Exciting!

Something very exciting is going to happen this weekend, I can't say more, but hopefully there will be photos and good news, fingers crossed for us :)

Relaxing.

After all the hard work he's been doing lately, it's good to let Merlin have some time off and a little grass. We have far too much this year, after hardly any in previous years, and so both ponies have to be severely rationed.



The bare paddock in the background is where Toffee and Merlin spend the majority of their time. I'm terrified of laminitis and so it's a case of being cruel to be kind. As their workload increases though, it's good to let them have a treat.

Lungeing.

Merlin's schooling has been going really well, and his lungeing lessons have been a huge success, with him going over trotting poles and doing a little jump too.

Here he is learning to stand quietly and not be such a speedy boy :)



I love the shape of his bottome here, as he's beginning to muscle up nicely.



He is loving this soooo much.



My instructor is really taken by him and was 'ooing' over his lovely paces.

The Merlinator

At last we managed to get some film of Merlin playing football. Although it's mostly me running around, fetching the ball and him hogging it and cuddling it! He does love his new ball now that he's no longer afraid of it. I hope the link below works. Sorry for the quality, I'll try for some more footage tomorrow.

Merlin's freestyle

Football.

Well, we tried to take the film of the football game, but Merlin didn't like the new ball, Poppy shook the camera soooo much that it would have induced a migraine and then Merlin gave up and just watched me run around. It was a dissaster. Better luck next time! :)

I did do a bit more backing with Merlin, which was fun, and he was shocked and then pleased to see that he could see me from both sides at once as I lay across his back. It was sooo sweet. He sniffed my boot and then turned his head for a cheek rub and closed his eyes. Not really bothered then! I'll be sitting on him by the weekend, hopefully :)

Merlin has been doing so well with his training and has become sooo sweet and affectionate. He's still a little pickle sometimes, after all, he's young and a stallion and always challenging boundaries. But I'd be disappointed if he was as quiet as a gelding!

My only complaint about Merlin is that he hogs the ball when we play football! I'm going to get a movie of us playing as so many people have trouble believing me. But it's the truth - he's not a team player :)



Look at his beautiful mane and forelock. He's growing into a truly stunning pony and we all love him to bits :)

A wee while!

I'll be offline for a bit. Merlin is doing fabulously and I need to spend more time schooling him. Will be back with updates soon.