Another outing....

Harry went for a hack in the forest on Monday, along with a friends mare. We came to a gate that was locked, and the only way round was via a ledge that was 12" across, and with a huge water filled ditch on it. My friend and her mare had to ride all the way back, but Harry being Harry just put his head down and very slowly and carefully walked around the ledge. He is part mountain goat of course!

On Thursday we went to Woodhill Sands again. They were holding a twilight SJ night, so I took harry for another outing. I had Kellie come along to ride him. Kellie lost her nerve a couple of years ago and is very very nervous about riding and certainly about jumping. She had a great time on Harry, and together they made a great pair, even trotting over the X a few times!

Steph was there on her flash horse, so she jumped on Harry afterwards to see if she could manage a canter on him...she got about 3 or 4 strides before he decided it was FAR too much hard work....

Not sure who is more exhausted...Steph or Harry...

This photo below shows the scar on his neck (just above the rein). This is a war wound that he obtained during his time in the wild. When I first got him, it was huge, and enlarged - about 4" diam and at least an inch high off his neck in places. Over time it has reduced, and now it is flat and just scarred on the skin.

The "before" pics...straight from the wild...

These pics are of Harry and the foals that were rounded up at the same time as him. Pics taken 48 hours after they were rounded up.

Harry on the far right:

First time out...

Today Harry went for his first ride in the truck since he was rounded up from the ranges in 2007. He loaded and travelled like a pro, and came off the other end very relaxed and happy.
We went to Woodhill Sands as there was a low key show hunter day on.

I had a friend ride him so that I could lead him and manage him on the ground in case he was worried about being out and about. I needn't have worried about him though, he was happy as larry and didnt care at all about the other horses.

Anyway, Harry was a star, and even jumped the practice fence a few times. Go Harrison!

Riding time

Time for Harry to come back into work after many months off. Of course he was a piece of cake...still not keen on anyone but me catching him but at least he allows Steph to ride him now.

So....his "S"uperman tags arrived in the post this weekend, and soon he will be ready to make his debut! Cant wait to see the little guy out and about.
Plan is to geld him in the spring, of course plans can always change ;-)

Harry the ridden pony

Finally, Harry is ridden!

In the space of a week, harry has been dragged back into domestic life! We had Warrick McLean out from Australia and I was extremely fortunate that he was able to come here and do some more groundwork and then he sat on him in the stable.

YAY!

The next day I decided that if he can do it, so can I...and so I got on him and it was great just to finally be sitting on my boy!

And he is measured at 14.2hh. I guessed him at 14hh..will remeasure him when we trim his feet!

Then we took him into the roundpen where Leanne had a proper ride ;-) So exciting!

Bridle on, check! Roller on, check!

Having been turned out over winter and pretty much not had anything done to him, I decided it was time he stopped being on welfare and started to get a job.

So..yesterday was a refresher of tying up and grooming. Today we put the roller on, and then led him out into the round pen. I didn't do it up too tight at first as I thought he might object...no...he didn't give a damn. So then I did it up tight, and again, no reaction! We walked around and he just doesnt mind at all.

So then I figured I may as well try the bridle on for size. Well he has a big head for a little pony! He fits Lucy's bridle and bit just fine lol.

So here he is, first time ever with a bridle and roller on, and I swear you'd think he'd had one on before! And yes I let the rope lay on the ground while I took photos. He ground ties and doesn't move at all, so I have no issue with doing it with him!

And no, he's not gelded yet ;-)

Cover time

Harry's first time with a cover on. I didnt leave it on as it was a bit small for him.

And I have NO idea who Magic is or was!

Can anyone help with guessing Harry's age?

Im keen to know what anyone things about Harry's age. These are the best teeth pics I can get... I am guessing he is around 5yrs old?
Feel free to email me or leave a message in the comments section!
Thanks!

Harry ties up

This morning Harry had the saddle pad on again, and the roller with girth attached. I didnt' do the girth up, but did swing it all over him. Previously he's freaked out about anything falling to the floor off him, but now he's an old hand at it and just stands there.

Then I decided to see if he would tie up. I looped the long rope through a piece of twine, and hung on to it. When he pulled back I kept the pressure up and he soon realised that if he stepped forwards it released the pressure immediately. Two goes, and he's a legend to tie up!

I had to dash back to the house to get my camera, and he stood there quietly tied up while I went. Not ideal in safety terms, but I was confident he was very relaxed and happy. It was all done inside the large stable, and Im sure it will be different when he's outside loose, but hey, first things first!

Very proud of Mr Harrison!

Holiday is over Harry!

So...today after having such a great morning with Byron, I decided to bring Harry in and do the same. He must be learning by osmosis, as ive not touched him in months (as usual!) and wow, he was a different pony today. I was able to get him in the stable and walk straight up to him and put the halter on. Normally it takes a bit of patience and slow movement, but today he was almost like a real horse lol!

I even was able to give him a bit of a haircut, we pulled his tail out and gave it the chop. I think I got about 4" off the bottom, as it was dragging on the ground. its still too long, but at least he won't trip over it now.

I put a saddle pad on him and then put the roller (sans girth) on the top. The only time IVe ever had anything on his back before was when I put my jumper on him and he freaked out completely lol. So today was quite a surprise for me to find that he was very cruisey about it all.

He better stay that way, cause I want to be on him soon!

Zzzzzz.....

Sleepy time....Harry and his little friend Hummer taking in the early morning sun! Too cute.

Back to school harry!

After having a few months of doing nothing.....pretty much what he's done all his life...Harry was brought back down to reality yesterday with a resounding thud.

Time for action!

We recapped all that was done back in Feb...halter on, turning and leading inside the stable..then ventured outside and leading etc.

All with his little ginga shadow beside him....

The little ginga is a new foal from the 2008 Kaimanawa muster. He belongs to a friend...his blog is http://www.kaimanawahummer.blogspot.com/

Harry ventures outside and learns to lead

Ive only handled harry in the confines of the stable so far, and today we ventured outside. Hes leading in a circle..but never in a straight line for more than a few steps due to the size of the stable.

I opened the stable door, and out we went. It took a while but we managed to travel about 20m and then turn around and come back. The return trip was much faster! He was great and though he walked like a drunk at least he walked on the lead.

Thought he might freak out being *attached* to me out in the paddock, but not at all. He wasn't worried at all, in fact it was no different to being IN the stable.

Im away now for a week so no handling again till next week. Hopefully my chief photographer will be back then too.

Harry meets Yellow

Yellow came home today for a few weeks before he heads south to Wellington. Harry wasn't that interested in him but Yellow decided to make friends anyway. Then promptly proceeded to take a piece out of poor Harry.

That boy needs to grow some balls and bite back...oh thats right, he does have balls...

Free Turning, no lead

Now I know all you folks out there who do your natural horsemanship/parelli/monty roberts/insert other brand name etc... will have a name for this..but anyway, I don't know what it is other than to say my horse has all eyes on me and it was great.

I was able to unclip the lead, and have him follow me round in a circle - kind of a turn on the forehand - in each direction. He then stood quietly at the end while I unclipped him and then he was free to go back out into the paddock and have some hay.

There ends today's lessons! A lot crammed into a 20minute slot! But he was SO good and just took everything in his stride. Go the German Riding Pony Stallion lol!

360 degree turns

Now I decided to turn him a full circle on each rein, without any pressure on the lead. He was so intent on what I was doing, he kept his entire focus on me the entire time. He happily turned around with me and we did two full circles on each rein with no pressure.