Post by Stepney on Jun 10, 2005 13:42:26 GMT 1
Subject : Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 02.08.02 7:28:00 PM
Hope no one minds but it's impossible to have two Merlin's. The new one clearly has no idea what he's called anyway so day to day I'm calling him Manny. It's short for Manuel 'cause he's from Barcelona - well not quite, but poetic licence and all that! I called a variety of names and the one he responded to is Manny, so Manny it is for short, Manny Merlin formally.
I'm sorry about the lack of photo's - I promise to sort some out, and postcards. I'll get mine developed and pass them to someone with a scanner asap.
I'm almost worried about telling you the next update in case you think I'm making it up. He's changed towards me massively since this morning. Tonight he trotted over, thrust his head in my hands, allowed me to smooth his face, neck and body, and never batted an eyelid. I could walk up beside him and smooth his neck, and when I walked off he did a superb follow up. (not that he has been or will be joined up as it would be all wrong for him). He was demanding physical affection. At one point he came and leant down and started rubbing his forehead on my shoulder. He couldn't get the right position, so I put my hand up, kept it still and he used that as a good old scratching post. How he's managed to get this confident so quickly or why he has any wish to want to trust a human ever again is beyond me.
He's also quite playful. My Merlin always plays with his bucket after he's eaten. He picks it up, bangs it and flings it about. Manny has started to copy. This morning I watched him pick it up and bang it, then he put it down, looked into it for a bit, carefully picked his foot up and put it in the bucket, took it out and repeated it several times. He looked so chuffed with himself. I mean fancy discovering you can put your feet in buckets! Wooosh!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Dawn
Date : 02.08.02 8:33:00 PM
Absolutely fantastic Ally, you're a marvel xx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 02.08.02 8:36:00 PM
I wish I was, but actually he's the marvel!!!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Lorraine L
Date : 02.08.02 8:36:00 PM
Ally, you must be chuffed to bits.
Obviously Manny Merlin is quite relaxed now and I love the way that he is using Merlin as a role model......how wonderful.
Trust is an amazing thing - it took us two years to gain any from our rescued Mare but I think that Manny may, for the first time in his life, have found something in you which he just instinctivley knows is right. He believes in you. I think that it is such a gift to teach a horse that it will be 'asked' to do something - rather than 'told' to do it (which is all that he has ever known )
Keep it up Ally and treasure every moment.
xxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : a lurker
Date : 02.08.02 8:38:00 PM
ditto above. You're a love!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Mike(P)
Date : 02.08.02 9:00:00 PM
Oh damn this dust!
Well done Ally, I can only imagine how you must of felt after this mornings performance. When you've never had toys even a bucket can be great fun!
)
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Nicky
Date : 02.08.02 9:43:00 PM
Mike, you also suffer on this board too! It's just soooo irritating and we MUST get a cleaner because every time I seem to come here and have a peek I chuck out another pair of contact len's. How irritating? It's just so dirty and dusty that my eyes start watering.
Anyhow, well done Ally and Manny! He obviously knows he is with a soul mate Ally....
He is a very lucky lad indeed to have found you
P.S. Is the whisker I purchased still intact?? LOL! It was the one on the right hand side, just under his chin.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Holly
Date : 02.08.02 9:49:00 PM
Fantastic to hear he is settling in so well after his long journey.
Give yourself a pat on the back, your doing a fab job!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : eileen
Date : 02.08.02 9:53:00 PM
Absolutely brilliant ally, it's like a miracle isn't it?? you must be on a high all the time ?? bless his heart love eileen xxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : diane
Date : 02.08.02 11:18:00 PM
I did wonder how you'd cope! Bless!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 03.08.02 0:11:00 AM
Ally, you are just doing so well with Manny, and what fantastic progress in such a short space of time. He has clearly given you his trust, and maybe this is a fair exchange as far as he is concerned, because would I be correct in thinking that you have given him your heart?!
I am so glad that you have given him a new name for his new life, my theory being, as you know, that if they have not had their name spoken to them with love in their previous life, then they do not deserve to have to carry any memories or baggage associated with it into their new lives.
