Clare

I'd be miffed too but what is your arrangement with her? Normally I'd expect someone to want to do all those things anyway as its part of the fun, otherwise she might as well go to a riding school, just wondering if she realises that she can help or even that you have to do those things!

Yes Loki is moulting thankfully he is mostly clipped so shouldn't be too bad, am hoping he knows something I don't about the weather Thanks for asking Gooster He wasn't the dog for us, it ended up a bit of a bizarre situation but the result was we felt he was just too timid of everything and that he would probably be better in a home with a confident dog. We are off tomorrow to look at a poopie Is anyone else really struggling with motivation at the moment? I don't think Loki has ever so many days off than he has last couple of weeks, I have just withdrawn from Munstead Horse Trials on Saturday as just not feeling it. Not sure if its just the horrible weather or because am giving up competing for a few months with new arrival hopefully coming soon horses will definately be takinga back seat for a bit and I like to have targets so maybe thats not helping either.

So sorry Ian Try not to the let the "what ifs" consume you, you did your best for Chloe and thats all anyone can do, life can be so so cruel at times Run free Chloe

Thank you so much Karen, homework looking for puppy classes was next on my list I have been trying to get a personal recomendation so that is great I think Loki must have warmblood in him then Gooster

Thanks Gooster thats really helpful to hear Apparently he is a real foodie too and his foster mum said they are using treats the same as you mentioned and he is anyones after they have fed him. He is confident in most situation its just strangers approaching him but given where he has come from I guess thats understandable.

Thought as this was a horse thread no one would be interested We are off to meet this young man http://www.abetterlifedogrescue.co.uk/Aldo.html Have spoken to his foster mum and he sounds a sweetie, slightly concerned about his lack of confidence after only having uber confident Murf most of my dog owning life but his foster mum thinks he is more shy than naturally timid and he will gain in confidence, we're just afraid of making the wrong decision, I'd be much more confident looking at a horse!

Oooh exciting CP Hope you're feeling better Gooster I've had to cancel my lesson on Saturday and have withdrawn from dressage on Sunday ...... as we are going to meet a perspective new member to our family so horse stuff is taking a back seat this weekend, very exciting and nerve wracking at the same time

That's fantastic, Sam must be over the moon, testiment to a lot of hard rehab work I would think I'm sure once the lighter nights and better weather (we can hope!) arrive CP you'll find your mojo. Sounds like you are going to be busy either way

Glad to hear Blue is back on form Things are pretty hectic getting ready for the first event of the season, well not going to feel ready but I've got in at Munstead on 23rd so we'll will see how we go. Have had a bit of a change on our flatwork, wasn't happy with the direction we were going so have changed instructors who has turned everything upside down, but in a good way as he has confirmed a lot of what I was worried wasn't going right. But think our dressage marks will take a hit until I've got a few more lessons under my belt as only had one and just about covered warming up and down, dressage next weekend could be interesting Although we haven't got out showjumping have done lots of jumping clinics and lessons and feel slightly more confident of what I'm doing but won't know until I go in the ring whether I will revert and hit the panic button again! What plans does everyone have this year?

How is everyone doing? We've been ticking over getting some jumping lessons in and with a bit of good planning went xc schooling in the sunshine last weekend. Having a bit of a downer on yards again, seriously thinking we are going to have to move as the yard is just not working for me on so many levels, but Loki is happy so its hard to uproot him but at some point my needs must come into it too I guess Keep hoping once spring arrives everything will be a bit easier

Aww Lilli, she has the sweetest face

How's everyone getting on now the snow has cleared off, to be replaced with gales and rain of course Loki never does well after time off and having restricted grazing really has not done him any favours, he's a bit grumpy and tense, it might be more down to the fact he was vacinated last week, I always give him plenty of time off afterwards but it does seem to effect him around a week later, this is the third year I've noticed it so don't think Im being paranoid. We're off to the Jock Paget clinic tomorrow, not really feeling it at the moment as have had a horrible horrible week, it was a year on Tuesday that my dad died and then on Wednesday Murfdog had to be pts, I always felt their passing would be linked but never expected it to actually happen I know he was a good age at 16 but it doesn't make it any easier.

