Out in the paddock at last

This afternoon I got home around 4pm.  I went out to the yards, gritted my teeth, and led the ponies out to the paddock and let them go.  I was really nervous they would play silly buggers and the colt would follow, but maybe not know about the fences.  Actually it was much less drama than I was fearing.

Here's a video of the first few minutes - Honey is being a bit of a bully and they were kinda pushing him into the fences a little.

Hokey Pokey then started following him around and nibbling his flanks and then biting his neck quite hard (I think he wants to play?), and the colt just keeps doing the "I'm a harmless foal" chewing action and walking away.  I feel really sorry for him but I think he's coping okay.  I'm sure they'll settle down soon.  I suspect the two boys may end up being mates.

Finding his courage

Little colt made some real progress today.

If I went into the same pen as him yesterday he would balk and run into the other pen to be as far away from me as possible.

I spent about an hour this afternoon sitting in there, just reading my book and ignoring him.  He eventually approached and peeked at me around the upright, then gradually worked up the courage to come into the same pen as me and have a proper look.

But, he was still frightened of me once I got up and walked around.  He approached me happily when I held out hay from between the rails, so I stood behind the upright in the gateway and did the same thing.  Pretty shortly we got to the point where I was able to stand in the middle of his pen and he approached and ate hay out of my hand.  Considering that there was a huge pile of hay in the far corner that he could have had for free, I thought that was pretty cool!  He's showing a real curiosity and interest in me, not just wanting the food.
Before I left I was standing there with him and he was sniffing my hand. I bent down and blew gently out my mouth and he immediately put his nose to my face and we exchanged breaths for a while.  He had a good sniff of my face and hair and then I left. 

Really happy with our progress today!  Still don't think he's a fan of the chaff mix I gave him, but I sprinkled it all over his hay before I left so hopefully he'll get some in his mouth and decide it's not so bad.  I am hopeful that we may be able to go out into the paddock tomorrow.

Lost little soul

Our baby has arrived!! He's tiny, brown and VERY fluffy.  His feet look really good, and he has already snuffled my hand through the yard fence.  He's looking a bit lost and lonely at the moment, but I'm sure he'll soon bond with my other two ponies, Honey and Hokey Pokey.

Speaking of which, those two are already sick of being shut in a tiny yard so I will probably give them the yard plus a small piece of the paddock tonight and tomorrow.  That way they'll still be within sight but not so cramped.

Little brown colt is very calm at the moment, but I'm not expecting this honeymoon period to last too long.  Plus he's been in yards since Friday afternoon so must be longing to stretch his legs.  I'd like to get him out into the paddock as soon as safely possible.

Thinking caps on - we need to come up with a name!

It's almost time!

Well the muster has been completed, and 100-odd horses are now waiting at yards in Huntly before heading north to complete the journey to their new homes.  

It's a bit like Christmas - I have no idea what to expect.  We requested a yearling but other than that, it's up to the musterers!

Sometime over the next couple of days the truck will arrive.

Tick tock... tick tock...

 

2012 muster scheduled for 26 May

The muster date has been set, and we're ready to go! Exciting!

Press release from Kaimanawa Heritage Horses