Somewhat Challenged, Those 100 Miles and Strange Weather.

 Oh Yes. It's the Weather Channel again!!!  I just feel I have to mention it, being British and all! August has been....er....odd!! Every day its been cloudy, heavy and around 20c. But NO RAIN, except for 5 minutes of mizzle. With a North wind steadily blowing its a been chilly enough to wear jeans, boots and jacket. Then the sun peaks out (usually late afternoon) and its clothes off, sweltering! I'm confused!

So the Top Barn Challenges!  Well Lulu and I went out of Last Horseman Standing on Level 4.  Simple Challenge!!!! Lunge horse in walk, stopping every quarter of a circle (like a clock-face on 12, 3, 6 and 9). Lu, like many horses has been taught to go forward on the lunge.  We worked at it daily. We really tried. I discovered in long reins off the bit, she would halt, but that was due to pressure on her mouth. The minute I went to one rein, no halt. I tried everything. Carrots (lots of), leading to start, a surcingle, a single rein through the bit, no bit, different words, waving a whip in front of her, jumping out in front of her, crouching down, sitting down, crying!!!! Lu was getting as frustrated as I was.  So that was it. We were defeated. On Monday I had a look at Challenge 5, And I Laughed! And Laughed.  Challenge 5 is a ridden challenge, backing up round a Figure 8.  I may have mentioned.....Lu does not back up for anyone!!!! That made me feel better.   Its been interesting to work with Lu.  She has been trained differently to Charlie, and its been a challenge in itself to communicate what I want.  I wish the remaining Challengers the Best of Luck.

And so the 100 mile Challenge with Charlie?  Well its safe to say we will never crack it in the time left, having just got under 90 miles left!!!!!! When I signed up, I thought the IV drugs may help my breathing. Which they have, a bit.  I forgot my right leg was as strong as a foal in its first 15 minutes! And I forgot Charlies ability to plant like a thousand year old Oak, when he is unsure. However, he is doing well at long reining.  I abandoned the idea of driving him when I uncovered his cataract over the lens of his off-side eye. BUT....Who is to say we can't drive without blinkers eh?  I asked Mark the Mechanic and Part-time Horse Whisperer to make me a large skateboard, so Charlie could pull me along.  He refused on the grounds of it being dangerous! ???????  So i have bought some roller-trainers!!

I have also caught Mark watching Pony Carts on Ebay!!!!!!  My (very bad) maths says we have to do 2.5 miles a day to complete in time.  I'm thinking that I will just see how long it actually takes me to complete 100 miles. I can crack on when Charlie and I have filmed our entry for the Top Barn Liberty class. Most of the test is no problem.....till we get to the Lunging part. On a line, off a line, Charlie does not like to move away from me.  So we are working on following a target around me.  We are getting there. We have a week or so to complete.  If I don't break my neck on the Roller-Trainers!! It all might be easier to just jump on and ride the bugger!!!!!!

Top Barn Challenge - Weeks 4 and 5 (The C word will be mentioned).

 So week 4 was good!!  Jo and I got creative building an obstacle course for the Mid Challenge Challenge.  We have to go over something, under something, round something and do a trick.  Now we haven't put our entries in yet.....so our obstacle course cannot be revealed in full!!!  But lets just say....we raided the Pony Party Box!  We may have streamers, windmills, bells, guitars......and THAT HOOP!!!   We spent the week playing with our course.

THAT HOOP is entirely the fault of Amanda who is a friend from OOP North.  Amanda posted a video of a pony jumping through a hoop on a Trick Academy group we are both part of https://www.facebook.com/groups/horsetricksacademy

So the jumping through a hoop challenge is on!!!  We made our hoop with plastic pipes and cones (oh and lots and lots of gaffer tape).  Its a work in progress!!

Towards the end of the week I got on Charlie.  He was pretty laid back.  2 days later I got on him again, and asked for a few steps.  Again pretty laid back.

in t

Week 5 has been a bit odd.  Last Sunday my Aunt died (which left me in a strange place mentally).  I pulled myself together and got on with stuff.  Charlie and I did some filming for a Valentine Video, played round the Obstacle Course and went on a walk together.  I meant to go down the lane, but The Patchy Twat was in full Patchy Twat Mode, spooking violently on the way out of the gate! We wandered round the 3 Acre until he had calmed down. 

