Archived Equine Blog
Sarnita 27 December 2010
Just wanted to wish all my Internet friends, readers, admirers, fans, people who love me etc etc a Merry Christmas (human thing I know) and a great new year (2011 in human count). Mum wanted to take a picture of me with antlers or a silly red hat but that would do my diva image no good so I refused.
Not been the best Christmas as there seems to have been a shortage of carrots in my bowl. There is a whole sack in the yard but the pipsqueaks have had some and mum keeps telling me that as I am not working hard I don't need that many! Christmas present wise I didn't seem to get anything, Pipsqueak 3 (Rosie) was given a snuggy hood. Something to do with being grey but I need something to keep my face warm.
Since I wrote last we have had a lot more of that white stuff and the mud has gone hard and cold. Boss insisted on turning me out, she put some haylage out which I ate but don't see why I couldn't do that in my stable. I was meant to be walking around evidently but couldn't really be bothered, mind you it was good fun to see boss's face the following day when I did a little buck and pretended I was going to hurtle round.
Boss keeps telling me this period of taking it relatively easy is about to end and
I have to knuckle down, never have before so doubt I will start now. This dressage
lark is just not worth the effort although jumping is more fun! Then again I don't
do poles that is for babies and incapable pipsqueaks, also silly exercises involving
circles and cross poles are boring or they were until boss fell off -
Ashley 29 November 2010
Does anyone know how I can get some help from the RSPCA or South West Equine Protection (SWEP)? The white stuff has covered up the grass, it is freezing cold and Mum keeps leaving me out at night. The grey thing has pinched my stable at night and is in with Queen Bee whilst I am out catching pneumonia, I had icicles on my ears! To make matters worse when I arrived back from my holiday with that very strange lady I was told the grey thing was my replacement! Why am I not wanted I shine my halo daily?
The manky grey thing has given me her lergy as well so my beauty has been spoilt as I have a few patches of hair missing and I itch. Mum keeps trying to clean the sore bits but it hurts too much, she says I am a typical man a wimp!
Sarnita 29 October 2010
Haven't been on for ages as boss has refused to type up my blog (something about
me always been rude and mean about pipsqueaks!) Anyone I have toned this one down
slightly otherwise that grey pipsqueak might get a go. Well since my last writing
over 6 months ago (see I can count) I have not had the most fun time. I haven't really
felt myself this year although it difficult for me to say what hasn't been quite
right -
The good news is I am feeling quite a bit better at the moment, trouble is all I
seem to be doing is boring stuff, have tried to liven things up when I can. Boss
took me to dressage a few weeks ago, we had been practicing changes and rein back
prior to this. Trouble was when I reined back up the centre line and did changes
on my canter loops and she wasn't impressed -
I guess the worst thing this year has been the explosion in pipsqueaks!
Pipsqueak 1 (Ash) -
Pipsqueak 2 (Pippa) -
Pipsqueak 3 (Rosie) -
Anyway better finish my haylage, boss says I am getting fat so there doesn't seem as much. Hope next time I write there are less pipsqueaks and I have more exciting things to report!
Ashley 27th April 2010
Since I have moved life has been hectic with loads of new things to do and see, I enjoy it most of the time although the Queen Bee (Sarnie) can think a bit much of herself! I have been to a few parties now and I think Mum is quite pleased with me. I did my first one day event at a place called Bickenhall which was a long long way away and took ages to get to. I went with my mate Ken who has done a few more parties than me despite being a little younger. Queen Bee tells me that some one day events can last 2 or 3 days which makes
no sense at all but then she doesn't very often.
Anyway for those that don't know a proper one day event involved 3 elements:-
1. Dressage or poncing around
This involves a rectangular shape patch of grass within which I walk, trot and canter. There is a car at one end and people in it which judge me in my beauty, movement and obedience. Queen Bee tells me that I should weave in and out of the boards that mark the edge, throw my head up in transitions and spot gremlins in the hedge or judges car but I think she is trying to get me in trouble again. Anyway at Bickenhall I was a good boy and did what I thought Mum was asking although she isn't always the clearest in her instructions or perhaps she get confused?
