Riding with Milo

Hi everyone, I'm back!

Today I have some news about Milo for you.  Now you will have heard about him already ; he's been here for a while and been doing lots of training.  He has slowly been gaining experience and learning new skills and now he is a proper working member of the stables team.  He is still quite young, but he's very serious about his work here.  He loves being in the arena with other horses and being ridden so I think this is probably his perfect job! He is also a bit quieter in his stable now which is lucky for me as he lives right next door and his feet are massive so when he is shuffling about he sometimes keeps me awake!

This week we have had a group here who have been several times before to the Calvert Trust Exmoor. They are from London and are called the Trinity group.  I met them all and had a couple of pictures taken with them.  One young lady in the group called Bea has been here a few times and always says she likes riding. This time she got to ride Milo.

Bea and Milo

She had a great time and Milo said her trotting on him was very impressive.  I think he is probably super comfy to ride as he has a lovely low stride, certainly not as bouncy as Rooster! Milo was very pleased with himself after the session and started to tell us all how to do things but Teddy soon put him straight! 

Guest Blogger Hendrix; Devon County Show Part 2

Hey everyone its Hendrix here again, I still have loads more to tell you about my visit to the show! You might remember in my last blog I had just settled down in my stable (with grass growing INSIDE!) for the night.

The next morning Nicky arrived very early and gave me breakfast.  Kerri was soon there too and they groomed me and plaited me up.  There were lots of horses, ponies and people around by then and I was eager to see what I was going to do. I was harnessed up and taken outside where Jon was waiting with my carriage. My eyes were out on stalks now because there was so much to look at!

A show ring was right next to the stables and I thought to start with maybe that’s where I would go with my carriage, but there were already lots of horses in there showing their stuff so I guessed I was going somewhere else.  I asked a shire horse, (do you know how huge they are?!?), what he thought and he said “no lad, you won’t be in there that’s for the showing in hand, you will be in the Lady Clinton Ring I should think”.  Well, I didn't know what he meant so I had to wait to find out.

 I was soon put to my carriage and although it was all very busy around me I knew I had to behave once I was being driven because that is my job. Nicky made me wait while Kerri stood with me until it was time to go. A lady with a clipboard came and walked in front of us through the stables area and out onto a roadway which was FULL of people, dogs, pushchairs and lots of noise!

It was busy! (thanks Kevin Beer for the photo)

I was a bit overwhelmed but Nicky said “come on, you are fine, nothing to worry about”.  I just got going and soon realised it was actually quite fun with all those people watching me!  The lady with the clip board (I later found out from my shire horse buddy that she is called a steward), led us all the way to a grass arena;  the Lady Clinton Ring.

In the ring it was just me and the Calvert Trust Exmoor team showing our skills to the crowd watching us.  We gave them a demonstration of carriage driving with a wheelchair driver sitting next to Nicky. I had a great time and at the end everyone gave us a huge round of applause. I loved showing what I can do to all the spectators and I loved it even more when they all clapped.

In the arena

A man stood in the middle of the arena telling the crowd all about Calvert Trust Exmoor and what we do here.  I even learnt a few things myself – did you know that some people who come here get to do forest skills?  I have never seen that but I asked Teddy when I got home and he said it all happens over the road in the woods by the farmhouse.

Later on I did another performance and this time it was even better, as I knew what to expect.  I must say having plaits put in my mane and tail and even glitter put on my coat made me feel very important!

I felt very important! (thanks Kevin Beer for the photo)

When I had finished I had time for a graze on the patch of grass next to the stables area and managed to watch some show horses in their ring.  I think I would like to have a go at that too sometime; I think I would be splendid! Soon it was the end of a very busy first day and I had some time to relax in my lovely show ground stable and a chat with the horses around me.  I must say I think the shire horses are even cleverer than Teddy (but don’t tell him I said so!).

We had two more lovely days at the show and each day I did two demonstrations with the team helping me.  I had a wonderful time and saw lots of new things at the show, I also saw some familiar faces as some of our regular visitors and volunteers came to see us, which was brilliant.  Each day when I was in my stable lots of show visitors came along to say hello to me and all my new friends. I must admit by Saturday afternoon I was getting a little bit tired!

