Hiking With Tinkerbell

Hi everybodies. I hope you are all fabulous :) I went hiking again, and we took Uncle J and Rocko The Dog for companies. Cyd made me carry stuff for her which I think is a bit rude but I am stronger than she is and sometimes I keep her quite busy with the rope-holding so I guess it's ok.

Ready for hiking adventures!

 One of the things in my pack is some nippers for trimming places that we had to squeeze through before, and I was very kinda good about patiently waiting while Cyd trimmed away. Once we got to the more open areas that were logging roads Rocko was let off his leash and I thought it might be fun to chase him, which got me yelled at and some mean-boy threats from Uncle J that I must not hurt his puppy or I'll be in Big Troubles. I stopped then, and went back to my other dances that we are working on me not doing. I like to skip on the little hills (and some of the big ones), and Uncle J started calling me Tinkerbell, cos clearly I thought I was a fairy. He also asked if someone had sprinkled pixie dust on me. Not fair. We let them go ahead of us to check for monsters.

Uncle J and Rocko quick marching ahead

Cyd didn't think about how sharp the jungle grasses are, and didn't wear long trousers like before, and now she is all messed up and and some scratches and some bloods. I call it payback!

Ouch!

Today we did five miles, which is very good cos Uncle J gets ouchy knees but he kept up the whole way, and Rocko didn't go exploring by himself even when nobody had his rope. Even though I was carrying stuff for Cyd, she didn't clip her saw on to me, so we had to turn around cos there was a tree in our way. It's not very big, so we're going to go back and cut it another day. If not for that, we nearly made a whole loop to where I hiked with Aunty Z. Look how close we got:

The green dot on the right side map goes to where some of my friends live, and there is a loop there that I can ride when I'm big enough. We marked that with Aunty Z for later exploring and now we know where it goes. Cyd says she borrowed Aunty M's pony the other day to ride with Aunty R and the green dot trail is big funs for cantering quite fast on. I'll do that one day!

My Longest Adventure Yet

Wow everybody, I am super tired! How are you all? Not as great as me, I'll bet (feeling pretty full of myself today, and deservedly so). Cyd had yesterday off, and went and found my Aunty Z, and they put my halter on me. Off we toddled (well, Cyd toddled, I float..) up the road. I thought we were doing my normal neighbourhood walkabouts, nice and easy about a mile and a half on easy to walk on pavement. Oh was I wrong...

Ready For Adventuring

I's in the jungle

We got to the house where the small people gave me apples, and turned off the road. Immediately we took a slightly wrong turn and thought plans had been foiled right away cos there were trees down everywhere. Then Cyd realised she messed up (sigh) and we were off to the right trail. I had to hop a little tree branch on the ground, no biggie. Then I had to hop another. This adventure was going to do wonders for our coordinations. We sneaked between a tree and a fallen tree, didn't fall on the hidden root (well, me and Aunty Z didn't..), and skipped up and down some little hills. It was quite windy and sometimes the leaves were falling on us. Aunty Z was holding my rope since Cyd was busy making sure we were going the right way; if we go wrong we could end up in someone's garden and they might get mad at me. For a little bit we had to be really super quiet to sneak around the edge and join the proper trails. I don't understand being really super quiet, if you need to snort at stuff you need to snort at stuff. They kept shushing me :(

Circus pony :)

Next we had to adventure through some super long jungle like grasses with floofy bits on the ends.
Cyd broke one off and it was really scary, but I didn't run away cos I'm the bravest scaredy-Arab ever. A bit later we found some more, and I was not so scared this time, and they put it in my halter like I was a circus pony. I kept it there for ages cos I looked so cool.
The ground was kinda slippery so I walked really careful. Silly people have really small bladders, once we got to a good spot they had to take turns holding my rope and going pee and telling me to stop looking. I snacked instead. I snacked a lot on this adventure, since you never know when they will take you home for dinner. We climbed up some hills, which I am much better at than they are even without much practice. Then I got the usual laughter at my odd downhill technique (I'm learning! *poutyface*). There was lots of poop from other ponies (and some from bears) and I sniffed them all to check them out. And made my own. Like 8 times. Cyd and Aunty Z laughed at me cos for pooping everywhere.

