Dazzle

I haven’t been at my best today. I woke up feeling grotty again. And fed up. Ended up having a good cry over nothing.

I’m fed up of feeling poorly. Fed up of the constant ups and downs in my life right now. Fed up of feeling useless. Fed up of feeling overwhelmed, lost and frustrated.

I hate feeling like that. I know it’s a reaction to being ill. Being tired. And being stressed.

So I did what I know works to lift my mood. I took Buddy out for a hack. Fresh air, nature and the smell of horse is the best medicine. Buddy is also my Valentine so definitely right to see him today.

It was so mild today that I overlayered when I got to the yard. Found a hi-viz gillet in the back of the Comedy Car. Forgotten just how bright it is. It lifted my mood that’s for sure. How can you be blue when you’re dazzling!

Fumes

OK so I may have overdone it this weekend. Today I felt grotty again. So tried to have a gentle day. Managed a short ride on Buddy. Typically I picked it when it was raining. Thank goodness for my Equidry. It’s really been a great purchase.

I even wore it to the football tonight. I was slightly worried that I might be a tad pungent, but all good. And I stayed dry and warm.

A rather odd match, but a win is a win. Even odder getting home. First the bridge was closed, so I had to walk round the houses to the next bridge. Then yomped back up the hill. I knew I needed petrol, but wasn’t expecting to have to go to 4 petrol stations before I could get some. Kinda assumed that petrol stations in the city centre would be open. But the first 3 shut at 10pm.

The petrol light was on by the time I arrived at the 4th petrol station. You can imagine my relief. Little bit of a metaphor for my life right now. I do feel a little like I’m running on fumes.

Right now, I’d happily take a week in the Caribbean… A girl can dream huh?!

Doghouse

I was definitely in the doghouse with Buddy. He made it very clear indeed that my absence had been noted. I guess that’s fair seeing as I hadn’t seen him since last Saturday!

He didn’t stay grumpy with me for long. He was soon grooming me and letting me cuddle him.

First time mucking out since Saturday too. That took a bit more out of me that I expected. But I guess I’m still recovering from the flu.

There’s a comfort to the mundane sometimes.

Stable platform

No words needed. Just a very tired and overly emotional girl and her favourite little boy.

Given I woke up feeling rather drained, I actually had a rather productive day. Lots of errands run.

Finished it off with a trip to WHW for an evening with 5* Eventer (and Norfolk girl), Alice Casburn. Considering she’s just 22 year old, she’s incredibly grounded. Amazing what she’s achieved already. It was fascinating listening to her. I went to a talk with her last year. That was really interesting. She’s done a lot more since then.

She quipped that eventer Richard Jones had told her that eventing was just a glorified gymkhana. That made me laugh. Must remember that when we get back to eventing.

Wings

8 years ago I said my final goodbye to Murphy. I gave him his wings so he could soar to thank him for the times he helped me fly.

Today when I walked into Buddy’s stable I found this white feather. Not a clue where it could have come from. Even though I knew it was the right thing to do, it was the hardest (and easiest) decision I’ve made.

I thank him every day for the lessons he taught me and for the bruises along the way. My life was richer for him, he saved me from myself and he will always be etched in my heart.

He paved the way for Buddy. I’m sure he’s watching over us. And hope he’s proud of the partnership we’ve created.

Buddy was put through his paces today by the lovely Natalie. She rode him beautifully and was SO complimentary about him. I tend to be very critical of my riding and the lack of progression. Then I have moments like today when someone gets on him and raves about him. Reminds me of how far we’ve come.

So tonight I raised a glass to all of my horses. They all hold a special place in my heart. And helped shape the equestrian I am.

Posh mayo

I am a big fan of mayonnaise. I am a big fan of truffle. Put them together and I’m a dribbling mess. My dinner just got a lot posher.

And I certainly earned my dinner tonight. So did Buddy. First lesson of 2024, saw us head over to World Horse Welfare. Simon Grieve had set up some simulated XC exercises. An offset double, jumping on the angle and jumping serpentines. So much fun!

It just goes to show how far we’ve come. Buddy ate up each of the exercises and lines.

I think Simon was a little stunned at how well we jumped. At one point, we got a ‘bloody marvellous’. Me being me, I had to check that his comment was about us – and not the fact the lights had been turned on. Indeed it was at us!

Although we kept the heights low, it felt so great to be back jumping. Guess I better start thinking about competitions for 2024. Maybe we can make our jumping posh too with some clear rounds.

Windswept

Well the wind has picked up today. Typical after the freezing temperatures have warmed up. Still it didn’t stop us heading out for a wind-assisted hack. It felt great to be able to get off the yard. Even if our words were blown away. A lot.

I really need to sort Buddy’s mane out. He was so windswept by the time we got back. He does seem to be able to rock the Mohawk though.

Infrared

Today Buddy was infrared scanned. Nothing to worry about, just a precaution and out of curiosity.

I had to plait his mane out of the way. I gave him a little top knot for his forelock. He was so funny as when I tried to take it out, he was having none of it. He obviously wants to be a fashion icon of the yard. Got it out eventually.

The sweetest thing was Big Buddy finally got to meet Little Buddy. Little Buddy is a Shetland pony who belongs to my friend. There was a definite bromance started today.

It was the most adorable thing. I’ve not heard my Buddy ‘chat’ to another horse like that. They were grooming each other. It made my heart burst seeing them together.

If Buddy ever needs a Buddy, I think he’s just found one. In Shetland form.

Pedi time

Oh how I’ve missed this little face. Well not so little really. But I’ve missed him. Think he was more interested in whether I had brought food for him.

It was pedicure time for Buddy today. He was very happy to have snacks too as we’ve found a haynet stops him from getting bored.

He looks so handsome. He was actually eyeing up a huge bale of hay. I thought to start off with that he was watching the yard dogs sitting on it. But no, he was all about the food! He kept staring at it even after the dogs had gone.

Mac

As we drove over to the hospital today, I spotted one of my own hacking spots – Chailey Common. It brought back many happy memories of my first horse, Grandby Macawber. He was my 15’2 X-Cob, who had the body of a cob and the brain of a TB! He had a few issues – rearing, spinning, mouth like granite, legs like treetrunks, no brakes, steering was a bit suspect too, but I loved him. He taught me a lot, mostly how to sit a rear, brace a spin and bounce! He also gave me the XC bug as he was brave as a lion!

We used to gallop round the common. Huge smile on my face. Sometimes scattering a walker or two (see previous comments about brakes and steering).