Not peeing in public is a thing of the past!

Its all about celebrating ALL the acheivements!!!

Now some of you may remember from the last blog that this Pirate Pony is very private and wont pee in public.

Well…..

We have had a break through!  Whether it was because of my persistent whistling at him, or that my whistling made other horses around him go wees or because we found a secluded spot with long grass tickling his toes we will never know.

Whatever it was it worked!!

We had a Pirate Pony pee in public and of course Aunty Sarah was on hand to take a photo – otherwise it didnt happen!

There were pats, and hugs and ‘good boys’ from everyone and I am still sure he was thinking we were all mad.

Oh and we went to a Showcross competition.

The End.

 

 

 

Just kidding.
So now that I have the exciting bit announced Pirate took on the 45 cm class and the 55cm class.

Both courses run as follows – over a set of show jups (5 in total) then onto a cross country course and back into the arena for 5 show jumps again.  Optimum time of 2mins 50secs.
Lowest score (closest to the Optimum time) wins.

So after a long wait for the class to start Pirate decided he didnt really care for show jumps at this height and in protest knocked 2 down, needed wees, didnt like the penguin cross country jump so further showed his real thought about it and stopped, but still managed to pull a 6th place out the bag!!

Onto the 55cm class.  Now its no mean feat to pull off organising a competition, to set up, run it on the day, deal with entries etc however the course for the show jumps were set in a 20m x 40m arena which suited the ponies at the lower heights to a T.

Sadly the full height ponies and horses struggled to navigate the small arena with the higher jumps in and tight turns so there were a few poles taken everywhere.

However, Pirate doing his ‘I need a wee and not shy to pee in public anymore as I have my big boy pirate pants on’ went and nailed it!
Clear in the show jumping, cruised round the cross country course like he was a seasoned professional and then cleared the show jumps for a smashing finish to the day.

He rolled into 2nd place!  He also won a bag of chaff – which was sponsored by Greenacres Stock Feed Ltd who are his neighbours!  We could have saved them the trouble of taking it to the competition 😉

There are a few little concerns about the day which I felt only fair to feedback to the organisers so that issues dont occur again and to give them the opportunity to rectify sooner rather than later if the need is required.

 

#PeeingInPublic #PiratePonyGoesWees #WhistleTillHeWees #SoProud #ShowCrossDay #NailedIt #AcavalloBitGuards #HinterlandBridle #BagOfChaff #GreenacresStockFeed #BestNeighboursEver #KissesForMum

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Boy Fur Child…update

Well it has been a while since I wrote about the BFC – Boy Fur Child….also known as expensive….also known as ‘first name basis with Claire at the vets’ – Kahu.

So after deciding he wanted some attention and handling and not wanting to be out in the paddock all summer with Mum & Gramms and deciding that the best way to let B know this was to rip open his neck on a foreign object somewhere in the paddock that no-one knows to this day what it is/was.

He has actually been very good….fairly good….average at best for his behaviour but his injury is doing really well.

I say average behaviour as he has decided to bit the hand that feeds him. Quite literally I had a video clip sent of B calling him ‘a naughty little sh*tter’ as he has taken to biting her lol

But whilst on box rest he was enjoying the attention and even made friends….or thinking about which juicy bit of her arm he might like to noms at…

Luckily she came away un-scathed as the look in his eye when B took the photo says it all – caught red handed!

So they are both back out enjoying the weather, flies not so much and they are all lathered up in fly cream – also another company I need shares in due to the amount I have bought (Aniwell is the other for all the manuka honey B has needed for him).

Have added a comparison photo from Day 1, 10, 16 & 27 of the progress the injury has made.  I am pleased as is Claire from Chaseview who came out to check on him 2 days in.  She removed the stitches the initial vet put in as they werent holding and would inhibit the healing process.

But apart flies and the heat and the injury they are all doing well and BFC is growing at a rate of knots – having only just clocked up his 2nd month old birthday at the end of July.

