Quick update......

Diesel is being an absolute star.

Alyssa is the perfect rider for my young man. She has a lovely gentle way about her and he really responds well to the way she works him. She doesnt have really short reins and jam him up, she lets him relax into himself and he is really driving through from his hind quarters. They are doing some lovely lovely work in the paddock and I just know it was the right thing to do getting her to ride him.

In fact it is going so well that Diesel and Alyssa went to their first show the other week. It was only the Silverdale Funday but it was a great start.

Diesel got off the float, had a little wander around and was then saddled up and away they went. He did all the flat classes in the morning and got 2 ribbons and a bag of carrots. In the afternoon was the jumping (which they have not done any together before) and he refused a couple of times and instead of pushing and pushing Alyssa retired out of the ring, but took him over to the practise jump to get him over just one and then we left him at the float for 30 minutes to just chill out before taking him home. I was so pleased with his behaviour, he was a total star in my eyes and I look forward to the day it is me doing it with him, but in the meantime Alyssa is absolutely PERFECT for him.

As for Leah and the jumping, Diesel had one lesson and did really really well. It ended up that Leah is aspiring to the Special Olympics and was looking at Diesel as a potential back up horse, but after looking into it more I decided that I dont really want Diesel going overseas and that with me owning him it was just going to get too tricky so pulled the plug on it.

Anyway, better go but will upload some new photos of the boy at his first show, and jumping lesson over the next week when I get some more time.

I AM SO GLAD THAT I HAVNT SOLD MY MAN!!!!!!!

Exciting times ahead for my boy.....

So, I thought it was time to update the young mans blog as its been a wee while.

Diesel now has not one, but two lovely riders. I was put onto a lovely lady called Alyssa who was looking for a horse to ride. She came and tried him the other week and they seemed to get on well so she has taken over that side of it. She rides him very nicely, has a nice and relaxed way about her and he is really starting to do some lovely flatwork. His transitions are coming along well too so I am uber pleased with what she has done with him so far.

The other rider for him is my dear friend Leah. Leah called me and asked me if she could teach Diesel how to jump......so of course I said a big YES to that.

He had his first jump lesson this week and he was an absolute star. It was his first time in an arena with jumps everywhere and he was so good. We floated him all the way over to South Auckland with Chevy and he unloaded, had a good look around and was genuinly interested in being somewhere new without being an idiot.

He was ridden by Leah first and he went in, had a couple of spooks and that was about it. He was first put through trotting pole set-ups to get him straight and then went onto little x-poles. He jumped about 60cms and seemed to really enjoy himself. I was watching my young man with awe as he just looked superb.

He is going to be a busy little man this summer so I am taking a backwards swep and letting Alyssa and Leah do their thing with him.....

I am SO SO SO glad I didnt sell him, and with this mileage one day me and him are going to be AWESOME!!!!

New decision.....

So, after all this too-ing and fro-ing I have come to the conclusion that I just CANT sell my boy. I have been doing more with him over the last week or so and have had a blast with him. I think he is just really bored. Soooooooo.......

I am going to either keep him here and just find someone who wants to ride and look after a young horse or will find someone to lease him for a year and go from there.

I just think that once I get my confidence back, and Diesel gets a bit more mileage we will be perfect for one another....and I dont want to give up after 4 years!

I am sure there is someone out there that will be willing to put the time and mileage into him, he is a nice horse and I would love to be able to offer the oportunity to someone who would otherwise not be able to afford a horse like him....

But the person is going to have to be perfect lol...now just need to put my feelers out to find them.

Why am I dithering?????

Gawd, I am really struggling with my decisions about Diesel at the moment.

He hasnt been up to Weiti much as the first he had a small abcess and was just a bit off so didnt want him worked.....and since then the weather Gods have been miserable and it has not stopped raining.

So he was supposed to go up again today but Weiti Station have had their arena redone and it was being levelled off so again had to postone....but as the float was already hitched to my car I thought I would just do a bit of float training with the boy.

I was nervous but had no reason to be atall. Once again he was a gem and we ust had some really lovely moments together. Sounds terribly soppy but it was actually quite touching seeing him really put his trust in me and me in him. Something clicked again today with us and I just dont know if I am ready to give up totally on a horse that I have owned for 4 years just because we are at different stages of our riding.

I think if I had continued riding when I first got him it would be a different story but I didnt, I have not ridden properly for these 4 years so I need to get back into it again.

A few weeks ago I rode Anna's percheron x, Cruise in the forest and didnt have a care in the world....and then the next week I rode a clyde x mare called Breeze and again had a blast with no worries atall. In fact Breeze was available to lease and as I need something to get me back into riding I have got her here and to be honest it is wonderful, if I want to go anywhere I just load her on the float and away we go...and I dont worry!

So, my concern with selling Diesel is what IF he is my perfect horse, but just not yet....what IF i make a really big mistake selling him....what IF i lease him out for a couple of years to someone while I have fun with Breeze and get my confidence back up there...so many questions with only me to answer them!??!?!?!?!

It really is doing my head in, one day I know its right to sell him, and then after a day like today all I want to do it keep him. I really do love the fella and will miss him terribly....arrrggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess time will tell.

First ride....

