Herd Life – Part Two

HERD LIFE – PART TWO

One of the more unusual aspects of our happy herd is the number of family relationships we have.

It adds an extra dimension to the enjoyment of watching them out in the field. I love to see the whole herd interacting and at play and it is extra special when, for example, I see Atlantis hanging out with his dad Capulate or Nymeria playing with her brother Pele.

cannock chase trekking centre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find it fascinating to see how much time the relations spend with each other. It is quite obvious that family bonds are never broken.

Of course, the biggest related group we have are my stallion Zidane and his children. Zidane is not turned out with the herd, but the six youngsters certainly know him and if he is an adjoining paddock they love to stand in a line and gaze at him. I think he is their hero!

And he does get time to spend with them now that three of them are grown up and out on the treks. It is so exciting to be leading a trek on Zidane and look behind to see Dakota, Oregon and Arizona following along behind him.

cannock chase trekking centre

Family Trek: Zidane and his babies Arizona, Dakota & Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And to take the baby relationships a step further, Arizona and her brother Colorado are out with their mother Tia, while Montana has her mum Lola. Dakota and Indiana’s mother Nicoh sadly died but they have always had the “baby gang” for company and Auntie Lola keeps an eye on everyone.

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Oregon, meanwhile, is the third generation of his family in the trekking herd. His mother is Wispa, and she is the daughter of our little Highland pony Princess, Oregon’s grandmother!

Summer and Autumn are mother and daughter, while Welsh Section D’s Emrys, Gabriel and Capulate are from the same bloodline, and interestingly, all hang out together.

Another father and son are Pirate and Lightning. I have told their story before in an earlier blog but I think it is worth retelling for anyone who missed it.

I bought Pirate from a friend in Wales, and he was a stallion who had been used for breeding. I had him gelded and he soon became a perfect little trekking horse with a lovely temperament.

Some years later I found a nice little coloured Cob called Lightning and it turned out he was Pirate’s son. They had never met, as Pirate had come to the trekking centre before his son was born.

So imagine my amazement when I turned Lightning out with the herd and he immediately joined up with his daddy! The two of them have been inseparable ever since. Pirate loves to play and in Lightning he has the perfect partner in crime.

cannock chase trekking centre

Father & Son Pirate & Lightning

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The question clearly is, how did they recognise each other? (They didn’t even need Jeremy Kyle!!)

I have one more story that really made me understand the bonds of family and herd life and it is one that makes me emotional as soon as I think about it.

Years ago I bought two young horses called Tom and Hattie. Tom was only 18 months old and unknown to me he had already mated Hattie and she was in foal.

I called their baby Pemba and he grew up to be an important member of my trekking herd.  He and Hattie were inseparable, she always protected him out in the field, even keeping the rest of the herd away so Pemba could be first through the gate in a morning.  One day, he was returning from a trek ridden by my then yard manager and he tripped and fell. We didn’t know at the time what he had done but he was clearly injured.

The vet came and gave him pain relief and we agreed to see how he was through the night.  We did our very best to save him, he was sitting like a dog in the field and we supported him with bales and I borrowed a camper van to take up there and spend the night with him.

Pemba was becoming distressed so I took his mum Hattie to him to keep him calm. His father Tom had never shown much interest in his son before, but throughout the night he stood unmoving in a corner of the herd field, 3 fields away. He watched the whole time, never taking his eyes off Pemba and Hattie.

Tragically Pemba got no better and in the morning the vet put him to sleep.

We left Hattie with him for a while to accept his death and then put her back with the herd. Led by Tom, the whole herd surrounded her and huddled her. They stayed with her all day, supporting her. Another mystery, how did they know and understand what had happened?

But instead of ending on a sad note I will finish on a happy insight into herd life. When one of my mares is in foal I have noticed that the other girls will form a group to protect the mother-to-be. They will stay with her through the pregnancy until she has to come in for extra feeding in the final trimester.

Somehow from the day I mate them they know she is in foal and offer their support. There is so much we don’t know about horse’s minds but herd life teaches us every day.

 

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Herd Life – Part One

HERD LIFE – Part one

As I drive around the countryside and see horses living a solitary life in paddocks I feel a little sad that they have to be separated so they have less interaction with their own species.

