Pet Fact File

Welcome to a new feature on the blog: Pet Fact Files! 

Belinda and her friends will be drawing up fact files on all the pets (not just ponies!) at the yard. 

First up: Chico! 

Full Name: Lancgree Chico

Age: 15 years

Breed: Irish (Connemara x Irish Draught)

Colour: Grey now (but he was speckled blue roan when he was a foal!)

Sex: Gelding


Loves: his food! Jumping, especially cross country, although sometimes he can be silly and bolt between fences! He loves hacking out, too, and going fast – he loves his work and always wants to get on with it! He’s got bags of stamina, too.

Dislikes: scary birds flapping out of bushes on hacks, tractors (not good in the country!)

Owner: Megan and Nicky. Megan competes Chico and jumps him, Mum Nicky hacks him out (she was Zano’s main babysitter when he first started hacking!). He’s normally well behaved with Nicky, and saves up all his cheekiness for Megan!

Best friend in the yard: Chico is definitely Zano’s fave on the yard – when Zano had to stay in overnight after hurting his knee, it was Chico he missed most!

You’ll never guess what...? Chico’s temperament changes in the winter – he can get really territorial in his field and sometimes he charges at you if you’re not watching! But he can be soft and soppy when he wants to be, too.

If you'd like your pet profile to be featured on the site, send us in information about your pet, a photo and your name and age to marketing@templarco.co.uk. Under 13's must ask permission from a parent or guardian first.

7 weeks later...

Well, it’s 7 weeks to the day since Zano’s fall. It’s been a rollercoaster of recovery and setbacks. The dressage competition we were planning to go to is in 2 weeks time and I’m still not back on board. But, the good news is, we’re just about ready to start work again – hip hip hurray! The pressure sore on the back of Zano’s knee is healing nicely, the heat has left it (you could fry an egg on it a week ago!) and the swelling’s gone down. It looks like the hair may not grow back on Zano’s knee, but that’s the last of my worries. As long as his movement is okay (I’ve seen him trot in the field and it’s still awesome!) I’m happy. I don’t have any plans to sell him, so it’s only me who’ll have to put up with that!

Now, I’ve got to know Zano pretty well over the last 8 months and I know that, once I could start working him again, we need to go right back to the beginning. So, yesterday I led him into the school in his head collar and we walked over the poles, just like Jo the Physio had taught us. This is Zano’s foundation and it’s something that he’s confident doing and he remembered it hoof perfectly! Today, I repeated the same exercises, only this time I added the saddle. Well – that was fun! He launched himself in the school and spent the first five minutes bunny hopping and bucking on the end of the lead rope. I led him over the poles, ignoring his antics, waiting for him to settle. A couple of times he was sideways, but he managed to sort himself out. I halted him, asked him to step back a few strides, and then move sideways from me. After that we walked on again over the poles. After about five minutes he suddenly relaxed and walked round like an old hand. PHEW!

Tonight I led him over the poles with his saddle on again, and he was so well behaved that I couldn’t resist seeing what he’d be like with the mounting block. So, I stood him next to it. He didn’t dance away, so I just leant over the saddle to see what would happen. He stood like a rock – awesome! He did have a quick peek round to see if any sugar cubes were forthcoming. They weren’t but that didn’t seem to bother him. He had three huge carrots chopped up when he got back into the stable, so I think that made up for it! I was so happy I couldn’t stop smiling! Yay! Just the thought of getting back on board properly is soooooooo exciting. I can’t wait and I’ll tell you all about it! Fingers crossed we’ve had our fair share of setbacks now – no more please! I’m hoping that it’s onwards and upwards from here. If all goes well he’ll be loaded in the trailer in the next couple of weeks, then taken for a couple of short trips. The aim is still to get to our first competition (Zano’s first competition ever!) this winter.

Oooh, and I’ve got some even more exciting news to share with you, too (besides Zano getting better!). There are two brand new Pony Detective stories coming out next year! Yipeee! I can’t wait to get back to Blackberry Farm and see what the girls and their ponies get up to next – hope you’re all excited too!

The vet visits again...

Alice came three days in a row to repeat her antibiotic injections. In the end Zano got fed up and bucked when she jabbed the needle into his bottom! But apart from that he was very well behaved really. The only thing he hated was being cooped up in his stable. And he moved around so much that keeping his bandage up and covering his wound proved really tricky. Still, we managed to keep it really clean and it started to heal well. He had big Swedes hung up in his stable to play with and munch and he learnt how to demolish them very quickly!

Zano looking incredibly scruffy after making
the most of his time out in the field. The farrier took
all Zano's shoes off just after this. He might as well
have a break from the nails going in while he's off work!

Alice came back weekly and was happy with the progress the wound was making. But after three weeks there was a new concern. Zano was producing too much tissue, and this was going to make it difficult for the skin to grow over the tissue. A new cream was prescribed and his grazing was cut down to a tiny paddock to restrict his movement. If that didn’t work, he’d have to have a minor operation to remove the excess tissue (proud flesh). I waited for another week and a half, applying the cream, before Alice returned and pronounced herself happy. The aim was to continue bandaging the wound to keep it clean and help it heal.