 The sun was shining in the 12 Acre (which has been planted with trees and re-wilded). The temptation was too much.  In we went. We walked up to the first clearing, Charlie was on full alert.  We had a graze (well he did), and slowly came back again. Walking towards the sun was a nightmare. Cars in the distance were glinting and flashing, as was a stack of wrapped haylage (at least a mile away). Charlie grew to about 16hh. And snorted like a dragon.  After some reassurance, and head down tricks, he calmed down and we continued to the Gate (which I hadn't opened properly), which had a small horse size gap and a lot of rabbit wire stopping it swinging open. AND THEN I SAW THE MUNTJACK!  It was not going to move!  I saw it first and swore loudly....which alerted Charlie! Note to Self....Never react to anything scary first!  After a stand off with the diminutive Deer, Charlie and I edged to the gate, and kind of bolted through in tandem.

It was obviously one of those days when ordinary everyday ponies turn in to dragons.  As I went off happily to get my first Covid Jab, Jo went out for a hack round the Village on Lu. Lu had also turned into a fire-snorting dragon, and an hour hack took much longer, as Lu discovered napping.

I don't know why I was happy to get my Covid Jab. Well I guess I was feeling left out, as everyone I know has already had the first jab. And no-one had side effects!!  I guess my nasty lung/heart drugs reacted badly. By 4am I was shivering, aching, and freezing cold.  Then the Throwing Up started!! I eventually got some sleep, and forced myself up to the Yard, despite feeling like shit and having a mental heart rate. So that was another Challenge day wasted !!  

Today I felt better (although weak), and managed 45 minutes of something with Charlie. We started off OK, but he turned on Patchy Twat Mode again, and managed to nudge me so hard I fell over THAT HOOP......Onto the ground....In the Mud!!!!  Oh Well, as Scarlett O'Hara once said. "Tomorrow Is Another Day"

Top Barn Challenge Complete, Lilys First Ride, Baby Cows and A Dead Tractor!

Oh yes its all been happening!!  So first up, Charlie and i have completed the Top Barn 12 Week Challenge.  For those of you that don't know, this was a Facebook Group that I somehow got invited to.  The idea is a 12 week Challenge, with Mini Challenges.  There were different levels. I picked Bronze with Charlie, which was a commitment to do 3 hours a week. Doesn't sound much...but doing groundwork only, is quite a bit.  There was a list of Mini Challenges in several different groups, ie, Hacking, Dressage, Jumping, Groundwork, Trec etc. This is by far the best horsey group on FB i have ever joined!!  Everyone was sooo supportive.  There was no "I'm better than you".  

The group consisted of about 1000 people from all over the world. We had old and young, experienced, novice, nervous....everyone had a personal challenge. The idea of starting in January is genius.  Winter months are when we tend to say, "Its too dark, cold, wet", etc.  This Challenge pushed us to work in the dark, the snow and the wind.  People found ingenious ways to work with their horses, despite the weather.  Everyone pushed themselves to face their fears. We urged each other on.  The prize is a weeks holiday at Top Barn, but the real prize is facing fears, and having a better relationship with your horse.

I have videoed each session with Charlie.....The good and the bad!!  He has acquired quite a fan club.  He has also calmed down a lot, and has become interested in working with me. My goal for the 12 weeks was to be riding him.  This hasn't quite happened, as around week 10, he had a spring hormonal breakdown, and became very stalliony, so I had to step back a bit....But I have sat on him a few times. He has worked hard, so is now having a week off.  After that I will try and ride him away, although its going to feel weird not videoing our every move.  Roll on next year!!!

In the last 3 months, we have discovered one thing.....Charlie CAN JUMP!

Meanwhile in the background, Jo and I have been working Lily.  Having done a few walk outs, lunging, Bonder, and long-reining. We have also stuck various small children on her bareback for a sit.  Then Shona got on with a saddle..

So at the weekend, we put Grace up, and Jo led them round the "school". What a good girl!!  It was like she had been ridden before.  Although younger than Charlie, Lil has been at World Horse Welfare for a couple of years, and also a girl! So is actually more advanced!  

Yesterday Shanice (who helps on Saturdays) came up for her first ride since her fall.  I wouldn't normally leave it that long, but the poor girl was too hurt to get straight back on, and has been busy since.  So it was a nice sunny day. Daisy has been hacked out several times since, and not put a foot wrong.  Jo rode Lu and I led Lily, promising Shanice that I would be by her side.  Shanice was understandably a little nervous, but I told her to just relax, and tell Daisy all about college, which she did.  We had a lovely walk down the lane.  Everyone was calm.  I was almost tempted to ride Lil back, but only had kids stirrups and no hat, so didn't.  Good Call!!

