here using this as a diary again, as I have brought Troy back in after having around 6 weeks off. He needed his wolf teeth out, and I also just felt that he needed a little break to give him a bit of headspace. Anyway, the wolf teeth came out, all good there (just waiting for the vet bill....) and my stable is all but finished. (Just waiting for the door - sort of important!)

Its been raining pretty much solidly for the past few weeks - we get the odd nice day, or lately, hour or so!

Measured Troy last week, he is standing at 165cm tall. He also now has a new friend in the paddock - Penny has come to stay until the end of the year when her owners will return from the UK. She is a wonderful Welsh X pony, a terrific school mistress for the girls.

anyhoo - Troy - the last thing I did with him 6 weeks ago was take him to Theresas place, where we went for a quiet hack around the farm. Dear Belle came to babysit, and it all went swimmingly. A good place to finish things off for a bit.

So, I brought him back in the other day. Gave him a couple of quiet minutes on the lunge then turned him out again. The next day, it had been raining, so I didnt want to lunge him on the wet ground. Decided to take a couple of hard pills, and just hopped aboard.

The wee man was a superstar. He has done so much growing, both physically and mentally. I had a lovely little ride, and another yesterday. He's so calm and relaxed, and I really look forward to riding him "properly". I hope to spend this season, just taking him to look at lots of things - little shows, big shows, just having him soak up the atmosphere.

Luke (aged 8) took some video of my ride the other day, and I've taken a few fuzzy stills from it (below). You get the general idea, anyway!!

Troyboy growing up!

2009-05-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Yep, here I am doing my usual once in a blue moon posting on my blog....

So...whats been happening??? Well, lots actually.

After winning his lovely wide ribbon, I did find that the 3 kids/fulltime job/two horses thing was getting a bit much. So, Maxy has gone home to his owners for the winter, for a well earned rest (and perhaps a few hunt starts!).

So, I'm pottering around with troy again, which has taken the pressure off a fair bit. Anyway, I have been riding him very slowly, and taking small small steps. He is still very young, but as you'll see from the pics, has really started to grow into himself, and is looking like a "proper" horse now.

Photos taken today - unfortunately I didnt have a capable person with me to take any ridden pics as Darcy's away, but I'm hoping to rope in a poor unsuspecting friend tomorrow.....

I am so fickle.....

2009-04-04T21:56:00.001-07:00

Thanks for all your comments from my last post - its all been very thought provoking.

Today, I took Max to a local show, sort of end of season thing.

He took out the Champion ribbon in his ring, which as you can imagine, I was absolutely stoked with. Just when we think all is lost, these horses throw us a curve ball!!

One of his owners was there also, and he was thrilled with the way he's going. I've had a bit of a breakthrough with bitting - he's very happy in a hanging snaffle - and that has made all the difference.

Righto, hungry kids to feed.... more later if I get a chance!!

Revelations for the week.

2009-03-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

OK, so today I really am using this as a diary. This evening, something dawned on me. Since Max has been here, my feelings about Troy have been, well, different. Obviously, because of Troy's age, I can't do an awful lot with him anyway, but really, all my mental and physical energy has gone into this flash, well bred horse that has come to stay, and wee Troy has taken a bit of a back seat.

I have started my new job, and to be honest, although a great challenge, and a lot of fun, the last couple of weeks have been very taxing. Darcy has been away, and its been absolutely full on with working full time hours, 3 kids, and two horses, one of whom I'm supposed to be putting a bit of work into.

One hears about WB horses being "high maintenance", and today, it has just dawned on me that perhaps I am fooling myself to think that I can put the work into Max that he needs. Don't get me wrong, he is absolutely lovely, I love riding him, and we have a great thing going, but he is hard work. And when I'm absolutely shattered tired, I find it really hard to focus on a horse that takes every ounce of my attention and energy.

