Half Pass and Wild Ponies

This wild pony cantered past me, close to Aber Falls. His flowing mane mirroring the cascading water.

On Friday I'd booked a classical riding lesson at Pen Llyn. I'd driven down earlier and went for a walk on the beach, then something caught my eye and I found myself half way up the hill behind, before suddenly realising it was time to go...
So it was straight into things...not quite late! The very talented pony I was riding needed little warming up. Soon we were shoulders in...leg yielding, all things I know. Then Lucy described travers to me. Must admit it all sounded a bit complicated at the time, but with her help, we soon sort of managed that. Before I had time to chew over that.."how about trying half pass?" Well ok!? So we did. Now I've had chance to think about it and read elsewhere what it's all about, I'm very pleased with my achievement. Like learning many new skills...I felt a little confused and not totally with it. Next time I'll know what to expect and do, a little more. Also for the first time since I started riding, I had some muscle pain the day after...right in the middle of my bottom. Clearly this is new ground for me!
Very inquisitive foal, high up on open ground above the falls, with Anglesey and Puffin Island in the distance.

On the way home I stopped to have a contemplative walk to see the spectacular waterfalls at Aber. It had rained all night. I haven't the camera to do the falls justice, but caught sight of one of the many wild ponies living in the surrounding hills. It's flowing mane mirrors the water falling over.
Aber Falls from a distance...

End of an Era..

Ready for take-off! Probably my last 747 departure...but who knows what the future holds?

In my working life I am a Licenced Aircraft Engineer. In 1985 I started with a major airline and was quickly introduced to the Boeing 747. I have worked on them all through my career so far. Today I probably departed my last 747. Our contract has finished and we have relinquished work on these magnificent aircraft in favour of more modern types. All our 747 work has gone...so a sad day in some respects. Of course there are still so many flying, that I'll be able to see my favourite aircraft for years yet. But I'll miss getting my hands on this most impressive machine.

Lovely Lusitanos

Last week I attended the first day of the Lusitano Breed Society's 25th Anniversary show at Hartpury Equine College in Gloucestershire. My interest in these horses stems from a chance trail ride I took a couple of years ago in one of my favourite parts of North Wales. More recently I have been lucky enough to be able to take riding lessons at Pen Llyn Lusitano Stud and Riding Centre. My riding ambition is very simple. To be able to ride a good horse well. My realisation as I now progress a long and forever lengthening, but interesting path, is that to ride well requires so much more than I ever imagined.
In the collecting ring, Purebred Stallion Tigre warming up. Something approaching the picture of where I see myself one day!

The Pen Llyn horses stole the show with very strong results in all classes entered, only coming second when one of their own had taken first!. The show stopping stallion Uivador Da Broa took 1st, in the class of the show, with an amazing performance. I was both humbled and inspired by both the quality of the horses and the skill of the riders. I left with a clear image of where I'd like to go and am lucky to have found the right people and place to attain it

Mussels...

Mussels are delicious! For me they bring back memories too. Long ago on those dull wet days on holidays to Wales, when the sand was no good to play in and the sun hid well away. My parents needed to be quick to keep four young boys from squabbling and fighting! There is much truth in the saying "the devil finds work for idle hands", which often started out in some sand slinging, but quickly escalated into all out sticks and stone fights! So what a pearl the mussel is. Who can find the biggest and best mussel? Everybody busy and food for the evening sorted out...
Lots and lots of good size mussels in a surprising location...

I find it very hard to pass up the chance of picking mussels. I'm always looking and have had some lovely ones from my closely guarded locations. I found a new spot recently and though they were well barnacle encrusted, proved heavenly once cleaned and cooked. There is something so rewarding to finding your own food, preparing it then cooking and eating. What a treat...

Quick fried onion and garlic, pinch of herbs then steamed over a camping stove..ready in minutes, irresistibly tasty!

Ponies of Trwyn Talfarach

View across Porth Neigwl at breakfast!

I think it was probably nearly midday before we set out for a walk. This was on my recent little camping trip to the end of the Llyn Peninsula with friends. We'd spent all morning slowly barbecuing and eating a hearty breakfast, whilst slowly cooking in the clear bright sun ourselves!
Sheer delight..finding the herd on the steepest, trickiest part of the headland.

