AlTRPD

It sounds as if both Blue and SOl have been enjoying themselves, today. Guess who picked up the old camera... broken, no batteries or card in... this morning? That's what comes of rushing around at my age. Anyway, Doris arrived with her owner riding her down to my yard bareback. She was clearly a bit stressed, having left her foal behind, and did a bit of box walking and a lot of calling. Decided to leave her with water and a haynet while I went to get more bedding and a few other bits and pieces, and also pop into a local horse fair to try and get a little Liverpool bit for Bron. That proved a waste of time, as hardly any stalls there, and only a few coloured cobs and young little ponies, plus a few chickens, ducks and rabbits. Got home to find Doris had emptied her haynet and looked much more settled and quiet. She'd made quite a mess in the box, so sorted that out and spent a little while grooming her, which she seemed to enjoy, and even had a brief moment of grooming me back. She's a friendly old girl. Let me rub her ears, handle her legs and pick up her feet with no trouble at all. She has a few lumps and bumps but nothing serious that I can find. She is like two different horses put together, though. From her shoulders back and down, she's a cob, but her neck and head are much finer. She's got quite a length of rein, too. Apart from handling her and grooming her today - oh, and feeding her, which she seems especially keen on - I didn't mess around with her. Sorting tack to fit her can wait until tomorrow, and I may just turn her out on her own in the field for an hour, rather than ride her. I can watch then how she moves, and tell a fair bit from that as to whether she'll suit me. Watched her walk into the yard this morning and, even though clearly a bit worked up having just been parted from her colt, she looked to have quite a good, long stride. Merlyn, I suspect, is sulking or jealous of the attention I gave Doris today, and was pulling very nasty, threatening faces at her over the stable wall between the boxes. She gave as good as him back. Don't think they'll be safe to turn out together for a good while, if ever! Chucked Merlyn out with Bron, and was surprised that he didn't kick hell out of the gate on seeing me this afternoon, and in his usual impatience for his feed and to come in. He still made a bee-line for his stable as soon as I opened the gate, though. I am now going to make sure I put the right camera in my jacket pocket tonight, ready for the morning.

Glad you had a good lesson, Clare. I heard this evening that Doris is arriving on trial at about 9.30am tomorrow, instead of Monday or Tuesday! Will take my camera down to the yard. Saw her tonight at her owner's yard and, although fairly sure I'll know quickly enough if she'll suit me or not once I've been able to ride her, she will take time to get her as I'd want - especially her muscle tone and feet, which latter I may not be able to do much about until I know she'll definitely be staying. Been hunting high and low for my spare tack - especially my bit collection - but without success. All I can find is my old mare's hackamore and Merlyn's pelham and the vulcanite mullen mouth snaffle I use to exercise him in, and a mouthing bit! As she's been ridden back and forth bareback to her old field in just a halter, the hackamore will probably be the best option for now! Looking at Doris's head and mouth's conformation, she's a lot finer that Merlyn. In fact her head looks more like she's a pony X TB than a cob - at least, it does from the off-side, which is her more photogenic one! I said before that she's no oil painting... Her near-side profile's marred by her off-centre blaze and how her left eye shows quite a bit of white in the corner around the iris. Her present owner doesn't know anything about her history prior to him buying her as a brood mare a few years ago. She's thrown some very nice foals, though, but her present one seems to have also inherited his dam's off-centre blaze. He's quite a big lad, too. His sire is a very nice, dark palomino Sec. D stallion that, to me, seems very tall for a D, and can't be far off 15.3hh - 16hh! Anyway, I'll let you know tomorrow evening how things go in the morning, and post pics when I get some.

Sounds as if there's lots going on with everyone, and I can add a bit too... Doris will be coming to me on Monday or Tuesday for a fortnight's trial.

Well, I'm only a couple of hours down the motorway, here in S. Wales, so if you fancy a daytrip one weekend, bring your riding kit! My stables are in TRPD's Llys Trerobert Bird Garden, and the tracks adjacent to that. Lots of nice, off-road riding country.

