Bradders

Funnily enough I was wondering if it could be twins earlier!

He was fine when I checked on him last night A bit cheesed off at not being brought in for the night - he clearly enjoyed his stay out of the rain and mud, but generally OK. Leg is still swollen and he is not entirelysound but he is 10 times better than he was. Phew

That sounds a bit scary Jacky - I think as long as there is nowhere in the field where they can corner each other, things should be fine and settle down eventually. Nemo is horrific with new horses, his preferred mode of attack being to bite then run away - it takes about 3 weeks with him, but he does calm down eventually - we just made sure that everythign new was booted and rugged to be on the safe side. Great news that Loki has settled Clare - sounds like a lovely ride Apologies to everyone for not commenting on their posts - so many posts, so little time!! Lunged Rolo in full tack on saturday - he had a complete panic attack at one point, but was able to calm him down eventually and sort the offending bit of kit out, he was much more settled after that - got some really nice trot work out of him. I then rode him around the school for a few minutes - just to see how my back would copy - it is not happy with that saddle, but it is going to have to get used to it. Sarah then led us around to the yard by a different route - flappy silage bags, slag heaps, scarey puddles etc - she then tricked me in to beign led down the lane on him! He was fine! But we couldn't go far - I think because my back is quite stiff at the mo, I found that I felt quite unbalanced in that saddle. We will get there! And it did feel good to be riding again - even if it was just being led. in walk Nemo has taken priority for the time being so not sure what I will do with Rolo this week, but will try to do something

Thanks everyone - think he is feeling a bit better - farrier was really late so Nemo had to wait (never been patient!!). He was pawing the ground with his poorly leg and was able to take weight on it when the other feet were beign trimmed, so I guess he was feeling better. He was very excited to be turned out and trotted around the Somme - looking lame, but very happy, and calling for his second wife who lives in the field next door. (She's even more ancient than him and blind in one eye, but as far as Nemo is concerned, she is part of his harem!) So am feeling a bit more positive - Bute is helping with the pain and the swelling is going down slightly - just hope that he copes with being out - he is so much happier out

Thanks everyone - I am sure the old sod will be fine - the fact that he felt up to biting his old mum is a good sign Just wish the swelling woulsd go down a bit. He is getting his feet trimmed tomorrow then we are goign to try turning him out - so keep everything crossed!

He has now been retired for 2 years, and been on grass livery for the last 18 months - and is loving it! When I fed him last night, I noticed that he had a general reluctance to put weight on one leg - their field is like the Somme in places so it was difficult to tell. Got a second opinion - who spotted that the leg was swollen - was so busy looking for asbcesses in hooves etc, had not noticed - had checked for heat etc but there was none. Washed all 4 legs thoroughly, but could find nothing worse than a bit of mud fever. Wrapped offending leg and stabled him for the night - checked n him before I left last night and he would not put any weight on that leg - I cried all the way home Yard owner rang me first thing this morning to say that he was much much better - he was very settled when I got up there. He is now putting wieght on it, but he is not right - I am very lucky in that YO's husband is a vet and my friend is a horse physio - both think he has tweaked somethign whilst hairing about the field. We are keeping him in today and tonight - will see how he is in the morning. (I have best YO in world - she has turfed 2 of her horses out so that Nemo and Bonnie (who are inseperable now) can be both be kept in, in adjoinign stables ) This would be tough enough, but he has chronic COPD - and I forgot to soak his hay last night - haven't had to do it for so long, I just didn't think. So, I have just dosed him up with Ventapulmin. Get one thing sorted and another thing goes wrong. I know he is not going to last forever, but, the realty of it all hit me yesterday. In my mind Nemo is as strong as an Ox, and full of beans - I guess I am goign to have to accept that the reality is slightly different. On the positive side, he is very happy in himself - stuffing his face, and generally being Nemo (he was tied up on the yard this morning, managed to untie himself, terrorised the other horses, put the fear of God in to a very timid livery, generally caused mayhem - then went back to his haynet - and nipped me twice when I led him back to the stable That's my Nemo!!! )

Any news?