Last year I'd visited this headland for the first time and had been delighted by finding a small herd of ponies. The land is owned by the National Trust and I presume they have put the ponies here for conservation grazing. This is a wild and beautiful place and their presence just seems to add that little extra surprise.
Boss hoss in the middle watched me very closely and I kept my distance..

We followed the rough path that leads to the rocky outcrop which marks the end of sensible walking. Sat eating our butties, admiring the views. Up till now there was no sign of the ponies. Although this was not my main aim of the day, I was curious as to where they were.
I was so busy watching below that I hardly noticed these two to my right. You couldn't have asked for a prettier pose!

By way of a distraction I looked down to the sea below and wondered if I could possibly, safely, make my way to the water. The going was steep with rock ledges half covered in ivy, long grass, heather, bracken and gorse. Every now and then I found little tracks..pony tracks. Then almost unbelievably there they were, right below on the lushest most inaccessible part of the whole headland. How I wished I'd not said I'll only be ten minutes to my friends on the cliff top. I'd 've gladly stayed here all day.
View from Trwyn Talfarach across Porth Ysgo towards Bardsey and the Irish Sea beyond.

We continued our walk with a rugged descent, with Choughs dancing in the air, to a rarely visited beach, where we were overflown by a Red Kite. I managed to confidently guide us up a non existent path in the heat of the day. Sandals and shorts now not such a good idea. Which eventually took us on to farmland and an interesting chat with a friendly farmer about the sheep shearer shortage. Perhaps an idea for a second income?

Orange UFO Sightings

A casual comment and an assumed spec on the lens of my camera, half made me think of UFOs. Today I looked in a daily paper and saw that there have been several recent reports of strange orange lights in the sky over the UK. Having looked at my photo more and tried to zoom in on the strange orange coloured ball in the far right of the picture, I have no explanation


Picture taken on 29th May, mid afternoon. Follow the horizon to the right in the picture. There is a small spec, which I thought was dirt on the lens. On zooming in, it is definitely something in the picture. It could be a balloon of some sort, I'm just surprised I didn't see it, I was on the hill top for sometime generally just being aware of my situation and orientation..

Carn Fadryn..a short walk with a view

Last week I was lucky enough to spend a few days on the Llyn Peninsula, in North Wales. On my first day, by way of a stop on my drive further South, I climbed Yr Eifl and Tre'r Ceiri. Sadly I have little to tell from these hills except cold wind and thick mist and stumbling around in ankle snapping boulders hidden in heather and bilberry!
Carn Fadryn viewed across farmland from the West close to the village of Dinas

By way of a reward for the previous days efforts, I decided to finally set foot on a delightful hill, CarnFadryn, which sits centrally in the peninsula. Like its higher northerly neighbour Tre'r Ceiri it boasts an Iron Age hill fort. Though not as impressive, it is nonetheless thought provoking and I found myself trying to imagine life in such a place so long ago.
The track up out of the village leads to a gate, where the direction changes, following the wall to the right, before ascending.

There is easy parking in the village which takes it's name from the hill behind. Today the sun was beating back a sea mist which kept me cool in my tent earlier. Now the day was almost hot and I chatted with a couple who had just come down and spotted their first ever Grass Snake, basking in the heat.
Looking North East lining Garn Boduan up with the distant horizon of Yr Eifl and furher right into Snowdonia. The Irish Sea and the town of Nefyn are hidden in the mist. Perhaps there's even a UFO in there too...

To the left of the chapel a track goes boldly straight at the hill. After a small gate such an aggressive route is softened by the path skirting round in an anti-clockwise manner, so as to ease the angle of ascent! After a short steep climb with a little meandering through the heather, the hill fort was breached and the summit trig point in sight. My reward for the day, far reaching views and the sea mist clinging to the north coast, adding to the impression of altitude given from such a hill which punches bigger than its size!

Cwm Llafar Horseshoe..dogs, bogs and a hitch-hiker!

