There was something in the air this morning

[dalesnfellfan]

I usually have no trouble getting the ponies in for their breakfast, they see the car pull up and are around to the gate almost before I get out of the car. This morning however they saw  me coming with their head collars and decided to b***er off, they then both galloped, bucking and leaping  around the field for 30 minutes, they eventually came for a bucket with a few nuts and just as I was putting the rope around Connies neck Em shot off again taking Connie with her.  I went and got on with some jobs and left the gate open for them to come into the yard, which they did eventually and found a bit of fresh grass near the gate, so I crept round them and closed the gate to stop them going back into the field.

So what does Emerald do next? finding her self cornered, she calmly hopped over the 3ft something electric fence from a standstill back into her field. Had to get more food to catch Connie but once separated  they decided to give in fairly gracefully, it had only taken 50 minutes to catch them!!

So eventually Connie and I set off for our ride, she was much quieter than usual, no bouncing down the road this morning, she'd obviously worn herself out galloping around the field. We went down a short green lane which has recently been cleared right back and a new horse sleeper bridge put in over a muddy wet ditch which previously we had to wade through under low hanging branches.  this she had never had a problem with, she also had never had a problem with any of the other bridges we have on our bridle paths even one really scary one with steps up onto it.

Today however the new small bridge was going to eat her, and she insisted it was safer to plodge through the water and mud beside the bridge, ponies!!, mine certainly tried my patience today, perhaps it's spring in the air.

[harveydales]

Oh dear! I think the grass is coming through. Dolly was a complete pain on Sunday. She's been so good loading into the trailer with Harvey lately but on Sunday she refused. She wasn't being stroppy or worried, she was just saying NO. So I ended up going to our endurance ride with just Harvey. FIngers crossed she is in a better frame of mind this Saturday for our Trec clinic. These Dales ponies are very opinionated, especially the mares!

[dalesnfellfan]

Yes they are both certainly opinionated, but show it in different ways, Em is prone to be the more bolshy of the two and will throw her weight around and can be a bit awkward.
Connie is much more sensitive and very polite but she has an opinion on most things and makes sure you know it, all in a very polite way. She is happy to do what is asked of her as long as her rider is very clear about what they want, if however you dither around at all she will take charge and thinks you clearly don't know what your doing.

They were both different ponies this morning, calm and happy to relax in the sun.

[harveydales]

Good, glad to hear they are back to normal. Dolly was too this morning. I think Dolly is like Em in temperament and Harvey is more like Connie.

[dalesnfellfan]

I often think that Connie looks rather like Harvey from photos, it will be interesting to see if there is a resemblance in the flesh, I would love to know her breeding and how much Dales she actually has in her, I think at least 50% but maybe with a bit of something like TB as well, I used to think she was all Dales but just not registered, but as she has bulked up her chest is still a bit narrow for a Dales, that could be due to all those years of being stabled 24/7 with no or little turn out though.

[Debbie]

it's definitely the time of year. Mine are already showing Springtime Sillies the mares are so so much worse, especially the ones who've had foals. They go into season and lose their minds completely.

So glad yours finally settled down, but yes, Spring can be a trying time for riding or even just basic handling