A very busy day for Mr F

At last 'Mr F' has a decent pair of front hoof boots and he no longer has to go out in 'carpet slippers'. 

I managed to get hold of a 2nd hand pair of renegarde boots.

First of all we had our 4th (or 5th?) lesson with Rupert at 3:30. The aim was for me to work through canter basics. 'Calamity Jane's Menage has been expanded and is quite a bit bigger than before, making it physically much more comfortable for 'Mr F' to work inside the menage. 

We didn't quite get to do the canter but instead fixed something that had bothered me some time: I have had the issue of quite often slipping out of my left stirrup. So Rupert put the stirup up first 1 and then 2 holes to force my balance on the side. It was difficult at first but it worked! I now seem to need one stirrup slightly shorter than the other, apparently now they look equal length. I wonder if it is I that is loop sided or 'Mr F' or the saddle. We'll have to do the canter work next time.

Straight after the lesson we went to meet with with 'Lillian' on 'Luke' and together we rode over to a nearby village for a pint in one of the pubs there. It is a good route because it included several challenges for both 'Mr F' and 'Luke':

First we had to ride past two fields with pigs. Well, neither of the boys wanted to go past, both were very unsettled by just the smell. We didn't even see the pigs. Thinking of it, I suppose it has to do with what pigs eat (omnivorous) with their wild ancestors being the wild boar.

Then we had to maneuver through a quarry, a very challenging path for both 'Mr F' and 'Luke' - both had to think where they put their feet. Not too long ago, 'Mr F's balance was quite bad but he is now learning and getting much better. All the walking on hard ground (although with hoof boots) hopefully helps to strengthen his legs. His entire body shape is improving, he is becoming more rounded and muscular and does not at all look like 21.

And then there were all the gates that we had to open and close (without dismounting) and this was followed by having to cross of a small stream, either through the water ( 'Luke's way ) or over the small stone path which 'Mr F' preferred although I had to lead him as clearly the water was very very nasty indeed.

All in all it was probably just over 9 miles there and back. With the days getting shorter we were caught out by the darkness on our way back and had to speed up. For the last part of the route home we rode with 'Lillian's partner 'Tom' in the car behind us lighting the way and making us visible to other traffic (we did wear high vis gear but it was by now dark).

So, all in all it was a long afternoon for 'Mr F' but he returned home feeling quite smug.