A day at the stables

[diamondlil]

Today was the first time all 3 boys were turned out together, so after mucking out I got to supervise them while Kim was out teaching and schooling.

 

[diamondlil]

After they'd settled, I started to wander around, stalking the birds in the garden and the woods just around the corner. A great tit, a pied wagtail and a jay were the best pictures I got today.

 

[diamondlil]

After checking back on the boys, I went off seeing what plants are coming through, so I got pics of bluebells, a dandelion, dead nettles, white rocket, wood anemones and celandines.

 

[diamondlil]

Then I found a few owl pellets, but no sign of the owl.

 

[diamondlil]

Just then I got a call from Kim to say she was almost home, turned back along the path and a roe deer shot off across and into the woods. I must have walked past without seeing it in the undergrowth!
After lunch, out for a 2 hour trail ride that was absolutely wonderful, about 9 miles or so with only a short road section to negotiate. Coming back uphill Merlin was puffing like he was going to expire, but as soon as we got onto the field for home he was able and willing to give a really nice canter.

 

[diamondlil]

I've had more good times this weekend, fitting in an overnight stay at Cathy's. So Friday we spent a nice evening with the ponies, look how big the girls are getting now they are 2-year olds! Luna and Lola are half-sisters, both by Rudi the andalusian out of Nuts and Loulou the welsh ponies. We know they'll end up grey, but they are going through all kinds of funky coat colours on the way!

 

[diamondlil]

We were up at 7 yesterday morning to walk Cathy's crazy red setters. Their behaviour is, quite frankly, appalling. Cathy's now having a dog-trainer visit every other week, but there was almost a serious incident when one of the dogs got into a paddock and chased some chickens. Luckily the ponies in the paddock herded him back out and Cathy apologised to the owners.
After that, a check-over and grooming session for the ponies, with their winter coats shedding in handfuls. Home for some breakfast, then back out for groundwork and a riding session using Joey's new saddle.
He's very unfit and hates schooling, but I managed to get a decent trot out of him eventually, using lots of encouragement until he actually started moving better without his ears laid back! Cathy rode him when he was warmed up and managed to get a couple of little canters out of him before we called it a day.

 

[diamondlil]

I was going to ride Nuts, but when I was grooming her I found a sore area on her withers with some heat in it, so I gave her a little groundwork session instead. She was beautifully behaved, really light and responsive, and it seemed to loosen up her back nicely. If she doesn't improve she'll get a vet visit during the week.

 

[diamondlil]

This weekend should have been a bumper 2 days worth of riding, I went over Kim's in the early evening but our planned hack was rained off so we had a curry and TV night instead. This morning, up early to do the yard work and looking forwards to riding and the heavens opened!
Merlin gave a lesson for a little girl Kim's teaching, Curo had a lunge session and I tried my hardest to get out of riding in the rain to no avail, trying to persuade Kim she really didn't want to stay out in the rain didn't work and I'm glad she wouldn't let me weasel out of my lesson after all. I rode Ben, only the second time I've ever been on him and he was brilliant to school. He's just about the perfect size and shape for me and very forward going so even though I got soaked through I haven't stopped smiling.
Ben's owner doesn't ride him at all now, her daughter is variable in her interest and Kim has felt Ben's struggled carrying her this year so his owner had asked if we'd try out to see if we matched up ok. (Ben's been getting so little work he's been very bored, chewing at his stable door) As I'm a good 3 stone lighter than Kim Ben carried me easily and showed every sign of thoroughly enjoying the session, giving perfect transitions and wonderful cantering. Merlin's getting booked up to give riding lessons at least 4 times a week so this means I've got the alternative now of riding Ben or Curo if Merlin's been working.

 

[diamondlil]

I hadn't realised that I wouldn't ride Merlin yesterday, I'm going to find it hard to adjust to 'my' boy being booked up and earning his keep. On the plus side though, I got to meet his new rider and I approve far more of her riding him than the children he's been giving lessons to, Zoe used to ride endurance races out in South Africa, so he's being well looked after by her. So we all went out for a hack together, with me riding Ben. It was strange being on up so high and covering the ground so easily! Apart from a disagreement when I wouldn't let him eat from the bushes as we went along, we got along pretty well. As Ben's not as broad in the barrel as Merlin I can sit him a lot easier and he's a lot more responsive to ride.