 

Would love to hear from any of you with naughty fur childs too 🙂

 

#BoyFurChild #BFC #ManukaHoney #ChaseviewVets #Claire #Aniwell #RadiolFlyCream
#BestFriendInTheWorldEver #MakingFriends #NaughtyLittleShtter #WantsAttention

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Winter Series….Final Day

So the final day for the Winter Dressage Series was upon us.

True to the normal programme things were not a smooth run up.

Pirate lost a shoe…again….a different one….again…..Good job the lovely Stan LURVES Brave sooo much!
Sadly K9, Rahn’s beloved Ewok suffered an unexpected injury to his snozzle.  So he was rushed into the emergency vets on Saturday just after lunch and stayed there overnight being tended too.

So understably Rahn fraught with worry allowed me to convince her to go to the final day of the dressage.  Ewok was in good hands, and she wasn’t allowed to go see him till after she had done her dressage tests (and all the vets wanted her to go so she didnt miss out either!)

So after a freezing night, the truck decided it was it’s turn to not play ball.  After jump starting and defrosting, dragging a sleepy Pirate from his friends we headed to McLeans Island for the show.

It was all a bit of a rush compared to previous days where we would have the leisure to enjoy the prep and tacking up and poor Brave was a bit be-muddled with us both whizzing in, round, under and behind him.

On board and warming up he settled in quickly and before we knew it time was up and in the first test they went.  I called just to make sure that Rahn didnt have to try and concentrate on directions and could focus on riding, especially with everything on her mind and a lot of lack of sleep.

So they both rode a lovely test and about halfway through the class they were lying in 4th place, on 60.17%, which was actually very good as previously the first test had always been a little bit challenging.

A quick bit to eat and sandwiches for Brave and then Rahn was back ready for test 2.  Got this we thought! I called again (saving brain power for Rahn)! Lovely start! Nice entry! Interesting exit out at A all because the Pirate decided he needed a wee toilet break!?

Sadly after exiting scores were no longer being recorded, but the lovely judge was very understanding and quite upset that she didnt get to mark the test as she said it was a shame on his interesting exit maneuvre.  However allowed Rahn to complete the test for training and ‘I told you, you were doing this test – come hell or high water’ merit!
So despite a random stylish-ish exit and Brave’s good mate Ty (& Sarah) deciding to stick with his bro (except broke a bit of the arena when he left) the Pirate Pony actually finished up in 7th place!!

All was not lost!
To top it off as well the placings for the whole competition were published and the Pirate only went and finished in the top 4 over the 3 days of competition! (Ty & Sarah finished 3rd even with a cheeky exit out of the arena too!)

So looking forward to the presentation night which is coming soon.

AND….I can report that Ewok made it home after the dressage competition to have Sunday night with his mumma in front of the fire.  He has had check ups today (Monday) and all is progressing slowly in the right direction.  Will keep you updated on his progress.

#PiratePony #StylishExit #Dressage #WinterSeries #Ewok #GetWellSoon #BraveAndTy #Bros #DontWannaDoStressage #LetsGoJumpingStuffs #BatesSaddles #NeueSchule #SurpriseGoodResults #Fire #EwokAndMumma

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

Who would have….

Children?

More specifically boys?

More specific than that boy fur children!??

Please be warned (hence the cat!) that there are some yukky photos.

So probably the worst thing to do is have to call an owner and let them know in your absence your horse has needed the vet, right?

So it would be way worse for your best friend who is currently looking after your mare and foal while I galavant away on the other side of the world, to call and say that not only did my horse need the vet, it was actually the foal, the BOY FUR CHILD who needed veterinarian attention AND as boys do needed stitches!!!????

So after early morning escapades from Gramms and Irish who decided they could step over the broken gate and run rampant and amuck through the beautiful manicured lawns while the BOY FUR CHILD screamed for mummy.  Waking B who thought the main herd had broken through the gate (amounting to potentially 10 horses and at least one very naughty un-catchable one) to frolick about the beautiful lawns and maybe have a dip in the pond while they are at it!