What a strange combination, a sunny bank holiday weekend! With such perfect weather it seemed criminal not to venture out, but I knew I'd not be alone. Got myself up and out with a mountain walk in mind, but as I drove I still had no plan as to where, though I was driving to Snowdonia.
In the end I stopped at the side of the A5 just out of Bethesda by Ogwen Bank in a shaded lay-by above the river. A cup of tea and a glance at my map and my mind was settled.a walk I'd not done before...with my own little addition from the usual route.
View of the Cwm Llafar horseshoe from the start above Bethesda, Dafydd on the right Yr Elen left...gnarly dogs through the trees in front!

I left the car where it was..in the shade and crossed over and into the small forest of Braich Melyn. They've been logging here and the smell of pine wood in the warming morning air was soothing as the cooling last dew in the clearings was refreshing. I touched the edge of the village and followed the Afon Llafar upstream through old trees and a boulder garden which made for some lovely waterfalls which are probably rarely visited.
Now the landscape changed to farmland and sheep pasture, with a distant view of my intended climb. I don't like walking over farms, even though there is a right of way, I'm always aware that I'm probably not welcome. Even worse when the path goes through the farmyard...there are always dogs..I'm not keen on dogs and they usually know it. So after a worrying woofing at...I was very happy to be out on open moorland!
The dark cliffs of Llech Du on the left appear to bar the way. A diagonal climb over large scree first right then doubling back left unlocks the way up.
My big decision! To climb Carnedd Dfydd in front of me I had a choice of branching right and taking the gently rising grassy slopes of Mynydd Du. I could already see a couple of walkers take this route. Or continue up the narrowing valley and try and locate a scrambling route which I remember reading about sometime ago, through Crib Lem. I chose the latter, the valley scenery was worth the risk that I might have to turn back...I wish I'd brought my scrambling guide book along!
Part way up Crib Lem, looking up towards the summit of Carnedd Dafydd.

Took a lunch break beneath the dark cliffs of Llech Du, above which the ridge leads up to the summit. I watched a couple of small groups take a steep path to the right of the cliffs and between a waterfall, continuing up a stone- fall and doubling back to the left. Soon found myself in the same place and enjoyed the quick height gain.
The scrambling starts at the very top of the cliffs and I felt slightly daunted by the continuous stretch of rock steps and hurdles in front. It's always the same the first time on a new route, but as ever one step at a time and never climb up something you can't climb back down...I got myself in state on Tryfan in the past and still remember the sickening feeling of thinking I was stuck.
In the end I enjoyed the climb. The rock is good and gives nice hand and foot holds. There is no real direct exposure, but a very definite feeling of being on the crest of a ridge with the obstacles coming fairly constantly for an hour or so.
Looking back down the ridge, watching climbers progress. The Afon Llafar winds distantly below.

I'd shared my climb with a handful of others, helping and guiding each other when necessary. So it as a bit of a shock but not really a surprise to meet the huge walking groups already up from other routes. I like sharing the mountains..but groups numbering more than five or six just don't look right. We're talking coach loads! So I raced up Carnedd Llewelyn and beyond without stopping. Took a solitary break at crags overlooking Yr Elen, the final peak of my horseshoe. Looking down into Fynnon Caseg (Mare's Spring), I could just make out two mountain ponies by the shore!
Yr Elen is a mountain to savour, majestically standing centrally in the range with Anglesey and the Irish Sea beyond

Yr Elen stands alone from the other mountains. From here I could see back to my whole route and plan ahead for the way back. There is no path marked on the map across quite a large open area. In reality there is a very steep scree path which gives way to grassy slopes to the North East and the crags at Foel Ganol. I stayed with high ground as long as possible but knew I'd have to go cross country to pick up the Afon Llafar and challenge the inevitable bog. Which despite the recent rain was quite cross-able by stepping from tussock to tussock! To avoid the farms and dogs I even took on more open bog to pick up the far corner of the forest and make a different return. I was even rewarded by a meeting with a strangely solitary mountain pony who sniffed the air, snorted then carried on eating!
Wild mountain pony...hardy as the hills...look at that mane!