But, as was the pattern – all did not run smooth. Keeping a bandage on so long created its own problem – pressure sores. Zano’s point of knee (the knobbly bit that pokes out the back!), where the bandage slipped over, began to get sore and when I went to lead him out, he was lame. The wound at the back had become infected, and another course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were prescribed. Now we had no option but to keep the bandage off, and just hope that he wound on the front could take him getting up and down on it (horses go down on their knees first to roll, or lie down for a rest). His comeback was put on hold, again.

November update - The vet arrives

The first thing I did after Zano’s accident was ring the vet. We were still about 20 minutes from home, but as I rang I knew that I had to get him home. His knee was bleeding, but there were no major blood vessels around there, so I knew it would be safe for him to walk on it. The blood flow stopped as we walked. Zano seemed surprised at the fall, and a bit shocked, but as we walked back he didn’t seem very bothered – maybe that was the adrenalin kicking in. Anyway, the vet said to cold hose him when we got to the yard until she could get there.

The vet – Alice – arrived within the hour. While my boyfriend held Zano and the hose, I untacked Zano and put a light weight rug over him to keep him warm. His near fore brushing boot was lacerated almost right through. If he hadn’t been wearing that his leg would have been even more damaged.

The vet examined Zano carefully. The wound, thankfully, was clean – flushed by the cold hosing. Alice then flushed it herself with a syringe and then she gave Zano antibiotics straight into his jugular (intravenous) and into his hind quarters (intramuscular). He was bandaged up, given anti-inflammatories and granule antibiotics for his feed, and led to his stable. Zano, unsure what all the fuss was about, protested about being kept in. He wanted to be out in the field next to Chico and told us in no uncertain terms!

The vet told us to keep him in. The next 24 – 36 hours would be critical. If Zano’s knee joint had been damaged in the fall, fighting the infection in the joint would be difficult. It would be a very long road to recovery. I went home, exhausted and worried, keeping everything crossed that his joint capsule was still intact. Alice said she’d be back the next day.

After almost no sleep, the next day I rushed to the yard first thing. Zano had obviously had an unsettled night too – his shavings bed was a mess, with his dropping swirled everywhere. All I could do was give him plenty of hay, a groom and lots of fuss as I waited anxiously for Alice to arrive. A minute felt like an hour. I watched the time tick by, with Zano pacing restlessly in his stable. When her car pulled up I led Zano out and I held my breath while she examined the wound closely.

“I think we’ve just about got away with it.” Those words are etched into my memory! I was over the moon. When she thought I might be back on in a week, I was even more happy. But, on her visit the next day, she’d revised that estimate to 2-3 weeks. Still, it didn’t seem much in the scheme of things.

Zano looking fed up and grumpy in his stable

November update - Disaster strikes (again!)

Well, I’ve been very busy over the last couple of months, that’s why it’s all been a bit quiet recently on my blog. And what’s been keeping me so busy – or should I say who? It could only be one thing – yup, you’ve guessed it – Zano!

We were just getting going with our schooling and he was starting to move awesomely. He was really relaxing in his jaw and swinging through his back. His canter was coming along beautifully, too – he’s like an armchair to sit on! In fact, Zano was going so well that me and Jo, my riding instructor, planned his first outing to a dressage competition. It was in 9 weeks time, which would give us plenty of time to get him up into the trailer and taken to a few shows just to soak up the atmosphere, and be led round. And he’d finally stopped dancing away from me when I got on. Normally, even if I was going for a hack, I’d have to get on in the school so I could move the mounting block round as he moved. But, for the first time ever, he’d stood still enough for me to get on him out the front of the yard, ready for our hack. I was so proud of him and so pleased with life in general – it felt like we were finally on our way!

Zano in his lesson - his neck's huge!

But then, on that hack, disaster struck! It had been a busy ride. Zano and Chico, his best buddie, had met ponies and traps and cyclists and lots of cars. When we were three quarters of the way home we headed down our usual lane. It’s a bit of a slope, but nothing too dramatic. Another cyclist was hovering behind us and I think that’s what distracted Zano. He turned his head just a bit and, in true Zano fashion, got a bit caught up with his hooves. He slipped and before I knew what was happening he went down on his knees, then fell right over onto his side!

It all happened so slowly I almost stepped off, but as Zano got back up to his hooves, I saw at once that he was injured, seriously. His near fore knee was glistening white – he’d taken all the skin off down to the bone. The hole was about 3cm in diameter and, as he stood there, it started to spurt blood. Blood started to trickle from his other knee, too, and from his near stifle and fetlock. Standing there, looking at my beautiful, stricken horse, it felt like the end of the world.

9th August - Olympic excitement!

I’ve had so much to do this last couple of weeks but I’ve been hugely distracted – by the Olympic Games!