I realise that some owners have no choice and are doing their very best to protect their beloved horses from injury.

But when I see our herd here at the trekking centre interacting and playing together I am certain that this natural way of life is best for them.

cannock chase trekking centre, herd

 

 

 

 

 

I realised quite early on after creating my trekking centre that the more turnout I could provide for my horses the better life would be for them.

At first they were stabled at night and out during the day  but when I turned them out round the clock I noticed the benefits immediately. I found there were huge improvements in their behavior.

Horses like Red, who had issues with stress when I first bought him, quickly became much more relaxed and that was enormously beneficial in training. Our lovely new boy Tyri, who came here from a stables environment, was simply energised by the companionship of the herd.

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Red relaxing

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Equally, a horse that is a little bit sharp or unruly often has his behavior sorted out by his herd mates. They learn from horse body language what the rules are and the older ones often put the youngsters in their place.

My vet always says that it is horse heaven here at the Trekking Centre. They have the perfect combination of herd life, lots of individual attention and exercise.

When I was growing up at my family home all our horses were kept stabled. They were often quite bad tempered and nippy but we don’t have any problems like that with our herd.

It is great to watch as the herd is turned out and as they make their way up to the winter field and the hay feeders.

Off they go, bucking and leaping and playing, happy to be in each other’s company and reinforcing relationships as they canter away. As I am writing this blog there are at least 15 of them enjoying a game of tag before they join their friends who are already eating.

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One who is everybody’s playmate is Pirate. He loves a game and at this moment his partner in crime is Ross and they are nipping each other’s legs and bucking.

Observing herd life is endlessly fascinating and I think it is quite unusual these days to have such a large group – about 40 horses – living together. Many yards split the sexes, fearing fighting and injury.

But our boys and girls have a distinct pecking order and get on well together. It is interesting to see who is in the sub-herds and groups.

Buttons is the herd leader and has Capulate as his second in command. They lead the top group, made up of Melody, Paddy, Atlantis, Splash, Benson and Gabriel. Of course that group includes a love triangle! Paddy adores Melody,  but she has a crush on Buttons! (They’re like the cool kids)

 

Cannock Chase Trekking Centre, Herd

The Love Triangle – Buttons, Melody & Paddy

 

And interestingly, our bold and confident youngster Oregon, son of my stallion Zidane, has moved his way up the pecking order and has now joined that top group. I am sure that eventually he will challenge Buttons for the herd leadership.

The Welsh Section D’s, a group that includes Emrys, Gabriel, Spirit, Capulate and his son Atlantis, often like to spend part of the day hanging out together. (Like the football jocks)

There are lots of other close relationships. Alfie and Saffy are boyfriend and girlfriend and he always waits for her at turnout so they can wander off together. Her first love was Jake, but she has dumped him in favour of Alfie.

Alfie and Saffy are members of a sub-herd that also includes the jilted Jake, Lola and Montana. Sometimes Sahara and Dakota choose to spend time with them. Another devoted pair are our pretty little mare Autumn and our donkey Eeyore.

And then there are the loners. Connor and Zeus prefer to be solitary, although the herd is all around them. And the kind and gentle mare Tia is also aloof, although she does love her babies, Arizona and Colorado.

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Tia and her babies, Arizona & Colorado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our newest girls, Kitty and Nymeria, have both established their places in the herd. Kitty is comfortable in the middle with a whole group of friends, while Nymeria likes to spend time with her brother Pele, but has a special affinity with Nutmeg, one of our little ponies.

When a new horse comes we will first turn it out with a companion of its own age and then gradually add the others, starting with the stronger characters.

The new horse is often kept away from the main herd for a while, usually a few days. They will operate a shift system on guard duty until they decide it is time to accept the new arrival.  It is always different horses that take up this duty, it is fascinating that is usually a horse or pony of the same sex and similar age. It may be tough to watch but we have to let them sort it out themselves, although we keep a close watch and never let it get nasty.

cannock chase trekking centre, herd

cannock chase trekking centre, herd

Jake & Brodie take on ‘Guard Duty’ over newbie Tyri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And once the newbie is accepted it will be playtime again. I just love to see the fun and games – even if it does cost me a fortune in ripped rugs!

