Sunshine (you are my sunshine...)

We were a bit gobsmacked when we looked at Paddy standing next to George today, We've been thinking of Pads as being a bit on the lardy side. His girth pales in comparison to George's though! Yes, George is definitely a boy (as you will see if you look closely), so he can't possibly be in foal. In fairness to the poor old lard bucket, he has been off work for nearly a year.
We are still well chuffed with how Pads looks in comparison.
The weather today was just perfect, sunshine with a light breeze. We are praying to the weather gods that it holds for the ride.

Due to time constraints it was a short hack around the river wall. We were expecting a swamp, which is what we got, although great care was taken not to let them sink and damage anything.
Of course we had forgotten about the field of cattle which we had to pass...
There was a VERY tempting newly cut hayfield on the other side, the gate was open and everything. We restrained ourselves though (mainly because the tractor had just moved to the adjoining field). This meant that the boys had to pass the cattle, who obligingly rustled, snorted and crashed about on the other side of the hedge.
Rash was a big brave (quivering) boy and minced down the track snorting (and pooing).
Paddy just wasn't having it. Cows are his pet hate. He planted himself and would go no further. Shell had to dismount and drag him! Once he had started there was no stopping him though, and he dragged Shell the rest of the way past the field, barging up Rash's bum.
Once past all that we resumed our steady, peaceful hack. We had to, the going was so deep.
Nice views today, with a merciful absence of stormclouds.
Apart from that, I did a radio interview with Radio Wiltshire this morning. I have a feeling that I just gibbered.... did anyone hear it?

Discretion being the better part of valour...

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.
No news yet on the lorry. Hopefully Monday will bring some good news. Just in case it doesn't we are working on plan B (or is that C? or D....)

Update on lorry situation etc

At some point we might get to give the horses some proper excercise, when we can stop running round like headless chickens trying to find a lorry. We tried a few more people today, lots of helpful suggestions, but still no lorry. Desperate measures being called for we contacted local radio (BBC Radio Suffolk) and asked them to broadcast an appeal. Watch this space....
As for the excercise, a quick spin around the river was all we managed at the end of the day. It's so overgrown that we didn't want to risk anything faster than a brisk trot... a pace which Ryscheyed in particular has difficulty getting his head around. I mean, why trot when you can ponce around in canter? Paddy has started to show signs of life again, particularly when he was snorted at through the hedge by a large cow!
We are planning to do another pub crawl this Saturday, probably to the Sorrel Horse and Ramsholt Arms again, and perhaps the Alderton Swan if we think we can make it. We will be shaking tins this time, so make sure you have change handy (notes will do too of course)!