Brief update

Interesting few days. Fraser had a week off as Mac and I went to France for a long weekend, but he was back to earth with a bang last Tuesday (26th May) for another lesson with Kim. Bit reluctant to load in the trailer this time, and he had to be backed out as the ramp on an Ifor is on the right, and it is just too tight a turn for such a large horse. He was a bit perplexed by the reverse manoeuvre (strangely, as it is usually one of his favourites… :p), but he mastered it in the end. Travelled much more quietly this time, with no comedy hoofprints imprinted into the ramp. Kim rode Fraser, and agreed that the saddle was dreadful. Fingers crossed it is being swapped next week, as it is becoming quite an issue. Anyway, she found (as suspected) that there is a lot of stiffness behind his saddle, and he seems to have issues with his right side. He is also quite undermuscled in his back legs, so she now has a better idea of things to work on in the lessons.

I bought a new camcorder to record the occasion, but I guess you get what you pay for, and if you pay £48 you get one where the zoom doesn’t work and the picture quality is worse than my 1.3mp mobile phone! Footage unwatchable and camcorder refunded by Comet. Will use Mac’s digital camera as soon as we have a large memory card for it, as that takes far better quality video.

On Thursday Mac and Nina hacked out with Andrea and Sophie, and apart from Spig and Pete making that strange noise like a moo when they first met, they had great fun. An absolutely stunning evening!

Spig looking v shiny and well at the moment. He seems quite settled now, and is beginning to recognise our routine – although he does seem to like a change from time to time. The lovely hack the other night seemed to cheer him up.

HUGE spook!

Saturday: Much excitement, not necessarily of the right sort. Mac and Nina were standing outside the house en route to school Fraser and Toffee, when there was a bang and Fraser shot in the air, span round really fast and cantered about two strides before Mac managed to get hold of him. We had no idea what had set him off, but later when we went to go out in Mac's car, the rear passenger side window was totally shattered, so that was probably it. No idea what made it go, it remains a mystery.

Sunday: Nina and Toffee off to dressage this morning, so we were expecting lots of squealing, leaping and charging around from Master Spider Pig. Nina put a pile of hay near the gate in addition to the one behind the barn. Spig approved of that, and stood quietly munching while Toffee was loaded (after having a tantrum when Spig was turned back out). Anyway, they drove off and predictably Fraser leapt, bucked, bellowed and ran...straight back to the hay! He was much, much calmer, and although he whinnied from time to time, it wasn't constant and he didn't hoon about. What a relief!

Other news: Fraser's saddle is not a good fit for Mac or Nina so saddler is keeping an eye out for a replacement one (brand new Albion K2 fitted horse and rider beautifully, but not budget!). Nina and Toffee yesterday won the Shuttleworth Winter Dressage League Championship, with two tests on grass in torrential rain and howling winds, and with one of the tests changed at the last minute! They received a huge rosette and a sash. Well done to them! Photos to follow.

Update

Way too much excitement for such a laid-back Spig! Last weekend Fraser and Toffee started living out for the summer, which meant Fraser got lots of exercise running round the paddock when Toffee went for a hack on Monday evening. Started out at a gallop, then decided cantering was more appropriate, then realised trotting was probably less effort before settling on walking around. All this activity was accompanied by a lot of whinnying, but no fence jumping. Phew! Not sure if that is due to being too dim or too lazy… :p Sadly he wasn’t living out when Nina took Toffee to Carlton XC on Sunday, as to mark his displeasure at the trailer going out without him, he took his hooves to his stable wall. Bad Spig! Toffee was in season with a vengeance last week, so was all loving towards him. He couldn't quite understand the change in attitude, but enjoyed it while it lasted. Which wasn't long... We can however allow him a bit of wall bashing, in the light of what a true sofa he actually is. On Saturday morning Mac and Nina were not far from home, heading down a tractor track, when they met a tractor approaching them. The farmer turned the engine off and Nina tried to get past, but there was no way the highly tractor-phobic Toffee was going to walk past the monster, which would surely devour her in one gulp. Mac tried to get Fraser to go past it, but Toffee was giving off her strongest ‘don’t go near the monster’ vibes, so he erred on the side of caution. Nina decided to get off and lead Toffee past, and then the fun started! Toffee got away from her and thought ‘Whee! I’m free!’ before heading off full pelt into a field of rape. Realising it was rape, she soon turned round and headed back, lashing out at Fraser as he tried to block her way. Somehow in the confusion Mac sustained a bruised/sprained ankle, and at one point Fraser thought he would join Toffee on her fun run across the field, but he didn’t, and Mac realises just what a genuine, well behaved hack he really is. Yesterday’s hack was a far less excitable affair, with Andrea joining them on Pete. It was a glorious day, and Nina, Mac and I finished power washing the rubber mats and both stables, so they are all ready for when the horses start living in again. We also had the first barbecue of the year, but sadly Nina wouldn’t let me put Toffee on it. *sigh* Below are various pictures in no particular order.