Took Diesel up to Alice at Weiti Station today to be brought back into work. He was a legend. Loaded fine, travelled and unloaded great and was pretty chilled out at the yards with the other horses.

He was straight away tacked up and Alice got on and rode him to down to the arena. Once there he was fantastic. Alice didnt waste any time, just straight into some work.

Walk. trot and canter on both leads, no worries atall. If anything he was a little lazy so I think Alice is going to to put some spurs on to get him moving.

We are going back again on Thursday and she is going to take him to a grass area they are currently riding on to really get him to kick up a gear....hopefully when there she can pop him over a jump too!

She did say he was a tad overweight, but not sure how to slim him down as he in not on any hay or hardfeed, and the grass is just normal.....little fat babba.

Very exciting seeing him worked and cant wait until Thursday.....

A couple of pics of todays session.....

The decision is made!

Wow, what a week. Not even sure how this big decision came about but it did, and I've decided and I guess thats that. :o(

What is my big decision......I am going to sell Diesel. I know I have talked about it time and time again and it never eventuates but this time it is different.

I have just finally realised that having a young horse is not beneficial for either myself or the horse involved. A young green horse is not what I should be riding, and not what I should be trying to teach.

I know that I cant train Diesel properly and all I seem to end up doing is NOTHING, its easier to just handle him and potter around that actually get on and wonder if we are doing it right.

He has never done anything wrong when he is being ridden, he does everything I would expect a young horse to do when it is learning but for me I dont feel confident when he does the young horse things. I am not cut out for taking him to the beach for the first time, or the forest, or a show and although I am not admitting defeat I am admitting that it is now too much for me.

I need a horse that I can drag out of the paddock once a week and be able to ride it anywhere without worrying, I want a horse that I can go and jump an 80cm course on without having to train it to jump first and I want a horse I can go around a x-country course on and enjoy myself.

Basically I want an older horse that has done everything and wants a slower pace in life.

I have enjoyed raising Diesel so much, I have learned heaps and so has he but I know its time to hand the reins over to someone else now for them to get him out there and doing more than I can.

So, whats my plan??????

For the next few weeks I am taking him up to Weiti Station for Alice to bring him back into work, but as they are only 5 minutes away he will continue living here with me which is great.

Then in a couple of week he will be put on Trade Me by Alice and I will continue to take him up there so he is kept in work and then if anyone wants to see him I just again take him there. Win win situation for me as it means I still get to spend time with him before he is sold......and then I will look for another horse that is more suitable for my Nanna-self!!!!!

I am going to miss Diesel so much when he is gone, and I just really hope that whoever buys him will allow me to keep in touch and be updated on his progress.

Latest update.....

Soooooo, I have decided that I am definitely not a motivated person during the winter months, just want to sit of my ass and watch the time go by!!!! Its not the cold that I mind, just the miserable wet rain that just keeps relentlessly coming and coming, am over it!

Poor old Diesel is getting hardly any attention atall, he is lucky if he gets out of the paddock once a week for a feed and brush, that is how unmotivated I am, although I am sure that he doesnt mind one bit.

Today I had the farrier out and it was blowing an absolute gale.....the wind was so cold my face was hurting and thank god I had a beanie on as I think my ears would have been blown clean off my head otherwise!

I thought that given the lack of handling, combined with the blardy awful weather, that Diesel would have been an absolute toad....how wrong I was. I think he was just so darn happy to see me and know he was going to get some attention that he would have done anything for me. His behaviour was impeccable, a true gentleman in all ways and I am stoked with him. Had lovely cuddles and just a in general a nice chill out together.

Now for my big news, well for me anyway, on 01 - 03 October I have booked me and Diesel if to attend a Steve Brady Clinic held near Woodhill Sands. Anna has told me heaps about them and that she really thinks that we will benefit from attending so instead of me doing the usual 'yeah yeah, will look into it' I have gone 'Yep, lets do this!'. Have put deposit down to hold my spot and am a little excited about doing this. I just feel that if me and Diesel keep going the way we are that I will never really get back into the sport and will end up selling him so this is my way of saying, 'lets move forward and start an enjoyable time together'......

This bloody weather......

So, for the last 3 weeks it had done nothing but rain, rain and rain! The paddocks are getting really really waterlogged, the mud is still not that bad as alot of the water is running off into the stream at the bottom of the paddocks before it can seep into the ground.

As it has been so revoltingly wet and cold I have not done much with the boy atall. He doesnt seem to have missed me that much, is as happy as Larry wallowing around out there and just eating and sleeping.

The 'taking him to the roundpen every Thursday' has still not happened as it has either been raining (funny that!!!) or me or Catherine have had something on....we have promised eachother that this Thursday is THE DAY (unless its raining of course)....

Yesterday I did get Diesel out for a nice brush though. He was really lovely, in a wonderful mood, very smoochy, not fidgity and just seemed to enjoy the attention.

I took him to the end of the cul-de-sac and just did a little bit of in-hand exercises between showers and he was very responsive and light to the touch....just had a really really lovely time with him.

Here are a few pics as its been a while since I took any and there have been none to show his clip.....

Auntie Anna came to visit....

So, I was talking to Anna about what happened with Diesel and the float and she very very kindly offered to come out and see us. She thinks that it was not a floating thing, but a leading thing with him and that maybe he was just not wanting to do what I wanted him to do and thats why he packed a shit!!!

