The New Farm
Okay so I didn't manage to write this as early as I wanted, but here we go.
Moving day came round far quicker than I'd anticipated. October had been a ridiculously busy month for me, so I hadn't really had time to let it sink in that we were soon to be leaving the park for good. I tried to squeeze in a farewell ride with everyone before we left, but only managed to meet up with a handful of people. Riding with V was most important and we had a lovely ride in the autumn sunshine.
Our last day at the park was spent having a quiet hack up the lane and back with J on Toby. As we pottered along I tried to force some kind of emotional reaction to our last ride there but couldn't sum up much of anything. I'd been there for nine years but it wasn't the place I loved anymore. I was definitely ready to move on (I did still attempt an end of last ride selfie from Chet's back though...).
Everything was organised for the move the next morning and I felt surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Then V called. Some workmen had just put up a sign to say there would be no access to the lane from the fourth to the fifth due to resurfacing. The fourth was tomorrow. Moving day. Awesome. V and I discussed options and after some mild panic and brain storming we decided we could get the lorry driver (K) to meet us at the other end of the lane. V was coming with me to move Chet so that I could go in the horsebox with him without having to worry about organising transport home (plus some much needed moral support and general cameraderie), so we planned for her to pick me up at eight, drive round to the top end of the lane, leave her car there and walk down to the park to get Chester ready. Then we'd walk back up with Chester to meet the lorry at ten. Even though it wasn't our initial plan, it wasn't a terrible compromise. Crisis averted. I almost got emotional when I turned Chet out with his buddies for the last time, but there was no turning back now.
I didn't get much sleep the night before and was up super early, wanting as much time as possible to ensure everything went to plan. But when do things ever go to plan? I was all set and ready to go, even managing to grab a banana for breakfast, fighting my nervous stomach to keep it down. Then eight rolled around. V called. She'd left earlier than she'd needed to because she didn't want to risk anything making me more stressed than I already was, but she was stuck in traffic. She left her house at seven thirty, it usually takes her about twenty minutes to get to my house so she should have easily got there for eight, but she didn't pull up outside until half past. I somehow was in a more optimistic mood than V, I think through nothing more than sheer determination.
On the way to the park, V told me that A, who lives on the lane, had managed to arrange with some of the park workers to change the lock for the top gate so that those of us who usually use the bottom gate could gain access from the other end. So we ended up taking V's car down to the field which saved some time. I got Chet in as usual, tied him up with his haynet and sorted him out. He was too wet to brush but I did his feet and got his tail bandage on him in good time while he stood and ate, totally unaware of the huge change that was about to happen in his life. Then V called J to ask if she wanted us to give Bob (who was in the small paddock with an abscess) some hay and J told us that the farmer had decided he was going to start haying for the winter that morning. My stomach dropped. The horses were hungry as the grass was getting scarce and the liveries had finally got together to decide whether to start putting hay out. Every year, every morning that hay gets put out, the horses get ridiculously excited and run after the tractor. This would be the first morning of hay, so they were bound to be extra hyped. And I had Chester out by himself, about to move him to a new home. I really, really didn't want the hay to come before we'd got him loaded. V instantly called the farmer to try and ask him to postpone until after we'd left, but he didn't pick up. She left a message asking if he could wait til half ten as we would hopefully be on our way by then. I also sent him a text just in case. With the added pressure of potential hay disaster, I loaded the few things I'd need into V's car and set off with Chester. As I untied him and started to lead him out of the feeding paddock, it finally hit me. I couldn't believe he'd never be here again and the tears I'd been expecting finally came but only a few fell. His favourite mare was waiting by the fence so I took Chet over to give them the opportunity of a last interaction but she just pinned her ears at him and he wasn't interested at all haha. So we set off up the lane for the last time while V locked up and then drove up after/past us to meet us at the other end (I tried to take some pictures but my main concern was keeping him moving and not getting a chance to think about what we were doing so...this was the best one I got haha).
We got to the top of the lane in good time, Chet was totally non-plussed that he had his tail bandage on but wasn't going to where we usually load (or that he had it on at all, which was a surprise as he tends to start getting excited as I put it on him cos he knows that means we're going somewhere) and then it was just a matter of waiting for the box. There was a brief moment of worry as we were approaching the top gate as the farmer appeared in his tractor. V had just got out of her car and rushed to intercept. Apparently he'd got our messages, but thought he'd just go and deliver some hay bales for people as he'd been doing that for a few months anyway and couldn't fit the extra bales in with the horses' morning hay. It probably would have been fine but V still convinced him to go through the park rather than past Chet and I on the lane.
