Paddy is back on form!!! We were a bit worried that he'd lost his 'Paddyness', but no... This is an old clip as I don't usually have my video camera handy when I'm riding. The spring is most definitely back in his step though.
Watch ClipPicked up the bedding that Hemcore has kindly donated, put some down in Paddy's stable to see what he thinks of it. He wandered (well, barged really) through the door and took a huge mouthful. It took a few moments for him to register that we hadn't been careless with the chaff... His expression of disgust as he tried to spit it out was comical. We hacked out again today, expecting all round spookiness due to the wind. Initially they were a pair of dobbins, but as we speeded up things got a little more interesting. We found a great big tractor and a pile of huge crates at the end of a track. Rash was not amused and slammed the brakes on. Paddy was braver, but also a bit circumspect. They half passed along opposite sides of the crates, snorting and rolling their eyes. Formation riding, after a fashion. The blue plastic containers on the other side nearly caused Pads to spin and head for home, Shell pulled him up mid spin as we collapsed in a fit of giggles! Rash's cold is better, he put in a fair turn of speed today... without the coughing. Paddy's brakes are a little iffy though, it isn't often he comes steaming past Rash! We ended up on quite a fast busy road. Normally we would avoid this, but we may not have the choice on the ride. Rash behaved impeccably (despite a depressing number of drivers WHO DIDN' T SLOW DOWN (insert swear word of your choice here)). Paddy unaccountably took exception to being passed by bicycles (we are going out with Alex and his bike tomorrow to cure this). He was also more interested on what lay on the other side of the hedge than the cars speeding past. Despite all this we are still thrilled that he's back to being Paddy :-)
The wish list is being steadily filled. Thanks again to Pip Greenwood of Hemcore and also Catherine (for the babywipes and Ibuprofen) and Shirley M for loads of grooming type stuff. Don't let this stop you from offering stuff though!!!!! More sponsorship would also be most welcome.... So what's stopping you?
Our ride was nearly over before it started today. A different set of dresses had an outing. Despite the aesthetic disadvantages of the other ones, the skirts are at least wide enough to allow sufficient movement. These ones didn't! Shell's skirt got caught in an interesting way on the back of the saddle, trapping her leg (as you can see from the pic). We spent several minutes helpless with laughter before she rectified the situation and got underway.
Today, as promised I made a pillock of myself. Hanging around a horse trials dressed in a ballgown does absolutely nothing for one's self esteem. I spent three or four hours there trying to maintain an expression of interested approachability. I suspect that what I actually achieved was an expression of near psychotic boredom. On the positive side it didn't rain (much) and managed to collect £22. I did feel (while begging and whining for a lorry) that the time should have been spent on the horses.
HOWEVER a lovely lovely kind lady called Sue Crane phoned after I had given up and gone home AND OFFERED US A LORRY ! THANK YOU SUE! Apparently it's called 'The Turd' (due to it's colour).... It sounds like the Ritz though, luxury living for the horse owner on the road! Our gratitude and relief knows no bounds.
The reason Rash is looking a little cheesed off might have something to do with where we took himself and Pads today. Thinking a little roadwork would not be out of order we headed for the cut through onto the road. It is an official bridleway, signposts and all. The start was less than auspicious with nettles up to their shoulders, but it's usually ok that way, so we persevered. Unfortunately we persevered past the point of no return. Having ploughed our way through ever higher nettles, we found we could go no further, so we had to ride through a potato field. Paddy was not a happy boy as he sank up to his hocks several times. We finally found a footpath, which although not ideal, was definitely the lesser of two evils.
This pic of Ryscheyed says it all really. Mud with extra mud. The plan for today had been to hack to a few of the local pubs (in full regalia). Naturally enough the weather conspired against us, the sunny weather as too good to last. The thunder and lightning and downpour started just as we got the boys in. We reckoned that not many people would be inclined to sit outside a pub in these condtions so we dashed out for a quick canter down by the river between showers. Despite the ominous looking clouds and hefty gusts the boys were bordering on the sonnambulistic. The herd of cattle failed to catch their attention at all. The steps up the river wall on the other hand earned a good snorting from Paddy. Ryscheyed was bowling along beautifully, until he was brought to an abrupt standstill..... by a clump of grass! The whole track is extremely overgrown, so God knows what was special about this one.
This is Paddy at work doing an RDA session. He and Amy are an established combination and understand each other very well.
