As I rode out...

[glenatron]

Today was a big day for me and Othello as after most of a year of getting to know each other, exploring how best we can communicate and generally making one another's lives intolerable, today was the first time I have put a saddle on him and ridden off the yard.


Me sitting on pony. Pony looking resentful because I'm not giving him enough leeway to grab a mouthful of grass.

We only went a few hundred yards in total, but it was a very big step for both of us and I'm very proud of him. Under saddle he is polite and responsive. He seemed to enjoy the whole thing. Next up: Finding a new saddle for the pony so that Lou and I can travel out together.

When we went back to the yard and untacked we figured it was a good opportunity to give the ponies a quick bath. Bathing a horse basically involves splashing, shampoo and the transfer of a huge amount of dirt from the horse to the person washing them.


Lessons in the futility of washing a gypsy cob.

Comments

[kittyfantastico.livejournal.com]

wow! Most impressive, Mr. Moxon.

And Joe, well he's just fantastic as he is...

[life-of-tom.livejournal.com]

nice indeed. Good to know the awkward bugger's progress contains these moments of success.

[baddynono.livejournal.com]

I've only met your other horses but given how tiny you look up there I think I might skip on meeting othello, I'd probably only be able to see his feet anyway.

On the subject of horses I did think the other day that if we don't manage the camping and canoeing this year then maybe we could go for longer next summer and also do some pony treking, there's a really nice place in the forest of dean. I think Lou and Llinos would like that.

[shiva-matimbres.livejournal.com]

is othello wearing leg warmers?

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Yes. He wants to live forever.