Awwww - I love the very last one of her beaming! I nagged from a very young age - finally got my own at the grand old age of about 35!!

Missed this!! Congrats to you all!

Much sympathy on the back front San - I am still not able to ride either. Sorry that your knee is playing you up too Pendlewitch. Glad that the lesson went well and that grey looks lovely! Why can't you have your own land Jacky? Long story, but I have been asked if I can help find a home for a yearling - and he just reminded me of a minature version of Kane!! Very very cute Thought you could have little and large!

So glad that things seem to be working out for Danny

Money is dire here too, but should be up for the Saturday - do you fancy car sharing?

Sorry guys, not had much time to post recently - hence rather terse posts too! Easta does look good - does your OH want to come and lunge Rolo? Congratulations to you and Apple - that is fantastic!! These long evenings are lovely Jacky aren't they - get all that practising in for when you compete Be interesting to see how things pan out at the yard Clare - fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly. I know what you mean about how nice it will be not to have any events - we have a full cross country course and Sarah keeps threatening to run an event - will mean everyone being confined to barracks for the day, and I have already said that I am not responsible enough to steward!! Am sure Frant will love the new yard. I am currently "gutted of Crawley" - just as I start to get my enthusiasm back, I have knackered my back. I am not a happy bunny - it has not spasmed for at least 18 months, although, in fairness, it has been warning me for weeks that it was not happy!! It was such a lovely evening last night that I hobbled out to the school with him and just got him to walk, without the leadrope, behind me, just doing lots of circles and turns - he was such a good boy, although we have still to master trotting - he just stands there and looks at me as if I am an idiot!

Excellent news!!! I have some good news!! (All very minor in the overall scheme of things, but it made me happy!) I lunged him for the first time in months last night and was chuffed to bits with him - let me run the lunge stick up and down his back at the end - a massive step forward. (Especially as he looked as if he had never seen one before when we first went in the school!) We have used our "wilderness months" to strengthen our bond - one of the reasons I was so chuffed with him on the lunge last night was that at one point he was clearly toying with tanking off (he is impossible to hold on the left rein if he decides to go for it) - I spotted the signs, said "no" - I saw him look at me and change his mind At the risk of humanising him, I am sure the thought process was "ooooh I could really go for it now if I tried", then "But I don't really want to upset me old mum" Then - he was hacked out today (not by me) in the chucking down rain and howling gales - he put in one massive spook at the start but then was a good boy I love my little tank soooo much - even if I am still nursing the bruises from a rather over zealous bout of mutual grooming the other night!

That is fantastic Clare - the pair of you make it look so effortless I am seriously impressed that you managed to get any riding at all in - most of us have been confined to base this week - we are at the top of a hill and always seem to be hit by the worst of the weather. It was nice and calm this morning - but I was not up there then!! Loki is such an eye catching boy too Good luck with Wanda tomorrow - it'll be great! Sorry - no help on the sarcoid front!

Oh Jacky, I am so envious - would love to box up and just hack somewhere where there are no roads!! I am so pleased for you! My friends who have boxes have the freedom to go and do whatever they want Glad that Blue is being good (and that Apple is keeping you on your toes!!) Well done Clare - we need pictorial evidence!! And, I hope that Wanda's hormones are back under control! Have just had a running commentary about how well Rolo was going - had to ring the yard and he happened to be ebing schooled at the same time - apparently he was going really well- guess Mimi has finally got the hang of the treeless! So, Rolo loves it, Mimi copes with it - just me to go!!

