Category: Fleygurs’ musings

Three weeks before the U.K.s first Tolt in Harmony Competition, I had a little mishap with my shoe (you can read about it here). My Mate Roger was not at all sure that I was going to be able to take part after all. We had been preparing for weeks. Not by practicing the pattern you have to ride, because we don’t have a school, or even a flat piece of ground to practice on, but there is a lot you can do while out rambling. We practiced speed changes, and stopping; and we did lots of walking sideways, or ‘three-tracking’.

The incident with the shoe seemed to have put a stop to my competition aspiration, and Fleygur Fans on Facebook, from all over the world, sent me best wishes, and crossed their fingers, hooves or paws for me. Initially, I got better quickly and hopes were raised, but then, just as the Vet had predicted, I got worse again. My Mate Roger, and the Woman soaked my foot in hot salty water, twice a day, and poulticed my foot, until no more puss came out. Then it was wrapped in a dry dressing. When I was able to walk without limping, My Mate Roger called the Shoe Man. The Shoe Man said, “I wouldn’t be much of a farrier, if I couldn’t straighten out that shoe”, and he popped it back on. He said my foot had healed well, but if there was any problem, My Mate Roger should call him straight away.

 

So, now I was ready to compete, though the combination of having been out of work for three weeks, and the fresh spring grass, meant that I was a little feisty! My Mate Roger was a bit apprehensive. I have only done one competition before, and I didn’t exactly cover myself in glory. I went like a bat out of hell round the oval track, with My Mate Roger trying to stay in control, and screamed for My Mare Gydja the whole way round. This time, Blondie was coming with me, and we set off in the Stable on Wheels for an overnight stay near to the competition venue. We had a little paddock to ourselves, with a cute grey Welsh pony next door. The TB and the Arab opposite were a bit less polite, and galloped at the fence, with ears back. Blondie stood his ground, and just stared back, and eventually I got fed up too, and snorted at them. These Big Horses do get in a paddy sometimes. Anyway, there were two post and rail fences between us, so they just had to get over it.

The next morning we were off again, early, for a short trip to Home Farm Equestrian, for the competition itself. Lots of other Icelandic horses arrived, and we all got ready for the practice round. The humans all had a briefing from the judge, and there were lots of questions. Apparently, none of them had done this before. We had a practice go, with feedback from the judge. It all seemed very relaxed, but Blondie managed to get the same score as me, so I was going to up my game for the competition itself. Blondie, and the Woman, are novices compared to us, so I couldn’t let My Mate Roger down. In the practice run, I did scream a bit, because I needed to know the other horses were still there. I couldn’t do that in round two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After feed back from the judges and a rest, it was time for round two, the competition itself.

My Mate Roger and I went before Blondie, and I think I did pretty well. O.K, I did have a little disagreement with My Mate Roger at one point, and I confess, there is room for improvement! You can watch me on YouTube

I didn’t scream, at all this time, and Blondie did okay too, for his first time out, but obviously not as awesome as me. You can watch Blondie on YouTube too, and see for yourself.

 

Then it was time for the prizes. Blondie got seventh place, and I got fourth. My Mate Roger was very pleased, we had both done better than he had expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the feeling we will be doing more of the Tolt in Harmony. My Mate Roger and the Woman seemed to enjoy themselves, and the other Iceys, and their humans are a friendly herd. Next time though, I am going to keep my eye on the winner. My Mate Roger says, if I can calm down a bit, I might even be a s good as this. I still think I am awesome.

The big question in My Mate Rogers’ mind is, ‘will I, or won’t I be fit in time for the Tölt in Harmony competition?’ We had begun our training, practicing slowing down, and speeding up in walk, and tölt. I am especially good at the fast bits. I was getting fitter, and My Mate Roger was pleased with my progress. We have a lot to prove, after my performance at lasts years British Icelandic Horse Championships.

Then, last Sunday, I had a mishap with one of my shoes. The shoes had recently been fitted by the Shoe Man, so were nice and solid.  I was with the herd, in the bottom corner of the field, when we started to move off. One of my feet wouldn’t move. Something had caught on my shoe. I pulled and pulled, and being very strong I managed to get free, but there was a cost. I felt a sharp pain in my foot, and as I tried to run away, I found I couldn’t put my foot down flat. I limped a few paces and stopped, waiting to be rescued.

