rain...

there's a surprise. I should have gone to the yard this morning, it was relatively dry, but ive got into the habit of going in the afternoon. I did a load of work work this morning, then had to go up and see about Queen bee... who apparently is looking young but moving old. well, though, which is good. the person where she is was at work work today (usually is on a weekend, think it works well for her to have her days off through the week...) so it's not often i get to actually see queenie. she's sharing a field with a dance in the dark yearling filly, who thinks she's no fun!

Molly's baby is now backed and ridden away - no problems at all, which puts the kibosh on any notions that Molly might have inherited some problem -her mother is a sweetie, she is too and so is young cleo. another chip off the maternal block.

but by the time i'd done all that it was teeming down. I wasn't surprised, but it did mean i couldn't reinforce what we did yesterday.

isna't that always the way though ...

lunging & mirrors

gaynor and i finally got together to see about lunging molly right rein.

first time roud, without side reins, we conned her nicely - as i expected we would - gaynor on the outside with the lead rein, me on the inside with the lunge line and whip, she set away and did really well, including canter. once she'd set off she was fine, no signs of wanting to turn back in.

left rein as well, fine.

then the side reins, wiht a view to going right rein again. I was pleased gaynor was there - usual problem, even when gaynor had walked her on to set off she was turning back in again and i simply couldn't move myself fast enough to stop her.

so gaynor tried, and had the same problem

so then she lunged her two reins - and after a bit of a paddy (not too bad, but bad enough watching!) she caved in and did it.

I was pleased to see that done by someone else; and molly finished up working really hard and we were very pleased with her.

and the stable mirror was up when i got there.

Molly at first didn't notice it, then did a double take when she did, but was ok about it and spent quite a bit of time with her nose to her 'new friend' ...

so hopefully that will be a long term success.

wasps nest

that was what caused the accident two nights ago. the horse stood on it - and no horse is going to do anything but tank off in that circumstance. It could have been a lot worse. the rider has apparently a fractured vertebrae, bad but she can feel so prognosis not as bad as it could have been, and the horse is on a few days box rest. the nest got burned - but there is, apparently, another one that the YM will have to be told about!

Molly just got fed tonight. I think she thinks she wants to be in, but she would sharp change her mind if she was kept in!!!

arena lights

were on tonight, for the first time this winter. probably woulnd't have needed them if it hadn't been cloudy as well.

i was lucky there was somone there to help me on though! me & one other. everyone else seemingly had been & gone.

I was pleased with molly, especially when the other horse came in, as that is the first time she's had another horse in the arena with her since 29th june when i fell off. she stayed calm, and we did some nice trot work to finish. i think she's probably getting a bit bored with doing so much walk, but it's good for her. can't beleive how many circles etc we're doing, keep varying what i'm doing to stop her getting too bored!!!

apparently the news on the injured girl is fractured vertebrae. not sure about the horse though ... apparently she was stiff this morning, which will be right, but no one who knew was there to be asked.

incident...

we coulnd't drive down to the yard tongiht, the track was blocked by para medics and other rescuers. a girl out riding on her own had been dumped by her horse - probably startled by a pheasant - and been found with at least a broken shoulder and reckoned to have been unconscious for a while, although coming round. the horse had meanwhile tanked off, and having been found by the ford (a bit away, it would have had to jump fences on its own to get there ...) was just being led up. so caroline said take it down to our yard,and i went down to assist with that and see it settled and look at molly. there were far too many cooks trying to help with the incident and they didn't need another two.

got down and had left my yard keys in the car.

molly was standing at the gate - get the feeling she wants to be in, but she isnt' coming in yet - and all i had was half a polo.


hope the girl's ok.

the horse was lame - do'nt think it was too serious, but she'll seize up over night. nothing more to be done though ...at least we didnt' need the vet as well as the ambulance.

trot

for the first time since i fell off, i felt brave enough to go into trot. Molly had being doing really nicely in walk - if a bit heavy in the hand! - and wanted to move on, so i put her into trot, and did a couple of trips round the arena in a nice cool trot. she felt quite good under me as well. so that was the good note to end on.

and I'd got hte bridle on her with no argument at all tonight, so that's a good sign.

last night - i had a headache, and was 100% certain it was going to rain again (it didn't, but hey....i was probably only wrong by about a few yards!!!!)

in and out

today i decided to try riding in and out of the arena. the plan was to do that several times; but i was glad i'd done a lot of other stuff before i tried it the second time, as Molly said 'that's it, i'm done!'

put the leather girth back on; i think the wintec will be going on ebay, shame as i like wintec girths, have one for the gp (that i also must put on ebay!) and very easy to look after.

walking out

in hand again, this time without another horse in sight, just me & partner & molly. she was very well behaved. i also stood at the stream with her but didn't have wellies on - will do that one once it gets cool enough where I can wear them without melting my feet (my wellies are neoprene muck boots, very hot!).

and i started the clicker training ..... but not too much as partner is taking the piss out of that, i don't know why.

oh yes, and i got the laptop back. seems to be working fine!

missed a night

don't know why i didn't post last night ..

i think because i'd stayed up late watching the telly ...

i did ride her, but it was SOOO hot and muggy neither of us could really be bothered. although she did try to go nicely, the little midgies were seriously bothering her, and it became pointless.

So i suppose i was only on her 10 minutes all told. but better 10 minutes than no minutes, which is what she did tonight. Although it was raining!!!!

the stable mirrors arrived today; haven't opened the parcel yet though

and the wintec girth is going to be sold on to someone with a less sensitive horse, i think!

messages

i had to buy paint tonight as the decorator was due tomorrow and there wasn't quite enough for the front room - he rang me on my way home to say he'd been today and there wasn't quite enought for the front room. a bit mortified as i hadn't piled the furniture up, but he'd done that himself. sitting room now looks wonderful.

It was blowing a gale, anyway, so I wouldn't have done anything with molly save look at her ... so that is what i didn. she coulnd't have cared less ... i think i've said before, i hate a howling gale. but it's forecast to rain a lot tomorrow ....

wintec dressage girth

we realised tonight it has pressure points, no wonder she hasn't been happy to be girthed. Easy sorted, but very stupid design.

So you'll have gathered I rode. She was walking very nicely and smoothly indeed. I am almost tempted to see if I can get some company for a walk round the 20 acre. She's showing no sign of stress at all.

Which, as I said to gaynor, is a sign of how totally stupid we both were when I brought her back into work when my foot got better. should have spent a few weeks on flat work then, I might not be having to do it now.

Lesson learnt, I think.

also, her poll will still need looking at ... but having an idiot owner doesn't really help!

sunday monday

didn't write anything last night - didn't have a lot to say about molly at all, that was printable.

we'd tried long reining. she stood fine to let me put the tack on; i put hte long reins on in the arena whilst we're learning, and i wanted to try them through the roller rings.

she set of right rein three times, and three times then turned in and round to face me and there was nothing i could do about it. reins in tangle round her neck each time. tedious, frustrating. you name it. friend was supposed to have been there, i'd asked specifically if she was coming down and if she could help on the right rein issue, and the answer was yes - but didn't in fact arrive and didn't text/ring to say wasn't able to ......

tonight i decided to keep things a lot simpler, bridle only, lunge left rein, had to loose school right rein.

i really don't understand why she'll loose school right but won't lunge right ....

i had planned to ride, but there wasn't anyone there when i arrived and started grooming so didn't, hopefuly will do that tomorrow.

walk out

today as I was getting molly from the field liz & paul were about to ride out, starting round the 20 acre - so i thought, perfect opportunity, and went with them. didn't take the time to go brush her off, put any sort of tack on or even lock stuff up again (ouch - but if no one knows the yard is there, which they don't unless they already know, no sneak thieves ...) and off we went. Molly was perfect, save the odd nibble of grass. Perfectly happy to walk along behind, no spooking at anything, no trying to get ahead of the other two (which she usually does when ridden!), and no grief when we turned back for hte yard and the others headed off the other way.

That was a really good exercise, to get her round there chillled and in hand, and i was so pleased i did it, especially after yesterday ...

tomorrow, gaynor and i are going to see if we can get lunge right rein.

and i bought a clicker .... so that will be interesting. I need to decide what object to use as a target .... and i've a horrid feeling she's not over keen on the spillers apple horse treats, which would be a shame as I have two bags..... she does prefer minty things.

and she got two windfall apples, which she thoroughly enjoyed rolling about the floor whilst eating them!

friday night

is not a night for trying to do anything with molly, especially when i've had a bad day, and there's no one there, and she's winding me up won't stand still do have girth done up and when i give up on that and try to lunge she won't let me round to her right (when of course there's no problem getting to her right hand side in the stable).

i finished up in tears, so that was no good and came away .....

rain and long reining

the office was in a dry spot in the middle of loads of seriously heavy storms. very bizarre. for instance, it was dry in the car park when i went out at lunchtime. i went to morrisons, about 1 1/2 miles away - huge puddles in teh car park. same when i set off home. it was very odd.

but happily it stopped raining enough for me to do the planned long reining with liz's horse. She used one very long lunge rein attached to the bridle both sides and did it from directly behind the horse, which was the way she'd been taught. i don't think that's exactly right, but at least it gave me a feel with a horse that was more than used to doing it and wasn't going to do anything very sillly. i wasn't up for trotting him, foot's not up for that yet, but it was a useful exercise. couldn't put any tack on him bar the bridle, as he was too wet.

