Busy doing nothing...

It’s really busy here at the Calvert Trust Exmoor – although yours truly is able to put his feet up! Why is that I hear you ask as we are usually so busy here at the stables? Well it’s good news & very exciting!

I don’t know if you’ve heard but we’re having new skylights in the school.   Now until I spoke to Teddy, I though skylights were some kind of bird; well it sounded right to me! 

Teddy told me that skylights are the parts of the roof that let in the sunshine; to be honest I’d never noticed them so maybe that’s why they’re having new ones.Teddy reckoned that it’ll be so much brighter in the school we might have to wear sunglasses!

I managed to sneak into the arena and a get a photo when the workmen had gone home; can you tell which half they have done? :-)

half and half!

Just as I was planning which pair of ‘shades’ to get, Maxwell told me that Teddy was only joking! Pity, I think I’d look good in a pair of Ray Bans…

...what do you think?

You'll never guess what I've been doing!...

You’ll never guess what I’ve been doing...

...Yours truly has been Show Jumping!!!

Well, maybe show jumping is not quite right; but I have been jumping over some coloured poles & looking GOOOOD!!! 

here’s some photos of me in action to prove it!:

I never thought that I’d get a chance to jump. To be honest it’s never occurred to me to ‘have a go’ before! but now I’ve done it I feel great, I can’t wait for the next time...

....I wonder if they do Shetland Show Jumping without a rider?!?

Lammert's a BIG fella!

Hi there! You know I talked about our new horse, well I didn’t really tell you very much about him other than he’s a nice chap, so I thought I would tell you a bit more!

Well, firstly he’s a lot bigger than me: yes, I know that most horses are bigger than me but I mean much, MUCH bigger than me! Lammert looks much bigger than my mate Brin, & Brin is the biggest horse I’ve ever met!   

I had a word with Teddy to find out a bit more about him as he knows everything about anything that’s worth knowing about around here. According to Teddy, Lammert is a Frisian horse, which is a breed from Europe (wherever that might be!); Frisians are always black in colour and have long manes and feathers on their legs – that sounds exactly like our new guy & I know he’s caught the eye of a few of our guests already!

Teddy told me that he’s almost ready to start doing some work with our guests; but just as with all the new ‘recruits’ he will start off slowly so he can get a feel for  the job. I’ll keep you posted as to how he gets on.

Lammert? Really?!?

We’ve got a new horse at the stables, and his name is Lammert; yes, I know it’s a funny name but he’s really very nice!
   
I’ve only met him over the fence as he’s in the field next to mine, but he’s very nice and so relaxed. he told me that he does driving as well as riding and seems to like both the same.

Lammert enjoying some yummy grass

He couldn’t believe that someone my size could pull a carriage; he’s obviously not met many Shetlands!   We are very strong, in fact for our size we are stronger than a big horse; I bet he doesn’t know that!

Anyway, Lammert is a nice chap and I reckon he’s going to fit in here just fine. You never know he might like to do a bit for my blog; but I’ll let him settle in first.

Time flies when you're having fun

Hi Guys!

Sorry I’ve not been ‘online’ for a bit, but I’ve busy here & time seems to have ‘galloped away’!

As you’d expect we’ve had loads of people over here at the stables & yours truly has been doing my bit.  You already know how good I am at agility and carriage driving, but I’m know showing people how to long rein!

What’s that I hear you say? Well it’s a bit like driving with me in a  carriage; but minus the carriage!  How cool is that?  

Mind you I don’t want to be doing it too much as I’ve only got little legs you know!

Carriage driving without the carriage!

Getting a bit colder?

Is it me or is it getting a bit colder at night?

I noticed that Maxwell is looking decidedly ‘woolly’ now; He’s usually the last to get his summer coat & the first to start growing his winter one!    

Maxwell in his winter coat... (joking, sorry Max!!)

Having said this, I’m still keeping warm enough in the field & if a get a bit chilly I’ll have a nice trot round which soon gets me warmed up!

Talking of trotting round the field - I don't know exactly what was going on this morning but Bertie, Brin & Henry were having some kind of race with each other!  Not sure who won but it made me tired just watching them!  They soon calmed down when they were taken into the stables though, I spotted all of them munching away at their breakfast as if nothing had happened!

Open day fun!

We had a very exciting day a couple of weeks ago, with lots of new people visiting Calvert Trust Exmoor for our Open Day.

Here at the stables we did carriage driving – well, Hendrix & Maxwell shared the driving as I am a bit out of practice with my driving at the moment (I’m just so busy with other things, you know how it is!)

Hendrix at the open day

Hendrix told me that he had lots of fun taking different people in the outdoor arena, they had a go at giving him clear voice commands to go forward & to halt.  He also said that he took them round a course of cones, which he just loves doing!

By all accounts the day went really well; people also had a go at some of the other activities that we do at CTE - if you missed it this time round then keep your eyes open for the next one!