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.
Now that Diva has been with me for several months, she is really beginning to find her feet and at times can be cheeky.
Although at maturity she’ll be only around 40 inches in height, it is important that she is taught manners just like a larger horse. Though small, Shetland ponies are renowned for their strength.
Although at maturity she’ll be only around 40 inches in height, it is important that she is taught manners just like a larger horse. Though small, Shetland ponies are renowned for their strength.
One day a friend offered to lead Diva out to the field for me so I could lead Mabel and Florence and only make one trip from the stables. I was in front as we walked along, and then all of a sudden I heard Ginny say quite calmly, “Diva is a bit fresh.” Before I could react, I heard sounds of a scuffle and Ginny saying, still in a calm voice, “Um… she’s a lot fresh.”
I turned around to see Diva bouncing around on the end of the lead rope with Ginny valiantly holding on despite the deep and slippery mud. With me leading a horse in each hand, the best thing I could do was to hurry the last few yards to the field so I could let them go and then help Ginny.
Diva looking settled in field having found her feet!
To say I found it funny is an understatement, and giggling like mad, I turned to Ginny and Diva. She still had hold of the lead rope, and Diva was still leaping about but luckily was going in the right direction.
With a bit more kerfuffle, we safely released Diva into the field and shut the gate. She went tearing off to catch up with the big girls whilst Ginny and I leant on the gate, laughing so much we could scarcely breathe! How Diva didn’t trip up Ginny I’ll never know!
The next morning Diva’s stable door had a cartoon by Ginny taped to it … Dangerous Diva! Indeed!
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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.