Teddy Log #19 - ready to ride! Well I am ...

Have bought a swinging fender stock saddle, riding boots and helmet now so I have all that I need to ride. Teddy has a bit more familiarization to do with the area and a check from the saddle fitter, but once that is done YIPEE!

I cant wait.

Teddy Log #18 - He should be in movies!

What a performer Teddy is! I went out to the back paddock yesterday to find him standing by the fence. I call him from the gate but he doesn't move which is very unusual seeing that he is often on the go. He looks at me and sings out a little neigh but doesn't budge from his spot. I think it's interesting that he's calling out to me but not moving. As I get closer I pull a carrot out of my pocket. His favourite! Teddy see's it, nods his head in my direction but still does not move an inch.

I wonder if he is alright and walk straight over to him. He's not evasive like he can be - just stands there. He's not even reacting at all. I offer the carrot and he takes a bite, but again he doesn't move his feet or body. The next bite I hold out of his reach. He stretches his neck but doesn't move his feet and doesn't get a bite of the carrot. He just stands there looking all, "Ah well no carrot for me then".

I start to freak, OMG he's injured himself! He cant walk! He must of hurt his leg! I check him all over but cant see anything. I straighten his rug which is covered in mud and which he hates me adjusting and would normally do a 180 about face, I think that maybe he's hurt himself rolling - he swishes his tail in disapproval but doesn't move. You're kidding - he must be bad.
He reaches his head around for another bite of carrot. Again I put it out of reach and he takes 1 pathetic step to get it. OMG he must be suffering the poor boy!

His ears are forward, his head is low, he's breathing fine... not exactly the signs of suffering. Well lets see then shall we... I walk away to the back fence. After a minute he takes a few steps towards me. He doesn't look like he's limping but maybe he's too slow, I think.

The neighbour in the property behind me pulls up in a car on their land. Teddy pricks his ears up and watches them. He looks find but I think that maybe that lazy stance is due to soreness. I decide that the only way I'm going to find out without causing issue is to ignore him, so I walk right away. He's still watching the neighbours but I catch him sneak a peak. I walk all the way to the front of the paddock and lean against a tree and wait.

I wait 5 minutes before he gives in and starts walking towards me. A nice leisurely walk mind you, no limping, no stiffness, just that cute horsey sway they have. Half way to me he sees me watching and stops and eats grass, almost like he was pretending he really hadn't moved!
I chuckle to myself and pretend to look the other way but watch him out the corner of my eye. His head pops up and he starts walking towards me again stopping about two body lengths away. The whole time he looks perfectly healthy and fine. I watch as he eats a semi circle of grass around me. I say, "Hey Teddy" his eyes shift in my direct as he continues to eat grass, but I get the distinct feeling that if he could speak he would have said, "Oh, its you, I hadn't noticed."

I finally move and give him a pat on the cheek. He lifts his head as if to say "A scratch here would be nice," so I give him a rub between the eyes.

Give the horse an Oscar! He played me like a fiddle!

Teddy Log #17 - saddling up

Teddy and I had a wonderful day trying his new saddle on for size and getting about all geared up. He was excellent in everyway and has even convinced Steve that he's really a 15.3 hh sweetheart. I cant wait to see what happens next.

Teddy Log #16 - wet, wet, wet

what more can I say. We slosh about in the rain but the best think is Teddy seeks me out more and more. He come to the front gate now when I pull up in the car and yesterday i wasn't paying attention to him, just talking to Steve and the dogs and he neighed out to me!

what an attention seeker! LOL!

Teddy Log #15 - Video of PNH games 1,2 & 3

Welcome to the first Teddy video log!

To make this video I took Teddy to our front paddock were I usually work with him as I get the commuting traffic in the evening and this is something I want him to get used to.

It was filmed by my partner Steve yesterday evening in the bitter cold (my fingers were so numb and I'm layer upon layer under that coat!).

Steve has serious trust issues with Teddy so it was good of him to do this for me.

I have edited the video but only the parts that aren't needed. All the work and errors we make are in the full length version at our website.

Preview below - to view 10 minute video go to www.steveandtania.com and click on Smarty Pants Productions.


Hints, tips, feedback is most welcome.

Teddy Log #14 - treatment going well

Kerry came and he is doing a lot better but still some why to go. I also went and tested some more saddles and I think I will go for the stock saddle. Just which one as they are all very expensive.

Teddy Log #13 - gezz he's a clever horse!

