Feliz Navidad

Hello there!  It's been quite a while, I see a have a half written post from August lying in drafts, some day it might get finished.

Fred & doggos

Frosty morning

As you can imagine, even if I'm not writing, life goes on, and life has been pretty busy.  With 3 horses, 4 cats, 2 dogs and a flock of hens, I'm kept busy!  

Playing in the field

I haven't written in ages, partly out of laziness, it's just so easy not to.  I'm not reading enough at the minute either, which is also laziness, but also the fact that I haven't read anything in ages that's really made me want to read. Anyway, I digress, back to equestrian life!

Fabulous Fred in the field

I had my last competition at the end of September, not intentionally necessarily, but it's always hard to get out in the winter months, the days are shorter, the fields are wet and there's only the roads to ride on. That competition didn't go according to plan, which was kinda frustrating. I wasn't feeling that great on the day which turned into having a cold for a full month, with different symptoms. 

I held out until the 2nd of November on leaving the horses out full time, but it was definitely time to bring them in then.  They came back to my house for the winter on 2nd November. My cousin Evan sorted out lights for me in the stables and yard and boy has that been a game changer!! It's been 9 years of using solar lights and phone torches, I really don't know myself being able to see everything! It makes life soooooo much easier.  

Lightttsss!!

Horses are loving the routine, they're out first thing in the morning and back in around 5ish.  Over the years I've bought the xl haynets from Shires, which are great.  They're pricey, so I just keep adding to the collection when I can.  At the weekends I fill all the haynets I have which now will get me from Sunday evening to Saturday, it's such a great time saver and shows you how much hay you have left for the field and the following week. 

Name plates on the doors

Fred

This year I added to the rug collection.  I got 2 Aloga ones. I needed another lightweight for the boys as the lining on one was ripped, having already been repaired.  I got one for Misneach too as her ones are medium and I wanted her in something lighter. So far, they're doing their job well, although Cu Chulainn has already got a small rip in his. 

Fred wintering well

Before I moved the crew home, I sent Misneach off to school.  I thought about backing her myself and then copped on to myself.  It's been 10 years since I backed Cu Chulainn and I ain't as fit or riding as many horses as I was then.  She went for 2 weeks and was as good as gold for them.  I left it a few days before I got up on her.  I had already ridden a friends pony to practice riding a different horse and a smaller one!  Not gonna lie, I was nervous getting up but did the fake it till ya make it approach.  I need not have been any way concerned because she was sooooooo bloody good.  I walked her in the field and did serpentines and halts.  She was just looking for the boys a bit, but otherwise, a very good girl.  

First time on Misneach

The next time I rode her I trotted her and did transitions.  It rained too much after that to ride her in the field, so I brought herself and Cu Chulainn to the indoor arena in Creagh Equestrian Centre.  I set out some poles on the ground to have something to work at.  I brought Cu Chulainn down to stand at the side of the arena, just to give her some comfort, seeing as she had never been in an indoor and because I wanted to ride him after and she doesn't like to be alone in the box-yet.  Once she got used to riding away from him she focused on what she was at.  She didn't baulk at anything.  Steering will need more work, but you have to have something to work on!  

Helpers

Last weekend for the first time ever, I rode all three of my horses!  It felt great, but it wasn't easy.  The weather was crap, very windy and drizzly.  It's much more time consuming in winter.  I managed to ride Misneach first in the morning, having not ridden her in 2 weeks she was great, not bothered by the wind at all.  But then had to wait until the afternoon to ride the others.  The weather was worse then.  It was colder and wetter somehow!  So I had a gazillion layers on.  I only walked the other 2 because I had so many layers on.

Weather is not appealing

We're heading for the Christmas break now and I'm hoping to get to ride more.  I'm thinking about heading to Flowerhill with Misneach and doing one of the rideouts - without jumping.  Maybe a beach run too.  I'd like to get Fred to an arena to give him a nice canter and proper flatwork.  

In other news, Rufus, the 2 week foster, will be part of the family one year this weekend!

Cuddling his teddy

I'm hoping writing this will get me going again.  What really made me want to write was hearing about how much content is now written by AI.  We all need a bit of real writing and real life, not perfection stuff.  Don't you agree?  What would you like to hear about here?