I have taken out the partition in the float (the one side always seemed a little bit small and skinny for a relatively big clyde x) and I have also put a chain at the back, covered in hose pipe and with a clip at one end and a shackle at the other.

Firstly Anna did some ground work with him. He was pretty arrogant to start with, head in the air, pulling and being a pain in the ass! After a wee bit Anna had him nice and supple, moving where she tells him to and being a willing boy. It was so nice to see the difference and actually getting some great advise, instead of always trying to muddle through it myself.

The float was already hitched onto my car so we then did some float training with him. He was really good, went on the float with a bit of coaching from Anna and at the end he was going on fine. He was still a little bit apprehensive when on there but I am sure that with a more outings that will go.

It has certainly made me realise that I have been far too soft on Diesel, I think I have been so worried about making him jump, or spook, that I have been pussy-footing around him....and this has probably been for the last 18 months! So, now is the time for me to step up and be his leader 100% .....and its a commitment I am ready for!

Bring on Thursday when we WILL get to the roundpen....and we will have fun!

Our first major fight........!

So, me and a friend Catherine decided that once a week we would take our young horses down to a roundpen in Silverdale to work them. Both of us cant ride in the paddocks anymore and we thought that this would be a good idea to get the two young ones out and about over winter.

I was feeling so confident, that we were going to have heaps of fun and was really looking forward to it. Got Diesel out, brushed him and started to load him onto the float.

He walked pretty much straight on (I had put a small feed in there for him while I was doing up the bumbars). I hooked the rope over a bar while I went to do up the bumbars, had pulled it around behind Diesel and just as I was about to latch it in he started moving around.

Unfortunately his rope got wedged and he started absolutely freaking out, pulled it so tight it was totally jammed and then he went ballistic! Freaking out totally, kicking and pulling until finally he broke the rope and flew off the float. I by now had absolutely crapped myself!!!!! There was no way I was going in there while he was going off his nut so I just stayed out of the way and tried to calm him but it obviously didnt work!

Caught him on the drivew (he hadnt gone very far atall), checked him over so make sure he wasn't hurt, gave him (and me) a couple of minutes to calm down and then tried to get him on again.

He was not having a bar of it. Would put both front feet on the ramp and then plant himself. Would not budge a muscle, just look at me as if to say 'make me'. Obviously I cant pull him onto the float so in the end I had a whip and if he went off the ramp I would make it very umpleasant to be there, but as soon as he was back on it would be 'nice' for him.

After about 15 minutes he finally went all the way in but he was most unhappy about being on there. I them unloaded him again, one step at a time and straight away tried to load him again and same thing, planted his feet and wouldnt not budge so we did the same exercise again until he was on. Sounds really easy but it was bloody hard work, I was not feeling the most confident but knew it had to be done.

So today he had quite a few whacks with the whip, alot of swearing from me and generally a really awful time. I feel terrible that due to me looping the rope (and it subsequestly getting snagged) we had this fiasco.

So we didnt go out anywhere, I eventually reloaded him 3 times before calling it quits on the whole situation. I was not able to do the bumbar up atall but at least I got him on!!!!! Gutted that such a small but exciting exercise for us turned into such a shit fight!

Tommy B - what a legend!!!

Well, today was the visit to Tommy. Diesel loaded like a total pro, just walked on and stood quietly when I was faffing around doing up the bar etc.

We had a 45 minute trip (which included a stop at the petrol station to fill up) and I didnt feel him move once. My hubby and kids came along too and Makayla kept looking out the back window to check Diesel was okay through the float window - so cute.

Once we arrived I took the ramp down and Diesel once again waited patiently while I untied him and opened the bar.

When he was backing off he seemed to be a bit shaky on his feet so not sure if he had been quite tense in the float for the trip but if he had been I had no idea atall as he travelled so well.

Got him off and took him over to where the barn with stables in it was situated. In all my worry of floating I just didnt give it a thought that he had never been in a stable before (well not since I've had him anyway). He took one look at the roof and just was so unsure whether he should go in or not - bless him!

We finally got him in the end stable and Tommy came straight over to see us. Tommy immediately said that he had seen Diesel was quite stiff in the back end and that he was doing short and choppy steps. Sure enough, his Sacrum was out and it might have been that way since birth (or if not it was not long after so a hell of a long time). Tommy got his mallets out, did his magic with a couple of 'whacks' to the right places and that was it.

His helper took Diesel out of the stable and walked him around so I could see the difference.....and boy, what a difference! Diesel was tracking through a good foot more than he was before. Tommy said to give him a couple of days off to recover and then we can start working again. He mentioned that Diesel should feel alot more free moving too, but not in a 'taking off' way, just a comfortable and floating way.

Reloaded Diesel like the pro he is (ha ha) and went home again....we stopped at the Bakery in Kumeu on the way and police cars were going past with sirens blazing and Diesel was as happy as Larry in the float. Unloaded him at home (no stiffness like before), gave him a feed and rugged him up and put him back in the paddock.

All I can say is I am ABSOLUTELY OVER THE MOON with my boy, although we are not doing that much at the moment, what we do end up doing is so successful that I really look forward to doing alot more. We seem to be getting a really good connection between us and I like it.....

