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!

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!