I knew molly was fine as whilst we were in the arena, the mares were careening round their field.

so she didn't do any work tonight, but she wasn't going to if i was doing that.

then i went to the tanning place round the corner from the house and had my first ever session vertical tanning. i want rid of my psoriasis, the fact that i'll get a tan (or more of a tan than i've got) being merely a bonus. it'll be worht it (and they've got a good deal on at the moment). if it works as well as it shoud it'll be cheaper than lashings of prescription creams and emollients...

rode again

I rode again tonight - hadn't done since what was it ,saturday .... was pleased. She stayed really calm and walked on nicely, again lots of circles, serpentines and the like. I really must get my watch sorted out - i never know how long i've been on, i've only one watch that I can read without my reading glasses and it has a flat battery. But i think about 15 minutes, thereabouts.

There are issues re getting bridle on and girthing up, but it's interesting the way it's working. I come in to the stable with e.g. the bridle, she walks to the back of the box, i stand there and look at her and she looks sheepish and comes back.

I think I might take the noseband off the bridle, if only for now, to make it easier to get on (for me! I always end up with the noseband tangling up and getting in the way ...).

she still has a slight issue with girthing but I'm working on that slowly - maintain the cool calm and collected approach and it's fine.

It's odd she has an issue now with girthing when, once i'm on, we're fine.

and the saddle is a lot more comfortable with feathers in the cantle than it was with the hard form! so I'm glad I did that, even if there are still feathers floating everywhere..!

Liz is showing me how to long rein tomorrow, using her horse. Looking forward to that.

loose horse

when i got to the yard tonight and went through to go to the field for molly there was a person on foot, in riding hat, in company with person on horse, on the far side of the hill; kirsty with blake (who's been on months of box rest and can finally go out tomorrow) said person on foot had fallen off and horse was in 20 acre at bottom of the hill. i went down, instead of going to the field, to help catch horse if it could be found. met person who'd lost horse and we walked; saw horse with rider other side of hedge, she said, that's my horse someone's caught it..... i went back. when got back up hill to yard, kirsty said a friend had been on the phone, the loose horse had in fact gone back to it's own yard (part of same estate) - having survived a road or two!!!

by the time i'd done all that there was very little time left to do anything with molly; i thought i'd try a walk out, but found i'd done too much on my still poorly foot .... and it was getting dark.

time i got home i had to make tea, then watch csi, then set up mega new screen which arrived at the office this morning, then went on ebay and bought the stable mirrors .... paypal have changed their policies so i could spend the money in my paypal account ... whether they arrive before the end of the week is another matter .... but hey.,

and i recommend dabs.com; order placed late sunday, goods arrived this morning, mega.

going backwards

i had been doing ok with the two rein lunging, but not tonight. we've lost it a bit.

but turns out one of the women knows how, so i've arranged for her to show me thursday ...

feathers

I have been meaning for ages to remove the hard 'form' from the cantle of my saddle and replace it with something a lot softer - the stuffing of a cushion. i thought i had a kapok stuffed cushion. i in fact had a feather stuffed cushion ... now i know why pillow fights always ended badly (we ddn't have feather pillows to have pillow fights with back in the day ...)

prior to that, molly hadn't done too much of what i wanted .... she was not going to stand still to be mounted, even getting the stool next to her was becoming a chore. so took the saddle off and lunged/loose schooled. back to not wanting to go right rein. I think loose schooling her right must get her used to my being on her right side etc, but the effect doesn't last long .... i think i should go back to the routine of ride alternate with lunge .....

but not tomorrow, as i brought the grandeur pad and girth home to wash ... they won't be dry until after i get home tomorrow night ....

we have decided to order a new screen for the pc, got a good deal on dabs (but at this point in time i'm not sure if the order has gone through .... that tab is busy loading ... and i hope i didn't actually press something twice and end up with two)

going back to the old vdu screen when you've got used to a modern one is a nightmare ...

and this old one reflects the light a lot more than the modern ones as well...

clicker training

i've been reading about clicker training and people having success with it, so i got alexandra kurland's book on order from the library, went and picked it up today. fascinating. so went to pets at home to buy a clicker - they'd sold out. i have to wait. fair enough.

what was really good - an ENTIRE CHAPTER on getting one's horse to stand at the mounting block. that's the one for me (once I've taught her about clicker and we've done some more basic stuff, of course!!!).

the plan had been to do a bit of work tonight with molly - did some loose schooling, but didn't do as much as i'd originally planned. taken partner with me, plan was she could watch; but she wasn't well really so just 10 minutes. but it was good. Molly was listening to me.

i think we're going to have to buy a new screen for this pc though. the gericom - it's an austrian company, which is fair enough, but all the support is over there, can't make sense of the webstie (even in the english version!) and anyway we haven't got hte receipt or the box any more. partner get's a redeye on when sees an empty box and puts them in the bin .... unfortunately, my recollection is that i taped the book and the receipt to it .... hope i'm wrong. but anyway without the packing nothing can be done in terms of sending it anywhere ....

poorly computers & stuff

the absence last night was accounted for by two things - firstly, the screen on the pc was buggered and still is (we've had to retrieve the old one from the loft, and I'd forgotten how dreadful it was. or maybe it's more dreadful because i haven't used it for a year. i bought it in 1997 when i bought my first pc, so that tells you what it's like) and also because i reaslied the laptop wasn't charging. so two computers down. the laptop battery of course only lasts an hour ... the charging cable is faulty and whilst it's still under manufacturer's warranty it has to go back to the manufacturer instead of pc world being able to give me a new charger ..... so i'm well hacked off. my entire lunchtime today was spent in pc world, trying to avoid having to send it back and thus be without it. i knew i wouldn't like using the pc with this naff screen.

i've had to set up the accessibility options so as to be able to read anything AAARRgh.

molly - i decided to take her for a walk out in hand last night; a good idea for her, but i discovered my foot aint really up to that at the moment.

the physio has offered me a date in october if i can get molly to darlington; that would be my preferred date, same day as my farrier's coming .... but i don't have any transport. if i can sort some out, and i've had an offer, i;ll take that, if not, it'll have to be later that week i think....

didn't do anything with her tonight, friday night everyone has gone home by the time i get there so no point trying to do the impossible (get on ) on myown, she has to have a polo to get her to stand still (and that was the same before she did her poll in).

will go down inthe morning, there should be people about

and the local library as alexandra kurland's clicker training for horses for me, thought i'd read it and maybe give it a go ... people seem to have success with clicker training.

partner is watching outtakes from the johnny cash movie

and i've got hte laundry going, supposed to be a good weather weekend ....

easy does it

finally could give up shifting furniture so had time to ride tonight.

i've decided that the easy way to get on and keep her chilled is to have someone give her a polo whilst i mount. it saves an awful lot of grief and stress and keeps her calm whilst i do get on . so that's what we did.

we did some really nice cool calm walk, lots of turns, circles, serpentines again. i shall keep that up for a while and then if she stays chilled will see if i can get someone to walk out with me round the 20 acre or something.

i did try to go through the yard to finish up, but we'd followed blake back through - that's another horse who's only getting led out, being on loads of box rest after a leg op - and so she thought she ought to follow him, he's in the stable next to her.

stable mirrors - on special on ebay - with postage, between me and a lad in the same office, £35 each, can't be bad.

sylvia stanier long reining book arrived, mega quick, smal book, looking forward to reading it.

pc screen has died so i don't know how i'm going to turn it off safely - this is from the laptop networked, but the pf has to be on for the network to work .... oh dear, can feel crashed computer coming on ....

so if you don't hear from me tomorrow, that'll be why (we have the old screen upstairs, but i'll have to switch pc off at main and that always raises the prospect of a major crash .....)

back man

the horse physio - who's fully qualified in all respects - is about to go on holiday and won't be able to offer me an appointment until the 1st week in october .... so will ring vets in the morning and see if they can recommend anyone - but of course then they may want to come out themselves ...

and tonight we had to empty a room in the house for the painter coming tomorrow .... nightmare. this room to be emptied tomorrow night, at least we can then put most of it in the room that we've emptied tonight so won't be quite so fraught. and won't move this desk ....

steady as she goes

I got on and rode in the arena in walk for 5 - 10 minutes, loads of circles changes of rein etc on a longish sort of rein

had to get a hand to get on - someone fed her a polo, that persuaded her to stand still! no tantrums at all (got on in the arena) although I was tempted (always am) as she was circling round me with me following with my stool ...... and walked her back round to the stable, she was fine doing that as well.

Not wonderfully keen again on being girthed up, but slowly and surely was the approach thereas well and got it done fine.

I'm using a wintec elasicated dressage girth now instead of the cheyenne leather one - a 70 cm instead of a 75 - i think i'll sell the leather one (hope someon wants it, I put a 65cm leather one up on ebay, gorgeous, and had no takers at all......)

