He looks fabulous! It is most certainly love…
When did you say the vet was coming out to see Shella? I hope you get her on the road to recovery…soon…
Puika and Shella how sweet is that!
Puika looks so … studly!
I presume, this picture will make you all smile - LOVEBIRDS
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/10-05-08/PICT3246.jpg
Remaining of today if somebody is interested how it looks on the way back from pastures
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/10-05-08/
oh the HAPPY COUPLE!!! That’s the cutest picture ever!!
My pleasures with horses just started. It is nearly midnight here and today is a week since Shella is living here.
Just about half ago some people from local willage knocked at our door asking hadn’t we had lost our mare?
Tonight was the first night when we decided to leave both lovers outside in pastures. It is beautiful night here, warm and no wind, just complete pleasure. And what she decided? To take a walk to willage (2 miles) for some entertaiment. Naughty girl! At least all eneded up nicely. She is back on chain, again, and I do hope that she will not decide to take another walk.
Puika was calling her back like mad. Good job that road is bad, no cars speeding and nobody hit her. Uff… Nice walk under starry starry sky and bright moon…
After yesterday’s night adventures Shella decided that she feels much better and was so keen to see saddle so we tried out. She was so happy!
First time saddle on after the boring winter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/11-05-08first%20saddle/PICT3274.jpg
Trying out slowly how it feels
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/11-05-08first%20saddle/PICT3279.jpg
It feels great! Run, baby, run again!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/11-05-08first%20saddle/PICT3286.jpg
When she started to sweat, we put her back in pastures, and Peter took Puika out for a ride. But Shella wanted more. Really wanted! So I did put reins on her halter and mounted her. And then we all 4 had a great ride 2 miles one way through woods and pastures to our next neighbours home and back. Shella was leading all the time, and she wanted to trot with me. As I was riding her bareback (remember, I’m complete beginner), I was not very happy about that, but a bit, few times… I allowed her to go!
She was so keen, walking fast, it was not a lazy “just walk”, she was on mission and so happy! Head up, determint… and the best news - just few coughs, not that bad wheezing all the time as it was at the beginning! So we are on the right track already - she feels better!
And I’m happy as riding bareback without bite and braidle, just in halter allows me to learn proper balancing, not holding on her mouth. She is so good, just light turn one way or other, a slight movement with legs, and she does it all. And that feeling, just riding head to head, Puika and Shella in sunset… through forest and pastures, full of flowers… It was just beautiful!
By the other hand, my legs just had it! 
Ya know people always say the truth is stranger then fiction…if someone wrote this story no one would believe it! I think you guys are amazing! and of course are the horses…
I look forward to your daily trips and pictures.
Good luck with Shella and Puika…They are in love.so ride on into the sunset…
Now we have a new problem - our dogs. At the beginning our alpha GSD was very concerned, but now they all have learned that horses are our pack members and that’s it. No problems at all. They do wonder around pastures together, friendly and without any problems, nicely respecting each other. But! This morning Peter spotted something in Puika’s mouth - a dog toy! We checked out the area where he was gazing yesterday and had found 8 rubber toys, mostly balls. Probably our youngest, toy obsessed Cedrik had bought them over to keep Puika happy. And Puika is playing with them. So now my question - which size rubber toys are not dangerous for horses? Do they only chew them to destroy or sometimes also swallow? I’m worried now. It took time to teach dogs that horses are friends, and now they try to be too friendly. 
Oh my! What kind dogs you have! They must have fully decided that the horses ARE a part of the family!
You could try some of these toys for the dogs:
http://www.dogtoys.com/kongbybreed8.html
Or just give Puika his own toy!:
http://www.horseballs.com/products/stallball.html
Shella looks great, by the way, though shame on h er for her midnight wanderings! :lol: Glad that her and Puika are getting along so well!
she is beautiful!! i am so happy for you reading these updates, and glad that her and puika have become so attached so quickly. you are truly blessed and only wish you the best of luck!
anna- write a book PLEASE! “The Adventures of Puika the Luckiest Horse in Latvia”!
