THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

30 March 2012

FIRST FOAL, AN ADDER AND A PAIR OF NUTHATCHES

Didn't expect to be posting so soon but, while out looking for Betty this afternoon, I found one of her herd has had the first foal in this area. There are two small herd's around here this year. I saw this mare three days ago so the foal is pretty new and it was a still bit wobbly today.



Also came across a dead adder. Looks like it may have been trodden on by a pony. We have a pair of Nuthatches breeding in the nest box in the garden which is very exciting. I will try and get a picture but it's a bit tricky without a telephoto lens; they're a little shy.

29 March 2012

INTRODUCTIONS


I am new to blogging so please forgive any mistakes I may make, technical or otherwise. I live on Dartmoor with my partner, son and dog Snippet. My pony, Trigger, lives about a mile away as the crow flies and last August 22nd, after over a year of working with him to resolve a lot of behavioural issues, a freak accident out on the moors resulted in me breaking my neck, my back in three places and nearly all my ribs. Amazingly, I had a mobile signal and was able to phone for help; I had no feeling from the waist down at that stage. To cut a long story short, I was air ambulanced out and operated on the following day. The feeling in my legs had come back after half an hour or so, which was miraculous and after twelve days in hospital, I was sent home to begin the recovery which is still ongoing. Trigger was fine and galloped home but is not going to be ridden by me again. After seven months of doing very little, a lot of his behaviour has reverted to when he first arrived so, once I’m able, I want to get back doing groundwork with him, and train him to carry panniers of gorse for our kindling if possible. The fantastic Anna Bonnage helped me get to the stage we were at before the accident and I would love to get her to help me again. Her web site is really worth a visit (see the link below) and I can’t recommend her highly enough. She has made me look at all aspects of horsemanship in a totally new and inspiring way. I need money to pay for it so I thought I would at last get round to selling my drawings if I can. I’ve meant to do so for twenty years but there has always been a reason not to; usually time. So, now is the moment and I was advised that writing a blog would be helpful. 

As well as general observations, I want to follow Trigger’s progress and also a Dartmoor mare who I think will give birth nearby. I’ve called her Betty and she is utterly gorgeous. She will allow me to get pretty close to photograph her at the moment and is never further than about a mile from here. She runs with a small herd and I try and check on her every day if I can find her. I will start drawing her soon and I just hope I can catch her beauty on paper. I think we live in the most beautiful place on earth but obviously I’m heavily biased. I love it so much I am always pleased to get back from holiday. I’m hoping to share a little of its magic through photography and drawing.


Betty
Grazing on a hazy early morning at the beginning of March


Trigger

Trigger is 13 years old by a show pony stallion out of a Welsh section C mare. He is 13.3hh and most adults wouldn’t be seen dead on him. I, however, didn’t mind looking ridiculous at 5’9”. He is not a suitable ride for a child, being very unpredictable and flighty. He goes like a bomb which was very appealing until I found what coming off at that speed can do to your bones! Something went wrong and he came out looking a bit like a chestnut seahorse. His head is too small and he was considered ‘wild’ and un-trainable as a youngster. Details are sketchy but it is clear something bad happened to him at some point. He is very nervous, particularly around his hind legs, which he picks up before asking. He was backed at the age of 7 and used in a riding school environment. He was rescued from this life by the very kind friend who, after having him for a couple of years, gave him to me after the breadth of his problems transpired during my having him for a trial period. Despite what happened last year, I adore him and am looking forward to having a large equine dog to exercise with our dog Snippet, along with training him to carry panniers. He does need to work for his keep.


Trigger
 
Snippet

Snippet will be three at the end of August and is a Lakeland/Patterdale terrier cross. We thought he was going to be short haired but every winter when the snow comes, his coat seems to gain an inch in length. He is lovely but does tend to get very over-excited with humans. He is very obedient generally but refuses to stop jumping up at people, particularly when they encourage it!


Snippet
Sitting on his favourite rock