Double checked that i've got the right number for the physio - apparently he's cheaper if you take the horse to him, but since i haven't got the transport and getting it would cost me more than the extra, i'll ask him to come out. and his waiting list is interesting, but if i tell him how urgent it is he might fit me in....

and have bougth sylvia stanier's book on longreining from an ebay seller, only £1.20 and postage, £2.70 altogether - the painful bit was the commission on the postal order, didn't realise they charged so much commission on them!!!!

more expense

and i came out this morning - someone had smashed the passenger door window in the car. not stolen anything (they were after satnav which wasn't in the car but all the horse rugs I picked up from the cleaners were there. so more expense, and the plans for the morning went for a burton. neighbours car got done as well - he HAD left stuff in .... and he can't have his window mended until tomorrow because he has a jag (old but still a jag) so we're all pissed off and waiting for the police. even more annoying, another neighbour said he chased some people really late on but he (the other neighbour) was far too drunk by that stage to do anything useful like remember a time or a description ....

good news

the high probabilities are that her poll is out - i didn'tknow that could give a horse a screaming headache .... so will ring my favourite horse physio monday morning (once i've checked i've got the correct number for him....). was recommended to go to david peat, vet in barnard castle but i have no transport for molly and would have to get a recommendation from my vet, i expect ...

and I rode her, in the arena.

she didn't want to go in - and this was ajudged to be a stress reaction, given that the last time she was ridden in there i fell off. but she calmed down and we did a lot of walk work with teacher watching her reactions on either circle.

the plan is to keep riding her in walk and calmly; given some massage to try on her neck muscles to try and help her relax them; mount in the arena (and if necessary just follow her round with the stool - teacher hadn't seen that performance before ....)

then (after having to buy a complete set of tyres for the car - i'd discovered a slow puncture in one and the man said the rest were on the verge of illegality, ouch ouch ouch!) went up in the rain to pay queenie's keep. didn't see queenie as allison was at work not at home but we had a good long chat.

we agreed that something had gone adrift in molly's original starting; interestingly - i mentioned molly's assymetry and we agreed totally that it is identical to queenie's and therefore is congenital - may be able to sort it if we ever get some correct work into her - but that was interesting. it had really struck me this last week how similar molly was to queenie in that respect, as it is really obvious with a lunge roller on - clearly not straight one side to the other ... i know some would say i should look at a wow saddle in that case, and reflecting on that it may well be that i need to think more about shimming under the treeless ....

Molly's daugher is sold on and is doing really well - out at dalton show last week, new owners well pleased with her, went on wagon first time ever like a lamb

and queenie's been hoolying around the field like a good 'un, along with the others ...

so overall, i'm a lot happier, if a lot poorer!!!

horrid thought

couldn't possibly be the treeless saddle could it? i wouldn't have thought so as if it was i would have been having real problems before i broke my foot, not after she'd had a month off..... and the sweat patterns are fine ...

audience

is apparently what we'll have tomorrow when my teacher turns up .... everyone wants to know what she thinks. as of course do I.

Petplan have confirmed that I understood them correctly - essentially, I have to have a really good idea it's something physical and if the vet confirms it, then it's covered by the insurance. otherwise not. Oh dear. I think i've said before, vets charge more than lawyers - and DON'T of course do no win no fee! which is fair enough, we all want to be paid for our work .... that's cue for another rant, bring back legal aid for pi work .... but this is not a legal blog, it's a horse blog....

anyway, I didn't do anything tonight - it's friday, tired, foot hurt, she'll work tomorrow .....

right rein

lunge, two rein lunging, did it first time of asking, no argument, no not letting me round that side, just set off that way and there we were. she did have one moment of 'do i really want to do this' after the first half circle, but then just kept going. So that was the really good note to end on as well, so we only did 5 minutes, but it was a good 5 minutes

thinking about it, can her back be bad if she is working nicely on the ground? she may have done something to it (has to have the way she's been flinging herself about) but surely she wouldn't be moving well, which she is, if she had done anything too bad? ....

and probably back problems

i'd been starting to wonder, as when I went to girth up she'd been moving away; that was definite tonight. and frankly, the way she's been throwing herself about, i'm not surprised. but it can't be that whatever she's done to her back caused the throwing herself about as

1. she threw herself about and caused any back problem, not the other way about
2. she woulnd't have gone out as far as she did on sunday with jimmy before starting to throw herself about

at least that is likely to be something covered by the insurance.

so loose schooling tonight and tomorrow, i think....

Liz, who was out with jimmy, is still of the view firmly that it is something physical and something in her head .... thinks my teacher should ride molly out (once she's been told the full horror of course!)

night off

not that molly really deserved or needed one, but it was going to rain and i'd done far too much walking today for the good of my foot - had to drop car at garage and walk in, then back again ... ouch...

molly's insurer says that if whatever it is is physical, they'll pay the vet's bills for finding out; if it isn't (i.e., its something behavioural) they won't ...... ie. if the vet says it isn't physical i have to pay him myself. vets earn more than lawyers, and get paid....

two reins

lunging and long reining.

this is not something i've ever been taught, but been reading about it and bought a video on the subject saturday (it wasn't quite what i wanted, shame one can't watch these things before buying them) but showed something. Also, my teacher said she wouldn't teach me it as she has seen too many nasty accidents.

But others have had a lot of success with it, and several people have recommended it to try.

My thought was, it might be easier to long rein than lunge, especially since she won't go right rein for me (and that raises another issue ..... possibly .... for the vet).

I had thought about trying it when i first had her, but didn't do it then.

So today, I thought I'd try

I started off loose schooling just to make sure she was listening to me, which she was.

Then i attached the lunge reins (I already had a second) and that was a lot easier than trying to attach the side reins, especially to the right side.

She set off no problem at all on left rein, wasn't arguing with the bit; the o/s rein got caught in the middle of her mane which wasn't wonderfully helpful (I was just doing it with the rein over her back, rather than through the rings on the roller, as I didn't have anyone to help me set her away or anything) but went really nicely, and came back to walk when I asked, which is unheard of when lunging ordinarily!

wouldn't do right rein; but I WAS able to get behind her (at a safe distance, and slightly to the inside) and walk her on ahead of me right rein round the outside of the arena, which was really good until I got the offside rein too low. but she didn't panic, and I managed to disconnect it from the bit before she did, which was good as it did look as though it was going to wrap round a foot at one point.

Overall I was quite pleased; she worked if not really hard and we both learnt something.

The not letting me go to the right hand side of her - don't know if that might be a phsical issue or not. I can go that side in the stable no problem, lead from that side sometimes, just when asking her to lunge, yet ridden (when she was rideable!) she was better right rein than left.

Anyway, it occurred to me, maybe she had a head injury sometime that did something to her sight that is now starting to be a real issue.

But i don't know. loose schooling she'll go right , but of course one is not as close then as when lunging.

? need the vet?

So Jimmy took Molly out today as suggested.

Firstly, he got on; she was fine, she walked through the yard, out along to the drive, up the side of the geldings field, didn't even look at the big log, a minor spook slightyfurther up = and I couldn't keep up after that. He went up to the top and back down; apparently she was backing off from coming back down, but nothing too horrendous. So he came back down to the yard, by which time the others were ready, turned round to go out and I sat down to wait.

When they came back after an hour she was dripping with sweat (had to have to washes off and I had to clean the bridle and martingale). but the real concern was the reports of her behaviour. She did some gates, not others. She had paddies, she didn't have paddies. but the worst bit was that at one gate she threw herself to the ground, literally, with Jimmy's leg under her .... happily he was ok, caught her, got back on - and she went through like a lamb. and the last gate, which doesn't have to be opened as it is always open, into the 20acre to come back to the yard, she's done it loads of times on her own and not, she had a major paddy before she would go through it, jogged and jigged all the way round, napped for no reason half way round it, that was the cause of the dripping sweat.

so the thought was either she's psychotic or she's got a tumour.....

She's never done anything like that before ......

So the plan is added to. as well as my teacher coming out next week, i'll check to see if petplan cover investigation for the possible physical causes of her behaviour ...

farrier

came this morning. we've decided to put her on more regular visits than she was. and he's put his price up - he said, since barefoot trimmers are charging £30 a visit and wanting to come out every two weeks, he thought he'd go to £20 (but they don't actually need to be done as often as a barefoot trimmer would say!) and every 6. that's because of her odd left fore - which is larger and a slightly different shape from all the others. had she continued in work it wouldn't have been as obviouse as it it.

then i tried to lunge her. still can't find my lunge whip, i think it's been taken for a walk, and i think it has been taken by one of the fishermen as they were the only people about .... very annoying, i've had that a long time and will have to get a new one. I looked everywhere there was to look and it isn't to be seen - and it's not the sort of thing that fits in a cupboard! it was a very long one and no one has a big enough cupboard.

anyway, back to the lunging - really not good. i had to loose school first to get her settled, and then as usual she will lunge left but not right. the going in the arena is REALLY BAD for my foot - it gets so mounded etc its like being on really uneven ground and bythe time i'd finished - essentially given up! through frustration and being about to lose my temper big time - my foot was really hurting.

jimmy is going to ride her out in the morning; he's a good rider, will be able to stick on, has dealt with this type of thing before in his previous life as a jockey, and he's ridden her once before when she got really sticky on a hack once.

friday night

and i'm knackered; partner is still out at work and will be for some time (doing a mental health act assessment ....) and it's raining. shall go watch tv in a minute and see if there's enough bread left for toast, doubt it.

was telling one of the lads at the yard about events with molly, he hadn't heard, and he thought just hack her out in the string on friday/saturday morning. he may well be right. so i said if he wants to (he's ridden her before, ex jockey and a good rider!) then fine. He was amazed, bearing in mind how well she'd been doing previously. so we'll see about sunday morning. farrier tomorrow ...

and still couldn't see my lunging whip anywhere ....

no lunge whip

now explain this.

I'm messing about tacking molly up - trying to see if i was going to be able to attach side reins to barefoot cheyenne, answer, not.

anyway, person who'd been having lesson in arena finished and came back and asked if that was my lunge whip propped up outside the arena. i said yes (left it tuesday; i'm hopeless at remembering to go back for that!).

so finished tacking up and everyone had gone by then .... walked molly round to arena - no lunge whip anywhere to be seen.

went back to barn - not there

back to arena - not there.

need lunge whip - especially with foot being buggered as i can't movemyself very well to get after her.

so untacked and turned her out again.

not happy.

where is it?