More hacking

Two photos from yesterday's hack.

See - men CAN multi-task!

On Wednesday evening Nina and Mac met up with Sophie for a hack. Not only was Mac much more relaxed, he managed to take some photos whilst riding! I know they look as if they have been taken from a low flying aircraft, but Fraser's ears are in some of them to prove that they weren't...







And some Nina took:

Spot Sophie!






He does like having his tummy brushed! :D




The Frasemark is beginning to take shape, as is Fraser. He is quite shiny now and has lost most of his winter coat. Although there still seems to be a lot of hair coming off...

Easter Holidays

Busy week for the old Spig! Vaccination and microchip on Thursday – in the most torrential rain imaginable. The lovely Clare came out to do it, and gave Fraser a local anaesthetic before inserting the chip. It is the same diameter needle as used in dogs, but in dogs the chip is inserted just under the skin. Because it can move around inside the animal, and because a horse is significantly larger than a dog, in horses it is inserted into a ligament. I didn’t know that… Anyway, he was fine with all that. Bit stiff the next morning after the vaccination, but back to normal by evening.

The other evening I was grooming Fraser, and he lifted his back leg. I thought he was going to kick, but he lifted it very high and very slowly, out to the side. He wanted a scratch! He just loves being scratched inside his thighs. He is so funny! Mac kindly obliged as I captured the moment for posterity. The first of many, it transpired.

I am starting a new lead rope tally. It currently stands at one. He gives them a lot of grief, and managed to pull back and break the clip on one. It’s never the string, is it? *sigh*

On Saturday he was Micromarked by Farmkey. This is one mark, unlike the four of a regular freezemark, and was done on his shoulder. As expected, he was fine. Although quite thin skinned, he is also quite easily distracted with food…

On Sunday evening Mac and Nina went for a hack, and the photos show just how effective hi-viz gear is – even in clear weather!

Monday evening was a bit of schooling, which was much more relaxed. Improvements are being made all around! Thanks to Sue for the suggestions of ‘gateways’

15th April 2009

Nina and Mac booked a local arena and had a lesson with Kim Darlow, who taught them both to ride before she went on to bigger and better things in the world of dressage. It was a game getting them there as Toffee has never travelled on the left of a trailer, and won’t tolerate a horse too close. Nina had visions of her savaging Fraser, or them kicking each other to ribbons under the partition, or any number of catastrophes, but in fact it wasn’t too bad. We used the rather flimsy Ifor Williams separator thingy and tied them both at the side and the front (they both tried to reach round behind it and Fraser would have got his great big head stuck), and they weren’t too bad. Toffee stomps when you stop anyway, so traffic lights etc are a pain, and one of them took a while to find their balance, but it was worth it. Kim liked Fraser, and said he was not at all what she was expecting! Much like us, really. She was expecting something like a table with hugely hairy legs.

Toffee has improved HUGELY since her last session with Kim, and Fraser was just so mellow – strange environment, relatively new rider, new instructor – just takes it all in his (quite long) stride. He doesn’t appear to have received vast amounts of schooling at any time, and next time Kim will ride him to see just what he can do. All in all, quite a successful day! :)

Photos: No teeth, teeth showing and Little and Large!