Have a good weekend with Manny and Merlin!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : GJ
Date : 03.08.02 10:03:00 AM
Ally, I also think it's a brilliant idea to give him a new name to match his fantastic new future and ditch all the baggage from the past. By the way I'm SO jealous, how have you managed to bond with him so quickly? I've had my boy almost a year now and he bearly acknowledges me!! As everyone else says you must be a very special person or maybe a horsey witch LOL!!
Well done again and please keep up the instalments if you are able, as it is so nice to be able to hear how he is getting along.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sandi
Date : 03.08.02 10:21:00 AM
Ally how fantastic, any chance of sending some of your special gift through to my computor. One of Sugars favorite games is chucking her bucket all over the place, loves her football to. Manny is a great name.
Sandi
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Pauhla
Date : 03.08.02 12:24:00 AM
Ally, I used to think it was bad luck to change a horses name (because someone told me so and I believed it...I know better than to do that now :0) but I just LOVE Donnas reasoning behind changing names for any animal.
So what we have here is Manny who doesn't come from Barcelona, Ally who doesn't come from Swanage (remember that eposide..."I Manual, I come from Barcelona. He Mr. Fawlty, he come from H'Sawnage"??)and a wonderful outcome so far. what I like particularly is that you arent' actually askign him for anything at this time. manny is offerign it and that is a huge thing for a hrose who has never, or not since he was a fola, have the stumulation of a field, a companion he can bond with a a human who doesn't ask him for anythign he isnt' ready to give of his own accord.
I'll bring my camera when I come to visit and e-mail you the pics as promised and then you will have them to send to people. If you would also like me to being my camcorder I can get some video of both your boys for you and put it on tape as there is it will be a good record of the physical changes but also a lovely memory for you of the two of them together.
Px
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Pauhla
Date : 03.08.02 12:27:00 AM
Just re-read the above...spot the dyslexic!!!!! :0))))))))))))))))))))
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Jeannie
Date : 03.08.02 1:41:00 PM
Hi Ally
I know from first hand how rewarding it is when a horse who has been frightened gives her/his trust. Jasmine was so frightened when she first came..snorting..backing off. Donna B will tell you, she decided she wanted to be with me the first week,which is why I bought her earlier and why Donna B was happy to let her go. You should see her today!!!!!!! Even though we had an issue with a long line two weeks ago, we have now got to going for a little walk on the common..and she loved it. Her groundwork is fantastic and as a friend of mine said yesterday, 'Jasmine isn't joined up...she is permanatly attatched to you!' and she is begining to trust others too. The farrier's visit was a dream on Wednesday..he even put her front feet on the tripod (trimming and balancing..I want to keep her barefoot if I can) We are now walking over black plastic sheets in the paddock without so much as a blink..It is so good...The way she walked out onto the common yesterday, through a scary wooded area onto a huge common was amazing..she wanted to walk around and was so obedient. Cyndie, my RA, my friend (IH) Janet and I had tears in our eyes. Sounds like Merlin..sorry Manny, will be the same. I too changed Jasmine's name..new life..new start. Shows how right Donna B was to make the difficult decision to let her come to be with me..
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 03.08.02 6:01:00 PM
Jeannie, it sounds like you and Jasmine have really clicked. Brilliant news for both of you.
Pauhla, please do bring the camcorder, it'll be excellent to get some footage of the boys together.
This morning, Manny decided he'd regress a bit, and we were back to him being concerned but not terribly nervous of me touching him. I was a bit disapointed at the time, but it's only to be expected, so I didn't push it and just gave him space. This afternoon, he was really affectionate again - more confident than yesterday, and my friend took some great piccies of us together. There's one in particular I hope comes out. It's of him standing free with no rope on, with me in front with my arms around his neck, and him with his head over my shoulder cuddling into my back. It was so sweet, not forced and he could move away any time. I could smooth his whole body, and even picked his feet up while he stood free. Stupidly I then got a bit cocky. He's got a pink nose, it was really sunny and I thought it may be burning so thought as he was so easy around me and relaxed, he'd be fine if I put a bit of sun cream on. Big mistake! He didn't panic, but made it perfectly clear that it was not OK and was not going to happen. It brought me down to earth with a bump that he's still a very very worried horse, and everything will have to be gently and slowly done and I can't cut any corners. Manny is teaching me a lot of new things! I thought I'd blown it for a while as he wasn't keen on me for a while after, but he soon came around and came back for a smooth all over and I was so relieved!