Feet trimmed and body clipped!

Another busy day for the boy yesterday.

Michelle Horan came out and clipped the fella.....he was so much better behaved than I thought he would be lol. Only thing he didnt like was the hair blowing into his face but apart from that....what a star! He looks FAB-U-LOSA, will get some photo's next time he has a decent brush!

Farrier also came out and trimmed his feet, remaining shoe was taken off and he will just be barefoot over winter as wont be doing too much. Again, was really well behaved.

Tomorrow is the visit out to a place near Woodhill Sands to see Tommy Berns, hopefully he will load fine and behave himself - after recent days I think he will.

Am also trying to find a decent sized roundpen to hire so that I can continue working him in a confined area over winter......

Lunging the naughty pony.....and float training!

Got Diesel out again a few days ago and thought I would lunge him to see how he behaved.....well I am glad I was only lunging him and not riding him!!! He was a total naughty little twit....spooking at his shadow, leaping around and bucking, being an idiot. I was not impressed and again was going along the lines of 'What am I doing??? Why do I have a young horse???? Will I ever enjoy riding him without worrying??? etc etc etc and again felt very defeated :o(

I think part of it was due to the fact that I left Chevy in the paddock with us, we were in a taped off arena so Chevy was on the other side and Diesel kept veering off to be with him. I feel that I really expect too much of Diesel, I want him to be perfectly behaved 100% of the time and in reality he is a young, newly broken in horse that has not had much asked of him in recent years! He is going to have his moment of madness but are these going to be too much for me to handle????

After making him work pretty hard and for the first time in his life get up a decent sweat I took him back up to the yards to cool off. As it was already pre-planned I hooked the float up to do some self-loading training with him.

I am taking Diesel to see Tommy Berhns this Saturday and will more than likely be doing it by myself so need to be able to float him alone. Well, I shouldnt have worried. He walked straight up to the float and just went straight on, stood there like a trooper and waited for my next instruction! I had put a small feed in there to encourage him but to be honest I dont think it was needed.

I then unloaded him quietly and one step at a time and once off reloaded again for another couple of times and all of the times he was great. Chevy was in the bottom paddock nutting off, whinnying and galloping along the fencelines and Diesel didnt even care so that was a relief....

So we had some good and also some bad. I dont really know where we are going to end up, and if Diesel is going to be my forever horse like I planned and hoped all those years ago when I brought him but in the meantime, until a decision is made, we will keep doing little milestones and working things out in our own little way......

A walking we will go......

So, Diesel has been basically left untouched for the last two - three weeks. The weather has been absolutely foul and once the kids went back to school last week I got really really sick with a cold and couldnt do anything so hence my untouched pony.

Today, I got him out and gave him a decent brush (he is possibly the fluffiest I have ever seen him - beautiful, soft black fluff) and decided to take him for a walk in-hand up the road. My hubby came along too!

Well, Diesels eye's were on stalks the majority of the time, and on the way back he saw some Alpaca's in a side paddock and I swear he grew to 18hh! All I can say is I am really glad that I was not riding him.

I dont really know what I am going to do with him over winter. The paddocks are getting a bit wet and muddy now and I dont want to ride in them too much longer and risk us falling over, yet I am not confident enough with him to take him hacking up the road yet either.

I see my options as:

*** Take him up to Weiti Station once a week and hire their arena so it keeps him ticking over a little bit (or if not Weiti find somewhere else).

*** Turn him out for winter

??????? Cant really think of anymore at the moment. What to do, what to do??????

Nothing new......

Thought I would quickly update with.......no news!

I just havn't had the time to ride Diesel so as the kids are now on 2 weeks of school holidays I have decided to turn him out for this time and then will bring him back in and am going to ride him twice a week over winter. I think that will be enough to keep him ticking over until Spring when we will really get stuck into doing some proper work.

On other news, my friend Leah finally had her foot amputated last Monday. Her horse died on the hunt field 6 years ago when she was riding him. When he went down he trapped her leg between his shoulder and barrel and smashed her ankle. After numerous operations it just would not recover so after much deliberation, operations and mind-searching it was cut off. She is doing amazing, a total inspiration to me. She is a true trooper and is already excited about riding again. I have been visiting her as much as possible in hospital and she is in really good spirits.

So that is my quick update. Hopefully once Diesel is ridden again I will get some new photo's.

First solo ride.....

So Diesel has been ridden a couple of times in the last week. On Tuesday me and Leah decided to go for a quick road ride but I was not keen on doing this with Diesel so she hopped on him and took him and I rode Chevy.

Well, Diesel was better behaved than his brother, the flies were really annoying Chev and he was a totaly grump arse....and Diesel, well he was as happy as Larry, wandering up the road like he had been doing it all his life! Had a couple of gawks at little stuff but for the majority of the ride was bloody perfect. Was stoked.

Yesterday, I was in a pretty foul mood. Nothing could have made me happier than seeing Diesel so thought why the hell not? Got him out the paddock, brushed him, tacked him up and took him into the arena area. My Mother was home next door so told her where I was going and could she just check evey now and then that I was okay.

Diesel was just super super super!!!! I did lunge him for 15 minutes first as I was feeling like a bit of a Nanna and couldnt just get straight on, but that is okay. He was doing some really beautiful work on the lunge, one ear constantly on me really listening, doing all that I asked and looking stunning to boot.

