Yesterday Guilda was introduced to a saddle for the first time before being ridden in the round pen on and then off the lead rein. Beau was ridden all the way around the field and then unclipped too. It was fabulous to actually watch him switch his left ear off to me and give them both to Jenny - he was concentrating so hard. These are wonderful moments. Our experiment in starting ponies just one a week or even once a fortnight in Guilda's case, is going extremely well. In a few weeks I have got two starters coming in - Freddie and Puck - and they will be on the three day week with two sessions of groundwork in between. It will be good to be able to compare.
"What an amazing day. There is so much to be said about kindness and understanding of animals. It's taken you and Jenny no time all to get to the saddling up stage. The confidence that Guilda has is a real credit to you both. Can't wait for the next lesson. x" K.G. (Guilda's owner)
Life is never mundane. Today the chiropractor is coming to check that Chancer and Theoden are ready for more work. Tomorrow I am off to the Royal Veterinary College with Jim the Fireman and back to the fire station on Friday to finalise the objectives for the charity. Saturday I am off to Bicton to do a demo with horses I have never met or even talked about and on the way back I'm going to see Magic and Merlin, the Bodmin moor ponies that we halter trained last year. Two loaders and a Teddy at the beginning of next week and then off to Mallorca to see Xanthe and her mules!!