One aspect of our herd life that I have not mentioned is family relationships. Our group is also unusual that we have so many family partners and I will tell you about them all in my next blog.

DOWN MEMORY LANE by John Brooks

DOWN MEMORY LANE

I can’t believe we are already into 2019 and in June it will be 24 years since I achieved my dream and opened my own trekking centre.

It has been a long and interesting journey, with many ups and downs along the road, and one person has been with me every step of the way.

Many of you know him, my longest standing client, and were delighted when he celebrated his 77th birthday last year with a trek on his beloved Brodie. So this week I thought it would be fascinating to hear from him about his journey alongside me at the trekking centre.  It’s over to you JOHN BROOKS.

DOWN MEMORY LANE
by John Brooks

Years ago, when I was first learning to ride, I used to enjoy a trek at a stables on Cannock Chase owned by a showjumper called Joe Gregory.

He had three daughters and the littlest one was about five at the time.  Her name was Lisa and she was bold and confident and pony mad. I could not have imagined then that all these years later we would still be friends – and really, she hasn’t changed a bit!

I started riding in 1974 at the age of 32. I was Mayor of Lichfield at the time and the then Sheriff asked me if I would join him on the city’s annual traditional beating the bounds ride.

I said I couldn’t ride at all but would learn in time for the event. In fact I only rode about eight times and then went on the Sheriff of Lichfield’s ride. I wouldn’t recommend that! It wasn’t the well organised day it is now – it was more like the Charge Of The Light Brigade!

I just about managed to stop on, only saved by the fact the horse I was on was very unfit and ran out of puff in every gallop.

But it didn’t put me off, far from it in fact. I was riding at Brian McMahon’s racing yard, where they also took rides out. I also rode at Middleton Equestrian Centre, and then I found Lisa’s dad’s place.

I rode at a lot of places and have kept a record of all the different horses I have ridden over the years. The total stands now at 247!

Then in June 1995 I saw a newspaper advert for a new stables opening at Teddesley. I went along in the very first week and was amazed to find that the owner was that same little girl I had known years before – now all grown up and putting me on a massive 18hh shire cross called Simon.

And I have ridden with Lisa ever since. Her original stables were here, on the site we are on today, but when Cannock Chase was closed due to forest fire risks in 1996 we moved over the road and kept on riding.

It was a tough time but Lisa battled through and stayed in business with 18 horses.

Then Lisa moved to Brocton for six years and the horse herd grew to 26. In 2001 she was able to buy her original site and the whole operation moved back here and continued to grow.

I have always ridden twice a week and still do. When I was working I would come for the day on a Sunday with some sandwiches and a can of lager and do both the morning and afternoon rides.

In 1996 I convinced Lisa to join me on the Sheriff’s Ride. There was just me and her back then – last year she took 25 riders! Altogether I have completed 30 and there were some very scary incidents in the old days. Health and safety hadn’t been invented then!

 

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John and Lisa one of many Sheriffs Rides together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years Lisa has become vitally important to the ride and I think she and the marshalls she provides are instrumental in keeping it going. Without her input it could have died.

I am so pleased to see what the Centre has become. It is a long way from my can of lager days and it is so nice after a ride to come back to the bistro and enjoy a good coffee and some lunch, especially in winter when the log fire is blazing away.

But it hasn’t been easy for Lisa. Sometimes it has been a real struggle but she has so much determination and stamina that it keeps on getting better and better here.

And over the years she has got better and better as a trainer. She always learns from experience and so the quality of horses continually improves, especially as she has trained many of them from foals. And she is excellent at not only training horses but pairing up riders with the right horse for them. That is a fantastic skill.

I have so many happy memories and have ridden some excellent horses and I have to say that Brodie is my all-time favourite. He has been a wonderful horse for me and I have done so much on him, including eight Sheriff’s rides.

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John & Brodie celebrate Johns 77th Birthday

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John congratulating Debbie Butcher and Brodie on their ‘Best Turned Out’ award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I am getting old now and the horse I enjoy riding most is Lola. She is fast and forward going and she goes very easily and nicely. It is not hard work for an old man like me!

When I worked I found coming here was a stress buster for me. Riding horses is a very healthy and therapeutic hobby.