No turns out was Gramms and Irish.  B was most angry mainly at Irish for leaving her child!  Especially when he was screaming like a banshee for her!

So after managing to lasso Gramms and attach her inside the paddock, Kahu still not pleased ‘shouting that he wanted his mummy!’ B had to unceremoniously (as most of us girls at some point or another have had to do) use the closest thing to hand as a halter and use her bra to attach herself to Irish’s face in an attempt to steer (not control), but steer her back to her paddock and her upset BOY FUR CHILD.

In all of that commotion he escaped unscathed, however the men have fixed the gate where the naughty ladies escaped from and all was well last night.

However I am guessing he was probably trying to supervise the workmen with the repairs and nabbed and snuck off with something somewhere to pay with, like children do, and naughty BOY FUR CHILD’s do!!

He is now had some stitches in and I am sending relief first aid packages to B, not for him but for B to try and recover from all the problems he is causing  😉

He is having antibiotics for the next 6 or so days so will keep you updated.

Please send prayers for B to have strength to cope with him!

#BOYFURCHILD #WhoWouldHave #Stitches #Vet #GiveBStrength #BraOnHand #NaughtyBroodmares #MightNeedToGoBackToSortOutMyFurChildren

PS. On the plus side though he should be really well handled now…

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mixed emotions…

So a belated update from the Winter Dressage Series Day 2 at McLeans Island on Sunday 1st July.

Poor Rahn for not having the best nights sleep and was a wee bit on auto pilot – so being the good show mum I am, I got her a sausage roll on my way to hers for some sustenance.

Approaching McLeans Island the rain came.  Well showers. Well probably a drizzly shower.  But we tactically parked near some trees in the hope that would help keep the Pirate dry, or we would have to force his heavy weight turnout rug on him despite him surely protesting it.

However, we were lucky and that seemed to be it for the day as the weather cleared up and there was even a bit of sun shining in between some fluffy things in the sky!

So sadly the first test did not go to plan.  A wee bay pony that took a dislike to the arena, the markers, the arena next to the one it was going in, the white poles for the arena edges seemed to have held his focus and upset him and coud not settle into warming up and then this carried through his test.  There were some nice moments but due to him being a little tense he didnt do as well as he normally does.

Onwards and upwards!

After working him a bit more after the first test, we headed back to give him a little brunch and breather.  He got the easy end of the jobs as Rahn and I went to support the organisers and vounteers and did the glamerous job of toilet checking with a bit of a clean 10 minutes later were looking like new again.  Think I would rather be tied to the float eating….but I wasnt given that choice 😦 lol

Test number 2 after a good warm up and a far more relaxed Pirate Pony he did a lovely test.  Although Rahn may say it didnt feel good there were a lot of people commenting as we left the arena on how nice a test they had!

So while we were waiting for results (the classes were huge) Pirate Pony got to enjoy his Electro Magnetic Pulse rug treatment that was won on the first Winter Series Spot Prize Day.  And we got to sit about on his heavy weight rug eating burgers for lunch watching him in the sun! 🙂

It is also a sad day as the lovely Sam popped over to see us before she flew back to the UK 😦
There were hugs and tears (mainly mine) and lots of ‘dont go’ and ‘come back soon’!!
We did try and conjure up someway to keep her here but fingers crossed Sam will be coming back to reunite back with the team soon and we will be waiting at the airport for you Sam!!!! ❤ ❤ 

#PiratePony #PiratePonyFans #PiratePonyDressage #DressageWinterSeriesDayTwo #Circles #StraightLines #PonySpaAfternoon #Farewell #MissYouSam #SeeYouSoon
#BatesSaddles #HinterlandEquestrian #CornishEquestrianAndBespokeEmbroidery

P.S. Apologies for the fuzzy, blurry long distance photos they were on my phone and I was trying to call the test and take photos too…Havent quite mastered this bit yet.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Long time…

So it has been a wee while since I last posted, and its been for a few reasons.  I was struck down almost the day I landed back in Christchurch with the lergy (fluy coldy thing) and felt really sorry for myself and still not quite over it yet 😦  Then with starting a new job (need to pay for these gorgeous fur babies somehow and keep me booked onto courses to continue my learnings to Advanced Equine Pracitioner) it has been a bit none stop.