Now that is interesting, but strange, as they are getting the same amount (weight) as last week, from the previous haylage bale, but weren't scouring last week. They also get soaked beet pulp and chaff mixed into their feeds, and are all looking fit and well, even gaining weight and muscletone, in the case of the recent arrivals, who were quite poor when purchased. They also include a 19 yo retired p-t-p horse now just used for hacking, and who hass just come in off grass, and whose teeth are badly affected as a result of years of crib-biting and windsucking. Wanda's test results do seem strange. What could be the cause, I wonder?

I wonder if Wanda's behaviour could be down to too much haylage? Six piles all to herself sounds a bit ominous, and the stable yard next door to me, and that has mainly TBs, have noticed that all of their horses have started to scour a bit on the latest haylage delivery, it is that rich. Mine are not scouring, but are feeling very full of themselves. Bron's been whizzing around the field like a gymkhana pony, snorting and with her tail in the air. This morning I turned Merlyn out with Bron, and just a tiny bit of haylage between them, as there is still a bite of grass on the fields. No sooner had the haylage gone, than Merlyn was at the gate demanding to come back in. He's hardly walked fifty yards since being turned out, so he'd another think coming! I have been using an elasticated support around the damaged rib, although took it off a few days ago, and wasn't wearing it when I rode M the other day. Have a feeling it could take weeks to fully heal.

It looks as if things on the horse buying front are progressing well for some here. Fingers crossed for the vetting. I was talking with the friend who has bought Doris's colt, and she now has her stable ready for him, and is anticipating his arrival this next weekend. I think Doris will be very glad to be rid of him, as he's a big lump of a foal, and getting quite above himself! Merlyn behaved disgracefully yesterday when I took him out. First of all, they had been cutting the undergrowth going down the narrow path near our gate and onto a river bridge. There were leaves... nasty green ones... on the path and he refused to tread on them or go anywhere near them, and really played me up. It's not a nice place to have half a ton of horse having a hissy fit under one if one is fit, but I am still feeling the effects of a torn chest muscle, even without the usual back problem, and no way would he go forward - and I wasn't about to let him run backwards. In the end, and for safely sake before we both either ended up in the river or caught up on the railings, I dismounted, and the old barsteward followed me over the leaves and the bridge like an old dog! I could have brained him! I then had to find a handy rock to stand on and use as a mounting block to get back in the saddle. The swine knew exactly what I wanted to do, and kept assuming a good position, then spinning his quarters around just as I was about to get my foot in the stirrup. Finally made it back on him, but was by then holding my ribs and really not feeling like riding at all, other than that I couldn't afford to let him get away with that and go home! He set out up the track in a sideways jog and with his back up, and the last thing I felt like was being treated to any of his bucks! Ended up sending him on into a trot and thinking that, unfit as he is, he might soon be glad to come back to a walk! When he finally did, it was a sudden trot to halt transition as we rounded a bend... and then an attempt to spin around. All he'd seen was a couple with a pushchair, and going in the same direction as us some distance ahead. Finally persuaded him to walk on, so we then followed the couple, and with him snorting and and making grumbling noises, and with me having to hold him on a short rein and really use my legs and seat, so as not to give him an opportunity to perform one of hims infamous 180 degree spins... so he grumbled, snorted, and decided to jog again and drip with sweat! At the next possible uphill turn, we left the couple with the pushchair, and despite the very rough, stony ground, Merlyn still insisted on jogging. When we reached the next junction, I decided to head back towards the stables via a path that goes uphill, and then back down to swing around and join the track alongside the river. M was still jogging and messing around, so I made him trot all the way up the hill, hoping he'd be tired before we reached the downhill stretch - he wasn't, and my ribs were really hurting by then! (And I am sure he knew it!) He jogged downhill, and would have trotted on had I let him! So much for trying to walk the last half mile home to bring in a cool, dry horse! When we got back to the leaf-strewn bridge, he didn't hesitate to charge across, as if aware that he was due a feed... but I made him wait until he'd cooled down first, and he was none too happy about that, banging hell out of the stable door until I relented and thought he might cool down sooner if he had a haynet to nibble. If he's going to keep on behaving like this, he'll be chucked out in the field for a few hours before he's ridden, and have his haylage rations cut! If there's anyone living near me who wants a rather lively old horse to exercise, DO get in touch! (That is a SERIOUS offer, btw, but you would need to be fit and fairly experienced.)

