The fields at the yard have been sprayed and so the horses have swapped their fields for a while. I had my field sprayed in two halves as I already had it split and so the girls have stayed in their field, just having to swap sides.
Basil, however, who is usually across the lane from Mabel and Diva is now in the field next door, and it has to be said, Mabel has developed a bit of a crush! Diva is not so enamoured of him as he always seems to be laughing at her!
I am being very careful with Diva as the grass is growing so rapidly at the moment, so she is out with Mabel for only part of the day in a small area of the field. Mabel is now out 24/7 and I have opened up the bottom of the field where the longer grass is for her. However, such is her crush on the handsome grey that she only goes down to the longer grass if he accompanies her. Mabel forgoing food? It must be love! Sadly, the romance is doomed as he will be returning to his usual field at the weekend. Harry, who has lived next door to the girls previously is going to go into that field, so it will be interesting to see if Mabel switches allegiance to stay in love with the horse next door!
Diva is a very chatty pony. She usually answers with a whinny if you call her, and she absolutely cracks me up when I put her in the lunge ring. She loves having a trot and canter around and she makes me chuckle every time as she squeaks as she is working. The lunge ring is in the middle of the horse walker, and one day I was working her when Mabel was on the walker. When Diva saw her, she galloped around bucking and squeaking the whole time without me having to ask her to do anything!
That little black pony makes me smile every day.
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!