From the horse’s mouth: Autumn update

September has been all about taking the next steps in Charles’ education and preparing him for his next big adventure!

One of the highlights has been getting him out and about on some ride and lead adventures with one of the horses in the yard. Charles has been super brave and has taken everything in his stride, from passing traffic and dogs to all the interesting things going on behind people’s garden gates. He’s particularly fond of having a good nose at what everyone is up to in their houses as we walk past!

These outings are such a valuable part of his education, helping him gain confidence in the big wide world without the pressure of a rider on his back. They’ll also be really useful preparation for his future in harness, when he’ll need to be confident around traffic and all the sights and sounds he might encounter out on the roads.

Charles has also been introduced to wearing the full harness, which is another exciting milestone. My aim is to have him confidently introduced to pulling a tyre by the end of October, before he heads off to a professional to be broken to drive.

Originally, I’d hoped to do the driving training myself, but having spent a number of years away from driving, I’ve decided that Charles would benefit from going to a professional for this next stage. I want to give him the best possible start, with a consistent and experienced approach to introducing him to pulling and eventually driving a vehicle. It’s important to me that he takes his time, builds confidence and enjoys his new job.

At home, Charles has also acquired a new field friend! There are now three of them sharing the field, which should work out perfectly when he goes away for his training. Mouse will still have company while Charles is away, so everyone should be happy