I hope that Blue continues to improve, and that they can all get turnout, soon. I turned Merlyn out this morning with Bron - by 1pm the old devil was at the gate hammering hell out of it to come back in. It's almost impossible for me to be around on the yard or gardening next to the field once he and Bron have finished the haylage. I went with Colin and Jill today to check on their cob, Dan, and yearling filly, Beauty, who are turned out on a nearby farm. Both detached themselves from the others and came up to us, as if they knew which people were theirs and wanted whatever treats they'd brought for them. Doris and her foal are also turned out at the same place, and it is about 100 acres! Luckily they were with the others and I got a chance to have a good look at Doris. She's probably only about 14.3hh, so slightly smaller than Merlyn. Her foal is a big lad, and rather nice, too, even though I am not often attracted to a chestnut. He was showing off and trying to jump on his dam. Got the feeling that she will be glad to see the back of him soon. She's obviously done him well, and it's showing on her a bit now, and has lost a bit of ground and a fair bit of muscle tone, too, after having been used as a brood mare for quite a few years. She's a little long in the back, but has a good length of rein, and appears to be a nice natured mare, although shows a little white around one eye, which gives her a slighty odd look. She is no oil painting, and her blaze is off-centre and runs down into one nostril and one side of her muzzle. She also has three white socks, but they are not too long, thank goodness. Her feet certainly need some attention - and they are quite large! I have a slight reservation about her being up to my weight, especially in her present condition, and lacking muscle tone on her back/topline, and with her typically sagging 'brood mare belly'. However, I think that a couple of months without the foal pulling on her, some attention to her feet, supplimentary feeding, and with me doing some ground work with long-reins and possibly asking a lighter friend to ride her out to begin with, she could well suit me fine for my purpose. She doesn't look like a full Welsh cob, more a part bred. There's a bit of quality in her somewhere - possibly quarter TB or a bit less, although she does have plenty of bone. It wouldn't be a quick job to get her back to working under saddle, though. I didn't get much opportunity to see her moving, even in walk, and to do that justice, she really needs some attention to her feet first. Her conformation is such that she's not likely to be as bouncy a ride as Merlyn, though, or to be as strong and powerful behind the saddle, due to him being so short backed and compact. IF I do have her, I'd feel happier if I could lose at least a couple of stones - and she'd probaly be happier about that, too!

I learned this morning that my next door neighbour is considering selling her young sport horse. He's a 16.2hh, dark bay gelding. TB X (I think) ID. He's an absolute gentleman in the stable, to shoe, box, traffic etc., but obviously still a bit green under saddle, although coming along really nicely. His passport has him as a 4 yo, but if so, he was a very late foal, and his teeth look more like a 3 yo's. He has a lot of developing/maturing still to do, and to my mind, probably won't fully develop for another year or so. I've ridden out on Merlyn accompanying his owner on him, and he is a lot more sensible than my old devil! In the right hands, he'll go on to be a really useful horse. Price-wise, I think he is probably very reasonable at £2K. Not my type of horse to ride, as so big and 'breedy', but I do love his laid back nature and manners to handle. Another pal has just sold a slightly older and more advanced, but otherwise similar horse, for £10K! I've had yet another horse offered me on permanent loan - another old mare. This one is 16 or 17 years and a PB cob. Have seen it being ridden around in the past though, and doubt it is up to my weight or would suit me for my purpose. (Elongated camel comes to mind! )

Sorry that Guiness wasn't what you'd hoped. Let's hope the next one will be better. Around here there are some useful horses going through the auctions for an absolute steal at present! £300 - £400 is all that the TBs and TB x are making. Friends have just bought one mare for that sort of price as a p-t-p prospect.