Oooh - the arrangement with Ziggy and his owner sounds like it could be a good one Danny does look stunning - am envious of your beach ride San, but we had a lovely beach dog walk instead when I was in Anglesey Are your yard issues sorted yet Clare? Good luck with your lesson - I can thoroughly recommend Mountain Horse boots - I live in mine. We were waiting for the farrier today - he was late - I got bored, so I took a photo of Rolo with my phone - excuse disgusting state - he had just been brought in for the farrier because he had lost a shoe - hence only one clean(ish!) foot. Think we are starting to get the "traditional" look! Think your OH did brilliantly Sarah

Sorry, another quick one from me! Good luck with the showing Jacky - someone was tryign to persuade me to show Rolo in hand at easter - given that he doesn't trot in hand that could be an uissue - plus he looks a mess - his feathers are onyl just growing back etc etc. Interesting about the Myler bits - Rolo is in a french link as he has such a shallow mouth, but we do get brake failure every now and agin, and he does like to lean on it. Not at all envious about beign to hack in Windsor Great park Clare Glad that east is keeping you on your toes!!

I am in Sussex so will put out some feelers for you - he sounds like an incredible horse Just a quickie from me! I rode facing backwards today On a sheep!! I was tryign to restrain it for my friend (lambing is in full swing) when the bloody thing ran straight between my legs, swept me off my feet and carreered around the pen with me, facing backwards, astride her. My friend was laughing too much to help so had to wait until the sheep stopped before I could get off! Actually she was quite comfy! I did ride Rolo too - only in walk in the school as he has lost a shoe, but he was a very good boy - his field mate called for him several times, a brand new pony in the next door field was cantering around and his other field mate walked past the other side of the school on his way out on a hack, and he did nothing! He also put up with loads of faffing around as I tried to get my position right - finally seem to be settling in to the treeless! Well done Jayne - that is fantastic!

I am a great believer in gut instinct - that does nto help you at all tho does it? How many vacancies does this yard have? How urgently do you need to give her an answer? I would pull out all the stops over the next couple of days - notices in tack shops, feed merchants etc etc, drive around and knock on doors - that is how we got our last livery - they just turned up at the back gate, our local tack shop also recommends the yard if asked, so you could try asking the assistants at shops etc - if nothing else comes up then I guess that anywhere is better than nowhere. How much of a deposit do they want and how much notice would you need to give? I just feel so sorry for you Glad that Wanda is feeling well - not such great about you tho!!

If you get stuck, he could come to use for a holiday, I am sure. But I know we are too far away. I would be devastated in your position

Ouch - I came off a 14.2 at fast canter on to the road and it hurt like hell. Well done her for getting back on tho - can you bottle some of her gumption and send it to me please Hope that she is OK Great news about the riding

Can't see the videos Clare as I am at work - but I guess you did well as that is a bloomin fantastic score! I also still remember my first proper canter on Rolo - we had got left behind at the back of a trot - he took matters in to his own hands and decided to canter to catch up - the others thought the charge of the light brigade was coming up behind them and took off - not one of us had brakes. Fortunately there was a gate at the end Glad your canter on Feniks was much nicer Well done on the dressage - shame that you were dissappointed with your marks, but it seems to be the way it goes sometimes. Hope it doesn't all go pearshaped for Danny again. What a little star Kane is. When I had Barney, he had a whole repetoire of evasions up his sleeve - when he planted, I found the best thing (if it was safe to do so) was to just relax and sit it out - he gave up eventually!

That was one of the things we asked when I trialled the treeless - they are fine! Sorry to hear about the car Clare - I am paranoid about cam belts -had one go a few years ago _ I was gutted as it wrote the car off. Hope the lesson goes well tonight - don't forget to PM me your time - I will try to support if I can!! Esther is absolutely gorgeous - how cute is that rug! Picture the scene in my house last night - sat in front of telly, watching Torchwood - sitting astride the Barefoot on the saddle stand!! I just figure that If I can get the hang of sitting on my seat bones properly on somethign that isn'#t moving, I stand more chance with doing it when I am mounted! I now want a saddle stand on stilts so I can get the leg position right too!

Try looking on the Barefoot section here: Enlightened Equitation