I'll probably find it tomorrow, but the mind boggles how it can vanish in such a short space of time!!!!!

public transport

today i had to get the train/bus home. which merely reminds me why public transport only works if you live in a conurbation and work in the same conurbation. it took me 2 hours. walk to the station (which did'n't do my bad foot any good at all.) buy ticket (£8.30 single, I only had to come the one way - return would have been about £9 and still an awful ot more than the petrol for the car!). wait for train. train to darlington. wait 15 minutes for next train. train to durham, standing room only. get to durham. slow walk down very steep hill with poorly foot killing me to bus stop. catch bus (at least that was perfect timing, it arrived as i got to the bus stop!). bus home, £1.95 (return fare on the bus is about £2.40, this was single of course). and can't go to stable as no car. I had left word I woudlnt' be down. Molly didn't need a night off, she needed some more work.

sligly better lunging

in that i had much less trouble getting the side reins on and she worked really nicely left rein. she was reaching for the contact (I'd deliberately decided on a relatively loose setting for the side reins, specifically with that purpose in mind.) and she was really tracking up a lot of the time.

but right rein? can't get there, and the way my foot is still hurting i am really limited. so I decided not to have the argument, and instead loose schooled right rein.

interestingly, where she was reaching for the contact on the lunge on the left, she wasn't even trying loose on the right. so i need the side reins tighter that way.

in the meantime, gaynor has written up her view. the only thing I would add is that we have had issues with that route in the past, as there is a huge log that she really doesn't like and with only a relatively narrow gap to get through. I woulnd't necessarily have chosen to take her that way having got her that far ...


FURTHER TO WHAT CLARE HAS ADVISED - ON SUNDAY AS CLARE MENTIONED I DECIDED TO BACK MOLLY - SHE WAS QUITE JUMPY, SPINNING AROUND DOING SMALL REARS, THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST ACTING UP SO REMAINED IN HER BACK( THE SITUATION WAS NO BOTHERING ME) ONCE I EVENTUALLY GOT HER OFF THE YARD I HEADED TO A TRACK BESIDE THE GELDING FIELD, WHICH SHE KNOWS AND HAS BEEN ALONG MANY TIMES. THIS TIME SHE FROZE, STARTED SPINNING THEN WENT STRAIGHT UP ON HER BACK LEGS, FULL REAR, SHE CAME DOWN AND I GAVE HER A TAP WITH MY CROP, AGAIN SHE WENT STRAIGHT UP ON HER BACK LEGS, CAME DOWN THEN PROCEEDED TO RUN THROUGH A THORNED BUSH, STOPPING AS SHE COULD NOT GET THROUGH TRIED TO GO THROUGH BACKWARDS... SHE THEN FROZE - AT THIS POINT IT FELT SURREAL - EVERYTHING WENT QUITE, SHE DID NOT MOVE, NOT A MUSCLE, IT WAS AS IF SHE WENT COMPLETELY BLANK, AT THAT POINT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND SO I DISMOUNTED AND WALKED HER BACK TO HER STABLE - IN MY 30 YEARS OF RIDING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT FEELING, I JUST DID NOT HAVE A CLUE WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND

back to lunging

for now.

and she was onthe point of going right rein, but due to my foot still not being recovered ( i think the break is still mending) I couldn't get after her quickly enough to get after her and lost it.

side reins on with the gp saddle; very loose, partly to get her back into it and partly because i want her to actively look for the contact. probably too loose.

various bits of advice from people, for which thanks

gaynor is going to add to what i've written to explain the bits when she was out of my sight. apparently that did include a full on rear; anyway we'll wait for that.

she did get her going forwards and the block was at the log, but it was apparently a full on rear. but it wasn't the rear that frightened her, it was the trying to run inot the hedge following by standing stock still with no indication of what was coming next....

mmm....

as i said to a friend earlier though, so long as i can persuade people NOT to hit her over the head when she does rear....i still think molly needs as much cool calm and collected from the handler/rider as anything else...

help please

first some back story.

those who have followed this story from its beginnings in 20six will have some idea of the issues i've had with Molly and the length of time it's taken to get where we were on the 29th June, when I fell off.

the bit of back story that is relevant (and that I know) is as follows:

Molly is the daughter of my mare Queen of Timber (by Golden Lahab, which makes her a Blushing Groom grandaughter). She was bred by a friend, who owned Queenie at the time. I bought Queenie when Molly's year younger brother was weaned.

Friend moved to lincolnshire with both horses, then next i heard Molly was up in Allendale with a mutual friend who used to run a riding school. Molly had originally been going to be backed by my trainer, but had an accident in the wagon when parked in teh yard waiting to be offloaded, so that didnt' happen. breeder backed her herself.

then in September 2005 I went to where the mutual friend worked (I didn't know she worked there till I walked in teh door ...she hadn't used to) and asked after Molly.

The story was that breeder had given Molly to her brother (the breeder's brother) who had put his child up (I forget how old the bairn was at the time, young teens I think); Molly had, apparently, reared (having been set off on a ten mile ride....). He was ready to shoot her, but instead passed her on to friend in allendale, who bred a nice foal.

Also, there had always been issues with the bit & bitting. Apparently, there had been a great deal of difficulty in getting her to accept a bit, several million jointed ones having been tried (exaggeration, but you get the idea).

by this time she'd had a couple or so years out of work, and was the mother of a then rising 2 filly. She needed to be moved on, and the friend who had her didn't know what to do - sell her where she wasn't known, which went against the grain a bit, or, to be blunt, have her shot, which would have been a bit of a waste...

I thought about it, having always liked molly who had been through a lot by way of injury (as well as the wagon accident, she'd got herself staked when she was 6 months old). The friend who had her had loads of experience with horses (used to run the riding school up there, knows her stuff) and thought she could be turned round. I took the opportunity, knowing molly was a project.

As you all know, we had done quite well. sorted out the bitting issues by way of 6 months bitless, hacking out in company, starting to hack out alone, getting to grip with gates, took the lead on hacks in fact, she likes her head in front even in walk (made a change from her mother, who was always dropped out the back!). She does "block" at things, but was getting a lot better about that as well.

In all this time she hadn't shown any sign of rearing with me or anyone else. She'd have an odd spin, and she did do the odd minor buck that didn't mean anything (raise the back end more than full on buck)

She is now.

She did last saturday when I ended up dumped in the car park (or at least tried, was prevented by Gaynor as she was on the lead rope at the time) and certainly did today. Mind we agreed later that we should have taken her to the arena before Gaynor got on (hindsight is a wonderful thing, god wot)

Partly, if this is the first time anyone has fallen off, it'll be loss of confidence. certainly that'll have been it last week, combined with being a bit hyper and me being stupid enought to think about getting back on without doing some lunging

but partly - and this is probably the bigger part - its realisation that she can get the rider off, especially after succeeding in doing so last saturday, even if she didn't intend to at the time, she did in fact manage it.

so i've talked about it with gaynor, and talked about it with the person who gave her to me (whose judgement I trust).

I'm going to do lots more lunging. I'll check her over for invisible injuries (back, bruising down the sides, whatever, she is being bullied in the field). I'm going to get my teacher out now (I was going to wait until my foot was fully better ....) and see if she can/thinks it worth reschool & if there is anyone who can ride her through it, and my goodness i've seen her sit to some interesting stuff, then we'll go for that route.

otherwise, the conclusion is probably that if she can't be made a safe ride again fairly rapidly, then put in her in foal and keep the foal.

There is no point in keeping trying with a horse that is dangerous.

Anyone got any advice? thoughts? methods of preventing rearing?

I could spend a fortune on Richard Maxwell or someone of that ilk, but wouldn't want to if I was going to be no farther forward.

The thing is, we rather think it might be something in her head. (her mind, rather than a tumour or whatever)

rubber matting

my rubber matting arrived today; I don't know why people say it's heavy to move, this isn't, and supposed to be 20mm but in fact measured at 25mm, which is pretty d****** thick. Had to go get new blades for my stanley knife to trim it (you're supposed to leave expansion room, apparently as the horse uses it, it squashes down and spreads, which makes sense!) and in any event 12 X 12 wasn't totally exact, of course. Does anyone know of a building where the walls are in fact square?

Molly didn't object to it at all, christened it well and truly - a lot easier to get the poo up from it!!! - but the minute she went in the arena she had a wee. Of course, the one thing I should have asked john to put on the trailer as well was a bag of shaving s..... ah well.

and the 30 bales of haylage arrived (same delivery) and they are nicely stacked inside. I was right in thinking there was enough room. Should last me a while!!!

The plan had been that we'd try and ride her, but gaynor was of course late. I stood and did her mane whilst it rained, then decided to just loose school. My thought is, if I can really get her listening to me on that, then it should make lunging a lot easier as well.

Now explain this - she doesn't like lunging right rein, but finds loose schooling right rein easier than left, she didn't want to do left so I had to work on it a bit more than I anticipated.

I'm glad she never learnt to jump though ; the arena fence is very low, and if she could, I feel sure she would!!!!

Anyway, it was a positive bit of schooling and tomorrow I'll put the lunging kit back on and see how we do.

But it is hard on the foot! especially as one end of the arena is deeper than the other!

hock

those who have been reading from the beginning, when i was still on 20six, will remember that Molly got kicked on the hock.

tonight when i went to see her - too wet to do anything! - there was a wound above the same hock.

it isn't a deep one, and there didn't seem to be any heat in it, but the wound situation is getting beyond a joke.

i feel as though I want to set up cctv all round the field and tape a day to see how it is happening = either one of the other mares is bullying her (which I think most likely) or there is something in the field she is catching herself on, and everyone is sure that that isn't it.

hopefully, it'll still look ok tomorrow; i DON'T want to spend any more money on the vet this year!!!! She seemed sound enough, which is good, and it hadn't bled, it's just surface, but a bad place.

in the meantime - my rubber matting and haylage is arriving at 1000 tomorrow morning, so i shall have to be down there early to sweep the stable out again and clear the space for the haylage.