I can’t get enough of it and the equestrian competitions have been AWESOME! I didn’t think it could get any more exciting after I watched the Eventing, where we won team silver. But the show jumping was AMAZING and, not to be bettered, so was the dressage, with both GB teams winning GOLD – so, so, so incredible. There was an Andalusian stallion in the Spanish dressage team, called Fuego, and watching his dressage to music (‘Kur’) test was so inspirational, I can’t wait to get schooling Zano and see how far we can get in the dressage arena! I definitely want to try riding to music, the horses can pick up on the rhythm in the music and a lot of them really enjoy it. The really exciting thing is that Zano has the most beautiful paces – his walk is incredible – which will mean, hopefully, that he’s got lots of potential to do well in dressage tests. I know I’ve got to be patient, because he needs to be brought on slowly, but I’m so so excited about what lies ahead for me and Zano. I just can’t help it! Ooooh, and I’ve been distracted again writing this – watching Laura B, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin in the dressage final and Charlotte’s just won GOLD with a breathtakingly supreme dressage test – her horse, Valegro, is out of this world and so exciting to watch. Phew!

Back to earth again! And back to Zano. Jo, my riding instructor, suggested that I take Zano on lots of hacks so that he goes forward and doesn’t do too much in the school too soon. It’s easy for horses to get bored, and I really want Zano to enjoy himself in all his work, so we’ve been heading out with Nicky and Chico, and my partner Paul’s been coming with us on his bike. So far Zano’s been very relaxed and he’s proving to be totally bombproof. Today he even walked past a cement mixer with dust puffing out without blinking, he’s a real star! And I still can’t quite believe our journey so far – only a few weeks ago I was leading Zano round on the ground, watching the other riders hacking out without us. Now it’s us going out on hacks in the sunshine – I’m so happy and pleased with Zano that I could almost burst!

All smiles as Zano and Chico hack out - cool as a cucumber!

Oh, and how can I forget? Puzzle: The Runaway Pony and Phantom: One Last Chance are now, officially, on sale! Yey!! Take a look at the dedication in Phantom, there’s a mention of a certain dapple grey horse in there!!

You can buy your copy here

30th July - Birthday celebrations

It was my birthday this week and everyone at the yard was amazing – I got cards, cakes and pressies, even though I’d tried to keep it quiet! Just after my birthday Jo came to give me and Zano our first lesson and she taught Megan on the lovely Chico, too. Jo came with me when I tried Zano, and she hasn’t seen him since, so it was lovely to see her reaction when we went to see him in the field before I brought him in. He’s such a handsome chap and he loves having attention! Here he is, soaking up all the admiration! Who wouldn’t be impressed?

Jo started off by watching me lunge Zano, giving me loads of really helpful pointers, and then I had a fifteen minute lesson. Jo’s advice is to ride Zano ‘long and low’ to begin with to make sure that he develops all his muscles along his ‘top line’ (from his poll all the way along his back to his tail!) in the right way. He behaved himself very nicely and we’ve booked our next lesson already!

I’m sure that Zano is quite bright. He seems to know when I’m about to come and bring him in from the field, because he always decides to have a lie down two minutes before I appear with the headcollar! I’m a complete softie and I don’t like disturbing his beauty sleep. Instead I tend to wait and have a cup of tea until he’s ready to wake up! But yesterday I went to see him and sat next to him for a while, stroking his face and ears as he rested his chin on the grass and snored. It was a very peaceful and calming five minutes!

I’m still taking Zano over his poles to make sure that he’s using himself well and to keep him relaxed in the school. He’s so funny over them now though, he’s a real show off and hardly needs me next to him because he knows the routine so well. Jo, his physiotherapist, would be proud. She’s volunteering at the Olympic Games with the equestrian team for the next couple of weeks. She’s amazing at her job, so all I can say is that any horses who are worked on by her are very, very lucky! Good luck & have fun, Jo!

23rd July - Mixed fortunes

This has been a week of mixed fortunes, although happily, it ended on a high note!

It started off, though, with Zano deciding that he didn’t want to do any more work. He was quite tricky to try to get up onto from the mounting block. When I did get into the saddle he was really a bit cross about the whole thing, swishing his tail and behaving like he might have a few bucks as we set off around the school. Hmm, time to have a think - after all, we’ve been here before!

Well, that day I was heading off to watch a Jumpcross competition near where I live. I knew that Jo, my riding instructor, would be there and I thought it was time for a little chat. She gave me a pep talk and pointed out that Zano had been through every check he could have had. We knew he was sound and not in any pain. Now it sounded like he was just being a little bit naughty. After all, he’s had over two years not doing much, and maybe he was wondering if he really wanted to start work.

We arranged a lesson, which I’m really excited about! Then I relaxed and enjoyed watching the rest of the competition. I rode there last year on my friend Fran’s horse, Pinto, who I was sharing. They have a nervous and novice day and it’s my aim to take Zano there next year to do the novice classes! It’s always good to have a plan to work towards!

This is me competing Pinto last year at Jumpcross – he’s 17hh and always jumped big!

Jo’s advice is proving very worthwhile! I’ve been lunging him before I get on him and that’s worked well. As has June’s bit of advice (June’s the yard owner). She suggested that someone stands by Zano’s head as I get on to give him some pony nuts. He’s such a greedy horse that he doesn’t care what I’m doing in the saddle now, as long as he gets a mouthful of treats at the same time! Problem solved, thanks June!

