Bailey's New Home

I’ve already told you that Bailey is part of the Gang, haven’t I?  Well today it was made very clear that he’s staying…


…..if any of the others had their doubts!

Why’s that you may ask?    Well the staff has been changing one of the stables so it’s the same as mine. Which means Bailey can look out his door through to the yard,  and his water drinker ad yummy salt lick are at the right height!!

Some of the staff getting Bailey's New Home ready for him

I’ve not told him about his ‘new’ stable yet………….he’s going to love it!  

Holiday wishes from Pilgrim

I have to agree with Bruno about the outdoor arena, it’s lovely out there, just a pity that we’ve not been able to use it very much this year!!

I’m really glad that he’s enjoying doing the blog – to be honest I wasn’t sure if he’d do more than the first one so of course he can do it again!

Bailey has been really excited about our holiday, I think all the shiny bits & pieces plus the talk of Christmas has gone to his head!  

Mind you I know that all the others are enjoying the break as well…….do you get a holiday as well?  If you do I hope you are all having a lovely time!!

Guest Blogger Bruno 2: Sitting on the Fence

Hello; it’s Bruno once again to let you know a little more about my role here at the Calvert Trust Exmoor.

I’ve already mentioned the work I do both ridden and in the carriage. Pilgrim asked me which I prefer doing, which was actually a difficult question for me to answer!

I enjoy both disciplines and I’ve heard the staff comment on how good I look in the carriage.  I think it would be fair to say that I’m rather good at both, so I’m going to ‘sit on the fence’ and not choose one over the other!

Whichever role I may do, ridden or in the carriage, my favourite time is when we work outside. The outdoor arena is bigger, which suits my length of stride much better, and the views across to Exmoor are delightful.   Even better is when we take our guests along the track beside the reservoir.    I am a very content horse on those days.

Teddy & Pilgrim in the outdoor arena

I’ve enjoyed our little chat this time; so much so I might speak to Pilgrim and offer my services once again.

Whatever the Weather...

I don’t know about you guys, but us horses here at the Calvert Trust Exmoor are a bit confused about what’s happening with the weather this year!

After the ‘summer of rain’ we hoped it might get ‘back to normal’ during the winter - it can’t possibly rain all winter too. Can it?  

We did have some bright frosty days, it got a bit chilly but Bailey & I were warm and toasty with our thick Shetland coats.

BUT then it started to rain again; ahh!!!!!!!!!!!  

At least I’ve got my rug to keep me dry, but spare a thought for Bailey as he’s not wearing one yet.  (I think he might be a bit young for a rug; maybe he’ll have one for next winter?)

What do you think of Bruno then?

Well, what do you think of Bruno then?    He’s quite ‘proper’ if you know what I mean – but can be a lot of fun when he lets his hair down!!! 
  
I’ve been having a quiet few days as the Centre doesn’t seem to have many guests at the moment; I’ve heard the staff talking about how Christmas and New Year are coming up soon.

That means it will soon be time for us horses to put our feet up & have our annual holiday, fantastic! We’ve been busy this year & this break lets us fully relax and charge us up for all the folks who will be staying with us next year.
   
I’m off to go and to tell Bailey all about this…

...catch up with you soon!

Guest Blogger Bruno

Hello everyone.  My name is Bruno.    Pilgrim asked me to contribute to his blog and as he asked me so nicely I said yes.   Let me tell you a little about myself.

I’m a black cob, standing a little over 15 hands tall and have a white star on my forehead plus white socks on each hind leg.   I’ve heard people comment that I look like ‘Black Beauty’: now I’m not aware of this horse, but I’m sure he is a dashing fellow whoever he is.

Me in my field

I’ve been at Calvert Trust Exmoor for seven years, so I am very experienced in helping our guests learn a little more about us horses. I’ve heard it said that I’m a comfortable horse to ride; but my skills don’t end there as I also work in the four wheeled carriage.

