people4ponies blog

The RSPCA Report on Hot Branding

2011-09-02T20:30:00.005+01:00

We have had some very good news! The RSPCA have announced the official results of the study about equine identification methods (and particularly hot branding) that they commissioned last year. We were very pleased to have been able to contribute to this study as we had been able to submit a great deal of evidence to support our case against hot branding. The results show very clearly that they now consider hot branding to be unacceptable for moorland equines. To have the RSPCA adding their weight to the other major welfare organisations that have spoken out against hot branding is a huge step forward to getting this practice banned in England and Wales. Hot branding was banned in Scotland in 2010.

Here is the email from the RSPCA which came two days ago. We look forward to receiving the full report later in the year.

We recently commissioned an independent report to identify the best methods to identify moorland ponies. The report was done by a specialist equine welfare scientist working at a UK university. The report considered the practical, economic and animal welfare issues surrounding the different methods of hot branding, freeze marking and microchipping.

The author engaged in consultation with a wide range of other stakeholders, including verderers, owners and vets. Thank you very much for your contribution, which was used by the author in making his recommendations.

The main conclusion of the independent report was that moorland ponies should, like other equines in the UK, have a microchip implanted for individual recognition. The author strongly recommended against the hot branding of moorland ponies. The report is in the process of being published; please provide us with contact details for us to send you a copy.

Alongside the report, the author provided us with recommendations for advice to give out on the RSPCA website, based on the independent recommendations. The website changes are being made live soon – and we wanted you to be one of the people who know about it in the first instance. The website can be found at http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/horses/health/identification

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Open Day at people4ponies

2011-05-31T20:46:00.008+01:00

Our Open Day went very well last Sunday. Vanessa's Horse Agility demonstrations went down a storm with many people staying after watching one session to wait for the next. As always our ladies had prepared delicious refreshments with lovely home-made cakes and, with the weather brightening as the day went on, people were able to sit outside with their cream teas.

The ponies attracted a lot of attention - our visitors were really interested in their individual stories and also to learn about the ongoing work to deal with the problems of ear cutting and hot branding.

The picture shows Frodo, at liberty, considering the 'bridge'! Vanessa's emphasis was on the relationship between horses (especially traumatised ones) and their handlers and how it can be helped by this discipline.

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Marsland Valley pony check...and Breeze went too

2011-05-22T21:35:00.005+01:00

We certainly chose the right day to visit our two little mares Star and Misty on the Devon Wildlife Trust site at Marsland, on the Devon/Cornwall border. On Thursday it was warm, dry and sunny and this beautiful site was in its full early summer glory.

This time we took Breeze with us - he is a bay Exmoor X gelding, 10 years old, who is joining the girls to help with the conservation grazing. We left him in the lorry while we set up the pen and walked down to do a 'recce'. It was seen that the girls were already in a suitable place to be moved, so we quickly stationed our volunteers at various tracks and weak spots and began the drift. The girls seem to know what to do now - they made all the right moves to get to the track leading off the site, and trotted along nicely.

Once in the pen the headcollaring went as smoothly as ever; these two ponies, although previously traumatised, always remember their lessons with us and are so sweet to handle with the right method. You can see a previous visit to Marsland on Youtube here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xugwKGiMk94

Star and Misty looked absolutely wonderful and in perfect condition. Paul did a little work on their feet but they keep really well on this site. Once he had finished the girls were led back down and released, and then Breeze was taken down to join them. They had moved away on a high path but Breeze, led by Paul, spotted them easily and once released trotted off to join them. There were some introductory sniffs and a couple of half hearted kicks, and then they all went off together. They know each other from their days together as 'the wild bunch' back in 2003/2004, and they never seem to forget former companions. Who knows - Breeze may even have been reunited with his mother.

While we were there we made the aquaintance of a family from Windsor who were holidaying in a nearby cottage. They were extremely interested in the ponies and what we were doing and even gave us a donation. We don't know their names but thank you so much! if you are reading this.

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Open Day Sunday 29th. May 2011

2011-05-19T20:47:00.005+01:00

The people4ponies Open Day 2011 is on Sunday 29th. May at Horseford Farm, East Worlington, Nr. Witheridge, Devon EX17 4SU. Open from 11am. - 4pm.

Come and meet the ponies at our welfare centre!

This year we are featuring Horse Agility Demonstrations by Vanessa Bee of Positive Horsemanship. Vanessa is the founder of the Horse Agility Club of Great Britain and is now running events worldwide for all abilities in this exciting new sport.

Delicious refreshments including Cream Teas will be on sale all day, also Books, Plants and Bric a Brac and a grand Tombola.

Admission is absolutely FREE !! but of course we hope that you will spend some money on the day to boost our funds. For more details please telephone Cilla King 01884 860252.

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Hot Branding on Dartmoor

2011-04-11T19:11:00.016+01:00

These pictures were taken on Dartmoor on 10th April 2011. Some of our volunteers came across these young "Hill" ponies on the moor and thankfully had a camera with them to capture a few shots of this horrendous brand mark.

After making some enquiries, it seems that the "R" mark is supposed to indicate that these ponies belong to a breeder called Mary Alford. Whilst hot branding is still legal, wild ponies are having to endure a procedure that is considered unacceptable by all the major welfare organisations in this country, including the British Veterinary Association and the British Equine Veterinary Association. Banned in Scotland, Holland, Denmark, and perhaps soon in Germany, the UK is waiting for the RSPCA to decide whether branding is cruel or not before things can move forward.

Not far from where the pony above was found, the volunteers found another group of recently branded young ponies. Unbelievably, these had also been illegally ear notched...so a nice trip in the sunshine over Dartmoor turned into rather a shocking display of mutilated ponies...somewhat disappointing for a day trip to the moor.

Visiting tourists seemed to agree - being so horrified at seeing injured ponies, particularly the one with 3rd degree burns, they got back into their cars and drove off.

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Ponies dying on Bodmin Moor

2011-02-17T08:29:00.020Z

A shocking press release from South West Equine Protection -

http://www.swep.org.uk/press-release-east-moor-bodmin/

The Daily Mail have picked it up -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357329/Wild-ponies-Bodmin-Moor-dye-neglect-5-rotting-carcasses-3-weeks.html

and it was shown on BBC Spotlight news -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_9398000/9398134.stm
The Daily Mail article has now received many comments from members of the public. Some offer help, or want to know what they can do; some are critical of the observation and apparent inaction of welfare organisations; some don't believe that the ponies are owned (because they are described as 'wild') and many people are asking questions about the situation.

It's 99.9% sympathetic; I think I saw only one negative commment that said 'they're wild. It's a non-story.'

Here are some facts in answer to those questions.

The ponies are ALL OWNED. They are called 'wild' because that is how they live; their owners use grazing rights on the moor. Some people may call them 'free-living' or 'semi-feral'. The idea is that new foals are born in the spring and early summer, the ponies get rounded up in the autumn, sorted out and either sold or put back on the moor. Since 2009, new foals are legally required to be microchipped. If animals are microchipped, owners can be identified. Older animals might have been ear notched or branded. It's possible that ponies may have been dumped on the moor by people who don't have grazing rights and just want to get rid of ponies. You have to realise that the market is non-existent; ponies sell for next to nothing or are shot for zoo meat or may be transported to the Continent. The whole over-breeding problem is another issue.

Some farmers have a responsible attitude to their animals. The ones that don't would not bother to microchip, would not check on the ponies, would not provide extra feed and would deny ownership if there was a problem because if they admit ownership they are liable to prosecution for neglect. Ponies that look as if they are poorly would most likely be shot, because it's cheaper and much easier than helping them.

Horse welfare organisations are ALL full, including us. Even so, for such an extreme case, room would be found somehow.

This particular problem was flagged up late in January 2011. SWEP responded, despite being many miles away from Bodmin Moor. Faye Stacey, their Pony Welfare Officer, has to make a three hour round trip to get there. Of course all the proper authorities were contacted. DEFRA and Trading Standards have been to see for themselves. They decided that there is not a problem, thereby leaving SWEP no option but to go to the Press. There is plenty of legislation in place to prevent this kind of cruelty but no-one is enforcing it!

Yes, the ponies are priority. Yes, even though it is their owners' job, hay could be given. If there is a group of ponies, the strongest will get the most. Anyway, they are not going to be standing conveniently by the roadside, waiting for it. Sometimes it takes an hour or longer to search for them, sometimes in vain, walking over the roughest terrain; there are hills, bogs and sometimes thick fog to contend with. But for the emaciated ones, hay is not enough. They need to come off the moor and receive veterinary attention. They may not be handleable. In which case they need to be drifted and transported by people with the sympathetic handling skills necessary. Even when seriously ill a wild pony can and will summon every ounce of its remaining energy to avoid capture especially if its previous experience of humans has been to be ear notched or hot branded. A mobile handling unit needs to be sourced, funded and transported. A horsebox is required. A vet would be useful. Many experienced people are needed to drift the ponies to a suitable collection point. So the logistics of such an operation are complicated. For these smaller charities all this organisation does not necessarily coincide with office hours - it is a round the clock job; they are used to that. Bigger organisations work 9 to 5 Monday to Friday!

What can people do to help?
Keep up the pressure for the law to be enforced - write to
- Kevin Lavery, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council - klavery@cornwall.gov.uk
- Your local MP, to raise support on a Parliamentary level.
- James Paice, Defra Minister - james.paice.mp@parliament.uk (it is Defra who will have the authority to seize the ponies in poor condition).

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700 ponies killed on Dartmoor

2010-12-13T17:12:00.011Z

Since we discovered that ear mutilations have been illegal for equines since 2007 we have become increasingly aware of the desperate situation facing ponies on Dartmoor. Thanks to our efforts the relevant authorities are now aware of the problem regarding ear mutilations and it is being dealt with at last. However, there are many other problems which are yet to be overcome.
Dartmoor ponies in particular are having a torrid time of it. This emotive article was published recently. (there were similar articles in other dailies )

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/11/dartmoor-ponies-slaughter-zoo-feeding-lions

There are many unanswered questions. If there are organisations that have been selectively breeding and promoting the ponies for years, how has the situation got so bad? There is clearly no demand for the ponies. We were once told that children in Ireland want the coloured ones for riding ponies! What rubbish - more likely that they end up as handbags on the continent.

As the welfare problem gains momentum more individuals and organisations are speaking out.

http://www.wildponies.info/ is a new website with some astonishing and shocking pictures and information particularly about ponies on the moors. It has links to other sites, articles and publications including http://www.equinerescuefrance.org/2010/11/and-the-ugly-2
This organisation has photographed live Dartmoor ponies in a sale at Maurs in the South of France. How did they end up there? It's not supposed to be possible.

people4ponies believes that it is unethical and immoral to use culling as a method of breeding control.

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Coping with the snow

2010-12-02T16:57:00.004Z

Woke up to find a heavy fall of snow today and it has been snowing on and off all day, but thawing at the same time so the level has been maintained.
I took a couple of pictures - our ducks are coping quite well with coming off the pond and over the snow for food. Here, they are dabbling corn out of the bowl. The black one is Mrs. Tucker, an Indian runner and the other one is Tufty Duck, a Saxony cross. They are both young females. You can see Mousey behind, and Ginger with her blue rug on.