Argh, Gooster, don't get me started on bitting and bits, else I'll still be on the soapbox this time next week! Why so many people seem to think a jointed snaffle is THE mildest bit, regardless of the ham-fisted creatures at the other end of the reins, and regardless of the shape and conformation of the horse's mouth at the other, is totally beyond me... And as for the mentality that, when a horse opens his mouth or finds some other way to tell the rider how darned uncomfortable he is, they don't engage the brain at all, but just slap on the drop or grackle nosebands and martingales, clamp it's mouth shut on the problems, and haul its head down! Net result, a ruined mouth, upside-down neck muscle development, and a horse so tense and uncomfortable, it hasn't a hope of developing a good outline and reaching any potential it might have! I could go on, but cannot afford to get worked up! Back spasms last evening landed me in A & E until the early hours of the morning... Cabbagepatch, I wish you more than luck. Beware the geese dressed as swans and the delusional sellers. Take time, and do try to be objective. I find it helpful to make a load of notes to myself - realistic ones - as to exactly what I am looking for, and use it as a checklist when viewing horses. Yes, there is usually some compromises that are possible, but listen to your gut feelings rather than some of the blarney sellers often attempt to bamboozle a potential buyer with - even the odd bit of emotional blackmail and flattery thrown in for good measure! An old chap I once worked for once said to me that there was no such thing as an ugly horse - only horses with bad proportions and poor conformation, and I am convinced he was right. The ugly ones I see around are just not put together well! (Says she, who is well aware that the old cob brrod mare, 'Doris' is no oil painting!)

Indeed there are, and the one I picked up had me feeling really ill last week. Let's hope that Kim recovers quickly and is able to fight it off. Re. Pendlewitch's comment about buyers ability not matching what they think is a perfect horse for them... Well, I had to smile, as that is so often the case. I see a lot of it around here. What never ceases to amaze me are the number of people who will go out and buy foals or unbroken youngsters - often with potential - and believe they can handle, break and bring them on, despite very limited experience riding, let alone horse management or horse psychology. So many end up ruined that way, or broken-in by the 'so-called' experts - and that often when far too young and immature. When I was training, and apart from TBs destined to race as two-year-olds, I was always taught that a horse or pony should never be backed until it was at least rising four years old, so that it could mature and develop properly. Even then, the individual horse's level of physical maturity needed to be assessed, and its education tempered accordingly. The emphasis was always on the handling and gradual introduction of new experiences prior to actually backing the horse or pony. Get that right, and all seemed to follow a natural, calm progression, so that when backing took place, the horse had built up such a level of trust, that there was rarely, if ever, any problems. Nowadays, patience seems to have gone out of the window, and so many people look for short cuts or perfection without wanting to put in the groundwork or the effort. Some even expect a two or three years old to be the 'finished product' and suitable for someone with, perhaps, six months of weekly riding school lessons. From what I have seen of the quality of many riding school lessons, few pupils can hope to establish a good, independent seat on a horse in that time, and unless they are able to afford good quality, private tuition. (And that is before they get onto aspects of horsemastership and stable management etc.) Anyway, if well enough, I hope to visit my goddaughter towards the end of next week, and have agreed to try that event mare, as she has a proper, stone built mounting block where I'll be able to mount and dismount this 'monstrous 16.2hh beast'. (Anything to get the girl off my back and stop her nagging, but also because she's been busy ensuring the mare will stand quietly at that block for a creaky old rider to get into and out of the plate!) I've told her that there is no way I'd have that mare, though, however good she is, so guess she just wants to prove some of her points to me. I might also get a ride on the young Highland mare, too, then, which will be fun. It is years since I rode a Highland, and have always liked the breed. I've actually been waiting in this lunchtime for my EX-livery woman, who sent a message via someone else to say she ws coming to see me to sort 'matters out' - presumably the outstanding livery fees? I was also told that she'd needed this long before doing so to calm down, as she is so angry with me! She hasn't turned up yet... I wonder if she even will? Probably not if she knows I have the quote for repairing the brand new stable doors and door linings that her colt ate! Interestingly, she is under the impression that the reason why she had so much trouble findiing somewhere else to keep her animals, is because I have been poisoning all the local yard owners against her! I wonder how she thinks I did that? With psychic powers from my sick bed, perhaps? Heck, I hardly see anyone unless they call in for a cuppa down at my place! Alas, her reputation goes before her, and goodness knows how long it will be before her new YO has their eyes opened, and she will be on the move again. At least it was lovely and peaceful down on my yard this morning. The sun was shining, Merlyn and Bron relaxed - or as much as Bron will relax when denied the chance to scoff Merlyn's breakfast as well as her own because he was popped into the stable to eat it in peace! Even the resident c*** robin wasn't as frantic today as he has been the last few, and with so many of his offspring still hanging around his territory! Just wishing I wasn't still feeling as if a mule had hammered hell out of my ribcage, else I'd be risking throwing a saddle on Merlyn and going out for a nice afternoon's plod (?) amongst the rock monsters, gremlins and trolls up on the hillside...