I hope it'll last me - planning to keep Molly out as long as I can - in which case the haylage will have been a good investment.

and the rubber matting will save money on not having to buy so much shavings. will still have to have some, to soak up the wet, but not nearly as much

and her breathing should consequentially improve.

fell over

me, not molly, of course, and landed on the foot that had been broken ...no further damage done, i don't think ...but hurts a bit more than it did.

I found the roller girth - it ahd been there all the time, over the saddle. lunged left rein but she will NOT do right rein .... but I did get her going right rein without the lunge line, and kept her going for a while. she didn't quite give in like she did monday, but at least she did it.

and I fell over during th eprocess of trying to get round to the right hand side of her head to send her away on right rein ; i was struggling to get her to stand still.

i am not active enought to get in the right position, and there's not a lot i can do about that until the foot mends better than it has, and since i'm doing too much, that is going to take longer than it would otherwise have done ....
hey ho

poorly foot

mine, not molly's .... i think i've done a bit too much, so gave myself a night off tonight. molly looked ok, but i might have to sudocrem a spot on her front fetlock tomorrow.....

still haven't found the girth for the roller! but haven't really had the energy to hunt too hard!

not join up

i'd actually intended to lunge properly tonight but had forgotten that the girth for the roller was at home somewhere having been washed. at least i hope it is!!!!! so lunged just from the bitless bridle and she wouldn't go right again so i decided loose school again. didn't work nearly as well tonight. partly i think she's realised i can't move wel, and partly because i couldn't move as well tonight as i could last night. probably doing too much!

join up..

tonight i decided to lunge - lunged left rein then decided to loose school for 5 - she did as i asked, trotted round, cantered, then i stopped and rolled as smoke and she came to me.

that was a good note to end on ...... especially after the hoo hah on saturday.

i think she was too hyper, i hadn't done any prep work and should have done, i should know better by now

also i should have gone back to the bitless.

so the plan is some lunging and free schooling, then lunge and ride with the bitless bridle, not hte bit, and see how we go.

very wet

you know they say you get what you wish for. wish for rain get rain. can't complain too much since it means that the land isn't parched anymore (really brought it home to me how dry it was wednesday in durham and more to the point friday crossing the bridge in lancaster - you could see mud!!!! instead of river.

anyway, back to business. I thought it was going to stop raining, had in fact stopped when i got to the yard. Plan had been to lunge (hoping the left foot and right hip were up for it!) then possibly ride depending on how we got on. But Molly was wet; and whilst she was standing in with a view to her getting dry, I got soaked, the heavens having opened. So i turned her out again. hey ho.

The hat I was wearing yesterday has gone in the bin; I'd a feeling it might have to, and there was obvious damage to the surface. Couldn't tell whether the innards had in fact been damaged or not, but really not worth taking the risk with. The trouble with putting a hat in the bin when it seems ot be in one piece is that there's a risk that some idiot might decide it is ok and retrieve it. hope not. It wasn't as badly damaged as the last one I broke 15 years ago - that was so badly damaged my friend was able to pull it apart with his bare hands (he is 6'6" and built accordingly ...) and I am still missing 1/2 hour of my life. But it goes to show the importance of wearing a hat.

Back to work tomorrow after week off. not looking forward to that. an empty desk will have been filled....

she had me off again

today i decided to ride to see how my ankle was. Gaynor helped - we had her on a lead rope as well as tacked up, the plan being to lead her round to the arena and then i'd do 10 minutes walk to see how i did. we didn't make it that far.

The arena gate was closed and Molly started backing up whilst gaynor was opening it. then as gaynor turned round to lead her forward, she started going backwards and up; gaynor pulling her down. she finished up, apparently, on her bum and then, gaynor says, on me before getting back up again. I didn't notice her on me but did notice i'd come off again, on the right side this time, banged my head (which happily seems ok) my right hip and ankle.

I don't think I've broken anything this time, but she's a cow for that, that mare.

she'd also hurt herself, was streaming blood from a very small nick on one leg, had managed to injur the back of a back foot, and a few other scratches - this is a gravelled area we were on.

So I guess we'll be back to lunging

was thinking about keeping her in because of the blood, but i haven't got any bedding; tried her in charlies' stable and she was going demented. so she got purple spray everywhere and turned out again.

This may be because with me coming off last time (not for anything she did) she's now worked out that it can be done. or it may be whatever it was that happened previously when she was said to have reared. this is the irst time she's shown a desire to rear with me.

of course, i hadn't had the martingale on. wish i had, might have kept her head down.

morecambe again

was persuaded to go to morecambe again last night - partner wanted to see friend to plan trip - had a nice run back over the tops through settle, up to grassington, down through pateley bridge; went to see my mate in yorkshire who'd been supposed to be at home wtih a gammy leg, she'd gone to work!!! (her mother driving, but still....) and back via the yard to see molly who was clearly sound. was knackered by that time though.

hopefully, i'll be able to get on her tomorrow, will try anyway if gaynor is going to be there and it isn't raining. hopefully also the rubber matting will arrive; was supposed to have arrived last monday but hadn't turned up from whereever it was coming from.....

progress?

on my foot - there was - but then i did too much walking in durham today....

we are hoping i can get on molly on saturday. i do hope so. i'm fed up. she's probably fed up.

found some photos of her when she was six, must post them up - will have to scan them in first..

small molly

you would think she had shrunk - not as in got thinner, but height wise. I stood her in her stable, there's a step down to it, and she looks tiny:



and suits the new headcollar, hope she doesn't break it!!

holiday

now on a week's holiday. the original plan had been to take molly down to my friends in yorkshire. of course that was always looking doubtful once i broke my foot, especially as my friend had knacked her leg at the same time. rang up today - friend went in to have injection in her knee and was taken into theatre instead. week cancelled! so we'll have away days from home, and go down to yorkshire one day at the back end of the week. and i might at some point during the week get on the mollyo and see how she's doing...and how my foot survives!

sunshine after the rain

and i even put my jods on for the first time since the accident. not that i was planning on riding...i don't think the foot is yet up to the risk of being caught on the side of the stirrup.

went and got molly in - she was happily near the gate and came to me - and gave her a good grooming and found i still had some fly repellent whichi thought i'd run out of. so that was some good time together

then came home and had to do another hour's work..... duh.

rain! hurray

i meant to post last night but lost track of time....

able to drive myself to work so that was good.

went to the yard afterwards, went out, got her in, groomed her, turned her out. but I rather think i did a bit more than I should have done!

She didn't want to tie up, of course, and i dind't want to put her in the stable as i wanted to have the space to move away in case - don't want to risk her standing on the broken foot!!! so the grooming was mostly done with the lead rope in my hand.

and of course I'd forgotten that the night she broke my foot, she also broke her headcollar! so until i get round to going to get one (I like the sort that do up over the nose as well as everywhere else, it's much easier when tacking up) i am using one i really don't like - bought becuase it looked flashy, for Queenie, but have never really liked it. hey ho, it's a headcollar and will do for now!

tonight, i couldn't face pottering right over the very far side of the field (which is quite large) but i could see that she was sound. and we were going to get drenched as well.

But nice to see some grass starting to green up again, even if we are all getting soaked as well. and it will mean it's back to mowing the lawn!

mobility

yesterday allison took my down to the yard and i managed to potter out to molly, who duly walked back to the gate for some hugs. Happily she wasn't too far away across the field (unlike today - i seriously wasn't up for walking right across to the other side on uneven ground!) and i was pleased to get a chance to say hello and check her over. she's got one new cut that wasn't there before, same as previously a sideswipe from a hoof. she got lots of hugs from me whilst licking partner's neck, which was bizarre - might have been a good salt lick, that!

to swollen to think about getting on her - if i'm struggling to walk, then riding isn't a good plan, i don't think!

and i've just acquired a rocking chair - next door didn't want it any more and she was going to have to take it to the tip if we didn't, i've always wanted one so there you go! not sure which room it'll spend it's life in but at the moment i'm sitting in it typing this.


oh yes, and i tried driving today, to see if i could. i think i might be ok with that. the secret of it is to do everything slowly, good anticipation, and minimise the gear changing. so i guess i'll be going to work tomorrow under my own steam (I told them if i couldn't drive i wouldn't be in ...)

reading

about other people's horses in various blogs and websites, since i can't ride my own.

trying to persuade partner that the planned holiday is a waste of time as i can't do any of the things we'd planned .... partner thinks i might be able to.

if i can't drive by monday, i won't be going in to work....

stilll a pudding...

i did suggest to gaynor she take me down to the yard tonight, but it is still really swollen (the foot that is) that I cried off, on the basis that all i would be able to do would be sit and sunbathe. don't trust the foot to stand for long enough to be able to groom or antyhing, and certainly wouldn't want to take the risk of getting it stood on!!!!!

bare fields

well not quite. allison took me down to the yard tonight. I'd been thinking that with the lack of rain the fields would be looking somewhat brown, and they are.. But Molly was fat as butter, so it won't do her any harm for a while not to have as much grass...

the foot is all swollen, and i managed to knock the 'break' against a chair leg this morning, nearly screamed the place down...

ah well....

pot's off

hurrah! but it isn't mended yet. There was one bit when the consultant pushed I shrieked wiht pain, I knew that particular bit was still not right. But i can walk. I tried driving - i did it, but it was NOT a good idea and won't try again until the weekend. The foot is up like a pudding. and the psoriasis where the plaster had been ..... euch. I'm sure everyone must have thought I had a horrid lurgy. and of course as soon as the plaster came off and it hit the fresh air, it started itching. so the first order of business was a bath ......

