Hi From Ange, Penny and Millie!!!!

[ange]

Its official - Millie arrived on Saturday. She loaded and travelled like a dream, despite her somewhat ample proportions! ;D

She is settling in well, although is a bit overwhelmed by the comparative size of her new home when compared to her old one! She is well behaved but does lack a few graces when being handled - she will learn quickly I hope! It's a bit like leading 700Kilos of well-meaning but slightly excited tank to and from the field!!!

Her new managed diet has started (with enough hay to keep her belly full but not overfed) and I've already started a light exercise plan, which I will build up once she has had chance to take everything else in.

Sadly so far Penny is not impressed - I do hope that she grows to like and get on with Millie and doesn't feel put out again as she so obviously (now she's gone) did with Kia - its been nice having my old girl back with a bright eye and a spring in her step.

Cheers, Ange.

[ange]

An update on Millie -

its taken a few days for her to settle in - she didn't want to be caught to come in to start with, so has lost some weight exercising herself by galloping around the field instead! She's now leading in like a lamb - for which my toes are very grateful!

I started her new gentle exercise regime straight off - so far she has been in the school a couple of times, on the horsewalker once, and has now hacked out several times, today by herself for the first time.

She takes no notice of any of the things around the school that still used to terrify Kia after over 2 years, and isn't at all bothered by the chickens that live at one end - even the one that decided to do an impression of Garfield the cat in the window of the chicken coup last night when it was almost dark (Kia would probably have keeled over and died on the spot at that one!)

On our first hack she spooked at a couple of things and it took me a while to realise that I just needed to put my leg on and tell her it was OK to go past it - Kia would have taken a leg aid at that point as confirmation that she should spin and run away as fast as possible!

Hacking alone today she looked at everything but didn't react to anything - I just supported her with my leg when I felt her slow her pace, and reassured her, and she said 'ok thats fine by me then' and carried on - whoopie!!!! ;D

Her tail took some sorting out as it was VERY matted and full of the things that tails tend to catch, but it now qualifies as the biggest bushiest tail I've ever seen - I've got my work cut out keeping on top of it though.

I'm now spending all of my time with a big, silly grin on my face - its great!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Cheers, Ange.

[liz]

That is such a positive start, Ange You'd better buy loads of Canter Mane and Tail to keep her locks brushable!!

[nellie]

It sounds like you have made a really good start with Millie, I'm so happy for you .

I can also wholeheartedly recommend Canter Mane and Tail, it helps get all the knots and mud out and then keeps it silky soft and manageable - and stops the mud sticking .

[ange]

Hi,

thought I'd do a quick update on Millie and my progress!

We really seem to have jelled well - we're still working on a few things but we're getting there, such as standing still when asked (especially when I've just got on), jogging when we're a bit excited or on the way home, travelling at less than light-speed in the school and not treating my taking any contact as a reason to go faster! The important thing is I'm coping with all of this and enjoying my riding again, and haven't needed to get off and lead once (although I've had a couple of mental battles with myself over hacking alone).

We've hacked alone and in company with no problems (although I'm still a bit tense when alone, which she does pick up on a little) and have done slow and fast rides (although not too fast for too long as she's still getting fit) - we've done roads, tracks, fields, and woods - all fine! We've even (after only 4 weeks) done a W&T Dressage test with the Riding Club and got a 6th (and yes there were more than 6 in the class - 9 to be precise!).

We've met a tractor on the lane - she's a little sceptical about them but given space she was willing to stand and let it pass her (it was a sprayer so had its arms up in the air too!) - we need more practice with these I think! Caravans, trailers, bikes, motorbikes, etc, are all no problem. We haven't met any strange animals (cows, sheep, etc) close-up yet, but have had hens, geese and dogs, and horses galloping in fields at the side of the road - all fine!!!!! ;D

The saddle that came with her had to go off and have a new head-plate fitted as it was much too narrow - its now 33cm (around 13.5 inches) wide - that's one wide saddle - and as its only a 16inch (and I'm more of a 17.5) I'm going to need a new one as soon as she's lst enough weight and built up her fitness - she can jump very well but my saddler has advised against trying it as there is NO room for manouver for me in the saddle - anyone know where to get an XXXXXXXXXXW saddle from off the peg?

I'm trying to get my EDT lined up to sort out her teeth, and she's already been reshod - she's VERY heavy on the outside edges of her back shoes - in less than 2 weeks she's already worn through most of the depth of the fullering - I'm hoping my farrier can work on this over time.

Cheers, Ange.

[ange]

Oh - I forgot to say - Millie's now down from over 700Kilos to around 640/645 - but the field that she's sharing with Penny is not exactly green and lush, and she's only had 5 days off in the last 19 - so we'll need to see what happens when we eventually move fields!