Guiness looks quite promising, but hard to get a good idea of his conformation from the angle of the photo. I do wish people would upload good profile shots, don't you? Fingers crossed for you with him. Talking of profiles, from Bron's one would never think her as broad as she is, and after removing the shafts from her cart to have those widened, it was a good job I checked by just how much! Before I thought 3" - 4" - in reality, they need 6" extra width now! Such a pity she is only 12.2hh! My friend with the old mare for sale calls Bron a proper little pit-hoss! Have to agree thta, not so long ago, she'd have been down the mines pulling a coal dram! Anyway, shafts have gone off the be sorted, and I should get them back in a couple of days. Fingers crossed Bron's not further expanded by then. Indeed, she might even trim down a bit once I can get her out in the cart and doing some work! I'll be looking for a tipper/tipping cart for her in due course, and to collect firewood with and deliver horse manure. If my car fails the MOT in a couple of months, I'll be tempted to go to one pony power! Got fed up of referring to that old mare as 'the old mare', so told her owner that, if he didn't give her a name, I'd be calling her 'Doris'. "Aye, that'll do," he said, "her name's Doris." Perhaps her passport will say different and prove an improvement on that?

Congratulations, Clare. How exciting and I am so pleased for you. Watched Burley on TV today and thought of you... enviously! So sorry to hear about Wanda and poor little Banner. Hope that you can get to the bottom of Wanda's health issues soon. I'm going around feeling as if I've been booted in the ribs, thanks to some severe back spasms over the last few days, but think the steroids are slowly kicking in now. Itching to get back on a horse, although I doubt Merlyn minds loafing around in the field eating his head off - when greedy little Bron lets him! Supposed to be getting the shafts off her cart tomorrow, so that they can be altered, but think I may need to re-measure them on her! Darned sure she's gained weight! Of course, at only four years old, she could still be maturing and filling out, especially in the shoulder region. I don't think she's got much more height to gain, as she looks fairly level now, but will put the measuring stick on her next time I bring her into the stable, as a couple of friends seem to think she's now more than the 12.2hh I measured her at last time. Sue, a friend who used to ride Merlyn, came to see them this afternoon, bearing apples. She thought the old horse was looking particularly well considering his age - in fact, she said he didn't look anything like his age. Was able to tell her that he still doesn't act it, either! Heard today that the mare I might be having will be coming in at the end of September for her foal to be weaned. I'll be able to have a good look at her then and perhaps try her under saddle. Was offered yet another on loan this evening, and for the winter. Very nice, but young and green, four years old Highland mare of 14.2hh. Felt tempted, as goddaughter has broken her to ride and says she's very sensible natured and easy in the stable etc. She's not seen much traffic, though. I'm aiming to wait and see what this 14 yo mare is like before making a decision, as I'd rather buy than borrow a youngster. Especially one with lots of potential and a career ahead of her. I'd hate to mess up a youngster, and am under no illusions as to being able to properly school or bring on a baby these days. How are the other horse hunts going? Any news yet?

Oooow, another over-height Connemara. Must let Merlyn know he is not alone! From my many years experience with the breed, they are incredibly versatile, and many are exceptional, natural jumpers. They certainly are not all like my old, pain in the rear, rogue of a character.