The field that runs along the lane, has acquired 4 baby male cows with big horns.  Jo and i went out with Charlie and Lu on foot last week to meet them, but they wouldn't come over.  Yesterday they were by the gate on the way back.  Much snorting from Lu and Lily.  Daisy had a good look, and decided they were less than interesting.  We set off down the lane.  The cows followed at a gallop.  Lily was absolutely terrified, spinning and rearing, eyes out on stalks.  My priority, as well as hanging on to Lil, was to hold Daisys headcollar, just in case.  Meanwhile Lu was doing a sideways piaff! Very impressive! I offered Shanice the chance to dismount, but she said her and Daisy were fine, which they were.  Kudos to Shanice for holding her nerve!  Looks like we will be back and forwards down that lane till all the horses are ok about the cows!

And so the tractor is dead!!  Its only a ride on lawn mower really.  Designed to cut an acre or two, on Sundays, in the summer.  Ours has pulled a heavy muck trailer daily, every day for years.  We have struggled with starting it this Winter.  It had a new battery and starter motor.  But still it objected in the morning.  Finally the other day it went clatter clatter, and stopped.  Jo and I thought the fan had broken....Its happened a few times.  So Mark the Mechanic was summoned to replace the fan,  which he did.  It still wouldn't start.  He replaced the plug, cleaned the carb, and ascertained that there was fuel and spark.  He didn't think it had any compression, but not being a lawn mower expert, gave up.  We sent it to the local Farm/Tractor/Mower place.  I had a bad feeling that it was the rings that had made the clattering noise.  I used to have a dodgy motorbike, that broke its piston rings 5 times, and it sounded the same. But what do I know?  I'm just a girl (well a female...hardly a girl these day).  Turns out I was right.  So the Tractor is dead. 

Backing, Hacking and Bucking

And so to the weather report!!!  Its been Hot. Yes HOT.  18c hot!! An Early spring!. (It can't last)

And so we have been backing!!!!  Last week I lent over Lily (no reaction), and got on Charlie (no reaction).  A couple of days later, Shona came over, and sat on Lil. Again no reaction. Meanwhile i got on Charlie on the qt, no holder etc. No reaction.  This is all brilliant.

Shona on Lily



















Me on Charlie















Then it was Saturday!!!! Sammi's Birthday Party.  Before the party there was lessons.  All the ponies were in, doing various things. Eli brought Twix, her very handsome bay gelding. Not sure if it was the presence of another boy, the warm weather, some spring grass or what.  But the Big herd went wrong!! 

First up I tacked up Charlie to join in a lesson with Tia on board (small, quiet and light).  He was nothing short of a GIT.  He was behaving like a teenage boy, throwing his toys out of the pram. He had a serious case of FOMO.  The parrot mouth was present, and he just wanted to be somewhere else. So I ended up just leading him in the lesson and on the Walk Out.  When I turned him out......

Next up Daisy and Lu.....  Between lessons and Party, we thought we would let Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays, and Grace (Eli's 2nd daughter), ride the mares.  Lu was already tacked up, so went up to the school, while I tacked up Daisy.  Jo thought I would be using the western saddle which takes a while, and as Lu was a bit full of it, went for quick ride down the lane.  Meanwhile I thought she was waiting for us, so opted for quick English tack. Daisy was already agitated, so I told Chanice Who Helps On Saturdays, to take her up to school while I grabbed a drink. I meant lead her up, but Chanice had hopped up already.  When we got to school I realised Jo had gone out.  At this point I should have got Chanice off.  Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?? EXCEPT.... Daisy may get excited.....But its never unseating!  And Chanice has been riding her a long time and knows her as well as I do, and can cope with her.  

And so... i told Chanice to do her usual circling, cones, disengaging Daisys rear end, chill, relax etc.  They understand each other. Normally.  Daisy had started to relax, when she heard Lu coming up the drive. Daisy went nuts!! She must have thought she was at a rodeo!!! She went into proper bronc mode....Never thought she had it in her.  Chanice did really well and sat out the broncing, until Daisy finished with a huge buck, and face planted poor Chanice. 