2. Jumping coloured knock down fences
We have a bigger ring for this with string around and people watching. You have to
go over the jumps in a certain order and I think you are supposed not to knock them
over. My mate Ken says the faster you can do these the better. I have to admit at
Bickenhall it was a lot to take in and I was looking at everything that was going
on and then suddenly we would be in front of a fence -
3. Jumping strange looking solid fences
Mum calls this cross country and I call it hard work. Basically we went around the farm and over a variety of spooky solid fences, through a lake, over gapping ditches and down huge drops. I was trying to explain to Queen Bee what it was like when I got home and she laughed at me!
Anyway it seems I did ok (although Ken did better) and got one of those ribbon things
the humans seem to place so much importance on. So I think I have now become what
they call an eventer -
Sarnita 4th April 2010
It is something called Easter day today and I have been given the day off so Boss
can eat chocolate -
I have been too busy to come here much you have probably heard that I was a star at Gatcombe and came 7th despite the other horses have proper riders (that probably aren't scoffing chocolate!) I am told my dressage still has to improve but I just find it soooooooooo boring particularly when all the fun bits follow it.
We were meant to be off to France again but they obviously thought they would let someone else win so evidently we are off to Ireland in May. Much the better choice as did you know they eat horses in France?? I am told Ireland is very green so hopefully that means plenty of grass to eat.
Will try and pop back again soon and a word of warning -
Sarnita 1st February 2010
It is that horrible time of year again when I am going to very few parties yet working
hard on boring things (I do try and liven it up from time to time!). It seems to
be a lot of dressage and today we did some canter work -
Boss seems to like the new pipsqueak which is a worry I even saw her giving him some of my carrotts!! He was tied up in the stable next to me a few days ago so I did manage to bite him pretty hard as he needs to know his place I don't want him getting ideas above his station!
Ashley 23rd January 2010
If it is ok I would like to say hello? I haven't been here long and I am still finding my feet but SJ said I ought to say hello to everyone. Sarnita (Queen Bee) wasn't very welcoming and when I tried to introduce myself to her she attacked me and bit my face. Otherwise though things have been ok with good bits and bad bits. SJ seems ok and quite kind to me although she did attack me this week with a yellow water spouting snake and smelly soapy stuff and got me all cold. Not sure why she did that as today all my clean coat was chopped off, mane and tail were tidied, I hardly recognise myself. Look quite smart if I may say so myself.
The grub is good and plentiful and I have a big field with lots of grass and a new
friend called Jacko. He is small and shaggy but unlike Queen Bee he is friendly and
seems to like the company. I have been out riding around somewhere called Carn Brea
I think (funny name) but great hill up to it which make me puff -
Sarnita 10th January 2010
Thought I would say hello again as I am bored! This strange white stuff has been
all over everything, I have seen it before but it usually goes fairly quickly but
it has been around ages. I have not been allowed out for a proper play in it, boss
says it is for my own good but it would be fun to try some acrobatics in it -
The one good thing about this white stuff is that I was meant to be going off for
some dressage prancing and to see Pammy lady at her place, I was so upset (grin)
when I was told we couldn't go, as if I need to practice anyway -
Sarnita 26th December 2009
Just a quick note to wish my many fans a Happy Christmas (not quite sure what Christmas
is but there are always extra carrots so I love it!) I am enjoying life without the
pip squeak (poppy) although I guess she had her uses even if it was just to tell
how wonderful I am, the ponies in the yard just aren't quite the same. The other
disadvantage is I am sure I am getting more work this winter with boss dedicating
all her time to me. I was quite pleased as there was a mention of a holiday in January
but then I found out what the bosses idea a holiday was! 2 competitions and 3 lessons
in 6 days. I really think that is a bit much and even worse it is mainly dressage
-
Anyway will try and update again after my "holiday" but for now it is back to my hayledge and carrots.
