Conversations through the middle

Camping out… almost

April 14, 2011

The horses at our new yard live out during the summer and, thanks to the lovely weather we’ve had this month, some of them have been living out for a few weeks already. Now, I have never left John out all night and I have no idea if he lived out before he came to me, but one reason for moving yards was so that I could try it. Everybody I’ve spoken to about it says their horses love it and of course, living outside is natural for horses in the wild.

Nonetheless, for us it was another one of those big steps we seem to encounter regularly, and I was prepared for a night of camping out at the yard with a sleeping bag and flask of coffee to hand, to keep an eye on him.

Except my friends refused to stay with me and as I’m a bit of a baby when it comes to being outside in the dark, on my own, in the middle of nowhere, I bottled it. I went home and worried instead.

When I went to see him the next morning he was a picture – I have never seen a horse look so tired, his eyelids were drooping and his head hung down heavily as if he was about to drop. I guess he hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before.

The second night was better – he still looked tired but seemed happier.

The third night I decided to bring him in for his supper and a hay net, and if he seemed content, to leave him in his stable for the night.

I had convinced myself he was unhappy out in the field and preferred the creature comforts of his own space, with soft shavings to sleep on. Well, he polished off his supper no problem, then he started to call for his field neighbours. His calling became more urgent and he began to pace around his stable. At that point I got the message. He didn’t want to be in, he wanted to be out.

So I led him back to the field and since then I’ve stopped fretting about him. He spoke and I listened.

Royal contender

March 31, 2011

I’m rather taken with Sensiderma Renew & Refine by Queen. The texture is creamy but it sinks into my skin easily and leaves a soft, non-sticky feel afterwards. It’s supposed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines – not that I have too many of them (ahem) – but I haven’t been using it long enough to be able to comment on that yet. It is a lovely moisturiser nonetheless and it is also unfragranced, which is a bonus if you have a sensitive nose or sensitive skin. It also avoids irritating ingredients.

I tend to use it all over my face and neck as I would my regular moisturiser but you can just apply it to just those areas that need a little help if you prefer.

I will report back in few weeks on the cream’s effectiveness at lightening lines and walloping wrinkles.

Cracking hacking!

March 26, 2011

My horse never hacked out, not with me, not for the first four or five years I knew him. Then we moved yards and gradually we started riding out. If you’ve read my blog over the past couple of years you will know how difficult that was for us and how proud I am that we came through and were able to enjoy the gorgeous countryside around Little Horkesley where he was stabled at the time.

Then I moved him to Dedham. As I said in my last post, he’s settled brilliantly, but for me, the first ride at the new yard was something akin to riding Splash Mountain at Disney – something I was totally terrified of but something that had to be done.

So after John had been at the yard a week, I saddled up to ride out with a friend… he was a superstar. Why did I ever doubt him. He didn’t put a hoof wrong and it was as if he knew where he was going. We enjoyed a lovely hack, he was chilled, laid back, didn’t spook, it was as if he had walked those paths all his life.

Perhaps he has. I know nothing of his history but surely horses don’t travel that far when they’re traded? Perhaps John’s life before I knew him centred on or around Dedham. Perhaps he grew up there, spent the first 17 years of his life there, before his owner decided she/ he didn’t want him anymore. Oh my, their loss is my gain.

Since then we have been riding out regularly. He has become even closer to his field neighbour Libby, who is also his hacking companion, and we are loving the country lanes and tracks of Dedham!

Settling in

March 12, 2011

I worry too much. John travelled well, he was a little stressed for the first couple of days, calling and walking around the stable, but other than that he’s settled beautifully. I think it helps that he already knows a couple of the horses there – friends who moved from my last yard to this one before I did. He has also fallen for the flirty chestnut filly in the next paddock – though she doesn’t return his affection, more like turns and kicks out at him. Poor love, he always falls for the girls and they always reject his advances, usually with a bite on his nose.

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. You would think he’d been here for years (and the filly is actually an 18-year-old mare, but she doesn’t know that, still thinks she’s a baby – after all, you are as old as you feel and she (Libby) obviously still feels good as she has been known to act like a four-year-old). He has a large paddock and a very large stable; it’s peaceful, surrounded by fields, and you can’t hear the traffic. Dedham is also a very beautiful place and I’m so happy to be spending time there (the artist Constable thought it was okay too).

The petrol prices are crippling but hey ho, what can you do. I’m still glad I moved.