I can't see me getting on the molly for a few days yet, it's not worth the risk (the consultant said it would still be another three weeks or so before it was really right) so that puts a kibosh on our planned week away. we can still go away, but no point taking molly really. and no point taking the bikes. and I don't suppose i'll be able to walk far. duh.

I think I might suggest postponing holiday - that will go down like a lead balloon, but not a lot of point if can't do what we'd planned!

wish me luck

tomorrow I go back to orthopaedics. I hope they will take the pot off my leg. It's weight bearing now, if still a bit twingy, but there's no real reason I need a full pot now. A support bandage, yes, but the pot, I don't think so.

anyway, the leg & foot didn't get washed, of course, before they put the pot on, so it'll be horrid (sweat pouring down inside of plaster cast, not a nice feeling!) and I really really want to get it cleaned and moisturised (ive got psoriasis both legs, so you can imagine.....but it hasn't been as itchy as I would have expected it to be in the heat!)

Even if I still can't ride for a bit, so long as I can drive and go see her, that'll be something!

hot molly

was taken down to see molly tonight; she just about remembered who i was! need a good grooming, but looking ok, and i was amazed not covred in fly bites!

heat ... plaster

i hate this with the pot on, sweat running down the inside of it.

on the other hand, i think it's probably too hot to ride anyway, we would both hate it. the only cool time will be first thing in the morning, and there would be no one there to help me get on!

i probably shouldn't be in the office - a sick note would have been better than going in, even if they are paying for a taxi. but no one else is going to do the work.... and since my brain is in once piece i would rather not put a sick note in.....

only fools on horses

has been really good.

but i really don' t understand why diarmuid gavin made it as far as tonight - has to be the luck of the irish, because, for all he's got a lot of charm, he rides, as someone else put it, like sack of tatties, and which loon thought he should wear spurs is beyond me and a lot of other people. his horse has had to put up with a lot!

edited to add - but at least he's gone out gracefully!

i was even motivated to vote tonight!

back to the office

the boss wanted me to try and get in before he goes on his holidays, so partner took me in this morning and someone else brought me home.

the office are going to pay for a taxi to get me to from work for the next two weeks; mad, but if that's what they want to do! a 50 mile round trip, so you can imagine that ain't going to be cheap. i can't see thepoint myself, it works quite well having work dropped off and picked up, it 's almost as if they think youcan't work unless you are inthe office. which of course i can. i shall see how it goes. there's too much pottering about to do, either that or forever interrupt people to get files out for me which is a pain, and i can't get my foot elevated properly. will take more cushions in and see if i can't make it work by putting the leg on top of the cpu (the tower, the pc itself). but i don't really think it's high enough.

and i am fed up with the heat - better than cold toes, i know, but the feeling of sweat running down the inside of the plaster is not pleasant!

and i was really pleased with myself. i got partner to take me to pc world and bought a router, and have managed to set up a local area network between my lap top downstairs and the pc upstairs. been meaning to look into doing that ever since i bought the laptop, and this has motivated me to do it. and i managed to get it all to work, i can even print from the laptop. the only thing i've got left to do is modify the firewall settings on both computers to ensure that they can talk to each other - the usual problem with a firewall, they stop all sorts of things including what you want to do!!!!

gaynor says molly is being bullied again, one wound gaynor had to get molly in and bathe it, so that's not good. but not a lot i can do about it, i'm struggling to stand for any length of time.

hope you have all been watching only fools on horses, it's rather good. those are proper high fences they are jumping chaps!

a day out!

Haven't had anything to write about due to sitting in the house with work infront of me and a pot on my foot.

But today had been booked off as holiday, as it's my birthday. The original plan had been Berwick, as we've never been, but that was no good as I can't walk.... so we went to Salts Mill, Saltaire (near Bradford).

It was a good day out. They lent us a wheelchair to wheel me about it (couldn't have managed otherwise); good grub; classy shopping; Hockney artwork; will go again.

It used to be a weaving etc. mill, built by titus salt who also built the village forhis workers (victorian philanthropy); it was then bought out by drummonds and then by Illingworth Morris who closed it in 1986. It was bought by a chap called Jonathan Silver in the late 80's or something (he sadly died in 1997 aged 47) and it has Hockneys as he knew Hockney in their respective youth in Bradford.

And we came back over the tops to pateley bridge and then down to ripon where we stopped for a drink.

a good day.

depressing

being unable to be independent, go ride, go do anything ....

4 weeks of this.

and a friend said today her brother did the same, and even when the pot came off he still coulnd't drive. i said, did I want to know that?!!

But I've got a quantity of work to do and the trainee has been given an empty box to bring some more in; the plan is i'll work here, and he'll pitch up every couple of days or so when he's up here to collect what i've done and fetch me some more ....

which means things will be vagules kept going and i won't have to go off sick (private practice is not the place to get sick pay ...... one doesnt').

hot

i spent nearly all the day until about 3 sitting in the sun in the garden in my swimming costume. course I'll end up with odd legs (one white under the pot, the other brownish) but i don't often sit about like that (too much to do)....

Partner took me down to the yard this afternoon to see Molly; she hadn't been washed off after riding Thursday , of course, and she had been a bit sweaty - i like to wash it off, but of course couldn't. She was fine, brushed her off and covered her in fly spray - partner did the catching and turning out of course!! People are keeping an eye on her, which I knew they would of course, but it's not quite the same! the car is still down there. i rang gaynor to see what time she was going down (the plan being she'd take both me & partner down and we'd come back in my car) but she'd been to a party last night and was not well......

5th metatarsal

is broken and i have a plaster on

out of action 4 weeks till it comes off...

it that foot is really cold now (shorts were agood idea this morning but not now ...

casualty

and all my own fault ...

I didn't check the girth properly after I'd got on (i didn't check it at all after I'd got on, tbh). not a problem until I got into canter - happily, we were inthe arena and there were others there, amazingly - and then I seemed to slip slightly to the left (we were on right canter lead, except I think she was on the wrong lead); I felt my ankle get turned and then I was losing my balance and fell off, landed heavily on left hip. I knew I'd done my ankle/foot before I landed, I was right, it's broken. And my own fault? the saddle slipped.

Molly was very good, just stopped - just as well, there was emily & her mate riding, wouldn't have been clever if everyone had gone totally pear shaped and molly skating about. she just stood there. I eventually was hauled up and limped back to the stable - gaynor put molly in and untacked her - but after 5 minutes i was non weight bearing and knew I had to go to hospital.

So this entry is late - i was there 3 hours (not bad really, they were very very busy) it should have been done earlier.

and all that was after Molly had pulled back yet again, this time succeeding in breaking her head collar .... so she's going to have to be put in her stable in stead of tied up outside.

I am not happy, quite apart from the pain, and the fact that I can't drive, and I can't afford the time off work having been off Monday, it's the inability to do anything.

Might be better after going to hospital tomorrow. Last time I did this, life was a lot easier with a pot on.

flies

we haven't been really plagued by flies so far this year, but they were certainly out tonight - must be the damp

it's the last week in june - hoppings week in newcastle, wimbledon, therefore it rains. (the hoppings is the fair on the town moor, it always turns into a quagmire!)

so gaynor & I rode.

Molly pulled away and broke the twine she was tied up to twice; guess she wanted back into the field, as that was where she went. When I eventually got on, she was back to tanking off, and threw in a few minor bucks as well tonight, not helpful

we set off round the 20 acre, then up the hill in canter, then back round the top and down the back of the geldings field. the only time we were free of flies was when we were cantering, or when we were on top of the hill in a breeze. doing the gates was a real pain, flies buzzing round our heads, the horses heads, euch. we'd not thought to put fly repellent on first. and the hill down the back of the geldings field is seriously steep, I hadn't done it before, and cant' see me doing it too many times in the future, not downhill and certainly not when it's been raining- scarily slippy! very steep! we didn't like it!

but we had a good ride. Molly is odd. she'll do a nice steady canter but then prats about at a gate for no reason. Hope she behaves herself when she goes on her holidays, will be a bit of nightmare if she doesn't!

missing another night ...

because i wasnt' well yesterday ..

tonight, there was absolutely no one about; the people who usually ride tuesday night weren't, and the girl who rides katie had already set off by the time i got there. so ...anyway, the saddle pad wasn't dry, so i would have had to use the treed saddle ...the plan is for gaynor to ride out with me tomorrow...

damp weekend - but good grub

so yesterday afternoon we tootled down to my friend's in North yorkshire. didn't go to plan. Friend had been called to help another friend who'd been hauled off to hospital having been kicked in the face by a horse (happily, not nearly as bad as it could have been) and didn't get back till 9pm. so we should have taken a lot longer to get there. her partner (another superhubby, without the ring as yet but still .....) was cooking away for today's party. the plan was, barbecue. weather forecast was supposed to be showers. they forecasters omitted to mention the damp fog that settled over the entire area for the entire day ...... food was good though! and there was too much talk of horses and law for my partner's tastes!!!!

but it's a small world, another friend had brought her horse over for the weekend, turned out we knew each other from way back when. Amazing horse, latvian import that doesn't know any english (say good boy and it stops dead, so hate to think what that is in latvian, she says she has to be really careful not to say that in the middle of a show jumping round!!!!). it was in the paddock next to the mares (one of the mares can't be trusted with a gelding) and all was fine if the mares were just over the hedge, but he got very agitated when the mares moved off, at one point apparently (I didn't see this) he jumped the (empty) hen coop and certainly gave several thoughts to jumping the fence! happily he didn't!!!!

So when we go down for our holidays in august there'll be some good company horse wise as well!!!!

enjoyable ....

for the first time since I got Molly I felt I enjoyed a ride; which shows how much progress we have made.

