Schools out for Summer, Pony Camp and EFY

Beth broke up for a 6½ week summer holiday on Friday 11th July, finishing her 4 years at Shepshed High School; she will be starting Hind Leys College at the end of August. For our American family and friends our system is somewhat different to yours so don’t be confused thinking “Is Beth is going to college at 14?” The Thursday before school finished Beth attended her schools ‘Evening of Celebration’, where they acknowledged several students achievements, Beth received an award for her helping younger children in the school with their reading.

From Left to Right Jodie, Katie in front, Mrs Baskerville
(their teacher) and Beth

The first day of the school holiday saw Beth and Cyril going to Canaan Farm for Pony Club Rally, which lasted 2 hours where she did 2 classes – show jumping indoors and working hunter which is show jumping outside over wooden rustic fences, not painted. They both did well considering this was their first PC rally.

Beth jumping the cross country course at PC

‘PONY CAMP’ was 2 weeks ago at Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire (which is 16 miles from us) 4 days of fun (show jumping, dressage, cross country, games, handy pony, grid work and stable management – tack cleaning and grooming) and nervous tummy’s (the latter is me). Beth’s friend Katie kept her pony Toto at our house along with their large horse lorry. Tuesday morning started early with the loading of the horses onto the lorry, Cyril wasn’t too excited about loading but they did manage it after half an hour. But come Wednesday morning he wouldn’t load and Steve had to go all the way over to Widmerpool to fetch a trailer from a friend, hoping that Cyril would load on that as he had done in the past and he did. But Beth missed the morning of show jumping; thankfully he loaded to come home, however that was the last time that he did.

The water Jumps

Thursday we decided that the reason Cyril didn’t load on Wednesday was because there was too much going on while we tried to load him, people and horses coming and going, so after repositioning the lorry to a quieter location we were hopeful that we would be successful, but sadly after a frustrating hour and a half of trying we weren’t. So off Steve went again to pick up the trailer, but luckily Beth didn’t miss too much. We were hoping that Cyril would load to come home like he did the day before, but no. So Steve had to come home to fetch the trailer that belongs to a friend who keeps her 2 ponies at our place but she was using it to transport her daughters pony to and from camp and it’s not big enough for her pony and Cyril hence the back and forth!

Show Jumping

Beth with her PC group she is the 3rd from the left

The one thing I have learned over the last few years that we have had horses is that everyone has an opinion on how to do something and often they express their opinion in such away that you would be somewhat stupid if you didn’t take their advice. This at time of trying to loading Cyril onto the trailer to go home was no different. Steve (or as I call him Doctor Dolittle because of his ability to communicate with animals) thought that as Cyril had loaded onto the trailer twice in the last 2 days that he wouldn’t have a problem. So after a couple of unsuccessful goes of loading a well meaning person (the only one left from the days events) offered to help thinking that taking Cyril in hand and with the use of a driving whip she would soon have him on the trailer and Steve not wanting to be rude thought ok you get him on, but Cyril had other ideas and pulled away from her twice. The second time he took off clear across to the other side of this very large field where he was found having a drink. The lady said well he knows who is the boss, meaning that Cyril was the boss and Steve said I don’t care who is the boss as long as he goes on the trailer so we can go home, at which point Steve walked him back to the trailer talking to him all the way trying to get his confidence.

Beth and Cyril jumping the cross country course

So much to Steve’s delight he loaded almost instantly, the talking to must of worked. Steve’s philosophy is that although intelligent animals horses often don’t know what is happening and rely on us to assure them. Sadly too many people think that the way to get a horse to do something when it doesn’t want to or unsure, is to use brut force in a bid to show dominance and this often means smacking and whipping, because we humans can’t match the strength of a horse, but sadly this only makes the horses fearful who often end up having long term behavioral issues.

Katie and Beth plaiting Cyrils mane while waiting for Steve to arrive with the trailer

Beth on Cyril and Katie on Toto

For the last day Friday we were able to borrow a local trailer, but the stressful week had taken its toll on Cyril as well as what was suggested to be a strong smell of cow dung on the trailer. But Steve continued to work with Cyril determined to get him on and the only way to do that was for Steve to get his confidence and that takes time. Steve has incredible patience, which is imperative in these situations, so Beth and I let him get on with it.

A very tired and sleepy Cyril

Although late again Beth didn’t miss too much and was very happy to get there in time to jump the cross-country course. To say we were all exhausted at the end of the day would be an understatement and that included Cyril. He was so tired that while waiting for the photographer to arrive he decided to lie down and looked like he was going to roll with all his tack on, so Beth had to quickly get him up on his feet. Cyril has on several occasions laid down in our paddock and gone into such a deep sleep snoring that it is almost impossible to wake him and when you do you gives you this look as if to say ‘For goodness sake can I not even have a nap without you disturbing me?’ The first time he did it we thought he was dead. Most horses will get up when you approach them and if there is more then one horse in the field one will lie down while the other stands on guard. Anyway back to camp when it was time to leave Steve decided to wait till it was quieter before loading Cyril and after a little walk and chat he loading straight away, which was a good end to a very busy, tiring few days.

A very chilled Cyril with Beth

This last week saw Beth at EFY or 'The Steadfast & Immovable' conference for 320 youth from the England Birmingham Mission, which was held in Leicester. It was from Wednesday to Friday and although nervous about going she thoroughly loved it making several new friends.

Left to Right Jessica, Tatiarna, Beth, Maddie, Sophie, Kelsey, Sariah and their counsellor Amanda