A polo shoot in preparation for book 6!

I’ll let you into a little secret. The sixth book in the Pony Detectives series is going feature a polo yard and the lead character is going to be a star polo pony. I won’t give anything else away at this point, but I will let you in on a bit of exciting preparation. We had a photo shoot for the cover the other day, while the last of the snow was still on the ground. We headed to the Norfolk Polo Club. My boyfriend, Paul, used to work with the current owner, and he asked if they could help us out. Amazingly – and very generously – they said yes! They let us pick a selection of their ponies and then they brought them in from the paddocks. Those that needed trimming up were clipped there and then, and polo bridles were put on one pony after another for the photo shoot. The team (and the ponies!) were patient and so, so helpful – I couldn’t believe how awesome they were!

Megan, Chico’s owner at the yard, was the photographer. She’s a photographic student and she’s very used to ponies and horses being the stars of her pics so she was the perfect choice! She had lots of fun on the day, too, and we’ve both been bitten by the polo bug – we’re going to have a lesson! Once I do you’ll all be the first to hear how it goes – watch this space!

The snow puts a halt to any riding and I start preparing for Spring

Winter really set in a few weeks after Christmas. It started with the frost, which looked so pretty, but made the lanes around us too dangerously slippery to ride or lead Zano out on. Zano tried his super warm rug for the first time – I think he looked pretty handsome in it, don’t you?

After the frost, came the snow – and it fell really hard! Even the school surface froze. Zano only had one day when he went a bit doo-lally; I think he felt the need to let off a bit of steam and whizzed up and down at full pelt, slipping all over the place! Luckily he stayed upright – just!

A Winter Wonderland - but not much good for
riding in the school to the left of the photo!

While temperatures plummeted it was really important that Zano had plenty of fuel to keep him warm. That meant making sure he always had loads of hay to eat – whether he was in his paddock or in his stable, and lots of fibre in his feed.

Zano having a morning snack - he was topped up as soon as he finished while he
was out in the snow!

Even though we’re still in the depths of winter, surrounded by snow, it’s already time to start thinking about the springtime. That’s because I’ve got to be fully prepared for the return of the midges! Last year I discovered half way into summer that Zano had sweet itch. He was driven mad by the midges which hovered in clouds over him all through the summer. It’s important to start the battle of the midges early – if you wait until your pony starts itching, it’s too late! Well, this year I’m determined that he won’t suffer in the way he did last year. He rubbed his mane against anything and everything, and he lost most of the bottom half of it. It’s growing back, slowly, but I don’t want him to lose any more this year. So, I’ve come up with a robust plan!

Back in November I started to feed him a herbal mix from Hilton Herbs called Bye Bye Itch. This was to boost his immune system and get his skin in really good condition ready for spring time. I’ve also just bought a new ‘bug rug’, which is silver so it reflects all the sun’s rays. This way, even though Zano’s wearing a rug while it’s hot, he will hopefully keep as cool as possible. This rug’s got fly repellent soaked into it, so hopefully the bugs will bypass Zano while he’s wearing it! I’m taking every precaution this year, so midges beware!

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.