Now it keeps me fit and well. A few years ago I had a heart problem and the doctor was amazed at how quickly I recovered and got back to full fitness. My heart efficiency returned to normal and that happens only in one per cent of cases. I credit riding for that.

Riding at the trekking centre over the years has always been a real pleasure, but it has been more than that. It has been, and still is, a very important part of my life and I intend to keep going for as long as I enjoy it.

There is no better riding anywhere than Cannock Chase and if you really want to enjoy your riding there is no better place than this.

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MY GUIDE TO THE BABIES PART 2

MY GUIDE TO THE BABIES – PART TWO

I hope you all enjoyed reading Part One of my Who’s Who guide to Zidane’s children.

And I really hope it helps you all to remember which mares are the mummies of these gorgeous young horses.

So off we go with Part Two and I start with a very special young lady.

ARIZONA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This truly gorgeous horse was also born in 2014, just three days after Nicoh’s filly foal Indiana.

Arizona is Irish Sport Horse/Dutch warmblood cross and her mother is the exceptionally gentle and kind Tia. Arizona is a beautiful coloured mare and she was Tia’s first baby.

It was so lovely raising two foals together. Indiana and Arizona always had each other for company and they played all day.

 

cannock chase trekking centre

cannock chase trekking centre

Kisses for her sister!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once they joined the rest of the herd Arizona quickly became the leader of the baby group. There were six young horses out there together and if I needed to catch them all I just had to shout Arizona and she would bring them to me.

She is the biggest of the babies so far, now standing about 16.2hh, and was an absolute dream to train. She took to it straight away and did everything I asked of her.

Arizona is very calm and also clever and I absolutely sped through the process and jumped on her. I had only done a couple of ridden sessions when I decided to take her out on the Chase.

I was so proud of her when she immediately decided that she wanted to be out in front, leading the way. She is so bold –  she even led on her first canters.

 

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Leading a canter across Cannock Chase

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Arizona trekking out with Dad!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of my experienced clients are already riding her and she is quickly becoming a firm favourite.

Arizona reminds me of an Apache horse in the Disney film Spirit and is a very loving and affectionate horse. I think she has the best of the temperament of both her parents.

Nothing fazes her and I am so excited to see how she develops. If she is this good after just a few months, the future looks amazing.

MONTANA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby number five is Montana, born in 2015 and now a three year old.

Montana’s mum is Lola, which makes her a Welsh Section D/Dutch warmblood cross.

She is the foal that caught everybody out on the sweepstake – nobody expected Lola to have a coloured foal and no-one got the colour right. In fact she is tri -coloured.

 

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The herd catching their first glimpse of the new arrival

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Montana enjoying some sun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the night she was born I was watching on the video screen and when Lola was delivering her I could see a bay head, then a black mane, and then I saw she was coloured and I was so excited.

Because of the Welsh half of her breeding she has a very pretty Arab type head. Lola is a lovely forward going mare and I will definitely have another foal from her, especially as she was such a wonderful mum.

I had to put Lola in foal – she so wanted a baby of her very own. She was our Nanny McPhee out in the field with all the babies gathered around her so she could watch over them.

2019 will be Montana’s year for being trained. I think she is going to be really nice. She is stunning to look at and moves beautifully. Her face and eyes are her mum but her body is her dad and she is very exciting.

cannock chase trekking centre

cannock chase trekking centre

Montana out in the paddock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLORADO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The youngest of our babies is Colorado, the second foal of Tia and born in 2017.

He was another sweepstake miss because he is tri-coloured and nobody got it right.

When I delivered him I couldn’t believe how big he was and how quickly he stood up. He is the biggest foal I have ever had – just enormous.

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Enjoying being centre of attention outside our visitor centre.

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Colorado only a few days old

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We talk about how big his sister Arizona is at four and still developing – well he is going to outgrow her.

Like his sister, nothing worries him. Teeth, feet, injections – all taken in his stride. He is very bold and doesn’t look twice at anything.

The only problem with him is that he is becoming a bit of a tinker at escaping. And because of his size he has no respect for electric fences.

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So those are my babies, and by later this year I will have five of them in work. I have left a little gap because I wanted to see how the older ones took to training and then to life as a working horse here at the trekking centre. I needed to know if they had the brain for the job.

I think they have answered my questions – and now I have to decide which of my mares is next to be put in foal!