10th November, 2015 Hope and Bray

Whilst the donkey may be very pleased to see Benny, the feeling isn't mutual...

...and when he hears the raucous greeting he decides that he had better be off.

This is genuine fear illustrated by leaving, passing droppings, a tight lower jaw...

...and an exaggerated running foot.

Bit by bit, and with clickered rewards, he gets a lot braver...

and copes well with the next enormous wave of braying...

...before getting pretty close. This is where we left it for today after about an hour and a quarter.

Once he was able to concentrate, moving him forwards four steps and immediately back three helped to bring him closer without putting too much pressure on him and he stopped trying to run away.

10th November, 2015 Eats, Leaps, and Bounds

Smart mule on a smart phone. I thought I might spend some time teaching Henrietta to jump this morning. Two minutes later and the job was done. Watch out Olympia!

9th November, 2015 That's Settled

A very blustery ride out on the Forest this afternoon but such a relief to see this gelding back out again and clearly recovered from his serious bout of colic. When I went up to see him on foot later he came up to say thank you.

8th November, 2015 While The Cat's Away

The mice have all been excelling themselves...

I've been waiting for a perfect excuse to show this professional picture of Ami and Catherine who both look absolutely gorgeous in it.

"I thought i would share today's adventure with you. I promise you that the following is true and that I am not making this up: Ami and I were charged by an adult pig at dusk while a motorbike with big light on zoomed past us. Ami just stood and waited for his treat. Monsieur Beau Cheval indeed!" CF

And Jo's Darcy has been coping well with bicycles of another kind...

"First proper hack since I had my wipe out a few weeks ago and am slowly getting back to it! Best bit was the 8 bikes we saw today and D was a very good boy. Thanks Sarah we are doing better." JB

Miriam's sensitive foal has had her first headcollar on using the techniques in No Fear, No Force...

"Big breakthrough with miss Poison Ivy today! All foals are different and Ivy is extremely wary and naturally flighty. Small steps, patience and No Fear No Force got us here, with her happy and under no stress." MM

and Bertie, an older colt not only has his headcollar on but also has a plait in his forelock so that hands don't make him quite so nervous.

Meanwhile, Rumble has had his front feet trimmed for the very first time...

"Just an update, Rumble had his front feet trimmed on Friday with no problems at all .A long way off having the back ones but such a big step for Rumble." KB

A few days later from Kate W:

"I just really wanted to say thanks for your advice and posts and book! I am following No fear, No force, almost to the letter and today my new foal pretty much threw herself at me (in a good way!) and gave me one of the most uplifting and exhilarating experiences I have had! I actually shed a tear afterwards." KW 

8th November, 2015 Hadrian's Horses

As we reached the cottage near Lambley we couldn’t see what was around at all since the whole moor was shrouded in mist. If I had been able to see the farm sign I should have known, but as the fog lifted in the morning I realised we were surrounded by upwards of 50 horses. Mostly coloured cobs, there were also two Clydesdales, a couple of Lippizanners, a Friesian and a Friesian crossed with what turned out to be a Knabstrupper. There were at least ten well grown foals. They were all living out on the moor, very naturally, and mostly a bit wild and woolly. 

 

 We covered 40 miles on our walks over the next week which involved a lot of heavy breathing and slithering over rocks. We met one or two horses as well as the ubiquitous sheep and cattle while we were out and about including a little Welsh Pony whose owner’s sister we bumped into by coincidence in the The Forge Café in Allendale. He’s apparently called Minty!

7th November, 2015 Newcastle Fans

It’s a long way to go for one night so we spent a day and a couple of nights in Newcastle before heading off to Northumberland for a week for some much needed time away from horses. Hmmm, but what is this?

Herby 'lives' at The Herb Garden Restaurant underneath Arch 8 in central Newcastle. He was injured by a raucous crowd on Derby Night and is awaiting repair. He obviously has lots of loving fans.

The restaurant he comes from is in much better condition and we had a wonderful meal here...

Down by the river there were hints of other horses...

...and around the back streets too.

But can this be right?

Maybe not...

But look!

Stepney Bank Stables are in the heart of Newcastle and have a good deal going on for a massive range of riders. The stables are set in an old fashioned yard with cobbled stones but the horses also get time to spend time out. We were made welcome and got to say hello to these three.

Stepney Bank Stables

7th November, 2015 At The End of Their Tether

Our trip to Newcastle on Tyne originally came about so that we could go to the last ever performance of the New Rope String Band, a band we have been following as the Old Rope and then the New Rope String Band for some twenty years. It’s too late now anyway, but this band was well worth seeing with an act that involves a lovelorn mermaid and a man in a kilt who flies above Gateshead on a lilo playing a melodian. You probably have to be there to appreciate the humour, the timing and the downright effort that goes into a show that leaves the audience helpless with laughter and three men in a heap of sweat and tweed. Tim Dalling, Pete Challinor, and Jock Tyldesley I salute you and hope that you have now grown up you can all be “a spaceman in a space suit”. Meanwhile I am left plonge-ing my long johns and not knowing whether to laugh or cry!

Thanks to other members of the audience who took photos, I have stolen them!