I let Chester graze a little way away from the gate while we waited for the box to arrive. He gets spooked by big vehicles, not hugely, but enough that I wanted him a little out of the way while it arrived and turned around just to avoid any extra stress. V and I were chatting away while Chet ate, totally content, when I heard my phone ringing. I didn't manage to get it out before it stopped but it was our transport (K), so I called back straight away, seeing that I also had a couple texts from her (my phone was on loud but I didn't hear a thing before that call). Unfortunately the instructions I'd given her weren't as clear as I should've made them and she'd ended up where we usually load at the other end of the lane (the lane doesn't have a postcode but she'd wanted one for her GPS. I'd found one that was close enough to direct her from, but as I'd told her to pick us up on the lane, it never even occurred to me to reiterate in the instructions to turn onto the lane to follow it down to where we would be and instead just told her it would come up on her right). She said the road wasn't closed yet and asked if we could take him down to her, but that would've taken fifteen to twenty minutes and I really didn't want to risk the roadworks starting in that time and have Chet get freaked out or get stuck there. Plus it would've meant leading him back past his buddies and possibly the hay tractor. K didn't sound very happy on the phone but I managed to re-direct her to where we were and she pulled up about five minutes later. Phew! Chet, as predicted, did get a little spooked by the two horse box but didn't really do anything and loaded up quick and easy (he's a brilliant loader/traveller and I love him for it, takes so much stress out of things). And before I knew it we were on our way!
K was actually fine when she got to us so the anxiety in my chest melted away as we easily chatted about things. She updated me on her horses and I filled her in about where we were moving to and why we were moving, plus what we'd been up to since she took us cross country schooling earlier this year (which wasn't much).
It took us just over half an hour to get there which was surprising as that's how long it takes in the car! I will say there was no point where it felt like we were going too fast and there was no sound of struggle in the back from Chet so regardless it was a safe and easy journey. After a minor misdirection from the GPS, we pulled into the farm and unloaded. Chet was up but not silly, so I tied him up and left him with V and K as I went to let people know we'd arrived. Two staff members came down to help us out, directing us to the field he was going in (I knew which one but wanted to be sure). I led Chester past a small paddock with a mini shetland and mini donkey in it. I'm not sure if Chet's ever seen a donkey before, but Bridget gave him a great introduction by braying at the top of her lungs as she followed along the fenceline. I'm so impressed that all Chet did was look at her like she was crazy and keep walking.
Not sure Chester appreciated Bridget's welcome.
After walking and waiting to have his headcollar taken off very politely, Chet wasn't sure what to do with himself.
So he pranced.
I was so annoyed with myself for forgetting my camera. Thank god for smart phones.
Then he froze for a little bit.
Then decided to do some cross country schooling (this turns into a river when it rains).
"Excuse me humans, I think my mum has made a mistake. I don't actually live here..."
Then he statued for a bit...
"Mum wtf"
A couple of the mares had started to make their way down at this point
My pony is pretty
Kiri (chestnut) and Sadie (black, lead mare) came to say hi
Nose touching and sniffing with Sadie
All very polite
And then with Kiri
Then Sadie said no
And told Chester who was boss
"Sorry please be my friends"
Then they said "lol bye loser" (I swear he is only 1/4 arab...)
And they ran off...and my phone ran out of space.
I had figured that as soon as he went off with the herd that would be that and he wouldn't give a crap about me for a while. The last thing I expected was for him to come galloping back down the hill to me. We'd left the field by this point so he started trotting up and down the fenceline, a couple of times swerving to face me and pushing against it. I spoke to him and stroked him when I could to try and calm him down, worried that if he didn't chill out he was going to break through the fence or try to jump it. He's never been the clingy sort so this was the one scenario my overly paranoid brain hadn't come up with a solution for. After a while of me talking to him and trying to soothe him he calmed down enough that we thought maybe he'd go and be a horse if we weren't there. So we hid behind a bush. Like adults. I didn't want to go too far in case he did go off again, but cos he's not an idiot and has ears, every time I peeked round to see what he was doing, he was looking right at me haha. He did start to move further away though so the staff suggested going to the tack room to get some tea and spying on him from there. But as we went to do so, another horsebox arrived. Another little chestnut gelding was moving into Chester's field. I was initially worried because I didn't want Chester to get in the way so I hung back while they took the new pony (Dancer) into the field. Once he was in and released I went down to see how things were going. Thank whatever powers that be for Dancer because Chester latched onto the older gelding and the two went off together to explore and graze. (At some point between turning Chester out and Dancer arriving I did go back and relieve K, giving her a little extra payment for the earlier mix up and for keeping her waiting.)
