frozen , but rode

and with a bit in. Put the mullen mouth in to see what happened, and brought the stool round to the yard rather than taking the horse to the arena. so got on in good order and no problems, she stood like a lamb whilst the others got on.

going down to the 20 acre takes her past her field gate so she tried to nap into her field! then followed down the hill and was striding on ahead of the rest until half way round, when she had to stop and wait for them.

then carried on round, she tried to nap home instead of over the ford but followed the others, then we went on ahead - there's a little track trhough a coppice with stream on right (thatwe'd just crossed) and field on left, she strode on ahead most of the way along (again, we had to stop and let them catch up, she had to reassure herself they were still there!) then on again and WE OPENED THE GATE AT THE END when in the past she's had a major strop at that one every time.

but i was FROZEN. i hadn't been that cold, but there was a faint breeze with a nip in it and I didn't have my jacket on, so i turned round and went back with julie who had suzie out in hand (that's the horse with the fetlock!). molly didn't want to turn round but did, and i was pleased, i was nithered, and even when i got back and got my jacket on i didn't really warm up until i got back inthe ouse and put the heating on and then had a bath! and it wasn't that cold, really.

but i wasn't pleased with moly when we got back.. we've been used to going straight throught the yard and getting off in the arena (as much for the benefit of my still achy foot, as for the benefit of her head) but she napped to the stable (too many cars for too much of an argument) and whilst i did get herturned round to go away, she turned back round and started in to the stable, stopped her but it was a close run thing so i got off. I know, i shouldn't have, but I don't want to be dumped on concrete/my head off a wall/whatever and the parked cars were all a bit close for comfort....

went up to hexham later, dressed for chilly, and the sun got out to a nice day (still a bit of a nip on the tops); then up to allendale to see queenie and pay for her keep. she was so far across the field we decided not to go over.... huge hike up and across, and wrestly with horrid shetland also in field with her and two youngsters... she looked ok from a distance. the friend who keeps her wasn't in, but happily was down the hill at neightbours farm ... so had a good chat. no ideas from her on the molly front, save that she inclined to the view that the early work was not given consistently or well...

so turned out a go