Which is funny, really, because the very reason I bought Troy, was because I wanted to buy a horse that would emulate my dear Belle - also a clyde cross, lovely temperament, nice looking, not the greatest movement, but just a generally lovely, pretty, easy horse to have around.

So - maybe I'm not at a stage in my life for the high maintenance young WB?? Who knows! I'll give it a bit longer, as I love having him here... but, food for thought anyway!

Lazy Saturday

2009-03-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

All is well here. Horses survived the night together with no mishaps or injuries (thank god!!!) Brought Max in this morning for a bit of light work, nothing too strenuous as its all very strange here for him.

Spent about 5 minutes lunging on each rein, and then hopped on, he was a bit looky to begin with, but settled really well and did some lovely work. I left things just with walk/trot work, and kept things short. Will do a little more tomorrow. He seems to be enjoying being here - hangs over the fence with Troy whenever the kids are outside, looking for scratches! So cute...

He's Here!!!

2009-03-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Maxy arrived today. So far he and Troy have decided who's in charge, and all looks good!! I'm tired now so I've just added a couple of pics from the day - looking forward to a ride tomorrow though!!

And another quick update

2009-03-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

Today I found out that Max is to come home with me!! I was concerned, as my time is getting shorter and shorter - I start my new job on Monday, the days are getting shorter, and he needs more work.

I'm thrilled - as it means that I can zip outside and put a little more regular work into him which is great, without the worry of travelling and the time constraints. Troy will be thrilled too!!!

I'll try and get some pics when he arrives - maybe this weekend!

Quick update

2009-02-22T13:26:00.001-08:00

Had a call from Sue last night, who had been contacted by the treasurer of the show we were at on Saturday. Max won his first ribbon!! Came 2nd in his RTR jumping!! Clever boy, he is such a dude.

I'M BAAAAACK!!!!

2009-02-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

Worlds most lazy Blogger. Thats me. OK, so whats new - Troy is super. growing by the day - I have quietly backed him, so thats very exciting! He's just laxing out now though, until he's closer to 3, as he still has so much growing to do.

In the meantime, I've been given the ride on a friends horse. Sue and Grant have kindly asked me to ride Max, their big chestnut Anamour horse. He was only started a couple of months ago, although he has just turned 5, he's still a very big baby. So, he's done nothing.

I am having an absolute ball with him. Today, we thought we'd take him to a local sports day, just for a look around, and the experience of going in a couple of flat classes. He was a star. Despite being somewhat....errr. excited on arrival, he soon settled down, and got into the swing of being a show horse wannabe, and was not fazed by other horses cantering around him, etc etc. Two classes and he was a very tired boy!!

Did one of the little RTR classes, and he jumped so well. His jump is lovely, just rolls into them which is great for the likes of me who can't see a stride to save myself!! We had planned on doing a little 70cm sj round too, but the weather packed up, and we both got totally soaked so decided to call it a day as the ground was so slippery, and the course quite tight - too tight in the wet for a Giant Ginga Giraffe!! Anyway, have included some pics of today - quality is crap as they were taken from the video camera, but you get the idea!!

I feel so lucky to be riding him - but a little nervous too - he's a lovely horse and I don't want to ruin him!!! Can't wait for some lessons with Mandy and winter dressage.

My horse is a mountain goat.

2008-12-14T23:25:00.001-08:00

Should I be worried that my horse likes to stand atop a large mound of topsoil and stare into my bedroom window?

OK, so the picture isn't great as its from my phone, but you get the idea....

Random pics found in camera

2008-12-10T22:06:00.001-08:00

These are from ages ago, but I've just found the other camera!! Anyway, took them the day the shellrock was being laid in the yard, as you can see, troy thought it was all rather exciting. Muffin, mmmm not so much...

Grown up horse stuff

2008-11-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well this week we've been doing a lot. Firstly, I realised that Troy has never been taught to lead from the offside. I discovered this when "lunging" him from a long lead rope. All good in one direction, not so good in the other. he was like..."what the? I can't go that way, its just not right!". The nice thing is that he learned very quickly that its ok to go to the right, just as its ok for mum to walk on the right hand side, not the left!

