Guest Blogger Teddy 3: Work Shy Bruno

Pilgrim has asked that I continue as ‘guest blogger’ for a bit longer as he is still rather wrapped up in whatever it is he’s doing! I’ve tried asking politely without any success; it’s very unusual for Pilgrim to stay quiet, he’s normally bursting to tell anyone who’ll listen what he’s up to! 

I will find out somehow – I shall put my thinking cap on and come up with a plan.

We’ve been busy today – Well, all of us except Bruno that is! He’s managed to lose a front shoe (again) and his foot ‘is much too sore to work’.  

I wouldn’t mind too much; indeed losing a shoe can happen to the best of us.  BUT it seems to happen quite a lot to Bruno! He is either extremely clumsy or very clever, I haven’t decided which yet!! 

Clumsy Bruno or Clever Bruno?

It’s certainly a good way to have a few days off work; I only hope that the farrier comes sooner rather than later so Bruno can get back to work!

The Princess Visits Me!

Hey it's me, Pilgrim, the Mighty Atom!

I've been really busy and Teddy is doing a brilliant job of blogging for me, but I had to give you some exciting news!

Yesterday HRH Princess Alexandra came to visit me, and not only that, she gave me polos!

HRH Princess Alexandra

Apparently she had to do something with the new building as well, but I was definitely the highlight of her visit. I think someone got a photo of me with her, hopefully I can get hold of it soon and put it on here for you to see.

Bye for now!

Guest Blogger Teddy 2: Grooming

It’s busy as usual here at the Calvert Trust Exmoor. I regularly get to work with our guests on the yard as well as in the arena. I’m a bit of a softy at heart and love getting lots of attention, especially when it involves me being groomed!  
For us horses, grooming is quite relaxing and helps to keep us in good condition. I’ve heard the staff refer to it being the equivalent of having a shower – I know which one I’d  prefer!

My friend Bruno enjoying a grooming session - lovely!

I would like to clear up a misunderstanding regarding the incident a few weeks ago with a broken fence and a midnight stroll. Pilgrim seems to think that Brin, Bruno and I left him in the field, with no concern for his welfare or feelings.

I can honestly say that we all thought he had followed us out and was also enjoying the lush grass and sense of freedom.   We didn’t think that what was a small step over the bottom rail for us would be a big leap for Pilgrim! I did apologise to him, and so did the others; but he does have a habit of bringing the subject up from time to time to make us feel guilty!

Needless to say we are not planning any midnight adventures in the near future – and if we do you can guarantee a certain ‘mighty atom’ will be the first to know!

Guest Blogger: Teddy

Hello, its Teddy here. I’ve taken over Pilgrim’s blog while he’s doing ‘something of great importance’.   

Pilgrim has asked that I keep you ‘up to date’ on all that goes on this week while he is doing other things – and so I shall!
  
Firstly let me tell you a little about myself. I am an experienced and quite dapper piebald and I have been working at Calvert Trust Exmoor for 5 years. I am 15.2 hands tall; built for strength rather than speed.   

Teddy

My main role here is as a riding horse; with my calm manner and smooth paces I am ideally suited to working with guests that need extra support. However it’s nice when I carry a more experienced rider and I love being taken along the track by the reservoir for a bit of a run, as long as it’s not too far!

After a few weeks off with a minor injury, I am back in work and without any problems, at least so far! I feel great and my work load is back to normal; I even took a young person in my tandem saddle last week, so I must be back to peak fitness. I think the staff and I are both relieved about this, to say the least!   

I'm an author!

I’ve got a bit of news for you! you’ll never guess what it is, so I’ll have to tell you…..

Yours truly has been asked to write an article for Posability magazine!  It seems that they’ve read my blog and would like me to report on what we do with our guests at Calvert Trust Exmoor!

This means I’m going to have a busy week; I will still be working while I work on my article, not sure I can do my blog as well. 

I’ve decided to leave the blog in the capable hands of my friend Teddy. He’s not done a blog before but he assures me that he has a ‘wealth of experience’ and ‘just how difficult can writing a blog be?’  

I’m sure he’ll do a great job; but I’ve asked Pixie just to keep an eye on him just in case! It should be fine as he’s got lots of stories to tell and knows all there is to know about what goes on! I'll keep my hooves crossed just in case...

I love my job!

Good news!

I did some driving today & I was great! I had a person in my carriage plus one of the staff by my head helping them out.   I could sense that the lady in the carriage was new to driving so I was on my best behaviour.

As we went on I could feel her gain confidence, and we finished off doing a figure of eight round some cones, partly in trot.  I got lots of praise from both of them for being a little ‘superstar’ - their words, not mine - & afterwards a nice groom before I was taken out to my field. I love my job…

...but then who wouldn't!

Embarrassed Teddy

Do you remember the breakout a few weeks ago? 

Well, I had a chat with Teddy about it over a lush bit of grass last night. I could tell he didn’t really want to talk about it; I reckon he’s a bit embarrassed about leaving me behind (& so he should be!).

He muttered something about this field having more grass and a better view of the reservoir; but I think it’s more to do with it being harder for him & the others to push the fence!   

Brin told me later that he’d seen one of the staff walking round the field they broke out of with a roll of string,  banging metal bits into the fence. He thinks that they’re putting the same buzzing stuff on the fence that we’ve got in this field.  At least that means I won’t be left behind again!

I wonder if this was Teddy!?

I noticed last night that someone has attacked our sign, I wonder if that was Teddy too? He does have a good appetite, so maybe it was; don't think I'm gonna ask him though!