As a measure of my feeling of well being and openhearted- ness gained from such an enriching day...I found myself acting totally out of character and stopping to pick up a hitch-hiker! The gentleman in question carried a very large rucksack...which turned out to be a packed para glider...I hope. Anyway on the drive to Capel Curig I found out that Ian is a senior member of the North Wales Hang gliding and Paragliding club. He'd spent the afternoon chasing thermals above the very mountains I'd walked on. On further conversation, with things aviation, it turns out that his son is member of flight crew for the same company which I work for...small world!

Yorkshire Coast...for a change

The original plan was a trip to North Wales, a place I know and like so much. However a late change in the weather forecast made me uneasy. Now I'm not scared of rain but I do prefer sunshine. So after a little thought and a glance at a map, the decision was made. A trip into the unknown, an adventure in Yorkshire!
Robin Hoods Bay with crumbling cliffs and the tide dropping over the rock shelves.

So after an early start and a surprisingly easy drive, we found ourselves parking just above Boggle Hole, a small wooded inlet, towards the Northern end of Robin Hoods Bay. Blue sky, fresh, slightly cool Easterly breeze and warmth from a hazy sun. Perfect!
Typical scene in the village where it's easy to see why smugglers easily lost customs men through the network of alleys and steps.

The dropping tide invited us for a long walk South following along the crumbling cliffs which hold fossilised secrets ready to be discovered. Sand Martins fluttered almost like bats around their cliff top nest holes and a few Fulmars cackled noisily from impossible ledges. In the distance towards the sea several figures could be seen bending down sifting through the exposed seaweed...Winkle pickers!
The Bay Hotel where fishermen wait for the tide to float their boats to an easy catch..

We left the car parked at Boggle Hole and now walked the short distance along the beach North to Robin Hoods Bay village. Now there were lots more people and the feeling of the seaside holidays with kids in rock pools, dogs barking and winter white flesh bared to the first sun worth worshipping.
The village from a distance looks unimpressive. Up close, it's an amazing little place with crazy quaint houses almost tripping over each other and falling into the sea! Really has to be visited to be appreciated and the fish and chips are enormous and gorgeous.
Despite the tacky image, this place sold the best ice cream of the day...and we tried some!

Just up the road or round the headland is Whitby. Once famous for its fishing fleet and the ruined Abbey of St Hilda, now a bit more kiss me quick mixed with Bram Stokers Dracula, vampires and Goths! We stumbled in on one of the two weekends annually that Whitby plays host to a gathering of Goths. They really made the day with some fantastic costumes parading in whole families of generations dressed to the nines in corsets, cloaks and canes. As if ordered from below, the sun vanished and a swift thunderstorm swept across and out to sea leaving a close muggy misty evening.
Whitby's somewhat strange harbour entrance points directly North...following the brief storm.

So a chance to leave the dockside pub where it would be all to easy to stay and climb the well worn steps up to the abbey for some last photos taken in hope more than certainty and with a pleasant result. Which summed up a perfect day out really. Yorkshire is really quite nice..
St Hilda's Abbey makes a spectacular backdrop to Whitby's cramped streets and busy harbour.

Introducing Henry..

I have taken Henry on loan at the riding school. He is a Warmblood Bay gelding, standing 16.2h and at a rough guess 10-12 years old. Very handsome he is too! Henry came to the school some two or three years ago and was immediately popular, probably due to his looks..possibly to his detriment. He was initially overworked and almost inevitably went lame and had a back problem. On his recovery other new shiny horses had taken the limelight and the poor lad became an also ran in popularity and he generally languished without turnout or work.
Henry the Horse! Never stands still for very long and is quite bargy...needs to get out more!

Luckily for Henry he was taken on loan last Summer by Helen. Horses thrive with good regular attention and care. So with good feed and a warm clean stable his rehabilitation from obscurity was swift. With one problem. Horses like people have different characters. Now with proper weight and potential fitness Henry started to act himself...no longer squashed with overwork. The opposite...bursting with energy...nervous energy! He is a very spooky horse...easily worried. So on his re-introduction to the school, unfortunately he managed to make a name for himself bucking riders off. Not maliciously, but as a result of nervous tension. He is not really best suited in a school. A riding school horse should be steady giving the rider confidence. Henry is the opposite. He takes confidence from the rider...he needs a steadying hand to reassure his nervous nature.
I'm about to get stepped on!

