BOOTED ENDURANCE

Follow Fanta through the next year growing from a cheeky yearling to an even cheekier 2 yr old!

08 November 2009

Another year has passed for young Fanta and last week she turned two years old. 

I have started doing a bit more work with her while I am not riding Jack to get her use to things that she will be encountering in a year or two, but she is a horse that wont be backed until she is at least 3 - 3.5 or possibly even 4 years old.  Some days she looks so grown up in the face but she is just a baby still physically :).  Plenty of years ahead of us for that.  

I have spent the last few days teaching her some slow work on the lunge for a few minutes at a time.  Basically learning to listen to the 'walk on' and 'halt' verbal commands and also the saddle was on her today to test her reaction - she did not blink an eye!  In a few years when she is ready to be backed I am hoping with all the groundwork I will be able to do most of it myself - time will tell! 

Below are a few piccies of Zintahn Fantasia growing up.

October 2009

Well where has the year gone!!!  Finally after close to four months of rain we have had some amazing weather this past week and decided today with Fanta nearly two year old, I better get started on some more 'task' orientated work with her.

So with the sun shining and the birds singing in she came for some 'time to be a horse' type things to do.

Task number one was leg boots.  Reason I use leg boots is basically protection from knocks to limit the risk of splints etc. 

Task number two was a saddle pad with surcingle around it to keep it in place.

Task number three was a bit in her mouth.  I don't actually ride in a bit but while I was thinking of things to do I figured may as well pop it in.  Once she accepted it well it was taken out.

The final task (task number 4) was to be lead around our paddocks from Jack going over fallen tree branches, leaves sticking up and brushing her stomach, a small trot, a sideways and halting when asked. 

 I was absolutely wrapped with how she took this all in her stride.  She would think things out, if she got a bit excited while being ponied she responded beautifully with my requests of her and trotted and halted on command while I was in the saddle.  I can not wait and I am so excited to see this girl under saddle in a few years time.  In the meantime over summer she will start getting out and about with Jack and experience more of the big wide world.  She is a big girl and has a lot of growing - I don't anticipate her being ready to  be backed until between 3 and 4 years of age at least. 

 Lesson 1 - learning patience with boots on.        Lesson 2 - learning patience with boots and back pad on.          Lesson 1 & 2 complete.

 Lesson 1, 2 & 3 (bit in) are complete and waiting patiently for removal of the bit and her next lesson.

June 2009

Fanta has settled in really well to the new property and I am sure is loving all the grass.  She will get out and about soon to the beach and lessons as soon as we get some nice fine weather again.

28 March 2009

Fanta had another trip to the beach today and was wonderful.  She self loaded onto the float to go there and on the way home.  Once again she took it all in her stride.  Although freezing and blowing a gale when we left it turned into a really hot day and was lovely to spend it at the beach! Happy snaps of the day.

20 February 2009

I took Fanta out to the beach today for some variety.  She hasnt been out for ages and I am sure is totally bored hanging around in the paddock while her brother gets to have all the fun.

To say that this filly amazes me constantly is an understatement.  Yes like all babies she has her moments and that is to be expected but over all she takes new experiences in her stride. 

Initially we walked through all different depths and colours of sand with no fuss, had to walk down a scary slippery track with sand moving and sliding around her out on to the beach..... still no fuss.

Walked along the beach through the puddles of water left from the outgoing tide..... no fuss, out into the ocean.... no fuss :)  trotting through the water - not a care in the world, walking and trotting her over dead trees in the sand.... wonderful.

She has such a calm head on her, yes she will get a fright, but she stops, looks and moves in to investigate and decides it is harmless.  Along the shore is alot of sand erosion with dead tree roots and branches everywhere, from hanging over us to around and under us - scary enough to an older horse let alone a baby.  She looked, was hesitant at getting to close but walked up to them, over them and around them calmly even though I could see she wasnt totally comfortable she remained calm and listened.

We finished the walk back up one of the narrow skinny tracks but this one she could not see around the bend, a stop, quick assessment and onward she moved leading the way.

To top off the day (after a not so great loading session on the way there) she self loaded for the first time and waited happily on the float for her journey home  :)

To say I was amazed and proud of her would not even come close to covering her outing today :)

Waiting (not so patiently) at the float

Well as I mentioned on Jack's page with renovating and selling the house I have not had alot of time with the horses apart from the normal things we do with them.  Grooming, feet, trimming, feeding, rugging etc and the odd lesson here and there with Fanta to reinforce her yielding and general handling and the odd walk up the road.

The first beautiful weekend we had I decided it was bath time.  She stood with the rope looped over the fence and handled it all without batting an eyelid - I was so proud of her. 

Aftewards with the help of a friend we decided to line her up next to Jack who is 15.2hh to see how far off this stocky little (or should I say not so little) yearling filly is height wise.  I was rather surprised!!!!!