Chanice has had a few falls with us (learning process), and usually gets up and laughs.  Daisy normally stops and waits.  This was different.  Chanice didn't get straight up...or laugh...and was pouring with blood from her nose.  Daisy was galloping round wildly! We caught the pony, and helped Chanice to the tack-room, just as the Birthday Girl turned up!!

All turned out Ok.  Chanice went off to A&E and was just bruised.  The Party Ponies behaved and Sammi had a good Birthday Party. 

So we concentrated on Daisys odd behaviour.  We put it down to Spring Grass, but were not happy with her reaction to Lu being missing.  So we have turned her out with the minis and fenced a large gap between them and Lu. Buddy sour horses not allowed!  Its not something we expect, as they all get worked alone, and go off to different places. 

Having brought Daisy in and lunged her for 2 days, I hacked her out today with Jo and Lu.  Its what she needed. Slightly "springy", but normal Daisy we were out for an Hour and a Half, in the glorious sunshine.  It was really nice to be hacking along the country lanes in t-shirts!! But this is England. Expect rain or snow by next week!

Everyone Loves Lil, Minis Colic and Charlies Progress

So everyone loves Lil.  She seems to have had a great influence on the Mini herd. Dora, having no-one to bully seems to be calmer. They all seem to do their own thing, but Lil is definitely the one that moves the herd...very sweetly. So far she has taken everything in her stride, not phased by fly-spray, being caught, led about, tail-washing, or being led in a lesson. Rob who brings his daughter Nancy to ride (and has an allergy to horses and a morbid fear of Mini), is completely besotted and thinks she is the most stunning horse he has ever seen. He is ignoring his allergy and the very scary Mini, to spend time with Lil.

The best thing for Jo and I is that at long long last Polly has a best friend. Lil and Polly have been grooming each other......something we have always longed for.

And even little Dora loves Lil...........

Speaking of the scary Mini....Poor little thing had a bout of gassy colic the other night.  They say everything happens for a reason.  The night before, I had been at a long and crazy party, and was unable to appear until late afternoon!!! What a good thing!! Mark the Mechanic and part-time Horse Whisperer and I went over late afternoon to put the hay out.  As we drove up the drive, I could see Mini lying flat out away from the others and my colic radar went into overdrive. It pays to know your ponies, as a lot lay flat out.....but not Mini, she always lays like a dog. I left Mark delivering hay and went to check on her.....Fast breathing, rather warm and a bloaty tummy.  Plus not getting up for the hay. Yup 100% colic....although the nearby droppings suggested it wasn't an impaction.  I called Jo, who called the vet, and sat down to wait with Mini, while Mark went for Chips. Mini, very glad I was with her, gave a groan and lay her neck across my legs, while i cradled her head.  Got a telling off from the Vet for that....she had a student with her, and had to point out health and safety regarding sitting with a colicky pony on your lap!!  Anyway vet agreed it was gas colic, and 15 minutes after a shot of Buscopan and Bute, Mini was on her feet with Jo and I trying to keep her moving to 'fart it out'. 

Once Mark came back with fish and chips we all retired to the tack-room (Mini included).  The pony showed no interest in a warm bran mash with fresh mint, but picked everything up off the table, tried to eat my fish, and then set about up-ending all the supplements!!  By the time it was dark, we were satisfied it was safe to leave her. Not in the tack room obviously!!

On a serious note.....Don't mess about with colic...even just gassy colic. Call the Vet! Buscopan relaxes the gut, Bute kills the pain. If its impaction a tubing will be needed.  In my time at various yards I have seen horses die of colic. Remember they cannot be sick or burp.

So Charlie has made huge progress this year.  Having spent months on clicker training, he will stand wherever I put him, no matter where I go. We started with a cone to 'target', but now just saying 'stand' works. He's still a little unsure if I get on a mounting block, but we are working on that.  I have been working on putting my foot in the stirrup (from the ground) for the last couple of weeks.  If he moved I hopped about, only rewarding him, with a click, a treat and removing the foot, once he stood still.  Having outgrown the little saddle, I have finally got him another saddle which doesn't slip, and he will now allow me to not only put my foot in the stirrup, but pull myself up to lean over him, without batting an eyelid. Time to swing that leg over!!  This may seem like the longest time ever to break a pony, but working at snails speed is paying off. With my dodgy lungs and dicky ticker I can't afford numerous falls, or a battle. This way we have an amazing relationship, and at last he feels ready.