Then I watched Mousey for a bit. She was using her nose as a snowplough, pushing and grazing alternately. I think she has had many years on Dartmoor to perfect this technique!

Late Night Shopping tomorrow at South Molton - a big event these days with lots of live music, a craft fair and other attractions including people4ponies. We will be in the Pannier Market with our fundraising stall. And probably our hot water bottles!

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Snow in November

2010-11-27T08:54:00.006Z

Yesterday was sunny and calm but then in the early afternoon it became very dark and suddenly it was snowing hard - a real blizzard - and it settled fast. It slowed down after about half an hour and by then we were preparing to bring in Mousey and Ginger (2 hours earlier than usual).
The boys watched as we headcollared the two girls, but Frodo took matters into his own hands, popping straight out under the tape and making it very obvious that he wanted to come out too. Paul started to put a headcollar on him but we'd only brought two so he let him go past without one - our lane is very quiet and he would usually only stop and graze. However he rushed out and hurried after me as I was leading Ginger up the drive! "I've no time for grazing let me get IN!" So we made him comfortable in his little workshop stable and he has been in for the night. I think we've got the water situation under control now - the pink container is outside and he has to put his head through the bars to drink. No matter what we put it in, if it's reachable with a hoof he will pull it over and then we have a flood.

I went back down and took the snowy picture after Paul had put some hay out for the boys - Muddy, Bobby, Rocky and Dan. It was such a gloomy afternoon but they were happy once they had the hay. We are into the 2010 hay now - it is VERY good hay, from a June cut. Thank you, Ted and Jenny, what would we do without this amazing donation! Frodo had the 2009 hay, damped, and had to put up with it. It's perfectly fine but he knows there is superior stuff!

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Mousey's still with us and doing well

2010-11-11T18:51:00.009Z

A couple of nice pictures of Mousey with Gill and Margaret taken over the last two weeks. She copes well with our volunteers doing a bit of gentle and rhythmical grooming, so we are pushing the boundaries a bit in this respect.

I am really chuffed to have headcollared her whilst wearing strange clothing (yes, I know, all my clothes are strange!)

The first time was in the morning, so she was in her stable. It was cold and wet so I had on a rustle-y waterproof jacket on and, feeling a bit under the weather with a cold, I was reluctant to take it off. So I
thought, well, if I can't do it I'll get Paul to headcollar her. There was no hurry anyway. (Which, of course, there should never be). I just kept on, doing advance and retreat to her face and neck, until she allowed my hand, with the unfamiliar sleeve, to rest on her forehead. Then smoothly down and under her chin to maintain the contact while I slipped the noseband over her muzzle.

Then this afternoon getting her in from the field with a strong wind blowing, I had a different coat on with larger cuffs - I was quite prepared to take it off but thought I would try the same technique first, and it worked really well. I had to push the cuffs up a bit as she would have spooked if they had touched her face.

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A good old pony

2010-11-10T11:22:00.005Z

Here's Ginger, who has been with us since last January. On board is Celeste, who spent a few days with us in October. She usually rides Frodo but this time she took Ginger out as well. It is the first time this old pony has been ridden here apart from a couple of trips down the drive with toddlers on her. Celeste didn't go far but was very pleased at how responsive Ginger still is - she must have been ridden by many children in the past. I think they both really enjoyed it!

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The Brooke Rescue Show (in August !)

2010-08-18T13:29:00.009+01:00

(A very belated blog, which I actually wrote way back in August.)

Last Sunday we went to The Brooke Rescue Horse and Dog Show at Tiverton. This charity does such a lot to help equines in the poorest parts of the world, and the Show is a fund raiser for them and to highlight those issues, but also brings together many animal welfare charities like us. Have a look at their website -
http://www.thebrooke.org/

Young Millie took Frodo in some of the classes; they came third in the Turnout class and then did really well in the Child Handler class - they won it! Faye has been coaching Millie with her Frodo handling and she (Millie) was complemented by the judge on her comfortably loose leading and also for the fact that even though she was not riding she still wore her hat for safety.

We sold lots of horsy stuff that had been donated for this purpose and we were also selling the wonderful 'pony' marmalade and jams made by our Wednesday ladies. There was a steady stream of gamblers trying their luck on our Tombola and we also sold cards and T shirts.

In the afternoon we watched the Horse Agility Club's demonstration and then Millie took Frodo in the simplified competition version. Frodo was required to stand still with his front feet in a hoop laid on the ground (He's not good at standing still and wanted to play with the hoop), be led in and out of cones (OK with that), walk through a tunnel (good), go past Scary Corner, (good) jump through a blue tube hoop! (very good) and be led through a strip curtain (excellent) and they won!!

The top picture shows a very happy Millie with her handful of rosettes, and (bottom) walking a very calm Frodo through the strip curtain.

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Wilma

2010-08-03T11:15:00.016+01:00

I wrote the first part of this blog weeks ago, and will now finish it off so that I can get on with some more blogging, which I am sadly behind with. This is the first part.

Wilma is an Exmoor mare from a semi-feral herd. She probably experienced traditional handling methods as a foal - indeed, she displayed great fear and suspicion when she arrived in July to be a course demo pony. She has lived all her life so far (don't know how old she is, 10 maybe) as a wild pony, and she has a fear of humans. Her previous handling may have caused some trauma. We suspect she may have high status within her herd. She is a big pony - a real walloper.

Paul started to interact with the long cane over the door - she would not look at it, but stood resolutely at the back of the stable waiting until it had gone again. So assuming that she knew very well that it was there Paul touched her with it and she was ok. He quickly progressed to the hand stick; also ok. He goes in to do 'stable servicing'; but is very careful; especially about bending to pick up manure.

(Wilma was judged too unpredictable to be able to progress over the two day course so Paul continued to work with her in the following days. I think it was Tuesday when he came in to tell me -)

'Touched her!' (I had left him 10 mins before giving her longish slivers of carrot wedged between his fingers, palm uppermost, and she was ok with brushing his hand as she took them. He had gone in again with the handstick and made an approach to her shoulder showing her what a stroke looks like as he got there (it's quite important to do air stroking as you approach and not to touch first and then change to a stroking movement)

'I've made a point of moving her around in the stable just to show that I'm the one who does the moving and not her; I just put my hand out towards a point just behind her, no noise, just the visual pressure, and she moves round.'

'Judging by the way she has become accustomed to my presence going in and out of the stable she is not as worried as some have been and may come round quite quickly.'

Famous last words.

This is the rest of the story -

It was the day after that, Wednesday. Our volunteer ladies were here having a coffee break from their mucking out. Paul was down at the stables working with Wilma. Suddenly
there was a tremendous bang which seemed to continue into a crashing noise of moving metal - we rushed out; Wilma was standing in the pen, which was detached from the stables and partially collapsed; Paul was just standing there to prevent her getting out. The stable was open. The stable door was in two halves.

We drifted Wilma back into the stable and Paul fastened the round pen gate as a door to secure her there.

He said he had been working quietly with her in the stable; Wilma facing the door, Paul alongside her neck, making hand contact. She had moved back a step (he wondered whether her rump touched the back wall and there was a combination of circumstances that produced a trigger) but then she exploded forwards, straight through the door and her momentum continuing into the pen and across and into the far side of it, when it came apart from the stables and partially collapsed.

We talked a lot about what had happened and the dangers associated with rehabilitating a big mature pony who has such fear of humans. If Wilma had been sympathetically handled as a youngster she would now be a 'wild but handleable' conservation pony. Although we are sure progress could be achieved we decided that our facilities are not good enough to cope with this sort of situation, and Wilma was returned to her herd. Of course she is happy there, living life as a wild pony. It has again highlighted the problem of welfare issues in unhandleable wild ponies.

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Connor

2010-07-19T13:06:00.006+01:00

Connor has been here for two days for handling practice. His new owners brought him to the 'Handling the Wild, Untouched and Traumatised Pony' course which Vanessa Bee runs here.

Connor is a 2 year old Welsh gelding, very pretty, but with big 'people problems' - probably stemming from his experience of forced handling when first headcollared, and when gelded.

His new owner Clare had managed to change his headcollar, which was tight, for another one - across the back of a tame pony! But Connor needed to overcome his fear, and Paul began work with him on Saturday morning using familiarisation techniques and remote pressure. We all watched as the short sessions continued through the day, resuming on Sunday and culminating in Connor being led out for the first time and walking into his trailer for the homeward journey.

He now lives with understanding and caring people who will not hurt him. Now that we've been able to show them some of our techniques we're sure that they will be able to continue to work with him in a positive way.

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Mousey loading! (and unloading)

2010-07-19T12:44:00.003+01:00

Paul tried loading Mousey on the lead the other day. Because of her fear of humans she has only ever been loose-loaded before. This time, she walked up the ramp so smoothly that I nearly missed it with my camera. She was perfectly fine about going in, turning round and coming out again. Of course this is all with Paul, in whom she has such trust.

Mousey will soon be returning to the pony welfare organisation that she belongs to, and things will be very different for her. Because of her handling issues she may never be able to be rehomed, but will still be cared for by the charity.

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Dressing up!

2010-07-04T12:47:00.006+01:00

As promised, a picture of us in costume at St. John's Fayre in Witheridge last Saturday. There was also a lovely but lively Fell pony stallion in the procession whose rider opted to stick close behind Frodo 'because he's so well behaved!' and he was, as always when we do this! The noise, colour and diversity of participants is amazing but he copes really well, also with everyone wanting to pat and stroke him.

On the left is Noah, as Sir Thomas, in a magnificent yellow cloak and tunic that she had made herself (and thanks Paul for a very late night making her sword and shield after getting the hay in), then there's me - I am a Peasant, and looked the part even if I say so myself. I'm leading Frodo who wore a green and red strappy get-up that I'd made for him. In front are Emily who was a Jester, very colouful and tinkly with her red tights, tunic and jester's stick and hat and next to her is Lauren, a medieval lady in a white dress with red velvet sash and a headband to suit the period, carrying Sir Thomas's flag.

There were about 20 people to be judged and we didn't win one of the two £25 prizes, much to our dismay, but the Mayor gave us each £1 for an ice cream as a consolation.
Paul said 'we wuz robbed' ! Never mind, it was fun.

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St. John's Fayre

2010-06-28T22:53:00.002+01:00

Last Saturday we attended the Fayre, all feeling a bit weary from the haymaking the day before.

Another swelteringly hot day, and as well as our fund-raising stall we took part in the procession. This year there was a medieval theme so we decided to dress Frodo up as well as ourselves. I made him a red and green costume; sorry we haven't any pictures yet because I didn't take any! Others have though, so I will post them on the Blog when I get them.

The picture shows the now-empty street at the end of the day just prior to us packing up. Our stall is in the foreground; we had Margaret's gazebo and umbrella for shade. The old traction engine steams quietly outside The Angel and that's Philip and Kip (who raised money with her Penny a Pat dog tabard) just crossing the road.

Earlier in the day the street and square were heaving with people out enjoying all the fun of the fair. Frodo was so good with all the musicians, dancers, noise, strange costumes and especially with the crowds of people, many of whom wanted to stroke him.

We did well with book and marmalade sales and the Tombola; thanks to our gallant ladies who manned the stall all day.

