CUNETIO STABLES

THIS ‘N THAT – June 2006

Summer is here and we have babies bursting out all over!

Our three bantam ladies have all produced babies and are proudly strutting their stuff around the garden followed by their off-spring.  Last night we couldn’t find Gladys and her one remaining chick until a searchlight highlighted them half way up the cherry tree.  Gladys looked most indignant at being spotted and her chick was obviously feeling insecure on the narrow branch and was hiding under her wing with his bum sticking out.  They both had a safe landing this morning.

Talking of heights, another surprise has been Dora the Muscovy duck.  We have had a “To Let” sign up on our dovecote for a while.  Mick built it one afternoon to house our white doves, but sods law said they preferred to live in his workshop so he put up with their droppings and cooings until they were picked off, one by one, by a local sparrow hawk.  It was so sad and despite our best efforts, their two ugly babies died.  But to get back to Dora, she arrived back in February with Dilys and their husband Fred.  A friend had got fed up with them roosting on her chimney and asked if we could give them a home.

Fred disappeared almost straight away but Doris and Dora made friends with the Calling Ducks and tolerated the hens and decided we would do as a new home.  Sadly Doris was caught by the fox early one evening and it was round about then that Dora decided to investigate the dovecote.  After two or three attempts to squeeze in through the entrance she prevailed upon Mick to enlarge the hole to take her rather portly figure (she insists on eating only out of the feed bowl when Mick is holding it…..)  Once in, she discovered a family of rooks had left the place in a pigsty (sorry Flossie and Rosie) so out came all the straw and twigs and a week of nest building produced a beautiful downy soft bed for her eggs.

We fear that they may not be fertile, but haven’t the heart to persuade her to leave them long enough for us to check – and what will be will be.*

Last night a little fluffy black ball rolled out of the bushes as I went down the garden to check the veggies and squish the slugs. As I paused, two more tiny moorhens joined him or her and then equally speedily rolled back under the bush to mum.  It will be interesting to see how they are received by the chicks and ducks.  Will they be morehen than duck?!  Will they be pushed aside because of the colour of their feathers??!

Horris the Tamworth boar joined Flossie and Rosie – our two gilts born on April 4^th - a couple of months ago.  He is a handsome boy and finds living with two assertive ladies quite a trial.  We caught him doing the business with Flossie soon after he arrived.  It was obvious that the whole episode was exhausting and as he flopped in front of the sty Rosie marched up and gave him a kick, for all the world saying “My turn, you lazy so and so.”  He didn’t move an inch so Rosie stood on him and bellowed…..

We missed her turn (I expect she took him behind the sty for a little privacy) but both girls are looking distinctly comely and pregnant so fingers crossed for some lovely little pigglies.  Gestation is three months, three weeks and three days which should bring us up to mid August.  They love to have their tummies rubbed and will flop at your feet with expressions of complete happiness if you can spare a minute or two!

Back at the yard life has not been so easy.  Our much loved pony Tizzy who we bought as a two year old caught herself on a bit of wire.  Within 24 hours she was very lame and in pain.  We called out our vet, Edward de Beukalaer, who prescribed a course of treatment.  She is no longer in pain, but is still quite lame.  Edward has been out almost every day for three weeks and on Bank Holiday Monday arranged to have her x-rayed in case there was any evident damage.

Her treatment has included conventional antibiotics and painkillers and also several homeopathic treatments including arnica, silicea and calendula.  Interestingly, bathing with calendula with a few drops added to her food seemed to make a real improvement to the wound which is now clean and clear.  Mick and I continue to massage her daily and encourage her to put weight on the leg once again.  It is slow progress but we know from an injury she received two or three years ago, that she is a slow healer.

A lot of people have shown their concern.  One person (who remained anonymous but told us she runs a livery yard in Aldbourne) phoned to insinuate that we were not looking after Tizzy properly.  Mick spent over 20 minutes on the phone assuring her that we were doing everything we could but she felt she knew more than us and needed to tell us this.  We then found that we had been reported to the RSPCA for cruelty.  It was immensely upsetting.   Of course we gave the inspector our vet’s telephone number and she was reassured straight away that there was no neglect – in fact far from it.  How sad it is that people feel they have to behave in this way.

We have lots of new people riding with us, in addition to our 50 or so regulars.  We have added a couple of evening rides, one on a Wednesday and one on a Friday.  These are good rides for those returning to riding after a break or who are not quite confident enough to join one of our faster weekend rides.

