As October draws to a close, I do look forward to Halloween and having some fun putting seasonal headgear on Diva (Melland Queen of Scots). Does Diva enjoy it too? I think so.
Earlier in the year, she happily bounced around the school wearing the Union Jack to celebrate the King’s coronation. Usually at Halloween I lean towards witches’ hats or bats for her, but they often don’t show up very well, so I was delighted to find some pumpkin deely boppers in a local supermarket. I was even more delighted when I got home and discovered they lit up!
I had just by chance bought Flora a winter coat that was orange, so I popped the headband over her back and off she trotted! She was quite puzzled as to why I was laughing at her. Diva is a professional and donned her boppers with pride. Again, I am surprised I got any images as I was chuckling so much!
The end of October also means the clocks go back an hour and so daylight after work becomes very limited. Time for semi-hibernation, I think!
On a more serious note, Halloween is followed by Bonfire Night and its accompanying fireworks. I am lucky in that the stables are remote from any villages that hold displays, but one poor horse owner in Lincolnshire has taken to social media to help prevent a big firework display being held literally next to her horses’ field. Working at an equine hospital does mean that I do see the consequences of horses being scared by fireworks each year.
I am going to sound very old now, but the noise from the fireworks these days is probably tenfold to what it used to be. I do not understand why they have to be so loud as, for me, I enjoy the pretty colours and shapes they make rather than the assault on my eardrums.
I hope everyone’s horses, ponies and pets get through the season without distress or injury.
Equine insurance specialist now able to offer live prices and immediate cover. Equesure Insurance has launched a new insurance product for horse trailers valued up to £15,000.
The annual trip to Your Horse Live was completed and even my partner enjoyed a bit of it! Okay, he mainly enjoyed the cake stalls (and they were amazing – we took three bags of cake home with us), but also liked the rescue village and heavy horse yard. We got to go into the stable with two donkeys for pats and cuddles and we both loved it.
Five years ago, I had the absolute dream of having my own acreage, but this has honestly been the biggest learning curve, relearning so much about how to better look after our horses and what the land requires. Hopefully, I can give some insight into things I have learnt, mostly by trial and error and lots of mistakes.
After five or six years away from the British showjumping circuit, I’ve rejoined, and this time with my little Connemara standing just about 15HH – and he’s been amazing!