Best of all my dog brought her tennis ball into the field, and Manny was hooked on it. He kept on rolling it away from him with his nose, then going after it and doing it again - it was really funny. Susi mentioned earlier that her horse likes football, so I may have to find him a bigger ball and see what he does. I've never seen that before. After that the two boys decided to show off a bit and had a gallop about together. Lovely to see, but worrying as they charge towards you and you realise that Manny himself has no idea if he can stop in time. I also wasn't too keen on him doing it in view of his bad legs, but I figured the joy he was getting from it outwayed physical considerations right now. With the severe long term damage he has to his legs, one daft session can't do much more harm. It's the first time they've done this, and it was incredible to watch. It didn't last long before they ran out of puff and came for a congratulatory rub! What a pair!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 03.08.02 6:19:00 PM
Ally, my girls love to play with a big dog toy called a Boomer Ball. It's a really tough toy - they give them to polar bears as boredom busters - and my 2Ms play with one that is almost soccer ball size i.e. too big for the dogs to pick up so they have to play push or football with it. The ponies have a great time with it, though they have to share it with the dogs. Mind you, that way no-one gets bored: it's like a new toy evey time they come across it! Please may my 2Ms send one to your 2Ms as a good luck present?
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 04.08.02 5:56:00 AM
Donna, that sounds great. My M's would be delighted to recieve a Boomer Ball from your M's. That's really kind. Thanks.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Bonita
Date : 04.08.02 8:55:00 AM
Fantastic to hear that everything is going so well for you both.
Make sure you keep us all up to date won't you?
xx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sara (Belgium)
Date : 04.08.02 10:11:00 AM
I think it's a wonderful idea to change his name - new start, new name. As a big Fawlty Towers fan I couldn't think of a better name!
As far as I know Pauhla it's ships names that it's unlucky to change! Perhaps the person that told you was in the navy, LOL!
I once changed a horse's name because it was unpronounceable and everybody got it wrong. I just added in an extra letter from Raona to Ramona, which is what everybody called her anyway as nobdy could get their tongue round it.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sandra
Date : 06.08.02 2:44:00 PM
Ally, this is such wonderful news and I (knowing Manny a bit) think you've come a thousand miles with him already!!!! We hadn't even dared to take his headcollar off yet because we were afraid we wouldn't get another back on (which is why he arrived with that disgusting thing on him - sorry!!). There's a lot of dust in my office to day too - Mike, are you sending that over??
A new home a new name - just like Black Beauty. The first two rescues who went to my friend Josepha in Belgium also changed names, from Poker Face to Jamie (Mr Belgium's name as he is also so good looking!!!) and Rimenora to Laura...
Well done Ally - send Manny and Merlin a big kiss from me. Skippy balls is also something they love by the way... they can grab the ears and chuck the ball....
Sandra xxxxxxxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Bridge
Date : 06.08.02 3:35:00 PM
Manny!! Love it!! Brilliant news that he is now 'playing'. Oh to be free!!! Fantastic.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 06.08.02 7:34:00 PM
Sandra, that headcollar really was something wasn't it? I'm keeping that for posterity, bailer twine and all!!! Tom changed it to Merlins when he was still in the lorry. I changed it two days later as Merlin's was rubbing, and today I've had to change it twice! He's OK as long as it's gentle and they're taken apart. He is very much more relaxed - I wish you could see the change already. Yesterday I had to work away and my friend gave him his breakfast. Last night he ignored me. There was no fear, just him making it clear that he wanted no more to do with me. I just fed him and left him to it. This morning we were back to cuddles! His nose has been a real worry as it's really burning and I can't get cream on. So I've sewed together a piece of cotton material which is stiched onto his nose band, and just hangs down protecting his nose. Manny was a star as it meant putting him in a different headcollar while I sewed like fury, and then swopping again. He was totally unfazed by it. I don't like headcollars left on, but at present have no choice. The material is weak enough not to get him caught up in anything. It just gives me breathing space to work on desenitising him to the idea of cream.
