This month, for a short period, we have eight ponies in the paddocks. That’s a bit rich, more like The Everglades with all the mud and water. Abba is here while we clear the feral stock completely out of Bellever. He will then go back to semi-retirement doing exactly what he wants to do where he belongs. He will make a super ‘Judas’ pony because he will come when called. The others, who may be less obedient, will, we hope, follow him; making pony management on Bellever much easier.
Annie is still with us but she may well go to a new home as a child’s first pony. She is delightful and adores attention.
Boss, a new name to you, came to the centre a couple of weeks ago and has settled in superbly. He is mature and is well behaved. Dru and Lorna think he will make a wonderful pack-pony. He has taken to training very well.
Golden Flame a little thinner than usual, not a bad thing, but is still trying to out think us. She is working well during her lunging sessions and is getting stronger.
Starlight has accepted the newcomers and has settled to just eating instead of worrying about a pecking order.
George, poor George, first he had a bad cold and no sooner had he recovered and was making good his return to fitness when he had a reaction to a wormer. More fuss and solitary stabling and now he is fighting fit. He is enjoying a bit of peace and quiet and extra food.
Charlie is developing into a thoroughly nice pony; he is learning manners and responds to his name and simple commands. Like George he is teething and takes a little longer with his bucket of feed. Both he and George are coming three and will start work in a more matter of fact way, for now is the time to make something of them.
Rolo, since his cold we have boosted his food intake with richer feed and he has started to fill out. He really loves his bucket of extra food and races to finish so he can have someone else’s. That does not work because we take it of him half-way through to stop him rushing and give it back to him a little later.