16th July - Getting back on Zano

Well, I’ve started riding Zano again! It feels amazing to be back in the saddle, even if it’s only really to sit up there for a few minutes at a time until he gets a bit stronger and confident with me being back on top, rather than next to his head!

I did try to ride him over some straight poles – for some reason that caused Zano great excitement and I think he felt a bit confused hearing my voice coming from up somewhere on high. I think he found it quite difficult to adjust to carrying me over the poles; that’s something that will get easier for him the stronger he gets. I didn’t want to do too much riding before Kay the saddler came back to check him. He’s got so much bigger that I needed to be sure that the saddle wasn’t pinching him at all.

Also, Jo Spear the physiotherapist suggested that I get a ‘prolite’. This is a really thick pad that goes under the saddle. It can have extra padding at the front or back, and it makes sure that the horse is comfy with his saddle. Kay was amazed at Zano’s transformation. Last time she saw him he still had quite a visible spine, but now that’s all covered up as he’s put on weight. In fact, his girth has got bigger by a huge 6cms!

Kay watched me riding him in the saddle without a numnah first then decided that his prolite should have extra pads at the back. This is because Zano’s got quite high withers, so padding in the back helps to make sure the saddle stays level, rather than tips back. All I needed to do next was get a new numnah to go underneath and I chose team Zano colours – purple!

9th July - Ready to get back on board!

Yay! Good news! Jo’s just been to the yard and is really happy with Zano’s progress – she said that he seems much more together, more confident and definite with his movements. Just the news I was hoping for! Jo was really impressed with his pole work – he’s such a clever boy. When she first showed us how to do it he was tripping over them left, right and centre – he even stood on them a few times and rolled off them again! But today he strode over them like an old hand who really understood what was being asked of him. He was a star, and I was so proud of him and pleased for us both!

Zano looking handsome, and very much heavier than when he first arrived

Next step – getting back on board! Well, I’ve got the saddle, now it’s just a question of building up the riding work really slowly. Jo said that he’s ready to start as if he was a 4 year old, with the basics in place. So, it’ll be a question of riding him for about 10 minutes every other day for the first week, going over the poles the alternate day. I’m even going to ride him over the poles, too, because he’s really confident doing them. Then I can start to build it up to about 30 minutes every other day, with walking in hand too, in about 3-4 weeks time.

I’m so excited!!! We’ve got the summer ahead of us – the adventure starts here! Not only that, books 3 & 4 – Puzzle: The Runaway Pony and Phantom: One Last Chance hit the shops in August – yippee!

2nd July - Things are looking up!

All the sunshine and rain is really bringing out the flies! So, Zano is currently sporting a new look – a fly mask and a fly sheet.

He’s not entirely impressed with the fly mask – I’ve found it hanging off various posts in the paddock! He’s getting used to it though, and so much better than having all those flies buzzing about while he’s trying to get down to the serious business of chomping all the lovely long grass he’s enjoying at the moment! Jason, the farrier, came back to see him this week and he’s fitted him with one size bigger shoes than last time – his feet have grown quite quickly with all the good grazing, so this way they shouldn’t outgrow the shoe before Jason comes back in August.

Jo, the physiotherapist, is coming back next week – I can’t wait. It’s been slow going with all the ground work, but Zano’s really settled into it. He’s as quiet as a lamb now when we walk into the school (rather than charging off!) and he sees the poles and strides over to them, knowing what he has to do, which he seems to really appreciate.

Zano and Chico

He’s not on the calming liquid anymore but he’s as chilled out as anything, even with all the summer grazing, so that shows he’s really started to relax at the yard and that he feels comfy with me. I know I do with him, so it’s been worth putting in all this ground work. After all, we’ll be together for years (fingers crossed!), so being patient now for a few months is nothing in the big scheme of things. I’ve been walking him out lots still around the Suffolk lanes with his best pal, Chico to keep him company. He’s starting to look like a real, proper Andalusian now!

23rd June - A busy June!

I’ve had a really exciting but busy couple of weeks!

First of all, it was Zano’s birthday on the 16th June – I can’t quite believe he’s 8 years old now, and not quite up to where a 4 year old should be! Still, we’re catching up. I brought a carrot cake for him (and everyone else on the yard!) – he had a small slice and LOVED it, he even licked the plate! He’s gobbles up every bit of food he’s offered, which is great because he’s finally really starting to bulk up, put on some weight and get nicely rounded.

After the birthday celebrations I headed down to the beautiful grounds of Ardingly College for another school talk, where we jumped over a mini version of the Fratton Cup course (from Moonlight: Star of the Show). I had to ‘jump’ the course first and I think everyone had lots of fun (I know I did!). Then, the following weekend it was back to Sussex for a trip to Hickstead for their big showjumping competition! It was amazing! Copies of The Pony Detectives were given as prizes to the winners of the Mini Challenge, which was a real thrill.

I got to watch the Speed Derby and see the horses and their brave riders facing the very scary Derby Bank – it was soooo steep! I’ve seen it on television lots of times, but it’s not until you stand by it that you realise quite how tall it is and how much of a drop down the horses have to make. They have to be brave and really trusting of their riders. It was a real gallop to the line in the main class – with Irish raider Trevor Breen taking the trophy on his horse, Beer Hunter.

