One True Friend - the music says it all.

I've had quite a nostalgic day looking through pics and playing my sax. Obviously nothing better to do with my time.

Hmmmmm - so self indulgent.

I've not been too well this week so a big thank-you to my friends that have visited and tried to get some sense out of me :-) I'm trying to be cheerful - honest!!

Anky back in the school and Remy tries out the saddle.

Anky in the school this morning, first time for a while. She was pretty calm, if a little lacklustre and inattentive, but not tense and softer into my hand than the last time we did any schooling. I was tired this morning and a little lacklustre myself so we worked on walk halt transitions and added a little reinback towards the end of the session. So, not too bad a session, lots to work on. If she continues to improve healthwise, we can only get better.
Put the saddle on Rem for the first time and did a little in hand with him. He didn't bother at all. Next time I'll take him in the school and lunge him with it on. He's walking on and halting quite nicely now with me walking at the girth.

,kbjgsdr.n

Rode Anky out again. She was very jumpy, not naughty, just edgy, frightened of her own shadow.
We did the same ride as yesterday, and she didn't refuse to go, just looked and shied at everything.
She seemed fine when she came in, ate her breakfast and then started on her hay, so I'm sure she was feeling ok. Just one of those days then.
She had started to calm a little by the time we got halfway round and came back much calmer than she went out.
A short session with Remy in hand, concentrating on the walk and halt and him keeping out of my space!

Hee hee!!! :-)

Another beautiful morning, sunny and warm.
I took Anky out again and it was great! A couple of hesitant moments, but that was all. She felt soft and forward going. She was alert, but not tense. The ride only took us about 35 minutes, farther than yesterday, around the little lake, past the stone cutters building and back down the lane. I was smiling all the way round. Hee hee!!!
Corky was ready booted when we returned ( Jim's really getting the hang of the boots now)so we went off for our walk with Remy.
He was a little hesitant this morning, but followed calmly, investigating everything as usual.Our neighbour was in her garden as we passed, so we stopped to have a little chat and to introduce her to Remy , then further down the track towards the little wood. This is where the electric fence is and the last thing I want is for Remy to touch it. Remy and I have been taking the lead on our walks, but just to be safe Jim and Corky went on the side nearest the fence and we walked down the track side by side. Unfortunately I forgot about the silage bales on the other side of the hedge which suddenly came into view! Remy was worried by them and his little eyes came out on stalks, he didn't do anything silly but backed away a little - towards the fence. I asked him to stand and he calmed so we walked on a few more yards before turning back towards home. I love the way he deals with new things, no over reacting, just calmly accepting and trusting that he's perfectly safe. Another big smile on my face!

I'm off to see a friend this morning who's recovering from a broken leg - Ouch!!! , I haven't seen her for a while and I know she's been doing a lot with her youngster, so I reckon we'll be chatting for ages about the progress of our gorgeous horses!

A Beautiful Morning

The sun was shining and I was over my hangover - totally NOT my fault, forced to over-indulge on a day out at Trudis'.
No, seriously, thanks for a lovely time Trudi!

I took Anky out for a ride (oh it does feel good to write that) down the track. She stopped a few times, but nothing we couldn't handle and we made our way across the road and into the wood by the lake. This was further than we've been before on a solo ride, around the lake and back towards home. Trudi took some pics of me riding Moo with the Torsion and I really didn't like the position it was putting me in, so I rode her in the Trekker which felt ok,more comfortable than I remember, and, I think, allowed me to sit in a better position. I like the treeless saddles, you really can feel their backs moving and I like the feeling of being more connected, but I've got to make sure that when I buy one, I get the model that's right for us.
We returned home, happy and (Anky, quite) relaxed!

We then took Remy and Corky for their walks, this time in the other direction, up the lane, past the very noisy dogs and up the track to the school, where I introduced Remy to my newly acquired trotting poles. We'd stacked them up against the fence in the corner of the school, so we checked them out and then I dragged a couple to the centre of the school. As I dragged them, he just followed me on the line. We then walked over them a couple of times each way.No problems, he's a very good boy. We came back to the yard through the field and the garden, where he really spooked as a blackbird flew up from the barn. But then, he just stood still at my side, no bother, no worries. We walked round to the stables and on the way he poked his nose at the lid of the water container - he likes to stop for a drink.
He trusts me. What a wonderful feeling that is!!!
My two stars.

I think therefore........

This might just happen to me!!

Necks, Lies and Videotape

Just to keep up the momentum, here's another link to further information on the recent Blue Tongue scandal.
http://epona.tv/uk/news/show/artikel/blue-tongues-at-world-cup-qualifier

A ride out! Remy walks out again.

The title says it all. I rode Anky down the lane, onto the track, through the wood, across the road and all the way back again :-) 30 minute ride, didn't have to dismount and while I can't say she was relaxed exactly, she was forward, alert and responsive.
The boots don't seem to be affecting her at all.
Again, on our return, Corky was booted up so we went for our second walk with Remy. Just a little further this time, lots of new things to see and I think he enjoyed himself - he's very curious!! He sniffed and huffed at lots of things, but was really quite happy with the whole process. Another good day.