And then something just clicked in me and I realised I just had to do this 'first solo ride', if I come off I come off, if I stay on fantastic but it had be to done. I will admit to being a little nervous when I was mounting but once on I felt GREAT!!!

We walked around, and I did a fair amount of work getting him to steer and move off from my leg. Then decided 'bugger it' and pushed him into a trot and we were away laughing!!! It was a wonderful feeling, trotting around and feeling safe and knowing that I was on my Smeezie and that we were going to be okay. A very enlightening moment and I shall remember it for a long time.

I luff my pony.

He's back home.....

So, another update!

Where to start. Diesel was supposed to still be up at Weiti Station, and I did manage another ride in the Arena up there but it was just taking up too much time. By the time I packed the car up to getting back home it was a good 2 hours, when in reality I could have done it in 40 minutes if he was here.

Also, the other reason I had him up there was I felt really safe riding him in the confines on the arena and was a bit reluctant riding him in my paddocks, especially as the last time I did I fell off!

So I decided it was time to put my brave pants on and bring the boy home to ride him here. Went and picked him up on Monday (he was awesome to float again) and he has settled back in really well. He is so much calmer aswell, not such a fidget bum!!!

This morning I went out and set up a taped arena for me to ride in. I just felt I still need those boundaries while we are getting used to each other. Its not a full size arena but big enough for us to get the hang of eachother.

Got Diesel out, brushed and tacked him up and took him over to it (and before you think I am either brave or stupid being alone Leah was with me with Chevy)...

Lunged him in there for about 10 minutes first (I think this was more to calm my nerves than anything) and then felt ready to get on. Used my new mounting block that I made yesterday and got on. We just pottered around, walking here and there, doing lots of circles and just getting him used to what reins mean and my legs. It was such a blast. I even felt confident enough to have a trot aswell and that too was cool.

I just think that since Diesel was broken in I have felt that I should be doing everything, and NOW!!!!! Yet in reality what is the hurry. If I end up just walking him around all winter who cares? If it takes us 3 years to get to a show who cares? So we are going to POTTER. I am not going to pressure myself, or force myself to do anything I dont want to, I am just going to take it easy and do it when I AM READY, not when people think I should!!!!

So my new Motto is 'Good things take time' and Diesel is a good thing and we are going to take our time.......

I rode again....and it was AWESOME!!!!!!

So, time for another update as its been a week since the last one....

I went up on Friday with the intention of riding Diesel. I have watched Alice ride him quite a few times now and he is coming across as quiet and lazy, which I really like the look of - Yes, I am officially being a total NANNA, but I dont care :o)

I got up there about 9.30 and spent a good hour just giving him a really good brush and some atention and fuss for a change. He had also lost a shoe so Leah came up and put the shoe back on for me. Tacked him up and then Alice hopped on him first.

She rode him to the arena and walked, trotted and cantered around and he was perfect, didnt put a foot wrong. Took a fair bit to get him going, and keep him goin....once again, I really like this!

So then it was my turn, and I was really excited about getting back on. No nerves atall. Took him to the mounting block and he stood very still while I mounted and adjusted my stirrups.

Asked him to walk on and we were away laughing. I had a total blast on him. There was no naughtiness atall. He was quite happy plodding around at our own speed (which was relatively slow lol). He really listened and I just love how soft his mouth is! He is like putty in your hands. We only walked and trotted as I didnt want to freak myself out with anything too much so I was very happy with what we did.

Unfortunately when I dismounted from my ride I tweaked my back. Wasnt too bad to begin with but after I untacked him I gave him a wash with Bayticol (sp?) as he is covered in ticks and my back got worse and worse. Yesterday I literally could not get out of bed without help and I was in agony. Ended up going to a Osteopath who did some manipulation and massage but I am still really sore so am not sure when I am going to be able to ride again. Am gutted. I think it stems back to when I hurt my back when I fell off but I am really struggling to walk, get up, move, everything! Cant even do housework - bummer!!! ha ha ha

So, once my back is sorted I am going to get stuck in to riding. I am really excited about the prosect of riding Diesel over winter. I think I will flag Alice doing more schooling with him at the moment as I feel I am capable of doing work with him.....just hoping that I can keep Diesel up there as a grazer for a few months while we get used to riding together....

All in all I am really excited about our future together again. Good old Smeezie.

Photo's from our ride:

Update.....

So, after the disasterous ride I was really sore. My back was twinging, I had a really sore chest, sore wrists and generally muscle sore all over. I was ready to give the whole 'young horse thing' up. After a few days and having a chat with alot of friends, and Diesel I felt a bit differently.

Diesel has gone back to Weiti to finish being broken in. I spoke to Alice there the day after I came off and she basically said that he had only been ridden for that first week as the second week there he had been sick so to get him back there. He was taken over in his new Apex float I picked up last month and he travelled beautifully in it so was very pleased with that.

I got a text on Day 2 saying 'Morning, Diesel was cool this morn, rode him down to the arena by himself and worked him there, very lazy!! But no dramas.'

