"Just like those antique equestrian paintings"

Saturday. I finished my work at the local firewood yard just after midday and I make my way to 'Hill Farm'. It's a beautifully sunny day and if 'Mr F' is up for it, we shall go for a loop around the area. 

Recent snow and ice has all melted away, leaving behind huge pools of water on the roads. It will be a interesting little exercise to introduce 'Mr F' to some water walking. He does not like water and tries and avoids going through it at all cost. Once while out riding we had to cross a smallish stream and although he had a good 10 minutes to think about it, 'Mr F' in the end decided to leap across the stream as though it was width of the Thames!  

As I arrive at 'Hill Farm' I first sort out my tack room. It becomes clear that 'Mr F' has much more stuff in his 'room' than I have in my own. Over the years I have reduced my 'baggage' down to only things that I need everyday, with the exception of the odd set of 'nice' clothes in case I have to attend some kind of social event. Just to fit in, because one can't turn up everywhere in muddy wellies and a coat that's accompanied by a whiff of 'eau de cheval' ...

--->>> insert photo pf tack room <----

'Mr F' of course had heard and seen me arrive. As I make my way to go and fetch him he is already waiting at the gate, making a good job of looking bored. As he sees me walk around the corner of the barn he greets me with a neigh and a chain of nickers. 'I know you are here, what took you so long? The grass in here isn't that great you know! Let's go some place!'

'Mr F' willingly lowers his head so that I can put on his rope head-collar. We go for a stroll down the drive. He enjoys the grass and the views as much as he likes the attention of the walkers we meet. We met a rather dapper gentlemen with his dog who was especially taken by 'Mr F', who by now was standing attention, his head held high, taking in anything new with utmost interest. At this moment, his entire posture, to pure and so powerful, it was breathtaking. And every time I see him in his pure natural and innocent beauty it hits me hard in my guts that such a stunning and powerful creature is willing to hang around and put up with a human. How can we ever see ourselves as 'above' the horse?? How forever grateful I shall remain to be able to be in the presence of these to me otherworldly beings. As though they are messengers or remainders of all that we have forgotten about being.

The sight of a fully attentive 'Mr F' must have struck this dapper gentleman in a similar manner as he too seemed for a short moment at a loss for words ... he just stared and said "He is so stunning. Like in those antique equestrian paintings. He is magnificent." We chat for a little bit before 'Mr F' and I continue with our loop. 

The loop ends with a uphill path which today turns out to be extremely muddy! I didn't take into consideration that all the pools of water on the roads should have warned me that the fields are still muddy. Oh well. It was a matter of just a few hundred meters up to the stables. 'Mr F' has a great dislike for mud and tries to avoid it at all cost. I can't blame him as he has shown some form of allergic reaction to mud in previous years at the old place. The back entrance to their shelter with the feed was a mud swamp more than ankle deep and they had to walk through that each time they wanted some food. Food was kept in there to keep it dry but also for them to stand on dry ground for a little while when eating.

So far at 'Hill Farm' there have been no signs of this allergic reaction re-curing. Which is due to the fields being kept in better shape and better drained and 'Mr F' being in over night.

It had been some time since we handled difficult terrain. I was hoping he'd cope with his hip. When ridden 'Mr F' seems to loose all sense of self preservation. But when being lead, his rule of thumb is: if terrain difficult, follow in the little human's footsteps. This is partly my doing from days back when out on rides with 'Lillian'. If the ground was very stony or covered with big boulders up or downhill I used to get off and lead him. In the first months of my outings with 'Mr F', years back, he had hardly any clue how to handle his four legs on uneven terrain. It is as though he'd never been out on a hack, and perhaps he really hadn't. Perhaps all he ever saw and experienced was the race course. He was stumbling and kind of hopping about, unable to navigate even simple things such as tree roots. It took a good year of going out  regularly before he became accustomed to think where to place his feet. Once he realised he can do it, he became a master at it! I always give him time to study the ground before him and I never have him on short rein, especially not on tricky terrain. He needs to have his head down (and slightly tilted) so that he can see the floor.

Today 'Mr F' was showing that he hadn't forgotten how to think where to put his feet, despite him not having been doing anything for over a year while recovering. 

First off he resorted to the safest option: follow directly in my footsteps. But he realised that I too was struggling in the deep mud and he realised  that eventually I would be in his way. Horses find it easier to navigate over tricky ground at speed, especially uphill on a path covered with large stones or thick tree roots.

