Spot the difference

Today is the day of 'Little Sam's departure. He has to go back to his home at 'Buttercup Farm' where riding duties await him.

But first I have to swap ponies without making 'Mr F' run around again. I noticed him being again in some discomfort in his hip and have put him on a course of bute for a few days. I don't want him to run around again, he now had to be calm for a few weeks, the last thing I want is a relapse.

'Jackie' is giving me a hand swapping the ponies. 'Polly' will become 'Mr F's new field companion.  To make this swap as smooth as possible, 'Jackie' is waiting with 'Polly' on the other side of the field gate so that 'Mr F' can see his new companion while I lead 'Little Sam' away. My thinking is that 'Mr F' will be pleased and distracted enough by his new fair maiden, allowing me to move 'Little Sam' unnoticed.

And as predicted, 'Mr F' is very interested in 'Polly'. As she entered the field, he greets her with great interest and then they meandered slowly into the middle of the field and begin grazing. Nothing stops 'Polly' from eating ... 

Meanwhile I 'hid' 'Little Sam' in the big barn, out of sight of 'Mr F'. Altough clearly pleased with his new field companion, 'Mr F' does look around and whinnies a couple of times. But luckily 'Little Sam' doesn't respond. Both 'Mr F' and 'Polly' are now behind the fencing of the pond and all the greenery bordering the water prevents direct line of sight onto the large yard. Perfect to sneak 'Little Sam' out! I try to do it quietly although it's difficult with a shod pony's clip clop of the hooves.

But we get out unnoticed. I walk 'Little Sam' back to his home and let him have some nibbles on the way. Had I had my way I had kept him permanently but he wasn't my pony. At his home is yet another white pony waiting for him, 'Molly'. 

'Little Sam'  looks at me a little lost when I let him go into his field. He looks around as though he is looking out for 'Mr F'. Afterall they have been in this field for months together, even prior to the accident.  Eventually 'Little Sam'  wanders off to join the other pony in the field.

Over the years I have come to observe that horses do form friendships and these bonds remain even if the horses are separated. But because of our wants from the horse we keep moving them to different fields, different places even. One of 'Mr F's best mates 'Luke' has left some time ago. 'Luke' is a 7 year old gelding and while he was with 'Mr F' I saw the play almost every day. But alas we force them to move away from their friends again and again. And yet an animals do cope and just get on with it. Still, its not ideal but just can't be helped due to circumstances.

At 'Hill Farm', 'Polly' too will eventually leave 'Mr F' and go back with her favourite horse 'Ester' the shire mare who's given birth to 'Zac' in beginning of May this year. Perhaps 'Zac' can go be in a field with 'Mr F' one day. Being around young blood keeps 'Mr F' in young spirits and in turn 'Mr F's firm but gentle ways can help 'Zac' growing up. 

I walk back to 'Hill Farm'. Upon arrival I find both 'Mr F' and his new 'maiden' already under the tree, 'Mr F' lazily munching haylage. Soon the sun will cast the shadow of the tree over gate entrance. A welcome the shade from the rather strong early summer. 

'Mr F' and 'Polly' - The injured hip is facing a the camera, you can just make out where he had been shaven for the ultra sound scan and he has a quite noticeable bump. But everything is working as intended.

I have a day off and spend much of it sitting with the horses in their field. It's so peaceful here and clearly all the animals here sense this too. 'Mr F' is lying down a lot, for quite long periods at a time now. At last he can rest his legs, after month of mostly standing up this must be much needed rest for his limbs.

A probably long anticipated rest - 'Mr F' flat out.

Getting up is still quite tricky but he manages every time a little better.

It will be a slow process for 'Mr F's body to re-adjust, especially the one muscle that became displaced during the fall. 

Day 2 at 'Hill Farm'

We are blessed with more warm, late spring sunshine. 

It is so peaceful. It is our first morning at 'Hill Farm', it has just gone 6am when I arrive. The air is filled with bird singsong and the bleating of the sheep. And then there are the views, just bliss!

