A day at the stables

[Hallie]

The original plan for the stable owner buyng the andalusians as colts was to see if he could get potential dressage horses from them. He'd got the sportshorse mares (both by Wolgang Amadeus Mozart) to see if he could get coloured foals, Ellie the cremello threw the buckskin Corsaria 2 years ago so to get 2 big coloured foals with good confirmation has sent him over the moon.
Kim's been offered first refusal on Gitano, but she may have the chance to take on Corsario instead, and as he's already been schooled to medium level dressage it's a tough choice.
Angelica is for sale, possibly to go as a foal at foot with Megan, which will be heart-breaking but with no more breeding here it would be better for Meg as she's too young to just retire. If I had the money and time I'd make an offer, but I realistically haven't got the ability to give them the input they need.

We have a dressage trainer near me (a close friend actually) who has started working with Andalusians. She's getting some nice babies (both full Andalusian and crosses), but I haven't seen too many as nice as Angelica and Gitano. Whoever gets them will be really lucky. Gitano looks like he has the attitude of a jumper. He looks (other than color) nearly identical to my Nicky (my 17 hand Selle Français gelding) when he was just a little thing, he certainly is well put together!

 

[diamondlil]

No riding yesterday, it was far too hot during the day and Kim had a surPrise planned for the evening, of which more later!
First off, I don't think I've introduced Johnny and Cleo before. The stable owner has taken on 2 great Danes from a rescue society after his elderly dobermann's both had to be put down. From different original owners, both these beautiful dogs had been beaten and neglected. Johnny didn't do at all well in the rescue kennels so he's taken longer to get weight on, but they are gentle giants and very loving dogs. In fact right from the start they have been so good that you'd never believe the abuse they'd been through. Cleo is about 18 months, Johnny is about a year old.
(I should add, it's hard to get pictures of them, you can see my hand holding Cleo off the camera so I could show her pretty face without her nose on the lens, they are so friendly and respond to the slightest attention by trying to have a cuddle. I generally have my pre-stable coffee with both of them squishing me on the sofa)

 

[diamondlil]

Then we had to move Quiver the big warmblood mare and two yearlings, Valiento and Alhaja, through the village to new grazing. In theory I was getting the easy job in leading Quiver. Both yearlings were very lively, but coped well going past lorries, cars and buses. Then they spooked going past the garage, and Quiver decided she suddenly didn't like it too and nearly took my arm out of its socket trying to get her head up to rear. I managed to calm her down and keep control, but this morning I can feel 'crunching' when I rotate my shoulder.
Luckily all the drvers we were holding up with our procession were very understanding.

 

[diamondlil]

Then on to poo-picking for the mares and foals all turned out together on rented grazing, a BIG task. The foals are all getting very lively so I wasn't too surpised to be designated baby-sitter. Apart from Angelica who fell asleep, one by one I had the foals brought to me, so I ended up with Gitano, Pintura, Musica and Beato to 'help' me.

 

[diamondlil]

I thought I'd be riding Merlin later when it cooled down, but instead Kim revealed we had an invitation from her farrier to attend a talk about hoof health and nutrition. Although the nutritionist was from a feed company, she was very fair in not just promoting her products, presenting results from studies by various veterinary schools on hoof growth and laminitis. There was a life-size model of a horse's gut to unravel and pass around! After the presentation with slides there was discussion time. When she discovered that I'm a gastro nurse I got quizzed by her about human nutrition and supplementation, digestive and malabsorbtion problems.

 

[diamondlil]

Another great day at the stables today, although it almost ended in disaster first thing in the morning, when the two-year old Corsaria barged though a 6 foot metal gate, catching Kim's arm in it. I managed to catch the horse and drive her back into her paddock, then check Kim over. Her arm went completely numb and she couldn't move her fingers much, I'm afraid I did hurt my friend poking and prodding to check it wasn't broken. Then I got a cold hosepipe running on her arm because it was swelling up straight away. Gradually she got the feeling and some movement back, and she'll have terrific bruises because both her upper and lower arm were crushed in the gate, with her elbow skinned.
Once she knew the arm wasn't broken Kim decided not to go to hospital unless it got worse, but that was her out of action for the rest of the day.