He lets me touch him all over and lift all four feet now as he stands untied which is great. I did some gentle leading ground work today. He's already getting a bit pushy about wanting to rub his head on me, so I've very gently set a boundary which if he crosses I gently back him out of. He's a lovely horse, and it breaks my heart to see what they've done to him physically and mentally. It's a measure of the horse inside that such a character is already emerging. He's already gaining condition, and he's much happier on his legs since he's been having pain killers. It's a joy to see the change in him in just a week. I love him to bits already!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 06.08.02 9:41:00 PM
Ally, it really is amazing how much progress you have made with Manny in a week, you really are the "special someone" that he deserves to make up for his rotten past. It is lovely to read all your progress reports on here, thank you for taking the time out from your sewing to write) !!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Louise C
Date : 06.08.02 9:43:00 PM
Oh this is lovely, well done Ally!
I wish someone had told me it's OK to change names when I got Flynn, it took me ages to remember it. I had to work it round Errol Flynn or The Mighty Flynn!
Louise
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : eileen
Date : 06.08.02 10:22:00 PM
Ally you are doing so well and manny sounds like a real character, i had the same trouble with my rescue with the nose, he had really bad sunburn and i tried to put some cream on but he wasn't having any of it so i got loads on my hand and just aimed for his nose, unfortunately he moved and the whole lot went up one nostril !! he wasn't very happy and was snorting and blowing and for two weeks after i couldn't get his head collar on again, but he is fine again now, one step forward and 2 steps back!!! i also had to leave him in a head collar for 2 weeks but having taken it off he was fine the next time i put it on, don't worry about it he will be the same. keep up the good work love eileen x
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : jetske
Date : 07.08.02 3:35:00 PM
Wonderfull news, ALly! Manny sounds nice and happy to me, I'm sure he likes a new name to fit his new life.
Really enjoying reading the updates! I'd miss them if you weren't able to keep them up, but would understand of course! Thanks so far, and best of luck and love.
XX Jetske
From : Ally S
Date : 02.08.02 7:28:00 PM
Hope no one minds but it's impossible to have two Merlin's. The new one clearly has no idea what he's called anyway so day to day I'm calling him Manny. It's short for Manuel 'cause he's from Barcelona - well not quite, but poetic licence and all that! I called a variety of names and the one he responded to is Manny, so Manny it is for short, Manny Merlin formally.
I'm sorry about the lack of photo's - I promise to sort some out, and postcards. I'll get mine developed and pass them to someone with a scanner asap.
I'm almost worried about telling you the next update in case you think I'm making it up. He's changed towards me massively since this morning. Tonight he trotted over, thrust his head in my hands, allowed me to smooth his face, neck and body, and never batted an eyelid. I could walk up beside him and smooth his neck, and when I walked off he did a superb follow up. (not that he has been or will be joined up as it would be all wrong for him). He was demanding physical affection. At one point he came and leant down and started rubbing his forehead on my shoulder. He couldn't get the right position, so I put my hand up, kept it still and he used that as a good old scratching post. How he's managed to get this confident so quickly or why he has any wish to want to trust a human ever again is beyond me.
He's also quite playful. My Merlin always plays with his bucket after he's eaten. He picks it up, bangs it and flings it about. Manny has started to copy. This morning I watched him pick it up and bang it, then he put it down, looked into it for a bit, carefully picked his foot up and put it in the bucket, took it out and repeated it several times. He looked so chuffed with himself. I mean fancy discovering you can put your feet in buckets! Wooosh!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Dawn
Date : 02.08.02 8:33:00 PM
Absolutely fantastic Ally, you're a marvel xx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 02.08.02 8:36:00 PM
I wish I was, but actually he's the marvel!!!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Lorraine L
Date : 02.08.02 8:36:00 PM
Ally, you must be chuffed to bits.
Obviously Manny Merlin is quite relaxed now and I love the way that he is using Merlin as a role model......how wonderful.