It was 'Mr F's first night out for 4 months but all is well, he looks most content with his lot and I am pleased that he can be a 'normal' horse again.

I join 'Mr F' and 'Little Sam' in their field where we all eat our breakfast. For some years now have I been eating my food with 'Mr F'. It's just another way of observing him and whoever is in the field with him. He is perhaps a little on the chubby side but now that he has 24/7 turnout until autumn, this will change and his body will get back into shape.

While we all are busy eating, I observe the surroundings again and I start to feel how tense my body had been over the past months. It'll take me quite a bit longer than 'Mr F' to relax and calm down. Another point where non-human beings have the upper hand what being alive concerns: they just live in the moment.

It's quite strange now for me as of today I no longer have to pack his used stable shavings into bags and cart them away in the boot of my car. After 3 months of doing this, suddenly time to be!

After breakfast I make myself a cup of tea and sit in their field, bathing in the already warm sunshine. Eventually I drag myself away as I do have to work, someone has got to pay our bills.

'Mr F' pushing along 'Little Sam' - joined by 'Polly' on the other side of the fence.

'Mr F' and 'Little Sam'.

When I return later in the afternoon find both 'Mr F' and 'Little Sam' stand under the tree that grows next to the pond. Yes, there is a pond behind that fence, not very big but roomy enough to attract ducks. The ducks make for great entertainment and there is much flapping and quacking going on while the males chase the females. And there are ducklings, too!  

Under the tree is a metal feeder attached to the fence, containing some old haylage. 'Mr F' is rummaging through it but of course can't find anything that he finds acceptable to eat. There is grass in the field but it's not all that much. As 'Mr F' has been on soaked hay only for the last months it will help his digestive system if he isn't suddenly on grass only. 

I fill up the feeder with haylage, which is available to us all year round. 

Both boys are quite keen on the fresh haylage and the tree offers them some welcome shade from the already warm spring sun and the flies.

One more day and 'Little Sam' will have to go back home. He's been such a good companion for 'mr F'. I'd wish I could keep him but he is not mine and duties to introduce little girls to riding await him.

Moving to our new home - 'Hill Farm'

Today is the 20th of May 2017.

Today is the day on which I had arranged the moving of 'Mr F'. Everything at our new home, 'Hill Farm', was ready and awaiting our arrival.

On one hand I was eagerly awaiting this day as I could barely wait to get away from 'Buttercup farm'. On the other hand I was concerned about 'Mr F's well being. The accident happened on the 23rd of January. He was prescribed 3 months stable rest. This he has had plus one more month with half turnout, half indoors, just to make sure. For the past 4 weeks I have very slowly started taking him out on walks and he has had turnout in a tiny space right behind the stable together with 'Little Sam'.

Although 'Mr F' and I have been going out on our own all the time before the accident, things have changed as he has been sheltered inside his stable 24/7 for over two months.
In preparation for the move and as general encouragement of recovery I have been taking out 'Mr F' over the past weeks. At first only a few steps but each day (depending on progress) a little longer so that he gets used to being outdoors again. He was quite flighty at first, on high alert and on one occasion a group of loud birds in the hedges spooked him big time. If he could have he would have jumped into my arms ... but as his and my size won't allow such behaviour, he instead just leans against me. He also had to learn to use all four legs again and at first gait was quite wobbly.

The new home was a 20 minutes walk away, if it was a brisk walk. Although I had been slowly re-introducing 'Mr F' to the great outdoors, I wasn't quite sure how he would cope on a longer walk. I had discussed it with 'Suzie' (the VET) and she said he'd be physically fine by now for a longer walk.

Even now, after 4 months, I wanted to make sure that all goes as calmly as possible and I asked 'Fluff Chucker's' family if I could borrow 'Little Sam' as escort. And also asked if he could stay with 'Mr F' at the new place. Only for 2 days / 3 nights so that 'Mr F' can get used to the new surroundings with his little friend. This way it wasn't just all new. There was another little white pony up at 'Hill Farm' that will be 'Mr F''s companion for some months. Thankfully the family agreed to lend me 'Little Sam'.

