Well since the new arrival, Bob, has come into our lives, I decided to start blogging about our new journey with him, and couldn't leave out the already well established Millie, and both of their progresses.
For those of you who don't know Bob, my uncle has given him to me for the year, to work with him and get him back to work properly. He is a whopping 17hh and is a bay gelding. He is by no means 'pretty', has a huge head and ears, but he loves his job and that's all that matters. He is out of a Clover Hill mare (hence the big head), and his sire is our own stallion that is out of Knockboy. He was in Young Irelander Loose Lunging in Millstreet when he was 3 and did very well. He was broken professionally as a 4 year old by a man in Carlow and ridden in training competitions at 1.10m and 1.20m level. He was brought home and left off in the field. When brought back in, he got very sick, was on a drip/anti-biotics for a while but recovered well. He hadn't been ridden in about a year and a half or two years. So we decided that is was a waste to leave him in the field, and as seen as I am finished school and off college for the summer I could work with him and jump him etc. Talked to uncle who owns him and agreed to give him to me for a year or how ever long I want him really. So we worked him at home for the last two/three months, just light work, walk, trot and a bit of canter and small bit of jumping. He loved it and we actually have to stand in front of fences to stop him, because he keeps going around on his own. Bless him.
So today (Tuesday) is Bob’s second day in the yard. We brought him over yesterday (Monday) and popped him in Millie’s stable. Got him a bucket of food and a barrow of hay and settled him in. He was very calm and relaxed there. Yard Owner rode him lightly today and said he was a total gentleman, was so well behaved. Also said that he didn’t really like the narrow bit he used, but didn’t misbehave or fight. I suggested he get his teeth done yesterday so will get dentist out to him this week too. Also needs to get new shoes on. I brought Millie in for a good groom down and tied over her mane for it to be pulled, can’t ride her because she got her injection yesterday, so she got a little pampering session for being so good on Sunday. :) and put her back out with her buddies. Then brought in Bob out of the field for a groom, he was super calm but still a little nervous and head shy. He has a friend in the field with him, which clearly didn’t want him to leave as friend would not let me pass when I had head collar and lead rope on. Got passed his friend and he got a little scare when the wire blew but nothing major, could have run away with me but he didn’t. Brought him in and put him in the stable. He was a bit restless for a couple of minutes after being away from his friend but soon settled down. I threw him in some hay and me and dad got grooming. I didn’t want to start poking at him yesterday so just let him settle in with a quick brush down. Dad did his tail, which I must say turned out gorgeous, wish I got a before and after shot. I was on mane pulling duty, well if you call it that. I could not get over how thin his mane is compared to Millie’s, so it was more shortening that pulling, but only done half because I didn’t want him to get annoyed/sore and wouldn’t do the whole mane in one day anyway. Will finish off tomorrow. He is still pretty dusty from rolling and doesn’t have a lot of condition yet but he is coming on, even in the last week. Will update again tomorrow and add some photo’s of the new looking, groomed bob. :) Couldn’t believe how quiet he was and just stood there.
Also working on his social behaviour, he is very shy, due to lack of handling, and poor sod didn’t know what to do with a treat and a polo mint, only had a go at chewing today after several attempts today and yesterday. He is coming on a good bit already but just gets a bit nervy when a hand suddenly comes at his face, he either puts his head down or to the side, but it all takes time and patience, both of which I have a lot of now I’m done for the summer. So we will take things nice and slow and hopefully fingers crossed he will work out okay.
Can't complain about Millie this year, she is doing so well and jumping very good. Really trying her heart out for me this year. I know I'm going to have so much fun this year with her, but still have a lot of things to work on with her so will be a busy bee this summer, but really looking forward to it. :)
Thanks for reading all of that waffle, sorry it was such a long introductory post, I will try to keep them short from now on. :) I hope to update this regularly with posts/photo's/video's, thanks again for reading :D
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