However, I am very grateful as always to B and Mumsy for looking after Irish & Kahu in my absence.  B has been doing an amazing job of remembering to send me photos and videos of them for me (and I havent had to ask her once yet 😉 )

So here are a few and he is now 1 month old, eating or attempting to eat hard feed like a growed up child, being very cheeky to everyone including Gramms (had a video of him nipping her as she was walking up for breakie and she is so patient with him) and just generally looking quite adorable!

#Irish #Kahu #Gramms #Broody #BigFoal #GrowingUpQuick #Cheeky #Yoga #FoalYoga #NotSureWhatColourHeWantsToBe #CuteColt #Cold #Flu #SorryForMyself

Here is a link for a video https://youtu.be/XUAFtRmge3E

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Presenting…

Well after much deliberation and thinking, ideas – good and other, and with the help of B and Rahn I finally settled on a name.

I would love to present to you Lanesborough Kahukura, or Kahu when he is chilling at home.  One of the translations that I really liked was ‘be multicoloured’ and for him I think it suits as I am hoping he will be shades of her chocolate dun colour, white and possibly a bit of black on the top of his tail, ears and a bit through his mane.

It took a while to decide, but also had to bear in mind that for him in the future with myself or another owner how commentators at shows will manage to say his name.

I know that shouldn’t have a bearing on what to call him but for me it is important that it is at least going to sound like his name (even if the announciation isn’t 100% there) hope that makes sense.

I also wanted to use the dam’s side rather than the sire’s, hence the Lanesborough – his dam is Lanesborough Lady (Irish), and she was also born and bred in Lanesborough, Co Longford, Ireland.

So a sad moment here too as I did my final breakfast feed out and check up on my precious ones the morning before I donned my fat comfy pants, old favourite (food stained hoody) and Uggs ready for the plane ride back to Chch.

So the last few photos taken by myself with them, and a terrible selfie so apologies there!

#Irish #Kahu #BeMulticoloured #LanesboroughLady #LanesboroughKahuKura #colt #foal #BlackWhiteChocolateDun #MareAndFoal #LastDay #LastBreakfast #LastDaySelfie #PlaneTrip

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dedication & Determination

Well whilst I am away tending to my new foal, the Pirate Pony will still play.  For your eyes only…. according to Rahn.

‘Today could have been spent better in bed LOL!
With not being able to use my truck to tow with, and the borrowed vehicle having a hissy so we had no float lights on the way home.. to Brave slipping on the soaking wet carpet on the ramp when we arrived, and him smashing his knees and face planting the floor 😔
Today was just not our day performance wise..
The pirate pony just wasn’t quite his chilled self, spent most of our first test on a knife edge doing his best fire breathing dragon impersonation 😜
Much snorting, such dancey prancey HAHA! 😂
Second test was an improvement tho still tense and distracted.
So clinging to the positives 👉👉👉
All credit to him really, between pulling shoes and shitty weather he got no where near the riding he needed, it was his first time being ridden in that much wet weather and he still managed a 6th for the first and a 4th for the second from decent sized classes 🤗 if he can still place on a bad day.. I tell myself to look optimistically at what he could do on a good day 👍
Good boy Bubba ❤️
All the more learning to be had.. each situation like this, I have to learn how to manage it and get to know him more 😊
Massive thanks to the sponsors and organisers of this event 👏
Will make good use of the Spot Prize and everyone’s efforts are appreciated 😁
Humongous THANKS to Chanelle Smith for her side kick duties today!!
You are a gem!! Trooped around after us in the yuk weather looking like a soggy sock with a smile 😅
Well done to all those who competed today 😌
PS.. I kept hearing.. hey look, it’s that famous clipped horse from FB.. 😂😂😂
Nice one ‘

#PiratePony #SkullAndCrossBones #Stressage #WinterDressageSeries #WetWetWet #NumberOneFan #FireBreathingDragon #IsabellWerth #BatesSaddles #FamousClippedHorse

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The wait is over!!