Trust is an amazing thing - it took us two years to gain any from our rescued Mare but I think that Manny may, for the first time in his life, have found something in you which he just instinctivley knows is right. He believes in you. I think that it is such a gift to teach a horse that it will be 'asked' to do something - rather than 'told' to do it (which is all that he has ever known )
Keep it up Ally and treasure every moment.
xxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : a lurker
Date : 02.08.02 8:38:00 PM
ditto above. You're a love!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Mike(P)
Date : 02.08.02 9:00:00 PM
Oh damn this dust!
Well done Ally, I can only imagine how you must of felt after this mornings performance. When you've never had toys even a bucket can be great fun!
) Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Nicky
Date : 02.08.02 9:43:00 PM
Mike, you also suffer on this board too! It's just soooo irritating and we MUST get a cleaner because every time I seem to come here and have a peek I chuck out another pair of contact len's. How irritating? It's just so dirty and dusty that my eyes start watering.
Anyhow, well done Ally and Manny! He obviously knows he is with a soul mate Ally....
He is a very lucky lad indeed to have found you
P.S. Is the whisker I purchased still intact?? LOL! It was the one on the right hand side, just under his chin.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Holly
Date : 02.08.02 9:49:00 PM
Fantastic to hear he is settling in so well after his long journey.
Give yourself a pat on the back, your doing a fab job!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : eileen
Date : 02.08.02 9:53:00 PM
Absolutely brilliant ally, it's like a miracle isn't it?? you must be on a high all the time ?? bless his heart love eileen xxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : diane
Date : 02.08.02 11:18:00 PM
I did wonder how you'd cope! Bless!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 03.08.02 0:11:00 AM
Ally, you are just doing so well with Manny, and what fantastic progress in such a short space of time. He has clearly given you his trust, and maybe this is a fair exchange as far as he is concerned, because would I be correct in thinking that you have given him your heart?!
I am so glad that you have given him a new name for his new life, my theory being, as you know, that if they have not had their name spoken to them with love in their previous life, then they do not deserve to have to carry any memories or baggage associated with it into their new lives.
Have a good weekend with Manny and Merlin!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : GJ
Date : 03.08.02 10:03:00 AM
Ally, I also think it's a brilliant idea to give him a new name to match his fantastic new future and ditch all the baggage from the past. By the way I'm SO jealous, how have you managed to bond with him so quickly? I've had my boy almost a year now and he bearly acknowledges me!! As everyone else says you must be a very special person or maybe a horsey witch LOL!!
Well done again and please keep up the instalments if you are able, as it is so nice to be able to hear how he is getting along.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sandi
Date : 03.08.02 10:21:00 AM
Ally how fantastic, any chance of sending some of your special gift through to my computor. One of Sugars favorite games is chucking her bucket all over the place, loves her football to. Manny is a great name.
Sandi
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Pauhla
Date : 03.08.02 12:24:00 AM
Ally, I used to think it was bad luck to change a horses name (because someone told me so and I believed it...I know better than to do that now :0) but I just LOVE Donnas reasoning behind changing names for any animal.
So what we have here is Manny who doesn't come from Barcelona, Ally who doesn't come from Swanage (remember that eposide..."I Manual, I come from Barcelona. He Mr. Fawlty, he come from H'Sawnage"??)and a wonderful outcome so far. what I like particularly is that you arent' actually askign him for anything at this time. manny is offerign it and that is a huge thing for a hrose who has never, or not since he was a fola, have the stumulation of a field, a companion he can bond with a a human who doesn't ask him for anythign he isnt' ready to give of his own accord.
I'll bring my camera when I come to visit and e-mail you the pics as promised and then you will have them to send to people. If you would also like me to being my camcorder I can get some video of both your boys for you and put it on tape as there is it will be a good record of the physical changes but also a lovely memory for you of the two of them together.
