#57 - Halter off and all systems go!

It's been a flat out time for me at the moments, I think this time of years it's the same for everyone. Work has dominated so the majority of the time I spend with Teddy is bonding time and it has proved to be very beneficial. I'm still with him each day but one day it could be for 5 minutes and the next it could be 45 minutes.

He's either in the riviera or the hallway (name of two of our paddocks) as the top paddock has the 3 cows in it and they are getting to know each other. Teddy has been seeking me out, he plays scratching games, always wants to be with me, he follows me around and knows that if I stop walking he has to stop behind me and not let his neck pass my side. He does this every time now.We spend most of our social time with him loose but every other day its all done on lead and all has been good. He gets attention and neighs out for attention when he sees me. He is even seeking Steve out and Steve is responding with a pat! I actually think Steve is starting to like him!

The other day I took a handful of chaff out to him with some vitamins in it and he loved it (I do this about every third day). I left the little tub I used in the paddock with Teddy. The next day I came home from work and he was at the fence so I walked over and had a chat and pat. Teddy picked up the tub with his teeth and placed it on top of the gate, holding on to it and nodding his head up and down in front of my face. I laughed and he flung it over the gate at my feet! I love that cheeky streak in him.

I still see a tiny bit of negative attitude about the lead rope but he usually just walking a few steps away then he stops and lets me drape it around his neck. I feels that is pretty good progress, at least its a far cry for running a mile.

The halter is now off him (as of today) and I will see what comes next.

#56 - Horse question if anyone can help

I have Teddy in the hallway this weekend and I took him out some water and watched him drink, something I don't do regularly. I noticed that he took a drink then when he lifted his head just above the bucket he had a wide yawning expression on this face without the eye fluttering, and he was rolling his tongue around. He took another drink and did the same thing. Then again. I took a good look in his mouth while he was doing it and couldn't see anything, though his tongue block sight of the back of his mouth. Other times I have seen him drink he hasn't done this and I cant recall ever seeing a horse do this. It is usually just slurp, slurp and that's it. After that he just played with the bucket and the grooming box which he has always done.

I might be being paranoid but I will see if I can capture it on tape tomorrow and post it.

I was wondering if it's normal or if it was a sign of anything I should be concerned about. I was thinking of getting a dentist out soon (when I take some time off work shortly) so I can eliminate dentistry issues being related to his sudden bridle (and halter) aversion.

Is this a sign of anything as far as any of you knowledgeable horse people out there know of?

Thanks in advance

#56 - foot and mouth

Finally had the farrier trim Teddy's feet and then when I went to give Teddy some worm paste he reared up. The farrier decided I needed help and was anchoring down on him just making things worse. I just watched then said to the farrier to hand him to me. I let Teddy sniff the worm paste and easily gave it to him.

Interestingly I didn't ask for help in the first place, brute stretch didn't help in this situation and I was please my solution was easier and better.

#55 - got ya!

Today Teddy was easily caught in the hallway and was completely fine. He was a bit forward wanting to walk ahead of me but that was quickly corrected then he was groomed and rugged.

As both Steve and I work tomorrow he has been put in the front paddock so things are easier. Hopefully I can work things through from the front paddock but if not I will reinstate the hallway when I get time off work.

Riders club is having a rally this week to which I was invited but I wont be able to attend with Teddy as its at the indoor arena and I cant get us there. Beside I'm not ready for that yet, however I might go check it out.

#54 - How to piss off a horse in one easy lesson...

I thought I had the advantage today as its cold and wet and raining. I went out to the paddock with the lead rope and Teddy's rug determined to catch him as I don't want the bugs to attack him when the sun finally comes back out. My mission was to get the rug on him but in order to do that I needed to catch him.

For an hour and a half (without exaggeration) I kept the pressure on, sometimes running, sometimes crouching in a prey position and crab walking, sometimes just walking by his side with my hand on his bum or back. A few times he stopped and sniffed or engaged with me in some way but as soon as that lead rope went anywhere near him he was off.

I was determined not to stop but the wind got stronger and I was being blown backward, and the sides of my legs from hip to knee were aching from the walking, mud, knee high grass, wind and rain. I just couldn't do it any longer though I tried.

I'm pleased to say that at no stage did I get angry with him and I talked nicely too him the whole time. But I didn't want him to think that he had won so I had to go to plan B (which I made up on the spot).

I picked up the rug and headed back to the shed, got a bucket of his food and went to the opposite side of the paddock, to an area we call the hallway. I called out to Teddy who instantly recognised the feed bucket and came waltzing over. He check out there was no lead rope then approached me cautiously, stopping at the little river in front of the gate caused by the rain. I encouraged him through the gate, gave him the feed and closed the gate behind him. I left him to the feed and went to tend the veggie patch.

While tending my celery I heard the thunder of hooves gallop passed -Teddy had finally worked out he was locked in and couldn't get back to the big paddock. He cracked it badly! He ran up and down for ages, churning up the grass as he screeched to a halt at the crush then turned around and ran back up to the back gate again. He kept this up for a while occasionally stopping near the fence next to me to snort and protest. I just left him to it.

Later I went out to get him some water, but he didn't want it. He was still pacing, not at a run though, and he just looked from me and then back at the big paddock with a longing look in his eyes. When I turned to leave he neighed out to me loudly. I turned around and he looked at me pleadingly then back at the big paddock.

I told him "Suck it up princess" and came inside.

#53 - Teddy came to me and...

...played, followed, got scratches, rested his head on my arm, shadowed me, explored my clothes with his lips and ran to catch up with me. He even came from the back paddock to the front paddock to seek me out. The only difference this time was I only had a phone in my hands.

#52 - What a friggin' shambles!

It was as if Teddy knew that I wanted to catch him! What a nightmare!

I set out about 45 minutes before the farrier arrived thinking that it was a nice hot 32 degrees, I would wash Teddy and by the time the farrier pulled up Teddy would be ready to have his feet done.

Well as soon as Teddy saw me he was off. In the heat I tried everything known to man to get that bloody horse and it was no use. None stop around the paddock I went after that horse. Nothing. 5pm came and I walked over to the farrier explaining that just yesterday I walked right up to Teddy and got him with no issue whatsoever.

I went into the house and got carrots while the farrier waited. No use - the first carrot Teddy took from my hand and when I went to put the lead rope around his neck he bunny hopped backward out of reach and the second time he got a bite of the carrot and nicked off.

I was totally stuffed, hot and defeated and the farrier left without doing Teddy's feet.

I'm lost and out of ideas on how to fix this. If it wasn't for the catching issue we would be right on track as we have overcome so much! But six months later and there is no improvement with the catching at all - its actually worse.

What do I do now?