"Stop taking my picture, I'm wasting away and need fooood"

We had some exploring to find the trail, and ended up next to a open bit where we (I) did some snacking. And I went pee. I have never gone pee on an outing before, and Cyd says it is good to go pee when you're pony riding on adventures cos I can't hold it til I get home, or I might get sick. Aunty Z took a picture of me wee-ing but I don't think that's appropriate for internets.

They thought they figured it out for the right way to go, and maybe they did, but we shimmied down a really really steep muddy hill, and there was a creek in a ditch at the bottom. It was only about a foot wide, but 60000 feet deep and I was too scared to jump from either of the spots that was deemed safe for me. I got quite close, and maybe if I had a friend to follow I could have made it, but not on my lonesome. Nobody wanted me to get scared, so we decided to go back the other way. Back up the hill. Aunty Z went first and Cyd knotted my rope around my neck to send me up by myself so we didn't get tangled together, but I wasn't having any of that. So she had to escort me which was quite tricky but I behaved myself really good. We looked around for another trail but there wasn't one. I think we were on the right route for home but we'll find out another day after we've crossed the ditch, or maybe go in the reverse direction from where Cyd thinks we should come out and see if we get to the same place.

"Here, let me help you"

We stopped back at where we knew we maybe went wrong, and looked at the map for clues. They had maps on their phones and with those and a paper map we had to think really hard if we knew a good way home. I tried really hard to help read the map and first I was cute but then I was annoying so I got tied to a tree to snack more (I was quite convinced I was going to starve to death by this point!!) but I let myself free. I knew the way, silly people. We went up and down a couple of different trails for a minute to mark them on the gps tracker so they can be explored later. Then we went back home. Up a Really Big Hill. Big enough we could see the oceans. Turns out, we were very nearly home at the ditch, and now we had to go all the way back the way we'd come, cos exploring to find a new way might not take us home then we would have even further to go back. Silly peoples all misplacing the correct directions. I was starting to get tired, and so were they, and I didn't want to drink from the puddle we found and there was no people water. We had to take some breaks on the hill, but I pretended to sniff stuff so nobody would guess how tired I was. Troubles is, I gave it away on the last couple miles by being baby brat face. I didn't have any tantrums, but I did express my opinions on not being allowed to eat whatever I want and when, or having to walk gentlemanly on my rope. Not only that, but Cyd and Aunty Z left their jumpers on the trail for home when it was too warm, and when we picked them up, I had to carry them round my neck. And they decided without consulting me that I should wear at least my surcingle so they can attach a saddle bag for me to carry their water and snacks. Lazy lazy people.

We finally got to the little turn off trail, and had to be sneaky quiet again. We crept through the forest as silently as a pony and two peoples can, got past the danger zone, and found ourselves back on the road. I got a little bit stuck but unstuck really fast. Aunty Z said that seeing Cyd's truck was the best feeling ever cos it meant we were very nearly home. Turns out Cyd had said we would go about 5ish miles, not bad at all. Even for me, I did four miles on Thursday but that was flat by the oceans. Guess how many miles we did yesterday? Eight!!! With hills. That is a long long way for a baby pony and peoples with no water - it was surprisingly toasty in the woods. Now Cyd has to figure out the appropriate routes for next time, and for when we go pony riding there. I definitely don't want to get lost lugging her butt around!! 

Cyd says hiking is good for both of our butts, but mine's already pretty perfect!

Bloods and Sweats and Tears

ohmygodohmygodmybloodisfallingout!!!!!!!!

