So I knew that driving to the girls wasn't going to be an option..out came trusty mountain bike and Spud the dog and I bravely went off into the wild white yonder!
Wasn't too bad a trip, but it was made much harder by having to carry my rucksack stuffed to the gunnels with soaked grass nuts and sugar beet...bloody norah it was heavy!! I'd better be svelte and fit after all this enforced exercise lol!
I think Bally & Dee heard me huffing and puffing up the lane as they were both lurking by the corral gate waiting for me.
Gave them breakfast and then we had a brush off and I tied them up for a hoof training session. Bally is pretty much sorted now in this department and stands patiently - she doesn't "lift a paw" on command yet like Safi used to but I'm sure that will come in time. She does get a bit impatient and lifts her foot away sometimes, but calm repetition and loads of reward when she gets it right is helping :-)
Dee...well here's a work in progress! Sometimes we have hooves thrown at me, sometimes gently given, I have hung on gamely to pistoning and cow kicking and other times she's popped her foot on my knee and happily stood like a lamb...that's babies for you...again just lots of practice and rewarding the good seems to be getting us on the right track. Trimmer is due in a couple of weeks so hopefully I'll have two well behaved girlies before then.
Off course with them living in a field that raises the where do we trim them quandry :-0
The open barn next to the feed room is a crushed hardcore floor and not level, so the only concrete I have to stand them on is in the feed room. This will present no problem whatsoever for Dee as she makes her way in on a daily basis to see if there is anything lying around to snaffle, but Bally treated it with trepidation...so some days I actually inch her bucket in the door then move it right in, she'll now happily walk in and stand and eat her dinner so...I'm hoping that this will do! Of course I don't have any electricity so will have to try and get Ellie to come of a weekend.....and then there is the fun of walking and trotting them up...on the lane.
Practice of this has gone swimmingly I'm pleased to say. So fingers crossed!
Anyway after the hoof work I let the girls out and Bally and I went for a wander round the perimeter of the field, just for a bit of fun and bonding and a sneaky brush up of leading manners. B was in fine form, all sparky but still attentive. She had a couple of yeehaa moments as the horses out at the back of the next farm had a hoolie but she gave me a couple of beautifully up bouncy still in my hand canter strides, did a circle round me with dragon snorts and a bit of a jog then settled down - never pulling away during any of it..brilliant!
We did a bit of controlled walking up and down one of the slopy undulating bits and that was all good too, so as we wandered back over to the others I let her loose and gave her a big scratch and cuddle.
Thouht what the hell I'll do some work with Dee too and made a funny discovery - I don't think she's ever been led from the right. Left - no problem she's really good for a baby, but I swapped sides (I always make a point of doing everything both sides) and she was "um...what??" it totally flummoxed her, so I did a bit of work on this and after a minute or two she got the idea and happily popped into place and walked along with me like a pro.
She's picked up the whistle stop and click for backwards already so we've got a great foundation to work from.
Back up to the others and Dee was let loose with loads of praise too.
I then got to see the whole herd have a play...instigated by Bally of course! She took off in a joyfully mad gallop and hared off in a big circuit...then homed in on the gang who all set off a bucking and a leaping as she approached, then Dee gave a squeal and a few bucks and took off closely followed by Bally and Bonita. Bonita does this hilariously funny whirligig move where she rears and spins 180, lands her front feet and spins another 180 with her bum in the air and leags out in all directions...glad I'm not the one who'll be backing that athletic little miss!
Then we had them all trying to out power trot each other, tails up, heads up snorting a plenty....I'd left my phone up at the barn so missed getting video :-(
As I'd managed to waste a good couple of hours I decided they could have their next meal now to save me having to struggle back down...it had started snowing again by this point so I didn't want to chance it.
So late lunch made up and scoffed and I popped Bally's rug back on, gave them both scritchy scratches and let them out.
The gentle snow had turned heavier so I thought I'd better stick to the tracks on the estate roads (technically shouldn't be on some of them but needs must today) well Spud and I put our heads down and soldiered on our way home ...and on...and on...and I suddenly realised I hadn't got a clue where I was and the snow was a blizzard and I couldn't see any of the local landmarks to get my bearings!!
Thank Gawd for my iPhone and it's GPS locater thingy.!! Turns out I was heading in totally the wrong direction having missed a turning. I'm sure I would still have got home eventually, but I'd have been exhausted!
Directions sorted and I soon found my way back on track and home. Couple of hours later and I still haven't thawed out properly!!
God, you are brave! Glad you got home safely.
ReplyDeletePuts me to shame that you actally worked your girls. Good for you.
You sure are a trooper to get out in that! My younger daughter flew in to Heathrow this morning - I was worried about her with the weather, her flight on Virgin from New York City was actually almost on time, although lots of other flights were cancelled. And they made it to London, so that's good too. You seem to be having strange weather!
ReplyDeleteIf I were wearing a hat I'd take it off to you, I used to cycle to Quadi but only in summer. You're going to be uber-fit between cycling and keeping up with two young mares!
ReplyDeleteFabbie to hear that everyone's settling in :D