Tonigh I tried to take some videos so peter can see his mistakes. For me it all looked like great fun, but please remember that Peter has only ponyclub exerience from childhood (and just tries to remeber how to ride a horse now, and at his age - 56, it is not the easiest thing actually) so all that we are doing - we do to keep horses happy. And Shella was extatic - she just wanted run and run and run! And took great care of Peter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB4FcqdWkgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCGiKuQ3Rn4
Here are both lovebirds together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2I2pRczYJU
And here is link on today’s pictures
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/13-05-08/
Peter seems like a very brave rider… It looks like he and Shella are having fun and that is what counts! I am sure Shella did not have much chances to gallop when she was at the public stable. Did she cough after exercise, or it is getting better?
Oh and if Peter is going to continue to gallop in an open field I would insist that he wear a helmut, especially with his past concussions. If they are not readily available near you, let us know and I am sure someone can send one over.
Waw, well done on Peter. Looks like they are certainly enjoying themselves.
This thread is way too cool :).
I second the helmet. No matter how good and obedient Shella & Puika are, at speed things can go wrong. Say a simple stumble on the horse’s part and rider smacks the ground head first, happened to my husband once when cantering in the woodlands, luckily enough he was wearing a helmet.
Also (I am no expert), I’m wondering if a running martingale would be helpful for both Peter & Shella, that way Shella would keep her head a little lower and Peter could keep his hands lower and the canter/galop would probably feel even nicer, kind of more secure.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this? If others on here think yah, then I’ll happily ship you one :).
It’s good they both get such regular exercise. I’m sure that will help build up Shella and she’ll be able to take more and more.
Puika & Shella just look so fabuluous together, two happy horses :).
You & Peter can be really proud of yourselves!!!
WooHoo!!! Pretty soon you’ll be up there Anna!
I love this thread… it’s a good one to just come, read and look at pics if I ever need a pick-me-up for the day.
Keep up the good work!
BTW- I also suggest a helmet. It looks like Shella is a very good, safe horse, but even safe horses can trip and send a rider to the ground:yes:
This thread just keeps getting better and better!
Good on all of you Anna
Some news from our end of the woods. Please, please, do not kill me now, but that’s official anouncement now. We decided to breed Shella. I know, that’s mad, but…
When she went on her first heat here, it was a BIG relief to know that Puika is a proper gelding and we do not have any problems with that.
Then we started to think… and think… and think… Like, it would be nice (you know, that silly sentiment of any beginner) and then we continued to think… Did all the research possible (Shella had one foal, he is 7 years old now, WHY just one foal, was there any problems, all these serious questions to find out that breeding is not good idea). It took some time to find owner of her only foal, but I did that.
It is him last summer
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/gavrosh/2007_0630pinkGavrosh2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/gavrosh/2007_0630pinkGavrosh.jpg
Then we did a research of registered stallions available around here…
Found one line here, that would by our opinion fit to our girl…
The representatives of this line is here, they all are purebred LS horses (if we breed, then only with purebred Latvian breed stallion)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/sultan%20and%20co/sultans-3.jpg
Then I sent both pedigrees to our gov. pedigree/breeding register institution asking their opinion on possible match and they called back yesterday giving green light with both hands for such match.
Shella’s Vet was called in and she was very very encouraging as well. By her opinion there is no reason not to breed her… Blood tests (mandatory here for registered breeding) will be done next week, then she will get her only missing annual vaccine, and then we are ready for the next heat to bring her to the stallion.
Oh, do not kill us. I know that there are many unwanted horses in the world, but we are not planning to sell the foal… Especially if it will be mare. Puika might not like another boy around here, but it is question about far away future…
And the best news - we found out (actually Shella found it by herself the night when she escaped and decided walk to village) that here is a horse vet just moved in into our village!!! Imagine, experienced horse vet just 2 miles away! My babies are so lucky! We already invited the vet here, and she promised all the help needed! Hurrah! Knowing that vet can be here if needed just in few minutes - it is such a relief!
OH MY GOSH! HOW EXCITING!