For my last performance we were just getting ready outside the ring when I heard the strangest noise. To me it sounded like some strange animals but I heard someone say it was a bagpipe band.  Now I don’t know what that is exactly but let me tell you they certainly make a racket!!

Later on Saturday afternoon I watched Nicky and Richard pack all my harness and other equipment into the minibus and Jon loaded my carriage onto the flat trailer.  I guessed it was time to leave the show and go home.

I was a bit sad to be going but I couldn’t wait to tell all the other horses about my exciting time away.  In fact as soon as we got home and Nicky put me in the field I ran straight over to Bertie and had a proper natter.  He didn’t seem very impressed with what I was saying so I had to chase him around a bit.  Teddy however thought I had done a brilliant job representing the stables and told me he thought I had finally grown up!  Rude, I thought…

…Well I guess it is time for me to let Pilgrim back on the blog now, but you never know I might get another chance to chat to you all in future.  Got to go and let Jack know how clever I am now, I think he is the only one I haven’t told my story to. 

Guest Blogger Hendrix; Devon County Show Part 1

Pilgrim: Hi everyone, I'm letting Hendrix have a go at writing the blog as he has had a very exciting time at the Devon County Show. 

As you all know he is full of himself usually so you can only imagine what he is like at the moment!  Anyone would think he was the only horse of any importance!  

___________________

Hey guys its Hendrix here, or to give me my full title 'One Too Many'.  That's my show name for those of you who don’t know by the way. Pilgrim has obviously realised that I am very special, and I have very exciting news to tell you which he knows nothing about so he said I could write the blog.

 

Last Wednesday I did some carriage driving here at Calvert Trust Exmoor with guests, as I often do.  Once I had finished it soon became clear that something unusual was going to happen.  I was given a bath which made me cleaner than ever before; I was so shiny you could have seen your face in my coat! 

While that was going on lots of equipment was loaded into the minibus and the horse trailer was hitched up. Also the four wheeled carriage was put onto another trailer.  This gave me a clue that I was going somewhere special but I had no idea how special yet!  Nicky put travel boots and a tail bandage on me and I was loaded up into the trailer.  She got in the minibus and I gave all the other horses a goodbye whinny as we left.

  

We went on a very long journey, I was fine to start with but then I had a problem…I needed a wee!  I wasn’t too sure how I could do that while the trailer was travelling along so I gave the trailer a few hefty kicks so Nicky would know I had a slight problem.  She soon stopped to check on me but then I got stage fright and couldn’t go!  The trailer was soon on the move again but now I was really bursting so I gave the trailer another kick and Nicky stopped again.  This time I was fine and felt very relieved once I had relieved myself!  Once we were back on the move I soon settled down and had lovely net of hay to eat.

It took ages to reach our destination and when we did arrive I was very glad to get out and stretch my legs.  I had never been anywhere like it before.  There were lots of stables in a long row and plenty of space around so I felt quite safe and happy.  The stables were my version of heaven.  Nicky laughed at me because I was so surprised to see there was grass growing INSIDE my stable!

I had to ask a huge shire horse what this was all about, he said that most show grounds had this kind of stables – they are put up for the show and then taken down again.  He said he went to shows all the time and it was always fun which made me quite excited about what would happen next. By now I was exhausted though and after munching my way through most of the grass growing in my stable I went to sleep for the night.

Enjoying a munch! (Thanks Kevin Beer for the photo)

Show Preparations

In my last blog post I was telling you that Calvert Trust Exmoor is Charity Of The Year for the Devon County Show. Well the Stables team have been really busy with all the preparation for the show, but it wasn’t just Hendrix to get ready, the carriage and of course the staff had to get ready too. 

Hendrix has been at Calvert Trust Exmoor for 6 years now, so he's the perfect pony to represent us at the show. I thought it should be me going but I’m a bit small to pull the big carriage, so Hendrix better do it!
  
Luckily the weather has been really nice so Richard and Nicky were able to wash the carriage and even paint the carriage floor. I wanted to help with painting the carriage but Teddy reckons my fur would stick to it, so I supervised instead which is a more important job!

The carriage was looking really shiny once it had been painted, but I over heard the humans talking about putting our name on the carriage so people knew where we were from.

