Rain.....Yes we have finally had a few hours of rain. With the ground softer, we were at last able to re-fence the fields and finally moved the Shetlands onto grass. They think they have died and gone to heaven. Sounds easy but it was no 5 minute job. It took 3 of us including Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays over a hour. Not to mention detangling the self-tangling electric wire. Oh and the destruction of the hose reel it winds up on. That was me. It has a bit broken off mysteriously during the Summer and wouldn't turn. A bit of impatient 'repairs' from myself and it is now a manual winding hose reel.
With the extra grass and soft ground the lunging started. Not sure why I bothered with Charlie as he has been full of Autumn vigor, and has been chasing Prudence the Bull Dog. On Monday when I got him in to work him, he was already sweated up. When I put him away and got Daisy in, he galloped around, thus the exercise was slightly unnecessary, although the bonding/work is worth it. I am currently teaching him to lift a hoof to say please for a polo.
Daisy, feeling so much better with her shoes on and soft ground, got delusions of being a race-horse. Much water-skiing was done on my part, while Daisy had a good old gallop, and ignored all commands to 'steady', ....or even 'trot'.
The other day I bumped into an old friend from Hollesley RDA, which I ran for many years. She asked me if I would like to go back to teach. Hell Yeah. That place was my world and I have missed it every day. So today I went in to help. Its been 8 years. Some things have changed...horses, helpers etc, but most of it was sooo familiar. It felt like going home, and I have had a grin on my face all day. I have agreed to go back and teach Friday mornings, and am so looking forward to my first session.
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| Happy Shetlands |
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| Charlie Lunging Tantrum |
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| Daisy On Form |
And so we have an Indian Summer......Its the middle of September and it was 29c today. All the grass is burnt, hell we are burnt! The ground is too hard to work the ponies, and the fence posts are breaking when we try to move the fencing back. We have been doing a rain dance. Polly has bruised soles, so is out in boots. Daisy, with her shoes on is feeling well. The other day I thought I would take her out and lead Charlie. mmmmmmm......
I went round the 4 acre first.....good job really. Daisy was like a cat on hot bricks. In the end I had to let go of Charlie, as Daisy was plunging and bucking. I just sat and laughed as it felt so good to feel her so happy.
Luckily I had been practicing the bucking.....on a mechanical bull at a Festival. Major fun if you ever get the chance. It got very competitive.
So today we picked up 50 bales of hay.....As I stood there surveying our hoard I said, 'We won't need to hay until October'. Jo pointed out thats only two weeks away. WHAT???? Its still the middle of summer surely? I panicked at that point and dragged all the rugs out. Jo power washed them while I painted them with Fabriseal. I mean, knowing England it'll be snowing next week!
Bull
Riding
Waterproofing rugs