Cyd says I can be somewhat melodramatic.  I got hurted again today and she had no sympathy for me, just said it was my fault for running and bucking and jumping like a maniac when I was supposed to be working.  I'm feeling a little bratty lately, and now I have a more strongly-opinionated Cyd telling me what to do and I'm not sure I like it.  So I'm playing 'push the boundaries'.  Well it resulted in me making real sweats, like damp to the touch sweats.  Oh!My!God!!!  What is she thinking?  There is sleek shiny glisteny sweat, and then there's the coat ruffling stinky kind.  I'm quite ashamed to admit that I made the mussied-up stinky kind, as I feel it may affect your admiration of my extreme elegance.  Please still adore me?

"Really, Bugsy?" - Cyd

Anyway, back to my bloods being on the wrong side of my body.  I was so busy running and bucking and jumping I didn't even notice my owie.  Cyd called it two things:  1) an overreach (apparently my back foot boomped my front foot) and  2) just a little scratch.  It is most certainly not just a little scratch.  Some of my hair came off, not quite the area of a penny, and there was like a millimeter bit that allowed the escaping blood, nearly three or maybe even four drops of it.  When Cyd picked up my foot to look, I nearly had to lay down (or maybe that was my boundary pushing game, I forgets).  In the end I just hung out and let her check, but I was really wanting some sympathies and cookies.

Barely visible, world-ending owie

So why are Cyd and I having so many negotiations?  Well, I've mentioned before that I get stuck in the road, I don't like to leave my friends even though I'm going back to my house.  I've been getting more and more inconvenient about this, and there have been multiple attempts at coercing me into co-operation.  Well this time, I would occasionally take a few steps, but after half an hour we had only gone half ways (it should take less than 5 minutes for the whole way).  My Aunty-V called Cyd cos they thought she might be lost and she said we were stuck and she was mad, so her and Aunty-Z jumped in the Cookie Truck to rescue me.  Aunty-Z hopped out, and Cyd just tossed her my rope and said she was mad and walked away from me!  When she looked at me again her eyes were leaking.  Then I knew I was in trouble, cos Aunty-V got me, and we did marching drills all over the place, and I was specifically told "You are Not Special".  Now my eyes were going to leak.  Then the next day, they came and made me do marching drills with Cyd, and practice that our feet stop together and that I copy her doing big steps and baby steps.  Then today we did it again before going to practice our pony riding (which never happened since I couldn't keep my feet co-ordinated in an appropriate enough fashion to carry Cyd too).  I nearly got stuck but she made me do my things for unsticking, and then I saw Aunty-V sneaking up on me to see if we needed help, so decided to shift it and do good.  We made it.  Thanks for unsticking me Aunty-V!

Whew - It's Tiring Being Growed Up

Closing eyes allows for greater concentrations...

Hi Everybodys! I think I might be ready for a nap, I've been super busy lately. After my little foray into being a dragon pony, I decided to settle down and do some 'real big pony work'. So on Sunday I walked in a much more appropriate manner to where my friends live so I could get brushed and get my saddle. I paid attention really good practicing my circles. Then Cyd got on my back. I stood really still like I know I should. She hung out for a minute then hopped off again. Then back up. Then off. The next time she stayed there, and petted me. Then I felt the bomp bomp of her feet on my belly. I vaguely remember that before when we practiced pony riding, that if I move forward after the bomp bomp I get congratulated. It worked. Move forward and get a nice neck scratch. We didn't do much this day, just remembered the things we learned before, like turning my head when Cyd pulls the rein, and practiced forward and stop. Stop confused me a bit so I waggled my nose in the air, but I figured it out. Then I got a bit full of myself and tried to bounce a bit, and see if I could get both front feet up at the same time. It didn't work and Cyd got her angry voice and bopped me by my head. I didn't like that at all, that might not be a good thing to do I guess. Once I did everything appropriately Cyd got off and gave me all kinds of attentions. We hung out a minute, then she hopped back on and made me do everything one more time except stop cos I waggled my nose so I did that an extra time. Silly me!