[avril]

Hi Ange, lovely to hear it's all going swimmingly for you and Millie. We often have similar problems fitting saddles to very wide backs, and we find the Duett range of saddles a godsend. Go to www.duett.co.uk and I can guarantee a suberb fit working with templates. There might even be a stockist near you.

[angie]

Hi Ange,

I'm so glad things are going well for you with Millie. I too have issues with hacking alone, but I took Ella out on Sunday for a quicky for the first time in a year and she was very good on the whole. We did a few strides of canter and she behaved beautifully. But she did take exception to some scarey brambles, and went into the field about 20 feet, before taking notice of me!! I got her calm again and she carried on normally.
Anyway, keep up the good work, and post some piccies!!

Angie and Ella x

[ange]

Thanks Avril, I had already looked at the Duett site but I don't think there is a stockist anywhere nearby - I need to wait until she's closer to her ideal weight, and I'm not sure how long that will take to achieve, so I've got to be a little patient (not to mention sell a couple of saddles that I already have that won't ever come near fitting her to fund a new one).

The following is a link to a youtube video of Millie when I first tried her - you can see just how fat she was! www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD3WApvZfy0

Cheers, Ange.

[ange]

The YouTube link again - as a hyperlink this time (hopefully)!

[ange]

Gave in trying for the EDT and got the vet to do Millie's teeth this week - he doesn't think they'd been done for at least 4 years - if ever! He removed lots of sharp edges, two massive hooks and a big wave - she still needs more work but needs 3-4 months before we start again! After a couple of days off she does seem happier in her mouth. ;D

Got 'attacked' by a goose today - as it ran at us I put my leg on and asked Millie to go forwards, which she did quite happliy, and back the goose off - it had other ideas and ran straight at her front legs, but she didn't do anything other than hurumph at it (I think that translated to 'silly goose'!) and then walked past it and its mate as if they wern't even there.

Also met a chainsaw being used alongside a bridle path - we put her friend Jim in front just in case but she never batted an eyelid at it! Such a good girl!!! Makes up for bombing around the fields yesterday half out of control (but with both of us having fun)!

Cheers, Ange.

[liz]

Really seems as if you have a treasure there, Ange

[ange]

Thanks Liz!

She does have her 'less positive' points but so far I've been coping OK with everything and learning that there is no real naughtyness or malice behind any of it and that she does always stay tuned in to me at some level.

A good example - Millie and Penny moved fields on Sunday night and are now next to two other mares - Millie is TOTALLY besotted with one of them (sentiments are NOT shared!)
We hacked alone and she pretty much jogged and called all of the way, and looked desperately at every horse we passed in the fields along the lanes, plus it had taken me 4 attempts to get on as she was too hyped to want to stand at the mounting block. I only really had time for a short ride but ended up being out for an hour until we had done enough to get her hot and tired enough to want to listen to me and to mostly walk on a relaxed rein.

But we got back in one piece and it probably did both of us some good!

Cheers, Ange.

[ange]

Just a quick update as its been over a month since my last posting!

We are now hacking happily both alone and in company - I've done rides by myself that I haven't done for such a very very long time, and with no incidents - it feels so good it just can't be explained in words!

Re the goose down the lane - we are currently running a 1-1 with him - last time we met Millie decided she wasn't keen to take him on a second time and ran backwards for a few feet - the goose took this as a victory and waddled off - beak held high and obviously very pleased with himself. Bless her she then walked past him with no concerns!

We've had our first lesson this week - at last - only managed to bag 0.5 hour with the instructor I've been after, but have another couple of .75 hour sessions arranged now. The lesson flew past and was really worthwhile - some bad habits were creeping in, partly encouraged by the saddle I'm currently stuck with - by the end we were a much better team and had some things to work on.

Millie has now lost (according to my weigh-tape) in excess of 80 kilos - but she's still 'obese' - if anything she looks more so, as she now has fat over much better muscle, so looks more lump and bumpy than before!

More Riding Club activities now in the pipeline. Oh, and Penny seems to have settled a lot better now with Millie - if I take Millie out of the field to ride, Pen is often waiting for her when we get back - thank goodness.

Cheers, Ange.

[liz]

It's good to hear how well you've progressed, Ange. I had once a super WC xTB mare and I adored her. I could ride her out anywhere (so long as there wasn't heavy traffic around!!!) and she was fine though was always very sharp and a bit spooky. However, if I rode out with anyone and we went out separate ways she would be quite awful! She'd shout and it was like sitting on a rubber ball! She didn't refuse to go in another direction - just made her feelings very clear!