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We have been really busy hosting clinics at our farm here in Devon, So once everyone had left it was the perfect morning to reward the dogs with a well earned hoon along the beach. I rode Echo and had little Albert running along side....I love watching him galloping along free!

Ahh Albert & Ernie you are very cute, funny and very clever little cookies! Life is way to short not to be laughing so I thought I would share a few of my favourite clips....I hope it adds a smile to your day! Emx

Mulie goes XC too! 🤩 Naturally I couldn’t leave Manuel at home! I can see potential….but I’m going to need one of those saddles that hold you on! 😂 Evenos (the Connemara) did a brilliant job, especially as it was the first time he had ever jumped a cross country fence either, recently he’s been learning to carriage drive!

We are ‘man down’ at the moment with Victor (my older Shetland stallion) having a minor field injury so Claude's full younger brother Edgar stepped up and was wheeler out for a training session on the moors. Naturally finding time to ride a ninja unicorn was a key part of training! 😂 (don’t knock it until you have tried it…..guaranteed laugh!)

Last night I wanted to take the four in hand out across another part of Bodmin Moor for some more carriage training, however I felt like Flint wasn’t quite right (nothing serious) so when looking around for the fourth member to take….literally right in front me (which is often the case!) was Manuel the Mule!
I thought can I really take him without him ever being a leader or in fact without doing any training at all with him recently?! Then I thought that isn’t strictly true, everyday I have been investing in my relationship with him, developing his confidence and letting him show me his character! (which he has plenty of!) This has resulted in him growing and changing a lot and most interestingly he is now desperate to come everywhere and be involved in everything I do. I said to Jeremy and Mike that Mulie was going to come as our 4th team member! (I won’t type their comments! Lol) In the worse case scenario Mulie could stay with Nahla in the lorry or come along lead off the back.
When we got to the moor, I consciously thought I would be super laid back as are all the Connemaras which set a great tone for him to copy, we harnessed up with all the wild ponies about and set off!
His big ears were like radars pointing out all the firsts he’s never seen before, like lots of wild ponies with foals hooning about, sheep, loads of traffic, cattle grids etc etc , anyway the point of writing all this is maybe to share that investing time in the relationship can often be more of a leap forward in training than actually training!
I hope you enjoy seeing Mulie thrive in his new life. He’s very special. Have a great weekend everyone! Emx

These little ones never fail to put a big smile on my face (and those we walked passed to!) This was the first time Rupert has been out off the farm so he did brilliantly along with his small friends!

A little video from our first go at Grass Skiing away from home!....Cue epic looking location!
The ponies are
Sebastian - 3.5yr old Shetland Stallion: This was Sebs first time out at all, he's only young but he coped brilliantly with the challenges of the environment, the free roaming moorland ponies etc! Lovely to start getting him out and about...he's going to be very cool!
Claude - 5yr old Shetland Stallion: You mostly see Claude as my offside wheeler when carriage driving the boys team, he's starting to really develop in to a wonderful individual and skiing behind him is probably my favourite as he's quick!
Evenos - 8yr old Connemara gelding: Eves I started on the Island Project, he's such a great chap to take out, he epitomizes the term allrounder as he pretty much now does most things, he is the nearside wheeler when driving, he's part of my liberty team, he's great to ride both with and without tack...he's strong in body and mind but kind and definitely one of life's optimists!

Riding & Harness Stuff - https://www.harnessstuff.co.uk/

Last night we went off to train on Bodmin moor, this was Barney & Evenos's (Connemara) first drive away from home as a pair so it was super excting to see how they would cope with the carriage, a new place and very lively wild ponies hooning about around us! We also took the four shetland stallions for a litte adventure too! They make me grin from ear to ear....I especially love being able to go over and UNDER the bridges! lol

It's breakfast time! I love looking after all the horses just as much as I enjoy working with them. In this vlog you can see what's on the menu as well as seeing all the ponies on the farm.

Albert & Ernie are off on an exciting day out in Devon. Boarding a 1930's Steam Train they end up in the luggage compartment before disembarking at Buckfastleigh to go an explore some of beautiful Devon!

