Lagan needs jingles

I haven't had a good day and neither has Nicky who has my lovely Lagan on lease. He's been a little off colour for about 24 hours so the vet checked him over this morning. Massively high temperature - so high that John took his glasses out to double check the reading as he couldn't believe it. First thought was peritonitis but he didn't seem quite sick enough for that. Bloods were taken and they came back this afternoon with a white cell count of 0.3 and platelets level of 0 - Yes, that's zero! So, what this points to is cancer. He might have a nasty virus dessimating his system and right now, that is the best case scenario. The blood results are very sinister.

Lagan is supposed to grow very, very old here with me. It's not yet his time. Please jingle for him.

Meg the school pony

The weather has turned, winter is upon us. I won't complain about the rain yet as we have really needed it and it is nice to see everything greening up but I do kinda wish the southerly had not come with it!

We have a young Scottish man staying with us at present and he has professed a desire to ride whilst he is here so yesterday Meg gave him his first riding lesson. Of course his natural position in the saddle is superb *sigh*.

Reilly arrived home on Sunday so I now have two horses to ride - I am very spoiled! I have given him a couple of days to settle in and hope to get on him in the weekend - I shall see if a photographer can be present. His saddle and bridle are still in Wellington so will have to pack out Meg's saddle or I might have to go bareback! He is grazing happily with Meg (who is in season) and has demonstrated that all his stallion hormones have departed and he is now well and truly a gelding.

Bella will be home from her lease shortly and I have a friend in Wellington who is interested in taking her to help keep her grass in check and possibly ride so, once she has had a few days to settle back here I will reintroduce her to saddle and bridle and see what she thinks - should be fun, it's only been something like nine years since she was last ridden, haha!

Meg on the lunge with Anson riding

Meg and Anson parked up in the shed

The wood for lining the stable is due to be delivered tomorrow - I might have a completed stable by the weekend!!!!!

We did it!!!

Phew, big day today for Meg and for me! Meg was such a good girl - a little bit out of her comfort zone with around sixty five horses at the competition (just a few more than the eight who were present at the rally last weekend, haha!) but she never did anything silly and soaked it all in.

There was a little bit of a mix up over times and the times that I was given over the telephone were in fact wrong so I found myself heading into the arena ten minutes earlier than I thought I would be meaning that I was a little tense and Meg not quite warmed in or settled - consequently our first test could have been a LOT better. She rushed around with her head in the air for the most part and I didn't do her any favours either. Oh dear! Consequently we placed right down the field on a score of 60%. Never mind, I had at least achieved the first of my two goals (to score over 55%), even if it was pretty ugly!

We then had three and a half hours to fill before the afternoon test but that gave Meg some more time to soak up the atmosphere and settle down. At 1.30pm I climbed back on and we went out and warmed up. This time at least we didn't feel nearly as rushed but I kept the warm up to a minimum as she is not very fit plus unclipped which means she gets hot and sweaty very quickly!

I am pleased to report that Training test 0.3 was a MUCH better experience for both of us! My second goal for the day was to get both canters and we did! The first canter was OK and the second canter was marginal (and she broke a little early) but we got them both, correct lead and everything!

I think I am proudest of her two 7's in the second test. The first for 'Regularity and freedom' and the second for 'General impression' and it was my riding (a 5 - whoops! I got a 6 in the first test which I think I rode worse, go figure!) which really let her down. I will just have to pull my socks up and do better next time! We were only 6% off the winning score and in 6th place with 4 people ahead of us on the same score and one winner on 66%. So, we were 6th= (out of 16) but shared the third highest score (does that make sense?). My fav comments: "Kind willing horse. A happy combination. A pleasure to watch".

Nick came down for the afternoon test as Amy had a birthday party in town and he took some photos which was great. I have video of the first test but I don't think that is ever going to see the light of day (although I am very grateful to my friend Nicky who took it!).

Cantering!

Forward & active

Cantering again!

Deep in concentration before we go in

Whoops, lost me pedal!

Trotting a circle

Enter at A

Track left

Halt, salute

Good baby girl Meg!