Not my freestyle debut

No sooner had I recovered my strength after my illness, than I am bundled into the motorised cabin and driven off to Tall Trees Arena.  There I was meant to perform elegant leapings to music of Her devising.  We entered the arena - to, er, a prolonged silence.  Her CD would not play on their music device, so She had to leave the arena without performing Her freestyle.  
On the way out it became apparent that no peppermint was forthcoming.  I took a dim view of this and dug my toes in, refusing to leave the indoor school until I got the mint I deserved.  After all, I had played my part, making friends with spectators and looking on anxiously during Her 'discussions' with the arena management.

She wasn't too upset as I had already done a warm up class and won a ribbon.  She said that I had made a jolly good effort in my first Novice class, even if it wasn't as good as at home due to the various distractions, etc.  For the record, here is a video of it.  She says it is not great dressage, but it is here for the record since one day we will look back on it and laugh at our humble beginnings.

Going backwards

Having spent the last two years trying to get me to go forwards, She has decided that She wants me to go backwards now.  It's very confusing for a chap.  Not only do I have to go backwards, but I have to do it in time to the music as well.

Poorly me

I was feeling a bit peaky myself this morning, in fact, I didn't even fancy my cornflakes which are normally very delicious.  She said that my temperature was 40.7 C and summoned a vet.  When he arrived, I conjured my most doleful expression so that he would prescribe a lot of time off for me.  I may have overdone it because next thing I was having needles stuck into me.  Not only a couple of injections, but also lots of small needles so that I looked like a porcupine.

She said that these needles Were Doing Me Good and then they took lots of photos.  I am to feature in a magazine illustrating the use of acupuncture in horses.  She said it was because I could be relied upon to stand still during the photo shoot, but I know that I was chosen for my rugged good looks and strong physique.  Being a model is a hard job with lots of standing about in various poses, trying to look ill, yet brave at the same time.  It seemed to take ages.  Then, finally, finally, the vet took the needles away and I was given a week off.  Hurrah!

My first flying change

Since Posy is out of action, She has been devising gymnastic exercises for me to do.  I managed my very first flying change - an excellent effort though I say so myself.


Sadly, I had difficulty repeating this feat since my legs seem to get in a knot.

Poorly Ponies

When both Posy and Hanuman stand in their stables with their heads down, ignoring all the food around them then there is clearly something wrong.  She flapped about taking their temperatures and I heard her say that Hanuman had a temperature of 40.3 C as she sped past to summon the vet.

The vet duly arrived.  Posy, finding herself with a captive audience, really hammed it up and was the most poorly and pathetic creature you have ever seen.  Posy was much lauded for braving all the injections like a real heroine.
Hanuman was less obliging.  He regards vets as the messengers of Satan who stick pointy needles into you, and he wasn't disappointed.  He takes each needle stab as an assault on his person and was outraged and tried to kick the vet.  I think this was a mistake because he should get the vet on his side in case he needs a sick note one day.  He skulked in the corner of his stable for a few minutes, and then inexplicably started feeling better.

They have a virus that tends to attack young horses which gives them a high fever for a day or two but then they should get better with rest and the help of their medicine.  I hung around fixing the vet with the pathetic look that Posy had used to such great effect, but I was ignored, so no time off for me.

Hanuman's very first training session

Poor little Hanuman is only one year old, but She thought it would be fun to see what he made of some walking poles. 


I'm not sure that his efforts deserved two pieces of carrot; and it's not fair because I have to charge about for hours before I get any.

Cornish Hedges

Spring is here which means that the hedgebanks are in full bloom.

While She is going along saying "hello clouds, hello sky, hello beautiful flowers", I have been partaking of Nature's bounty.  I have perfected the technique of going along with my mouth open and closing my teeth on the vegetation as I pass without missing a beat.



I like cow parsley, sorrel and field maple best, but the pink flowers are tasty too.  She says I will get even fatter, but She knows nothing.  These wayside plants are full of vitamins and make ideal nutritional supplements to the diet of a finely honed athlete like myself.