I was a little late down to the yard that morning as it was my birthday and I had indulged in opening my presents and thanking my family before I set off.
Mabel’s stable was near the feed room, and she always had her head over the door when she was waiting for her feed. I hurried past and then did a double take. Why wasn’t her head out? I walked backwards a couple of steps, and as she pricked her ears to acknowledge my presence, I noted a fluffy white tail waggling next to her shoulder as her foal suckled.
Having worked on a thoroughbred stud for nine years foaling down mares, it was a little embarrassing that Mabel showed me no signs and foaled unsupervised eleven days early, but wow–best birthday present ever!
A beautifully marked filly foal was more than I had dared hope for, and both mother and daughter were none the worse for lack of human supervision. It was such a lovely warm day that, after having them both veterinary checked, I turned them out in a tiny paddock for a little while. Poor Mabel had to endure baby photos with a too long hog as I had planned on trimming her up that weekend.
Within days I could pick up all of Florence’s feet and she led out to the paddocks without problem. She always had a gallop around just before she was brought in and, to this day, enjoys having a buck and kick out in the field.
She was shown in hand as a youngster and achieved some great results, such as Champion Coldblood Foal, Yearling and then Two Year Old at consecutive BSPA Championships. She has been second at Lincs County and third at Great Yorkshire.
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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.