gallavanting in a gale

TW said that its a good idea to try really hard to push on and be brave. The wind nearly spoiled the fun today but TW said it was ok and we would still like a lesson please so off we went . The sun was shining but the wind was howling but I wasnt really fussed. I like lessons.

Firstly we practised walking round the track and not spooking at the stuff in the corners. Then we did trotting and making sure I went where TW said. Apparently I'm looking nice and forward at the moment and doing very well. Next we practised working off the track on a middling circle and flexing very slightly to the inside. I found this much easier on the right rein but the people in the fields behind distracted me a bit. It's confusing learning to flex, half halts on the outside rein don't mean stop but stay out and inside rein just means bend my neck a bit. Hmmmmm. I did good though.

There were two naughty horses cavorting behind me at one point, pulling on each others rugs and galloping and bucking. TW hadn't noticed them so I stopped and have them a shout! Oi stop it I'm trying to learn!! Ten they ran off and I could get back down to it. Next we cantered , this time I was better on the left rein. It's interesting cos this is what Etti said when she checked my muscles. We finished off by doing a whole line of poles down the centre line twice while another horse with a lightening bolt on his bum joined me. Phew. Loved it! I got lots of nice comments from everyone :)

Then it was back to the yard for some grub then back out with my buds. They were so jealous. Bracky started wrestling with me as soon as I'd had my drink!

I wish....

I wish TW didnt have to go to work. If she didnt go to work she could come and spend more time with us and we could do more riding and then she wouldn't be at risk of having all her confidence seeping away. It is a worry.

Despooking

ZM was sent to spy on me this morning to make sure I was in the right field. Fortunately my lovely purple ruggle makes me generally ok to spot.

TW came up this evening and said that she needed to do some despooking. I thought that was a most excellent idea as the other day on the big road she was proper scared of the bird scarer flappy things. In fact she was so scared that she made me scared. Not good. 

She walked around the field and stuck in two extra posts and tied two flappy carrier bags to them. My goodness me they flapped and made loads of noise. I was really impressed that TW didnt seem scared at all. I watched her you see while I was chilling and grazing at the same time. She was feeling so brave that she then went and tied a third flappy bag onto the fence. Well done you I thought but this time I couldn't be bothered to look up. 

Frank said that we should maybe make a bit of an effort to join in so we eventually mooched up to the last bag and stood nearby while TW showed how brave she was again. We all then had a big stampede led by frank but I wasnt reall sure what the fuss was about. It was nice to have kisses though. I hope TW keeps working a her nerve things. 

Scary, scarier, not scared

When TW arrived at the field this morning she was happy as she had a day off work. The happiness didnt last long. I wasnt in the field. SE shouted and shouted and shouted and came slipping and sliding down the field. I shouted her back I was so relieved! Eventually she arrived in the pond field and I ran towards her !!! Sorry, I said . I'd been rummaging in the hedge and all of a sudden popped through the other side!!

Up to the yard and tack on even though it was another windy day. We went through the village and down the bridlepath. The wind was blowing a gale. Stopped to shout ZM then on we went. Today we headed for the next village but the mud stopped us and we had to turn around. We practised some stopping and some little circles and then turned left long the hedge and did some more. As we headed back up the bridlepath I saw ZM and Zoe leaving the field. It was the scariest thing ever. I stopped. I stared. TW was ready for me when I tried to spin. Eventually I walked forward a bit . And stopped and stared. And pooed. And pooed. And pooed. TW wiggled the stick . I moved. I stopped. I shook from my head to my toes. I snorted. I shook. TW talked to me and wiggled the stick and told me that it was ok to stop and we could stand here a while if I wanted but we wouldn't be turning round and we wouldn't be bogging off. OH! After what seemed like a lifetime but really was only a few minutes. I started to scuttle forwards but TW made me walk nicely. She was going to get off me in the village for a stretch but today she said we had to stay together so as not to get into bad habits. I scuttled through the village faster then ever before. Oh dear!