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Haymaking !

2010-06-28T10:49:00.005+01:00

Along with thousands of other folk all over the country we were helping with the haymaking last week, in perfect June weather. With the lack of rain this year it was not expected to be a big crop, but the quality is superb - it's so green and sweet. Ted had been out turning it twice a day and it dried very quickly.

In the picture Stella is guiding Pete back into the big barn at Jenny's prior to us unloading on to the stack. It's such hot work but we had plenty of help, what with 5 of Jenny and Ted's good neighbours and 8 of us p4p lot, and with lots of cold drinks.

The total was over 600 bales, but they are each lifted several times so it's no wonder we were all a bit tired after that lot. Ted and Jenny work so hard to help us and the p4p ponies not only with all this hay (which they donate) but also by fostering for us. Currently they have Silver and Jaffa Cake over there, and both ponies watched all the hay goings-on with keen interest, hoping a little would blow in their direction!

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Little Ginger

2010-06-17T17:15:00.004+01:00

Here's Ginger, having her feet trimmed. This old pony certainly doesn't act her age; she's quite feisty with the other ponies and is the most vocal pony we've ever met. She positively roars at the boys over the fence if she is in the field next to them, squeaks at Mousey to move her out of the way and all rolling and bodily functions are accompanied by much grunting.

As you can see she is a bit ribby, but because we are very wary of laminitis she has a high-fibre, low sugar, low calorie diet with lots of short chop chaff that she manages to eat quite well now after 2 visits from our brilliant equine dentist Bill Lomas.

Ginger needs a home where her management is clearly understood. She still has much to offer, being safe on the roads, and it would be lovely to find her a good home not too far away, with a little jockey to ride her out on the lead.

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Mousey's triumph

2010-06-05T11:04:00.005+01:00

This morning I took this lovely series of pictures. I feel quite emotional to see Mousey so accepting of this attention after being such a terrified pony last October. She is ready to go home, but will probably stay until July. She is very lucky to be owned by, and will return to, SWEP (South West Equine Protection) and they will continue to work with her and provide her with a safe home for life.

In the pictures she is HEADCOLLARED ! ... and TIED !... safely, because she understands how to yield to pressure. As you can see in the first picture, she stands relaxed, with loose rope and calm eye, whilst Paul brushes a foreleg.

In the second picture Mousey shifts her weight to allow Paul to pick out a hoof.

The third picture shows how Mousey enjoys having her tail brushed! She looks really good now.

Fourth picture - Mousey is fine with back feet too!

The final picture shows Mousey so relaxed while Paul brushes out her mane, just by her damaged ears.

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I can do it too !!

2010-05-25T23:01:00.003+01:00

...headcollar Mousey, that is! I have done it three mornings running, in the stable and in the pen. I am dead chuffed to have achieved this. First time was under instruction from Paul, and you have to 'go for it' a bit, and if Mousey goes away a little , you just stay with her, and believe you are going to do it, and she accepts it going over her nose. I am flipping the head strap over, rather than going over her head with my hand. Don't think she will cope with that from me yet though Paul can do it, even outside in the open.

We will have to video this amazing progress.

The picture is from Open Day at the beginning of May; I'm interacting with Mousey and she has moved her nose very close to me to allow me to touch the side of her face rather than her muzzle. She does the 'magnet' thing which we've experienced before; you get quite close, and she suddenly sticks her face onto your arm, as if to get the moment of contact over with quickly. She is such a sweet pony and so pretty now in her summer coat.

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Mousey's ear tag

2010-05-20T21:25:00.006+01:00

As you might already know, Mousey has a plastic tag in her left ear. (Her right ear has had the top cut off it). It has been an ambition to get the tag out, if possible. It's so ugly and is a horrible reminder of her previous abuse.

Paul can now headcollar Mousey 'out in the open', and has spent many hours helping her become used to hands touching her head; so much so that he said he was going to try to remove the ear tag.

She was very good about him fiddling with her ear. We have found that the site of pain is not necessarily the same site as a 'trauma trigger' associated with it. For instance Mousey is less frightened of her cut ear being touched than of her muzzle being touched. Her muzzle may well have been held whilst her ear was cut, and it is fear of a touch on the muzzle that makes her panic.

Anyway, Paul was able to cut through the plastic tag at the top thinking it might then come out, because he could see that the button fastening was all on one side of her ear. He then managed to cut the piece off, with the button. Still it wouldn't come, and he realised that the button stalk at the bottom of the other piece of plastic has become embedded in her ear. So she now has half an ear tag, and it looks like it will have to stay like that.

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Walkies!

2010-05-20T21:16:00.004+01:00

Yesterday we went out for a walk - here we all are, just setting off. We took Muddy, Rocky, Bobby and Frodo and they carried our bring-and-share picnic lunch for us!

The lanes are absolutely beautiful at the moment with all the cow parsley out, red campion, bluebells, buttercup and stitchwort, and with the young beech leaves dripping out of the hedgerows. All the ponies LOVE cow parsley, and we did stop several times to let them take advantage of it.

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Troy

2010-05-10T12:19:00.004+01:00

Ahhh! He's lovely isn't he? Troy is here for 2 nights on a stopover from Cornwall. He and his owner/rider David are making their way up country and we are so pleased they chose us as their next stop after Chulmleigh.

Troy is enjoying a nice rest and some turnout, and has caused much excitement among all the ponies here; Jeremy was the bravest (right hand picture) and was the first up to say hello.

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Open Day 2010

2010-05-04T21:01:00.002+01:00

We held our annual Open Day yesterday and I think it was very much enjoyed by all who attended - not as many visitors as on some May bank holidays maybe because the weather was rather cool. However lots of people stayed long enough to buy more tea and cake between the pony demos and we also sold plants, books and bric-a-brac and ran a tombola.

The picture shows Paul holding Mousey - I am explaining on the microphone just how fearful she was back in October and how well she has progressed. She coped with all the visitors very well and I think the day was good for her. Bobby, Frodo, Ginger and Rocky also took turns in the demo pen and since they are all moulting heavily I ended up with almost as much hair on me as one of the ponies (....why did we choose to wear navy fleeces I wonder?)

Many thanks to all our gallant volunteers who work so hard preparing for events like this.

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A headcollar change for Mousey

2010-04-23T07:40:00.006+01:00

Mousey's rehabilitation is progressing fast now. Two days ago Paul managed to change her headcollar for a lighter weight yellow one by putting it on over the top (in the stable) and then fiddling the red one out from underneath it. Mousey still objects and evades but not in the same panicky manner. I think she realises now that whatever Paul is trying to accomplish is inevitable, that it won't hurt, and that she will get a piece of carrot.

The headcollar change was another major step forward and now Paul uses the red one on and off over the top, sometimes having her clipped by the yellow one so she can't whisk away as the red one comes off.

Yesterday I got this lovely picture of Mousey calmly accepting Paul's hand on her forehead - a blind spot for a horse, and surely worse for Mousey, being so close to her damaged ears.

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Celeste visits Frodo

2010-04-22T10:14:00.008+01:00

Another picture from a week or so ago - when Celeste first came here she was so little that she struggled to reach Frodo's stirrup, but now she can jump onto the bareback pad and ride without any stirrups at all!
Celeste now lives right up country in Northumberland so her visits to Frodo are a bit limited.

You can see an animated film that Celeste and her brother made a couple of years ago if you click on the link below -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4e48JnAw_M

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OPEN DAY 2010

2010-04-21T23:33:00.003+01:00

The people4ponies Open Day will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, May 3rd.
11am - 4pm.
Come and meet the ponies! Demonstrations throughout the day.
Delicious Refreshments, Cakes and Cream Teas on sale all day.
Lots of lovely things to buy - Plants, Books, Bric-a-Brac and of course a wonderful Tombola!
and best of all... it's FREE to get in!

Please telephone 01884 860252 for more information.

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A routine check up

2010-04-21T23:13:00.004+01:00

Sorry folks! This picture is two weeks old (and it hasn't rained since then...amazing). We were at Black Dog to catch up Ebony, Apache and Gus for a routine health check. All three ponies have varying degrees of previous trauma and are doing a good conservation- grazing job. We carefully drift them into a corner of the field, closing them down by a rope held as a fence by our volunteers. When we have it as small as we dare, before it is small enough to spook them, one or other of us goes in and, being very quiet and careful, we can headcollar them all and lead them up to the barn.

The picture shows Apache, held by Margaret, watching Thomas and Isabel making buttercup chains. Apache is waiting his turn for a foot trim.

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Mousey's head

2010-04-13T21:27:00.007+01:00

I took these pictures today - they show Paul working with Mousey to help her to overcome her fear of hands around her head. In the first two pictures her fear of the hand contact is obvious although she was only being evasive rather than making the very violent movements that she used to do. In the third picture, about 5 minutes later, she is coping a bit better and has taken the tension off the rope. In the fourth picture (another 5 minutes) she has relaxed, with lowered head and softer eye.

Mousey is turned out each day with another mare but she comes to be caught (clipped on to a lead rope) with no trouble at all. She leads nicely, grazes on the lead and Paul has groomed most of her. We just have to overcome the head touching so that she can accept headcollaring - something that is still a little way off.

Oh I nearly forgot!! She all but came in the kitchen yesterday - Paul saw her coming and I, as quickly as I dared so as not to alarm her, walked through the kitchen to block her, hands up - (Pip was already standing guard on the rug with his best intimidating posture and lowered head!) - Mousey turned, without panicking, in the tiny space between door, flowerpots and gate.

I think she is really intelligent and had come to ask about going to the back lawn, because when I went out that is what she was indicating.

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Buffy's new home

2010-04-01T22:23:00.003+01:00

Today Buffy has travelled over to Holsworthy to be a companion to Bugsy, a 9 year old gelding. We are so pleased to have re-homed a pony as the recession seemed to affect us quite badly with no homes offered for many months. It is especially good for Buffy to have been homed as she has been lame since last summer and we are not sure that she will recover completely. (see last posting)

Buffy is a sweet little mare, quite laid back - she whinnied when she spotted Bugsy though, and I think they will be great friends. He was certainly very pleased to see her, and celebrated with some high jinks around his paddock even though they have only met over the fence as yet.

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Two days off

2010-03-23T19:48:00.005Z

We spent a rare weekend away and left all the animals in the care of our very capable volunteers. Everything went well, even the most testing operation which was to catch up Mousie each day from the little paddock. There are 3 of us now who can do this, and Mousie even approached Paul out there today whilst he was picking up manure. She still has the headcollar on though.

Buffy, an 9 year old mare from the original group of ponies, is about to be rehomed. She has been offered a very good home as companion to a gelding. We asked our vet. to have another look at her because she is still lame from her unknown injury last year. He could find no evidence to suggest that she might be in pain so she will be travelling over to her new home near Holsworthy shortly. It's most likely that Buffy has some nerve damage which prevents her using her leg normally; this may still improve over time.

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A lesson for Basil

2010-03-12T10:31:00.003Z

Having a lightweight adult volunteer is a real asset with these little ponies needing to be educated. Yesterday Faye and Catherine had a session with Basil, an 11.2hh. 7 year old Exmoor cross gelding. He's a nice little chap but hasn't done much yet. However he coped with much adjusting of tack, Faye getting on and off several times, going past some rubbish up the road, stepping over and around poles and completing various other maneouvres, all on the lead but headcollar only.