Jacko 29th November 2009
I have not been allowed on here before but thought it is about time people found out about how badly I have been treated. For those of you that don't know much about me I was a Bodmin Moor pony and was taken to the local market to be sold someone mentioned the words 'only make meat money' so I made myself scarce and escaped the market to a local lush field. I was
happy there til someone threatened me with a shotgun and I was eventually captured
and put in a lorry. It turned out that they weren't going to sell me for meat but
send me to a 'nice home'. About the same time Poppy had arrived with Sarah-
Now things started to go wrong again as she took one look at me and said fat! I mean
to tell you I have a thick coat I am not fat! Anyway she was worried about something
called lami something -
Poppy would go away and leave me from time to time while she went off to major competitions
(that what she told me anyway) but she always came back. Then a while ago she disappeared
for good and too be honest I missed her. I stayed where I was for a while then I
managed to limbo under the electric and climb the 5 foot Cornish hedge and go exploring,
a few hedges later and a nasty zap from an electric wire I didn't see I found some
more friends, only they weren't that friendly. I waved to Sarah-
So I was put back in my little patch with very little to eat (I am not fat it is
all hair -
Poppy 8th October 2009
It looks like I get another go despite Miss High and Mighty (MHM) not having posted for a while (not got anything intelligent to say I expect!) However this is going to be my last post as I am waving a hoof goodbye to all my fans on here and moving onto pastures new. I have enjoyed my time in Cornwall (well most of it I guess) even lately enjoying my chats with MHM now it is clear I am going to be better than her. I think I have learnt a bit but obviously taught Mum far more than she has me.
Anyway it all happened at Dauntsey Horse Trials where we were invited to stay as
well for the duration of the event. My God you should have seen the stables, straw
banks up to my ears I had great fun pulling those all out and flattening them down
again. There was a big window where I could check what everyone was up to as well.
It seems as well as the event Mum had invited some people to come and see me. On
the Friday it was a young girl who kept saying how pretty I was (very intelligent
girl) and liked me so much she decided to come back and admire me the next day. So
Saturday I did my eventing dressage test and two lots of people came to admire me.
I guess the biggest disappointment of the day was not being allowed to finish the
event as Mum said it was hard, I thought this eventing lark was easy but seems she
meant the ground -
Sunday I missed all the excitement as one of my new mates went to the high jump competition
where loads of people were watching and cheering, sounds a bit like hard work to
me! Anyway then it was my turn to be in the limelight for my vetting thingy. Wasn't
sure what it involved but it started off with the vet lady admiring me and checking
me all over. Then I had to trot up and down the road where the lorries were going
in and out which was great fun, not quite sure but the vet started holding legs up
in turn and then making me trot, gave me a good opportunity for a rest and let someone
else take the weight for a bit! The fun bit was whizzing round the big field I don't
know why but when we finished she stuck a metal thing on my chest.-
Anyway the long and short of it is I am off to Oxfordshire to live. Lots of plus points particularly as it sounds like I am going to be my new owners no.1 and not treated like a 2nd class citizen as I am sometimes here. Also it appears I won't have to do as many long journeys on the lorry as parties are closer. I am helping Mum write a list of all the things I need particularly food as this is the most important! I am sure everyone will read about my successes soon so goodbye and if you see me out and about anywhere don't forget the polos!
Poppy 20th September 2009
Mum hasn't let us post anything for a while on here something about time and us not
being able to type our own rambles but anyway I have persuaded her it is about time
we made our feeling known again. My turn first as 'miss high and mighty' (MHM for
short) seems to have had all the lime light despite me bringing home more rosettes!
Don't know who she thinks she is -
Anyway I have been busy and in the main successful since I last blogged. I have been 3rd at Winkleigh and won lots of dressage rosettes as I am very pretty and the judges like me. I did have a bit of an incident at Hatherleigh when MHM was trying to get all the attention by hopping around and then pretending she had tummy ache. So I just tipped mum over cross country but I was forgiven as conditions were very deep and jockey had her mind on other things. Then she took MHM away across the sea to a funny place called Dutchland I think (should of left her there) and I was given a holiday. I had a great time as I was meant to be out resting but there wasn't as much grass as I wanted so I hopped over the electric and the hedge and came in for hayledge, I gave mum an hour after leaving before I first came in!!! I don't think Auntie Claire was very impressed as Mum had said I would be good and just need checking when in reality I was in most of the week eating and sleeping in the stable. These humans think they have us doing what they want but I soon worked out what I needed!
