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 owners of a house near me has planted their verge with meadow flowers. It looks so stunning. It looks like a mini meadow. I’ve driven past it many times, but today was the first time I walked past it.
It was smothered in bees. You could hear them buzzing in the sunshine.
They are going over, but it’s so effective. And really different. It makes me smile every time I go past. Isn’t it amazibg how something so simple can bring so much joy. I wish more people would embrace this look. I think I’m going to try it too.
I spotted these lovely daffodils this morning. Daffodils always make me smile. They are such cheery flowers.
Spring is definitely here. It’s my favourite season. I may have mentioned that. The one thing I don’t like about Spring though is the multiple outfits required. I took Bert out for a walk first thing in a down jacket and gloves. Brrrr.
Come afternoon and I arrived at the yard with overtrousers, fleece and jacket. The sun came out and the layers came off. I popped Buddy over a few jumps and was too hot in just a base layer.
Then once the sun had set, it was back to fluffy socks and many layers. Good job I have lots and lots of layers.
Today is one of my favourite days of the year. It’s the Spring Equinox. It’s a milestone for me every year. A sure sign that we’ve made it through the gloom of Winter and longer, warmer days are on the way.
And it was a scorcher! The Upgrade said 18 degrees. Yes, my new car tells me the temperature. The Comedy Car was devoid of this feature. So now I can actually know, rather than just going with hot or cold.
The Upgrade also has working air conditioning. Now that’s a real luxury. The Comedy Car did have AC, but it didn’t work. Rather pumped out even hotter air! Kinda defeated the object really. I got used to the windswept look from having the window open. I usually arrived slightly battered. But no more…
Buddy had his own AC today. A naked day in the field. After months of rugs, it must feel good to have the sun on his back. I sat with it on my face and boy did it feel good!
Spring is my favourite season. Full of hope and wonder. Days like today make me smile.
Today I did something that makes me smile every year. I paid for my first camp. It’s at the end April, so fingers crossed it warms up a bit.
If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know how much I love a camp. What’s not to love? Spending time away with Buddy. Learning from great instructors. Catching up with wonderful people. Making new friends. And this time I get to take Bert with me. Let’s hope he likes camps as much as Buddy and I do.
He’s making his debut at Forest Edge next week. We’re booked onto a day clinic. So this will be a good test of his ‘Lorry Dog’ status. Buddy will be so happy to be back there too. After his injury last year, it’ll be good to be back there and actually do the riding bit. I’ll always be a supporter.
I had some errands to run today so Bert came to ride shotgun. As I opened my front door, I found these beautiful roses on my doorstep.
They are from my lovely neighbours, Jo and Maurice. There was a note to say that they knew I’d been having a tough time recently and hoped these would make me smile. They certainly did!
I’m so lucky to have such lovely neighbours. They keep an eye on me and have done so many lovely things for me over the years.
I love the randomness of my life sometimes. Today I ordered 4,000 little glowsticks for the big conference I’m working on. Let’s hope they bring smiles and they’re the only thing broken…
Well it’s been a long time come. Buddy and I are back at Forest Edge for the last training camp of 2024.
I set it as a stretch goal for his rehab. A lovely synchronicity in that it was at the first training camp in April that his injury was really noticed.
We’re doing one lesson per day rather than two. And I will be keeping an eye on him. In fact I’m pretty sure there will be lots of eyes on him. So many people have been on this journey with us. There are lots of Buddy fans here too.
He’s tucked up in his stable. I’m tucked up in my lorry. I bet he doesn’t have a leak though. I’m currently experiencing Chinese water torture with a drip behind my head. Another job for the list…
I will be OK. It can’t take the smile off my face right now. We’ve made it to camp. Big tick for us both.
I know I’ve been to a few without him. But it really is wonderful to have him here…
This is the face of someone who just cantered her horse! Another massive milestone in Buddy’s rehab.
He’s given me a few strides before when we’ve been doing poles. But this was the first time I’d intentionally asked for it. And the first time since 23 April!!
I took him out for a 40 min hack first, to make sure he was definitely warmed up. Then took him in the school. Think he was a bit surprised at first that I was asking him to canter.
We didn’t go mad. Just tested both reins. Oh my goodness, it felt so good!
Today was a very big milestone in Buddy’s rehab. We headed back to the vets for his 8 week scan of his injured ligament. He was most perturbed at not going out to his field, but having to get on the lorry. Soon all was forgotten when he was given haylage by the vet nurse while he waited for the vet.
Soon he was off to be sedated for the scan. I sat like a nervous parent waiting for news. After what seemed like an age, the vet appeared with a big smile!
It’s REALLY good news. His injury is healing well. Still a long way to go before we’re back to ‘normal’. Definitely heading in the right direction though.
We can slowly increase amount of trot. And in 6 weeks time, test the canter (cause he definitely hasn’t been cantering in his field!!).
Buddy is going to have to channel his pole dancer as we can soon include those in his rehab. Buddy tends to view them (and small jumps) as a trip hazard. So that’s going to be fun! Who knows, he might get the hang of them after a few weeks…
We have to go back in another 8 weeks for another check up. Everything crossed that he gets another smile then.
I shed happy tears on the way back. I’ve been following the plan set out for us. I’ve been patient and taking it slowly. Seems I’m pretty good at rehabbing a horse as well as myself. He’s worth taking the time to get him right.
Two exciting things happened today. This was one of them. It’s by far the best thing I’ve found for pulling ragwort and weeds. It can be a quite onerous job. But this makes it so much fun! I think I was having too much fun. Buddy was very interested and followed me round the field.
Definitely didn’t fire the ragwort into the barrow like I was loading a shotgun. Almost certainly didn’t do my own sound effects. And my horse most definitely didn’t canter round his field…
Might have got a bit carried away when I got home too. Let’s just say my ‘lawn’ looks more like Swiss cheese after my efforts.
Is it a measure of how dull my life is that this makes me very happy?! Good job I can laugh at myself.
The other exciting thing that happened was that I trotted Buddy under saddle for the first time. Just to see how he felt. He was a bit tense for the first few strides – as was I! We both soon relaxed into it. Now I know he’s feeling more level again, I can slowly increase it. Slow and steady wins the race!
Tales, Tails and Talus 