Bridle, fireworks and puddles

So I had a day off work last week and got to spend the morning with BG, which is lovely during the week. I spent a good while giving her a thorough groom, and then I tried to clean the scabs on her fetlock and re-cover them in cream. She didn’t much like this, I don’t think she wanted to be in when I normally only do the basics with her in the week, so she had a bit of a stubborn ‘I’m going to hide in the back of my shelter and turn my back on you’. Which is fine (though a little annoying) as I can ignore her just as well as she can ignore me. I did other things until she got bored and decided to let me do what I wanted to do.

I was going to pop the bridle on her and then lunge her (but with a head collar over the bridle as I don’t like the idea of attaching the lunge line to the bit) but decided, because of the mood she was in, I would just do the bridle. It all went on okay except the bit, which she threw her head around for and just generally didn’t want to help me out. I guess the last thing I stuck in her mouth was her wormer so I can understand her reluctance.

She walked round very nicely in her bridle. Considering in the summer she had started to be silly and trying running round in circles with it on, she walked out very nicely and responsively, so that was positive. Unfortunately when I took the bit out her mouth she clamped her teeth down on it when it was only half way out and scared herself. The rest of the bridle went off over her head reasonably easily though, without her throwing her head up.

****************

Then it was bonfire night, and something most horses owners dread. We went up late on the Friday night and BG took her time coming down for her food. There were fireworks faintly lighting up the horizon, but no noise, that she stopped to watch curiously. As P2 was out we had the shelter and she had her head collar on with no issues. BG munched her tea, made a brief break to look over the door to check everything was okay, and then finished licking her bowl. Luckily she didn’t seem too fussed and neither did P1 or P2.

Saturday night the fireworks were closer and nosier. BG and P1 didn’t look up from their grazing and P2 didn’t seem to worry either. Most horse owners debate whether to keep their horses in on fireworks night or let them out. Many opt to keep them in as the horse can’t then injury itself running madly round a field. As with all these things it does depend on the horse. When we last had lightening up the field BG got herself a bit worked up trapped in the shelter with us. As soon as we let her out another streak of lighting came and she didn’t even glance up from her grazing. For her I think I would always leave out, as that is where she seems happiest.

****************

Yesterday was a lovely day. After a thorough groom I left BG to doze over her shelter door in the sun. Normally I do whatever I intend to do with her then turn her out whilst I clear the muck in the field. She seemed so content just dozing I left her and cleared the field first. Then she had a brief lunge and I was just debating whether to take her for a walk on my own when my husband arrived. I prefer both of us taking her out in case something happens, in fact I have only braved it the once on my own.

We managed to sneak out the field without P1 noticing (he starts careering round and calling out) and walked along the single lane road until we reached the part we can turn off at. Thanks to all the rain there were massive puddles at the entrance to the part we turn off onto. Some horses do not like water and puddles, a fear of not knowing how deep it could be. BG happily walked through, some things I am grateful for. She will avoid puddles but won’t go too far out of her way to do so, so walks through if needed without blinking. On the way back my husband ploughed through the puddle rather than her and she scuttled a bit sideways to watch him with a concerned look. Once he slowed down she didn’t mind him going through the puddle, I think she just objected to him splashing her first time.

There is nothing better to do on a Sunday morning than go for a walk with your husband and your pony. We didn’t meet anyone else out. There were some people in the distance BG watched excitedly, and we met a car on the way back, but that was all. BG just stood on the grass verge and grabbed a mouthful of grass ignoring the car totally as it went past. It was a little slippery under foot out but it was still a lovely little walk. P1 had eventually realised we had gone out and was calling out and waiting by the gate when we got back.