5 of us went out, which normally i wouldn't have done as it can be too much. I picked where we went - down the park, under the road, canter up the hill, round the top and back down. Molly stayed in front for most of the way; the canter stayed in control even when she wasnt' in front (and that was my fault conflicting signals!); she did nap twice - once for no good reason and once because she wanted to go through a gate! - but on the other hand opened three gates, one of which is a total pig as the catch is overgrown by bushes, and didn't blink at trains over head. A total star. One gate I couldn't get her settled for and she was going backwards up the hill we'd just come down, but stayed at least pointing at it. so we were all very pleased.

No where near the perfect ride, but in control and listening .... so we are both improving.

Now if we could just get her to stand still at the mounting block....

molly the mule

i didn't have any great plans for tonight - i was falling asleep, having been up super early this morning for some reason - but i did think get her in and groom her would be good. bear in mind she'd been in the this morning for the farrier, and had been in her stable for a bit, i could tell that.

So i went out, and there was three of them in the field shelter over the far side of the field. put the head collar on to get her in; she planted herself, sorry, I'm dozing nicely here and i'm not moving, was the sum total, I think.

ah well .... she obviously didn't want to spoil the week off she'd just had

flu jabs

so the vet turned up and did the flu jab; asked for a vaccination card that i'd never had, so will have to ring up tomorrow to find out what that's about .... i thought it was the passport that was wanted. katie the pony has a dust allergy, which is what i'd thought when fay said; exactly the same as molly, she's been moved into what was molly's box up by the door where there's more air. she can't go out 24/7, however, as she gets acute laminitis if not watched like a hawk.....and the vet impressed all round, i gather, didn't surprise me!

i picked the phone up at 1650 and didn't put it down until 1805. so i was pleased molly had already been seen today.

still far too windy to do anything ....

wind & another scar

was so strong there were trees being blown flat - just not worth the effort of thinking about riding, as I think i've said before, it gets me ratty and that transfers to the horse (and that's before you start thinking about whatever might blow up and spook her!).

One of the other mares has had another go at her; I'm getting really hacked off with this. There had been no problem over the winter particularly, but now it seems every time I look at her there's another place where she's been booted by another horse. I am fairly sure it is always a side on clip from a horse shoe; there's no wire in the field so it can't be that, otherwise one would think it looked like a barbed wire cut. depressing. Don't want to have to move her again, but one day it's going to be something worse than minor lines across the flesh

The only other thought is if there's a nail sticking out from a fence or something somewhere; but if there was, Molly wouldn't be the only one getting caught on it, surely?

mental note (now i've thought of this possiblity) go check fence line and field shelter, just in case. and take hammer with me.

washing

was hung out on the line in glorious sunshine this morning; so i had to rush home to get it in, as there was rain behind me and apparently rain in front of me and more rain expected. since this was the stuff that didn't get dry on sunday ..... and sods law says it won't now rain at all. So Molly got looked at, checked over for injuries, and that was it. It was blowing a gale as well so I don't suppose I missed a lot in terms of a dry calm ride ...

we were going to have curry tonight, but partner has just rung to say that the curry house is closed for refurbishment. damn. that's about a week's meals for the price of one (non vegetable thali with extra nan, goes a long way between 2!); and I'll have to cook, which i had anticipated avoiding....

schooling

Tonight we were in the arena - and that went relatively well, I really start to think we are starting to get somewhere.

Someone had left a jump up, so I took it down and turned the poles into trotting poles; if Molly had been over trotting poles before, it was before I had her so I didn't know what she'd make of them. She made nothing of them, was quite happy trotting over them.

And, I actually remembered how to canter, that is, how to get canter, so we got that and kept it going for a couple of circuits of the arena, so I was really pleased with me about that! that was right rein, couldn't get it left rein, but hey, non the less pretty good.

Course, when we started it was nicely cool and no sun; by half way through the sun was blazing down and I couldn't see going one way which was particularly unhelpful. Can't keep your head up and look through the horses ears when it hurts your eyes!

But I was very pleased with that altogether.

I think I'm getting more confidence now as well, which has to be an advantage!

wet depressing day

you know, we're never happy over here.

Collected my washing and hung it out; it then got soaked when it rained while we were out.

Haven't been able to ride molly as she's soaked - yes I could get her dry but that would take forever....

washer is still broke, it needs a man ...

but the kitchen & bathroom are cleaner than they were, which is good!

off topic photos

of morecambe bay sunset last weekend ...

really good ride

if very hot, and very late - I rang G at 2, she said she'd be there at 3, turned up at almost 4.... but we decided if she'd said 7 it would have been better!!!

Anyway, the really good ride. I said, let's go to the riding school as we hadn't been that way for ages, and in the heat it's a good ride as it's mostly walking.

It involved setting off past the house and along the track; Molly went on ahead, had a couple of points where she thought about napping but listened to me and didn't, essentially she was in front - usually by a good way - virtually the entire ride. gaynor had to keep telling me to slow down, hadn't realised how far ahead of her I'd got! the only time gaynor got alongside was going up a stretch of road to the riding school yard itself, don't know why that was. So we were very pleased.

But i'd had to use some of the time before Gaynor arrived bathing a wound - one of the other mares, don't know which, keeps having a go, and today there was a sliced line down the near side back of her quarters that definitley needed bathing and stuff put on.

And she had to be washed off of course when we got back ..... it's now trying to rain, and we hope it succeeds!

oh, and i put my stirrups up a hole, seemed to help ....

night off

bit knackered this friday (couldn't repeat last friday, the exceptional friday ride! ) so came home and managed to get the filter off the front of the washing machine, must do some washing and need to sort that out. took a penny out. should work. doesn't work. which means we need a man out and hopefully we won't have to dismantle the damn kitchen! and going to the office tomorrow to try and get caught up .....

Molly i think was happy to have the night off (certainly didn't want to walk over to the field gate) as if she isn't fat enough. and had managed to turn her fly fringe into a beard, must get one of those velcroed headcollars with fly fringe attached but i've only ever seen one and that was on a pony, not in a shop ....

partners gone to do the three peaks challenge tomorrow, 26 miles pen y ghent, whernside & ingleborough, mad fool!

a new route

I wasn't going to ride tonight, but Liz & Paul were going out and they kindly waited for me ( a pain, as usual Molly wouldn't stand still to be mounted ..... ggrrhh)

We went up the side of the geldings field and then down through the park, the reverse of a route Molly & I have done before. She was very tedious along the top of the field and I got quite panicky - kept napping back at a place where there's a quite steep drop off to the left and nowhere to go ... but did eventually go on, she wasn't allowed to go back as she was in front and there was nowhere to go, we had to do it. Anyway, down through the park she was slighly on her toes but ok, up to the gate, then the new bit, round the back of our farm. the route takes you right the way down a long genlte slope and then through a wood beside the river - you can imagine the type of thing, a coppice of trees and rosebay willowherb (will be when it flowers anyway) and waterside bog type plants, the sort of area that turns into a morass after rain and in the winter, narrow track, a really good ride.

Molly was pretty well behaved through there, particularly as she was behind Liz's horse and molly doesn't really like being behind except when she wants to be, the more so when Liz's horse jeffrey took major exception to some rather large leaves growing in the path (looked like false rhubarb....). So overall pretty good.

But I must take my stirrups up a hole.

And the new pad, whilst loads better than the old one, does insist on slipping back which can't be right, you end up with the edge of the pad under the saddle.

and Molly had to have a really good wash off when we got back, dripping with sweat she was....

shearing

when i got to the yard tonight, the sheep were being sheared. Certainly different from as seen in demonstration at county shows! and a couple of the owners were helping out by rolling the fleeces and sweeping up - but to the extent that Fay didn't clock what time it was until i asked her where gaynor was, fay was supposed to be at gaynor's babysitting whilst gaynor came out riding with me. Duh. I said, if I'm here it has to be at least 6pm .....

so i pottered about the arena, realised i hadn't put the saddle on right so had to get off and do it again, then stood and talked, then went back in the arena, then though, I'll go round our favourite field again only to be hijacked by one of the geldings who always wants to be at molly (or any mare ....) so i gave up, at which point gaynor arrived so i went up to the geldings field and up the side of it with her. that was vaguely successfull as i did get molly to the top of that hill on her own, which was the first time she'd done that and I dind't have my stick with me. so i suppose on balance it was a goodish sort of night...

tired/....

i was tired when i woke up this morning, and even more so coming home tonight; not happy with my driving in consequence and therefore decided not to ride (not worth it when too tired as you don't do what you wanted or don't do it as you should, you know what i mean....). It's going to rain, was in fact raining a bit on the way home, i shall sit here and quietly wilt till bedtime.

slipping ...

I was, on the saddle, which seems to have lost it's non stick qualities (its nubuck leather, should be a bit sticky). I probably need to see where the cleaning instructions are and give it a clean ....

Went out for a ride with Gaynor. I was very pleased with Molly to start with. We were going along the lane, which normally I can't even get her to the beginning of, but she went along the start of it very nicely and then decided to trot. I decided to let her, on the principle that it was forward motion and rather that than have her napping earlier than she might otherwise have done. She then duly napped, despite my trying to prevent her doing so. Got her going again, and then she had several nappy moments at her favourite spot (the orchard gate) and then decided to march on down the lane in front, towards the ford. so far so good, and we went into the field. the plan was to go up Holme Hill, which is a canter track usually, we had two fields to go to get there. she napped and jogged and jinked and I slipped and slid and we decided that holme hill was not the place to go. So we thought we'd go up the side of the big field (it's a climb in itself, but not one where the horses expect a fast canter) and both Molly & Charlie were disconcertred, and so were we, by the length of the grass! normally they keep the field edges mown, but not round this - i wouldn't have wanted to walk it myself, loads of nettles and you really couldn't see if there were any rabbit holes or anything, very disconcerting. Eventually she settled down as we went along the top and back down, but I'd lost some confidence by then.

