We’ve been a bit quieter the past week or so, as I’ve been tied up with visiting my mum more as she’s unwell and having to go into hospital for an operation. As much as I’ve tried, with all the worry and stress I just haven’t been able to muster up much energy to ride. I have ridden Bob and Freya a couple of times, but not as much as I had previously planned.
Freya’s progressing, though. We have had a few canters in her newly fitted saddle, and each time she’s getting better. I’m hoping to possibly take her out to a show at the end of May, providing she doesn’t try to injure herself like last week! For a so-called quiet horse, she has definitely shown her lack of self-preservation.
I had put the horses in the summer paddock behind the stables one morning, after sorting all the fencing and planning on them beginning to live out. Little did I know Freya was going to scupper those plans.
Later that day, on checking the horses via the cameras, to my horror I saw a horse happily pottering around on our drive – and it was Freya. Wondering how on earth she had gotten there, we raced up to the yard in a panic. I was too worried to unlock the main gate when I saw the mess up the drive, so jumped the gate, running over to Freya to check she was okay.
There was my electric tape from the back of the field, all 200m of it strewn up the drive to the main gate. The metal gate to the field was completely off its hinges (they are at least 4cm long). The next electric gate was ripped down, as was the electric gate into her field, not to mention the full field’s width of electric fencing I had done. There are still fence posts we can’t locate, despite three of us spending ages trawling the field, river banks and even trees!
She had trashed everything bar the dividing fence between her and the other two. Bob and Autumn stared at me from their section as if to say: “It wasn’t us!” We have no idea what spooked her or how she managed to create such carnage, but one thing I am hugely grateful for is that she somehow came away with minimal injuries. The worst I found were two cuts on her knee. How lucky was she after that debacle?
Autumn’s had the vet out to assess her arthritis, as she has been struggling a bit with it and I thought it best to get her evaluated. Although it is a bit sore for her in the cold and boggy weather, we have a plan and, to my amazement, it still involves being able to ride her. She’s still allowed to do light schooling and also fun rides/hacks to keep her mental health tip-top (she’s not a horse that’s happy to stand in a field). I was so relieved, although had she needed to be retired, I wouldn’t have had an issue, but I am glad my golden girl still gets to go on her adventures. We are off out on a hack with a pal in mid-May, which I’m looking forward to.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.
This show almost passed me by as I was unaware of the show organisation. Luckily, the schedule was posted on one of the Shetland pony Facebook groups that I am a member of. The show was being held at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, which is where I should have gone to a show a month or so earlier, but was ill and unable to take Diva (Melland Queen of Scots).
Since the show, Bob’s been enjoying a bit of a rest with a few lunge sessions and being lightly ridden, but I’m gearing him up hopefully for a show either this weekend or next. Wish us luck, and the poor arena pole pickers too, as he does like to send some sailing!