From the horse’s mouth: July

Continuing our progress reports on our equine sponsorship of Vickie Halford and Charles, here’s Vickie’s July update.

It’s been another busy month for Charles, with a few milestones along the way.

A couple of weeks ago, he had the dentist out for the first time. Like many horses his age, he still had a couple of retained caps which are the baby teeth that don’t always fall out as the adult teeth erupt. The dentist removed these to make way for his permanent teeth, so he’s currently looking a bit like a gappy schoolchild while everything settles into place!

The highlight of the month was undoubtedly the Kent County Show. Charles took everything in his stride and behaved impeccably in such a busy atmosphere. He was rewarded with 4th place in a very competitive CHAPS Native, Cob, Traditional Coloured Qualifier before going on to finish 2nd in the Welsh Part-Bred Class.

For me, these big county shows are about so much more than the results. As a young horse, every outing is a learning experience. Taking him to new places, exposing him to busy showgrounds, loudspeakers, crowds and other horses, all without the pressure of having a rider on his back, is helping to build his confidence. I want him to enjoy going out, to trust me as his handler and gain positive experiences that will hopefully set him up for a long and successful future.

At home, Charles has also graduated from his winter paddock and moved into a field with much more grass alongside his best friend, Mouse. They’re both very pleased with the change, and, even better, they’ve stayed exactly where they were meant to. A small victory that any young horse owner will appreciate!

I’m really looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer has in store for him!

Always one to charm the judges Charles decided a kiss was the best way to say thank you at Kent County Show.