I had some undemanding time with Teddy and as soon as he saw me he wanted to be with me, walking straight up to me, which made me feel good. I went and sat on a tree and he came over looking for more pats, though still watchfully, and was busy sniffing my gum boots etc. He wandered off to the side and when I didn't follow he stopped and kept looking back at me. I just talked to him and he just stayed where he was but glanced back every minute or so.

I decided to go to the back of the property to see if I could find any roo's and he followed right behind me but wasn't in my face. And then off in the distance I saw him catch sight of the feed bucket I left on the other side of the front gate - so off he went. I didn't follow, just observed.

I have never seen a horse stretch his neck over a fence as far as Teddy did! He finally got his mouth on the bucket (just), picked it up and dragged it to him. What nimble lips he must have. I went over and took it from him leaving it on the other side of the fence so i could unlatch the gate and he got hold of the bucket again and moved it back! I just said "give it to me smarty" and he put it down. I unlatched the gate and stuck his head in to sneak a mouthful. I know it was naughty of him but it was funny!

It was a feel good horse day for me even if it was in the rain.

Teddy Log #12 - Play time

Headed out after work to Sunbury to check out some saddles. I think I'm more confused than I was before all this! LOL! No I was really just trying them on for size and with the size of my bum that was a good idea. I am looking for something average but OK and to tick boxes until I know what I am doing with Teddy and how things will pan out with him. It seems a wintec is the most likely as they are interchangeable gullets that will help with whatever fit.

After that, when I got home I went out and played with him in the little light that I had left. I can get him to play as long as I don't have a halter in my hand. At one stage he did get fed up with me and walked off. I got him to come back and got him following me in spirals. He was very cute about it. I took out a carrot and tempted him with it but he would not more his feet - trying once again to be the boss - so the more I moved away the more he stretched and stretched that long neck of his and then he went "Nope I'm not budging". When he did I gave him a nibble.

I know some people will say that playing with food isn't the way but I initially had him without it and then I think it was a good tool to keep him engaged.

It was a short and sweet play but positive none-the-less.

Teddy Log #11 - I did it my way

Ok, well the catching was an issue again. Forward, retreat, forward, retreat. 45 minutes later I got him to relax by my side and then I put the halter on. He was a bit nervous but fine. Simply led him around with the halter lead loose and did not let him past my shoulder or eat grass etc. I stopped each time he needed correction and just let him have a think about it after putting him in the position i wanted him - which was basically a step or two backward. I took him near the road so the cars could go past and just let him deal with it and have a think about it. He was pretty good really; lowering his head and getting a pat. I would watch until his bottom lip slackened then move on.. A long session but worth while. Gave me hope in him.

Will look up some techniques for catching for tomorrow.

Teddy Log #10 - Fearful horse may be the wrong horse for me

My Teddy is not the same horse that I bought, to the extent that the person I took with me to buy him, a horse rider/trainer/breaker/dressage/show person etc with over 30 years experience, asked me if I thought that he may have been drugged when I bought him.

I know deep down in my heart that he is a sweet and gentle guy but he just seems to be fearful and fretting more and more. He is started to show some unpredictable tendencies which concern me.

I searched the register and spoke to his breeder; the person who had him 9 years then sold him to the person I bought him from (the latter only had him 4 months). I believe what the breeder was saying to me as I think that she would have nothing to gain from telling me lies. By all accounts Teddy should be a well adjusted horse with extensive dressage, polo and jumping experience and no vices.

But since I've have him (3 months) I discovered that his shoes were not properly down giving him soreness in his frog and some lameness, which I am correcting. My farrier even asked if he was previously done by a qualified farrier! He also has girth, neck and back soreness from an ill fitting saddle that even I could see didn't fit when I went there. She also gave me his rugs that don't fit and he's gained weight since I've had him! I think he needs a companion even though she claimed his was a solo horse, as he passes and runs around a lot. He is also fearful for reasons unknown, which is my biggest concern.

I could take him back to the person I bought him from and demand my money back and have two people who could verify his issues, however I am not going to return him to that kind of treatment. He deserves better.

He may need a companion, better training or an understanding person and I will continue to try to do this but I have concerns that I will go to a great deal of time and expense for little gain. I am at a loss in so many ways about this problem.

What I have decided to do for now is to work with him much more extensively every day. Luckily I have a very supportive partner who will take on all the other things around the house while I do this. I will see if I can get him through this fretting and fear and at the same time look for an old school master to either be his companion or to have him learn from, or sell him on.

I really love my Teddy bear but I cant justify the expense of a horse that doesn't meet my requirements.