So he's now in my hands. The challenge is to try and apply the same skills learned from looking after Heather, though Henry is so much different. On a day to day basis he is dirty and wet in his stable, though he seems to be settling a little now. He is happy to be groomed and picks his feet up quite well. Though I've been told he has poor feet, they're lots better than Heathers were. He has very elegant fine legs and a big plus, no white hair or pink skin, which so often seems to be more prone to infections. He's fine haired and thin skinned, which means he's a bit sensitive to brush, but stays clean and his coat comes up shiny without much effort. He had his teeth rasped in the week which was needed but revealed no trouble and he behaved very well.
Henry's in lovely condition and just needs some more fitness to get him working nicely.

I have got my work cut out though. He has poor stable manners, which are already improving. A walk in hand across the yard is close to an epic adventure. To turn him out is close to suicide with two leading him! To fetch him in is fraught as he will not be separated. I've had to get someone else to catch another to bring in alongside. None of these things are his fault. He's just not been handled enough and had regular boundaries applied. I can understand why...he is very strong and intimidating. Taking the couple of photos of him ended up with me having what is probably a broken toe as he jumped on my foot...ouch! Ridden work is coming along and I'll write more soon.

An Invigorating trip..

I'm currently on a training course through work. So far I've done four weeks out of seven, in a classroom with no windows, supplied with foul supposedly conditioned air. Not only that, but the course is presented on computers..so for much of the day the room is dark and I'm looking at a laptop screen. To keep from falling asleep I'm drinking far too much chemical coffee and hot choc from a vending machine. I'm getting up early to study...plus doing another three hours or so at night...all on laptops! Normally my work is varied and I'm sort of free range with big bright horizons, with plenty to do. So not surprisingly I'm starting to suffer and badly needed a day out!
Spectacular view of Llyn Ogwen from the shoulder below Tryfan's North Ridge

So with an unexpected free day..grasped the opportunity and headed for the hills..after picking up a good friend, Giles, who I would guide for the day! Feels like it's been grey for weeks. Imagine the sight of blue skies across the Irish Sea in one direction and snow capped mountains their summits defined keenly against the sky in the other. I really had to concentrate on driving, as it was so tempting to admire the view!
This guy, with no gear and little idea(Giles) kept following me! Could have left him to the goats, but gave him half my hot choc instead..

The snow was a surprise and not forecast. So my plans for the day had to be adjusted accordingly. I had intended a walk to the top of Tryfan following the same route to the far South Peak via the Heather Terrace path, that I walked back in June with Liz. I had picked the Heather terrace as a loose connection to the horse I have loaned and lost this week. The path with the flower of her name is fittingly beautiful, yet as rocky and hard as the mare herself. A fitting tribute.
Tryfan's goats seem to have had a good year, with plenty of young kids..

We had the place to ourselves. As we gained height towards the North Ridge the snow became deeper. No footprints. So the snow was fresh..last nights..so not icy and a delight to crunch through. Unfortunately this made the route-finding all the more tricky and I was aware of a worsening weather forecast. Eventually we found the elusive path...well the terrace and made our way along. By the time we'd got to the South end the cloud was descending and snow was being blown in the increasing wind. No time for bravery..after attempting to make snow angels on a precarious slab and nearly falling off. We decided to get to the valley floor and head home.

My attempt at making mountain snow angels nearly ended up with me flying off the side!

Heather has been sold....gone

Someone came to try her on Monday. By the time I got to the yard on Wednesday, I'd missed her by half an hour..sold, loaded and gone. Even though I knew this might come, the reality hit hard and I can only say that I'm devasted.


What is most frustrating is that no one sought my knowledge gained daily looking after her. Heather's new owner will have to start like I did...no clues, a blank sheet. Whereas I know so much and would willingly pass on every detail to make her future that much easier. I feel very disappointed and let down by the people who should really have had her interests at heart..yet constantly put up barriers to her welfare.

