I KNEW that it was too much to ask, for things to stay on the up.
My week went downhill rather, but nothing that can't be sorted. So I'll try not to whinge.
I decided to take Rocky, my new horse, to the RSPCA show. I took him into the paddock the night before the show to do some schooling with him.
It was all going well when Rocky tripped - over his own feet I think - and both him and I came down, hitting the ground with a bang. Yes, the earth moved.
Luckily, Rocky was all right, just shaken. I was a bit battered and bruised, but once I'd checked him over, I got back on him and just rode a little more.
I decided that Rocky was more unfit than I thought, so decided I would spend a few weeks just hacking him out, starting the following day.
I went to the RSPCA show, but without any horses.
It was nice to go and watch and chill out for a while and have a natter with people.
I then planned to get all the horses exercised - but wouldn't you know it, Rocky went and lost a shoe.
So much for our fittening work! I rode Hora and Hattie though, and Hora is still being a dressage king, and being an amazingly good boy.
For the hunter trials the next day we had to bath Zen as he'd decided to have an all- over mud bath and was a wonderful colour when we got him in.
Hattie just had her socks and tail washed and looked super. We got everything ready for the next day and then went to walk the course at High Hoyland.
As we were running late, we ended up walking the last bit of the course in the dark.
Not a good idea! I fell down several ditches and it was ever so scary in the woods.
Goodness knows what anyone would have made of Theo, Abi and I wandering around in the woods in the dark.
The morning of the hunter trials we were up early and we collected Sharon, who was coming to help and then the trailer. Horses ready, and yes, as always, it all went pear- shaped.
Zen wouldn't load. We'd put Hattie in first, but Zen was having none of it. Abi was upset as she'd spent a lot of time working with him and bathing him.
We ended up going with just Hattie. Zen is having trailer therapy with Horace on Monday!
Hattie and Abi did ever so well at High Hoyland. They entered in the minimus and the novice and had a great time. Hattie does love her jumping, especially cross- country.
Sharon and I heard that they were short of fence judges, so we ended up sitting at a couple of fences as judges for the afternoon. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.
So much so, that I am doing it again at the show cross on Sunday. More people are needed as fence judges. Hint, hint!
I had such a good day at the hunter trials that, on a high, I only went and booked myself in for the show cross next week with Hattie. Aagh!
I did some jumping last night and have to admit to having my heart in my mouth, but I'm having another go at it with Abi teaching me tonight!
Today we have had Martin the farrier over to shoe all the horses. While he was there the vet came to give the horses their annual booster vaccinations.
They all behaved impeccably and I was so proud of them. Even Dermot the vet was impressed, though not as much with Echo, who is still teething and tried to say hello with his teeth.
Well, got to go. Abi is giving me another jumping lesson. Now where did I put that Velcro?
