Saturn - ace gate opener!

[greydales]

I took Saturn out on his own today, I knew he would be extra spooky as he hasn't been out for a while and sure enough it took quite a while to get around the lanes! ;D

However we did meet a huge tractor and slurry tank twice and he was pretty good, only stepped away and didn't try to spin round and tank off.

Then got onto the bridle path which has LOADS of gates, and he was a little star! He stood by each one, a few I had to drop the reins and practically climb up his neck to manhandle them open and closed and he didn't move ;D. Another I had to stand him next to it and kick it open with my boot, it was so stiff - again he stood stock still. What a good boy!! He got a bit of carrot for each gate . Had some fab canters across the farm fields and he's now in the lush grass with Toby and Gem (see other thread!).

[DalesLady]

fantastic! what a good boy this pony is turning out to be Gill

[Debbie]

Awwhhhhh...well done Saturn!!!

[harveydales]

What a good boy! He really is soooooooo like Harvey. Harvs hasn't been ridden in a while so was extra spooky today and it took us ages to get anywhere but he will happily stand stock still for as long as I want. One day we will have to organise a hack together - I can just imagine the 2 of them argueing over who will go first past the scary object.

[greydales]

LOL Pam, I imagine our hack would take some time!! ;D The trouble with Saturn is if he is with a horse who refuses to go forwards then no way can I get Sat to go . He's better off on his own as he has to make his own mind up!

The last fun ride we did we had to cross a cattle grid over which they had put some layers of carpet then some straw; well the first horse flatly refused to go and I couldn't even get Saturn within 20ft of it! A man had to lead him over in the end

I must bring him over some time, it would be a laugh even if we didn't get very far ;D

[NFK Dumpling]

We have times when ours are so busy trying to hide behind one another that they are past the "scarey" thing before they realise!

[harveydales]

LOL Gill! We could be out a very long time then!

[leannwithconnie]

Gill sounds as if he will be a star at the Handy pony classes then.

[greydales]

Feb 12, 2008 15:43:08 GMT -1 leannwithconnie said:

Gill sounds as if he will be a star at the Handy pony classes then.

I don't think so somehow Leann - he is the spookiest pony I know! But can do gates LOL

[taffydales]

What a good boy, Merls is great with gates aswell Gill, except when we do a letrec and then the gates are monsters lol.

[leannwithconnie]

Feb 12, 2008 15:46:52 GMT -1 greydales said:

Feb 12, 2008 15:43:08 GMT -1 leannwithconnie said:

Gill sounds as if he will be a star at the Handy pony classes then.

I don't think so somehow Leann - he is the spookiest pony I know! But can do gates LOL

sorry Gill I t was is Gate opening technique I was referring to ;D

[greydales]

I expect he'd be like Merlin and the gate would change into a pony eating ogre lol!

My horse Pip was absolutely fantastic at gates but when we did a trail class (western version of Handy Pony) he spooked and faffed and I couldn't even get through it! Another funny thing was a black bin - in his field he drank out of one - then when I had to drop a football into one at a Trail Class no way could I get him anywhere near it

Aren't they funny!

[harveydales]

LOL yes, they are always ready to make a fool of you but thats partly what makes them such great characters. ;D

[bevbob]

Brilliant! at my last yard there was lots of gates and Bobs was only ever good at opening them when we were coming home lol.