Basil is one of our ponies who is on the 'available for rehoming' list but he needs a confident and knowledgeable handler who will continue his education.

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Mousey goes out with the others!

2010-03-12T10:01:00.002Z

Mousey has been turned out each day in our round pen during this fine weather which gives her more interaction with other ponies all round. She allows Paul to clip on in there when we go to fetch her in again.

Yesterday, for the first time, we turned her out in our half acre paddock with two other ponies. With plenty of room to evade us we planned to drift her into the round pen to catch her again but when we went to catch them up she stood with the other two to be caught!! We are thrilled with this. But she still has the headcollar on and is still too headshy to even change it yet, though it can be straightened etc.

Her fear of hands near her head is quite understandable when you see what has been done to her poor ears. Paul is continuing the desensitisation work and I think us other volunteers will now interact more; she will accept carrot from others now. Mousey enjoys her walks out with Paul up the lane and with it being dry he was able to sit down; she grazed very close to him when he appeared to be so much smaller.

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More Mousey

2010-02-27T21:40:00.005Z

Here are the promised pictures - firstly, Paul just clipping the lead rope on to her headcollar. She has a piece of carrot to help, and takes it very gently. This is great progress! In the other picture Paul is asking her to lift her hind foot, which she does. The rope is loose; she could move away if she wanted to. Paul is now able to groom more of her and she is looking much tidier and cleaner. The next big milestone will be when the headcollar can be removed and replaced.

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Windy Friday

2010-02-26T22:38:00.002Z

I was just letting Mousey out to the pen first thing this morning when it occured to me to offer her a piece of carrot, and after a couple of doubtful head shakes, she took it! Quite carefully in fact. So I am the second person here to interact with her.

Every day she is increasingly confident with Paul. Whilst grazing, out on their walk today, there was a sudden gust of wind which caused her to leap away. That's the first time on the lead that she's tested the boundaries, but Paul held firm as always and she was calmly grazing again a second later.

I'll try and take some pics. tomorrow.

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Catching Mousey

2010-02-22T08:19:00.004Z

It's lovely to be able to report progress with Mousey. Yesterday Paul was elated at having clipped onto her headcollar, in the pen, after Mousey tentatively accepted a piece of carrot from his hand. No hook stick, rope or anything. To make a change from going for a walk he then took her to the back 'lawn'... (it was a lawn, and will be again one day, but at the moment looks like a mole infested pony paddock).

We all went to pick up manure after that, of which there was two days worth, and when we came back Paul went to check on Mousey and she wasn't there! Good job we had three volunteers here whom we immediately despatched up and down the lane. Grabbed mobile phones and ropes, rang the neighbour to alert them and quickly set up the stable, yard and driveway so it was all open in case we would be drifting her back in.

Paul and Gill went up the lane and Paul soon spotted Mousey grazing on a lovely grassy area, enclosed from the road, belonging to another neighbour. I went to help and Mousey trotted into a concrete yard and turned to face Paul. He approached her in the appropriate non-confrontational manner and did exactly what he had already done that morning and she accepted carrot and then rope in the same way!! We were so pleased with her. In a strange place too. Though it did look as if she she was anxious, being away from familiar surroundings, and maybe is beginning to see Paul as a safe place. So she was led home, with the other volunteers following up.

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Mousey's feet

2010-02-16T22:13:00.003Z

Just a little update on Mousey. Paul has lifted up her front feet and picked them out today. He says they are really good; hard as iron, and need no trimming. He has been working up to this over the past few days but it hasn't been a big problem. He doesn't even need to hold her rope.

Not so with actually clipping a lead rope onto her headcollar. She is so frightened of hands near her face. Paul will usually make contact with his hand on her neck - she backs round into him, but he stands his ground, maybe scratches her rump and then hooks onto her neck strap with his longer stick. She yields to this pressure and Paul can then reach under her face and clip onto the headcollar. Her reaction to the slightest touch on her nose or face can be explosively violent.

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Mousey

2010-02-10T22:49:00.006Z

At long last Mousey can be taken for a walk, on the lead. This can be accomplished because she now has a headcollar on. She is able to graze; not all traumatised ponies will do this so close to a predator the like of which has hurt them in the past, but Mousey has been with us for months now and has become used to Paul standing close by her.

Pre-headcollaring, he had stroked her neck and body, though only on her right hand side. This had been achieved with hours of patient work and a good deal of calm confident energy; Mousey has learnt that a kick will deter potential handlers and she will swing her rump with lightning speed and back up; she does this to Paul but he is now able to call her bluff and stands there with her backed up against him. However all the technique in the world was never going to allow a hand to get to her head, face or muzzle to put a headcollar on and there is precious little one can do to help her without that so we were at a standstill with her progress.

Mousey has two serious wounds; the top has been cut off her right ear, and a plastic tag punched through her left ear. As well as being forcibly held by men she may well have had her muzzle gripped when she was so physically abused. She may be in her late teens now and this experience has left her so frightened of humans that she cannot have her teeth checked, her feet attended to or be given any routine care. She has always been owned; luckily now by a charity who want her to overcome her fears, which is why she has come to us.

The headcollaring was achieved 2 days ago and we 'crushed' Mousey to do it. We used the mesh panels of the pen that she is used to - there is a good deal of 'give' in them so it was a secure hold. It took about half an hour for Paul firstly to desensitise her head as much as possible with his hands and then with much fiddling to work the headcollar throught the mesh and into place.

I held the panels closed at the rear end. Mousey moved backwards and forwards, several times, but she didn't panic, didn't try to go up or thrash with her feet. Before she was released Paul clipped on a long rope so that he could pick up the end once she was out of the crush. He then began to help her learn to yield to pressure and to begin leading lessons.

We have a long way to go with Mousey but we hope for steady progress as we daily repeat the message to her that humans will not hurt her again.

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Goodbye Billy Boy

2010-02-07T13:52:00.016Z

Billy Boy, the Exmoor stallion, has today gone home to his mares. His owner came last week to fetch him but the blizzard conditions that we experienced here on January 31st. made it too dangerous to attempt the return journey with Billy Boy. So he has had a week longer with us, and has really benefited from the extra time because Paul has been able to hold his back feet and tidy them up with the rasp, comb out his tail and generally get him more accustomed to being handled. They also did some loading practice with our trailer, so when BB was collected he walked into the trailer on the lead, having always been loose loaded before.

We've had him here about 4 months, and to start with were doubtful about our chances of successfully turning him into a handle-able pony. He was absolutely terrified of humans attempting to touch him, and was quite prepared to defend himself if he couldn't escape. Paul has made wonderful progress but BB has not got to the stage where other handlers can begin to interact with him. We have suggested that he should not be handled, as his sharp behaviour may easily be misconstrued as threatening. Billy Boy seems to use his ears more, and quicker, than usual and will lay them flat back at a stranger but flicking forward as he turns to Paul. Back again as Paul's hand approaches his face but forward once the contact is made.

We're pleased to think how joyful Billy will be at regaining his freedom (he had to make do with walks and the garden here) and if he has a welfare issue at any time in the future he should cope with it better, especially if Paul is summoned to help with the handling as we suggested.

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Billy Boy behaviour

2010-01-29T08:05:00.005Z

Billy Boy's progress has accelarated over the last few days, as if he is starting to really believe that Paul is not going to hurt him. Paul can lift all BB's feet whilst the pony is loose in the stable. (The fact that he's loose helps him not to feel trapped, but it is more risky for the handler).

Yesterday, for the first time, Paul managed to firstly stroke, then brush, then gently plastic-curry-comb Billy's tail. This is invariably liked if it is carefully introduced, and so it was with BB - he stood enjoying the rhythmic motion and slight snagging.

Paul told me that as they came back from their first walk and he had just closed the gate, Billy Boy suddenly took hold of his fleece, on his shoulder. I said 'What did you do? (though I knew what he would say), - 'nothing'.

This behaviour could so easily have provoked a slap by way of retaliation, from a less knowledgeable handler, or could have caused the handler to react fearfully, perceiving a bite. Either reaction would seriously upset Billy's relationship with humans. How do we know that BB wasn't saying 'alright mate?' or something? After all, they have to use their mouths like hands. How dreadful if he had been hit for it. Stallions are more inclined to test with their mouths but it is not necessarily a bite, or aggressive.

If Paul felt that a pony should be reprimanded for inappropriate behaviour he might do it by facing the pony, making eye contact and 'making himself big'. But Billy is already very nervous so he would not cope with this. With traumatised ponies we are so pleased when they begin to interact and communicate with us - the finer points of boundaries can come later.

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A new pony

2010-01-27T19:33:00.002Z

Ginger came last weekend and will be with us for a little while. She is an elderly little mare but very bright and has been a nice riding pony for small children. Having not lived with other ponies for some time she was very excited to meet the others here and made the most astonishing noise at Billy Boy that can only be described as a roar!

She's had a busy couple of days here with all the new sights and sounds and in the picture is being groomed by our volunteers.

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Foot lifting

2010-01-27T19:20:00.003Z

Paul has been working on Billy Boy's foot lifting for some time. He has been able to rasp the front ones but BB was even more cautious about his hind feet. At last after much patient 'advance and retreat' down his back legs Paul is getting a lift every time now. Not quite to the stage of being able to hold them for rasping. That will require a good deal of trust and bravery on BB's part as he will probably have a memory of being forcibly held as a foal whilst he was branded; it would have entailed human hands gripping him in the same way.

Paul and BB have been further on their daily walks. BB walks on nicely but not quite level with Paul; likes to keep an eye on him from just behind his shoulder.

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Hot Branding banned in Scotland

2010-01-20T19:42:00.004Z

We heard yesterday from a BBC journalist that there will be no more hot branding of equines in Scotland. Although the current consultation does not end until 28th. February the Scottish Cabinet Minister Richard Lochhead issued a statement yesterday - go to

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8469150.stm

This is very good news. If any of you belong to Facebook, a new Group has just been started there called 'Ban Hot Branding in England and Wales'. Add your name, and keep a watch on there for further news.

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BB and the wheelie bin

2010-01-15T18:59:00.003Z

Paul often brings the empty bin with him if he's coming up the drive with a pony but this was the first time for Billy Boy. He looked a bit shocked to start with but with Paul's confident leading he walked along nicely. After all, wheelie bins have never hurt him.

We have made good inroads into the massive backlog of poo-picking as the snow continued to melt today There is usually somewhere in the region of 109 per 24 hours from the six ponies out in the field, so times 10 days of snow that's well over 1000 heaps and there was a lot already stuck there from the freezing weather before!

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A January Monday

2010-01-11T17:37:00.003Z

All the ponies are fed up with the weather although it seemed warmer today - the outside taps have freed off. Trough's still frozen so Paul filled it with the hose.

Billy Boy's headcollar touched him on the nose and he panicked; it's so depressing; any small movement or noise can have this effect on a traumatised pony. However, he and Paul spent time just waiting in the stable, on opposite sides, and BB suddenly came forward again to accept the headcollar. That was before this morning's outing. Later Paul brushed him, though he's not keen on his mane being brushed and Paul hasn't done his tail yet. He did pick up both front feet and held them properly as if to rasp whilst BB was tied up in the stable.

