Guy the Farrier would have been forgiven for thinking that World War 3 had broken out at Fritham this morning. With the Somme-like mud too thick to drive his van through into the field, I thought we could use the concrete apron just outside the inclosure instead. However this RAF road from the Second World War was already pretty much occupied with Commoners and Agisters at the tail end of a drift. While we tried to settle Theoden down sufficiently to put a set of shoes on there were ponies being branded, weaned and loaded into clanky trailers, with others taking off once they were freed from the drift pen. Bigger wagons were moving up and down with ponies neighing their heads off and my lot all calling to Theoden "Haven't you read Animal Farm? Don't you know what happened to Boxer?!" Then the Forestry Commission joined in with a huge timber lorry loading up with massive tree trunks and this was closely followed by the Royal Navy flying immediately overhead in one of their helicopters.
It's fair to say that Theoden was more in his 'maybe' mode than his 'yes' mode and we occasionally encountered a no. There was a bit of leg wafting, snatching his foot away, and moving around as he said that it was ludicrous to stand on three legs when he might need all four feet to flee at any moment. Guy is infinitely patient and got the job done so I have bought him an appropriate present for Christmas! "To Guy, with love (and apologies) from Theoden!"