May I suggest you just take a few deep breaths and try to relax and just enjoy the event. That's what I used to do when competing with my old Connemara stallion in the days when I was up to competing. If he was enjoying himself, then I'd nothing to worry about, and worrying achieved nothing anyway, apart from causing me stress and tension, which is the very last thing anyone needs for a competition. My hay couldn't be delivered until tomorrow morning at some ungodly hour, so decided to leave both Merlyn and Bron out tonight, especially as it's supposed to be dry. I did net up the very last scrapings of remaining hay and hang it in the field, but both turned their noses up at it, so gave them extra chaff in their feeds. Merlyn didn't think much of that, but Bron did her ususal hoovering up in his bucket. Talking of unsuitable horse offers, I have been offered another mare on loan. From the photo, I can tell that, even at 14.2hh she would probably be up to my weight, but not so sure I'd be up to keeping her rather large, common head up off the ground! Although with a very short, thickset neck and little or no flexion, a straight shoulder, and very upright pasterns, I don't aim to even try her, and however quiet and 'suitable for a disabled rider' her owner believes her to be. Actually, she does sound to have a nice, sensible nature, and might well be ideal for doing RDA work with novices who want more of the experience of being on a pony's back when being lead around and supported by helpers. It's quite amazing how differently people seem to interpret a rider's requirements, isn't it? How they can seem to make assumptions or jump to conclusions when given a few simple facts. For example, if one says one is looking for a forward going horse, some seem to assume one means one that's keyed up and raring to take off at the slightest excuse! To me, it just means that I don't want something bone idle and that has to be driven forward just to get its feet moving and head off the ground! I like a horse that comes together nicely between hand and leg, knows how to engage its quarters and is light on the forehand... Oh, if only that old event mare wasn't so darned tall! My goddaughter - a fit and healthy 22 years old - rode her yesterday and emailed to say that she could hardly believe how light and supple she felt under her, and considering the mare is 19 years old. (GD had her doing flying changes in a collected canter when playing around and bending through a patch of thistles.) I can't help but wonder what she'd make of 24 yo Merlyn under her when he does his 'flying changes of direction' as in 180 degree spins to escape the rock monsters and ditch dwelling trolls? Been too ill with a chest infection to feel up to riding him the last few days, but he's had time out in the fields, which I doubt he's minded. He won't mind me having lost almost half a stone this last week and with this infection, though! Anyway, I hope those who are horse hunting and competing this weekend have lots of success. I shall be thinking of you all and looking forward to reading the updates next week.

Well, I know for a ride and drive mini Shetland, if that will break the 'three' thing and mean the next one will be a perfect match for Archie's mum... A friend was doing my two for me this morning, and when I got down the yard just after lunch, it was to find my livery had gone. Whisked away when they knew I'd not be around, it seems. They had cleaned the stable out. Just as well, as the yard broom and most of my breaking tack also appears to have been whisked away, too, along with what they had borrowed from the neighbouring yard and another friend - and they still have a set of keys for the yard gates and buildings, not to mention an outstanding livery bill. Took the liberty of heading to B & Q for some new padlocks for the buildings... That's the last time I ever feel sorry for anyone and allow them room on my yard unless they happen to have a pony/horse belonging to me on a shared loan! Ethan's little lead-rein pony went to her new home today, too, and had unfortunately managed to break a large piece out of one hoof first, making her slightly lame. That meant I've had to bring Bron in, as I don't think she'd stay out in the fields on her own without trying something on. Hoping to see that possible new horse for me soon. Her owner weaned one of his foals today - the eldest one and born last February. The mare I'm going to look at is the dam of the next eldest foal, and that's also been sold and will be weaned soon, as born in March. I've seen some recent photos of the mare, who looks like a liver chestnut in the pictures, but whom I thought was supposed to be a dark bay. Time will tell, but she doesn't have a name, it seems. The owner is a bit of a character, so goodness knows what he called her on her passport! He claims he can't remember names, but I know he has a black mare called Bessie; another black named Maggie; and old fashioned bay cob mare called Gracie - whom I quite like and nearly bought a couple of years ago, but decided not to as she was in foal. The unnamed one is not the prettiest of cobs. In fact, she is a bit on the plain side, but as long as she'll come together and prove a comfortable, free-walking hack, I'll be happy enough as that is all I'm looking for. I am fed up with being offered totally unsuitable (for me) horses, whether on loan or to buy, and, although not yet an 18hh Clydesdale, I was offered a 16.2hh ex-event mare, now in her teens, who is, apparently a really nice, well mannered ride and is still capable of doing an excellent RC dressage test! (She should be, as she's been around Badminton (or was it Burley?) Either way, what good is that when I struggle to mount 15hh these days, and then have to duck to barely scrape under various tree branches at regular intervals, at that just to plod around our local woodland rides? Then there was the four years old Welsh cob stallion I was offered on loan for the winter... Yes, okay, he has been backed but I reckon I am far too long in the tooth and creaky-jointed to want to ride him away or bring him on, however nice natured he might be, and despite his 'potential'! At least no-one is likely to offer me a Shetland pony, unless in jest... Mind you, I am still having a recurring dream (or is it a nightmare?) about being offered a grey (think yellowish-cum-off-white) cob mare with a mane that can only be described as resembling 2 ft long dreadlocks! It has the stance and carriage of an Andalusian, which might sound promising, until one spots its glowing red eyes, and starts wracking one's aged brain to try and recall the name of the horror movie, where the original apparition must have stemmed from!

