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     Kathleen Upsall Member Username: Katastrophy Post Number: 148 Registered: 10-2008 |
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| Kathleen Upsall Member Username: Katastrophy Post Number: 147 Registered: 10-2008 |
Ladies and Gentlefolk- after three years with His lovely loaner, Ru (14.2, section D, 16 years old) is looking for a new home. Pics taken last weekend. I feel that he can still do a job for someone, we maybe just need to find the perfect someone for him. So- Bellury Skywalker, or Ru, is 16 this year. He sired a few foals in Ireland where he was bred, before being bought and gelded as a four year old. He was backed and ridden away, and broken to drive. He competed at club level in Ireland, then sold to an open driver who occasionally competed at driving trials and did some ridden showing and dressage in Scotland with her, before coming to me as a 10 year old. I competed him at Club level, showed him in hand/ridden/driven and we dabbled in ridden dressage, endurance and tried XC once or twice. His loaner has been mainly happy hacking him for the past three years. I've put him back to harness yesterday and driven him out today, and he went better than he did the last year I competed him! Updated pics have been added- videos on request. He's had one episode of lameness in 6 years- he tweaked a ligament when a combine harvester jumped out of a hedge at us (it really did!) and both boys spun and spooked. 3 weeks of box rest and cold hosing, 3 weeks restricted turnout and 2 weeks field rest and he was bought back into work, showing no after effects since then (2 years ago approx). So that's what he's done. Here's his truth. - As he was late gelded, he is naturally an Alfa Gelding. I've never seen him lift a leg or tooth to a horse and even when my 16 hand baby plays rough with him, he's hugely tolerant of him. If I had an ideal role for him, it'd be an uncle to young colts! I've always been firm and consistent with him which he responds well to. Lift a whip to him, and you can watch him disappear into the distance- he will not deal with someone heavy handed. On the odd occasion that I've given him a flat handed slap for being a fool, he has acted injured for three days- puppy dog eyes and all. - He has blind spots in his eyes. Dick Vet have completed full investigations on him and he was declared to be not degenerative. They feel that he's been born with them and a linear Keratopathy in his left eye, but as he's always had them, he knows no different. It does mean that he can be spooky, especially in and out of light and shade when his pupil expands but no more so than any other section D! - he had an injury following a trip in the carriage where the inside edge of the bar of his mouth on the left side has a small amount of scar tissue remaining. If he is ridden or driven in a straight bar bit, this is affected and will ulcerate. We ride him in a Myler combination bit, purely for the mouthpiece and the ability to adjust it to reduce pressure on the mouth, he does go in a hackamore but I found him quite heavy in one. He's lighter in the Myler but don't expect Grand Prix dressage, or medium. On a good day, he might do a prelim test 🤔 updated- we drove him in a Nathe Liverpool today and he went nicely in it, so may well settle in a happy mouth or similar type. - he has mild itchies- controlled easily with a sheet and he'll come with a boett. - driving trials- stays in pen or side stable, is strong in the warm up and on section A, and dressage may be a battle of wills three years after his last schooling session. He was always good to me in cones and a darling round the obstacles but a horror at the stand- if it's in an open field he's fine, if it's in an enclosed space (side of ploughed field etc) then take a really good groom! -traveling- will only go on the back space of the wagon, I give him a wide space and he's fine. He has travelled in a trailer but had a bit of a paddy at being on the drivers side last time so if he was going again, I'd either open up the trailer or travel him on the passenger side. At events, if he gets worried (only under saddle) he used the box as a safe place, and has been known to return to it like a pigeon. He doesn't do this under harness, but I don't need him as a driving pony, as I sold his carriage to fund a bigger one! -catching- treat him like a racehorse and keep a routine and you'll have no bother. I've found a muzzle helps to get him into a routine... 😄 if you turn up over an hour late, he may be disenclined to bother to come in. If everything else comes in, even if he's being an idiot, he'll join the herd and demand to be in. Randomly enough, turn him out by himself and he'll be more than happy alone. -traffic- totally bombproof ridden and driven. He has seen pretty much every possible vehicle, been attacked by bikes and school kids have prodded him- no bother. Riding- very responsive to voice, seat and leg. He's sharp, and will teach you more than you ever knew! - jumping- to be attempted only if you have first attached a seatbelt, velcro your ass to the saddle and come at the fence/log/sleeping sheep very positively. He will jump, he can jump, he would prefer to clean your toilet with his tongue. If you can persuade Ru to step over a pole on the floor, you can persuade him to do anything at all for you. - turns out with horses, sheep and cows- no issues. - lives on fresh air, carries weight well but not and never has been laminitic. - typical D, not a nasty bone in his body but sharp as a knife. Needs a quiet, experienced handler and rider with a good eye for body language. I've fallen off him three times- all jumping related out hacking 🙄- and each time he has headed home like a pigeon. Loaner doesn't ask him to do silly things like I do and has never had an issue. He has done a grand job of nannying out Gunner and others for first times at the beach/in traffic etc. Doesn't get hot in open spaces. - he has hunted, he has done endurance rides. I swore after both occasions that I wouldn't do that again. He hacks out fine alone and in company, but over 100 horses is far too much for his gingerwelshness. - good to load, great with the farrier, loves the vet, no bother to inject, good to clip as long as you don't fanny about- just ignore his googly eyes and Welsh snort and clip him anyway- no vices, apart from turning his head upside down for a treat over his stable door, making him look mildly special. Oh- not keen on mane pulling, generally, but will cope if needed. I think that's everything- anyone have a slot in their herd/home/heart for this weird and wonderful boy? Give me a shout.  |