My last sight of her was when I called her in at dusk on Tuesday. She came, bringing half the ponies with her. Limping lame on her fore again, I noted. It was raining and really pretty ugly, so didn't take her rug off...just let her eat her bucket of feed...gave her a scratch where she likes and turned her back out...saying goodbye, as I always do. She didn't linger by the gate with the rain.

Change of Seasons

This Winter has been the coldest in quite a number of years. However with the increasing daylight and budding branches, it's quite obvious that Spring is just around the corner. So I thought it might be time to reflect over the past few months looking after Heather, who has been the only horse or pony on the yard to live out throughout.
Heather on another cold frosty morning, immobile! Whilst her shadow, Ouzo defrosts breakfast!

Really it was still Autumn when she got Mud Fever. This bacterial infection of the lower legs must be the scourge of so many horses. Essentially constantly wet skin breaks more readily allowing the bacteria in mud easy access to infect. The easiest and best prevention and cure is to take the horse out of the mud and into the dry..a stable for example. There are plenty of proprietary lotions and potions on the market which can then be applied.

Horse or Water Buffalo..with electric tape between her hind legs!! The start of the Mud Fever when the weather was still warm but wet in late October.

I was caught out by how quickly the infection spread. From the first little scabs appearing one day..too all four legs having big areas of infection all the way up to her hocks and knees with a patch on her belly which is technically Rain Scald, but the same bacteria. She became sullen and her lower legs all became swollen with movement being obviously painful and difficult for her. I really needed to get her in from the wet and was promised a stable within a week...which we never got. So I turned to an old remedy which I reasoned was the only course open to me. Pig oil and sulphur. The logic behind it is simple. Applied to clean dry legs, the oil acts as a barrier to the wet and as a carrier for the sulphur, which is an anti-bacterial agent. The beauty of this is that even for a horse living out, re-application needs only to be repeated every couple of weeks. It worked..though not instantly and with a side effect. Combined with the falling off scabs and rashes and possibly an adverse reaction to the sulphur, much of the hair on her lower legs started to come out.leaving her with bald chicken legs!
So I stopped using the oil and sulphur and now wash her legs every couple of weeks with hibiscrub and towel dry. She has had no recurrence and the hair has grown back nicely. Not a bad achievement...I think we can put that down as a victory.
By clicking on the picture you can see Heather's balding lower legs a result of the Mud Fever.

The next challenge came in the form of one of her field mates...a mare called Boo. As the grass in the field diminished, the horses ended up challenging each other for the hay that we put out. Even though there was only the three of them, it put Heather and Boo too close. Both obviously quite dominant, neither prepared to back down. Boo took to biting Heather and ripping her rug. Heather just stood there taking it!! I spent hours stitching and gluing her rugs. I even found her without one. Boo had shredded the buckles at the front. I bought a new Weatherbeeta Landa with a neck. First day on it was ripped. At this point I started researching. Someone suggested a bite repellant spray. This worked to some extent but the can cost £5 and only lasted three days!
Not a go faster stripe, no, the white on her side is the filling revealed by yet another rip from Boo, standing with Ouzo in the distance.

The Landa rugs have a ripstop 600 Denier weave..which is good enough for everyday turnout, but useless against horse bites! So after some deliberation I bought a Masta Check-Tech which has a triple weave and is a heavier 1200 Denier. I think it was the cheapest heavier weave rug I could find. Well it proved bite proof....another success! Not long after this Boo was taken out of the field anyway so Heather can wear the thinner skinned rug again without fear of a shredding.
Yet another stitch up! This time Boo managed to tear the buckles off Heather's rug. I fixed it!!

I've got used to having the car like a mobile tack and feed room. Putting on a warm coat and gloves then walking through the yard. Passing the warm cosy stables with happy horses munching neat hay nets, to the dark cold field which in the frosty and snowy weather seemed like a different world. Not that Heather seems particularly bothered by the cold, in fact I think she probably prefers Winter to Summer. She's not been head shaking since about November and quite happy to have no flies hanging around. Just as long as there's something to eat!

