trails and tales @trailpony - Tumblr Blog

project quagga (aka get the damn flies off her legs)

#myposts #matilda #she's in such good condition rn im so happy. but the flies are something else and her skin is extremely sensitive

One of my daily duties include training the new belgian malinois, i'm not a dog person but this boy has won my heart. my granny used to train german shepherds as police dogs and taught me a lot as a kid, though her methods were often cruel and i have to rethink how i go about certain things with positive reinforcement only.

Matilda just wants to play with him but he's very shy so i've been spending a lot of time just letting the two hang out together and working on his training as Matilda follows us around the fields

#i fixed matilda's grazing muzzle cuz she is getting far too fat... the horses too. the grazing we have is incredible #myposts #matilda #oscar

the morning perimeter checks are always so pleasant. our fences are holding up nicely, it's been lots of work but we have divided the area into 7 big camps for the 5 of our hooved beasties, who are extremely happy and healthy, getting my undivided daily attention and frankly being spoiled!

#really blessed to live here #myposts #Cowboy #matilda

so nice to finally see the farm become so vibrant after winter

#myposts #matilda #kalahari #cowboy

this photo keeps making me giggle. i was given one(1) job and it was to be a groom for the weekend, and here is a picture of me having a very fun chat and a funny moment with my friend, as the OWNER of the entire ranch and big, big name in the industry cools down the horse i was given to look after.

#honestly it was relaxed tho i think everyone was just kuiering and taking turns together 🤣#it was fun. except for me being excluded or attacked by certain people. for daring to be a gay trans man in a very conservative space.#lots of toxic masculinity. until my old manager/instructor showed up :') he loves working there and changes the vibe #and so i got excited each time i saw them and wanted to catch up. it's his wife i am dabbing up in this photo haha #myposts

having the vet tell me that Matilda has the most well-looked after hooves she's ever seen on a donkey is actually just sad to me, especially as i was fussing this morning to myself about how long her toes already are since the farrier saw her last 4 weeks ago.

#to be fair though her feet are done by one of the best farriers around so lol at least it shows #she's so hardy over rocks now. she was very sensitive in the past. and her one back heel is slowly straightening out #myposts

These will always be some of my favourite photos of us. I am grateful that we have lots of pictures and videos to look back on, thanks to the incredible friends i've had who would join me and Kalant with our shenanigans. From falling and nearly drowing in a river, herding zebras and wildebeest, to rescuing friends out on the farm who call me in a panic - knowing i would get there faster on Kalant than anyone could in a car. Kalant was ALWAYS keen. He may have looked like a half-asleep donkey standing in the paddock, but in action - he was always feisty and fresh. Even managing to look so when i rode him in a neckrope - people always thought i was crazy since he was the number one feared bolter and bucker. Before he grew his melanomas in the mouth, he was ridden in a pelham and i always hated the feeling. So i taught him bitless - or rather i think he taught me. But it became crucial when we discovered he could never have a bit in his mouth again.

How does one get an extremely hot horse who fights the bridle, to go bitless? I simply went back to basics with him and played around in the roundpen. God, we spent hours just playing. Him teaching me. He will always be the most sensitive horse i've ridden off the seat - he had many buttons, many i'm sure i never even knew about.

Kalant taught me the absolute freedom and trust in riding bitless and bridleless. He taught me another way of training.

#myposts #kalant

ice coffee date with Matilda because i needed it

#myposts #matilda

With a very heavy heart, i had to say goodbye to my best friend yesterday.

I am so grateful for all the memories we have shared together. I just know somewhere, in some far away place, he is galloping full speed through evergreen fields, tail flicked up into the sky. I can still hear his soft whinny when i close my eyes. I will never know another horse like you, Kalant. You will always be my favourite.

#i loved you more than anything and i still do #grateful that i could hold him in his last moments. i promised him that i will be there with him to the end 8 years ago and i saw it through #god how i've fought to keep this horse in my life. through it all he never left my side and i never let him.#kalant

oh, i forgot to post this - i took Matilda for a long walk last saturday, all the way to the local garage/shopping centre, and stopped at the cute farmstall restaurant nearby for a coffee. it was extremely busy, and we came across a lot of cyclists(Matilda's nightmare - trucks, motorbikes, and even big farm machinery is okay but cyclists? nah). She was so, so well behaved though, besides biting my buttcheek once. i think about 15 different people came up to her to take a selfie or give her a treat, even the owner came out and was all over her. really love that i live in a friendly neighbourhood where i can take Matilda with me to new places!

#myposts #matilda

she's so willing for a treat

#myposts #matilda

hoppity hop

#myposts #matilda

i was looking at old photos of myself and was struck with how dull and dark my eyes looked in every picture, none of my smiles looked real and i looked half dead. this was the first picture i came across where i actually looked happy, the first time i met Matilda. prior to this photo she had nudged against my ear and blew out through her nose, and it literally caused me to cry with joy, she stole me heart. she really saved me during a dark time.

#myposts #matilda

two portraits for my friends of their horses, Titan and Moya. reminder that pet portrait commissions are open, DM me for more info ♥️

#myposts #titan #moya #pet portrait #horse #horses #equestrian #equine #art

Matilda enjoys a good jump.

#myposts #matilda

Titan is recovering nicely, he's finally allowed to canter and he feels very good! it's been a good opportunity to have a restart on a lot of schooling with him and he is just so lovely. he used to be very strong and hard in the mouth, ridden in a kimblewick, now he's as light as a feather going bitless. really proud of him and his owner for making it this far, it's been a tough journey and i am honoured to ride and school him weekly

#Titan #myposts

horsesarecreatures

Olivia - Irish Cob Mare

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