"I'm really good at pony riding Bugsy, you'll do fine" - Poncho

The next day we did the same thing, except I felt smart after Sunday's refresher. I watched and listened really good, and stayed really still when it was mounting time. We practiced turning and moving at the same time today, and it was a bit hard but I soon got the hang of it. I did real proper circles, and even remembered to keep going when I got next to where my friends were watching (usually I like to check in with them in case they got some gossip since I passed by on my last lap). Cyd was really proud of me, and we worked for nearly 20 minutes! Time for a day off from pony riding to review in my brain and just play with toys.

Today was my best pony riding day yet. We only did a little bit of circle practice without Cyd on my back, since I was doing so good. Once she got on me, it was right away time for working on my goings and my turnings and my stoppings. No nose waggling today, and already I am learning that sometimes my rein isn't always what says turn, but if I concentrate super hard, Cyd shifts about a little in my saddle and only pushes me with one foot, and when she does that she means turn. I go better left than right, but I'll get there. She asked if I was feeling really super smart and grown up today to learn something new. I got really confused, because we were walking about, and she did the bomp bomp again. But, I'm already going? Then she says the things that mean I should go faster when we practice circles with her on the ground. How does she think I can go faster lugging her butt around? Bomp bomp again, and my 'speed up' noise. Better give this a shot. It wasn't so bad. I only went a few steps and she made a big fuss of me. We walked a little more, then tried it again. I made it nearly half way around the pen this time. I am just so smart! We turned around (see, practicing skills everywhere..) and tried going the other way. I was a bit more wobbly going this way but I did it.

"Hey Cowboy, I did trottings"

So Hungry

So Thirsty

Cyd told me how amazing I was and that we were all done for today. She was all hot and sweaty and said it's hard teaching baby ponies. I argue that actually I must be a grown up now cos I did trotting, and I was actually doing all the work!! I even made some sweats myself, just enough to be a little sheeny. It was warm and I am collecting my wintry fluff to stay cozy.  I am totally ready for napping, I had to hold in my yawns till I thought Cyd wasn't watching cos I don't want her to think I'm still a baby. And I needed to eat loads of foods, lucky I saved some breakfast today!

One day we'll go adventuring, and I'll go trotting everywhere :)

Bi-Polar Dragon Pony

Hellos to everybody. How are you? I am only ok today, because I kinda got in troubles. Cyd came to fetch me from my field and before I even saw her I was running around and bucking and jumping for funzies. She had my halter, so off we went to my electric fence gate so I could put it on and go for a walkabout. I stood very still for my halter, but once it's on it's time to GO! She took forever to open the gate, but maybe that's cos she had to keep making me stand still so neither of us got zapped and cos manners are Very Important to be a real grown up pony. The people who use the big barn in my field were there with their truck and trailer full of crab pots moving things about, but I'm not scared of silly things like that (that's why I have the electric fence - I'm so not scared that I chewed some of their ropes when nobody was there to stop me, so now I have to be kept out of that area unless someone is holding my rope). I walked really good but a little springy stepped until about half way to where my friends live. Then one of them whinnied at me and I thought that meant GO! So I tried... Cyd made me stop, and then we walked a few steps and I bounced, so we stopped, and walked and bounced and stopped and walked andbounced and stopped andwalkedandbouncedandstopped. Boring game. I hooked my bendy tail up on my back to show how fancy I am and started snorting really loud, enough that people walking stopped to ask if I was ok and did some fancy dance moves with my feet. Eventually we made it to my friends driveway and I thought I should show everyone how good my circles are so round and round I went. Cyd made me stop and I jumped and went round again, so she made me stop and I reared and round I went. So me made me keep going. That's not the game! So I stopped and put my duh-face on and looked very sorry for myself. I was still very bouncy, front feet up back feet up, so I went in an empty paddock to regroup my brain cells for a minute. My friends just looked at me like I was silly and didn't care about my lunacy. Once I settled down, I got tied up to be brushed. I was supposed to go practice circles with my saddle on, cos apparently we are going to practice pony riding tomorrow or maybe today as well, but since I was confused as to whether I was a growing-up-pony or a fearsome dragon we just went without my things. I did my circles kinda good but I wasn't concentrating super hard. Once I did some good stuff I got to stop and have a cookie and play follow the leader without my halter. I'm really good at that game, and was serious about my work, but Cyd says bi-polar ponies don't get to practice pony riding (especially on days she has to go to work after playing with me). We're going to see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully I can hold my brain cells together for a ten minute walk in my circle place cos it's coming close to the time to practice proper pony riding so I can go on adventures with my friends and stop sharing Cyd with other ponies. I had to hang out in the circle place cos by this time my friends were coming back from one ride and getting ready for more people and I don't want to be a disturbance. Even though they don't usually care what I do, I might do something to scare them or make them mad at me, and the people they carry often don't know how to ride ponies so we must not be a bother or we might get banned. Those ponies are very smart to know their job without the riders really doing anything, even really little childrens and sometimes the riders are kinda scared. They always come back really chuffed that they did pony riding though :)