Happy to be out alone, so long as there's something to eat!
I've continued to hack her out with that ever elusive canter on her right rein my goal. I've learned when and where to ask and in some places with a carefully timed spin to the right she picks up right lead every time. The hard thing is getting her to do this riding away from home, she's quite willing to spin for home, but not a habit I really want to encourage. The ice and mud have also limited our outings.
Out and about, Heather keeping a wary eye on the hedgerows, always alert to a possible ambush by a squirrel !

So in the New Year I decided to try and start schooling her again. My knowledge of horses has increased and I now realise that she was never bred to do pretty things in a small arena. This is no ballerina. She has a very broad chest and stands with her fore legs wide apart suggesting a big heart and lungs and her thick winter coat and feathered legs give away her cold blood lines. She was probably bred as a light/medium weight hunter and is almost certainly Irish Draught crossed with Thorough Bred.
What a responsibility! Where on Earth has he taken me? Doesn't he know the woods are full of dangers! He's lucky to have me look after him...silly rider!

With this in mind I kept things nice and simple with nothing more than walk and trot round the outside with only simple rein changes. I managed to avoid having any fights with her and undoubtedly she then collected up and softened quite nicely. I would then take her out for a canter out of the school round Banky Meadow. Unfortunately sometime soon after this she began to go lame intermittently. Trotted up okay but after only a short time ridden, lame, limping slightly on her near foreleg.
Another good feed.

Some three weeks ago I took her out on a cold grey day. We went down Kickety Brook. Halfway round she went lame again. I made a sad decision then that this was possibly my last ride with her. The head shaking was also making a return, possibly with the increased daylight and possibly early pollen. No I have pieced together enough clues to formulate a considered answer. She has muscle wastage on her almost none existent top line. No ammount of work or feed has ever made any difference to this. I think she has arthritis to quite an extent which prevents her from achieving what she should be capable of. Which is all compounded by her head shaking which compels her to stand still to relieve the discomfort.
Heather with a rare visit to the field from Henry

Having said all that I have looked after her and worked out her ways. She's a very tough cookie, very independent for a horse. She can quite happily be the only horse in the field. She seems to attract other horses, but cares little for them, pushing them around. Very brave when ridden too. In some respects she's easier alone, as in company she is always glaring at the others. Alone she gets nervous and can be reluctant and hesitant, but when told to go, always does..which takes trust and acceptance. Not easy but predictable and reliable.
Heather like I've ever seen her before..now I know I'm trusted and accepted..after nearly 3 years.

So it was with great sadness that I was told that firstly she was for sale. I did wonder who on earth would want to buy her? Then even more grief on being told that she was leaving by the end of the week and not to return. For a number of days I went down to the field wondering if she'd still be there. I have become emotionally attached to her, I've learned so much from her. At the same time I've given her possibly the most stability and security she's had in recent years. From a semi-feral horse to a trusted friend who delighted me yet again in the morning by letting me near her lying in the field. She has not gone yet. I don't want to buy her. I have earned her trust and I marvel at her spirit. I've been touched by the same magic that has enchanted men through the ages, the spirit of the horse is priceless.

Snow.!!

Heather this morning looking quite happy with the nights dusting of snow..wondering why I've stopped to take pictures! Where's breakfast??

The weather provides us with endless conversation and interest, as do the changing seasons. It's been almost a year since Heather, the horse in my charge, has lived out. So we've lived through almost every kind of weather in that time. Still seems quite strange to me in my life away from the yard that when I return...she's still there...stood in the field! 24/7. I've had many peaceful moments stood in the field too, taking a welcome break from the 21st century, with the horses and ponies. Feeling the wind blow, seeing clouds roll away leaving the Moon to light the fox sneaking silently across the snow.

Looking a bit wary as we get close to the gate, there's deep mud just below a thin crust of snow and ice. She had a couple of slides on ice recently and doesn't trust the stuff anymore..

Snow! A rare and welcome treat. This Winter has been more like those I can remember from my childhood..cold and icy. I took these pictures today in a rare gap in the weather. An hour later and the cloud and snow fall returned. However here in Manchester we've escaped the worst, so it's hard to believe what all the fuss is about elsewhere.

Content and happy horse after a good feed and brush...ready for anything! Maybe some more snow?