 

[diamondlil]

Then the stable owner arrived just ahead of the saddler, and the gelding andalusian Corsario had his saddle reflocked and fitted. His owner rode him in the school, then popped me up (on a lead rein) so he could check how he was moving. Corsario enjoyed a nice cold shower afterwards, because the temperature was rising by then.

 

[diamondlil]

And then I had my lesson on Merlin, who was very lively and needed riding. He was superb today, listening to the aids and concentrating, so as Kim couldn't lunge us, we got to canter on both reins for full circuits of the school! As you can see from the photos, my excitement did get the better of me, but Kim says she'll be tougher on my position when she's better. I felt like I'd won at Hickstead!:dancer::dancer::dancer:

 

[snakewispera snr]

DYK.... I don't like hoses or lizards as they get big and bite....
DYK I was playing with an Asian Water Monitor today called Rodney... A big ol boy but I'm assured he is tame....
DYK.... I'll post pics of him later
DYK.... You'll never see a pic of me with a horse.... Ever
You are one brave woman..... Hats off to you J9..... LOL

 

[diamondlil]

It took me a long time to get 'savvy' and lose my nerousness around the horses Mike. Pete thinks I'm mental, my Ortho surgeon banned me from riding for a year, but I just wish I'd carried on riding from a kid. With Merlin as my partner I've got further than I ever thought I would. Pete also says with riding a piebald cob and owning a lurcher it's my Pikey ancestry making itself known!

 

[snakewispera snr]

It took me a long time to get 'savvy' and lose my nerousness around the horses Mike. Pete thinks I'm mental, my Ortho surgeon banned me from riding for a year, but I just wish I'd carried on riding from a kid. With Merlin as my partner I've got further than I ever thought I would. Pete also says with riding a piebald cob and owning a lurcher it's my Pikey ancestry making itself known!

I don't think your mental... I think you have ***** of steel...
Fair play, when you can read an animal, it's great... I'd just rather my chances with Pete Blakes King cobra, at least I know how to read that and what to expect.... And it's not as big as a horse.... LOL
And if you got pikey blood do you know anyone who can tarmac my drive on the cheap.... LOL

 

[diamondlil]

If they're from that side of my family they'd probably steal your teaspoons Mike!

 

[wade]

J9 I just checked and you have been having this day at the stables for a year and a half. You were so cute and young when it all started. Oh where does the time go?

 

[diamondlil]

Haha! I just add on to my threads instead of starting new ones. (And I could do cute and young in dim light, if you were really drunk!)

 

[wade]

I'd get drunk for you J9, you know I would.

 

[diamondlil]

Such a gentleman!
I forgot to include this picture of me on Corsario. He's nowhere near safe for me to ride yet, his hormones are stll raging, but the saddler wanted to recheck the fit of his saddle and Gary's back was hurting. Right then I'm just praying he doesn't start bucking.

 

[wade]

Such a gentleman!
I forgot to include this picture of me on Corsario. He's nowhere near safe for me to ride yet, his hormones are stll raging, but the saddler wanted to recheck the fit of his saddle and Gary's back was hurting. Right then I'm just praying he doesn't start bucking.

Well duh, look what you're wearing young lady. My hormones are raging now.

 

[diamondlil]

It was 31 degrees today! The stables aren't overlooked so Kim and I generally wear clothing for comfort in the heat. I put proper riding gear on for my lesson and thought I'd die.

 

[diamondlil]

Yesterday I had an excellent day at merlin's new stables. Merlin was full of love and is very happy and relaxed there. The farrier came and fitted him with a shiney new set of shoes, then Merlin gave a jumping lesson for a little girl. As it was so hot he had a nice bath to recover and i got to ride gus, the big Percheron cross. I felt like I'd been doing box splits because he makes Merliln look like a tiny show pony!
I wandered through the woods we ride in there and tried my best to spot the pair of buzzards I could hear but didn't see.

 

[Jynx]

They look great! Merlin is such a handsome fellow. How cool was it up on that stallion's back? He looks like he'd be a great ride!