Paris is in France!!!

Wednesday morning I was put to work on Kakka Force - which basically means clearing up poop from the paddock paradise. i texted the transporters who replied midmorning that they expected to arrive between 2.30 and 3pm

I had a lovely lunch with the other working students and they were planning on going on a trail ride with the youngsters but I couldn't go because i wanted and had to wait for the transporter to arrive. Instead i took Zippy for another walk and then took my car into the village and parked on the roadside waiting to see the transporter and lead them in to the property. It was the longest 20 minutes of my life and then all of a sudden a big lorry turned into the road of du plessis from the wrong direction! I raced after them and flashed them with my lights, they flashed their hazards to let me know they had noticed me and after a short while they pulled over so i could overtake and lead the way.

As they began opening the back of the lorry i grabbed my phone to film Paris' big arrival but they turned to me and said "Do you want to unload him?"

"Yes!" I shouted throwing my phone in my pocket - i just wanted to see him ASAP and see for myself that he was ok.

he just strolled off of the box and looked around, after a couple of minutes moving his feet he noticed some grass growing nearby and started to eat - he had no sweat on him at all! we waved goodbye to the transporter and the two kind men that had delivered Paris safely to his destination.

I put Paris in a stable to have a drink and some hay. i chose one of the main stables so Paris could be next to Salvia, one of the youngsters that is on boxrest. Once the other students returned from their ride we took our horses to the arena.

we all played on line and even had a little group bareback freestyle ride before two horses were taken away and Paris and Kaluwa, who would be going out in the forest pasture together, were introduced.

Kaluwa was quick to arch his neck and squealed and struck out when they sniffed each other and Paris just stood there looking indifferent and decided to stroll off. Well, Kaluwa was having none of it. He was circling Paris, heading him off every way he went. Paris simply accepted to situation and stood still and then he threatened to kick Kaluwa when he continued to block him. Suddenly it was as if they were best friends and they were mutual grooming! They were stood for about 15 minutes grooming eachother and oblivious to the fact that the other two student horses had entered the arena. Eventually Rox walked over to Paris and introduced himself and Kaluwa went to meet Tasha, the only mare in the group. As i was watching (and filming) Paris and Rox there was a loud roar from Kaluwa, who was trying to impress Tasha. it cought Rox's attention and he trotted over to see what was going on but Kaluwa ran at him and reared. Rox span and bucked out and Kaluwa did the same then they ran at each other and reared, shoulders colliding and they fell toward the bunch of human girls sitting around gawping at them ... until that moment at least! It became apparant that Rox and Kaluwa were fighting over Tasha and we had to catch our horses and think of a new plan. Our four horses will not be able to live together without one getting seriously injured. I'm glad Paris, having been castrated very young, was totally not involved in the dispute and showed himself to be a real sweetie.

i turned Paris out in the forest with Kaluwa and they trotted off into their pasture and began grazing together as if they had been freinds for years.

This morning I said hello to them and Paris had a minor graze on his face. he gets marks like that most days so i was not surprised. i continued putting all the other horses out in their pastures and went on the feeding tour with Anna. we then did some weedpicking before lunch.

after lunch we decided to play with our horses. i wanted to work on "push a ball" and lead by the hind leg. Paris pushed the ball but really could not see the point and was not interested in it. he lead by the hind legs beautifully as if we had always done it! so i spent undemanding time with him and then took him to the stable to give him something to eat. As i was getting hay for him one of the french men reminded me that i was supposed to use the student stables so i moved Paris. he was fine until i was out of sight getting him hay and water. he started calling and i sat with him whist he ate as i did not want to end our session together with him being right brained. Paris spotted Kaluwa leaving the arena and got upset and began rushing from side to side (like weaving but really big over a veeeerrrry wide door). i waited a moment but knew that he could be like this for hours and not really go left brained so i picked up the halter and rope, aimed at his hind quarters and threw the rope at them. Paris looked at me with both eyes and both ears and then went straight back to weaving, i did this a couple more times until he looked at me and licked his lips. this was left brained and i took it as a window of oppertunity to halter him and take him outside where i gave him some grass before heading to the forest.

i hope that i taught him to look to me and be left brained to find comfort... time will tell!

i watched some more of a Pete Ramey DVD and then cleaned out the student stables, swept the main stables corridor and put the hay in for the "diet horses" and then Thomas and Gabbi arrived. they have lived and worked at the Plessis for over two years and are responsible for the working student program, hoof care and nutrition. now the work really begins!