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!
The Dark Destroyer strikes again! I bought Bert a new car bed as he’s starting to outgrow the car crate. This is one of those fluffy ones that goes on the seat and they clip into it.
This is what is left of the box it came in. He had so much fun destroying it! Let’s hope I don’t need to return it…
And he doesn’t destroy the new bed! We’ll road test it tomorrow. Wish me luck!
I felt like I needed to press the reset button today. I overslept (clearly needed it) so felt like I was chasing my tail (something Bert is rather good at).
So l thought I’d take the oversized Labrador out for a walk in the February sunshine. Well makes a change from the compact Sprocker.
I did one of my favourite rides. It definitely helped to reset my brain as I was getting a bit discombobulated with life.
Bert was all pupped out earlier. He’d had a lovely day though. First up was Puppy School. We were working on sit and down again. Then loose lead walking. And finished with some recall practise.
He aced them all! Each week I am seeing improvements in him. He was so excited to be at Puppy School that he jumped out of the car and dragged me across to the door. Not quite the control I’d hoped for… Made me giggle as he was so keen to get to school. Reminded me of those kids who leave their Mum’s for dust in their haste.
He had a quick nap in the car on our way to Centre Paws. He was meeting Oreo there (and his owners). Oreo is a Sprocker too. He’s 3 and not that much bigger than Bert!
It was very busy in the field, so the perfect setting to check my recall. Gold star for my baby boy. He came back each time. Even when he was distracted by other dogs.
Getting him away from the Alpaca wool was a bit more of a challenge! He loved eating it! He loved eating his first ‘pup cake’ more though.
Next time I think he’s going to want a ‘puppuccino’ too. He has more of a social life than I do!!
We made it! The last day of January. What a weird month it’s been. Not just for me. It was a reoccurring theme when I was peopling this morning. So many people seemed to have had an odd one.
But one of the clients reminded me of this quote – “Saying goodbye to January means welcoming the next chapter with open arms.” It made me smile.
So here’s to the next chapter. Let’s see what February has to bring…
I love the smell of pines. It’s such a comforting smell. Reminds me of living in Sweden. So walking through these woods was heaven. Bert and I stopped off for a wander on our way back from lunch. My goodness, it’s good for my senses to be around trees.
It’s also good for my stomach to have a lush lunch. I met up with a friend. He’s nearly 85, but we still have so much to talk about. Mostly horses. It’s fascinating listening to his stories of eventing and farming over the decades.
It’s one of the things I appreciate about the horse world. It’s very egalitarian. I have met so many people through horses. From all walks of life. In many age brackets. The common thread is a love of horses.
And horses are by far the best thing I’ve found for my heart and soul. But to be fair, being in nature comes a close second. Apparently you can ride in these woods. Now that would be a wonderful…
This is the face of a hacking rockstar. It’s a very handsome face too. Today Buddy had to overcome a lot of our hack. I hadn’t realised they were picking up the sugar beet. He put his brave pants on to walk under the dinosaur. Yes I’m sure it’s got a technical name. But it looks like a dinosaur hanging over the road. It also made a bit of a racket as it picked the beets up. It also made one hell of a racket as it dropped said beets into the massive lorry.
That made him jump, but still he held it together. Said massive lorry then came up behind him. Thankfully it turned right as we turned left.
Next we went past a fence being erected with banging and drilling. Lots of cars, dogs, prams and even a few cyclist. It seemed a rather popular time to go out.
Still he held it together. His undoing was a man walking round the corner. Fair enough, his little bucket was full.
After that spook, he didn’t break his stride with a cacophony of gunshots. Total hacking rockstar!
I have to say that there were some really lovely people out today. Who stopped, were patient and let us have space. It really does make all the difference. I’m also very grateful to have such a trusting and grounded horse. That makes all the difference too.
Buddy excelled himself in the mud stakes today. He clearly felt that he needed some sort of mudpack spa treatment. Because he’s worth it!
Lord only knows how he managed to cover himself like that. Can’t help laughing at his precision coverage.
And I know what you’re thinking. No I didn’t attempt to get it off as it was too wet still. Yes I rode like that. In the rain. Which cleaned my coat, but sadly not Buddy’s legs.
It’s that time of the year, when my thumbs splits. I have no idea how or why, but I do know that it blooming hurts!
Sometimes it’s both thumbs, sometimes just one. Sometimes both sides. It’s a very odd thing.
It makes you realise how often you use your thumbs…. I may have said ouch a lot today as I’ve caught it numerous times.
Bert met up with his two sisters today. He was meant to meet up with some of his brothers too, but sadly that didn’t happen. To be honest, three Sprockers was enough!
He met his match in Olive. It was so funny watching them roughhouse and tear round the dog field. Tilly was a bit more reserved to start off with. But soon came out of her shell and joined in the fun.
They were having a lot of fun going through the tunnels they have there. That’s where Olive met her match as she wasn’t a fan. Bert and Tilly were loving it!
Bert slept the whole way back. And again after his much needed shower. He was rather muddy! In fact, he’s spent most of evening asleep too! He was one tired puppy…
Bert learned a valuable life lesson today. Sometimes electric fencing hurts! We were walking past the sheep and he got a bit too close to the fencing. Next thing I knew he was howling like a banshee. Poor boy got a zap. Needless to say, he stayed further away from the fencing after that.
In fact, he learnt a lot today. It was week 3 of Puppy School and I’m seeing huge improvements each week. It’s lovely to hear the trainer comment that he’s changing and improving week on week too. She’s first met him as at 9 weeks. He’s now 16 weeks. Maybe Storm Bert is calming…
Today we worked on ‘settle’. He carried the good work when he got home, sitting happily in the conservatory while I had my lunch. Well until he turned into a guard dog. Still not a clue what he was growling and barking at. Whatever it was, he show it…
Tales, Tails and Talus 