Frodo spends a lot of time companioning Mousey so this afternoon I took him out. He was very keen to go for a walk but just can't settle to scraping for grass like BB does. We went up and down the lane and he picked off the odd blackberry leaf but he was clearly put out about the lack of greenery; eventually after much head-twirling he ate a good deal of sedge and was then happy to go back.

Mousey seems more relaxed ; she enjoys the Healthy Hooves feed that we bought for her and she's looking well on it.

I spent some time today trying to rehome ponies. We get others that need homes offered to us and if we can't help by taking them (because we are pretty much always full) we can sometimes suggest options or put people in touch with each other. Also I'm spending time working on the next Pony Express which should have been out months ago. I think it's nearly done now.

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Fun in the snow !

2010-01-08T20:09:00.005Z

So that's what they get up to at people4ponies - thought they went to help! Yes, we've all had a go on the sledge and thrown snowballs at each other.

The down side is that we haven't picked up any manure since last weekend - if we ever get to see the field again we will have to have a poo-picking party. Paul has finally overcome the frozen trough problem by feeding it via 2 hoses, from the house, but coiling the hoses up afterwards and bringing them back into the kitchen.

The snow is so deep that walking hasn't been too slippery, just a bit of a trudge. All the ponies love rolling in the snow - Mousey and Frodo in particular and it was nice to see Mousey instigate a playful run round when they went out together.

(Must just say a BIG thank you to our volunteers who have put in extra hours to help during the bad weather).

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Hot Branding - latest update

2010-01-08T13:17:00.003Z

It is looking increasingly likely that the Scottish Parliament are going to ban equine hot branding. They have suspended the issuing of licences pending an investigation. The following letter, from the Scottish Rural Directorate Animal Health and Welfare Division, has been sent to various organisations and individuals but anyone may respond - there is an email address and postal address at the end. We will be sending a people4ponies response.

23rd December 2009

Dear Sir or Madam

HOT BRANDING OF EQUINE ANIMALS

As you may be aware section 20 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 makes it an offence to carry out a procedure on a protected animal which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal. The Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 exempt certain procedures from this general prohibition and one of these exempted procedures is the hot branding of equine animals for identification purposes. However, hot branding of equine animals is only permitted in Scotland where a specific authorisation has been issued by Scottish Ministers.

Since these Regulations came into effect specific authorisations have only been requested for a number of Exmoor ponies.

Since July this year, it has been a requirement for all horses and ponies to be microchipped and this has considerably weakened the case to allow hot branding. In addition, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) issued a recent policy statement which stated:

“Hot branding is generally carried out without analgesia and is undoubtedly a painful process. The BVA believe that the continued use of hot branding as a means of identifying certain breeds is unacceptable and should be banned on welfare grounds”.

This statement goes further than the statement issued by the British Equine Veterinary Association, who wished to see hot branding of equine animals “phased out”.

As a consequence, we have been reviewing our policy which has allowed hot branding of certain horses and ponies under the restrictions of a specific authorisation. Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, has indicated that he would like to remove the exemption for hot branding of equine animals, making the hot branding of any equine animal in Scotland an offence. This will mean that the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 will need to be amended.

It is a requirement of section 20 (6) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 that before any Regulation is made under section 20, Scottish Ministers must consult “such persons appearing to them to represent relevant interests….as they consider appropriate”.

Thus this letter is designed to inform you of the Scottish Government’s intention to lay an amending Regulation in Parliament and to allow you the opportunity to make your views known to us. In the meantime, no further authorisations to hot brand any equine animal in Scotland will be issued.

If you wish to comment on our plans to remove the exemption for hot branding, thus making it an offence to hot brand any equine animal in Scotland, please send your respond by 28 February 2010 to the following email address: animal.health@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Or by post to:

Pam Kennedy
Animal Welfare Branch
Room 350
Pentland House
47 Robb’s Loan
EDINBURGH
EH14 1TY

Yours faithfully

Ian W Strachan
Head of Animal Welfare Branch

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The snow's back

2010-01-05T12:36:00.002Z

We spent ages sweeping paths to stables, pen, gate and outbuildings after waking up to more snow but later in the morning we had another hour's snow and it was all covered again.

Billy Boy was anxious to go for his walk as usual so off they went and Paul said BB scraped around in true Exmoor pony style and found plenty to eat up the lane.

He is much better with the headcollar after several days intensive work with the double headcollar technique and plenty of carrots but he is still so easily startled and even a day missed sets him back. We took him further walking yesterday and that was fine. Paul can pick up both BB's front feet, though BB is worried about it.

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Three steps forward and two back...

2009-12-31T14:22:00.006Z

Billy Boy grazes up the lane on a nice loose (and long) lead rope.

He's getting good at yielding to pressure and is OK with cars moving slowly past him.

There are a couple of issues though. BB was very unsettled a few days ago when out on the lead and would not lower his head to graze; the next day was no better and Paul had to retrieve his navy fleece from the wash. BB was absolutely fine as soon as Paul appeared in the usual attire. We have seen this before with traumatised ponies and it is something to be aware of; hopefully BB will gradually become used to Paul wearing other clothing but we will stick to dark colours.

The other problem is that BB has become worse, not better, at having his headcollar on, sometimes needing an hour of patient work before he can accept it. Paul is experimenting now with leaving it on and putting another on over the top.

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Hard Times

2009-12-31T13:59:00.004Z

During the snowy weather Billy Boy discovered the seeds on the bird table, and managed to get a few stuck to his tongue at each stretch! I think it was really awkward for him but he was very persistent. I had to go upstairs to get a good picture of him.

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Happy Christmas everybody

2009-12-23T21:35:00.003Z

Serious ice at the other end of our lane prevented our volunteers from reaching us today and also claimed a victim who was bringing us a Christmas present - he had to walk the rest of the way and Paul went back to tow him out.

We couldn't do the manure - impossible to a) walk over the frozen ruts b) find the heaps c) detach them from the frozen ground. Paul rigged up a hose feed to the trough to save us bucketing water to the field.

Yesterday afternoon Bobby started coughing again after months cough-free. This is his asthmatic condition. I think it was triggered by the hay and the very dry cold air as the temperature dropped. We medicated him and gave him soaked hay (which froze of course). This morning he is better; but we are back to soaking all hay. Humidity is high today and he is breathing easier.

We'd like to say Happy Christmas to all our friends, helpers, pony sponsors and anyone interested in our Project - hope you all have a peaceful Christmas and a good 2010.

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Snow!

2009-12-21T21:35:00.002Z

A sprinkling of snow today, which on top of the frost and ice was treacherous. We had a job to find the manure heaps out in the field! The ponies were all looking a bit peeved so they had hay this morning as well as this afternoon.

Paul spent his Billy Boy sessions intensifying the grooming and especially the touching of BB's legs to which you can see BB saying 'Oi! Geroff!' and 'What are you doing?'

I touched Mousey today as she walked past me. I have been making the gap smaller between me and the door, as she goes into the pen for her breakfast. It was the lightest brush of her fur; she may have sped up slightly. It's no big deal because Paul can groom her (but not touch her head yet) still, it's another person making contact.

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Chilly outings

2009-12-19T22:03:00.003Z

Brrrr... it's cold. We were chiselling the heaps off the field this morning! Good news is, Paul's back's much better and we have been able to fetch a trailer-load of hay so we are well stocked up for a bit. (Thanks Jenny and Ted)

Billy Boy has been out for his first walk, on the lead, up the lane. He enjoyed browsing along the grassy edges; this is a bit of a test as we have had some ponies who are so fearful of humans that they cannot lower their heads to graze when on the lead; they feel very vulnerable in the close presence of a predator the like of whom has hurt them in the past.

He jumped away a couple of times when startled but every time is an opportunity for Paul to reinforce BB's understanding of pressure and release. The long rope allows this 'jump space' and Paul's experience, strength and leather gloves mean that he can hold on for BB to realise that all is well, and comfortable, when he comes back close.

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Leading Billy Boy

2009-12-17T20:37:00.003Z

I thought we had rejoiced too soon when I found out that Billy Boy's neck strap had come off in the night. However, Paul managed to get it back on and the headcollar has been on and off several times today.

As we expected, the progress now is quicker. This afternoon Paul led Billy Boy out of his stable into the yard for the first time. The leading was faltering at first, but BB is beginning to understand the concept of yielding to pressure and after a few minutes was coming along nicely.

We fully expect that he may test us and make a bid for freedom; Paul has an extra long rope and good gloves to give himself the best chance of holding BB, should this happen.

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Optimism justified!

2009-12-16T17:07:00.007Z

Well just look at that - Billy Boy has a headcollar on. I knew Paul was trying to get this far as he has been disappearing very often to have another little session. I didn't go to watch as BB is still more relaxed when it's just Paul and him.

BB has been here 7 weeks. He is an Exmoor stallion - branded, semi-feral, and until he came to us, unhandleable and very frightened of humans.

Paul says "I did some work with him with a rope on the neck strap, (which BB had on overnight after it was put on yesterday) doing gentle pressure and release. Then I felt that I could try the headcollar. The fact that he allowed me to touch his forehead last night seemed promising. I put the noseband over his muzzle, took it off again, put it on again - he didn't mind. I still had the rope on the neck strap so if he backed away I could still do 'p and r' to get him back close. I used my left hand on the headpiece of the headcollar to put it up behind his ear and over his neck. He wasn't very keen, backed away and it fell off his nose twice but the 3rd time he accepted it. I feel as if he knew it was inevitable. He is worried about hands on top of his neck, on his crest. Anyway we go with whatever's offered and I have put headcollars on for the first time in many different ways and even inside out".

Paul has removed the headcollar for the night. Billy Boy still has the neck strap on.

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We're cautiously optimistic...

2009-12-15T17:13:00.005Z

Great news today - Billy Boy is now wearing a neck strap. Paul has been working up to this very gradually, bunching it up in his hand whilst stroking him, and letting BB look at it and touch it. In the picture you can hardly see it - you might be able to see the buckle just under his throat.

Paul has been able to put the slightest pressure on the strap (with his hand) and encourage BB to yield to it. This is a very positive step on the way to a full headcollar and the first means of introducing BB to physical pressure instigated by his handler and the understanding of a yielding response to it. Because he was only using his hand on the strap Paul made no attempt to restrain BB if he backed away. He was also able, whilst holding it, to touch BBs face between his eyes.

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Frodo antics

2009-12-14T19:50:00.003Z

Sorry, blog fans, didn't realise it had been so long since the last one. Still extra busy so that Paul doesn't aggravate his bad back and thankfully the weather has been good which makes it easier to pick the manure up out in the field.

I got over there this morning and saw that Frodo was down in the wood. Little monkey he is - we guessed it was him as we'd seen evidence on the other side of the electric fence. He pretty much takes no notice of it at this time of year; his coat is so thick he does a quick limbo and he's through. I called out to him to ask him what he thought he was doing but left him there while I worked away with bucket, trowel and barrow. Sometime later I saw him come back and pop through the fence to rejoin the others. It's a wonder they don't go too. We probably need another energiser on the fence or a new battery or something.