The next day a man arrived and put some Calvert Trust stickers on to the carriage, I thought they looked very smart, but was a bit disappointed as I thought it would have had my name and picture on as I am the star of the stables!

Fitting the Stickers

Next it was Hendrix turn to get ready he had to have a bath I think he really enjoyed it, especially as the sun was out and he managed to do some sun bathing to dry. Then Clive the farrier came and put new shoes on him. All his tack, harness and rugs also got cleaned, everything was looking great. 

Later on I was watching Richard and Kerri and they were walking around with a clip board looking all official (they don’t usually!) 

They were collecting stuff together like rugs, tack, brushes and ticking them off their list. I asked Teddy what was going on and he explained to me that when you go to a show with a horse that you need to take loads of stuff with you including spare stuff in case anything breaks.

They had so much stuff piled up I thought Hendrix was going away for a couple of weeks not a couple of days! All the equipment and tack needed to look after Hendrix was then loaded up into the mini bus and nearly filled it.

That evening, once everything was loaded up, including Hendrix in his own personal trailer, we all gathered by the field gate to wave Hendrix and the team off. 

for the next blog I will get Hendrix to tell you all about his big adventure at the Devon County Show, we can’t wait to hear how he got on.

Practice Time for Hendrix

Something very exciting for Calvert Trust Exmoor and particularly the stables is happening very soon.

 Calvert Trust Exmoor has been chosen as the charity of the Devon County Show.  This means that there will be a stand at the show where people can come along and find out all about what we do here, and how we help people with disabilities. Also the stables are sending along their very own representatives to the show to do two demonstrations every day in the Lady Clinton ring.  The team have been practising hard for these demonstrations.

Practising for the big day

They took banners up to the top field one day last week and had a practice run with Hendrix. He is going to the show along with Nicky to stay for the whole three days. I am sure that will mean he gets to wear one of the new rugs!!  He even gets his own stable at the show to sleep in overnight! 

Our lovely new banners

Each day Hendrix, Nicky and different members of the stables and activity team will be showing how carriage driving is accessible for people in wheelchairs. The four wheeler carriage will be at the show for the demonstrations. This carriage and our two wheeled one are both fitted with removable seats and ramps for access with a wheelchair.

I am sure those of you who have been here and had a carriage drive will agree it is a great fun experience.  Hendrix is really looking forward to going away to the show and I am sure he will do the team proud. Next time I blog I will update you on all the last minute preparations before they head off.

Special New Shoes

Today Clive and Jordan the farriers came to visit us in the stables.  I had a feeling it was my turn to have my feet trimmed and a new set of shoes and sure enough I was brought out of my stable and tied up in the yard.  Jordan had a good look at my feet and gave me a quick trim.

Until now I have been wearing light weight plastic shoes but today something very different happened. Last time the farriers’ came they had a long chat about my feet and what I should wear on them. The farriers decided to make me some very special shoes.  They are metal but they are much lighter than normal horse shoes. 

I heard Clive say he had made them out of racing plate metal! This was quite intriguing so I asked Teddy if he knew what that meant but he said Rooster was the best one to talk to about racing as that used to be his job.  Rooster said racing plates are very light shoes which help a horse to be as fast as it can. He also said I would never be as fast as he was even if they put wings on me! 

My little shoes were soon nailed on and although they feel a bit different to the plastic ones they are very comfy on my feet. I even sound like the rest of the horses now clip clopping around on the concrete.

The farriers said I would be the smallest horse they had ever put metal shoes on.  Of course this made me feel very important!

To give you an idea of how small my shoes are here is a picture of one of them next to a two pound coin…

….told you they were tiny!!

New gear for the equine team!

Some of you who have visited us here at Calvert Trust Exmoor will know that the centre has a logo.

 Recently we horses and ponies were very excited when a big parcel arrived; it contained some lovely new kit for us horses.  The riding horses are now proud owners of saddle cloths which have the logo on them.  There are also two fancy fleece rugs with the logo on them as well.  The lovely rugs are for any horses that go out and about to events. 

Duchess, Alice and Milo app shoeing off their logos

They will wear them when they are travelling or at a competition. The logo will help to let people know where the horses are from, and hopefully people will then want to find out all about Calvert Trust Exmoor and what we do here. All the horses now match the stables staff too as they have the logo on their jackets!