*Sproink*

Eden came home today - she was at Sarah's for weaning purposes. Sadly Tubs and Eden got along too well and for safety sake, it was decided Eden would come home before anyone was injured.

Bella and Layla have been getting along well, while Splash was left sadly gazing at them as she was in with the sheep - with the idea of Eden going in with her once she returns home.

Layla was beyond herself with excitement seeing a truck pulling into the driveway. Rather than have her rark everyone else up, I put her in the pen, and put Eden in the annex. Eden wasn't too fussed about coming home (even though Layla was twirling and shrieking from the pen) so I caught and held Bella while mum led Eden through the yard into the paddock (I do more work with Bella so mum was more comfortable leading Eden).

Bella didn't like my paddocking decision (Splash and Eden together, Bella in her paddock, and Layla in the pen) so promptly hopped over the fence. Bugger - not the look I was going for!

I caught her and put her in the pen while the parentals and I re-jigged where she jumped. She is now in the paddock with Layla, while Eden and Splash are together. Eden couldn't care less about Bella. Bella doesn't seem too fussed about having Eden back on the property. Splash would like to eat the baby (some things just don't change) and Layla is her usual excited self.

Weaned

I have been slack, and put the official weaning in the Too Hard Basket. Not that it is particularly difficult, but I've been busy studying, and it has been so wet lately that mum's paddock management has been up the wazoo.

I did attempt weaning a while ago and nothing untoward happened. Bella is quite confident and is happy in the company of any of the other horses. I hardly ever see her with Eden. The only time I've ever seen her upset is if all the horses move away from where she is and she can't figure out how to get to them (ie they're in the paddock, and she's in the race). Having said that, she doesn't panic.

Anyway, I felt today was as good as any other day, so caught Eden (hardly difficult) and lead her to another paddock.

Eden couldn't have cared less (was probably waiting for this day to happen! lol) but Bella had a few things to say. Bella and Layla whizzed around the paddock for a bit - if anything Layla put more effort into the 'tantrum'. Bella whinnied a bit but she wasn't frantic.

By the time I had walked back up the race, everyone had settled down.

Attention

Sadly I haven’t had the time to dedicate to working with Bella on a regular basis – just too busy studying. Having said that, it isn’t like she is neglected – access to stables if the weather is shite (seeing as it is spring, it is shite), checked daily to ensure her rug is on and she has no injuries, and regularly hayfed.

Because of being busy studying, when she does get attention, it tends to be full on, as per last Saturday – tied up, groomed, have her hooves trimmed then wormed and led to the back paddock. Poor Bella, it must seem when it rains, it pours!

She is good about being tied up, albeit a bit fidgety which is more her dislike of not being able to come over to me whenever she wants.

She is very good about having her hooves trimmed – I am glad I spent the time when she was younger picking up her legs. There isn’t much I can’t do to her – whenever I do have time, I reiterate lessons she has already learnt, and add more to her education, such as moving her hind quarters over, and backing up. She is very obedient to voice commands which is good as I talk a lot! Lol

I led Bella while mum led Eden and Layla to the back paddock. Bella skittered coming out of the stables so I ended up in the lead with mum, Eden and Layla following. Bella was very good and led all the way down the back. She did have a wee brain fart in the back paddock but it wasn’t anything ghastly – I think it was more Bella saying she’d had enough. Tough, she still had another paddock to navigate. She just leapt a bit at the end of the leadrope then stood when I told her too. I reassured her, and we continued on our journey.

Her next lesson will involve trucking – I will have a professional in to do that.