Anyway mum came back and got the idea as I am now in at night with hayledge. I thought perhaps after my antics while she was away that I had better do something to redeem myself so was very good at Pontispool didn't touch one of those wooden poles that she doesn't seem to like me knocking off and galloped round the cross country. We won a red rosette more than MHM has ever done at BE (she tried to bite me when I told her that) and I got a mention in the local paper on how wonderful I was.
The bad news is mum is trying to sell me. I can't understand when I am so young and
talented she says it is to help fund things with MHM but why bother as I will be
far better?! (Did you know my half brother just won Blenheim?) Anyway only one person
came to see me and I was a good girl and they called me sweet (not sure I was keen
on sweet doesn't really suit me I think?) but they didn't want me more fool them.
Not sure what I feel about it as I have got Mum fairly well sorted now doing what
I want her to yet she always insists that MHM is top dog and she does get preferential
treatment, I guess it would be nice to go to someone that really appreciated me as
the talented superstar I am! Also perhaps to a human that didn't have a screw loose
occasionally -
Sarnita 25th July 2009
Well we finally made it to the 'advanced' not sure why it is called that as I have been to Aston before. We stopped off on the way and picked up another horse (Uree or some such silly name) another pipsqueak although it reckoned it was doing the same class as me! I don't know why boss allows passengers without asking me if it is ok, it even ate some of my hay on the way up!
Anyway this advanced lark is ok I think. The dressage was great fun as the rain came down so I could really mess around and do all sorts of things and boss just thought it was because I was getting wet. The best bit was going backwards in the wrong direction. I was allowed a day to recover from that and went off to some nice stable.
Show jumping didn't seem a lot different boss still missed some strides and I sorted things out. Cross country was a bit bigger than usual but I am pleased to report no bears or crocodiles just some snails. I was a bit disappointed with the audience though I thought at advanced there would be loads of people clapping and cheering me but they seemed more interested in some of the others!? Anyway boss seemed very happy when we had finished and I got loads of pats. The best thing was I was allowed some lush green grass when we finished!
Sarnita 21st July 2009
Well no sign of any time off! Being doing all my least favourite things -
Sarnita 18th July 2009
Went to a big do last weekend (they left pipsqueak at home as she wasn't good enough
to come) -
never saw a castle? I stayed with my new friend Ernie he is a bit like me bay intelligent, talented and with a dislike for dressage! We got on well and compared notes he thought he was better than me but I soon put him right even if he was doing the 3*.
Anyway as usual I was on good form. I even threw in a surprise by trying in my dressage
test and not making faces at the judges. Have to admit I did have a pole down show
jumping but I guess I can't be prefect the whole time and when you have someone like
the boss on board you can't compensate the whole time. Cross country was ok although
there were some funny thing on course like big coloured mushrooms, bears and centipedes,
I was brave and jumped them all although boss mutter about quicker -
This week the talk is turning to my first advanced and maybe Gatcombe advanced after that. Sounds no big deal to me but boss is getting quite exited about it all. I though I might get an easy week but no I was made to canter round the fields for ages on Thursday, now I am not against a nice canter round but really don't see the point of going round more than once until I am hot and puffed out. Then to cap it all I get hosed when I have finished and my face washed (unless I stick it up so high she can't get it!).
I was made to do dressage again today. I though by making a bit more effort last
week that maybe they wouldn't make me practice again. There were hardly any people
watching and it obviously wasn't an event so I didn't try that hard but boss seemed
quite pleased anyway and gave me a few polo's which is guess is better than nothing
but I do prefer carrots. Spending the afternoon with my feet up in the field -
Sarnita 21st June 2009
Not had a great few days I quite like my trips away usually as it is good to meet
some other proper horses but it is a tad embarrassing when I have to bring pipsqueak
too. Anyway she did her bit and was fairly useless I mean she had 3 show jumps down
I tried to explain that you need to leave them all up despite whatever the rider
is doing -
Anyway after hanging around for a few days waiting for pipsqueak to do her bit it was my turn today. It was rather a grand place and I did dressage in front of quite a big house (bigger than bosses anyway). I am still not sure what the point of dressage is but I tucked my nose in and even did a proper flying change for the judge, she seemed impressed with it.
