A day at the stables

[diamondlil]

Actually I've heard bad news about Corsaro. He went through fencing and has damaged both his hind legs and most likely his pelvis. It's not clear whether he'll recover fully. Kim's finished her notice at the stables and is now totally freelance with schooling and teaching. Corsario's owner has said I'm not welcome to visit any more because I'm Kim's friend so I won't be seeing his horses or the foals any more.
Whike Merlin's at livery I'll be riding him as well as Ben the thoroughbred x highland and probably helping to exercise a couple more of the livery horses.

 

[dionythicus]

Wow, that's some awful news, about Corsario and that you aren't welcome at the stable. What a jerk.

 

[kathylove]

Wow! I am sure you are going to miss a lot of your equine friends! I hope you can make some new friends with Kim's new clients.

 

[diamondlil]

From when I was still limping to recently I've worked up to doing a full day's work when I visited, helping with mucking out, moving and handling the horses, feeding, grooming, all because I enjoyed it. For about the lat 6 months the owner took the morning off if I was visitng so I'd do the full share of work.
I'll miss the horses but not his attitude towards them. Now I wouldn't endanger Kim's job it's probably best I stay away so I don't let rip over his practices.
Merlin's new stables are ones Kim's had clients at for a couple of years, it's where I've rode Pye and Ben. The head groom is a lovely girl, the horses are all kept in immaculate condition and it's a lovely place to visit. Merlin will stay there until @ november, after Kim's house sale goes through and he'll be kept at home. And then, there may well be a mini-me of Merlin of my very own there! We are starting to look at ponies to buy and school!

 

[Jynx]

What a shame! It always hard to hear about good horses that get stuck with people problems. What can you do? While I'll definitely miss the stories and updates, I'm glad to hear that your efforts (no matter how driven) are being taken for granted. Furthermore, I'm glad to hear that Merlin and Kim are in a good place., and that you are still able to be around them and work with the horses.

Can't WAIT to see your pony! I'll bet November just seems too far away, eh?

 

[Pal-O-Mine]

So sorry to hear about what you're going through! I've worked at a lot of stables and time and time again someone is brought down by someone else's ego! Been there, done that, got the coffee cup and the T-shirt. That is one of the reasons I was so eager to buy land and get out of boarding. I got tired of being kicked out because of someone else's misunderstanding, someone else ruining it for the rest of us, vicious rumours passed around, whatever! It wasn't the horses' fault! Just the people involved with the horses. Humans who get involved with horses tend to become part of the soap opera, roller coaster that goes with it. Ugh! I SOOOO don't have time for that anymore! I HATE conflict!

I hope this change in your life turns out to be a very good thing in the long run. I wish you and the horses you love only the best and healing on both fronts if that is at all possible.

hugs
Devon

 

[diamondlil]

Thanks for the well-wishes. For now at least (and I hope for many years to come) I've got Merlin to continue to have so much fun with. I never really get to spend time with Cocouts and Joe because I work nights every weekend and Cathy works during the week. I'm so lucky that my friends are so generous with their time and help otherwise I'd never have had these chances to relearn riding with all the ups and downs tha have come along. I'm doubly lucky that my friends are both so committed to treating their ponies in such humane and caring ways. Which is paid back by how happy and willing their ponies are.
I'm not sure what Kim's got planned, but next Wed I'm having a formal lesson on Merlin. I'm hoping it will be jumping!

 

[kathylove]

That is great that the horses have helped with your physical therapy - to get you back on your feet, and on with your life. Back when you couldn't even work, jumping on horseback must have seemed like an impossible dream!

 

[diamondlil]

On sunday I was suppposed to be asleep as I had 1 more nightshift to go...........but my sister got us an invitation to a stud open day, so what could I do!
The stud is called Danaway and they breed and show Welsh Cobs that are recognised as one of the top bloodlines with success in all the major championships and exported all over the world.

 

[diamondlil]

The Cobs were magnificent, and showing them isn't a sedate affair by any means. In order to show their extravagant action the handler has to run like the clappers and then get them to stand with their back legs extended like a rocking horse

 

[diamondlil]

I couldn't stay for the stallions, I had to go home to get a few hour's slleep, but I did get to see my favourite of the mares, Danaway Cracklin Rose, who is in foal.

 

[Jynx]

What a neat little show! That mare is indeed absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing

 

[diamondlil]

Thanks, it was a really hot day and the handlers were really suffering! I don't know if Cobs are shown in hand the same way in the States, but it's so exciting seeing them in trot, and the younger ones got quite difficult at times when they were fired up.

 

[Jynx]

Showing in hand is always a spectacle for the high stepping hot breeds. Cobs, Arabs, Saddlebreds, Walkers... Behind the gate, its a zoo! At the shows, a plastic bag on the end of a whip is a favorite prop. That and a can full of rocks. The more jacked up they get the better! I've seen a few handlers almost get plowed before a halter class, and god forbid a single horse goes in without blowing like crazy. Arabians tend to shoot through that gate like a rocket. The Cobs don't seem to get as jacked up as the Arabs (probably because they're a little less flighty) but man can those guys trot!

 

[diamondlil]

Haha! Yes they had plastic bags on the end of whips to get them going! Here's a picture of one of the stallions from the website, Danaway Tango, and a mare Called Danaway Vienna who almost ended up going through the fencing

 

[Jynx]

That stallion is amazing! I just love high steppers!

 

[diamondlil]

Today was far too hot for schooling, so a hack through the woods in the shade was the plan. After saying 'Good morning' to Merlin I took a wander through the woods and found the buzzards' nest.
For the first part of our hack we walked sedately, then when we got into the open rides we had a great time cantering and then opened up for a gallop! Merlin was brilliant, he didn't put a foot wrong and was totally responsive to when I wanted him to speed up or slow down. :dancer:

 

[wade]

It is interesting to hear you speak of the day J9. I live in horse country so I hear people talking about their day at the stable quite often. I have never heard any say they were going for a hack. I thought that was a typo until you did it twice. The best part was when you walked sedately, in my neck of the woods we mosey. Just an observation.

Glad you are having so much fun. Life is good!!

 

[diamondlil]

Erm, in that case Wade we mosied along through the woods, then loped and galloped through open rides!

 

[wade]

That a girl. Try this one. We moseyed down the road a piece then sat a spell out yonder. Then you spit in the dirt and rub it in with the toe of your boot.