Zano gets new boots!

Zano had his shoes taken off when he injured his knee. It seemed pointless keeping them on when he wasn’t doing any work. My farrier, Jason, recommends that horses have their shoes taken off once a year (if that’s possible) beacuse it allows the hooves time to recover from having nails knocked into them. The funny thing is, I think Zano moves better without them. He’s got brilliantly hard and sturdy hoof walls, but his hooves and front legs haven’t got the best confirmation. It might be that, without the shoes, his hooves can find their own natural balance. We’ll have to see! But, in the meantime, I’ve decided to try and keep him shoeless, with Jason just trimming Zano’s hooves every 6 weeks.

The only trouble is that when Zano goes out on a hack now the soles of his feet are really sensitive. It’s a bit like us walking barefoot on a pebble beach! Well, Zano’s a bit the same and every time he put his hoof down on the smallest bit of stone or pebble he stumbled. Luckily, there’s a solution – horse trainers! Yup, you read that right... they’re like little boots that fit over a horse’s hoof, giving the sole protection and grip, too. So, I’m hoping that this will allow Zano to stay shoeless for a while, and make it much more comfy for him to hack out over any terrain. As well as his boots, my boyfriend’s regularly been putting Stockholm tar mixed with hoof oil on the soles of Zano’s hooves and hoof oil on the hoof wall. His hooves are now – officially – in tip top condition!

Cracker’s arrival & the school of hard knocks

Cracker arrived today! He was one of three kittens from a litter born at the dairy farm just up the road (where Marlee’s granddad works!). They were a bit of a surprise, so no-one was sure what their fate was going to be. But June stepped in to take on one, a tiny ginger bundle of fur, while Marlee’s granddad took another and Debbie across the road took on a tortoiseshell. The ginger and tortie both got seasonal names – Cracker and Sprout! Marlee called hers Buster.

Cracker might be absolutely tiny, but he’s already proving that he’s got an enormous attitude! He made it clear that he did NOT enjoy being put in a cat cage over night when he first arrived. It was for his own safety, but his protesting yowls could be heard from the yard gate! After a few nights he was allowed out and he’s become the first to greet you as soon as he hears the gate swing open! He loves nothing more than climbing up your leg, and he loves Paul, my boyfriend. Paul managed to do all the pooh picking in the field the other day with Cracker directing operations from his shoulder.

But it hasn’t all been fun and games for Cracker. He’s taken to nipping into Zano’s stable – he’s decided that it’s the nicest toilet at the yard. After he’s done what he needs to, he doesn’t disappear but loiters for a while. He has a wander round, hangs off Zano’s tail and pounces on stray hay strands hiding in the shavings. Zano’s very curious about him. But Cracker’s taken a while to realise that Zano’s interest is based on whether Cracker’s edible or not. Cracker’s managed to bob out of the way most of the time, but the other day he was a bit slow. He was springing about by the hay bar, then wandered across the front of the open stable door. Zano followed his every move, muzzle close to the ground to get a good sniff. The next second Zano’s mouth opened and his teeth closed around Cracker’s teeny (but apparently appetising) tail. A pitiful wail broke the stable’s peace. It took me less than a second to persuade Zano to release his prize. I think he realised at the same moment that Cracker’s ginger tail wasn’t a mobile carrot after all! Cracker’s tail was damp, but otherwise undamaged – nothing that a big cuddle and a lick of a chocolate biscuit didn’t cure, anyway.

He’s also learnt that snow is f-f-f-reezing on teeny pink puds and that Eric’s too old to play tag with!

Megan, Cracker and Zano in the snow

Oh, and we’ve just found out that Cracker may, in fact, be a little girl! The first at the stables! Either way, she’s the most delightful little playmate and a wonderful addition to an already perfect yard.

New Year resolutions!

It’s been 9 months now since I bought Zano, but for one reason or another, we haven’t really got going yet. First of all there was his saddle not fitting, then his back was sore, and then it turned out that maybe he wasn’t as experienced as I thought! And not long into a gentle return to work he tripped over and was out for another 3 months with a seriously grazed knee!