:yes:Anna, I think you have a wonderful plan, although, as you know, babies are alot of work, starting NOW! You are right to do the research, as I know you will about the pregnancy, delivery and raising of Shella’s foal. Having a vet nearby is a definite plus! :yes:
allpurpose, I had already serched a lot just to decide that we can try to breed her, and if she will get pregnant… I will have 11 months (and hopefully 11 days on top) to learn as much as possible. But she might not… and all can go wrong on the way… and… Good thing it will be natural insamination, not IA, so at least I do hope no twins. And vet will be there, to look after her so hopefully no injuries. But the gap is big, her only foal is now 7 yo, so let’s see if it will take… It is too early to start thinking about possible names
I had very exciting horse day today and as far as I will upload the pictures, I will tell it all! So many exciting things happened! I fell off the horse today for the first time! But camera survived so a bit later I promise loooooong post with many pictures!
Yesterday I made my first saddle blanket – fleece inside, woolen material on top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3361.jpg
And to make things funny for these country pumpkins, a bit posh head decoration
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3360.jpg
This morning was nice, so I tried to ride a bit
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3347.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3350.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3353.jpg
It is me – I feel much better in saddle now, but still prefer bareback for just walking.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3354.jpg
As my riding is just a bit of warming up for Shella now, Peter took over.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3363.jpg
Then Peter dressed up Puika – he can not be left out!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3387.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3389.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3395.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3403.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3413.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3414.jpg
Then Peter went to mow the lawns, and I made dinner. Later we decided to go for a walk again to fields. From my point of view it looked like that , very comfy as i took one flat pillow to save my bum. (That silly white cloth on top of her halter is a repellent whipe as there are so many flies around, and last night she rubbed her mane at the post and injured herself there so with this silly whipe I tried to keep flies away fron the head – actually it worled for a while)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3423.jpg
Head by head, happy and relaxed we all went, dogs included
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3429.jpg
On the way back Barry, our GSD started to bark and we stopped, I unmounted the horse and went to check out what’s going on there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3448.jpg
It was a badger!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3450.jpg
Told Barry to leave him alone, went back and here the trouble started. I tried to get back on Shella. There is a big metal feeder in the field (contains about 3 tons of water), comfy to stand on so I did. My mistake was that I tried to put that pillow as well – it was slippery so I went one side on and then slided over on the other side. Landed easy, no injuries at all. So my first fall from horse happened today and it was easy! So now I can proudly say – been there, had done…
Shella was so scared about the whole thing that run away like wind across the field.
Shoulted Peter that I’m OK, so no need to worry about me, and he went after Shella.
Of course, we forget that it is Saturday night again, and Shella as a real tart is looking for the party at village again.
She was running like mad, and Peter on Puika really needed to put heads down. Believe or not, Puika did it! He run after her through the fields like pure hunter! Obedient, well balanced, not spooked at all! He must to get her, and he did (far away on the other side of village).
And then they walked back. On the road. And again – Shella is not scared of any cars and lorries, we were told, and it is true, but Puika does not like noisy cars and especially lorries. But now! He ignored them all! One silly car was even driving along with them, tooting, shoulting and banging the roof inside, and both horses just looked at them very noble like „Idiots!” and continued the way!
Sorry, I will never run away again, sorrrrryyyyy!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3460.jpg
And the main, most exciting news – when they returned, Shella was not wheezing at all, and not coughing! I’m soooooooooooo happy about it! She had such a serious run, 4-5 miles, then walking back all the way and nothing! Less than two weeks ago she was not able to walk more than 300-400 metres! She has improved so much! And I have suspicions that there inside is such a poverful lady with a character! She is pure gem!
And Puika! It is a special thing. I presume, he will be back on hand feed treats again very soon. Instead of nipping he likes to lik me and is completely kissable boy now! He just loves when I rub that soft bit between his nostrils, He is ready to stand all day long for me to rub his nose.
And this is very special picture for us.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3386.jpg
When we took over Puika, such thing was unimaginable. To get bridle on took two people and 40 minutes sometimes then. Now – he just stands like an angel to get saddle on, to put bridle on takes seconds and he walks on reins (or lead) now like a very good boy! I’m so happy how he has changed since January!
Puika, I really love you!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/shella%2019-04-08/17-05-08/PICT3383.jpg
