Guest Blogger Duchess 2: A Very Exciting Day

Pilgrim: Last Sunday something really exciting happened to Duchess and Henry!  I have asked Duchess to explain, so over to her Ladyship...

Duchess: Hello everyone I have been asked to tell you about the great time Henry and I had on Sunday.  We were both groomed really well on Saturday and the arena had been levelled and watered so we had a slight inkling that something exciting might be going on. Then on Sunday morning Nicky arrived really early with her friend Emily, and they fed Henry and myself and groomed us AGAIN! Something was definitely going to happen.

Over the past few weeks Nicky had been practising riding me and Henry, and we were about to find out why.  Henry had plaits put into his mane and I had my feathery legs and lovely long mane and tail brushed out.  Suddenly outside the stables we heard hoof beats which we didn't recognise, how exciting!

Nicky tacked Henry up and took him outside, he was gone for about half an hour and when he came back he said with  a slightly surprised voice that he had just done his first ever dressage test in front of a judge! Now I also have never done dressage before but I am happy to try anything new so when my tack was put on I was quite excited.

Nicky got on me and we went to the outdoor arena to warm up.  We practised my paces and standing really still.  There were some other horses also warming up who were strangers and some of them were behaving as though they were a bit excited and showing off!

I just got on with my work in the usual way as I always like to try to do my best for whoever is riding me. Soon it was my turn to go and perform for the judge. In we went and after the judge rang the bell I was off, showing my lovely paces and behaving myself beautifully as usual.

Showing my lovely paces

It was all over quite quickly but I did get a big round of applause when I did my final halt and Nicky saluted to the judge.  I returned to my stable feeling very happy that we had performed well.  I had a word with Henry about his test and he was a little overexcited about the whole thing. He said he had also met some strangers in the warm up and had wanted to go and say hello and bounce around with them but Nicky had just asked him to concentrate on the job in hand!  Henry is quite young and not quite as sensible or experienced as me; Nicky said he was a little bit like a teenager at their first disco!

My Final Halt

Nicky soon came back into the stables and she had two rosettes in her hand and a little trophy!  I was amazed to have won my class and Henry was very excited to have been placed second!  Of course he now thinks he knows it all and will be able to compete at the next Olympics!

My Rosette and Trophy

I have explained that we only did an introductory test which is for horses who haven’t done dressage before but he has been telling Bertie and Jack how fabulous he is.  We need to bring him back down to earth! When we go out into the field tonight I shall gently remind him that I am the girl in charge.

Henry's Rosette

2015's First Horse Weekend

We have just had our first Horse Weekend of the year, we horses had a great time with all the visitors. Our guests had loads of fun with us horses and ponies and learnt lots of new skills.

They all had their own horse to look after and ride for the whole weekend, they got to muck out their horses’ stable and help to feed and groom them each day. They also helped to bring their horses in from the field first thing in the morning and put them back out each evening for a rest.

On the first day they all had a lesson and went out for a ride on the tracks.  Luckily the weather was quite good but everyone needed to wrap up warm.  Regular tea breaks were definitely needed to help to keep everyone warm and happy!

On the second day all the guests had another lesson and had a go at drill riding, which means that all the riders have to keep in line with everyone else.  In the afternoon there was a chance to show off all the skills they had been practising by riding their horse around an obstacle course. 

Everyone did really well at that. Henry who rode Brin all weekend had a bit of trouble with his riding boots; he couldn't work out which foot they should go on!  This meant it was really difficult to get them off when he had finished riding and it took four people to help him!

I am glad that doesn't happen with my shoes.  The farrier always knows which feet to put them on and he is also really good at taking them off, but he has had a lot of practice!  

A Pony Palace Just for Me!

I have been going out in the camping paddock to eat grass for a while now, and have been wondering why I am not turned out in my usual paddock next to Archery.

Rooster and Duchess came in from their field over the road the other day and told me lots of things are happening in my archery paddock.  A building has been put up and there is a big pile of earth. Duchess said she thought I wouldn’t be going out there for a while.

I thought I should ask Teddy if he knew what was going on; maybe I was having a brand new pony palace built in the paddock fit for a celebrity like me! 

The Pony Palace!

This turned out to be wishful thinking. Teddy said he had heard someone say that the workmen are actually putting in a biomass boiler. None of us know what this is exactly but Teddy thinks it is to do with keeping the centre nice and warm which is a lovely thing for all our guests.

