Hoist Training

Kerri had a very busy afternoon a few days ago, Nicky was training her how to hoist riders onto horses, this is an important skill for the riding instructors here at Calvert Trust Exmoor to have, because lots of our guests need this kind of assistance.

Preparing to hoist

Kerri had to practice hoisting a rider from a wheelchair onto a horse. Brin is trained as a hoist horse and so is Teddy. Today Brin had the very special job of helping to train Kerri.

Amelia on her way

 I told you about Eilish last time I blogged didn’t I?  She also helped along with Amelia; they both had a go at being hoisted from a wheelchair onto Brin.  As usual Brin took the opportunity to stand as still as possible and have a little nap!

Landing on Brin's back

Irish? No, Eilish! (and a photobomb from Rooster!)

Last week we had a lovely person here in the stables on work experience.  Her name is Eilish but she’s not Irish! (Sorry, but if you're a horse that joke is really funny!)

She's actually originally from New Zealand, but has lived in the UK for 9 years, and is just about to start her 3rd year of an extended diploma in animal management at Bicton College, which sounds very clever to me! 

Rooster Photobombing Eilish!

She's been doing work experience here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, finding out what it is like to work in a stables. Rooster really liked her, and he's such a show off that he couldn't resist getting in on the photo I took of her, as you can see!

Eilish loved meeting me of course, but she said that her favourite animals are dogs! (Maybe that’s why she thinks I am great, I'm about the size of a large dog!)

After her week here she has gone to the Donkey Sanctuary for work experience to see what they do. I am sure she will have a good time there too, although Donkeys are nowhere near as nice as horses of course!  She has been brilliant here and we have loved working with her.

A visit from SSAFA

This week we've had a group here at Calvert Trust Exmoor from SSAFA.  Their name means "Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association", they are a charity that was set up under a Royal Charter from George the 5th.

I had to ask Teddy who George the 5th was, apparently he was king of England a long time ago and also granddad to Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, who is the Queen right now. I've not met her, but I did meet her cousin, Princess Alexandra when she came here a couple of years ago.

So anyway SSAFA has been going for a very long time, Teddy says since 1926, and they provide help and support for British Forces families.  We've had a lovely group of young people and their volunteer helpers here this week, they have all been to see us here in the stables and done some riding with the bigger horses and ponies. 

Some lovely SSAFA young people

I also got to do some of my agility work with them, which as you know I love doing! I've had a great time this week meeting lots of different new friends. 

I also did some jumping this week in the outdoor arena which I always love.

I do love jumping!

I like to show that I can do all the things the other bigger horses can do even though I'm tiny!  I think people are often surprised that a small Shetland pony like me can be so agile!

Brin's had a Haircut!

My buddy Brin looks a bit different today than he did a few days ago, he's has had a session with the clippers with Louise and Kerri.

He has had his mane ‘hogged’, which means he has his mane clipped off to make him look smart.  Brin said he really likes having his mane hogged becuase he doesn’t like people touching it when it is long.

I think he must think people are trying to pull his mane out when they touch it! I like having my mane stroked, but Brin doesn't.

He also has his legs clipped to keep him looking stylish.  His legs get REALLY hairy if he doesn’t have that done! 

Brin's smart new look

Poor Henry has been suffering badly with his Sweet Itch this week.  I heard Nicky say he is going to spend a few nights in and not go out in the fields to give him a bit of a rest from the flies.  I'm pretty sure I saw Henry smile when he heard that, he really hates those pesky flies!

Pilgrim goes Camping

Earlier this week I got moved in to the field by archery and I wasn’t sure why, but then Teddy told me that there were some guests doing something called camping in my other field!

He said this is where humans come and put something called a tent up on the grass, and then they sleep inside it overnight. Sounds a bit like a stable to me! 

As none of the other horses in the stables have never seen anything like this before I felt it was my duty to investigate and report back to everyone.

So this is tent!

Abi and Lynn led me up to the camping field where the tents were, and I had a good look around and inside the tents.

In I go!

I was pretty impressed but I don’t think I'd fancy staying in one overnight, I much prefer the freedom of my paddock.

So, what's in there then? 

I must go now as I can hear my name being called to go and do another of my amazing agility sessions; see you all soon. 

Playtime with Jack

Because I'm doing so much agility over the summer the stables staff thought it would be nice if I could have a bit of a break and do something different. On Wednesday afternoon Abi took me for a long walk around the reservoir with one of the guests so I could stretch my legs a bit more. I found this very exciting so I thought I would show off some of my moves. Of course everyone enjoyed watching me perform!

I've also been in the arena with Jack and Teddy to have a bit of play, as I have to go in my own separate field during the evening so I need some time to catch up on the gossip, otherwise I will have nothing to write about!

Come and play Jack!

I was in quite an energetic mood that day but all Teddy wanted to do was have a rest, luckily for me though Jack was keen to have a play. We also had a good grooming session and it was nice to be able to have a chat with Jack as we don’t get to meet very often.

Having a nice chat with Jack

Flippin Flies!

The last week in the stables we had loads of groups in, which meant all of us horses have worked really hard. This also includes me of course; although I don’t do any ridden work I've done lots and lots of agility. I do love showing off my abilities to our lovely guests!

Not only has it been busy it has also been really hot and the flies have been out in force. This makes it  a bit difficult for us in the stables as it gets too hot to work in the indoor arena but going outside means we get lots of bites from the flippin flies! The good thing about this though is it means we get to have a cool down with the hose pipe once we have done all our work!