Guest Blogger Bruno

Hello everyone.  My name is Bruno.    Pilgrim asked me to contribute to his blog and as he asked me so nicely I said yes.   Let me tell you a little about myself.

I’m a black cob, standing a little over 15 hands tall and have a white star on my forehead plus white socks on each hind leg.   I’ve heard people comment that I look like ‘Black Beauty’: now I’m not aware of this horse, but I’m sure he is a dashing fellow whoever he is.

Me in my field

I’ve been at Calvert Trust Exmoor for seven years, so I am very experienced in helping our guests learn a little more about us horses. I’ve heard it said that I’m a comfortable horse to ride; but my skills don’t end there as I also work in the four wheeled carriage.

I started carriage driving somewhat later in my career, but this hasn’t stopped me becoming a useful member of the Calvert Driving Team.

I must end there today as duty calls, but I will ‘drop you a line or two’ again soon.

Sparkly Ropes & Shiny Things

As you might guess, I like to know what’s happening and who’s doing it, after all it’s my duty as Calvert Trust Stables Reporter!

Well, I have a mystery on my hooves; someone has put up lots of sparkly ropes & other shiny things around the yard. They’ve even put some in the indoor arena! It happened overnight…

Sparkly Ropes & Shiny Things (and Maxwell!)

….we went out in our fields for the night and when we came back into our stables the place had been changed – as if by magic!

Now I do like what’s been done, it’s bright & cheerful, but maybe I could have given them a bit of advice.  For a start I’ve not got any shiny things round my stable…

…surely that’s a mistake?

My Next Guest Blogger: Bruno

I’ve asked Bruno if he’ll do the blog for me – after a bit of thought he said yes BUT on the understanding that he only does one or two!

Apparently he’s very busy & ‘just won’t have the time to write the blog for a whole week’!! I didn’t like to ask him what else he had to do that’s so important…

... what can be MORE important than chatting to you guys & keeping you up to date on all the gossip?!?!

I hope he does a good job!

The Little Man is staying! yay!

Hi everyone!

I’ve got some fantastic news for you; the Little Man (aka Bailey) is staying!!  How great is that?!!

The Little Man (& Me!)

I knew he would be OK as he’s settled in so well, plus he & I get on really well.  He’s so pleased to be passed as OK for the Calvert Trust: it’s quite a thing for such a young man as he is.  But don’t worry; I’ll make sure he doesn’t get too full of himself!!

I can’t wait to tell the others; I think they are a bit jealous of me as I’ll the only one who’s  got to know Bailey…

…Now he’s ‘one of the Gang’ it won’t be long before the Little Man gets to say hi to everyone else.

foot perfect!

Just a quick update……..

Did some more driving again and I was just about foot perfect!! We worked in the indoor arena – too wet to go outside I reckon - I went through my warm up and then worked on my turns and trotting.   It felt like I’ve been doing it forever!!

Our Indoor Arena

I Told Bailey all about it later on…

…he’s quite keen to have ago himself!!! I did tell him that he’s a bit too young to drive a carriage yet; but I’m sure he’d have a chance when he’s older (& a bit stronger).

Bruno's Creature Comforts!

Managed to grab a word with Bruno today; I asked him if he liked being in and just as I though, he’s loving it!!
Although he didn’t quite put it like that, said something about how "someone had to keep an eye on Maxwell in case he got worried & I’m just ideal for the job!" He’s such a character; he loves attention and any ‘creature comforts’ on offer!!

Lazy old Bruno!

He then told me how he’d done some long-reining the day before. That’s when the staff are working with us from the ground using very long reins to let us know what they want us to do.   Bruno said it was to "keep me nice & flexible for my riding & carriage driving work".  

I’ve had a thought…

…I might ask Bruno to be my next ‘guest blogger’ – he’s certainly got a lot to say & plenty of stories to tell!!!!

Bruno's slacking off!

I’ve heard that Maxwell is off work, something about having a sore leg. Anyway, he’s staying in his stable overnight rather than going in the field & Bruno is also staying in to keep him company.
Teddy reckoned that Bruno is loving this; he hates getting muddy & wet plus he just loves getting any attention that’s going!!!

I hope Maxwell gets better soon…

….but I bet Bruno doesn’t think so!!

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Me and the Little Man (Bailey!)

Guess what, we all stayed in the other night; it was really windy & raining like mad!  I think the staff felt they couldn’t put us out in such bad weather so we all had a relaxing night in. Cosy! Don’t get me wrong, I love being out in my field BUT even a tough mini Shetland like me has his limits!!!!

Bailey told me that he quite liked being in with the others……..he felt ‘quite grown up & one of the gang’.