Back on and off the float, now with the partition in. I like to have all my horses self loading, as I largely travel alone to events. Seems to be going just fine at the moment. He will load on voice command - I haven't put the bum bar up yet, just want him to be nice and relaxed in there first. Just lots of on, stand, off. And then repeat... lol.

He's been "sacked out" and I try to throw as many rugs/saddle blankets etc around his feet and body whenever i have him in. He's quite happy to wear a roller and saddle blanket too.

As usual, I've been so busy doing stuff, that I havent taken any photos! Took this one on my phone this afternoon, the boy tied in the shed as it had started raining.

Cute..

2008-11-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

I just found out last night that Troy and I share a birthday. I, however, am not rising 2.

Back on and off the float this afternoon. Big yay!

Float training???????

2008-11-18T23:49:00.000-08:00

Well it wasn't intended to be. I had parked the float in the paddock and configured troy's tape today to include the float in his paddock. Put the ramp down with the intention of letting him look at it and get close to it if he felt like it.

Silly bugger kept a wide berth from the scary blue thing with wheels.

Went into the paddock this evening to say hi, catch him, and just handle him a bit (oh, ok, play with him, I admit it!) Led him around the float a few times.

I am guilty of talking to him as if he is one of my kids. Which sounds awfully inane and quite mental to the casual passer by. Luckily we don't have many of those...

so, there I was, talking inanely to him. Left him standing at the bottom of the ramp, and walked into the float myself, so that I could talk/sing/be an idiot from inside the float. (the photo is taken from inside the float...)

Well next thing, bugger me, he's in there with me!! Must have been lots of lovely horsey smells from when Violet was in there last. He just stood there sniffing, and chilling. So I carefully backed him out. and walked out with him. And went back in, and he followed me straight back in. Same again.

Lots of horse cuddles and turned him out. Too good to be true!!!

This is the horse that was an absolute b***tard to truck down here, according to the transporter. Go troy!!

Photo, taken by me from inside the float (from my phone so excuse the quality - again, it was all very impromptu!)

Washing session...

2008-11-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

How weird - the pictures are backwards and I'm too inept to swap them around. OK, so the AFTER shots are first up. and the BEFORE shots are last. Go figure...

Anyway, here's the boy, been awhile since any pics, not much has changed except he is GROWING. (To be expected, I guess... lol)

Took one of the two of us too. Well, two half a heads. Thats as far as my arm would reach with the camera...

Sunny impromptu day at home...

2008-11-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Well today instead of being at work, I'm at home because Luke our eldest is sick and off school. It's always a balancing act for them... either they go to school, or they stay at home and in bed. ie, not watching tv all day, and not playing playstation etc. Its amazing how much better they can suddenly seem when faced with the prospect of a boring day at home. However, today he's obviously feeling very under the weather as he's tucked up in bed reading a book with no complaints.

Anyway, my point (which I am taking awhile to get to..) is that I am secretly quite pleased to be at home - its a lovely warm day, Troy is out having a pick at some grass, and this afternoon I'll give him a wash.

I've just spent awhile outside mucking out, and picking up poles off the ground - we are shutting up some of the property for hay, and I daresay the contractor won't be too thrilled at running over jump poles as he goes... as Violet is now with Perf I no longer need my dressage arena set up, so the poles have been stacked away.

So, photos of the wash session later today. Camera charging in anticipation. I may even relent and put the telly on for poor old Luke...

New beginning...

2008-11-03T23:39:00.000-08:00

I am loathe to admit this, but I was at a total loss for a few days. The only reassuring thing was that I had two other friends going through the same things with their youngsters. We were all at a total loss.

First things first though, he came off the grass. That helped..