After dressage boss went off to look at the course she came back muttering re crocodiles causing lots of problems, pipsqueak did mention something about them but I am sure she was exaggerating. Anyway went and did the easy bit the show jumping and I managed a clear round, Mum seemed very pleased as there weren't that many as you had to go quite fast as well.
Went back to the lorry and changed into my cross country gear, I gave boss a few
concerns as I found it a good time to catch up on my kip -
and the last fence and boss seemed pretty pleased. Sauntered back to the lorry and saw a couple of horses on there way to cross country so whispered in their ears about man eating crocodiles and not to go near the water (I heard it worked with at least one of them!).
Had a wash (she even made me have my face washed which I hate!) and then I was put in the lorry to rest. Boss was disappointed I think not to get a ribbon thing but did say I was only one of 4 double clears so that must be good. Went back and told Poppy about how it should be done and can you believe the pipsqueak had worked out it had less penalties in two phases than me and less overall so had done better than me!! Perhaps I will explain to her what boss meant by the tin comment!!!!!!
Poppy 19th June 2009
Well home has been abandoned again and I have been taken with Miss High and Mighty or MHM for short (Sarnie) for a long journey in
the box to another yard. Good news is the grub still tastes the same, but the bad
news is MHM is next door bending my ear permanently! Last night I was nearly killed
-
Anyway today was my performance day when everyone came to see how wonderful I was.
Went to a big park where Mum said there were cats that might eat me if I wasn't good
-
Wasn't given a lot of time to rest before xc but bravely carried on in the heat.
Mum didn't seem to have a lot of sympathy. Anyway did the fun bit brilliantly again
even though someone was trying to frighten me with bear models on some of the fences
and I passed a crocodile in the water, at least there were no moo animals though!
The commentator was even heard to say over one combination that I had done it one
of the best. There seemed less talk of the can and cat subject when I finished -
Sarnita 26th May 2009
I was finally allowed out to party today. I was promised a sleep over party last week and was all dressed up packed up and off we set. I thought it was going to be a lot of munching time away so imagine my surprise when we stopped after 10 minutes. I guess the lurching (I nearly lost my feet) should have told me that something was up. Well a lot of lurching later we stopped and I was let out back at home. Now what was the point of that?? I was chucked out in the field and the lorry lurched off again. Mum did say we would probably go later so I had an early tea and was dressed up in my travel clothes and then waited and waited and waited. At dark time boss looking a bit upset bunged my night clothes on and left me. She doesn't seem to realise I was mentally preparing and then all let down.
Anyway boss said she would be out early this morning, I though early meant getting
light time not middle of dark time when I was catching on beauty sleep. Anyway got
into the lorry wondering how far we were going to get today and hoped there wouldn't
be too much lurching as needed to catch up on shut eye. Arrived ok parked beside
lot of little ponies not sure why they were there? Anyway Mum let me rest a bit although
watched all the ponies being polished and some of them had funny suits on, loads
of rugs, hats and leg things -
Anyway appeared quite a big show when I eventually got out. Ring in a bowl but not
that many people watching -
Anyway boss and big boss wandered off -
Poppy 5th May 2009
Well mum has finally lost the plot (nothing new I know but has hit an all time low!).
She took me eventing on Sunday and as usual I was brilliant. The dressage (easy bit)
Mum tells me I was best -
We then did the show jumping which I quite enjoy and if I am not concentrating they fall down anyway so I don't hurt myself. I was about half way round and peered over the hedge and saw the cross country looked really smart and I could see a horse in the distance, I think Mum was trying to tell me something but I was sussing out the xc for later. I did realise when we were nearly on top of a coloured fence Mum had been trying to warn me a jump was coming oh well at least they knock down, did try and concentrate the rest of the way and don't think she was too cross! (At least I listened more than at Aldon when there were lots of people watching ME!) Some nice lady called
Jane held me and said nice things to me while Mum got me ready for the fun bit -
Anyway having sussed out some of the cross country Mum took me to the start and we
set of. I am getting the hang of this now and probably could do it on my own. Have
to say though this one seemed quite different in that I would jump one fence then
there would be another one and sometimes I had to turn to it. Had to listen a bit
although if she had let me walk the course first I would have been ok. Got lots of
pats when I finished so I think she was pleased -
Then on to the bad bit we get home and I get tucked up in bed with grub and hay -
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