Today - 15/01/08

Oooh, what horrible weather. No training done today, but I did feel like I'd crossed a milestone with Merlin.
For some time now, we've been having problems teaching him about personal space. He knows exactly what his boundaries are and lets us know for sure if we cross them, but he hasn't a great deal of respect for our personal space. If he wants something, he'll charge in and occasionally push us over in his excitement. He's a very loveable little boy, but clearly doesn't know how to ask for a hug or scratch. In the past this has only been a minor issue, but since we lost Oliver in December it's escalated. Merlin's world was shattered with the loss of his best friend and father figure and he reacted in a very angry way, not allowing any of us to approach him unless we carried a headcollar. Once the headcollar was on, he set to work as normal, as he enjoys the little lessons I've been giving him. I've been trying all manner of ways to get close to him, but he just turns his head away. Toffee's depression was bad enough to deal with, but Toffee at least would let us comfort him, seeing Merlin so hurt and angry left us at a loss to know how to handle him.
Because of the lousy weather today, all I could do was sit in the field shelter and make sure that Merlin had a good rest out of the rain. I've known for a while that Toffee was keeping the field shelter to himself, but it was confirmed this morning when I arrived to find Toffee warm and fluffy and Merlin soaked and very grumpy. Whilst they ate their breakfast, I mucked out their bed and then put in two huge piles of hay. Every time I had to move close to Merlin, I gave him a scratch or rub on the head or neck, eventually he stopped avoiding me, and just gave in. Although he still maintained some distance. That was good enough for me. But when I had to leave, it became apparent that Toffee would simply drive Merlin back out into the rain and that wasn't good enough for me, so I divided the shelter in half with some white tape and posts. As I was doing this, I sensed Merlin behind me. He came closer and leant on my back. As I turned my head towards him, he lifted his head and rested his chin on my shoulder. It was such a loving and gentle moment, that it has stayed with me all day :)

This evening, both boys were in their half of the shelter and were a lot happier together.


Although Toffee did still look a bit put out!

In the beginning!

This was what our funny little boy looked like on the day we first set eyes on him. We went to the Rare Breeds farm at Cholderton to have a look at their Eriskays, because I'd been researching the breed for about a year and wanted to see if they were as good as I'd read.

I'd been saying to Andrew (my husband) for a long time that my next horse would be called Merlin, and his reply was always 'what horse?, there won't be another one'! When we saw the ponies at Cholderton, I think we were both a bit smitten by their sweet natures and then to be told that their colt may be for sale sometime, our ears pricked up (well, mine did, anyway). As we crossed the farm to look at the colt, I casually asked what his name was. The reply? Of course, Merlin! Andrew was speechless at first and then simply said 'that means nothing, don't get any ideas' Too late for that, I took it as a sign that Merlin was meant to be mine.
After a good few months of heartache as we gave up on Merlin and tried for another Eriskay, a darling called Duart, who also went on to cause heartache as we realised we couldn't afford his transport costs, we then decided to give up on our breeding plan. Andrew, by this time was starting to get as carried away by the idea as I was! With heavy hearts we put the plan aside and concentrated on getting the field fenced and fit for our other two horses Oliver and Toffee.

By September, Oliver and Toffee had settled nicely into Yarrow, and were just making the field their own when their worlds were about to be rocked by the arrival of a hormone fueled interloper. Yep, I'd had the call, did I still want to buy Merlin? Did I ever???? That was how in October 2006 RBF Cholderton Merlin came to live with us :)