Paul has been able to resume his work with Billy Boy and Mousey. Mousey moves past us only a few inches away but it's because she knows we won't attempt to touch her while she does. Paul does a little contact work with her each day.

He was in the stable with BB yesterday, smoothing and scratching, he can do his nearside now. BB turned so that Paul could do his rump - Paul almost behind him at this point - something startled BB and he jumped away, bottom tucked in. Then he came back. Paul can stroke down his front legs now as well.

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Thanks everyone

2009-12-10T19:22:00.004Z

It's been a strange week with Paul out of action because of his back - it's getting better now. We are so grateful to our lovely volunteers who have put in extra hours to help with the ponies - poo picking, mucking out, picking up stuff from the feed merchants and even fetching bales of hay for us (and messing up your smart car Margaret in the process! )

It was busy this morning with everyone here but at coffee time it became apparent that there was a conspiracy to surprise me with a fantastic birthday cake! The cake decorations are getting more and more ambitious but Gill excelled herself with this one - our kitchen table and chairs in miniature, and on the table a phone, specs, my diary, pencil, flowers etc. and even the laptop showing a picture from our website, and our Rayburn with saucepan on the hob. All made of odds and ends and scraps. Oh, and the dog looking on. SO clever!! and the lemon cake is delicious. And guess what? Gill opens her oven to see how her cakes are getting on! She even changes the shelves! I thought that was an absolute no-no! Anyway I have written down her instructions to see if I can make one the same.

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Pannier Market - our stall

2009-12-10T19:09:00.002Z

The fund raising at South Molton's Late Night Christmas Shopping went really well last Saturday evening. It's always well attended and we had a good position about halfway along the Pannier Market building. I had to come back home much earlier than expected to meet visitors but our volunteer ladies soon had the stall expertly and attractively set up as usual and they had a busy and profitable evening. Paul went along later with some friends to assist in the clearing up and then everyone came back for a cup of tea. Many thanks to the ladies, and all the friends.

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Backs

2009-12-08T18:57:00.004Z

Last Sunday Billy Boy spotted Paul in the yard and came right up to him - looking at this picture it might seem strange that we still can't headcollar this very nervous Exmoor stallion yet. He asked for a back scratch and Paul obliged. As you can see in the lower picture Paul had his hand just over the top onto BB's bad side and was talking on the phone at the same time.

Paul has begun to introduce the headcollar by laying it on top of BB's feed bowl so that he has to put his nose in it or move it around to get the food.

We now have an unexpected and very annoying hold up in the rehabilitation of Billy Boy and Mousey as Paul has hurt his back. It just happens sometimes - this time whilst picking up manure. Hopefully, rest will bring it right. It is really hard going when one of us is incapacitated and the rain doesn't help - I have never known such a long spell of wet weather.

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Fund raising

2009-12-03T22:59:00.003Z

Well, we have been getting ready for our fund-raising stall in the Pannier Market at South Molton's Late Night Christmas Shopping tomorrow night. The ladies have made lots of marmalade and jam to sell and we have Gill's lovely greetings cards as well as a great Tombola which is usually really popular.

We'll take books too - people like to have a browse. It's a really good evening out as they have live music and dancing in the Square, stilt walkers, fairground rides,and a Craft Fair.

I've been out cutting bits of our twisted willow, red and yellow dogwood twigs and ivy trails all of which sell for decoration. Frodo spotted me coming through their field with the greenery and made a beeline for me, attracting the attention of the other 6 ponies and I had to jump up and down a bit so as not to be mugged for it.

It has been hailing on and off today and I took pity on Frodo and brought him in for the night. He gets pushed around a bit although Paul puts hay out in many piles to avoid squabbles.

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2009-12-02T23:17:00.002Z

Both Billy Boy and Mousey have seemed to increase in confidence today. Mousey, seen by a weekly visitor who remarked that she didn't move away (as she would have done last week) when approached from outside the pen. I can stand very close to her as she moves from the stable to the pen but I know that if I attempted to touch her as she went past she would still panic.

Billy Boy (loose in the yard) actually approached one of our volunteers who was holding a piece of freshly-picked hogweed; I don't think it was intended for him but it was a good opportunity to confirm that humans will not hurt him. He took a piece and moved away.

Two new techniques with him since the last blog; Paul reaches over the stable door to get to BB's nearside - it works. Secondly, when it's time for him to come back in from the yard BB has a little feed waiting in his stable, today it was with a headcollar arranged on the bowl so that he can familiarise himself with it as he woofles about for the feed.

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Grooming

2009-11-29T19:52:00.004Z

Billy Boy is getting more used to Paul's hand being on his nearside but it is still always with Paul standing on the offside. Paul has today used the plastic curry comb on him; BB was fine with it; it probably doesn't feel as if it would close on him as a hand might. He relaxed into the rhythmical movement of it and Paul did his chest, shoulders, neck, half way along BB's mane and along his back, both sides, as much as he could reach.

At one point BB made a mistake with his head, bringing it over to Paul's left so that for a moment he saw Paul on his nearside, but he (BB) quickly moved back. Didn't panic though.

I think it's 5 weeks tomorrow for this traumatised stallion but we now feel as if we are getting somewhere. He clearly enjoyed the grooming and is more careful about reciprocating, quite polite in fact. It's a bit odd doing all this when he can't be headcollared but you have to go with whatever is accepted.

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Itchy ponies

2009-11-27T18:29:00.005Z

Billy Boy will now allow Paul to scratch his chest and the right side of his neck and withers whilst in the pen as well as in the stable. Always with Paul positioned in front of him or just to the right of BB's head. Today Paul even managed both hands at once, separated and scratching at the base of BB's neck. When this is happening BB has his head past Paul's right shoulder, top lip stuck out. He has realised that Paul has a use.

Paul says: "He comes to me now, to have it done. I'm trying to get on his other (left) side. I feel that once I get there we'll be able to move on".

At the moment as soon as BB feels a hand getting too far around his throat to his left, he backs up to remove the contact. Therefore, Paul is using an advance and retreat technique.
The aim is to get BB to trust Paul enough to allow him to put on a headcollar. It is quite likely that the only time he has had one on before it was forced on prior to his inspection and branding.

Today we put Frodo in the pen with Mousey. She was very pleased to see him and they immediately groomed each other vigorously. In fact she would hardly let him stop; he wanted to eat her hay but she positioned herself in front of it and demanded more grooming!

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More rain

2009-11-26T16:05:00.003Z

Frequent heavy showers today; it's turned cold too. All the ponies came in for a while which gives them a break from the weather and some handling practice.

Last week Gypsy Dan did not come in with the others - he found the gale force wind and some local vehicle noise too much to cope with. Today, between the showers it was calm by the field gate, which is the only place as yet where we can headcollar him, and he volunteered himself for catching even with another pony still out in the field - I think it might be the first time that's happened. So maybe he is still progressing, having been with us for 5 years now.

They all had a small feed and some hay; Dan was wormed as he missed out last week. We have seen very few worms this time and I have a suspicion that they were all wormed naturally by the excessive and varied herbage that they went onto a couple of weeks ago as we had found a couple of (dead) roundworm since then.

I cut about 8" off the end of Bobby's tail - it was trailing on the ground all mud-draggled and he won't need it now 'til the summer.

Frodo is staying in tonight. He gets a lot of chivvying about because he is bottom of the pecking order so I thought he should have a rest from it.

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Coming out

2009-11-25T18:28:00.006Z

After spending 4 weeks in his pen and stable, we let Billy Boy out today. The yard is secure but we added a tape above the main gate and waited until we had volunteers here, just in case.

As always little Frodo was chosen as companion; he and BB have shared hay and have previously been able to reach each other's necks so we hoped there wouldn't be any fighting.

Frodo is so non-confrontational with other horses and is completely confident with us. He knows where the sedge grows and immediately went to eat it. In the picture, Billy Boy is just having a look to see what Frodo has got, and immediately put his ears back a little. Frodo respectfully moved down the border to browse on something else. They were only out about 20 minutes.

To get him back Paul led Frodo into an adjacent stable; BB followed, and us volunteers closed him down gently into his own stable where a small feed was waiting.

In the stable Paul can scratch/stroke/rub BB's chest, shoulders and neck. BB is a strong and sturdy Exmoor stallion and actually comes disconcertingly close for this. Paul is reluctant to send him back - it is a very fine line to draw when you are trying to encourage a frightened pony towards you.

BB doesn't trust Paul yet but he more than tolerates him. We are somewhat depressed at the slow progress - however, he couldn't be touched or even approached 4 weeks ago.

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Mutilating procedures

2009-11-21T12:30:00.008Z

I just need to point out that although the emotive issue is 'hot branding' we would include ear cutting and ear tagging as practices that we want to see banned.

The hot branding of agricultural animals is already banned in the UK.

The British Equine Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Association and the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe are unanimous in their condemnation of hot branding and say it is 'unacceptable'.

Most certainly the worst cases appear to be Exmoor semi-feral foals who often suffer inappropriate handling immediately prior to, and during, the application of at least 3 hot brands.
(see link below)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8319577.stm

Microchipping is now compulsory (as from July 2009) and we know that this could be achieved for semi-feral foals with a minimum of human contact OR by prior sympathetic handling.

It is really encouraging that people are beginning to think about and question WHY branding happens. We continually hear that the branding is for the welfare of the ponies but in reality we see it causing welfare issues, not resolving them. We’ve heard all the reasons why but the arguments just don’t stand up in practice or theory – branding isn’t necessary for any Exmoor ponies – whether they are semi-feral (“wild”) or domesticated. It’s become a tradition for breeders on Exmoor and it’s great that in other parts of the country, people are questioning that tradition and seeing that micro-chipping alone is an effective means of identification.

If you own ponies – wild or domesticated, you are expected to be responsible for their welfare. In our work over the last 7 years we have had to develop ways to work with and rehabilitate semi feral ponies…including branded, registered Exmoor ponies and many ear-cut ponies. We have two ponies here at the moment who cannot yet be handled…they are typical of many of the other ponies we have helped - they have been so frightened by their experiences of people that we have to put a lot of care and attention into rehabilitating them. It’s really frustrating - what these ponies have been through is completely unnecessary. The problem doesn’t go away for them, or us, with the passing of October.

If anyone would like to come and see what it's all about they are very welcome to visit us. Pleaase contact us via the comments link below or from our website.

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Touching Billy Boy

2009-11-18T22:26:00.003Z

This is the first picture of Paul touching Billy Boy. I was worried about attempting to take one as Billy doesn't cope easily yet with extra people in the vicinity of his stable when Paul is working with him. There is an inevitable 'beep' from the camera but I was able to position myself so as to shield Billy's eyes from the flash.

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Handling semi feral "wild" ponies

2009-11-17T16:06:00.011Z

BBC footage from 00.00/2.22 secs http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8319577.stm
EPS pony handling - this foal is clearly distressed and even screams as it is pushed over and hoisted up by its tail to be pinned against the barrier.

Our alternative - this is our semi feral pony Misty having her routine check up. She never goes anywhere near people out on the reserve but because of our methods, she can be checked over and have her feet trimmed, all with the least possible stress to her.

The above pictures clearly demonstrate the advantages of sympathetic handling for 'wild' ponies.

