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Over a week and a half since I was catapulted off Heathers back! The ground was wet then. However, hard to imagine then just how much it was going to rain. We've had rain at night, in the morning, at lunchtime and sometimes at tea too! It has been heavy coming in showers, or persistent but lighter for hours! Overall it's been very, very wet... Consequently everything resembling a field has turned to sloppy mud..not a time to have leaky wellies! The river has come out of its banks and now receded, but left all manner of debris high and damp everywhere. The nights are slowly getting shorter..painfully and thinking of pain..my poor back is still hurting. Welcome to mid January!! He says listening to rain on the window...
Last Wednesday saw a visit to the yard of Andre Majewski, Equine Dentist no less. A very interesting chap with an almost unenviable job. He'd travelled from Harlech in North Wales, to see amongst others on his huge list, Heather! So sometime mid afternoon stood chatting in her stable with Andre, as he prepared to work. He used to be a farmer, but now changed careers. I'm used to this sort of chit chat from dentists, to calm the patient. Yes I was nervous as to how Heather would react to having some of the eighteen inch long rasps in her mouth. I was looking at Andre's fore-arms as he went in, searching for scars, but saw none...and he has all his fingers, so figured he must know a thing or two. So when H started to pull back and get agitated, was impressed by his soothing words in Welsh and gentle face massage, which transformed her behaviour!! He spent half and hour or so and was thorough to the end. A bonus of his visit was yet another estimate of her age. Sixteen. The vet thought fourteen, Carol twelve. When I took her on loan, I was told she was eight!! My estimate from pics on the web led me to eighteen. All really irrelevant, but interesting.
Despite my poorly back...well err...backside. I've ridden on every opportunity, except my group lesson last Thursday. There's a great difference in schooling and hacking at your own pace, to an hour of demanding orders in the school from my instructor, Ange. I'm also still finding canter very painfull and hoping things come good for tomorrows evening lesson. I believe I'm riding Zotto, who's probably the school top ned, whom I've not yet had the pleasure of yet. So fingers crossed..
Wayne, the farrier went on holiday!! This has meant that Heather and her dodgy big feet have gone unattended for two weeks, too long. I was quite concerned, with all the time and effort invested in her feet...especially with all the mud trying to help her shoes off. Well we made it through. She was first to be seen this morning and is now sporting natty new shoes. The worst foot, her near fore, with the crack doesn't seem to be getting any worse. In fact generally..as with the rest of her all round, things are looking up. She's generally a happy horse now and almost willing to work. Until I'm fully fit to ride hard...I'm working on trying to get her moving laterally. We've just about got turn about the forehand...now have to try..on the forehand. Oh and I've discovered a strange little soft spot on her. She had a cracked heel on her near hind last year. I was checking the area and scratting her heel, noticed she was wibbling her lip and crunching her teeth in pleasure....silly mare.
Today, after almost three years of riding and plenty of nearlies, I fell off a horse...quite spectacularly!
Heather's been in most of the week with limited turnout, the weather's been awful and I've been worried she'll sink in the mud if she's out too long! So on my first day off today, looked forward to taking her out for a ride, before it rained again!
We went up to the A56 bridge on the North side of the river as usual. She ate a bit of grass as usual for a reward, then we turned for home. We'd already covered the ground and I knew it was good enough. So asked for canter on her stiff right side. Was taken aback when she gave it...fantastic, let's go! She was going so well, I let her have her head and kick on...pretty much full tilt!
Then without any warning or any obvious reason she threw the anchor out...buried her feet in the turf and dropped her right shoulder! For a fleeting moment I recall seeing her neck close-up, quickly followed by the sky, just before a sickening thud on my back! Before I realised fully what had happened, I'd rolled, sprung to my feet and was trying to get hold of her as she pranced about looking all shocked!! My lower back was hurting, but I was moving okay, so quickly got back on. Then realised I'd dropped my whip, so got off again to pick it up..Then remembered I had my camera, so took a couple of pics of our skid marks.
From the pics it's obvious to me what caused the big upset. She normally spooks at ducks and yellow flowers along this stretch. Right in our way and along the side are devilish "skeleton plants", which the wind blew in our path,as we were passing...dried stalks from the Summer!! I felt fine riding home and boasting on the yard about my first fall.
Went to the gym and swam a mile before sinking into the jaccuzzi for ages. But by the time I'd driven home my lower back had stiffened up. Bought a box of Ibuprofen, lots of chocolate and a bottle of champagne. Which I'm polishing off as I write...and I'm feeling just fine. In fact I'm quite looking forward to falling off again! Very exciting!! Quite rewarding...But pleased I was wearing my body protector...with the mud on the back.
I only started riding in April 2005. By June that year I reached a point of no return. Buying my first riding boots was a statement of intent. Unbelievably now, I picked a great pair of Mountain Horse, Mountain Rider II boots, half price from Robinsons!! Wish I could find such a bargain again. They've been fantastic for me! Not only have they seen me through all my riding lessons and first tentative hacks. They've been on my feet for the best part of two years diy livery. Anyone involved with horses knows the rigours that involves, for any footwear. Sadly during the wet Summer they started to split at the sides from the sole. I did buy a new pair then, but have hardly worn them as the old ones are so comfy...like slippers. This Winter has finally put a practical end to them, it's so wet and muddy. They are now leaking too much. I'm just not sure I can let them go...but what use are a pair of boots I can't wear?