Riding in the (almost!) dark...

So, my resolution for this year is to get Zano up to full fitness and off to shows. I’m going to get serious with Zano’s training (and my riding!) and get him ready for his first ever competition! I want to introduce him to shows very slowly, so that he learns to have fun when he leaves the yard.

Well, part of getting Zano fit has involved me riding him in the dark after work. This is to make sure I carry on the schooling that Jo, my riding instructor, teaches me in our lessons! There are a couple of big lights over the school, but it’s still a bit spooky! I can’t wait for the evenings to get lighter again!

First time in the trailer, having his carrot reward!

Apart from the schooling, the first step for preparing Zano for shows is to get him out and about in the trailer. Whenever he’s been loaded before he’s moved home, so to begin it was important for him to realise that getting into a trailer doesn’t equal upheaval. So, first time up I loaded him, gave him some carrots, then led him straight off again without taking him anywhere. I realised two things that day. One was that he could virtually load himself he’s so good. Two was that – once he’s loaded (and finished his carrots) – he doesn’t like to hang around! He paws and paws the ground impatiently!

So, a few days later we were ready for our first trip out of the yard. So Zano didn’t have to hang around once he was loaded, my boyfriend did the trailer checks to make sure all the lights were working. Then we loaded him up again. This time we jumped in the 4x4 as soon as he was safely in and we were off. For his second time in the trailer with us, we just took him round the block and straight back to the stables, not stopping anywhere in between. He was quite surprised but very happy to be back, calling out to all his friends!

A week later, we were back in the trailer again. This time, the destination was Zano’s first ever show! It wasn’t to compete, but just so that he could soak up the experience of being around so many horses. They were coming and going to the warm up arena and lorry park, so he had lots to look at. He grew to at least 18hh as soon as he stepped off the trailer and remained like it for the whole time we were there! Considering it was his very first experience of a show I was really proud about how he took it. He was curious and excited, but not unmanageable. In fact, when I unloaded him he felt like he wanted to burst from the trailer and leap from the top of the ramp. But he kept listening to me. He may have walked down like a bouncing bunny, but at least he didn’t jump!

We arrive at our very first showground together!

Next time we go out I’m going to work him at the show ground. Somehow I think that might be a bit hairier! I’ll definitely be wearing my back protector, because I suspect I might get a few of Zano’s speciality high bucks! I’ll put a green ribbon in his tail to warn other riders that he’s still a novice, especially when it comes to riding with other horses and ponies in the same ring.

The next place I’m taking him to is a dressage training day. I’m going to enter the novice section with my local riding club. This will give me a chance to introduce Zano to being ridden with other horses somewhere new, all in preparation for the first time he competes. Fingers crossed, that might be in early March! I’m not expecting much first time out, but as long as we both have fun I’ll be one very happy, and enormously proud owner!

Pet fact file #2 Scampi!

Introducing: Scampi!

Scampi is very handsome!

Full Name: Rowfantina Prize Scamp

Age: 15 years

Breed: Welsh Section B

Colour: Grey

Sex: Gelding

Chico and Megan keeping Scampi and Marlee company!

Loves: Marlee, being at Black Cat Stables with the mares, working!

Dislikes: Cabbages!

Owner: Marlee and her granddad, David

Owned since: March 2012 – he arrived at Black Cat Stables just 2 days after Zano!

Best friend in the yard: Mahri

Marlee loves Scampi and Scampi loves Marlee!

You’ll never guess what...? Scampi has been to the Horse of the Year Show when he was younger. And he’s a bit of a Houdini – he’s got a habit of escaping under the electric fencing if there’s a tasty bit of grass on offer the other side! And Scampi’s the noisiest pony on the yard – he’s always whickering, especially when it’s feed time, or even when you just walk past his stable. He’s a real sweetie and loves all the attention and fuss that Marlee gives him – he can’t get enough!

Scampi and Marlee at their first show together

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.