Secondly, he had become very, very reliant on Muffin, and that was at the detriment of his relationship with me. He didnt need a bar of me, while Aunty Muff was around to take him under her wing and to protect him from that nasty, nasty tall lady with the feed bucket and halter, alternating between looking totally bewildered, and ready to cry.

So, Muff has gone home for a holiday - just for a few weeks. And gosh, yes, that made a difference too. Now he calls out to me when he sees me (and thats gotta be good for the self esteem.... ok, I have no life...)

Thirdly, and here's the weird part, I found help in an unexpected place. As I think I said, Troy is the first unhandled horse that I have had, in 30 years of horse ownership. Lots of good advice coming from all quarters, but nothing really seemed to gel. Anyway, in desperation, I did what we all do... but don't admit... I googled. And found a website belonging to Franklin Levinson, who I had not heard of before. Anyway, his advice on catching timid horses (I really felt troys issues were out of fear, not naughtiness) struck a chord, so I tried it. And bugger me, it worked. Lots and lots of "joining up", "bonding", call it whatever you like, but basically its involved a very, very passive way of taking over Troy's space, until he turns and comes to me. A little like the Monty Roberts stuff, but a lot more passive.

And the nice thing is that Franklin emails, free of charge, his advice. And it has bloody well worked. And has taught me a few lessons in patience. So I have had to swallow all the facetious things I have said in the past about natural horsemanship, or whatever you'd like to call it.

It was frustrating at times, as I am not a patient person by nature. But, I now feel like I have his trust, which I never had completely. And the halter is back on, and we are tying up again, and all the rest. Without bribery, or trickery, which is fantastic. Without dramas, and without fence jumping...

So, happy stories. Its been very humbling for me. I've gone from hardly believing what a doddle this whole young horse thing is, to falling flat on my face (figuratively!) and completely losing faith in myself to make it right, and now I feel confident, but far, far more aware, that I can do this, and make a lovely horse out of him, with a lot of time and patience.

Anyway, thats the end of my epistle!! I'll get some more pics over the next few days. Honestly I will..... :o)

I know, I know, I'm hopeless.....

2008-11-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

And I knew this would happen... I'd be all keen when I started this blog, then the novelty would wear off, and it would be weeks before I posted again....

A couple of reasons (excuses?) for it though. Firstly, or should I say, at first, I didnt post because, well there wasn't much to report. Just more of the same, rugs on and off, tying up, etc etc. Lovely Troy. Still a little timid, but generally still quite agreeable.

HOWEVER, about 10 days ago I discovered that someone had swapped my horse, with some weird feral creature, that I couldnt get near, let alone tie up or remove rugs. The spring grass has taken off here, and Troy and Muffin (aka the Evil Aunty) had become...well.. somewhat antisocial. Muffin, being her sensible self, came right after a day or so, but Troy, being that much younger, and at a very early stage in his education, decided that being a wild horse was far more fun. This culminated in him jumping out of my 1.40m post and rail yards....(oh, as someone said, what a fabulous hunter he'll make....yeah, right, gosh thats reassuring..)

At that point I was ready to take up knitting.

There is a good ending to this story....

Rain and wind, go away!

2008-10-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

School holidays. Rain. Wind. One 5 year old covered in chicken pox. There is not enough wine in the world at the moment to satiate my needs....

But on the bright side - Troy is fab. He's had a wash, and looks a million bucks. At least, he did until he rolled, usual story. His feathers have been trimmed, farrier due this week to trim his feet, and life goes on!

Had to put these pics in. He sees absolutely nothing wrong with standing in his water trough...

Rugs On! So much progress made

2008-10-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of pics of Troy showing that he is man enough to cope with an array of rugs - from the winter (for night time as its still flippin cold at night) to the summer sheet. At present he is like a sponge - so desperate to learn and please.
He has taken to putting himself in the yard as soon as I open the gate, and goes straight to his "spot". I am so thrilled with him. Gotta savour these good bits as I'm sure there'll be plenty not so good!
Oh - today we began the makeover too. The mane is gone. The long forelock is gone. We have met the hose, and decided that it is a huge laugh, even more so when you grab it in your teeth and suck up the water. And even more so again when you spit the water out at Mum.
In case you hadn't gathered, Troy and I are having a bunch of fun!!!

