First adventure away from home

Tama had his first adventure away from home today. I've leased a float for the summer so today we drove into the Hunua ranges. He loaded perfectly both directions, travelled well, and was really calm and responsive on the ground.
He's ready to go to a show, I think!

I've finally sent away his registration papers so if the number arrives in time I'll enter him in the North Island All Breeds Show, on the 6th January. Then there's Franklin A&P on the 16th, and the Kaimanawa Heritage Horse show at the end of February.  By then he'll be well and truly accustomed to crowds and fuss!

Who's that pony?!

Where did my scruffy awkward-looking Kaimanawa weanling go?  Tama's looking SO good now that his coat has come out.  While he still has a lot of filling out to do, he's grown up so much in the last month or so. These are going to be his registration photos.  Only a couple of months until the Kaimanawa Heritage Horses show!

I spent the morning with him, teaching him to take a paste wormer in his mouth.  I clicked and treated for targeting the wormer, and then for holding his head still while I put my fingers into the corner of his lips, and then for accepting the wormer tube right inside his mouth.  It was only maybe three 10 minute sessions but he's got it nailed. A few more practice tries with the empty tube and then I'll give him his first 'proper' drench tomorrow (he's always just had it in his feed before).  

Tama's whanau

On Sunday 25 November we went on a trip out onto the Kaimanawa Ranges to see the horses in the wild.  What an amazing day!

We saw LOTS of horses, and they all looked really healthy.  The musters are obviously doing the trick with keeping the numbers down, and it's clearly benefiting the herd.

I had no idea how big the Waiouru Training Area was - it's 63,000 HECTARES.  Unreal.  It's also  far more beautiful than I was expecting - when you drive down the Desert Rd it seems like just endless scrub and desert, but the scenery was actually quite spectacular.

Click on the photos to see them larger.

Crystal clear views out to the mountain

Awash in the grasses

We counted over 40 horses on this hillside

These two were my favourites.  Just gorgeous.

No skinny horses or dull coats to be seen - aren't they looking great!