I hope I will still have a little paddock left when they have done all the work.  Imagine cosying up to a boiler in the winter; that sounds lovely to me, I do like my home comforts. 

I think I will have to make sure that I get to keep that little paddock all to myself, I don’t fancy having to share it with any of the big horses!

Many Small People!

Last week we have had lots of small people here.  I felt quite big!  They were all from a local primary school in Shirwell. 

Some of them have horses and ponies of their own at home so they already knew quite a lot about looking after a horse and how to ride.  Those who had a bit of experience were very kind and helped their friends if they felt a bit nervous. 

Even one of the teachers had a go at riding.  He rode Rooster and said he enjoyed it but he thought Rooster was a very bouncy horse! Alice proved to be a very popular riding instructor with all the children.  They all had a great time.

Rooster

All the children helped to put out an agility course for me on the back yard.  It has been very cold this week but I still have my woolly winter coat and we shetlands are a hardy bunch, so I was fine.  The children all had to wrap up warm with coats and gloves on. Everyone had a practice first and then did a timed round of agility with me. 

Showing off my agility skills (and my woolly winter coat!)

Let me tell you I feel like I certainly earn't my hay that night!

Full Steam Ahead

It's full steam ahead now for all of us horses and ponies and the staff here in the stables, we are all looking forward to a busy and fun year.

Alice and Richard have been learning all about different types of groups who come to Calvert Trust Exmoor since they started work here. Now we are busy and they have been able to put into practice what they have learned so far. 

Last week we had a group of young people from Pathfield School.  They all had a great time trying lots of activities and of course getting to know us here in the stables. 

I was able to show them how clever I am at jumping. Bertie had a go first but I think he was feeling a bit lazy as he knocked down the fence several times!

I on the other hand did my usual fantastic leaping over the jump, and earned myself a round of applause from all the people watching me from the gallery. Richard has quickly got the hang of helping me to put on a fabulous show for our visitors and I really love working with him.

I love to jump!

Bertie eventually managed to haul himself over the jump. I think he felt a bit embarrassed watching me make it look so easy! 

Bertie prefers his fences to be this high!

Volunteer Training Day

Fitness work continues for all us equines here at Calvert Trust Exmoor.  Some of us have been long reined, some schooled by staff members, some of us have been out for hacks, Duchess and Hendrix have been pulling their carriages.  Soon we will all be the fittest horses and ponies in the land! It is great fun doing all sorts of interesting things with the staff.  I have even shown Alice and Richard how brilliant I am at jumping little fences while I am being loose schooled in the arena. 

Training with our Volunteers

Our fantastic volunteers have been to see us for a training day.  They learnt about harnessing up a carriage horse and how to help in an emergency.  It was a freezing cold day when they came and they all needed lots of hot drinks and coats to keep them warm! 

They also helped Nicky and Richard to do some hoist training with Teddy, just to remind him that he needs to stand really still.  Teddy was his usual brilliant relaxed self about it all and behaved perfectly.

 All the volunteers then had a photo with Teddy which he loved as he adores people and will take any attention he gets with a big grin on his face! 

Teddy loving all the attention!

Hullo Milo!

I would like to introduce you all to Milo, who is the new addition to our family. He's a horse on trial! 

That doesn't mean he is a criminal; in fact he's a very nice chap! It means he comes here for a month to see if he is suitable for the very important job of being a Calvert Trust Exmoor horse. 

In this month of trial he will get to try out lots of the jobs he will need to do here and see how he likes them.  He’s moved into the stable next door to me now, and I have to tell you that his big hooves don’t half keep me up at night as he stomps about munching hay!

He's been doing lots of work with the instructors since he arrived, and tells me that he really enjoys learning new things and being part of the Calvert Trust team. So far he has got used to being in a stable in the main yard, been introduced to Hendrix and Jack in the field, fallen in love with me (of course!), and been learning how to behave when he is being lunged and long reined.

He has been ridden in the past but not for a while so this work helps to get him a bit fitter and used to wearing his tack.  He will begin being ridden by the staff very soon. 

Milo

He has also learnt a little about the mounting block in the arena which is a very important thing here.  Lots of our riders need the horse to stand very still in the mounting block while they get on.

We actually have two blocks, which the horse stands in between. This means that a helper can assist the rider with their mounting by standing on the other block and holding the stirrup while the rider mounts.  Sometimes they also need to help the rider to get comfortable in the saddle.

Hopefully it won’t be long before he can join in lessons…although Teddy says that you can’t rush these things!