About South Devon Railway-
The South Devon Railway recreates the golden days of travel between the 1930s and 1960s as it takes you on a trip back in time on a traditional Great Western Railway branch line beside the River Dart, running from Buckfastleigh to Totnes Riverside. The railway links the popular attractions of the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and the Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary, creating an action packed and truly magical day out!

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Thanks for watching!

With the covid restrictions lifting it was brilliant to finally be able to have both my nieces, Lexi and Olive over to come and play with the ponies for the day!

Alone on an Island with just my Ponies for company - Over the years I have started many young horses but I've always wondered if I didn't have any tools such as a halter, lead rope, saddle or round pen would it be possible? I found an island off the west coast of Ireland that had everything the ponies needed to live with out needing me, they had water and food a plenty so the decision weather or not to interact with me would be based purely on a relationship not through necessity.
I took two untrained Connemara Ponies and survived alone on a 70acre island while trying to start these ponies without any tack or fences. I took with me four of my trained Connemaras and they were the key to communicating with the new boys! Now if that wasn't hard enough I thought as I'm on an island it would be fun to go all Bear Grylls and catch my food as well! I took just rice and for a month foraged and fished for my one meal per day...oh and filmed the whole adventure for your viewing pleasure! I hope you enjoy sharing my time on the island. Emx

If you would like to follow more please find me on all the usual Social Media Channels @EmmaMassingale

Huge thank you to Equine Productions for filming before I went on the island and for the amazing edit!

I was meant to be on Auntie duties but to be honest I think my niece Lexi at 4yrs old is nailing this pony adventuring!

The Shetland Stallions are coming along so well with their training, it is incredibly fun to now be able to get a little creative with the driving!
Thank you to Mike from Hitch In Farm for helping me with them and for being up for a laugh...and a soaking!
My harness equipment all comes from Riding & Harness Stuff https://www.harnessstuff.co.uk

I took the little guys for a little morning of adventure! We started off with a scoot along on the hoverboard, this was the first time I have tried with the ponies, what's funny is they didn't even look surprised by the idea! We then headed off for a hike and wild swim on the moors which is always good fun....and rather cold! brrr

Mules - Horses - Ponies - Donkeys I am fascinated by all equines. We have one life and mine since I left school at 15yrs old has been dominated by my equine buddies. There behaviour, our relationship with them and our ability to train and work in harmony with them inspires me every single day.

Those that have followed me on Social media will know the journeys I have been on with my equine pals and today is the start of a new one! I would like to introduce you all to the absolute dude that is Mr Manuel the Mule!

Why a mule? To have the opportunity to learn is one of life's greatest pleasures, I have had the chance to get to live with and work with natural herds of stallions with their mares, my liberty team, the donkeys, the Shetland stallion bachelor herd, my mini team and many wonderful individual horses, ponies and Donkeys over the years....BUT never a mule!

Mules are meant to be smarter than a horse, more sure footed, stronger in both mind and body so I am in no doubt that I shall learn a lot from Manuel!

I hope you enjoy following his story, I am sure he will be a regular on my channel in the future. Do find us on Facebook and Instagram as well if you would like to see more of all the tribe!
......And YES I will do another " Meet all my animals" when the weather improves and they have all had a spruce up!
Have a great weekend and I'll catch up with you in the next video! Don't forget to like and subscribe as this helps my channel to grow!
Emx

Taking horses off for adventures is a huge passion of mine, from days on the moors or hills to multi-week adventures. Over many years I have refined the kit that works to make it an enjoyable experience not only for myself but for all my equine companions to.

I thought I would start to make a few videos detailing some of the kit that is super efficient when out and about. This video is based on Summer Day trips with horses / ponies or donkeys!

Links
https://www.dengie.com/
https://www.harnessstuff.co.uk/
https://www.naf-equine.eu/uk/index.jsp

It was such fun taking Evenos out for his first solo adventure up onto the moors, we did a bit of horseboarding to add some miles to his training before taking the ring up stream for a bit of fun in the river!
If you would like to follow more of our day to day then please check out my social media channels @EmmaMassingale
All my harness comes from https://www.harnessstuff.co.uk/
Thanks for watching! Emx