Dr. Bill Wilson MSP is tackling the hot branding issue in Scotland. Last week in Parliament he raised the issue of the hot branding of Exmoor ponies and is hopeful that the practice will be banned, in Scotland at least.

The handling is an equally important issue which also needs addressing.

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Gypsy Dan

2009-11-16T19:38:00.005Z

Since I just mentioned Gypsy Dan I thought you might like to see a very recent picture of him having his feet trimmed. Five years ago Dan was as frightened of us as Billy Boy is now, but he can now cope with this routine stuff as long as we are quiet and careful. Dan would never approach anyone out in the field he is still much too wary for that. He is now on our sponsorship list as a pony who is unlikely to find a home because he will never be confident enough to be a ridden or driven.

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Billy Boy again

2009-11-16T18:48:00.005Z

Billy has today coped with Paul's attentions whilst I was mucking out in the adjacent stable. I was trying not to make sudden noises. Paul stroked BB's face and rubbed his chest. This is really good progress.

Later they did another session. BB seemed very settled to the stroking at a particular position in the stable - across the back corner. We see this sort of thing a lot with previously traumatised ponies where they become comfortable with a manoeuvre as long as it is performed as a sort of ritual where they feel comfortable, for instance we can only headcollar Gypsy Dan just inside the field gate on the right!

Paul moved back towards the door and BB, responding as to advance and retreat, stepped towards him. As Paul turned to face him BB suddenly semed anxious - his ears flattened and his head went up, with a confrontational posture towards Paul who instinctively raised his arms. BB retreated to his comfort zone and the session continued as before. Ending on a positive note as always Paul realised that he had forgotten to remove Billy's haynet prior to working with him. It hangs just inside the door so BB, suddenly finding himself next to it, may well have been protecting his food.

Or maybe not! who knows? We're always theorising about things....

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Successful commenting!

2009-11-16T18:45:00.002Z

Thanks for the message Anne! - you'll have to email us please - see our website.

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Silly Billy

2009-11-15T19:21:00.005Z

We came into the yard today to find that Billy had got himself stuck in the narrow part of his pen. He had been scratching his bottom on the window ledge and had inadvertently put his nose through the wire opposite at the same time, and since he is slightly longer than the gap is wide, he couldn't figure out how to get out again. Paul was approaching to help him but that was enough to give Billy the impetus to throw his head up a little and out he came with a bit of a clang.

It didn't seem to adversely affect the work with him He can't accept Paul's hand on him in the pen yet but he was good again in the stable, and enjoyed having his chest rubbed.

I have now discovered that if you 'comment' and want to put a name but not a URL you have to sometimes ignore the 'can't do it message' and tell it to post again.

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...comments!

2009-11-15T08:29:00.002Z

I know people have been trying to 'comment' and it is easier now - I've been practising and have inadvertantly left a nonsensical comment! You can be 'anonymous' if you wish or put any name for yourself by choosing 'name/URL'.

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A breakthrough with Billy Boy

2009-11-14T17:23:00.008Z

Well we did the poo picking (2 days x 7 ponies) - the wind was so strong that it caught me a couple of times - made me laugh actually! then came driving and stinging rain; I was thinking how many other people would have been out doing the same thing. The ponies had a good old run round with the wind under their tails.

Paul was in with Billy Boy, in the stable, just before dusk. The wind had dropped and it was quiet - I was there but BB was too aware of that so I made myself scarce. All the best bits happen when I'm not looking! Paul was sitting on the stool doing carrots when I left. He then decided to have a go with the hand stick with carrot wedged between the fingers, which BB took, being used to this from the real hand. Then Paul used the long cane to touch him, and that was OK and even liked (BB is pretty itchy at the moment.) Although they were in a relatively small space BB made no attempt to bite, threaten or swing his rump round. Back to the hand stick and the usual method of gradually inching one's hand along it until one is touching the pony, and continuing the rythymic scratching all the time. Billy Boy clearly enjoyed it and tried to reciprocate on the hayrack, being still too frightened to turn his head onto Paul.

Paul was elated to have made proper and accepted contact; just hope we can continue to make progress.

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Wild weather

2009-11-13T18:43:00.002Z

We didn't manage to get the manure picked up today before it rained and then we had to go out and then had visitors so there will be two days worth tomorrow.
The wind is now up to gale force, howling in the chimney and gusting so hard that the door blows open if it's not bolted.
The 5 ponies in the big field will be glad of their new bit and are probably all at the sheltered bottom end next to the wood. The little paddock is pretty miserable in bad weather so Frodo and Rocky are in for the night and settled down now with their hay.
Paul worked with Billy Boy in the stable - a smaller space than the pen so correspondingly more dangerous if BB should feel trapped. Anyway they did the carrots with both hands at once and the scratching under the chin, all OK.

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Mousey - a little setback

2009-11-12T11:54:00.008Z

One of our volunteers told me that she had tried, whilst offering beech leaves through the pen wire, to get the dock stalk out of Mousey's forelock (I must say my heart sank at this point) and that Mousey had jumped back. It was so innocently and helpfully meant, but I knew that this would be a setback.
About ten minutes later Paul went in to work with Mousey, unaware of what had happened. He offered her a twig of beech leaves but she ignored him. After a minute or two he was saying 'that's funny she was alright last night'. We then told him what had happened. Paul switched offerings to hogweed, which Mousey took very cautiously, neck outstretched. Then he did some neck stroking, which was OK. He could get to the back edge of her cheek, and her throat.

We talked about it over coffee - it is a hard lesson for someone who is so dedicated to doing her best for these ponies, but what a good thing that our volunteers tell us what's happening so that we can work out reasons for what we see.

Mousey saw the twig of leaves, and the human hand, and felt the snag as the dock was touched all simultaneously, and she associates it immediately with touches long ago and grabs, restraint and the cutting of her ears.

Paul said it's the trust thing; you are on a knife edge all the time; you have to work so hard for everything you get. We are trying to confirm to Mousey that we will never hurt her.
The temptation to touch a frightened pony can be quite strong if it is just the other side of a pen or stable door, and within reach. Never be tempted!

On the Billy Boy front, during the sessions today Paul worked up to scratching under his chin (BB's, I mean!)

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Billy Boy - slight progress - and Mousey

2009-11-11T18:48:00.005Z

Yesterday Paul sat in Billy Boy's pen, offering him carrots. Little bits, so that he would have to nuzzle at Paul's hand to get it. When the carrots had all gone, Paul continued to sit there.

Billy Boy was clearly irritated that there was suddenly nothing in the hand. He reached forward and looked several times, with ears back a little on approach (not too seriously) and then went to walk past Paul who immediately blocked him with a raised hand. BB tried this again, and again he was blocked. He then accepted the situation, backed off, licked and chewed a bit and settled to wait - I felt that his demeanor had changed. Paul waited a minute and then came out. It was definitely a session playing 'mind games' and we felt that it was positive.
Today, Paul did the carrots again, two handed, and was able to stroke the side of BB's muzzle briefly as he took them.
Mousey went out on the 'lawn' today. She came in with her forelock decorated with dead dock stalks - goodness knows when we'll be able to get them out. Also, she has discovered a good scratching place on the low branches of the apple tree so there is now a patch of churned up mud beneath it where she has been swaying backwards and forwards.
She now copes with touching the hand that offers food without panicking.

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High jinks on the new grass

2009-11-09T09:47:00.004Z

We gave Frodo a couple of hours in the 'new' field yesterday. He has been confined to the little paddock for a couple of years because it seems to be the only place he can't escape from. The ponies all know each other from chatting over the fence, but there has to be a real good run round and a sort out of the pecking order once they're in together. Frodo wasn't too bothered by the chase and Muddy's attempts to send him away, and he got his own back with several thuds on Muddy's chest before going. They all settled down (interestingly) into pairs, now that there were 6 - Frodo with Jeremy, Muddy and Basil, and older boys Bobby and Dan together.

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people4hamsters?

2009-11-07T19:54:00.003Z

Our rescue hamster visited the kitchen table recently (whatever next!) and I took this really sweet picture after we gave him half a digestive biscuit. Had to share it with the blog fans.....

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Pastures new

2009-11-07T19:21:00.004Z

A better day weatherwise with some warm sunny spells between the showers. We decided to move the electric fence to give the 5 ponies in the big field all the pasture that has been denied them since April. Paul has gradually accustomed them to it over the past fortnight by moving the fence a few inches every day.

It is a wonderful mixture of grasses and herbs and we arranged the new fenceline in such a way as to enclose some scrubby willow and oak for scratching or browsing on. First of all we had to move the ponies into the little paddock - Paul tempted them in with some hay. All except Bobby - he only came out of there a week ago and is well aware that it is a 'starvation' paddock and not worth revisiting! So he stayed out, unaware that we had all the outside fence down, and moved over to graze the new bit.

We had to join some tape up to get enough for two lines all round. Vikki and Sam went up to let the ponies back in (they had been watching us carefully). They came out of the gate so fast! Muddy in the lead, closely followed by Jeremy, with Basil and Dan behind. It was a flat out gallop to the new grass with a slight pause at the point where the fence had been, just to check.

It will be difficult to find the manure now and to pick it up out of the long grass. However we probably won't need to feed hay in there for some time yet, maybe not until after Christmas.
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More Billy and Mousey

2009-11-06T20:00:00.007Z

Paul sat under the shelter today (steady rain) with tempting greenery held for Billy Boy in such a way that he would have to get touched on the side of his muzzle or under his chin as he took it. BB had taken some bits as normal but suddenly as he leaned in to get more he lunged forward, ears back, teeth bared. Paul raised one hand from his sitting position, fingers spread - BB backed off. It happened again, just the same, a moment later. But after that things returned to 'normal' and the session was finished, as always, on a positive note.

It's quite depressing and neither of us can imagine at the moment that it might be possible to approach Billy Boy and headcollar him. There's no quick fix for this - Billy Boy is expecting us to hurt him and we have to prove to him that we won't. It is not necessary for him to be like this; it's caused by ignorance; if a pony like this has a problem requiring veterinary assistance the chances are that it will simply be shot. It's lucky for Billy that he is now owned by someone who understands this issue - we hope we can help him for them.

Mousey is more accepting of a hand scratching under her throat and will brush her muzzle against our fingers now without panicking. Also she's not so bothered about people near her left hand side. So, small steps.

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Wet ponies

2009-11-04T20:57:00.002Z

Billy Boy and Mousey have both done well today. We had frequent heavy showers so they were confined to pen and stable. Neither of them are handleable yet so they can't go out in either paddock - Mousey usually spends some time on our lawn but it just couldn't have coped with her today. Because we had more people here today what with volunteers and visitors both ponies had a lot of attention and Billy Boy became quite blase (I tried to put an accent on the e and it wouldn't let me!!) about people walking past him, hands coming in with leaves and all the other 7 ponies coming into the yard.
Talking of which, they were so desperate to come in (because of the rain) and Jeremy couldn't decide whether to eat his lunch first or have a roll, and he went to take a mouthful of lunch and changed his mind, rolled quickly on the tarmac, remembered about the food, took a mouthful, rolled again and this went on for about 6 rolls, all accomplished on the lead and interspersed with nibbles and a great deal of tail swishing - don't worry he didn't have colic! just a very wet back.