It was a nail biting victory, with some really fast riders almost stealing the prize in the last few rounds. After all the big name show casualties to the weather (like Badminton), it was lovely to see some real top level horsey action in the sunshine! And guess what? After the class had finished I was allowed into the ring to have my pic taken in front of the Bank – whoop whoop!

5th June - Pooh picking

I’ve been out and about recently, visiting a few schools to talk all things Pony Detective!

It’s been good fun sharing how I came up with the idea for the series, and how I grew up pony mad but pony-less! We were talking about some of the smells from the yard, and how I love the smell of horse feed, the hay barn (the Pony Detectives’ fav place to hang out) and – weirdly – manure!

I think next time I do a school talk I might take some in with me so I can share the horsey smell with everyone! Zano’s living out in the field at the moment, so there’s plenty of manure to gather up! I fill a wheelbarrow full of manure each morning when I pooh pick, and there’s nothing Zano likes doing more than wandering round with me from one pile to the next. I mentioned before that he loves sniffing manure and when I’m pooh picking he likes to sniff the pile on the floor, then check it again once it’s deposited in the barrow – I think he likes to know that I’ve found every last bit to make sure his field is kept ultra clean. He also loves grabbing the barrow handle and trying to tip it over – but only once it’s brimming full!

Zano getting involved!

Anyway, the other day I was just finishing the pooh picking, having searched all the patches of long grass for the tell tale flattened bits. Zano normally accompanies me all the way round, then follows me to the gate. But this time he didn’t follow me, he watched me go, then took a couple of steps to the right. He stood there, staring at me, then bobbing his muzzle to the grass. I walked over and found, to my amazement, a single pile of droppings that I’d completely missed! I picked it up, put it in the barrow and walked back to the gate. This time Zano followed me to the gate, happy in the knowledge that his field was, temporarily at least, manure free!

May 29th - Scampi and Zano are getting better!

Marlee happy to be back on Scampi

Scampi’s back in action! Marlee’s over the moon and getting on really well with him.

Scampi arrived the same weekend as Zano, so they were newbies together. They’re stabled next to each other as well, and look like little and large when they’ve both got their heads over the door. He’s been quite cheeky though recently – he managed to escape out of his field when Marlee was looking the other way a few days ago, scooting past her straight into the hay barn! He managed to grab a few mouthfuls before being returned to his rightful place. Then he managed to wriggle under the rope that goes across his stable when the door’s left open. I turned round to see a small white flash as I was heading out to the paddocks. This time he made a dash for the long grass outside the front field!

Zano with the Amazing Jo Spear, working her magic on his back and pelvis

Jo came back to check on Zano’s progress this week, too. She thought his action was getting a bit better, but there’s still work to do before I can get on. He needs to build up a bit more before he can carry a saddle with me in it and learn where to put his hooves properly. Jo thinks that his lack of confidence might be linked with his gangliness – if he’s not completely in control of his legs he might not feel confident, especially with someone on his back. So, we’ve got another set of poles to work over – we have to snake left to right and back again over some poles, then end up over a fan of poles with one end raised. The good thing is that he’s really starting to settle now and is so affectionate. I think he’s starting to feel at home – yay!

May 22nd - Getting to know Zano better

Well, Zano’s still on the easy list, which strangely enough is proving to be a hidden blessing. I’m spending so much time on the ground with him, mooching about together in the field and the stable, that we are getting to know each other really well.

Enjoying a scratch

I’ve been grooming him lots and giving him a scratch (which he LOVES) and walking him in hand over the poles. I also found out after taking a cup of orange juice into his field that he’s a bit partial to it – in fact, he wouldn’t leave the cup alone until I’d shared some with him (I had to pour it onto my hand for him to suck and slurp up). He also loves oranges and overripe bananas in his feed, alongside the more usual apples and carrots!

Zano's new fav treat - Orange juice!

He’s starting to put on weight now, too with all the grass coming through. Scampi is getting much better, his abscess has cleared up and he’s got his shoe back on now, so Marlee can ride again soon – she’s very happy! And Megan took Chico to his first show this summer – with all the rain so many shows have been cancelled, Megan’s really pleased to be able to get out finally!

Megan and the ultra white Chico

He was a bit naughty loading, but luckily the show was within hacking distance, so she still made it in time for their first class. She groomed him to perfection and his coat was sparkling; they both looked amazing – the rain even held off for the class they’d entered! Megan and her Mum, Nicky, took some time over the next week to get him going into the trailer, and when it came to going training he was hoof perfect – shaking some pony nuts at the top of the ramp helped quite a bit!

Right, back to the pole work! I think Zano’s starting to enjoy them – I’m sure I could unclip the leadrope and he’d go over them by himself, he picks up new things so quickly.

15th May - Zano's got some exercises

Zano seems to be calming down again!