Sounds an eventful evening pony wrangling, now where was your camera Fingers crossed for the physio today

Not sure what your weather forecast is Gooster but we have severe warning of snow for Fri and Sat and sounds like most of the country is the same so you may find the decision is made for you I really went off chickens when we were at a yard with them and one of the horses had a wound on its legs and whilst the owners back was turned they had a pecking frenzy at the wound and blood went everywhere and it was really hard to get them away

Oh no thats not good poor Blue. As he has been such a star since he came back into work I think I'd be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt and get his vet out to give him the once over. Hopefully he is just being opinionated though! My day didn't start well, the pony I turn out in the mornings had pulled his turnout rug down into his bed and it was sporting a very impressive lake of wee, so had to find another rug for him, then went into Loki's stable to discover he had tipped over his big water bucket and flooded his stable, going through crazy amount of shavings as it is, he was not in my good books! It was one of those mornings I wonder why I do it

Phew just a light dusting for us today and no more forecast at this stage, but very cold so I expect the school will be out of action How is everyone doing? My lesson was at Heathlands, I will normally go to hers but as she was just down the road holding a riding club clinic thought might as well hack over. Only my second lesson with her but have enjoyed both so far and feeling slightly more positive our issues can be helped (eventually!)

Yeah but our school copes with wet but it freezes really easily so no riding, which having just got him going again would be very frustrating! You'll be fine Gooster, I'm sure he'll settle again now he is back out in the field Got a jumping lesson tomorrow, I decided to hack to venue as don't need to go on the roads to get there, regretting that now and wish I'd gone for the warm car option

Looking at the forecast for next few weeks I take back everything I've said about the rain, much rather have that than a big freeze!

Well done CP He is so tidy in his jumping I think he needs to have a word with Loki Lack of turn out is a nightmare Gooster think you have done the right thing in trying the other field. Ooh go to dressage you'll be fine I've gone eventing just before holidays before, OH mentioned it but it had never crossed my mind as being an issue So PW have you a new addition to your herd, you mad women

Yep Loki kept his shoes on but our lesson was cancelled due to waterlogged school There are different ways to encourage the stretch, if Loki has been working properly all I need to do if offer the rein and he will take it forward, if he isn't and I need to ask I widen and lower my hands into plenty of leg, I'd have a play and see what works best for you and Milo, have fun on Friday and hope you have a photographer going with you *Ahem* Gooster did you not promise us some video from your lesson

Thats bad CP, I'd be having words with her Dad if I were you. We moved fields today and it will be a Christmas miracle if Loki comes in with any of his shoes on tonight the way they were charging around, I did tell him he was going jumping with CP and Milo on Saturday and our farrier is not working this week so he had better control himself but looked like he soon forgot Don't feel bad Gooster with this wet weather foot problems are inevitable, hope the colicy horse is better today

Merry Christmas Grace, heres to a fab 2013 Hmm Im assuming the chap with the green hat has a party popper not a weird tonge

Loki got a new rug too and Im off to Olympia on Sunday with Christmas money from boyfriend so no doubt Loki will end up with more presents than me! Although I think I might be buying other people rugs at this rate as people keep spotting him moving horses around the field by their rugs, he even nearly had his pony friend off the ground as he lifted him by the top of the rug, apparently the belly straps were full stretch and the pony was very nearly airborn and squealing at him Just a heads up I didn't realise but the freestyle dressage from Olympia is on the red buttom tomorrow night Well done CP and Milo You're going to show us up on our lesson next week!

Yay, will be nice to see some pics

I believe broken bones and facial injuries Yes they caught the driver, he had his kids in the car too, deserves to go to jail but doubt he will.