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Mousey's ears

2009-11-04T07:53:00.004Z

Mousey is now taking food from our hands whilst we are close to her, inside the stable. We are gradually introducing contact with her muzzle by having part of the offering hand in the way of the food, which is a variety of relished greenery - sedge, grass, dandelion, hazel, hogweed, ash leaves etc.

She has to become used to two hands at her head and we should be able to work up to this as well using the same method.

You may be able to see her poor ears in this picture. The right ear has had the top cut off and the left one has a plastic tag in it. Undoubtedly
this, and the handling she experienced at the time of the procedure, is the cause of her fear.

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2009-11-02T16:27:00.004Z

Billy has been testing the boundaries today. He tried a little rear-end threat on Paul and got a 'send away' in return - (have to be very careful with dominating body language on frightened ponies because you can overdo it and frighten them too much at this early stage) - then later he tried a head bite on a volunteer who was allowing him a sniff of her hat. She sent him back too. Both times he came back more mannerly.
Paul sat in the pen with a loosely-held handful of grass. Billy had a think about it, then stretched to take some. He progressed to daring to pull at it when it was held more tightly. He also had a good sniff at Paul's head, and tested it with his teeth. Like they do to each other; not an agressive bite.
We are trying to build Billy's confidence but there must be boundaries. He's a stallion, and his experiences of humans in the past have not been good as he has been through the inspection and branding process.

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Billy, Mousey and Frodo

2009-11-01T19:47:00.007Z

We used the new pen for Mousey this morning while I mucked her out. She was quite comfortable in it, in fact she seems more relaxed than a week ago. Paul says she is not being disgusted anymore when he holds out his hand for her to sniff!

Billy Boy and Frodo ate hay from the same net, and had a bit of a chat and a nibble at each other. No squealing or snapping. In the picture, Billy is dithering about coming to the haynet; Frodo is already there and calmly eating, despite the presence of the 'dreaded human'. To Billy, it feels safer in the pen space outside. Anyway he did come - he watched me stroking Frodo's mane - this will not mean we are allowed to touch his! but he will be positively affected by Frodo's calm energy; Frodo is completely comfortable in his surroundings and with us. A little breakthrough - Billy took leaves from Paul with him INSIDE the stable.

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...a bit more room for Billy Boy

2009-10-31T16:41:00.007Z

Looks as if Billy Boy might be a long job so we have made him a pen to come out to. He was a bit jumpy at first but settled down to eat hay. He also took grass and dogwood leaves through the wire from one of our young volunteers who appeared only about 2' high to Billy as she was sitting on the ground.

This pen will help to accustom him to all the sights and sounds of the yard. I also hope to put a companion in with him and will introduce Frodo through the bars tomorrow. It will be interesting to see Frodo's reaction; he is 7, but a very small gelding - 10.1hh. and lowest in our pecking order, whereas Billy is a 12.2 hh stallion. If that works I think Billy will draw some confidence from him.

2009-10-29T23:58:00.002Z

A really busy day with everybody, it seems, wanting to talk to us. We took Frodo out in his new red cart; only just up the road but he was very good and nearly crossed his feet properly when we turned round to come back.

Jeremy took matters into his own hooves and managed to get into the grass beyond the electric fence; don't know if he's jumping or limbo-ing.

Billy Boy has a strong aversion to men; we've seen it before but it's really obvious with him and it puts Paul at such a disadvantage as he is the first contact for a rehab case like this. He padded up today, just in case, when he went in to work with him. Billy will take some sedge leaves or hazel from us, only offered over the door, but not from Paul! It's very sad. Normally offering food is not part of the process but it can't hurt.

It just brings it home to us what a serious situation it would be for Billy Boy if he was out on the moor and needed medical attention.

Hot Branding

2009-10-28T10:51:00.002Z

We now know that the reason for the BBC not showing previous video footage of a branding session was because it was considered unacceptable for breakfast viewing.

I have been interviewed today along with Rex Milton, President of the Exmoor Pony Society, and that interview is being shown today on the BBC News channel.

One never gets a chance to say all that one wants to, but it is keeping the issue current.

Hot Branding

2009-10-28T07:00:00.005Z

We've just watched the BBC Breakfast programme and are very disappointed with the report. We actually covered all the arguments about hot branding, had an emotionally damaged branded Exmoor stallion here who was filmed; we did not describe ourselves as an animal rights group and we suggested ways forward for the moorland ponies and their handlers.

The BBC Spotlight piece that was recorded last week is still available online and gives more evidence of a branding session. See link below or copy and paste the link into your web browser.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8319577.stm

Billy Boy

2009-10-27T15:36:00.004Z

This is a picture of our newest rehab. project, Billy Boy. He's an Exmoor stallion, and is very scared of people. A lovely looking chap though. He is already responding to advance and retreat methods.

BBC Breakfast TV

2009-10-27T15:30:00.002Z

There will be more on the hot branding issue on BBC Breakfast television, probably tomorrow morning. We have been interviewed again. I think it will be one of those items that they repeat at intervals during the programme.

Conservation Grazing

2009-10-27T11:54:00.004Z

I thought I would copy this piece to the blogger as it might be of interest. It's about two of our 'conservation grazing' ponies.

Misty and Star have been doing a really good job conservation grazing for the Devon Wildlife Trust. The ponies are visually checked daily by a DWT warden. These two little Exmoor cross mares are semi wild – they have done basic and limited handling so they can be headcollared to have any general maintenance done (using our particular methods) but so that they would not willingly come up to anyone – the trauma of ear notching means that they are much too wary of people to volunteer themselves for any kind of interaction.

In December 2008 it was time for the girls to have their six monthly check up – to have their feet trimmed and a general check over to decide if they are still OK to stay on the site. As usual for these occasions, a band of volunteers came to help drift the ponies in to be checked. The key to getting a successful outcome to these occasions is preparation! On site, the first step was to create a safe enclosure for the ponies to be drifted into. Some round pen panels make a simple mobile handling unit. The access to the site is via an old banked track which makes a perfect channel for the ponies to move along and we decided that a 5 bar gate that had been installed along this lane would be the perfect location for the enclosure as it could form one side of it. A gate of panels was set up and left open for the ponies to go into the pen but arranged so it was easy to close when the time was right. Another DWT warden was there to help with the drifting (round up) as well as the DWT “lookerer” who was hoping to get to see the ponies at much closer quarters than usual.

The drifting was quite a simple process – the route from the conservation site to the pen is walked and people are placed at vulnerable spots – places where the ponies might move in the wrong direction – this might be footpaths leading off somewhere else or large gaps in woodland. The idea isn’t to scare the ponies to keep them out of the spots – just having someone standing in a spot is enough to make them not go there. When the route is secure, part of the volunteer party enters the site and, at a distance, moves slowly but steadily behind the ponies, moving them in the right direction. Walking towards them at a distance is enough to move them forward – there is no shouting or arm waving or dramatic effects. It didn’t take long at all to drift the ponies once everything was set up – perhaps 10 or 15 minutes. The girls trotted out of the site and along the banked track. Cilla had decided to be in front of them, walking towards where they needed to go, but with her back turned so as not to be confrontational. Star and Misty followed Cilla up the track and into the pen - Cilla having by then climbed out over the 5 bar gate to stop any unsuspecting walkers who might be on their way down, and to just make sure the girls didn’t consider jumping out. This really shouldn’t happen (because everything should be calm) but in case of unforeseen circumstances, we didn’t want the girls heading off towards the road. Once the girls had passed the vulnerable spots along the access path, the people blocking routes steadily walked behind the girls at a distance just to block the way back. Everything is judged carefully so that the ponies are given time to be calm and to consider where they are but by having people blocking routes it helps the ponies make the right decisions on where to be. When everything was right, the gates for the enclosure were gently pulled across the path.

After allowing the girls a little time to settle, Paul and another volunteer went in and quietly headcollared the ponies. Misty and Star were in really good condition – well covered to go into the winter but not too fat. You’d almost think they had been brushed for the occasion. The girls had lots of burrs caught in their manes and so the handlers spent some time de-burring them, then Paul tended to their feet – only a tidy up was required. Both DWT wardens were absolutely amazed that all of this was possible. They admitted to us that they thought we would be spending all day trying to round up these ponies and they expected us to lose them in the woodland!! As they had never managed to get anywhere near the ponies and having never seen these methods in action before, they had thought that headcollaring, stroking and hoof rasping, all in a calm manner, would be impossible. They found the whole thing amazing and asked lots of questions. The “lookerer” even went in with the girls and was able to stroke them for the first time – something she never thought she would be able to do.

After all the checks, the girls were led back down to their site and released from their headcollars. All that was left was to dismantle the enclosure. That should be it for another six months; they’ll have another check in the summer.

2009-10-26T19:35:00.004Z

The little bird died overnight. Last night it seemed fine - flying round the room. I had given it some fresh flies and it picked them up, pulled off the wings and ate them. I thought we'd saved it. Wish I'd let it out last night now. Oh well.

Mousey was reluctant to go to the lawn paddock today but Paul fetched Frodo and she was happy to follow him. Frodo comes back to call and Mousey comes too. The picture shows her following Paul out in the morning, when she's feeling co-operative.
She now has Boy in the stable next to her. He's come for handling practice but he's pretty scared of people.

2009-10-25T13:51:00.002Z

I came in after mucking out this morning and found a blue tit stuck to the fly paper in the kitchen. It had one wing totally stuck and was going mad. We managed to peel it off and tried to remove the sticky, first with surgical spirit (no good) and then with white spirit, which was working but the poor little thing was dying, whether from stress or fumes we don't know. It keeled over and I left it in the sun outside. All the years we've used fly papers, never had such a thing happen before. Maybe because it's late in the year it came in and saw a few flies handy...

Anyway, an hour later, Kayleigh came to tell me it was still alive! So we gave it some extra warmth with a hot water bottle under some towels and kept an eye on it. Another hour and it was on its feet! We gave it yet another hour to regain strength, and then carefully washed its wings with washing up liquid to remove the oil, which we could still smell. It has lost a few tail feathers. So, at the moment, it is resting in the laundry basket by the Rayburn, and has my mesh food cover over to prevent escape.

2009-10-24T12:55:00.002+01:00

For those who don't know, Mousey has come to us for rehabilitation; hopefully to make her less fearful and ideally so she is able to be headcollared, groomed, led about, have her feet seen to etc. - in short, so she is more user-friendly! She may then be able to be re-homed.

She will have been here 3 weeks on Tuesday.

23rd October

2009-10-23T22:03:00.002+01:00

Been a bit busy the last couple of days but Mousey has been going out as usual to her lawn paddock. She follows Paul now and doesn't need anyone behind her. Still needs a little remote pressure from behind to get her back though, and given half a chance she makes her way into the garden as if to say 'I could stay in here...'

In the stable she will accept Paul approaching her shoulder now and doesn't present her rump - although when she did, it was totally non-threatening and just that she preferred the touching to begin there. We are some way off headcollaring. She can tolerate a hand within about 4" of her muzzle when she is eating - we are getting nearer, although I think Paul's 'advance and retreat' technique up her neck is the most likely thing to work.