The Not-So-Secret Diary of Diva the Shetland Pony - Floof!
18/04/2024Diva (Melland Queen of Scots) usually gets her summer coat quite early compared to other horses and ponies, but this year she has been holding onto hers for a lot longer.
Progress has been going well with Ben and he is really taking to life off the track!
The ground has finally dried up, and the horses are now out all day. Ben having been on a race yard for 12 years didn’t really know what to make of all the space, so he ran around, a lot!
This seemed to take a toll on his energy levels, and most days in the afternoon I will catch him having a nap, he has even spent a few nights out, but I am certainly not complaining, as it seems to be taking the ‘spring grass’ feeling out of him!
We had been doing tonnes of schooling, really mixing it up with transitions and pole work and he now feels less of a coiled spring and more like a horse, even offering some long and low work to help build up his non existence top line. Being an older horse I have noticed that carrot stretches have been a crucial part of keeping him supple, so are now part of our daily morning routine.
We went and did Intro B at the end of March and he was foot perfect, didn’t get at all hot in the warm up and wasn’t bothered by the environment, meaning we got a nice 4th, which I am super pleased with. His canter at home is gradually getting less excitable and is really balanced when he settles so hopefully a prelim will be on the cards soon.
I have also taken him out jumping a couple of times, and he is really calm and enthusiastic, even in a large open field. It’s lovely to feel that nice big open stride and being carried into fences.
We have little in the way of finesse yet, but certainly having lots of fun… when we can keep shoes on!
Diva (Melland Queen of Scots) usually gets her summer coat quite early compared to other horses and ponies, but this year she has been holding onto hers for a lot longer.
Is it spring yet? It’s been teasing us the last few days, going from a few dry days when I could walk across most of the field and it felt like spring, to heavy downpours, including hail, which reverted the field back to a quagmire. I didn’t let it put me off too much, though, and I’ve now managed to get all three horses back into work! Eek!
I can’t believe it has only been just over two weeks since Freya arrived! She’s kept her calm temperament, although does have her cheeky moments with her being a baby, and now discovering what treats are (my own fault!).
Following on from the previous blog, Diva and I were taking part in a clinic held by Lisa Dixon of Freelance Equine – Trick Training and Horsemanship at Truesdale Equestrian Centre.