Back in my bed I had kisses with TW and ZM and could relax. Frank came to see me and weate our grub and then a nice vet man came too. He said nice things about me and my posh name and gave me a jab. I tried to kiss him too. Straight after it was back to the field, the wind was still making me jump. I was glad to be back munching with my chums.

I don't think sue would do that :(

Today was a windy day. A very windy day. Well windy enough, 20mph winds. But lovely and sunny.

TW came up early and in we went to the stable, rug off, bit of hay which I ignored and tack on. Excellent. But the wind kept blowing. I wasnt sure what to do, I wanted to go for a nice ride but it was a little scary.

Off we went , as we got to the drive a big gust of wind blew so I stopped and had a poo. Oh dear thugh TW. Oh dear thought I. At the end of the drive we turned right.  There was a big metal thing and skip hidden away. Didnt like that. TW said we were gonna be brave and do the triangle, I like that ride but I've only done it on my own once. In June. Oops.

Crossing the busy road I had a little look at the white lines but it was ok. We trundled on and I was a bit nervy but TW sang and talked to me. I was starting to relax when all of a sudden I spotted them. Evil sticks in the field behind the hedge. Evil sticks with flappy rustle things attached. Holy mother of god!! I stared at them. TW said keep going. I stared some more. Ran about a bit. Span a bit. Floated a bit. They were awful and once I'd spotted them I couldn't forget they were there. I turned and trotted for home but TW caught me and aimed me into the hedge. Damn . Eventually she got off . They were still there though. Terrifying scary sticks. Aaaaargh.

I did a bit of spinning and pulling and made TW annoyed . Sme nice lady drivers slowed right down with their hazards on but noone took any notice of them. Then I got bored and wanted to graze. That made TW mad. It was probably a good job thou as while we were arguing about me grazing about twenty colourful cyclists started heading towards us. TW panicked but I wasnt interested. SE breathed a big sigh of relief as they shot up the big hill instead of coming past us.

Finally we got to safety and waited for the road to clear, I marched across the new red road markings with no problem. I'm a good boy really. Back at the yard TW got back on and we did a lap of the village in the windy wind. It was awful but I did my best. Phew. Back at the stable I had a cuddle and some grub while TW went off to watch some jumpies. I think we need more practise at windy riding and lots more practise on the big road. I'm shattered.

Ouch, snooze and another Tom

We had more snow in the night. Quite a bit more but today it's been sunny and the snow is melting. When TW arrived at the field we were all stood down in the snowy part of the field dozing in the sunshine.

It was off with the rugs and then TW spotted my face. The little cut from yesterday is actually a big deep cut. I have no idea how I did it :( it's all clean though and not particularly sore as I let TW poke and prod it. So she decided to phone the vets and when they phoned her back....yes you've guessed it the vets name was Tom too!!! So that's me, vet, farrier and dentist all with the same name. TW says I'm by far the best looking though. He made TW check if the cut reached my nostrils ( it doesn't) and whether there was a hole through my gum ( there wasnt) and said he thinks ill be ok but I need my jabs doing ASAP. Nice.

Once again we hoped to go for a hack but TW said it was too slippy leaving the field and that maybe my face needed a rest. She was a bit annoyed by this but never mind. I lay down for a snooze and she came and sat with me so that was nice. I think TW needs to channel her sue energys soon or we will never get out again!

Slippy, sore, and saddle

Oh my goodness it's still icy coming out of the field. Frank is alot better than me at walking in the slippiness. It does make me nervous. I'd hoped for a hack today but it wasnt to be. Such a shame. I enjoyed some munching though. TW thought about clipping me again but decided it might be a bit cold and I don't have any thicker ruggles to wear.

She spent quite a while faffing with frank today while I rested and argued with Zoe . All I wanted was a little kiss. Such a meany. When TW came back from taking frank to the field she saw I'd got a cut on my muzzle. It was sore. Not sure where it came from though. She was going to put tea tree in it but decided against it. What a relief! That would sting.

I got to try on my new old saddle today, it's lovely and soft. I hope it fits properly when the checker person comes. Before long it was time to slide back to the field as TW said shed lost all feeling in her face and needed to go home. Wussy.