Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
So this happened today. I can now say that I’ve ridden a horse at Hickstead. And jumped. It was only a practise fence this evening. But it still counts.
Growing up down the road, it’s been a life-long ambition to bring a horse here. Today I did just that. Tomorrow Buddy and I will be representing Carleton Riding Club here.
Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’ve ticked something off my horsey bucket list.
It’s felt so good coming back to Royal International. It’s such an amazing experience.
I’ve been recommended a new app and it’s one I’m fascinating with! It shows how horses see compared to us.
It’s very different to us, that’s for sure. I took this photo of the same flower. You can see the difference. Seems horses don’t see green grass at all! Things are very brown and grey.
I might use it next time I’m walking a course to see how it could look to Buddy. Could be really interesting.
Of course, it doesn’t explain why he decided to stand on my foot this evening. That was just him getting bored during his pedicure. Well it was dinner time.
I had to do one of my least favourite things today. Go to the hygienist. It’s been over 4 years since I last went so there was a lot to scale. I have sensitive teeth so it isn’t terribly comfortable. And now my mouth feels really weird!
I know it’ll settle down but my teeth don’t feel like mine. Does that make any sense?!
Good job I had a lovely distraction this afternoon when Victoria and Ernie came over for a hack. Ernie had a right march on to start off with. Till he realised he didn’t know where he was going. Buddy was happy to show him the sites.
And I got to show my pearly whites to everyone we met.
This is such a horse thing to do. He has a lovely bath, tail and mane wash and he doesn’t even wait for me to leave his field before he drops and rolls.
He was looking lovely and shiny after a great jumping session in the morning sunshine. Not so much after his exuberant roll.
Watching a horse roll really is a weird thing. They’re so graceful on four legs. Buddy look like some sort of demented ninja turtle rolling. And then there’s the old man groan as he gets up. Always makes me laugh.
I woke up this morning with a sense of determination. The kind of day where you end up saying ‘Right!’ a lot and springing into action (sometimes with a thigh slap for good measure).
I tackled the front lawn first. I say lawn. It was rather overgrown. It took 45 mins of huffing, puffing and lots of sweating to get it done.
Then it made the borders look really overgrown so plugged into a podcast and started the weeding. The podcast was really interesting. About values and how change can be uncomfortable because it’s hard.
Sadly rain stopped play (and my semi-dry washing wet again). Mad dash to get the mower and the washing in when the heavens opened.
So no doubt my lawn will already be growing again. Still at least it resembles a lawn now. It looks so much better when it’s done.
Today we put the band back together! It’s been a while since we hacked. It was like no time had passed at all. We chatted the whole way round. The boys seemed pleased to see each other too.
Another thing that hasn’t changed is my inability to take a selfie on a horse. This photo made me giggle when I saw how it came out.
Sometimes it’s the little things in life. A catch up with a good friend, a good ride in the beautiful countryside and at good laugh at your own ineptitude.
Headed over to Blickling Estate NT this morning to meet up with camp mates Katie Hall and Vicky Mary (and her daughter Jasmine). It was only last week that we were together at camp, but felt like longer. So great to catch up.
After an hour plus stroll round the estate, I introduced Jasmine to the now famous National Trust Hot Chocolate. Let’s just say she’s an even bigger fan of Blickling after that!
Her pony got a lot of attention too. He was very happy to say hello to the other children we met on our route. And we met another Buddy. This time a dog. He was a very good boy on his first time meeting the horses.
My Buddy’s ears pricked up when everyone said ‘good boy Buddy’. Which of course he was. In fact they all were. And so we’re us girls.
Spent a rather pleasant evening at Carleton Riding Club’s social night.
I’ve met so many people through horses. Some have become my horsey family. It’s lovely to spend time with likeminded people. And we don’t just talk horses…
Horses are the commonality that brings us together. The friendships are built from there. I have people in my life that I’d have never met if it wasn’t for horses.
My life would be very different without them, that’s for sure. In fact I was very miserable without a horse. Very thankful to have Buddy and the horsey people I have around me.
I ended up in Themelthorpe for lunch today. At Junction 21 Tea Room. What a wonderful find that was! Stunning views out across the fields. Made me very happy indeed. I do love it when I can’t see another house. Just nature.
It’s on the Marriotts Way. Somewhere that I’ve realised I’ve not explored yet. So I must rectify that. You can ride along it too I’ve heard. So I’ll have to bring Buddy next time.
Though it might make lunch a bit more of a challenge. Thankfully the owner is horsey, so you never know.
I had a rude awakening this morning when the front door went at 8am. It was the gardeners for next door. My lovely neighbour had popped round on Monday to ask if I wanted them to do my garden while they were doing his. He’s 98 and flipping amazing.
The front garden has been annoying me for a while now. It gone very wild. So took it as a sign that I needed to get it sorted.
He told me they were coming on Thursday. Seems he got the day wrong. So there’s me walking round the front garden in my dressing gown with the bloke talking about what needed trimming. Not really my forte, so left them to it.
Of course, then I had to listen to hedge trimmers, choppers and all manner of garden equipment. It was slightly distracting and a tad hard to concentrate.
The kittens were less than impressed. Especially when one of the blokes’ dog came through the ‘cat hole’ and ran round the garden. He was having so much fun, he didn’t want to go back.
After they’d left, I thought I’d best go and do a bit of weeding now I could actually see what’s there. Well till the rain came again.
Oh well, at least I have neatly trimmed bushes (insert your own jokes here).
Tales, Tails and Talus 