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

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!