 

[diamondlil]

The boys have been eating up their small paddock as fast as it can grow while their main turnout is being rested. There's a field with a strange history where we school and have our cantering and galloping practise (where Merlin bolted with me) The field was sold in plots to build houses on without planning permission. The seller then emigrated with all the money, leaving the owners with land that cannot be used in any way. They can't even enclose the plots, can't grow crops or cut hay there because of cast-iron land-use clauses. The local land-owner (he's a Baron) pays a local farmer to keep the meadow cut to prevent it turning into scrub woodland.
Kim's managed to get permission for us to hand-graze the boys as long as we don't poach the grazing. We mustn't put up even temporary fencing or tether the horses. It's a lush flower-meadow so they are in horse-heaven for an hour each day!

 

[diamondlil]

After the boys had digested their morning feed, we went out on a hack, I rode Ben, Kim rode Curo and led Merlin. We stuck to open land today rather than the hilly paths through the woods, with a nice brisk trot once the boys were warmed up. Kim didn't want to risk cantering today in case Curo and Merlin decided to race, and Ben needs a bit more time to get gently into working again.
After that we picked up Cathy's girl Erin and took her shopping for her 16th birthday. She wasn't expecting much (she's a really sweet girl) so when we got her boots, half-chaps and jodhpurs she was over the moon. It was so funny, I told her we'd hardly have picked her up from school to get some socks!

 

[RavenSpirit360]

Janine those horses are absolutely stunning.. I have always loved horses since I was a child.. I wish I could see them and be around them more often.. It looks so beautiful there..

 

[diamondlil]

Janine those horses are absolutely stunning.. I have always loved horses since I was a child.. I wish I could see them and be around them more often.. It looks so beautiful there..

Hey Steph! I get as much time as I can with the horses. I'm so lucky to have friends who share them with me. On Saturday I'll have a few hours sleep after work then I'm visiting Nuts and the crazy gang.

 

[RavenSpirit360]

Thats really cool The horses to you are like the snake shop to me.. just a great place to make yourself useful and enjoy the time doing it.. Fills the needs of that inner child I think

 

[diamondlil]

Thats really cool The horses to you are like the snake shop to me.. just a great place to make yourself useful and enjoy the time doing it.. Fills the needs of that inner child I think

Absolutely, Steph! I live in an area that's steadily become more urbanised, and moving out into the more rural areas where my friends live isn't an option for me any time soon. Getting away from the streets and enjoying the fresh air, the wildlife, the horses is good for my balance in life.
I spent this weekend working nights in the ER so getting out to the stables was much appreciated!

 

[diamondlil]

A bit of a mishap whilst riding Joey yesterday. He's very evasive and doesn't like schooling at all. I had sudden stops, napping and little bucks to contend with. I made him do circles and figure eights until he settled, I'd finally got him going nicely in a canter when he threw me with a nasty sideways jink. I couldn't stop myself falling but managed to slip the stirrups, hold his withers and land on my feet. It would have been a totally impressive move if I hadn't felt a sickening click as I turned my ankle. Joey stopped dead, and as you can see from the 'after' photo where I'm supporting myself on him, was if anything clingy and upset by the experience.

 

[diamondlil]

So at first my ankle felt a bit sore, but not too bad. I stayed at Cathy's so we decided ice-packs, anti-inflammatories, burritos and red wine were the best treatment. In the morning it had swollen more, but nothing really impressive in the way of bruising, so we went to check the ponies, Cathy went to work and Kim collected me for a day at the stables.........

 

[diamondlil]

Kim insisted on inspecting my ankle, saying I couldn't ride if it was too bad. When we got my boot off she vetoed the idea of me doing anything but sunbathing! So we had a relaxed morning, she went off for a jumping lesson on Merlin whilst I wandered around the woods, we had late lunch and I came home.

 

[diamondlil]

The butterfly is a Speckled wood.
And here's my ankle now, taking my boot off was sheer torture and I may need to get it x-rayed in the morning if it still feels this bad, and I may well be taking a few days off sick from work!