Following his safety blanket
Dance makes Chester look huge haha
They settled enough that they were mostly just grazing so V and I went to visit some local tack shops and get some lunch. One of the tack shops we visited deserves its own post cos it is the weirdest place I've ever been to. It's called Catlips. Yeah. We ended up stopping in the first pub we could pull into on our way back to the farm cos my phone was dying and we needed it for directions. It was about two thirty so definitely not the lunchtime rush but the place was empty save for a couple of women drinking near the bar so I didn't have high hopes. The food was decidedly average, which was a shame because the staff were really nice (although they were probably just happy to have something to do). I doubt I'd go there again but I'm determined to drag friends and family out there to go for walks and explore so I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to try out lots of different places in the area.
My phone lasted long enough to get us back to the farm and Chester and Dancer still hadn't joined the herd. We watched them for a while and then I called him over to see if he wanted feeding. He cantered down to me, Dance following behind, and V stayed at the gate with Dancer while I took his buddy away. Chet was good as gold and led, tied up, had his feet picked and ate his dinner with minimal fuss. Dance wasn't any trouble at the gate and I let Chester go before they trotted off together. We stayed and watched them for a while and just as we were about to head home, they decided to go and interact with the herd. Kiri showed interest in Chester and he latched onto her and her buddy Coke (a little black mare). But Denzel (a black gelding with a white face and legs) didn't take kindly to Chet making a move on some of his mares. There were a few tense moments but it was mostly threats and the couple of times back legs did fly no blows were landed. Poor Dancer, who is very timid, really wanted to stick with Chester but was too scared to get close, so he was left hovering several feet away while the herd tried to sort themselves out. Eventually it started getting dark and my phone had two percent battery so we had to leave. My phone did end up dying but through the magic of road signs and memory we made it home in under an hour (we'd left late enough that rush hour was beginning as we got on the main road).
So yeah. It's been two and a half weeks since so I've got lots of other stuff to update about but I'll leave it there for now, this is an essay already. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!
Moving day came round far quicker than I'd anticipated. October had been a ridiculously busy month for me, so I hadn't really had time to let it sink in that we were soon to be leaving the park for good. I tried to squeeze in a farewell ride with everyone before we left, but only managed to meet up with a handful of people. Riding with V was most important and we had a lovely ride in the autumn sunshine.
Our last day at the park was spent having a quiet hack up the lane and back with J on Toby. As we pottered along I tried to force some kind of emotional reaction to our last ride there but couldn't sum up much of anything. I'd been there for nine years but it wasn't the place I loved anymore. I was definitely ready to move on (I did still attempt an end of last ride selfie from Chet's back though...).
Everything was organised for the move the next morning and I felt surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Then V called. Some workmen had just put up a sign to say there would be no access to the lane from the fourth to the fifth due to resurfacing. The fourth was tomorrow. Moving day. Awesome. V and I discussed options and after some mild panic and brain storming we decided we could get the lorry driver (K) to meet us at the other end of the lane. V was coming with me to move Chet so that I could go in the horsebox with him without having to worry about organising transport home (plus some much needed moral support and general cameraderie), so we planned for her to pick me up at eight, drive round to the top end of the lane, leave her car there and walk down to the park to get Chester ready. Then we'd walk back up with Chester to meet the lorry at ten. Even though it wasn't our initial plan, it wasn't a terrible compromise. Crisis averted. I almost got emotional when I turned Chet out with his buddies for the last time, but there was no turning back now.
I didn't get much sleep the night before and was up super early, wanting as much time as possible to ensure everything went to plan. But when do things ever go to plan? I was all set and ready to go, even managing to grab a banana for breakfast, fighting my nervous stomach to keep it down. Then eight rolled around. V called. She'd left earlier than she'd needed to because she didn't want to risk anything making me more stressed than I already was, but she was stuck in traffic. She left her house at seven thirty, it usually takes her about twenty minutes to get to my house so she should have easily got there for eight, but she didn't pull up outside until half past. I somehow was in a more optimistic mood than V, I think through nothing more than sheer determination.