No pictures today, so here's an old one of me in my hat!

I don't have any pictures of me today since I took both of Cyd's hands to hold me and she had to keep close watch on me. But I did get a very cool present of a new girth, just like the one I already have but it's only been tried on a by a pony. It won't work for the saddle my Aunty V rides in so she gave it to Cyd for me and we are both very grateful cos it's super compfty for my belly and now I have a spare one. I am a special pony!

Looking Fly In My Tie-Dye

Good morning Bugsy-fans, I'm back! Not that I've really been anywhere, but still. I need to show you how difficult it can be to be Cyd's pony; look at what she dresses me in:

Tie-dye sport booties

I tried to eat one of the front booties, and managed to get hold of part of it in my mouth and pulled, but it was on there pretty snug. It took me a while to figure out that all I was achieving was picking up my own foot. Apparently they are to help my skinny little legs when I do grown up pony things like pony riding. I haven't done pony riding in a while, and when I do it's super easy ambling about, not for-reals pony riding. I haven't even been for an explore on the '"trails" that my friends keep telling me about. I'm excited to go, but it's not my turn yet since I have to be busy with my growing. In the mean time I do other grown up things like hold myself still for my photo to be taken:

S'ok, I got me

I feel funny when they first go on me, and step really high with my front feet and squiggly-sideways with my back feet. I figure it out a little faster each time, and soon I'll probably not care, which will be good cos it makes people laugh at me and I get embarrassed.
Today I practiced on my hill. My field is mostly flat, but to get to my sand pits for my rolling I have to go up and down a short but steep little hill. Sometimes Cyd makes me practice the hill with her because I can be a bit silly and have to bounce to keep my balance. She says we have to get really good, cos if I can't be careful when she's holding my rope I might fall down when she's on my back, which would be really bad. Some days I do more sensibles than others, and today we tried it in my booties so I can get used to how they feel when I'm not in flat spaces. This is my hill, it's fun to play on, but quite sandy and soft so some bits we can't practice on. Sometimes my cookie toys roll down it and get really fast and roll under a neighbour fence, cos I'm silly playing right on the edge.

I have two rolling sandy pits for playing and itching in. There used to be three, but one is cut off by hot fence, cos the lady who lives behind that wood fence doesn't like me, and says I need to be kept out of that corner otherwise my wees might get in her drinking water, which is stupid, but we oblige. Before I was a smarter bigger pony, I managed to get stuck in the corner. The hot fence was made not hot so a different part away from there could be fixed. Nobody could see that corner, and I thought it would be fun to sneak in. Troubles is, they turned the fence back on and went to bed!!! I was stuck there all night til breakfast time, when I got spotted and released. I was thirsty and a bit hungry but fine otherwise. Now I stay away from there unless my cookie ball rolls in there. Lucky the neighbour lady didn't see me, she'd think I was intentionally wee-ing at her hehehe :)