The Woman arrived in the field first, with a friend, all kitted up and ready to ride. When she saw me in the far corner of the field, holding my leg off the ground, she must have thought I had broken it, she looked very concerned, but when she saw my shoe, she could see the problem. My Mate Roger arrived and took my shoe off.

Finally, I could put my foot to the ground, but I still didn’t feel good, and didn’t really want to move. I could hardly walk, and was very subdued. The Vet was called, and the Woman, her friend, and My Mate Roger waited in the field with me. Blondie came over to see me, but I did not feel like playing.

The vet found where the nails from the shoe had punctured the sole of my foot, and said it would certainly get infected. He said I would get worse, before I got better. and gave me an injection for the pain. I had to stand in a bucket of hot, salty water. I took my foot out the first time, but My Mate Roger put it back in, and gave me a treat, so I got the idea, and kept it in until I was asked to lift it again. Then he wrapped my foot with a dressing, vet-wrap, and duck tape! My Mate Roger is a human nurse, so he knew what to do.

 

This procedure was repeated twice a day over the next few days, so I became very expert at it. Stand with foot in hot water…….get a treat. Stand with foot up for poultice to be put on,…..get a treat. Look sorry for myself, and hobble in a little circle…….get a treat. I got so expert at this, that I didn’t really need to be held, or even have a halter on. There was some debate about whether, or not I should go in a stable. The neighbours offered to lend me one. Lots of my Fleygur Fans on Facebook gave their views and advice, but eventually it was decided that I could stay out. That way I was in my usual place, with my herd, and could move around if I wanted to, keeping fit and helping to pump the nasty pus out of my foot.

After a couple of days I felt a lot better, and My Mate Roger stopped giving the magic powder in my feed. In fact, I didn’t get any feed at all, just hay. The next day I got a lot worse, and could hardly put my foot down, and that evening I got another feed! The vet came again, and said I was doing really well, and that I should make a good recovery, and then I got spotted, by the Woman, playing with Blondie. She claims she saw me cantering, and bucking! Where is the evidence? I think I should still get feeds (with or without the magic powder) but somehow I think that may not happen.

So, I am on the road to recovery, but it is just fifteen days until the Tölt in Harmony Competition. Will I be able to go?

Yes, it is true Fleygur Fans, I have made it to the finals of the prestigious Equine Social Media Awards, but it is all to play for. The Talking Horse category has many formidable opponents including, The Fat Pony, who is very, very naughty; and Binky the Clydesdale, who is very, very big. I need all the votes I can get.

My mission is to promote the Icelandic Horse. The horses of the Vikings, tough, hardy, spirited but gentle, and very very clever (well, I am anyway).

So get voting, and spread the joy of Icelandic horses…..http://www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com/finalists-esma

Sing to the tune of ‘I’m a rambler’ by English Folk singer Ewan McColl

Chorus

I’m a rambler. I’m a rambler from Shrop-shire way
I get all my pleasure the tolt-ing way
I may be a Fat Pony weekdays
But I am a Sports Horse on Sundays

I’ve hacked o’er Cardings, and galloped the Long Mynd
And grazed on the Stiper Stones as well
I’ve rested at Wenlock, and tolted round TheWrekin
And many more things I can tell
My Mate Roger has oft been my rider
He makes sure that I am watered and fed
And sooner than part from our rambling
I think I would rather be dead

The day was just ending as we were returning
Along a bridleway permitted by law
When a voice cried “Eh you”, in the way people do
He’d the worst face that ever I saw
The things that he said were unpleasant
In the teeth of his fury Roger said
Sooner than part from our rambling
I think I would rather be dead

He called me a waster and yelled, “get off the road”
Well I thought, but I couldn’t see
Why the old by-ways, and the lanes round about
Couldn’t take both the young lout and me
He said, All this land is my father’s
At that Roger stood shaking his head
No man has the right to own byways
Any more than the deep ocean bed

We once entered a show, to see how far we could go
And we practiced from April to June
We are a great partnership, My Mate Roger and I
But the deadline, it came way too soon
On the day that I should have been Champion
We went for a ramble instead
For sooner than part from our rambling
I think I would rather be dead

So I’ll tolt where I will, over mountain and hill
And I lie where the bracken is deep
I belong to the mountains, the clear-running fountains
Where the grey rocks rise rugged and steep
I’ve seen the wild rivers in the gulley
And the skylarks flying high over head
And sooner than part from our rambling
I think I would rather be dead