Px
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Pauhla
Date : 03.08.02 12:27:00 AM
Just re-read the above...spot the dyslexic!!!!! :0))))))))))))))))))))
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Jeannie
Date : 03.08.02 1:41:00 PM
Hi Ally
I know from first hand how rewarding it is when a horse who has been frightened gives her/his trust. Jasmine was so frightened when she first came..snorting..backing off. Donna B will tell you, she decided she wanted to be with me the first week,which is why I bought her earlier and why Donna B was happy to let her go. You should see her today!!!!!!! Even though we had an issue with a long line two weeks ago, we have now got to going for a little walk on the common..and she loved it. Her groundwork is fantastic and as a friend of mine said yesterday, 'Jasmine isn't joined up...she is permanatly attatched to you!' and she is begining to trust others too. The farrier's visit was a dream on Wednesday..he even put her front feet on the tripod (trimming and balancing..I want to keep her barefoot if I can) We are now walking over black plastic sheets in the paddock without so much as a blink..It is so good...The way she walked out onto the common yesterday, through a scary wooded area onto a huge common was amazing..she wanted to walk around and was so obedient. Cyndie, my RA, my friend (IH) Janet and I had tears in our eyes. Sounds like Merlin..sorry Manny, will be the same. I too changed Jasmine's name..new life..new start. Shows how right Donna B was to make the difficult decision to let her come to be with me..
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 03.08.02 6:01:00 PM
Jeannie, it sounds like you and Jasmine have really clicked. Brilliant news for both of you.
Pauhla, please do bring the camcorder, it'll be excellent to get some footage of the boys together.
This morning, Manny decided he'd regress a bit, and we were back to him being concerned but not terribly nervous of me touching him. I was a bit disapointed at the time, but it's only to be expected, so I didn't push it and just gave him space. This afternoon, he was really affectionate again - more confident than yesterday, and my friend took some great piccies of us together. There's one in particular I hope comes out. It's of him standing free with no rope on, with me in front with my arms around his neck, and him with his head over my shoulder cuddling into my back. It was so sweet, not forced and he could move away any time. I could smooth his whole body, and even picked his feet up while he stood free. Stupidly I then got a bit cocky. He's got a pink nose, it was really sunny and I thought it may be burning so thought as he was so easy around me and relaxed, he'd be fine if I put a bit of sun cream on. Big mistake! He didn't panic, but made it perfectly clear that it was not OK and was not going to happen. It brought me down to earth with a bump that he's still a very very worried horse, and everything will have to be gently and slowly done and I can't cut any corners. Manny is teaching me a lot of new things! I thought I'd blown it for a while as he wasn't keen on me for a while after, but he soon came around and came back for a smooth all over and I was so relieved!
Best of all my dog brought her tennis ball into the field, and Manny was hooked on it. He kept on rolling it away from him with his nose, then going after it and doing it again - it was really funny. Susi mentioned earlier that her horse likes football, so I may have to find him a bigger ball and see what he does. I've never seen that before. After that the two boys decided to show off a bit and had a gallop about together. Lovely to see, but worrying as they charge towards you and you realise that Manny himself has no idea if he can stop in time. I also wasn't too keen on him doing it in view of his bad legs, but I figured the joy he was getting from it outwayed physical considerations right now. With the severe long term damage he has to his legs, one daft session can't do much more harm. It's the first time they've done this, and it was incredible to watch. It didn't last long before they ran out of puff and came for a congratulatory rub! What a pair!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 03.08.02 6:19:00 PM
Ally, my girls love to play with a big dog toy called a Boomer Ball. It's a really tough toy - they give them to polar bears as boredom busters - and my 2Ms play with one that is almost soccer ball size i.e. too big for the dogs to pick up so they have to play push or football with it. The ponies have a great time with it, though they have to share it with the dogs. Mind you, that way no-one gets bored: it's like a new toy evey time they come across it! Please may my 2Ms send one to your 2Ms as a good luck present?
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 04.08.02 5:56:00 AM
Donna, that sounds great. My M's would be delighted to recieve a Boomer Ball from your M's. That's really kind. Thanks.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Bonita
Date : 04.08.02 8:55:00 AM
Fantastic to hear that everything is going so well for you both.
Make sure you keep us all up to date won't you?
xx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sara (Belgium)
Date : 04.08.02 10:11:00 AM
I think it's a wonderful idea to change his name - new start, new name. As a big Fawlty Towers fan I couldn't think of a better name!
As far as I know Pauhla it's ships names that it's unlucky to change! Perhaps the person that told you was in the navy, LOL!