On the way to the park, V told me that A, who lives on the lane, had managed to arrange with some of the park workers to change the lock for the top gate so that those of us who usually use the bottom gate could gain access from the other end. So we ended up taking V's car down to the field which saved some time. I got Chet in as usual, tied him up with his haynet and sorted him out. He was too wet to brush but I did his feet and got his tail bandage on him in good time while he stood and ate, totally unaware of the huge change that was about to happen in his life. Then V called J to ask if she wanted us to give Bob (who was in the small paddock with an abscess) some hay and J told us that the farmer had decided he was going to start haying for the winter that morning. My stomach dropped. The horses were hungry as the grass was getting scarce and the liveries had finally got together to decide whether to start putting hay out. Every year, every morning that hay gets put out, the horses get ridiculously excited and run after the tractor. This would be the first morning of hay, so they were bound to be extra hyped. And I had Chester out by himself, about to move him to a new home. I really, really didn't want the hay to come before we'd got him loaded. V instantly called the farmer to try and ask him to postpone until after we'd left, but he didn't pick up. She left a message asking if he could wait til half ten as we would hopefully be on our way by then. I also sent him a text just in case. With the added pressure of potential hay disaster, I loaded the few things I'd need into V's car and set off with Chester. As I untied him and started to lead him out of the feeding paddock, it finally hit me. I couldn't believe he'd never be here again and the tears I'd been expecting finally came but only a few fell. His favourite mare was waiting by the fence so I took Chet over to give them the opportunity of a last interaction but she just pinned her ears at him and he wasn't interested at all haha. So we set off up the lane for the last time while V locked up and then drove up after/past us to meet us at the other end (I tried to take some pictures but my main concern was keeping him moving and not getting a chance to think about what we were doing so...this was the best one I got haha).
We got to the top of the lane in good time, Chet was totally non-plussed that he had his tail bandage on but wasn't going to where we usually load (or that he had it on at all, which was a surprise as he tends to start getting excited as I put it on him cos he knows that means we're going somewhere) and then it was just a matter of waiting for the box. There was a brief moment of worry as we were approaching the top gate as the farmer appeared in his tractor. V had just got out of her car and rushed to intercept. Apparently he'd got our messages, but thought he'd just go and deliver some hay bales for people as he'd been doing that for a few months anyway and couldn't fit the extra bales in with the horses' morning hay. It probably would have been fine but V still convinced him to go through the park rather than past Chet and I on the lane.
I let Chester graze a little way away from the gate while we waited for the box to arrive. He gets spooked by big vehicles, not hugely, but enough that I wanted him a little out of the way while it arrived and turned around just to avoid any extra stress. V and I were chatting away while Chet ate, totally content, when I heard my phone ringing. I didn't manage to get it out before it stopped but it was our transport (K), so I called back straight away, seeing that I also had a couple texts from her (my phone was on loud but I didn't hear a thing before that call). Unfortunately the instructions I'd given her weren't as clear as I should've made them and she'd ended up where we usually load at the other end of the lane (the lane doesn't have a postcode but she'd wanted one for her GPS. I'd found one that was close enough to direct her from, but as I'd told her to pick us up on the lane, it never even occurred to me to reiterate in the instructions to turn onto the lane to follow it down to where we would be and instead just told her it would come up on her right). She said the road wasn't closed yet and asked if we could take him down to her, but that would've taken fifteen to twenty minutes and I really didn't want to risk the roadworks starting in that time and have Chet get freaked out or get stuck there. Plus it would've meant leading him back past his buddies and possibly the hay tractor. K didn't sound very happy on the phone but I managed to re-direct her to where we were and she pulled up about five minutes later. Phew! Chet, as predicted, did get a little spooked by the two horse box but didn't really do anything and loaded up quick and easy (he's a brilliant loader/traveller and I love him for it, takes so much stress out of things). And before I knew it we were on our way!
K was actually fine when she got to us so the anxiety in my chest melted away as we easily chatted about things. She updated me on her horses and I filled her in about where we were moving to and why we were moving, plus what we'd been up to since she took us cross country schooling earlier this year (which wasn't much).
Click to viewIt took us just over half an hour to get there which was surprising as that's how long it takes in the car! I will say there was no point where it felt like we were going too fast and there was no sound of struggle in the back from Chet so regardless it was a safe and easy journey. After a minor misdirection from the GPS, we pulled into the farm and unloaded. Chet was up but not silly, so I tied him up and left him with V and K as I went to let people know we'd arrived. Two staff members came down to help us out, directing us to the field he was going in (I knew which one but wanted to be sure). I led Chester past a small paddock with a mini shetland and mini donkey in it. I'm not sure if Chet's ever seen a donkey before, but Bridget gave him a great introduction by braying at the top of her lungs as she followed along the fenceline. I'm so impressed that all Chet did was look at her like she was crazy and keep walking.
