Spring is normally my favourite time of year, but this year we’ve only had glimpses of it so far. What is this weather?! I still feel like we’re in February.
But, anyway, enough moaning. On the plus side, the fields have finally started drying out. We’re quite fortunate that we can use the arena/sand pen and trash field when they’re really wet, so they aren’t in terrible shape, but I am so ready for them to be out 24/7. I think we can all agree it’s been a long, hard slog this winter. Ours came in overnight in October, and normally we don’t do that until December. So, as soon as the weather warms up, and the fields are dry enough, that’s exactly what will be happening.
The yard is an absolute wildlife haven too come spring, and it’s always fun watching all the baby birds grow up and fledge. This year, a surprise bonus was finding a litter of baby bunnies in our hay bale. Not the most ideal spot, and definitely a surprise find, but so cute, nonetheless. We also have robins in our feed room, pigeons in the barn and sparrows up in the roof. We really are lucky to be in such a quiet, peaceful location and the horses love it.
I rent my yard, so all the upkeep is down to me. This is my busiest time of year, when everything starts growing, the arena needs regular harrowing again and the fields need repairing for the next winter. I’ve also had to repair all the arena fencing where naughty ponios have destroyed it whilst being out there over these wet months. Therefore, I’m currently down there all the time, muddling away, getting through my jobs, but I enjoy it, and it’s worth it to be where we are.
I’ll share some piccies of some of the babies we currently have, and keep my fingers crossed we all get some warmer, drier weather soon.
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.