Winter tidings

We are now in the beginning of November and have had the first frosty nights. Luckily it is still mostly dry albeit very windy. 

I am waiting to start 'Mr F's stable training. For the past weeks, 'Ester' with son 'Zac' and 'Rookie' were getting used to the new stable. 'Ester' has just recently left and 'Zac' is being weaned. Both mother and son are very calm about it, 'Ester' is probably quite relieved as 'Zac' had been harassing her quite a bit. 

I wait for the youngsters to comfortably settle into their stable so that they will be calm when I start turning up with 'Mr F', who undoubtedly will NOT make this easy for me.

It took him nearly 3 years before he could accept being in the stable at the old place (but never on his own) and that only because they were used to it as they had their haylage inside the cowshed and would be able to access / leave it 24/7.

We shall see how he reacts when I show it to him for the first time. Meanwhile I continue talking him into the menage and for walks around the countryside and around the yard and barn buildings. Anywhere he isn't quite so sure about I take him repeatedly until he no longer cares.

The first frosty mornings ... tidings of winter. 

'Polly' doesn't get a rug to wear yet, but 'Mr F' is wearing his by now.

'Mr F' snoozing in the warming sunshine. Even though the temperatures are close to freezing, up here it is very sheltered and considerably warmer. I too often join them up here. It is very peaceful with stunning views all around.

The weather has been very much on our side so far and I am very grateful for that. 'Mr F' isn't a horse to spend winter outside 24/7.  I remember the years before his accidents and how miserable they all  looked in the mornings after a windy, wet and freezing night. 

I have to come up with a strategy for the stable training so that we can start as soon as possible.