I once changed a horse's name because it was unpronounceable and everybody got it wrong. I just added in an extra letter from Raona to Ramona, which is what everybody called her anyway as nobdy could get their tongue round it.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Sandra
Date : 06.08.02 2:44:00 PM
Ally, this is such wonderful news and I (knowing Manny a bit) think you've come a thousand miles with him already!!!! We hadn't even dared to take his headcollar off yet because we were afraid we wouldn't get another back on (which is why he arrived with that disgusting thing on him - sorry!!). There's a lot of dust in my office to day too - Mike, are you sending that over??
A new home a new name - just like Black Beauty. The first two rescues who went to my friend Josepha in Belgium also changed names, from Poker Face to Jamie (Mr Belgium's name as he is also so good looking!!!) and Rimenora to Laura...
Well done Ally - send Manny and Merlin a big kiss from me. Skippy balls is also something they love by the way... they can grab the ears and chuck the ball....
Sandra xxxxxxxx
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Bridge
Date : 06.08.02 3:35:00 PM
Manny!! Love it!! Brilliant news that he is now 'playing'. Oh to be free!!! Fantastic.
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Ally S
Date : 06.08.02 7:34:00 PM
Sandra, that headcollar really was something wasn't it? I'm keeping that for posterity, bailer twine and all!!! Tom changed it to Merlins when he was still in the lorry. I changed it two days later as Merlin's was rubbing, and today I've had to change it twice! He's OK as long as it's gentle and they're taken apart. He is very much more relaxed - I wish you could see the change already. Yesterday I had to work away and my friend gave him his breakfast. Last night he ignored me. There was no fear, just him making it clear that he wanted no more to do with me. I just fed him and left him to it. This morning we were back to cuddles! His nose has been a real worry as it's really burning and I can't get cream on. So I've sewed together a piece of cotton material which is stiched onto his nose band, and just hangs down protecting his nose. Manny was a star as it meant putting him in a different headcollar while I sewed like fury, and then swopping again. He was totally unfazed by it. I don't like headcollars left on, but at present have no choice. The material is weak enough not to get him caught up in anything. It just gives me breathing space to work on desenitising him to the idea of cream.
He lets me touch him all over and lift all four feet now as he stands untied which is great. I did some gentle leading ground work today. He's already getting a bit pushy about wanting to rub his head on me, so I've very gently set a boundary which if he crosses I gently back him out of. He's a lovely horse, and it breaks my heart to see what they've done to him physically and mentally. It's a measure of the horse inside that such a character is already emerging. He's already gaining condition, and he's much happier on his legs since he's been having pain killers. It's a joy to see the change in him in just a week. I love him to bits already!
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Donna P
Date : 06.08.02 9:41:00 PM
Ally, it really is amazing how much progress you have made with Manny in a week, you really are the "special someone" that he deserves to make up for his rotten past. It is lovely to read all your progress reports on here, thank you for taking the time out from your sewing to write
) !!Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : Louise C
Date : 06.08.02 9:43:00 PM
Oh this is lovely, well done Ally!
I wish someone had told me it's OK to change names when I got Flynn, it took me ages to remember it. I had to work it round Errol Flynn or The Mighty Flynn!
Louise
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : eileen
Date : 06.08.02 10:22:00 PM
Ally you are doing so well and manny sounds like a real character, i had the same trouble with my rescue with the nose, he had really bad sunburn and i tried to put some cream on but he wasn't having any of it so i got loads on my hand and just aimed for his nose, unfortunately he moved and the whole lot went up one nostril !! he wasn't very happy and was snorting and blowing and for two weeks after i couldn't get his head collar on again, but he is fine again now, one step forward and 2 steps back!!! i also had to leave him in a head collar for 2 weeks but having taken it off he was fine the next time i put it on, don't worry about it he will be the same. keep up the good work love eileen x
Subject : re:- Merlin's now Manny
From : jetske
Date : 07.08.02 3:35:00 PM
Wonderfull news, ALly! Manny sounds nice and happy to me, I'm sure he likes a new name to fit his new life.
Really enjoying reading the updates! I'd miss them if you weren't able to keep them up, but would understand of course! Thanks so far, and best of luck and love.
XX Jetske