Not sure Chester appreciated Bridget's welcome.
After walking and waiting to have his headcollar taken off very politely, Chet wasn't sure what to do with himself.
So he pranced.
I was so annoyed with myself for forgetting my camera. Thank god for smart phones.
Then he froze for a little bit.
Then decided to do some cross country schooling (this turns into a river when it rains).
"Excuse me humans, I think my mum has made a mistake. I don't actually live here..."
Then he statued for a bit...
"Mum wtf"
A couple of the mares had started to make their way down at this point
My pony is pretty
Kiri (chestnut) and Sadie (black, lead mare) came to say hi
Nose touching and sniffing with Sadie
All very polite
And then with Kiri
Then Sadie said no
And told Chester who was boss
"Sorry please be my friends"
Then they said "lol bye loser" (I swear he is only 1/4 arab...)
And they ran off...and my phone ran out of space.
I had figured that as soon as he went off with the herd that would be that and he wouldn't give a crap about me for a while. The last thing I expected was for him to come galloping back down the hill to me. We'd left the field by this point so he started trotting up and down the fenceline, a couple of times swerving to face me and pushing against it. I spoke to him and stroked him when I could to try and calm him down, worried that if he didn't chill out he was going to break through the fence or try to jump it. He's never been the clingy sort so this was the one scenario my overly paranoid brain hadn't come up with a solution for. After a while of me talking to him and trying to soothe him he calmed down enough that we thought maybe he'd go and be a horse if we weren't there. So we hid behind a bush. Like adults. I didn't want to go too far in case he did go off again, but cos he's not an idiot and has ears, every time I peeked round to see what he was doing, he was looking right at me haha. He did start to move further away though so the staff suggested going to the tack room to get some tea and spying on him from there. But as we went to do so, another horsebox arrived. Another little chestnut gelding was moving into Chester's field. I was initially worried because I didn't want Chester to get in the way so I hung back while they took the new pony (Dancer) into the field. Once he was in and released I went down to see how things were going. Thank whatever powers that be for Dancer because Chester latched onto the older gelding and the two went off together to explore and graze. (At some point between turning Chester out and Dancer arriving I did go back and relieve K, giving her a little extra payment for the earlier mix up and for keeping her waiting.)
Following his safety blanket
Dance makes Chester look huge haha
They settled enough that they were mostly just grazing so V and I went to visit some local tack shops and get some lunch. One of the tack shops we visited deserves its own post cos it is the weirdest place I've ever been to. It's called Catlips. Yeah. We ended up stopping in the first pub we could pull into on our way back to the farm cos my phone was dying and we needed it for directions. It was about two thirty so definitely not the lunchtime rush but the place was empty save for a couple of women drinking near the bar so I didn't have high hopes. The food was decidedly average, which was a shame because the staff were really nice (although they were probably just happy to have something to do). I doubt I'd go there again but I'm determined to drag friends and family out there to go for walks and explore so I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to try out lots of different places in the area.
My phone lasted long enough to get us back to the farm and Chester and Dancer still hadn't joined the herd. We watched them for a while and then I called him over to see if he wanted feeding. He cantered down to me, Dance following behind, and V stayed at the gate with Dancer while I took his buddy away. Chet was good as gold and led, tied up, had his feet picked and ate his dinner with minimal fuss. Dance wasn't any trouble at the gate and I let Chester go before they trotted off together. We stayed and watched them for a while and just as we were about to head home, they decided to go and interact with the herd. Kiri showed interest in Chester and he latched onto her and her buddy Coke (a little black mare). But Denzel (a black gelding with a white face and legs) didn't take kindly to Chet making a move on some of his mares. There were a few tense moments but it was mostly threats and the couple of times back legs did fly no blows were landed. Poor Dancer, who is very timid, really wanted to stick with Chester but was too scared to get close, so he was left hovering several feet away while the herd tried to sort themselves out. Eventually it started getting dark and my phone had two percent battery so we had to leave. My phone did end up dying but through the magic of road signs and memory we made it home in under an hour (we'd left late enough that rush hour was beginning as we got on the main road).
So yeah. It's been two and a half weeks since so I've got lots of other stuff to update about but I'll leave it there for now, this is an essay already. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!