I haven’t been walking Diva out around the lanes since lockdown commenced, as it just didn’t seem right without my friend Jill accompanying us.
This weekend, with things relaxing a little, Jill was able to come over to the yard and we enjoyed a lovely socially distanced walk in the sun.
I thought Diva might be a little excited and perhaps a bit naughty since we haven’t been out since March. But as ever, my lovely Shetland pony showed perfect manners and strolled along without pulling or looking for trouble.
The fine weather meant we encountered all sorts of things such as several cyclists and a ride-on mower going at full pelt just on the other side of a hedgerow. I am hopeful that she’ll become a cracking driving pony when she is old enough, as she just takes everything in her stride.
One thing we had never before come across was a horse and carriage. I stood Diva to the side of the road on the verge and thought she might be frightened by this unusual sight. She stood rock solid as the handsome coloured horse approached in his four-wheeled carriage.
We had a chat to the ladies and received permission to use a photograph for the blog but I totally forgot to get their names! Perhaps in a couple of years’ time Diva and I will be trotting along behind them in convoy.
Diva is looking very shiny as her summer coat has now come through, and several people in their gardens commented on it as we passed. So far, our plan of having a drink in the garden of a pub has not been possible due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but hopefully we’ll be able to do this before the end of the summer.
As Diva is living out 24/7 at the moment, I thought she might have been a little tired after our walk. I needn’t have worried. When I turned her back out in the field, she galloped flat out, bucking and kicking, down to the other horses. I love seeing her have a play.
Stay safe everyone and see you next time.
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.