Pony Party, Hole In Hoof and Exciting News

First up we had an End Of Holidays Pony Party on 28th August.  It was a little quieter, and a lot cooler than the last one!!!  Same sort of format as before.....Minus the cooling off under the sprinkler!  A friend of mine (Shona) turned up unexpectedly, with her son Ben, unaware of what she was walking into. Ben was more than happy to join in.
After grooming and tacking up, everyone went out for a hack, followed by a lesson.  Then it was Poo Picking time, and tractor driving. Its amazing how quick this daily job is using child labour ha ha.  After lunch we had Gymkhana games, followed by Sparkle Up a Pony.

Next day we took Polly a feed with half a Bute in, as she had been very enthusiastic during the Games.  She didn't seem as if she needed it, as she cavorted around the Paddock bucking.  Dora meanwhile looked as if she had measles.......

Meanwhile Lu looked unlevel.  Being a tough old bird, it could have been anything.  After a good foot scrub we found a hole in her foot, so called the Farrier.  After a poke around he found the hole was quite deep.  We had been poulticing it for several days until there was no gunk.  On the Farriers advice we have plugged the hole with cotton wool soaked in Stockholm Tar (which was fairly hard to find being quite an old fashioned remedy). Lu is such a good pony, she was quite happy to stand in a bucket of Iodine water. Top Tip......If your Horse is lame call the Farrier first!

Charlie is nearly ready to be ridden again.  I have been working on getting him to stand at the mounting block without moving since January, using Clicker Training. In the last two weeks I have been leaning over him and getting a leg over (Phnarff Phnaff). Today Sammi (who he is very taken with) leant over him, followed by Eli (who couldn't resist), who sat on him. No drama at all. We are nearly there.

WHW have approved our application for LIv/Lil so we are picking her up on Friday.  Very exciting!!! Watch this space for her arrival.

Don't Try This At Home!!!!

Ok, so being on an enforced go slow, on Sunday I fitted the harness on Charlie, and went for a very short long rein.  He wasn't too keen about the crupper.....but they never are.
However yesterday I got bored lunging (him too), so started stopping him at the mounting block and leaning over.  I should point out I had the western saddle on for a bit of weight. Now Charlie always backs up at the mounting block, so to position his head by mine. Any tips for this gratefully received.....as I have now tried everything to get him to stand in place while I get up on the block.

And so....I had this blonde idea.....Please look away now if are in any way sensible, related to me or worried about my health (mental or otherwise).
I took Charlie and the mounting block to the gate.  I put the lunge line round the bars of the gate, holding the loose end. There was a hedge behind him, a gate to his offside, the block to his nearside. I put a leg over, lunge line in one hand, phone in other (like you do, when you have already stated out loud that "This could end in disaster", and thinking of this blog).
Charlie backed into the hedge, leapt forward and this being a high backed western saddle, my right leg got caught on the cantle. By now the mounting block pinged out from under my left leg, leaving me hanging. I could have let go and landed on my back, but I didn't fancy that, so I lunged forward, pulling on the horn to pull myself up......onto a panicking pony. A quick shuffle and I dismounted, somewhere under his neck, and dropping the line. It would have all been fine, except while legging it away from the mad woman, Charlie kicked back, catching my ankle.  Result swollen ankle and big bruise.

However.....I did accidentally press the video record button on my phone! And I did have long tough boots on. (Although maybe if I wasn't wearing the boots my leg wouldn't have got stuck!). 

So the moral of this story is; Don't mount your young pony whilst he is tied to a gate. It never was a good idea!

A Few Steps Back and Spare Legs

So after Charlies' awesome behaviour its inevitable that we have gone backwards again. I mean if it were all smooth sailing it just wouldn't be Charlie!
On Good Friday we had Meg to ride Daisy. We got all the ponies ready and with Jo at Charlies' head I mounted......Nothing. Cool, relaxed, solid.  I got off. I got on again. Suddenly Wham, spun round and started bucking. While Jo held on, I again thought I could sit it. We all felt the big one building up and Jo shouted "Get Off". I just swung my leg over as the explosion happened. Rather ungraceful dismount which saw me land at Charlies' feet (AGAIN). I spent the next 5 minutes laying over his back and rubbing his off side belly....while he panicked. He really does panic. Its not naughtiness.
Anyway we all set off on a hack with me leading Charlie.  Halfway I turned back and made my way home. Charlie threw a 3 year old colt tantrum. Boy did he throw his toys out of the pram!  Rearing, snorting, spinning, hummpphing! Is that even a word? You know the noise they make when angry. We made it back!