I started carriage driving somewhat later in my career, but this hasn’t stopped me becoming a useful member of the Calvert Driving Team.

I must end there today as duty calls, but I will ‘drop you a line or two’ again soon.

Sparkly Ropes & Shiny Things

As you might guess, I like to know what’s happening and who’s doing it, after all it’s my duty as Calvert Trust Stables Reporter!

Well, I have a mystery on my hooves; someone has put up lots of sparkly ropes & other shiny things around the yard. They’ve even put some in the indoor arena! It happened overnight…

Sparkly Ropes & Shiny Things (and Maxwell!)

….we went out in our fields for the night and when we came back into our stables the place had been changed – as if by magic!

Now I do like what’s been done, it’s bright & cheerful, but maybe I could have given them a bit of advice.  For a start I’ve not got any shiny things round my stable…

…surely that’s a mistake?

My Next Guest Blogger: Bruno

I’ve asked Bruno if he’ll do the blog for me – after a bit of thought he said yes BUT on the understanding that he only does one or two!

Apparently he’s very busy & ‘just won’t have the time to write the blog for a whole week’!! I didn’t like to ask him what else he had to do that’s so important…

... what can be MORE important than chatting to you guys & keeping you up to date on all the gossip?!?!

I hope he does a good job!

The Little Man is staying! yay!

Hi everyone!

I’ve got some fantastic news for you; the Little Man (aka Bailey) is staying!!  How great is that?!!

The Little Man (& Me!)

I knew he would be OK as he’s settled in so well, plus he & I get on really well.  He’s so pleased to be passed as OK for the Calvert Trust: it’s quite a thing for such a young man as he is.  But don’t worry; I’ll make sure he doesn’t get too full of himself!!

I can’t wait to tell the others; I think they are a bit jealous of me as I’ll the only one who’s  got to know Bailey…

…Now he’s ‘one of the Gang’ it won’t be long before the Little Man gets to say hi to everyone else.

foot perfect!

Just a quick update……..

Did some more driving again and I was just about foot perfect!! We worked in the indoor arena – too wet to go outside I reckon - I went through my warm up and then worked on my turns and trotting.   It felt like I’ve been doing it forever!!

Our Indoor Arena

I Told Bailey all about it later on…

…he’s quite keen to have ago himself!!! I did tell him that he’s a bit too young to drive a carriage yet; but I’m sure he’d have a chance when he’s older (& a bit stronger).

Bruno's Creature Comforts!

Managed to grab a word with Bruno today; I asked him if he liked being in and just as I though, he’s loving it!!
Although he didn’t quite put it like that, said something about how "someone had to keep an eye on Maxwell in case he got worried & I’m just ideal for the job!" He’s such a character; he loves attention and any ‘creature comforts’ on offer!!

Lazy old Bruno!

He then told me how he’d done some long-reining the day before. That’s when the staff are working with us from the ground using very long reins to let us know what they want us to do.   Bruno said it was to "keep me nice & flexible for my riding & carriage driving work".  

I’ve had a thought…

…I might ask Bruno to be my next ‘guest blogger’ – he’s certainly got a lot to say & plenty of stories to tell!!!!

Bruno's slacking off!

I’ve heard that Maxwell is off work, something about having a sore leg. Anyway, he’s staying in his stable overnight rather than going in the field & Bruno is also staying in to keep him company.
Teddy reckoned that Bruno is loving this; he hates getting muddy & wet plus he just loves getting any attention that’s going!!!

I hope Maxwell gets better soon…

….but I bet Bruno doesn’t think so!!

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Me and the Little Man (Bailey!)

Guess what, we all stayed in the other night; it was really windy & raining like mad!  I think the staff felt they couldn’t put us out in such bad weather so we all had a relaxing night in. Cosy! Don’t get me wrong, I love being out in my field BUT even a tough mini Shetland like me has his limits!!!!

Bailey told me that he quite liked being in with the others……..he felt ‘quite grown up & one of the gang’.