 *STOP PRESS  I got home from work yesterday to find Mick balanced precariously on a ladder up against the dovecote.  He couldn’t bear to think of Doris sitting on infertile eggs so popped a warm hen’s egg in the nest while Doris was down having a drink….  We’ll let you know!

 HORSE TAILS 2............................

A BANK HOLIDAY TREAT

A wet weekend always has its benefits;  when followed by a sunny day your spirits lift, the horses’ heads go up and the birds sing louder.

That was certainly the case this Bank Holiday (May 30^th).  Nine of us left the yard at 11.30 heading for Barbary Castle.  There’s a bit of roadwork needed to get onto the Downs, but the roads are very quiet and as we clattered through the Ogbournes villagers looked up from their gardening to nod and smile.  Then we were on the Ridgeway;  well spaced, Magic in front with the clattering now a thud, thud, thud as we cantered along, all vigilant for an unexpected rut, a walker or biker, ready to pull up at a moments notice, but hoping we wouldn’t have to!

Three hunting gates to go through – quite a feat managing the gate if we all stay mounted – but we manage it and then we’re off at a gallop, heels down, heads down with the horses just as competitive as the riders.  It takes us 45 minutes to get to the castle and however many times we visit, it’s impossible not to draw breath at the fantastic views. 

The café at the top has a pony paddock so we untack and tie up the horses and sit in the sunshine with a cup of tea and homemade cake.  It’s good to see walkers, bikers, cyclists and kite flyers all enjoying the sunshine and the bank holiday, then it’s off down the ridge and across Fyfield Down.  Molly pulls with excitement, hoping for another run and there are muttered exclamations of “Walk now!” from behind as we settle down for Leg of Mutton woods and the home straight.

We get back just before three and once the horses have been seen to we all collapse on the settees in the tack room.  It’s been a brilliant ride and everyone wants to talk about their favourite bit, the scariest bit, the most exciting bit – and where we’re going next week.

How lucky we are!

Juno and Toby…………..

 (Monday, 17 January 2005)

 At last Spring seems to be in the air.  We saw our first snowdrop on Sunday.  A watery sun finally pushed through the clouds just as we left the yard at 11 am.  Monica rode Teddy, Alan Oscar, Jo took her sweetheart, Magic and Sarah rode Juno. 

Out of all the horses we have broken as youngsters ourselves, I think Juno has been the easiest.  He’s a wellbred, intelligent, thoroughbred Arab from the Crabbet line, a handsome chestnut with the sweetest disposition.  As with all our horses, we didn’t rush anything.  We backed him and long reined him along the lanes for several weeks and then just kept him with the others, watching what went on for almost a year, picking out his feet, grooming and talking to him.  We’d take him out to watch the farrier and he’d watch with interest as his friends were tacked up ready to go out. 

When Mick thought the moment was right, we put on a saddle and bridle and led him gently around the yard.  The next week Mick sat on him and two weeks later he went out on his first ride accompanied by his girl friends Molly and Missy.  That was in October and since then he hasn’t looked back.  He’s only ridden by Sarah at the moment;  she’s sixteen and an extremely competent, confident rider who loves him to bits.  The two of them look such a picture streaming along together, Juno with his tail arched and elegant and Sarah with her long golden hair bouncing on her shoulders.

But where was I……riding out on Sunday.  Up the lane to Sound Bottom and then along the Bridle path to the pumping station.  A steady canter and then a wonderful gallop along the side of the wood for nearly a mile.   Unusually, I stayed out in front with Molly with Magic a close second and then the two thoroughbreds.  The horses love the competition and the chance to let off steam (and so do we!) We strolled back through the woods and ended with a canter across the field to Ethelred.  We always untack as quickly as possible, rub them down if necessary and then put them into their stables for a roll and a rest and a haynet before the next ride. 

As we had an hour or so, Jo Mick and I tacked up Toby, our latest youngster who we bought very cheaply because he is swaybacked and has an enormous aversion to having a bridle put on.  Once it’s on he is quite unconcerned and the saddle and mounting doesn’t bother him either. It’s just getting it over his ears and as he’s quite a big lad and very strong with it, it does take a joint effort!   But we know time and patience will solve the problem and Jo and I trotted him around the block with no trouble at all.  In fact Molly was the one who misbehaved as she was miffed that I’d taken her away from her hay so soon after putting her in her stable.   Food is the most important part of her life without a doubt!  Toby is very affectionate and handsome in his own way with his dark eyes and black nose, and will trot around the yard if he thinks he may get a cuddle.  We try not to give treats except occasionally as it’s far nicer to have a horse seeking your company because he likes you rather than on the off chance that there may be a polo in sight!