Morning shots.

2008-09-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Took these in the paddock this morning. Poor Aunty Muffin is clearly worn out after all the babysitting. Meantime, Troy is just getting better and better.

As you can see, the mad woman with the camera in her spotty bathrobe was something worth checking out...... however, by the expression on his face once he got to me, it would seem that I am indeed, a scary sight in the morning!

Troy's here!

2008-09-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

At last! Arrived in the wee small hours of Sunday morning - transporter was due at around midnight and eventually arrived at 2am! Unlucky for me that it coincided with the start of daylight savings, so in total I got around 4 hours sleep.... not good.....

Anyway, he's here, alive and well. Poor boy was horribly nervous, and had a hell of a rough trip.

He is just gorgeous though, and trusting us more all the time. Just need to take things verrrry slowly with him I think, so that he can settle into his new surroundings away from his Mum and family. Muffin has been playing the grumpy Aunty role with aplomb - she's looking after him well.

I'll try and get some better pics in the next few days, but for now, thats all. Watching him in the paddock he has the most lovely canter and moves rather well for a big clunky clydey! Oh - he's going to be very tall (yay!!!) - he's already past 16hh. :o)

A sneak preview of Troy....

2008-09-26T18:38:00.001-07:00

Exciting times. I am waiting with baited breath for my newest arrival.

"Troy" is a 2yo clyde tb cross, by Ashburn Damascus. As we speak, he is on a very long, hard trip down here from Northland, which is several hours drive away. I'll try and catch some photos on his arrival, which will be in the middle of the night sometime.

Anyway, more about Troy. He's bay, with a big crooked white blaze, and two rear stockings. He's already around 16hh, so I'm hoping that he'll be big enough to accommodate my long spider legs. His Dad is 17.1hh, and mum is 16.2hh so here's hoping for a big boy!

I'm looking forward to starting him, and can't wait to just work through things slowly with him. I have high hopes that he'll be my ultimate allrounder - I'd like to be back doing about level 3 dressage with him some day, and also hunting and showing him.

Fingers crossed - you just never know how things are going to turn out with horses, though, do you!

I'll post some photos of him at his old home - they were taken last week, "in the rough" as it were.

New horses arriving! - Muffin

2008-09-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Muffin arrived this morning - she's on semi-permanent loan from a friend as a paddock mate for Troy, the new youngster due to arrive.

Bless her, she's barely lifted her head for air since her arrival. For some reason, every horse that comes here thinks our grass is the best thing since sliced bread, which it is, but at this time of year that can be a negative too!

Anyway, Muffin is around 20 years old I think, roughly 12.2hh. She'll be wonderful as an aunty for Troy when he arrives.

Time to do this Blog thing at last.

2008-09-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing here, but thought it about time to do this blog thing. It seems like a good way of letting people know what I am up to with my horses, especially as there are a few out there with a vested interest these days! :o)

At the moment, I'm in a bit of a transition phase! I have a lovely Irish Sporthorse mare, who is with a friend in Wellington, getting a few more competition outings with a view to selling her.

Violet has been wonderful - I bought her two years ago from a very dear friend, and she has shown me the ropes, and given me a taste of what it's like to have a quality horse. She's by Wynyard Agile, and is a Novice Eventer. Last weekend we went out and did our first Level 3 (elementary) dressage start at a registered comp. I was thrilled with her, as it was a step up - she came third and we now have some lovely Level 3 points to add to her CV!

I'm very sad to see her go, but it's time to move her on, so that she can go to someone who will do all the exciting stuff on her. I'm also looking forward to seeing Perfie enjoy her, as she's a far more capable jump rider than I am.