Day 4 text update was 'Yr pony had a bit of a smacked bum today! he didnt like it but hes a changed man! Cantered around and around :-) We're away laughing now Keri'

I went and watched Alice ride him in the arena yesterday (4th March). She rode him down the road to the arena by himself and he was definitely looking around alot but didnt do anything wrong atall. She walked, trotted and cantered him around the arena and he was aewsome. Very lazy and took alot of work from Alice to get him going (which to be honest I really really liked).

So I then had a really good think about what I wanted for me and Diesel over the next few months and this is my solution:

Diesel is officially broken in after this weekend but is going to stay there for another week for Alice to hack him out and do some schooling with him. I am going to go up at the end of the week and Alice is going to give me a quick lesson on him.

The next week Alice is away at HOY so I am going to pay for Diesel to graze there still and I will be going up there to ride him in the arena that he is familiar in.

The week after that he is going to stay there still and once again Alice is going to do more schooling and hacking (which gives him the 2 weeks schooling we had planned to do all along after being broken in. Then he will come home!!!!

I am being very realistic about me and Diesel. I am really quite excited about riding him again after seeing Alice ride him the other day. If for any reason I do not feel safe enough riding him or he totally freaks me out I will sell him, I dont see the point in me owning a young green horse if I dont want, or cant pluck up the courage to ride it. Just a waste of money sitting out there waiting for me to get really brave, which in all reality might just happen.

If I find it enjoyable riding him then obviously he will be staying forever (like the original plan). Time will tell, and there is no point in rushing this......

What a disaster....

So, on Wednesday me and Leah decided to have a gentle walk around the paddock like to did last week. That didnt quite happen......

Got Diesel out, groomed him and tacked him up - and he was awesome. Only thing I did differently was put a drop noseband on him as he tends to try and put the reins in his mouth and chew them and I thought this would deter him. Also had a different saddle blanket on.

Took him into paddock, put him against the fence and he stood perfectly still while I mounted. Cool. Did my girth up and pushed him on into a walk.

We had literally walked 50 metres, all was going fine when I walked him next to a telegraph post in the paddock, he looked to the left, something caught his eye and he spooked to the right. I lost my balance as was not expecting it atall. So as I was off to the left in the saddle he freaked again and spooked again. I ended up being thrown over to the right side to which he spooked one last time, felt like he did a buck and the next thing I know I am flying through the air....

I landed face first in the long grass and was winded. Looked over to my right and saw Diesel was down aswell!!!! He lurched to his feet and walked about 10 steps and stopped. Meanwhile Leah's Mum was seeing that I was OK while Leah went and caught Diesel.

I was pretty sore immediately. Thankfully I had my hat on as the peak has bent so must have really gone down face first lol. Have sore wrists, chest, back and geneneral muscle soreness. Must be getting old ha ha ha.

Asked Leah what had happened after I came off and she said that he had gone around me, looped around behind me, went to take off and lost his footing and fell onto his side. Hopefully it has taught him a lesson!

I dont feel he was being dirty, just being a green horse and something unexpected set him off and he just freaked. Problem is it was a real knock to my confidence. I wasnt worried about getting on him atall and walking him around the paddock but after coming off there was no way I was getting back on.

Leah got on him and worked him a bit and he was really on his toes. He could have been upset about what had happened but in the end I said to take the drop nose band off and he settled down heaps. So whether this was the problem I dont know....

So, he is back to Weiti Station tomorrow to finish being broken in. I should probably have waited until he was fully broken in but I am impatient and couldnt wait.....my own fault.

Hopefully when he comes back I will feel differently and be okay about getting on and getting stuck in but at the moment the thought terrifies me, I am such a NANNA!!!!

Fingers crossed people.....

Shoes are on..!!!!

So, this was my dilema...

I havge always had my horses shod....always! I dont have a problem with horses having shoes on and if they need them so be it. I also dont have a problem with horses that are barefoot, if they can handle it and are sound with it excellent.

So, I had a big decision to make about Diesel this week. He has been barefoot ever since I got him and he was not just being paddock trimmed but proper barefoot trimmed. Chelsea, my trimmer, has been absolutely outstanding doing Diesel, even when he was a total shite!!! I always thought he would remain barefoot.

BUT.....I personally feel that this summer his feet have just not coped with being barefoot. He has been getting the most awful flares on his back feet, alot of cracks, and what I would call an abnormal amount of abcesses. Although his feet have looked really good when they are trimmed it has not been taking long before they start to disentigrate again. I really believe that he has taken more to the TB side with his feet than the clydesdale side unfortunately.

I noticed this week that his soles seemed to have dropped a fair bit, he was walking on his frogs and was pretty sore. I dont like seeing him like this atall and there just seemed to be no end to it, he was not getting any better so I made the call to get some shoes put on!

It was a bit gutting to be honest but also a BIG relief. He only got shoes put on the front feet but immediately he walked so much more comfortably. He stood there like such a good boy (considering its the first time ever he has had shoes put on he was an absolute angel).

Once I put him out in the paddock he trotted off and that is the first time he has got out of a walk for over a week! He also lifted his knees up so much more than usual and the slight dish he has usually was barely visible.

So, there you have it, it was time I made a decision as I want to get this boy back to Weiti Station to finish being broken in asap and hopefully now he has shoes on it will be relatively soon.

Still sore......

