As October draws to a close, I do look forward to Halloween and having some fun putting seasonal headgear on Diva (Melland Queen of Scots). Does Diva enjoy it too? I think so.
Earlier in the year, she happily bounced around the school wearing the Union Jack to celebrate the King’s coronation. Usually at Halloween I lean towards witches’ hats or bats for her, but they often don’t show up very well, so I was delighted to find some pumpkin deely boppers in a local supermarket. I was even more delighted when I got home and discovered they lit up!
I had just by chance bought Flora a winter coat that was orange, so I popped the headband over her back and off she trotted! She was quite puzzled as to why I was laughing at her. Diva is a professional and donned her boppers with pride. Again, I am surprised I got any images as I was chuckling so much!
The end of October also means the clocks go back an hour and so daylight after work becomes very limited. Time for semi-hibernation, I think!
On a more serious note, Halloween is followed by Bonfire Night and its accompanying fireworks. I am lucky in that the stables are remote from any villages that hold displays, but one poor horse owner in Lincolnshire has taken to social media to help prevent a big firework display being held literally next to her horses’ field. Working at an equine hospital does mean that I do see the consequences of horses being scared by fireworks each year.
I am going to sound very old now, but the noise from the fireworks these days is probably tenfold to what it used to be. I do not understand why they have to be so loud as, for me, I enjoy the pretty colours and shapes they make rather than the assault on my eardrums.
I hope everyone’s horses, ponies and pets get through the season without distress or injury.
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.