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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 15:14:19 GMT 1
That's brilliant Kafee I've texted you!
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Post by kafee on Dec 30, 2012 19:30:09 GMT 1
Michellep and I took the foals up to the field and turned them out today. As they have been leading so well, we decided to lead them down the garden and into the trailer instead of quietly herding them as I've done when transfering my previous foals, (except Tor), to the field. Excaliber looked like he'd been doing it all his life, confident and mature, he was a complete star. Sunny, on the other hand, was less mature about it, and gave Michelle a bit of work to do. Sunny goes 'bouncey, bouncey' and Excaliber asks if he can eat the grass................... Excaliber follows the bowl of ponys nuts into the trailer with no hesitation. Sunny wasn't so sure............ May be........... Nope! I can s-t-r-e-t-c-h May be Alright then....... We used the video camera at the field:- s900.beta.photobucket.com/user/kafee/media/ExcaliberSunnyReleaseShort30-12-12.mp4.htmlMany thanks to IH, Sarah, Jenny, Michelle and everybody else on the Workshop, I've no doubt that meeting so many understanding people, has made a big difference to these little chaps. Big thanks to my long suffering OH for an admirable job with the cameras. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2012 20:03:36 GMT 1
Lol Sunny had a little spook at the wind rustling the bushes behind us then once he'd started bouncing he seemed to quite enjoy it and carried on He's amazing to lead though, once he starts bouncing he still listens to the halter and when he realised no one else was joining in he then walked beautifully next to me on a slack rope again Excalibur walked up the ramp of the trailer like a seaoned pro. Sunny got a bit sticky and wasn't so sure, but after a few minutes the lure of pony nuts and his friend in there won him over and once he'd stepped onto the ramp he walked in very calmly. We arrived at the field to find they'd swapped sides and turned round in the trailer!! So after a three point turn with each pony (I told you Kafee had done good since the workshop!!) we led them into the field. Both of them walked like little pro's well into the field, we removed our ropes and let them go - Excalibur set off bouncing around and Sunny said he'd like to finish his pony nuts first please They were out with Taylor who decided he'd best tell these little scraps that this is his field, but being the gent he is, after herding them into a corner he then just stood there and let them trot off again Then all the big boys on the other side of the fence joined in and there was much zooming up and down - it was fantastic to see the foals able to really run. After the excitement had settled I was able to approach both steadily and take their halters off, Sunny came over to see me but Excalibur needed a little more gentle persuasion, but both did good and had a lovely rub before saying good night. I had a brilliant time, they're such amazing little ponies
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Post by maryanne on Dec 31, 2012 11:30:10 GMT 1
Wow! They certainly have come far since the workshop. It's interesting that Excalibur took it all in his stride and Sunny decided it was all just too much fun! I was thinking back to the workshop where Sunny progressed much quicker with the halter & leading. I would have guessed it would have been Excalibur who would have been more reluctant. Could I ask a question? When leading Sunny & he decided to have some fun & try and run across the path of Michelle, what did Michelle do to get him back leading calmly? I ask as this is exactly the problem I have at shows or events & end up either being walked on or turning in a circle! A lovely update! I bet they are having fun in the big field
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Post by marychick on Dec 31, 2012 12:21:48 GMT 1
So lovely to see these lil guys are doing so well and progressing so quickly! You're obviously doing a fab job with them Kafee! ;D I hope I can make it to the next workshop and see how they're getting on! I'm really gutted I couldn't be there yesterday!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2012 14:13:52 GMT 1
Hi maryanne, I don't know if its the correct thing to do but in photos 4 and 5 he's started to get ahead of me so I was getting too close into the kick zone so in photo 6 I had stopped and turned a 1/4 circle away from him to bring his head round. I just paused for a moment until the bouncing stopped then I walked on towards/ just in front of his head with purpose but low head, low eyes and low energy to encourage him out of my way calmly. As you can see in photo 7 he actually moved right out of my way and did it calmly and walked with his head level with me again before turning sideways to consider another little boing While doing it I suppose I was just trying to show him that zooming off wasn't an option while keeping the energy as low as possible. If he'd been a more advanced leader I'd have checked him before he got so far ahead but since its quite new to him and his initial rushing was because he was worried I thought trying to stop him too quickly would just raise everyones energy and his adrenaline.