A total contrast to last week, when I had confidence and so did she, and I wasn't slipping about all over the place, but I coulnd't get it together tonight at all. And I think if we'd gone Holme Hill I would have been too tense to be sensible ....

But overall, Molly did well, and it was a good ride really - I think half my problem was probably that I was starving, no tea before I ride..... never a good plan that, really, but not a lot of choice!

Flat work tomorrow in the arena, and a ride out again on wednesday.

too hot

far too hot this evening. Had I been at home this morning, I expect it would have been cool enough to do something; but by the time we got back from Morecombe (via hutton in ribblesdale and hawes, not mention leyburn and bedale stuck behind caravans..... and constable burton hall gardens which we found ourselves passing) it was far far too hot to do anything. I got the fly repellent and head collar, went into the field, caught her, put her flyveil back in place, covered her in fly repellent again and came away.

But we had a nice time last night and I've got some really good photos of sunsets.....

morning ride

decided to ride this morning as we're going to morecambe again for a party (driving down while the match is on, should be no traffic about LOL).

So went down a bit too late to go out with a couple of them,never mind. Got her in and groomed etc and decdied to put on the fly veil I'd bought at the sale t'other week, it attaches to the bridle. She did not like that. She pulled back as it went over her face, pulle d the tie up ring out (it had been fixed to the stable door) and I got a rope burn, ouch. then later I realised she'd in fact pulled the door, I think the door jamb, so the door won't close. Will have to keep an eye on her in case she's done something to her poll/neck/back in consequence.

But went out for a ride anyway, young emily was out, just round the 20 acre yet again, in trot, I wanted to work on getting the trot better, which I managed, then a bit in the arena when we got back.

Then mowed the lawn when I came home; all before breakfast! had asked partner to mow the lawn, but ..... didn't happen.

forecast for thundery showers tomorrow so might not ride at all if it's doing that when we get back.

two days down

blogger was. no reason given just unexpected technical failure. I wasn't clever enough to write it up in word to paste in .... so three days worth tonight!

Wednesday - we discovered Molly has no objection to someone drilling holes in sandstone wall, but takes serious exception to a hoover (she broke the baler twine and took herself back to the field, lucky there were others about as I was sitting on the loo .....). I decided to lunge her; she decided she woulnd't go right rein again. TBF, it is a long time since I've lunged her, I've been keen just to ride her when I can, but it was tedious! what she did on left rein was pretty ok, but what a cow the other way. And the saddle rack is up, so can leave saddle locked up at yard, glad to get it out of the car at long last! And the person I sold the endurance suberpad to, is a regular reader, hello Jan! it's a small world, isn't it .....

Thursday, got the cheyenne back. the difference between the new pad and the previous was immediately obvious just taking it out of the car, clearly symmetrical. the difference is clear riding as well, feels a lot better and no rub. And no movement. Allison came out with us, we just walked round the 20 acre yet again!

Today - exceptionally, I'm usually too tired by Friday, rode again and gaynor came out (exceptional for her as well, but she'd been ill all week till yesterday!) and we walked round the 20 acre then turned right over the ford, along the side of a copse, through to the field, back through another gate and back along. Molly trotting and Charlie cantering, not at full tilt but Molly had her nose in front. We had planned to just walk, what with the heat. I wished afterwards I'd suggested we canter up the hill, they would have both enjoyed it and I need to get some faster work into Molly really.

Anyway, that's the quick recap on the week!

heatwave?

from freezing to boiling in one week - and the forecast is to stay good till the weekend at least!

We rode again tonight; still no dints behind the wither. Tomorrow I'll try it without the gel pad. We went out in company tonight, 4 of us but just for a walk. Molly did 4 or 5 naps on the way round, and was sticky at a couple of gates (but very good going through some sheep!) and very good round the 20 acre - which we did going to the yard, not my usual away from the yard.

It was all in walk, too hot for anything else

But the gp is very hard compared to the treeless - although I have at least found my seatbones again!

And of course, I'd forgotten to put my suede seatsaver back on the saddle, no stickiness! and very perched...

the news on the barefoot is that i was right, there was a fault with the pad which has been replaced. So I'll have that back tomorrow or thursday... That's the trouble with buying things you haven't actually seen in the flesh, you don't know what you're looking for and therefore can't see that there's a problem immediately. Anyway, very good service from horseandharmony, thank you!

another ride roung the block

in the gp.

not sure. That is, I'm not sure about it. Still no dint behind the wither, but still got the gel pad on. and today I had the stirrups too short, having sorted them out so they were at least a better length and equal!

today for the first time she went down the hill without napping back AT ALL, so that was pleasing. BUT we me someone coming the other way and she started napping back as soon as she clapped eye on horse/rider. Happily, I knew the person and her horse from ages ago, and she kindly agreed to turn round and ride back round the field the way she had come (there was clearly no way Molly was going to NOT follow her horse). So we got round and back without any further napping. Shame I had to ask, but she wasn't going to and I don't want her to nap back and me have to give in unless I am totally forced into it. The person has been there herself - her horse used to be forever tanking off and generally being a seriously major handful, but now is ok and is even being sensible on fun rides out, which was good to hear.

Gaynor had said she'd be there - but wasn't ..... ah well!

gp saddle

today i went down to north yorkshire for lunch - friend and her partner (a horse vet!) have a new to them house they are renting - mega - land, horses with them, wow - anyway, she'd been trying my GP on her horse, didn't fit so I brought it back with me.

Since it's the only saddle I had about, I thought I'd put it on Molly - and I'd foudn my gel pad as well - and see if she'd changed shape again. Went round the 20 acre again (not the best ride in the world, I realised too late my stirrups were seriously uneven so had to stay in walk) then when i got back put the stirrups right and went in the arena.

Last time i had the gp on her, it didn't fit, indentations behind the wither where the tree was pressing in. Today, no indentations ...... bizarre. I did try it with the gel pad last time, and it didn't make any difference. She's obviously changed shape again.

anyway, she was good again, went down the hill with ony one turn round (which was particularly impressive as on of the geldings, the one that she always stops and flirst with, was just there near the fence!) and quite happy to go on round the field. she did have one stop - some wildflowers that weren't there last time!!!! but that was all and she was ok about carrying on.

So I'm still pleased with her, and we're both gaining confidence in going out.

Will try the saddle again tomorrow.

Mind, it does feel very hard after riding in the cheyenne!

bareback again

My saddle is in the boot of my partner's car, on its way to aberdeen to be taken to horseandharmony - there is an asymmetry in teh pad, and since partner was going up anyway, it struck me that it made much more sense to send saddle & pad and then they can see them both together and even put them on a horse!

So I rode bareback today - well, with the bareback pad. Of course needed help to get on, but (it might have been the heat) it wasn't nearly such trouble as it has been in the past. Young Emily was able to hold her at the mounting block after I'd led her round and stood her in place, and she stayed there.

Plus - moved to the other half of the yard today, and the mounting block there is much more the thing, don't actually need a stirrup, can just put a leg over.

just did a lot of walk work in the arena, interesting how you really notice what muscles do what when there is absolutely nothing between you & the horse. only 20/25 minutes, but quite good and interesting.

The only b. was, Molly of course hasn't worked out yet that the barn isn't home anymore, and I couldn't get her to do anything except go to the barn when we came out of the arena. at least she did it in walk!

and I put the bitless bridle back on today, thought it was time for a change as she has been a wee bit shaky with the bit just lateley, especially when you first put it in.

But spent the day there - moving all my stuff from one tack room to another, rearranging everything (you know how that is), hosing down new stable, etc. Decided not to go home for lunch (wished I'd taken a packed lunch with me) - 5 miles each way, it's much quicker/cheaper to nip up to sainsbury's for a sandwich than go all the way home and back.

knackered though. I'd been invited down to a friends at Ripon, but frankly I think I'll struggle to keep my eyes open if I set off down there now!

another success

Well, Molly really surprised me tonight.

It was a lovely day - you wouldn't think it had been the same week as Monday! There were in fact other people riding but they'd gone out before I'd had a chance to even get changed .... never mind, there was someone to help me get on, and she was good about that for a change. I thought, the hell with it, let's see if we can get down the 20 acre, not having managed it on our own before I was ill a few weeks ago.

She did one turn round on the way down to it, then walked nicely down the hill, through the gate, trotted all the way round the field, through the gate out, trotted the lane back to the yard, didn't once show any sign of napping at anything or finding something to shy at, excellent. It was the worst sewing machine trot you could imagine, but it was moving forward, not going backwards, so t did me.

Very pleased with her.

Since that was so good, I thought that was enough and turned her out and came home.

and I've just got on to the computer - partner has been hogging it, filling in a job application - and found the suberpad has sold, excellent! So that's me to the post office in the morning ...

tired

I could NOT get to sleep last night; possibly because of the cup of tea I drank at 8pm, possibly because ididn't have my usual hot chocolate, but either way, had a very bad night last night, so went out without my jodphurs this morning and decided i didn't care as I'd be too tired by tonight, which is about right! surprised i kept going as long as i did really.

Molly is happy, and fatter, and one of the fishermen told me he'd been feeding her the odd polo. He might come to regret that. I said, i don't mind if it's only the odd one. But the same chap is going to have a word with the people last night, he said; I said, don't worry too much they didn't see me and I wasnt' doing the stentorian bellow thing but he thought he would, he said their rule is not to have fishing rods waving about the place precisely in case they frighten the horses. Apparently the man had caught a 9lb salmon and was telling his mate the tale ... as you do....