So Diesel is still sore in his front right foot, cant really feel much heat in there atall but the other day his feet just seemed to disintegrate.....I think it is the hard ground and they are really dry but overnight his feet cracked, splayed out and just looked bloody awful.

I text Chelsea (my farrier) to see when she could do them but it was going to be a week and there was no way his feet were going to cope with that (chunks were already breaking off due to the length and flares)so in the end Leah was coming up and she trimmed him. I got her to take as much flare off as possible as his back left foot (which is his white hoof) has split right up to the coronet band again which I am pretty gutted about.

So, he has had a good trim and is walking alot better but I do think he has an abcess brewing (just from watching him I can tell he is going to get worse due to being such a sook) so he has a week to sort himself out as he is going back to Weiti Station on Monday 22nd February to finish being broken in.

Oh, and on a good note I have not had a cigarette for 7 days....YAY!

I RODE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!

So, Diesels cough finally went, as well as the snotty green slime up his snout! Then he got a sore foot so was slightly lame so he has still not been returned to Weiti Station yet....am hoping Alice can have him back next week if possible.

Anyway, Leah brought Chevy back here to stay today and we decided that it was time we went for a walk around the paddock on the boys....yep, thats right, both of them!!!!

So tacked Diesel up, took him into the paddock and he just stood there like a statue while I got on. Quick check of my stirrups etc and away we went. Just walked around, followed Chevy for the first 10 minutes to make sure he was okay and then we kind of went further and further away and just plodded around.

Diesel has the most exquisite mouth, so soft and supple, with the slightest pressure he turns and moves where you want him (well 80% of the time anyway).

We went into the bottom paddock and over the wee wooden bridge and he was fine, no freaking or shying....turned around and came back over and there was Vida, the wee filly, having a blat around, bucking and farting and carrying on. I thought Diesel was gonna freak so got myself ready but he just had a gawk for literally a second and then just walked on past. I was so so pleased with him.

The other thing I really noticed were his ears....they are HUGE, and really floppy and when he is walking his ears are flopping to and fro all the time, really quite cute!

So, my opinion on our ride is BRING ON MORE. I LOVED IT. He was just beautiful to ride and handle today and cant wait until the next ride (which will hopefully be Monday). I LUFF MY PONEEEEEEEE :O)

Soooo.

Whatever Diesel had turned into a nasty infection, the green slime coming out of his nose was foul. Went to the vets and he is now on Trizine Plus. Two scoops in his feed morning and night.

Today is day 3 of being on it and he is definitly improving. His cough has definitely lessened (although is still there) but his nostrils have dried up heaps, still moist but the fluid is now clear instead of green.

Poor old Smeezie, everytime he sees me he whinnies (although that could be the fact that he thinks its feed time lol). Always got his head poking over the fence into my back garden, nosey little toad!

Chevy has gone back to Leah's for a bit which I think is the right move at the moment as I would hate for Chevy's cough to turn into what Diesel has had. I want Diesel to get better so he can go back to Weiti to finish being broken in and we can get on with riding and having some fun. I feel if Chevy was still here they would just keep passing whatever it is back to eachother which will really prolong the recovery.....so Diesel is in a paddock by himself but can still see the other two horses that graze here.

A wee glitch in the process....

So, Alice called me last week to say that Diesel's cough is at the stage where they can't work him. At a walk he is fine, but as soon as he trots its 'cough cough cough' and she thought it would be best for me to bring him home to recover and send him back when better. He is not completely broken in yet, has not done any canter work but is doing really nice walk and trot, and been hacked out a fair bit too.

So, for the first time ever I went and floated him home all by myself. He was great, loaded perfect again and didnt feel him in the float on the way home.

Unloaded him, and he saw Chevy and just kept whinnying - bless him, he sure did miss him!!!

His cough is quite nasty. Last week it was just a dry, tickly cough and just seemed more of an irritant to him than anything else. I did call my vet, Neil Twentyman, for his opinion and he organised for me to get some Potassium Iodide (or something like that) and to give him some every day.

Today, his cough is still the same, but there is slimy, yellow/green snot coming out of his nose. Its really thick and totally gross! I got him out today and gave him his medicine and spent a good 5 minutes just sponging his nostrils to get rid of the gunk that was stuck on them. He also has a discharge coming from the corner of his eyes. I am not sure if this is a good sign (is this the virus coming out???) or if its a bad sign so will check with my vet when they are back at work - its a long weekend and I am not concerned enough to get an emergency callout.

Poor old Smeezie - its so unlike him to be sick....and after all the work he has been getting he looks absolutely fabulous, quite trim and muscly. Just need to get ontop of this cough and then he can go back to Weiti Station to finish off the breaking in process...

Couple of pics.....

So, Alice and co have introduced Diesel to hacking out with other horses and in her words via email 'Diesel has been a very good boy, hacked out the last couple of days with some other horses and behaved very well indeed.'

I am super stoked with him. Going to see him again on Monday but here are a couple of pics Alice sent me of the man out and about...

Another update

So, have been in regular contact with Alice at Weiti Station for updates on Diesel.

On Monday he had his first ever ride off the lunge. They had him in the arena and after some riding on the lunge they thought he was ready to try it.

Took him off and walked and trotted him around and apparantly he was as good as gold.

Yesterday they were going to take him for his first little hack around the farm but the weather was really windy and raining so instead they had him in a box all day.

