As the title suggests, it’s been a quiet few weeks for me and the ponios. The weather has scuppered all plans of going hunting, much to my dismay, but it’s just far too deep and muddy for me to risk Arlo’s legs. When will it stop raining?! Please?!
This has meant, though, that I have started getting on Arnie again, slowly bringing him back into some level of work. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you’ll know I tend to give them some time off over winter. I don’t enjoy riding as much, and obviously they don’t mind a little holiday, do they? Arnie tends to get a good few months, as I don’t take him out hunting, so there is no need to keep him fit, although next year may be a little different, as I hope to turn him into my hunt horse (wish me luck).
Anyway, he’s been an extremely good boy (so far). The first ride was a little touch and go, and I figured after I’d done a few laps of the school in walk without getting bucked off that we’d done extremely well and that was enough for one day. Anyway, we’ve had a few rides since then, and so far his little halo has stayed firmly above his head. I’m hoping to get him out quite a bit more this year, so watch this space.
Arlo has had a quieter few weeks, other than our first jumping lesson of the year, which I’ll post another blog about. He was suffering from a touch of mud fever (he decided to worry me by having the biggest reaction to the smallest bit on his front feet, which was hard to even find, as he refused to walk out the stable one day), but fingers crossed we’re on top of that now, although he’s slightly disappointed as he’s going out in the school instead of the field for the time being. Then again, he’s a bit of a princess, so he probably doesn’t mind at all.
I hope, as I’m sure we all do, that this weather clears up over the next couple of weeks, so I can muster some form of enthusiasm and start getting out and about again. Roll on spring, eh?
A lack of videos this week, so have a pretty photo of Arlo at sunrise a couple of weeks ago. It was just stunning!
With things getting off to a rocky start – I think I read this is the worst rainfall in over 50 years! – what better pick-me-up than the “Fred & Rowena Cook: A Life After Racing” rehoming service contacting me about the most precious four-year-old gelding, who was looking for a new home straight from the British Racing School (BRS)?
The trio have been keeping me busy these past few weeks: Freya has had a saddle fitting, Bob’s had a lesson and Autumn’s been out with a new friend exploring lanes not too far from our yard.
Diva (Melland Queen of Scots) usually gets her summer coat quite early compared to other horses and ponies, but this year she has been holding onto hers for a lot longer.
Is it spring yet? It’s been teasing us the last few days, going from a few dry days when I could walk across most of the field and it felt like spring, to heavy downpours, including hail, which reverted the field back to a quagmire. I didn’t let it put me off too much, though, and I’ve now managed to get all three horses back into work! Eek!