Zano doing his exercises

Jo left us with some exercises to do – I have to walk Zano in hand over some poles on the ground to get his muscles working in his hindquarters. Apart from trying to attack a couple of the poles (maybe he mistook them for snakes?!), he seems to be enjoying it!

Jo, the physiotherapist, said that Zano has tremendous range of movements in his joints but no muscle to control them. This means that when he’s back in work he’ll be fab for dressage because he’ll be really flexible, but right now he’s like a half tonne bambi! That explains some of his clumsiness, too!

Relaxing afterwards

It’s really helped thinking of him as a much younger horse. He can be quite clingy at times and at others like he’s trying to dominate, which is quite babyish. I wondered, too, if he was a bit unconfident – he’s had a couple of yard moves, and since his latest move he’d been asked to do more than he had done for quite a while. All in all, it’s been a big change for him, and he can’t speak to let me know how he feels about it all! So, I called a manufacturer of herbal products and, when I described Zano’s behaviour, she suggested a calmer to help him relax and start to feel more confident.

So far, it seems to be working wonderfully – phew! Poor Scampi, Marlee’s grey pony, has been in the wars this week. He came in very lame and we all thought that it might be laminitis, which makes ponies’ hooves really sore. He’s had it before and it can happen if a pony scoffs too much rich grass. He’s kept in a paddock which is purposely quite bare, with plenty of well soaked hay to eat, so it didn’t seem to quite add up.

But, when Jason the farrier popped in, he removed Scampi’s shoe and had a bit of a prod around and found an abscess! So, he cleaned it all out and then poulticed it to draw out any infection and bandaged his hoof up. Poor Scampi – I’m sure he’ll start to feel better now, though! In the meantime, he’s joined Zano on the ‘no-riding’ list!

7th May - The mystery is solved

The puzzle behind Zano’s change in behaviour is starting to get pieced together!

Back on Board

I was still concerned about his back after he’d appeared so sensitive to being tacked up and being sat on. I had managed to get back on him – always important after a fall – to have his newly ordered fully fitted, but he was still unhappy. But before I asked anything more of him, I had to be sure it wasn’t anything physical that was bothering him.

So I asked one of the leading physiotherapists, Jo, based not far from the yard, to come and check him over. When she arrived, suddenly everything started to click into place! Jo watched Zano walk and trot in a straight line, then watched him on the lunge in walk and trot. Then she felt all his muscles and found some real tightness across his back, which she massaged. At one point, he almost bucked in his stable, then he let out the most almighty sigh, like lots of tension had suddenly been released!

Jo asked about his background and I gave her the details that I knew – he’d come over from Spain in 2010 after being well schooled there, had spent most of the last couple of years relaxing and had been ridden a bit just before I got him.

Then Jo gave her verdict. She said that, based on his muscle structure, in her opinion Zano had done very little work in his life – ever! Suddenly, I realised that instead of bringing a well schooled horse back into work, I had a big novice-y baby on my hands, one that needed to be taken right back to basics! He was clearly broken in when he was in Spain, but it’s likely that it was all done fairly quickly and then he had 2 years off. So, although it’s all in there somewhere, it probably wasn’t established as much as I thought it was!

So, for the next few weeks, it’s back to working from the ground with him.

30th April - What's behind Zano's strange behaviour?

Well, it continues to be fun and games with Zano!

I’m on a steep learning curve with him as we both get to know each other. His close encounter with the cows seems to have put him off for life and he’s starting to get lively. It’s been really wet and rainy here – with mud everywhere (mostly over all Zano!) and suddenly, with a bit of sun, the grass has started to grow. I think Zano’s been on a bit of a sugar rush! He’s suddenly become a lot more of a handful to lead or to lunge or walk out, especially now he’s started to put on some weight – I think he’s feeling the joys of spring!

Zano enjoying the Spring grass

That certainly seemed the case when the wonderful saddler, Kay, came to visit with her van full of saddles. She spent a couple of hours taking Zano’s profile and looking at his old saddle. He pretty much fell asleep (as always!) while she was checking him over, but he soon woke up when it came to fitting a saddle on him. That should have had the warning lights flashing in my head, even more so when he refused to stand still to be mounted. Kay gave me a leg-up, but I didn’t manage to stay in the new saddle for long – it was a bit like one of those Wild West rodeo rides! I think it’s fair to say I hadn’t been expecting that!!

Anyway, after being ejected from the saddle at top speed, I dusted myself down. Zano seemed pretty agitated and I’d had a bit of a bump on the head, so we decided it wouldn’t be wise to carry on. Kay had a good idea of what I needed and she had enough information to order the right saddle in. Before her return, though, I’d have to figure out what was going on in Zano’s very handsome head and see if it really was just the spring grass, or if there was something else behind his tricky behaviour...

15th April - Zano Vs. Cows

Zano bonding with Paul

While I’ve been waiting for the saddler, I’ve been walking Zano out in hand everywhere, going on longer and longer jaunts around the surrounding lanes. Sometimes just the two of us wander out, sometimes my partner, Paul, leads him and I walk with them, and at other times I go out with Rosie and June.