They say a change is as good as a rest. I wasn't sure this was going to apply. Having spent far too long faffing around looking for and packing things I probably wouldn't need. I now found myself driving through the heaviest of squalls along the A55 to North Wales. My brother Jim, last year found a great place to stay, right in the heart of Snowdonia. I missed out... So I jumped at the chance to join in this time around.
I was to join the others at the cottage later. So my choice of destination along the way, was a visit to the Great Orme. I've always been drawn to this amazing lump of limestone, which looks completely out of place. Not surprisingly, Viking invaders approaching in their longboats many years ago, mistook this for a sea monster. The only monsters now are the goats which perilously skip across the sheer cliffs. In Springtime, these are home to thousands of chattering seabirds, vociferously arguing for nesting sites. I parked at Llandudno West Shore, looking to walk around Marine Drive. I wasn't quite prepared for the strength of the South Westerly wind blowing full force off the sea. Barely made it out of the car, could hardly see as my eyes were constantly streaming. Seriously thought of giving up within a few yards. The sea was wild...everything grey and it felt dark before it should have been. By the time I'd walked all the way round, the wind had eased, but my face had that tingling weather beaten feeling.
Not surprisingly I felt quite drowsy and was happy to meet up with the others at the cottage. We ate and drank well, whilst catching up and chatting about our days exploits. With a fair forecast for the next day, a scramble up Tryfan's North ridge and Bristly Ridge was suggested.
Tryfan is an exciting mountain. Unlike most hills nearby, it has almost no greenery...just rock! So even the easiest routes to its curious summit of Adam and Eve, involve some basic rock climbing or scrambling. We picked a tricky route, which meant it was ours exclusively! Though after the short lived difficulty, we joined in with a steadily increasing throng of climbers, all converging towards the summit. All getting equally wet and cold, as the days fair weather never came. Instead it rained. Which turned the descent into a slow scrape over slippery boulders, eroding time and daylight. Not to mention enthusiasm! So Bristly Ridge was left to lurk in the greyness for another visit.
Not to be outdone by the weather. We charged ourselves with a strong coffee and raced across Anglesey to see the sunset over the Irish Sea. Which we missed by minutes...but that wasn't really the point! South Stack lighthouse was standing strong and we were welcomed to Ireland by text on our mobiles!!
New Years Eve, Jim and I drove down the Lleyn Peninsula to escape more drizzle in the mountains. We visited a favourite beach, Porth Neigwl and walked over the headland at Cilan. On our return to the beach, the tide was dropping. Walking along the strand line is always interesting. We found two Triggerfish within yards of each other washed up. Another sign of the much talked about global warming? Certainly these fish are not regulars here. Someone was liting a beach bonfire. Now that would be a good way to meet the New Year....!
We welcomed in the New Year at the Tyn y Coed Hotel. Memorable for me, because I won a game of Pool! We were then treated to a fantastic fireworks display and more drink. A nice night without that weighty expectation of a New Year celebration in the city.
Next day I got up thinking of going straight home...whilst dressing for a mountain walk!! So it was that Jim and I raced up Snowdon from all the way down at the Pen y Gwryd. Yes it was misty and grey, without a view, but we moved quickly. Perhaps on a nicer day when there's a view it's more appropriate to slow down.
I returned to see Heather Horse, expecting excitment and welcoming. Instead got a look of death with ears flat back. "Where have you been??"
Last Wednesday saw a visit to the yard of Andre Majewski, Equine Dentist no less. A very interesting chap with an almost unenviable job. He'd travelled from Harlech in North Wales, to see amongst others on his huge list, Heather! So sometime mid afternoon stood chatting in her stable with Andre, as he prepared to work. He used to be a farmer, but now changed careers. I'm used to this sort of chit chat from dentists, to calm the patient. Yes I was nervous as to how Heather would react to having some of the eighteen inch long rasps in her mouth. I was looking at Andre's fore-arms as he went in, searching for scars, but saw none...and he has all his fingers, so figured he must know a thing or two. So when H started to pull back and get agitated, was impressed by his soothing words in Welsh and gentle face massage, which transformed her behaviour!! He spent half and hour or so and was thorough to the end. A bonus of his visit was yet another estimate of her age. Sixteen. The vet thought fourteen, Carol twelve. When I took her on loan, I was told she was eight!! My estimate from pics on the web led me to eighteen. All really irrelevant, but interesting.
Despite my poorly back...well err...backside. I've ridden on every opportunity, except my group lesson last Thursday. There's a great difference in schooling and hacking at your own pace, to an hour of demanding orders in the school from my instructor, Ange. I'm also still finding canter very painfull and hoping things come good for tomorrows evening lesson. I believe I'm riding Zotto, who's probably the school top ned, whom I've not yet had the pleasure of yet. So fingers crossed..
Wayne, the farrier went on holiday!! This has meant that Heather and her dodgy big feet have gone unattended for two weeks, too long. I was quite concerned, with all the time and effort invested in her feet...especially with all the mud trying to help her shoes off. Well we made it through. She was first to be seen this morning and is now sporting natty new shoes. The worst foot, her near fore, with the crack doesn't seem to be getting any worse. In fact generally..as with the rest of her all round, things are looking up. She's generally a happy horse now and almost willing to work. Until I'm fully fit to ride hard...I'm working on trying to get her moving laterally. We've just about got turn about the forehand...now have to try..on the forehand. Oh and I've discovered a strange little soft spot on her. She had a cracked heel on her near hind last year. I was checking the area and scratting her heel, noticed she was wibbling her lip and crunching her teeth in pleasure....silly mare.