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Post by maryanne on Dec 31, 2012 14:49:23 GMT 1
Thanks Michellep, that makes sense. I definitely need to get back to the groundwork with my NF in the new year. If at the next workshop we get to do some leading with bouncy Ponies I will pick up lots of tips & feedback to practice on
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Post by kafee on Dec 31, 2012 15:36:13 GMT 1
The ponies this morning. A bit of the electric fence was down, and Taylor had gone in the other ponies, but none of them had come out. Taylor is always been desparate to escape through electric fences, because the grass is always greener..................Well, he's wrong this time, but I've left him in there, as there's really too much for him out with the foals at the moment, having taken down all the fences protecting the grass from the walkers. It was his choice, after all! It's good to see the foals grazing at last. I had no problem walking up to either of them to say "hello", and give them a scratch. Excaliber tried turning his tail towards me, but I ignored it. I'm sorry you couldn't come Mary, you're having a rough time of it just like Michelle. Unfortunately, it's the weather that's to blame, and we're all suffering from it. Hope you can get Molly out soon. I'm glad Michelle answered your query, maryanne. I couldn't see what was going on, but heard the commotion. As it was more than a quick boing, I stopped and let Excaliber graze to find out if Michelle needed help, which she didn't. I think everybody's body language told Sunny that we were going to keep walking calmly and weren't going to play, so he settled and did the same. I think it's very likely that we will have some lively ponies to practice leading in April! Sunny had been biting my arm and getting hold of the rope over the last few days when I was leading him in the corral. I shook the end of rope in his face a few times, which got his attention. Ps. Does the video play?
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Post by jen526 on Dec 31, 2012 16:10:19 GMT 1
Lovely update and brilliant photos, thanks for sharing xx
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Post by alonerawnut on Jan 1, 2013 16:48:46 GMT 1
Hi Kafee,
The video plays fine - such a difference from the video you showed us the other day! Lovely to see them having a good run and being shown by Taylor whose field they were in!
Happy New Year everyone!
Laura
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Post by alonerawnut on Jan 1, 2013 16:53:54 GMT 1
P.S. Maryanne - our big cob Harry has a habit of turning round into you when we're leading him, if he's a bit anxious or distracted. I use firm pressure on the dually to try to turn his head away and with my other hand give a little nudge with my knuckle against his neck or shoulder if just turning his head doesn't work. If I allow him to keep turning around into me, we get stuck into spiralling round, with his bum whipping out into the road / path, which never helps! So I sometimes have to be quite firm immediately, just to stop him turning into me before it starts.
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Post by kafee on Jan 1, 2013 17:10:01 GMT 1
Hi Kafee, The video plays fine - such a difference from the video you showed us the other day! Lovely to see them having a good run and being shown by Taylor whose field they were in! Happy New Year everyone! Laura Hello Laura, thanks for letting me know that the video plays. It's the first video I've tried posting and didn't know whether it would work for other people. Much better release than last time, although my heart was in my mouth when Excaliber walked up to the electric fence. It looked to me as if he was testing it with his whiskers, so perhaps he's met one before?! Taylor used to be the boss of the whole herd, but he never kicked or bit, I don't even remember him putting his ears back, a true gent as Michelle says.
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Post by kafee on Jan 5, 2013 20:23:25 GMT 1
There's been high jinks in the field all week with the electric fence down every day, so they've all introduced themselves to each other, and peace reigns. The only animosity I saw today was Sky herding the babes away from HIS friend, Tor, which I kind of approve of, as I'm not sure that a certain young pony is being a good influence on the babes. Tor will go through the fence if it's not working properly, so I think he has a lot to do with it coming down. They look like three naughty boys busy plotting mischief to me.............................. I prefer this scene..................... Woody and Sky I've spent the whole day sorting the fence out and making sure it's working properly. They're all in together so fingers crossed the fence is still standing tomorrow.
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Jan 6, 2013 17:01:40 GMT 1
Great pictures! They're such fab boys.
I've not forgotten your pm - apologies for the delay, I've been a bit ill recently. I'm currently trying to catch up with everything!
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Post by mandal on Jan 6, 2013 18:17:36 GMT 1
Only just read this thread. Lovely, lovely thread and well done to all but especially Kafee and the foals for being such good little students. ;D
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