Horse Dad
Horse
Equestrian
Diary of A Horse Dad.
CHAPTER 3 - Vol 1
"Girls run the world...well mares!"
What do you get when you cross two horses in a new field with a carefully planned electric fence? Yep – chaos.
I have never been closer than 5 feet from a young horse, alone, mainly because I value my life but also, a touch of nervous energy, and a whole lot of "wait, you’re charging at me and not stopping, what do I do now?" moments. Well, that’s exactly what happened when we took receipt of our new beautiful beasts!
The day started over the weekend by getting up early, as you will read from previous blogs, this is a non-negotiable element of being a horse dad and building the remaining length of electric fencing for the paddocks. Everything was great, particular engineered straight lines, tightly tied taping and even equal separation of tape from the top ring, middle ring and bottom ring – I was proud of my achievements… for all of two-hour.
Before we delve deeper into the events that unfolded, firstly, lets introduce the stars, our newcomers, the two stunning new additions to the Walkernova Sports Horses family: Tanja-e (we're calling her Tanya) and Sallinka (Inka for short). These two gorgeous mares have stolen my heart, I cannot lie, and I'm pretty sure they're going to steal yours too.
Tanya: The Little Lady with a Big Focus
First up, we have Tanya. She's a two-year-old beauty with a coat that shines dark like polished copper. She's the boss, albeit for now, has this quiet, almost serene presence about her but tells you she’s there. You can tell she's intelligent and observant, taking everything in.
Through my semi-amateur eye, even I can see that Tanya has something special. She's got a natural grace and a calmness that's remarkable for her age with a few strong characteristics. I'm so excited to watch her grow and develop. I can already picture her achieving amazing things.
Inka: The Bundle of Energy and Charm
Then there's Inka! This three-year old, unbelievably gorgeous colouring chestnut beauty who would dazzle on any catwalk and a complete contrast to Tanya, but equally captivating. She's full of life, always curious, sweet and cautious yet has a playful streak that keeps us all entertained. I swear, she's got a smile in her eyes. The moment she arrived, she found the hay-bale wrap and was bouncing it up and down (till we took it off her) as though to say, “hey Tanya, check this out…lol.”
Inka is a mover, that's for sure! She's got an incredible amount of energy, and I can't wait to see her channel that into her training. I'm already picturing her flying over jumps and dancing in the PVC arena. She's got so much potential, it's almost overwhelming – we might keep her (I tell charlotte all the time she cannot do this, but exceptions may be made!)
Learning the Ropes (and the Reins!)
As a newbie to the horse world, building my first paddock set me on a steep learning curve. I have built things I didn’t know existed, I have learnt how to test electric fencing using grass (and touching it without knowing) and understand horse nutrition – I never knew Carrots had so much sugar in them! From grooming to groundwork, every day is a new adventure. Luckily, the team at Walkernova Sports Horses has been incredibly supportive – when I say team, I mean Charlotte (the wife) and Casey (my best friends future wife - sorry mate).
I'm learning the importance of building a strong bond with Tanya and Inka. Developing further understanding of their individual personalities and needs but giving them space. I am a huge believer of keeping them natural and allowing them to choose their own ways – within reason! It's not just about training, developing and expecting them to do as you say; for me, it's about building a relationship based on trust and respect. Something which is a two-way streak and let me tell you, something that was tested 2-hours in!!
To set the scene, the horses had been expertly transported by HHH Equine Transport Services and herded flawlessly by Kristina & Shane into the field. Everything was peaceful, calm and tranquil. Everyone left, leaving Charlotte and I to admire the beautiful horses enjoying their new setting, overlooking the countryside, horses and sunsets! As we were planning to head off ourselves, we were tidying away the last few bits in the field shelter when we heard an almighty “TWANG” to which I span around to see my engineered electric fencing flapping in the wind… both horses in another paddock and shouts from Charlotte who has now gone from loving Wife to Field Marshal of the British Army screaming “Get down there and turn the electric fence on… NOW!” By golly I ran, you would if you had the full force of those Army commands being barked at you like you are some sort of incompetent private on your first day selection training to the SAS! Oh, I ran like the wind, finding holes in the undulated field, legs like lead until I got to the energiser, the fence was on… now time to rebuild.
We then proceeded to spend the next two hours trying to rebuild the fenced paddocks. Each time I attempted to rebuild, both Tanya and Inka would charge at me - clearly thought what a fun game this is. I was ordered by the newly appointed head of the British Army, “just stand there and wave your arms…” Erm... I am sorry, but, I have a combined weight of one-tonne horse running towards me at speed and you’re advice is “yeah wave your arms like you’re at a Taylor Swift Concert…” – nope, sorry, I am diving out the way. Anyway, we let the horses win, they had the whole field to themselves and that was the first lesson of the day for me, horses will do what they want to do, not what you want – get used to it.
Nevertheless, A Proud Horse Dad
Even after all that, I know I’m biased, but I truly believe we have two exceptional horses here. Cheeky as a horse can be, I’m so proud to be a part of their journey, they are my first ever horse babies in my direct care and I can’t wait to share their progress with all of you.
We will be posting updates on their training, their personalities, and all the little moments that make being a horse dad to all our clan so special. So, please, stay tuned, and join me in welcoming Tanya and Inka to the Walkernova Sports Horse family! We are in for a treat just not loads of carrots!