So after feeding out and checking Irish on 25th May and nothing had changed, no waxing, no softening of her muscles, no real shift of foal in her belly…we assumed all was normal.  Claire the lovely vet who popped up on monday for a few checks had a wee look and thought she was at least 1 week if not 2 away!

So a bit of a rainy boring Saturday morning and having sorted out the yard and a few liveries popping up to work their horses, and a sale viewing we got organised and headed out to lunch.

Arriving back got Irish and Gramms’ tea and headed off to the paddock.  Saw Gramms…called and wiggled the bucket off she set up to see me.  I could see Irish stood off in the opposite corner and initialy didnt think anything of it as sometimes she has selective hearing, and sometimes she takes a while to get legs co-ordinated and moving.

Called again, by this time Gramms was stood waiting for tea….Irish still had not moved.  Brain went into overdrive and thought OMG something is wrong.

Leaving the feed outside the paddock, skimmying in through the gate I headed off quick sticks to her.  She stood watching me with ears pricked, smiling looking very happy and normal.  I saw a small dark colour of movement a bit in front of her and thought it might have been a pheasant (have heaps of them about at the minute).
I got closer, and she still didnt move.

I could see her looking a little more streamline, but thought that it was just the way she was standing and shifting her bump to the other side…..

But no! Low and behold was a shiny, clean, dry little (big) black and white bundle of gloriousness on the floor.

I had to contain my squeaking to her of ‘Good girl’, ‘Well done Mumma’ ‘Sneaky little sod’.
I took a few cheeky photos and legged it back as fast as my unfit legs would allow me back to B & Mumsy (B’s Mum).

I thrust my phone in Mumsy face with a smug look and after being declared at ‘OMG she didnt?!’ B, Mumsy and & I headed back out to see them!!

Well after a weather check which threatened thunder & lightning overnight and Sunday we decided to bring them both and Gramms in for the weekend.  Giving them a chance to rest up properly, Gramms getting a bit of luxury (as she is nearly 30!) and a chance for me to get a slip on the wee boy.

He is healthy, strong and a solid little chap, and Irish did a fab job, passed everything, cleaned him up and he has been ‘titty bottling’ with ease – if he gets it a bit wrong she chats out telling him so lol

So at the moment he is nameless, but I have a few ideas and think I will be able to settle on one over the next few days once he has rested and shown his personality.

 

#foal #colt #BlackAndWhite #ProudMumma #ProudGramms #Irish #IrishSportHorse #BigBaby #NeedsAName #GloriousnessBundle #SneakySod

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Countdown begins…

May 18th.

The beginning of the beginning.

Today is the first day that Irish is possibly due.

But after making it through the whole day its not looking like today is THE day.

After doing the yard this morning, hacked out with B and one of the livery owners I gathered up a big bucket of feed, tub of water, cloth, brush and coconut oil and set off across to the maternity ward.

After ripping the brush through her unruley mane, I tackled her tail.  Now when people say their horse has a full tail and its nice and thick….I definitely can say we could donate to those less fortunate and still have a full tail!

However after coconutting her mane and tail, I got my damp cloth and started to give her a wee itch and scratch up inside her hind legs, so I could slowly wipe the wee sweat spots off her udder to make her more comfortable.  Managed this unscathed! Then did a wee photo shoot and compared yesterdays photo to todays and there is significant difference.

So now the preparations are moving up to get the foaling box ready for her…..

Exciting times!!!  Getting closer now!!!

Love Kim & Irish x

#Broodmare #BabyDueSoon #WhatWillItBe #WhatColourWillItBe #MaternityWard #FoalingBox #Pampering

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.