Sunday afternoon views!
We’re back to afternoon hose downs and Ernie’s on the verge of thinking it’s maybe not so bad. Bert would stand there all day…
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Monday morning and we’re back at it!
Bert’s not as grumpy as he looks, in fact he was rather cheery this morning… the other two are just busybodies and it’s hard to get a good picture 
. I am very happy to report that Bert just successfully picked up BOTH hind feet while remaining stationary. 
That’s a huge step for him.
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Wet Bert
I demand to be entertained!
Bert and I were friends before, but I think we’ve officially reached bestie status now. If I’m in the paddock Bert’s in my business trying to hang out.
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Well, experiment failed.
Remember how the only horse I didn’t turn out with the group was Fern? And I thought perhaps Bert’s ginormous size and assertiveness might be enough to tone down the pony napoleon, and Fern could finally have a friend that wants to play with him?
Wrong. 
Size comparison:
Things started out OK. There was sniffing, a little playful teeth banter, some running of laps and then Fern chose violence. Let me first reassure you that Bert is fine! He’s a stout boy and all the kicks that made contact were in meaty places. It quickly became clear that Fern was just going to be a menace, trying to box him in and start a kicking match even after Bert made it clear that Fern could be the boss - so I took Bert out and put him in the empty paddock that has been growing grass lately for some solo time.
You might think that in all this anxiousness Bert would be hard to catch, but no. Still totally magnetized to me, with a dash of get me out of here ASAP lady! I am truly honored to be considered a trustworthy “safe place” anchor. He’s been SO brave lately and every time I go out there he’s saying PICK ME! and it just makes my little heart explode. Such a far cry from the wary, angry boy who just wanted to be left alone.
I was really hoping that he and Fern might be play buddies, because Bert’s kind of a grouch with Peach and Ernie and when he does actually want to play with them they just scatter like scaredy cats. It would be nice for him to have someone that wants to run and buck and play bite face with him. But no dice. Bert gets extra gold stars because he managed to walk through THREE different gates for a total of four passes and he only had a little hesitation at first.
So, Fern’s going back to solitary confinement. It’s really a shame that he’s so socially inept, because he is otherwise a fantastic pony (total opposite with humans) and it REALLY jams my gears to have one horse that can’t go out with anyone else. Especially when the entire rest of the herd gets along just fine.
Also, watching Bert move free is just… jaw dropping. Every. Single. Time.
Now, I’ve got to go mow things. Again. 
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Fern’s pony genes are just too strong. The physically larger the challenger, the stronger the napoleon complex gets! He also might be feeling a dash jealous of the new boys. But it is nice that Bert is seeing you as his safe harbor - better he bond with you rather than become dependent on a pasture pal.
My huge TB gelding was the same. He just didn’t get social cues and was too much of a bully in a group. Just wanted to play and play and run and run, and woe to any horse that did want want to keep up. Super sweet to humans, but a turd to other geldings.
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Sounds like Fern needs a mare.
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Specifically, Fern needs an old broodmare.
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Yep. The old battle axe type. That’s rude, Fern!
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I have thought this as well. Unfortunately, I have all geldings and I’m not about to buy another horse just so he can have a friend. Plus there’s a good possibility it would end in vet bills.
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Oh, we’re teasing! But obviously his mama wasn’t one of those.
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As much as Napoleon Ponies are the devil’s work, they are always my favorite 
.
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I doubt he spent enough time with her to know either way - he was auctioned off as a pretty young weanling and sold to a home that locked him in a stall basically 24/7 for a year until I bought him. I put him out with Elmo almost immediately, and Elmo uncle’d him well - until, I had to board them for 2 months while we moved. The BM kept trying to turn Fern out with different groups and that’s where he learned that he could intimidate even the big horses.
He’s a super little pony otherwise!
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Psssst… I happen to know of a place where you can probably snag an old battle axe type barren broodmare for cheap. It’s this auction place in Texas.
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New scenery, who dis?
I retrieved Bert from the far paddock, stopped for a shower off, and then we explored a little of the yard - something we have not yet done! Including looking inside the barn. Bert was apprehensive at first - it’s dark in there! Monsters! But as soon as he got close enough to get his head in the shade and see in, it was like a LIGHTBULB and he tried to walk right in.
Oh. It’s shady in there. It’s where the food lives. There’s a fan. This is where I belong!
And then I sheepishly had to explain to Bert that there were too many things in the aisle for him to get hung up on right now, because I don’t often use the stalls and haven’t cleaned up my mess lately, and he could not come all the way in today. (example #1: extension cord!). He seemed disappointed.
I had been thinking I probably need to start taking them in the barn soon and spending some time in stalls for educational purposes, so I guess we’ll work on that next.
Also: Ernie and Peach chewed on my fly spray bottle and broke it while I was working with Bert this morning. Talk about busy bodies!
@Paint_Party hush you! NO MORE! He’s actually top of the list to be sold - not because of the solitary confinement, but because I am too tall and he’s not getting any bigger.
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He’s heard tell of such places, often called a “show barn” in some parts. Bert says it’s a lifestyle to which he could become accustomed.
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Bert says that trot is fancy enough to be a top notch show pony, teach him the show pony ways of a fan and stall please.
He needs it.
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Hahaha I have feral outdoor ponies… until summer. Then they ALL want to 5 Star Indoor Treatment, fans and hay and shade please!
What a brave boy - Bert might just make a show horse yet . Maybe Peach has been whispering about the benefits of Inside!
(Also, deconstructing fly spray bottles is a favorite hobby here, along with throwing sheets across the aisle. It’s fine, I have time to pick up after everyone 24/7 obviously.)
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Sadly, I don’t have power in the barn yet so I am limited to one fan plugged into the extension cord from the shop. I can angle it so it covers two stalls, but not three. I have the fans that will be rafter-mounted for each stall, brand new and ready to hang - just not the electricity. And of course now I have more horses than stalls, which is a whole separate problem since the barn isn’t getting bigger.
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Now that I’m satisfied he’s mostly going to listen to me in the great outdoors, Bert’s going on walkabouts to expand his horizons.
We checked out the pool (sorta scary ish)
We walked over logs (he nearly jumped in my lap the first time, then ho hum)
We walked over cavaletti (thoroughly investigated and determined to be ho hum)
We walked all the way into the barn aisle (mildly concerning bc no friends in there)
We walked around the outside of the horse trailer (by far the sketchiest thing ever, like a trap door that makes horses disappear)
Bert goes XC:
Bert samples the grass:
Just a wee log:
I asked Bert if we could take a win photo in front of the massive jumps he just conquered, this was the best he could do:
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