Having read a million forems and watched a load of videos on you tube of horses quietly being backed i have decided he is just not ready. So yesterday i brought him in alone.....That in itself caused tantrums. Striking out with his foreleg and rearing. I just stood back and waited until he was quiet. Tacked up with the Western saddle and 2 bags of soil hanging off the horn, we had a lunge.  Charlie took off bucking, and the carrier bags broke!!

Remembered my dim and distant past of backing a pony as a child that had been ridden by a straw man. Went home and made a "pair of legs".  Brought Himself in today.....Quiet.  Tacked up in English saddle. Quiet. Plonked on 'spare legs'.  Quiet.  Longreined. Quiet.....Despite the half dummy being a bad rider. She kept losing a stirrup and the boot banged against Charlies' front leg. NO REACTION!!! Will keep adding weight to my 'spare legs' and maybe a body.....or I could lose 4 stone!!! Any ideas ??????

"I'm Bored"

Spare Legs

Road Closed, New RDA Ponies and a Papermill Update

Finally Bt have connected my internet so its time for a catch up. Quite a lot has been happening. First the Road Closed incident.  Due to a water leak Essex and Suffolk Water had to close the road just up the hill from the yard. It caused quite a kerfuffle I can tell you. Anyway as what is normally a busy road, was closed we took Charlie and Lu out in hand to inspect all the scary roadsigns and men in holes etc. As the road was closed I let Scrumpy follow at a discreet distance. Charlie was a star. He sniffed the drain holes suspiciously, and scared himself by standing on a somewhat bouncy cats eye. But then as we were talking to the workmen, a car appeared.......followed by another 7 !!!!  Seems they didn't believe the road was actually closed. We made our way back down the line of traffic, explaining that the road really did have a huge trench across it and giving helpful directions.  By this time I was slightly worried about Scrumpy who was mooching about among the cars with all the roadsense of a pheasant. The ponies accepted some mints from a very nice car driver and people started turning around. One woman pipped her horn several times for some reason. Charlie didn't bat an eyelid. Turns out the overnight closure was fun.....Someone ignored all the signs, moved the barriers and drove straight into the hole!!  We also heard there was a fight and the police had to be called!!!

Charlie has continued to be brilliant with the long reining so the other day, with Mark the Mechanic and part time horse whisperer, at his head, with carrots, I got on and off a couple of times....just sitting quietly for a bit each time. No drama. This time he was completely relaxed.....Charlie that is.  Not sure about Mark!!

We have had a couple of lucky finds for the Rda.  We acquired Maddie, a 13hh bay New Forest, who I rode in a lesson. Poor little thing. As my feet wouldn't fit in the stirrups, my legs just hung down almost to the ground. She didn't raise an eyebrow as we rode around stands and threw sponge dice around. We also have Molly on loan from an old friend of mine. Another bay mare, but Molly is 15.2hh Cleveland Bay x Shire and is a fantastic stamp of a mare. Having hacked her out with a disabled client, and found her to be very laidback, she has been used in a real lesson now. Over Easter we picked up Stormin' Norman who has settled in nicely.  Just need another driving pony now.

At Papermill Lane things have been happening. Three of us went on a reccy last week up to the other site attached to West Meadows Traveller site. A bit rash to get so close, but someone has to.  We found a foal discarded in the rubbish, unable to get up, and a filly with barbed wire around its hind legs. A young lad appeared and I told him I would help him remove the wire. He went to get his dad, who owns all the ponies, where again I offered to give him a hand. He was more interested in chasing us off "his" land.  Of course we phoned the RSPCA, Redwings and WHW.  Redwings are now cataloging all the ponies. In the meantime, I posted the pictures everywhere and got 17404 views! This seems to have stirred things up, with a lot of horse movement over the last week. We are not entirely sure where they have gone, but Redwings seem to be on it at last, admitting that several horses needed attention.  Not sure the owner is at all happy, as he went after 3 ladies on Friday, before hunting me down somewhere else. We vidioed each other. I posted mine on You Tube, but it was taken down for breaching harassment laws.......Funny that, as he came looking for me!!!

Charlie and Lu inspecting road signs.

Charlie Full of the joys of spring

Hacking out on Molly.

Discarded in the rubbish....Foal at West Meadows