This morning they took him down to the jump arena (grass arena) and did some more work with him off the lunge and then rode him back up to the yards. Alice said he was great.

Diesel seems to have a slight virus at the moment. He has been coughing alot when they work him. I actually noticed that Chevy was coughing the week before Diesel went to Weiti Station but never actually heard or saw Diesel coughing so thought he was fine. Apparantly not!!!! Neil Twentyman (my normal vet) was at Weiti on Monday so they got him to do a quick check on Diesel and he said that he just has a virus, his nose discharge looks okay and that he should come right soon. Today Alice said that he was still coughing but his nose is definitely clearing up. If he gets any worse I am going to bring him home for a week or two to recover and then take him back but would prefer he stay there and not interupt with his breaking in.....will call again tomorrow and see how he is.

Diesel's first ride.......EVER!!!

Went up to Weiti Station for 10.30 appointment to see my Diesel being ridden for the first time.
Got there and he was tied up in the yards with about 8 other horses. He looked quite chilled out (was atanding next to his new girlfriend, Aubergine), looking around and taking all the sights in. There were horses, people, quads, and the farrier all there so it was quite a different environment for him to be in....and he was not that perturbed!!!!
After giving him a big hug and a cuddle he was tacked up and walked to the arena where they started by giving him a quick lunge (only for about 3 minutes).

He was so settled, and working so easily, that they decided that it was time for one to hop on him. He just stood there while the rider just had a lay over the saddle. Then she slid off and Alice gave her a quick leg up and she was on him.

The rode him for about 15 minutes, just walking around on the lunge, in both directions (Alice said he definitely favours one side aswell, which is what I have foung when I have been lunging him). Then towards the end of the session they also had a little trot on him aswell.

All I can say is that he looked superb. His attitude was fantastic, there was no trouble atall, he was very happy working away and learning new things. I swear I could almost hear his brain ticking away as he worked him way through things.....lol

Alice said that he had a lovely soft mouth and was very receptive to all that was being asked of him. I am absolutely over the moon with the whole thing. Seeing him being ridden was unreal. I am really pleased so far with my choice of sending him to Weiti Station. I like the fact the yard is so busy. They are not working the arse off him, when he has learned what he needs to in that session they finish. Very very pleased.

Here are a few photos of his first ride......

Update of progress at Weiti Station

Alice had told me that Diesel has settled in really well. I felt like a neurotic Mother as I just had to text her the day after he got there to see how he was!!!!!

Yesterday they tacked him up and also Mouthed him. She said he was really good.

Today a group of them were going to go hacking over their land and lead Diesel off another horse. I am sure he is going to really enjoy it. They are also going to start backing him.

Tomorrow they are going to ride him!!! ARRRGGHHHHH. Alice is going to let me know what time they are doing this and I will go over and watch it and take heaps and heaps of photo's.


It is such a surreal feeling knowing that Diesel is finally being broken in. I have waited soooo long and it is finally here. It is a VERY exciting time in our journey together. Will update his blog after tomorrow with the photo's...dont think I am going to sleep much tonight, tooo excited!!!

Diesel turns 4 and is sent to school....

So, on Monday Diesel turned 4 years old. He is looking super, although a little bit chubby. He has been in the jenny Craig paddock for about 5 weeks now and has lost some weight but still has a fair bit to go. Its amazing how the weight quickly piles on and is suddenly noticed.

Anyway, on Monday he had his feet trimmed by Chelsea (Love Chelsea, she is so fantastic with her work and attitude). Diesel was pretty good, with his first foot he was a little toad but we soon realised it was due to all the flies. As soon as I started rubbing him down to get rid of them he was fine.

After his trim he was let into the big paddock for a couple of hours for a good feed for his Birthday.

Early in the afternoon it was time to take him to Weiti Station to be broken in. Caught him. led him up to the float ramp and within 30 seconds he was in. Pulled partition over, put back bar on and raised the ramp and he was as happy as larry in there. Drove him over to Weiti Station (all of 5 minutes from home) and he travelled perfectly, no kicking or stomping, no movement from the float atall so was super stoked with that.

Got to Weiti and unloaded him, one step backwards at a time. He was great. He had a good look around, whinnied for a minute, grew to about 17hh but was pretty good about his new surrounding. Walked him over to the yards to wait for Alice. Considering he has not been off my property in 3 years he was so well behaved.

Alice came over, we put him rug on and walked him into his temporary paddock where he will stay for a couple of days while he adjusts to being there. He was an absolute gem, had a quick 10 second trot around and was fine.

I am soooo pleased with him behaviour, this was such a new and different thing for poor old Diesel to be doing and he did me proud :o)

Here are a couple of pics I took of him on his 4th Birthday, excuse the quality of them, my camera is crap!!!!

D-Day is near......

Spoke to Alice at Weiti Station yesterday and I am delivering Diesel on Monday Afternoon......thats the day after tomorrow!!!! He will be there for breaking in and then some hacking out, so will be away from home for between 4-6 weeks.

I just CANNOT believe that it is so close, I am so excited about seeing him being ridden, and even more excited to be riding him myself afterwards.

I am going to miss having him in my paddocks and seeing him every day but it is the beginning of him being a big boy and I cant wait! :o)