Another good lesson with Madame P-pot. Farrier was also here today (typically at the same time) so ended up slinging tack on as soon as he had finished trimming her feet. Did think she would be naughty to ride as she was in a right strop. But I had lovely forward paces and her huge Dales trot complete with toes flicking out lol. Worked a lot on her straightness and did a canter on each rein at the end. I can't believe how much she has come along since we started canter now has proper transitions and is pretty balanced especially on the right rein. Little moody buck when I asked her to keep going in left rein canter as it's her worst rein and she finds it hard, saying that so far she has given me correct leads which a lot of babies struggle with.
Rory also had new shoes and was apparently in the wrong field when M got him and Duke in. Seems the terrible two had knocked the gate part down and then just jumped it. Did try telling Rory he is not meant to be jumping at the moment especially as I'm restricted to walk only when riding.

Quick pic from Sunday of P-pot @ Mill lane

Such a good ride on Pait today. Went out with G and her horse Beauty. Only meant to be doing a short slow ride but ended up doing a much longer route and having my first ever hacking canter on Pait who was an angel. Just sweetly popped into a slow balanced canter and followed Beaut down the grass track.
Came back past the duck sheds and through the quarry which means a bit of up and down on the banks which again she just got on with once she figured out where her feet went.
Back home and it was bathtime- I will confess to buying a new toy an ezall hosepipe attachment which means the shampoo gets sprayed on with no sponges and is a lot quicker. Pait danced for a second then realised that mean mummy would bath her anyway so just stood still after that.

Rory and Duke have both managed to go off boxrest (frantically touches wood) and are in a new field with knee height grass so I have 2 very content boys.

Well Sunday was our local hunt's hunter trial on our hacking land and guess what? I'm still not allowed to jump my pony yet. Rory is having major strops when we go hacking at the moment as he locks onto any jump in the same field convinced we should be going over it and then teddy comes out of cot when I pull him away. Can't wait for him to have the all clear.
To keep my mind off of jumping I took Pait to the local RC's show to do the inhand. I really have to say I do not miss the early morning alarm when not showing. As Pait is currently out and she has a lot of white on her legs it was a very early alarm to go up and bath her legs before setting off.
She was a brill girl though and travelled perfectly by herself stood by the wagon at the other end and behaved in all her classes. Third in the inhand M&M and Fifth in the coloured. She does have an obsession with eating rossettes at the moment though, she not only tries to take them off the judge she will pull them off of me. They are hers and don't I know it.

It never rains but blurdy pours!

Well Rory was at the vets for his ongoing not being right. How to rack up the insurance in 3 days. Nuclear scintigraphy (fancy name for radioactive bone scan), nerve blocks, x-rays and ultra sounds. Not brilliant new regarding his hocks but vets seem pleased that we can treat and he will be fine for a full career as riding/jumping pony.
Then Duke came in today doglame Rory has obviously kicked him as front leg very swollen, feel awful and he is now on box rest in Pait's stable.
So 3 unhappy dales ponies as Duke doesn't want to be in. Pait is rather peed off at being out and Rory is unhappy he is alone in the field.

To cheer the mood here is a working pic of Pait.

Sleepy boys

And a cuddly Duke

Another brill day with my jumping machine. Went to RC's showcross today all 75cms and the show jumps freshly painted (with a luminous spread). The cross country was nearly all 75 as well and proper xc fences we had a chair, roll top, wall, castle and a double of skinny houses along with lots of others. A lot to ask from Rory. First into the showjumps and he popped over 1 had a gawp at 2 nearly repainted white jump with gate underneath so we had the pole down. A little unsure so a stop at 3 the double but straight over on 2nd attempt then he found his stride and took on the neon spread, sheep, pigs and a style. Finished the sj and jumped a hanging rail into the xc field number 2 was a rather large chair at which point I hung onto the safety neck strap kicked and prayed well he sailed it onto 3 a narrow table holding carrots which got the better of him so another genuine stop but straight over on reapproach. Number 4 was a roll top in the shade not helped by 2 partridges flying straight up from the grass in front of me 2 strides out of the fence but again he just went for it. He continued to fly round the rest of the course but did have a little stop again at the arrowhead. So so pleased with him though as there were some major asks of him and a couple of times I messed the stride up and asked him to jump 1/2 a stride out and he just did it.
Came home and had a relaxing afternoon bathing him and Pait, also found out that I'd managed to come 3rd.