Things are bound to feel a little strange and surreal for a little while, and after your experience, and you are bound to miss Earl, but it does help to get out and ride, and maintain associations with others on the yard. It took me a while after losing Mog, and also my old stallion, and on both those occasions, it was anticipated, rather than sudden and unexpected, which can be much more of a shock. It sounds as if you have supportive friends at the yard, and I wish you every success finding somethings suitable to share with Rhia. The sun is shining here today, and someone had already fed and turned Merlyn out with the ponies by the time I struggled down to the yard, coughing and wheezing from the cold that has now gone to my chest. There is a horse fair not far from here today, and I'd love to go, if only to try and sell a surplus little synthetic 'Cub' saddle and to try to pick up a pair of dark, practical jods to fit me, and that are NOT these fashionable, dual or multi-coloured ones with extra, uncomfortable seams. Somehow, I don't think I'm up to going.

Well, most days I've managed to get Merlyn out into the field with the ponies for at least a couple of hours, and he's been ridden once by me since going out with my friend on her youngster, and he's provided the mount for a friend's ten years old daughter to have her first two riding lessons on, and then today she was lead out by her mother to practice what she's learned. Besides mastering the rising trot during her first lesson, the little girl's made considerable headway towards using her seat to wake the lazy old devil up a bit. I gather that, on the hack today, he was persuaded to trot a fair bit, and seemed to enjoy that. Indeed, I was surprised to see them back as soon as they were - about the same time as it would take me to ride that route on one of Merlyn's obliging days. Spoke with the husband of the livery horse's owner today, and it seems that the place where they believed they'd be able to go with him are not prepared to take him. I've suggested a couple of other possible places, and just hope one of those will soon. In reality, the horse would live out happily enough with shelter and hay if she can't get stabling. As things stand now, I've had to ask the people who have bought my grandson't little lead-rein pony if they'd leave her in my field a bit longer to keep Bron company until the woman's pony vacates the stable. They don't mind at the moment, but want the pony soon to keep their yearling filly company when she comes in for the winter. They aim for them to have adjacent stables, which are on the neighbouring yard to mine, but apart from their barn, where they have four large stables for their big horses. At least I've not seen the livery horse's owner since she got the message delivered by her husband - although I have heard, second-hand, a fair bit of what she has to say. I am very much afraid that, if she approaches any remaining yard owners locally, and coming out with that sort of thing, she won't find anywhere willing to take her on, even if they have room for her pony. They are not that naive, nor likely to want the sort of disruption and chaos such a person can cause on a proper, busy livery yard. At this rate, I can see her ending up having to sell this pony and, like the other, it will all be my fault according to her. As for the mare that she said she'd bought, it seems she has only paid a small deposit on her, not the full amount, and the mare's owner (a long-standing friend of mine) is none too pleased at being messed around. He'd have put her back in foal to his Welsh cob, had he known she was likely to be staying with him. Originally, I gave her until 1st September, but have told her husband that I could extend that for a week or two, but that's all. He is such a lovely man, and I really feel for him. Mind you, I don't think he will be too worried if they don't have any horses. He is the one who does all the feeding and mucking out, fetching and carrying.

I am so very sorry to learn this. My thoughts are with all those who knew and loved him.