Zano can be a bit clumsy, at times almost tripping over his hooves or my feet as he eagerly looks round at all the different scenery. But his favourite thing? Stretching down to smell droppings left on the road from other horses! Horses have a really well developed sense of smell and they can get all kinds of information from sniffing a pile of manure – like who has been on the lane before them, or whether they’re a mare or gelding, Zano loves it!

One thing he is definitely not in love with, though, is cows. Especially herds that rampage about the small field he’s trying to get past! I was on my own with him when we walked down the path between two paddocks. We’d walked down there before and he’d been curious about the cows. They’d been standing quietly then, though, in the far corner of the field and he’s walked past without any problems.

As we approached this time, Zano’s head got higher and higher. Suddenly it felt like I was leading an 18hh horse, rather than a 15.3hh one! Just as we reached the edge of the field, he began to snort. I thought I’d be able to get him past quite quickly, but as we started to go, the cows began to charge towards the fence, right by us! Zano dug in his heels and snorted again. This set the cows off, and they stampeded away again, before turning round and trotting back for another look. I managed to get Zano past, but he passaged (very slow, powerful trot!) until the cows were well and truly out of sight! He calmed down, but he’s a sharp, quick learning horse. I wondered what would happen next time he saw another cow...!

30th March - The dentist and chiropractor pay a visit

Everyone who visits the yard falls in love with the stables and with Zano – I feel very lucky to have found such a loveable horse and such an amazing place to keep him!

Zano’s first admirer this week was Leigh, the equine dentist. She immediately found some really sharp points on Zano’s back teeth (his molars) and the sharp teeth had started to cut the insides of his cheeks! No wonder he hadn’t wanted to have his bit put in his mouth!

Horses’ teeth need checking every 9-12 months, and Zano’s last dental visit had been 9 months ago. He’s got quite big teeth, though (as well as big, strong hooves!), so I think Leigh might need to come back and check him every 7-8 months. Zano was very well behaved, once again, while Leigh filed down the sharp bits and had a good feel around to make sure there weren’t any other problems. She even let me put my hand in so that I could feel the sharp bits and then again after she’d rasped them. It felt really weird – horses’ mouths are sooo long – their tongues are HUGE! When she finished, Leigh said that, now his teeth weren’t sharp, Zano would be able to chew his feed better, so should start to put on weight. Phew!

Zano being lunged - he wasn't always this quiet!

Next up it was Stephen, the chiropractor, who works on the skeletal structure (basically, his bones!). He saw Zano walk and trot, and turn tight circles. Then he gave him a full examination and found that he had really sore ribs, just where the saddle goes! We looked at the saddle and decided that it wasn’t the ideal one for him and was possibly what was making him feel a bit uncomfortable. So – next person to call – the saddler! In the meantime, I started lunging him to get him exercised.

16th March - Something isn't right with Zano

Well, it’s been an eventful few weeks at the yard with Zano. To begin with, Jason, the farrier, came and shod him first of all (Jason is a bit younger than Jock, the farrier in Scout: Mystery of the Marsh Ponies), but he’s every bit as good. And he never says no to a cup of tea, either!

Zano having his 'shoe' fitted

Jason’s verdict was that Zano has big, strong hooves, so he’s happy that Zano will be okay with just his front hooves being shod at the moment. Zano was amazingly well behaved – he almost fell asleep, with his muzzle resting on Jason’s back! When he wasn’t asleep he was turning round and trying to watch what was going on as Jason took off his shoes, trimmed and rasped his hooves and fitted his new shoes. At one point I saw John give him a kiss on his velvety nose!

Zano checking out what the farrier is up to!

I love watching the farriers work, with the noise as the furnace fires up, and the distinctive smell as hot shoes are fitted against the horses’ hooves, and the sounds as metal is hammered into shape and the nails are carefully tap, tap tapped in. It makes me think what it must have been like in old days when the spooky Old Forge (which appears in book 3 of the series, Puzzle: The Runaway Pony), was a proper, working blacksmiths!

I am starting to worry me about Zano; I’ve ridden him a couple more times, this time in the school, and we’ve only been walking round in large circles, but something doesn’t feel quite right. He’s starting to get a bit shirty, too, about having his saddle put on and his girth done up; he doesn’t even like having his bit put in! And, he’s not really putting on any weight, even though he’s having loads of hay and his feed is starting to be built up.

It’s time to do some investigation into what’s up. He’s already been wormed, so that can’t be it. So – first stop? The equine dentist, then the equine chiropractor!

9th March - Zano settles in

Zano’s been here a week now and he’s settled in beautifully at June’s yard. He takes everything in his stride and he really is very calm and laid back – a typical Andalusian!

Rosie

  I’m getting to know the other characters here too – there are June’s two Highland mares – Mhari, who’s a grey in her early twenties and bay Rosie, who’s 14 years old.

Rosie’s ridden by Emily, and her 8 year old brother, Henry.

Chico and Megan

 Then there’s Chico, a grey 14 year old, 14.2hh Connemara x Irish Draft – he’s a really cheeky character owned by Megan and her mum, Nicky.

