So Summer is definitely here. Despite NOT being a weather channel I am British, so I will bang on about the weather. Its been HOT. I mean REALLY HOT. Like 'Broken All Records' Hot. Suffolk recorded 38c last Monday. Tuesday was slightly cooler at 37c. Since then the temperature has dropped to between 23c and 31c. The ponies have coped surprisingly well, despite being Natives and more used to rain and cool. They don't seem at all bothered in fact. We have coped as well, getting used to the heat and shivering slightly as the temperatures dropped to 20c. What isn't coping so well is our fields which are standing hay (burnt grass) and dust. Perfect for the ponies!! Unfortunately the Ragwort is taking over. Being on sandy soil and dry it is having a party. Every single day we dig the stuff up even in the Winter. But this year it's got beyond our control, so its a case of digging it up when we move the fence back. I swear when the world ends and the planet is burning, the Ragwort will survive (as will the flies). We have barely had a drop of rain for the whole of July (0.6 mm according to the local news) , so please send some asap.
Charlie and I have been ploughing on with our Agility. We have almost completed the Level 2 training. And we entered our first ever competition. And came 2nd. I am so pleased with him. He is loving it, to the point when he sees me altering the course he is leaving his field-mates to the grass and waiting at the gate. A far cry from the pony that once took 2 weeks to catch!!! We are fired up with the competing and have just entered the Liberty Trophy class.
https://youtu.be/CX6lt5SECIY
Having neglected his riding training, last week I had him in the school with Debbie and Lu. While they were titivating Lu, I tacked him up. No adverse response. Parked him at the Mounting Block. Cool as Cucumber. Got up on Block. Still cool. Leaned over him.....no response. Got on him, still laid back as a recliner. At this point Debbie came to his head, and we went for a wander around the school including weaving through the cones. Of course the Pivo decided to go on strike at this point!
But Charlie needs to step up as my riding pony. If I can stop doing Agility for a day!!! Having had Daisy shod last month we managed 2 hacks before she went lame. That was due to the wet June and the green grass (At this point I have forgotten the meaning of wet and grass). So that worked out at £26 a ride!
Sound and shod again, we managed 2 hacks. Catching her in for hack number 3, I was excited to bring my costs down. Alas she trotted in lame. Only on one foreleg and more un-level than lame. I checked her feet for stones, the heat ( or lack of) in her hooves, any swellings or hot spots in her leg. Nada. No clue as to what is wrong, so can only put it down to the hard ground, a tweak somewhere. So please send us RAIN. Our ponies need it!!!
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