In reasonable weather, I can pop him out with the ponies for an hour or two - as long as I'm not visible on the yard, as he'll then just stand by, and paw hell out of, the gate to come back in! Doubt I can manage two periods of ridden exercise a day, and due to work commitments for TRPD. Judging by his perforance today, he's likely well up to doing a bit more than a pootle around - which he will occasionally do when hacking alone and feeling in a lazy, laid-back mood. Today, I rode him out with a friend mounted on her 3 yo, 16.2hh, recently broken, Irish sport horse. It was supposed to be a quiet, three-quarters of an hour plod... and my old fellow was supposed to provide the youngster with a bit of reassurance and a steadying influence etc. He had other ideas! Have posted a fuller account of events in a blog on the TRPD forum... Link: Diary of a Happy (?) Hacker. Incidently, I was right regarding the colt's owner not having taken it in that she'd had her marching orders... even despite having put it in writing... so on the third day, this 'ogre YO' decided to have a quiet word with her husband, who is a lovely chap, and whom I'll be sorry not to have around. He was, surprisingly, not only very understanding, but resigned to it happening sooner or later. I gather there's not a yard (private or professional) locally that she's not been sent packing from, so goodness knows where she'll go next. My goddaughter reckons that someone should write a book based upon stable yard life, politics etc. She's been helping her uncle to select prospective grooms to interview for the coming winter season, and had me in stitches describing some of her experiences of the applicants and reading me some of their letters for a post advertised as 'requiring someone with TB experience, handling stallions and youngstock, and possessed a clean driving license.' One applicant stated that she hadn't 'done it with a stallion', but knew how to wash and clean a gelding's sheath out, and was their any difference? Another said that, because she'd only recently passed her driving test, her driving licence was very clean and had no marks on the plastic. Yet another wasn't sure what 'TB experience' stood for... but she had helped out at a riding school since the age of 12 years. (She is now only 16, so clearly missed the driving license bit, too.) The uncle is kicking himself that he forgot to add a minimum age when wording the advertisement. He's had over a hundred and fifty applicants contact him via a box no., and so far has only two or three that he feels are worth interviewing. A few years ago, that same chap invited a woman for an interview for a groom's position and, when he then told he that he didn't feel she had the necessary experience that he needed, she took her top off and attempted to make a pass at him in the hope he'd change his mind! It makes me wonder what other yards' owners' experiences are, when it comes to obtaining staff? There must be some cracking anecdotes out there, and a collection of them could make for a terrific read.

If anyone wishes to have a bit of quiz fun, or try out being a quizmaster, I have just posted a thread at this link: 'Just for Fun Quiz' I'll enter the names of all who have a go at either questions or answers in a free draw for another 'I Need A Home' dog lead, which I'll draw on the evening of Bank Holiday Monday. IF lots of people have a go, I'll add some extra leads to the draw, so you have nothing to lose. Enjoy and have fun.

Well, that coloured colt left the yard today. His owner accepted an offer of £200 for him yesterday. Perhaps because of that, she decided to let me know her opinion of me - the 'ogre' YO. Didn't feel I needed to put up with that or share what is, essentially, a very small private facility with someone with such a low opinion of me, so told her to find other accomodation. I put it in writing, with my reasons, and gave her the letter today. Was anticipating some sort of reaction, and had said that, when the colt went, I wanted to put my old horse back into his stable, as the weather is so bad at present, and with his teeth starting to go, I didn't want him losing further condition. Went to prepare the stable for old Merlyn only to find they'd mucked it out by throwing a few shovelsful of shavings over a filthy bed, so set about cleaning the lot out. The colt's ex-owner's husband came in and gave me a hand whilst she stood in the doorway watching, fag in hand, and with a face like thunder. I don't think it has sunk in yet that I meant what I said. Enough is enough. I am now hoping that tomorrow won't be as wet as today, and that I'll be capable of exercising the old reprobate. He was a right idiot a couple of days ago when I last rode him, although I am starting to suspect that it's something to do with his eyesight in bright conditions and when that throws dappled patches of shade, that causes him to spook at so many monsters! He was fine in the dull conditions and rain yesterday. Out of interest, how much steady, quiet hacking exercise do others think to be adequate or sufficient for an old (semi-retired) horse that is stabled, please? (Not looking for him to be work or competition-fit, just the basic necessity for health and to prevent his joints swelling etc.) Although I really want to rest the fields, it would be possible to turn him out for an hour or two on good days, although I've little doubt he'd soon be banging hell out of the gate to come back in again!

Thanks. BTW, if anyone wants to have a go at running a quiz and/or becoming a quiz adjudicator, I am sure we can arrange something. A trial run for fun and honours, perhaps?

I don't mind occasionally taking a turn as quiz adjudicator, but perhaps we can find others who'd like to have a go too? I've just posted the thread for next Sunday at this link: Whizzie's Quiz so perhaps those who are able to help publicise it in advance, would care to pass that on? Thanks. I'll do another free draw then, including one for an INAH web lead from amongst those who take part in the quiz, whether they win or not.