Scampi and Marlee

And finally there’s Scampi, who arrived two days after Zano. He’s 14 years old too, a little grey Welsh 12.2hh pony who is really talkative – he’s always whickering away, watching everything going on. He’s owned by Marlee, who’s 8 years old and she’s very excited about owning her very first pony!




 
So, now Zano’s settled in, it’s time to think about the next step – riding! As he’s only been ridden a handful of times in the last 18 months I’m going to have to really think carefully about how to bring him back into work. One thing’s for sure – I’ll have to take it slowly!

This week the vet, Angela visited him and gave him his inoculations. He stood very calmly and the vet, Angela, advised leading him out in hand and hacking on the roads to help strengthen his tendons and build his muscles before starting to trot. Zano had only hacked for very short distances a handful of times in his last home, so I went out on my first hack with Chico and Megan, and Rosie and Emily – their ponies were going to babysit Zano, but he’s got such a super stride that after we left the yard he led from the front and loved it all! I’ll make sure he has a day off in between being led out or being hacked to make sure that he doesn’t get too achey.

Next week, the farrier is booked in – he’s only got shoes on his front hooves at the moment, but if Zano’s going to do road work to get fit he might need them on the back too – I’ll ask Jason's, the farrier, advice on that one!

2nd March - A new arrival!

Well, Jerezano arrived today! He got a bit excited when the trailer pulled into the yard and he flew down the ramp, neighing at the top of his lungs!

Richard, his old owner, led him into one of the spare stables while he had a rug change, then he was turned out next to one of the other ponies at the yard – Chico. They had a few squeals and Zano, as I decided to nickname him, stomped his hoof a bit. But pretty quickly he was more interested in drinking some water and investigating the big blue bucket containing his hay!

Zano had a change of yard just before I bought him and he’s dropped quite a bit of weight, so my first challenge is to begin to build his weight up.

The next few days were spent just settling Zano in and getting him into his new routine.
His routine is this:

• He gets fed first thing in the morning, around 8am. While he’s tucking into his morning feed I put some hay in his blue bucket in the field and check his water. 
• Then, when he’s finished eating I swap his stable rug for his outdoor rug, giving him a quick check over and running my hands down his legs to check that everything’s okay. 
• Next Zano’s led to the field where he rolls within seconds of having his headcollar taken off!
• Then while he’s enjoying having a stroll round, cropping the spring grass or nibbling his hay, I muck out his stable, refill his haynets and top up his water. 
• Then, after a well earned cup of tea and a play with the yard cats, Eric and Toby and a chat with June, I either leave Zano in the field to relax or take him for a walk in the school in hand to get used to his surroundings. 
• After time to himself I bring him in around 5pm, he has another rug change, groom and his hooves picked out, then he gets his last feed, a cuddle and then it’s lights out for the evening.

1st March - A new pony!

Name: Jerezano

Breed: Andalusian

Sex: Gelding

Age: 7 years (8 in June 2012)

Colour: dappled grey

Height: 15.3hh (hands high)

Owned since: 2nd March 2012!

History: Jerezano was born in Spain, in a town called Jerez. His name translates as ‘citizen of Jerez’. His old owners, Richard and Pamela, saw him in Spain two years ago, fell in love with him and brought him back to England with one other Andalusian. But, not long after, Richard returned to university and, with a business to run too, neither he nor Pamela had any time to ride! So Jerezano enjoyed his time out in the paddocks at their gorgeous cottage in Norfolk for a while, living alongside Pamela’s other Andalusian and her retired Welsh section D mare. After some time they made the heartbreaking decision to sell Jerezano – Andalusian’s love to be in work and to have new challenges, so they felt he should be out and about, being ridden. I saw the advert and decided that first day that he was my perfect partner. The rest, as they say, is history!

Going to try Jerezano

 I saw the picture below with the advert title: ‘Beautiful Andalusian’, and it immediately grabbed my attention. The first line read ‘Dappled grey gelding, very very kind’ and I was hooked.

That was my favourite colour and I love Andalusians, so I arranged to see him and fell in love with how sweet he was to deal with on the ground and how willing he was in the school.

The next week I went back and had another sit on him, this time with my fab riding instructor, Jo Hirst. She thought he had real promise – a good attitude, coupled with a balanced confirmation and ability. The deal was done – I can’t tell you how excited I was!

My first sit on Zano

First things first - finding the perfect yard! During the week while I was waiting for Jerezano to arrive I had to find a yard to stable him at. I looked at loads but there was one that immediately felt like home as soon as I pulled up outside, partly because I was greeted by a huge, really friendly black cat!

Eric the cat

The yard is owned and run by the amazing June, who is like a mother hen to the ponies and horses in her care, and to all of us humans too! She’s got a background in showing and she really knows her stuff. She has her ponies in a good routine which helps them all stay really calm and relaxed.

The yard is small, with nine indoor stables in a barn and there’s a fantastic school behind the barn, and well-managed grazing. It’s even got a solarium to help the ponies dry after being washed, or to warm their muscles either before or after exercise!

But most of all, it’s ultra friendly and the atmosphere is lovely for the ponies and the humans – there’s even a sofa area with tea, coffees and a ready supply of biscuits – it’s yard heaven! And I can cycle there from home – perfect.