Realising that I am quite on edge and acknowledging the fact that it will rub off onto 'Mr F' I have to get my act together. 

I decide to stop thinking about what I can not possibly know and instead concentrate on what I have to do and just do it.

All our stuff I had moved on the previous day and this morning I left my car up at 'hill farm' so that I could bring back 'fluff chucker's' wife and daughter, who will accompany me with 'Little Sam' on our way up there.

We leave 'Buttercup Farm' on time. I am glad to find out that 'Mr F' behaves just like he did before the accident, when we would walk anywhere together without any troubles. In fact he strides out very happily, looking at the countryside and enjoying the warmish spring sun on on his body. I do keep him amused by playing our 'chase the cow parsley' game - a game I played with him in previous spring: he tries to get to the flowers and I try to beat him to it and then feed them to him. He for some reason seems to find this most entertaining. 

And so we make our way up to 'Hill Farm', very calmly and leisurely.  'Jackie' is awaiting us. We let the two boys eat some grass and let them take in the surroundings. All is new to them: the multiple barn buildings, the machinery and the people, the ducks and sheep.

Then it is time to let the two boys go into their field. My heartbeat picks up again because I know what is going to happen next: they both will be trotting around while scouting out their field which is completely new to them. At first they simply trot into their field and straight away began eating grass. They were pretty grass starved and had nothing else in mind, until ... 

'Hello Polly!' - 'Mr F' lays his eye on a voluptuous maiden.

... 'Polly' turned up on the scene. Another white pony and she is greeting 'Mr F' very excitedly. 'Mr F' in turn is fascinated by 'Polly' and together they begin their little dance, trotting back and forth along the fence, sometimes falling into a canter.
All the while 'Little Sam' can't care less, grass!! He is normally on restricted grazing as he gets too fat otherwise. This sure was a treat for  him!

As 'Mr F' is eyeing up his new fancy I watch thinking: 'Oh gosh ... here we go. Just don't do something stupid now boy or it's lights out. Up to you now, I cannot help you nor stop you.' After watching them chase shoulder to shoulder along the fence a few more times 'Polly' decided she had enough. After all having curves is all fine and well but at the cost of fitness in this case. 

After 20 or so minutes all horses calm down, albeit 'Mr F' and 'Polly' remained close to each other.

I think its all done and dusted now when 'Polly's current field mate is let into the field. 'Victor', a 26 year old gelding and rather grumpy looking most times. I am informed (and I suspect that he is in pain most days) that 'Victor' had been mistreated by his previous owners may years ago. He has also been bullied by other horses where he was before. So much so that he developed stress laminitis. Learning for me never stops ... I had no idea that horses can develop laminitis caused by stress.

Of course now 'Mr F' has a gelding on the scene. The result: more running around and quite vigorous galloping this time. It was a beautiful sight to see 'Mr F' move like this yet at the same time I knew it had only been 4 month since his accident. Mind you, 'Mr F' wasn't showing any sign of injury!

Another 10 minutes later and all settled down, finally. The older gelding disappeared off to the top of the hill - the field is on a slope and he stays there most of the time. 'Polly' and 'Mr F' however remained together - seemingly having some kind of conversation, to be interrupted by me visiting them.

'It's her (me) again - shhhhhhh'

A different view of their field. 'Polly' still being near the fence. She hardly moves away from it.

The morning had been warmed by the spring sun but now the sky is clouding over. We all watch for a little while as 'Mr F' too is now catching up on eating grass.

Then it's time for me to take back 'Fluff Chucker's wife and daughter. I drive them both back to 'Buttercup Farm'.

Upon return to 'Hill Farm' I finally take a deep breath. Seeing 'Mr F' out there in the field contently grazing as though nothing ever happened is such a relief. I am so pleased for him. And now we are free, in a peaceful place with plenty of space to just be. It will take a while to sink in. At last a quiet  home where I can give all my attention to 'Mr F. No interference, no interruptions, no having to socialise ... just peace! And clearly, there is peace in the air and it seems that 'Mr F' and 'Little Sam' feel it too ... they behave like they have been up here all their life.