'Mr F' is very respectful when we are out like this; he doesn't just run me over or dash off nor does he push into me, instead he tries to keep at same height (his head my shoulder). But this path was getting worse so I had to ask him to walk on the verge opposite mine. Either verges were tricky to walk on, covered with tree stumps, dormant brambles and deep mud.

We both made a run up the hill and my wellies had a narrow escape with being stuck in the mud. I could see 'Mr F' out of the corner of my eye, he was very carefully analysing the ground and eventually decided it might yet still be safer behind me. 'Mr F' did cross over back onto 'my' verge and was behind me but he never came close enough to make it dangerous for me. Once at the top of the path we were almost back at the yard. 'Mr F' was rather content with his lot and seemed chipper. I know from the past that he likes exploring, especially in woodland. Anything out of the ordinary of course means he can engage his brain, even if it is a little comfort zone. It's a bit like playtime, it's entertainment, for both of us.

Winter

We have our first snow.

On my way to 'Hill Farm' early in the morning my car struggles to find grip and I am contemplating looking for winter tyres. A pair will do at the front (front wheel drive).  People say 'a horse sure must cost a lot to keep' - well, I find that my car is costing me more per month, especially since I have had repair bills (including MOT) mounting to a total of £700 over just the last 3 months! Very kindly the garage lets me pay it off monthly.

There goes my wish to buy 'Mr F' an ionic stable rug, for now. Alas, the stables are open air and he will be in there with his turnout rug anyway, as it is waterproof. The wind does sometimes blow in rainy mist, or like today: snow!

As I turn on the flood light in the stable I find half of 'Mr F's stable covered in a thin layer of snow. Not ideal as it will dampen his straw.  When 'Jackie' comes to feed her boys I ask 'Jackie' if we can cover the boarding with that green 'StormGuard' sheeting to stop the worst of the snow / rain being blown in.

It was meant to be covered up anyway, there just hadn't been the time yet. 'I am happy to do it myself or give you a hand. But I would like to do something to keep his stable dry'. To which 'Jackie' replied that it was on the list of things to be done to the stable barn but she just hadn't got round to it yet. 'I have some stormguard left in the shed, let's have a look when the boys are out.' she added.

After 'Mr F' and I have our breakfast I get on with mucking out. It is now almost two weeks of 'Mr F' being in the stable at night. I was wondering if he is actually laying down as I hadn't seen any imprints on the straw. Until this morning. A big, flat imprint. It seems he likes to use the fresh piles of straw stacked against the wall as 'pillows'. I guess its more snug, or easier to get up having something to lean against. I deliberately kept it that way so far, hoping that he might make use of it. I study the imprint and its clear that at some point he was laid out flat before curling up. You can even see where his head and tail have been. It'll be interesting to observe this.

As soon as all are turned out, 'Jackie' and I get about attaching the storm guard sheeting. 'Jackie' is afraid of heights and she clearly isn't comfortable up on the ladder and I am equally uncomfortable seeing her like that. Eventually she lets me climb up and I attach the storm guard sheeting on the inside of 'Mr F's stable. It's immediately less draughty. It took us a good hour and a half but it is well worth it and makes a huge difference. 

'Mr F's inside of the stable side now covered with 'storm guard'

And so another job done, its time for me to leave and get on with what I have to do.

'Mr F' in the bottom field,  'Rookie' and 'Zac' in the other field.

The Youngsters

It now has been a week of 'Mr F' being on his own in his field. As mentioned before, he does have other horses in the fields around him. His field is right next to the yard and there is always something going on. Further neighbours of his are the ducks in the pond and the chickens in the small fenced off run about.

'Mr F' is now more accepting of the youngsters and they call out for each other during the day. Quite often they go and greet each other at the gate.

At the moment they are turned out and brought in at the same time but it soon is time to change this routine a little.

The weather has now truly turned wintry, rain, winds, freezing nights.

Every evening, while I sit on my heap of straw in 'Mr F's stable, I am so grateful that we managed to complete the stable training just in time. What joy it is to sit inside the sheltered stables, listening to the wind blowing and the rain drops hitting the roof while the boys are relaxed, dry and contently munching their haylage.

'Mr F' is less bossy with 'Rookie' and they are getting used to each other, slowly. 'Rookie' frequently sticks his little head over the partition gates, doing his chewing motion as though he is saying  'Look, I am friendly. Come say hello.' 'Rookies' favourite past time is to chase 'Zac' around the field. It is this little chap that has at the moment the upper hand. Meanwhile 'Zac' just wants to be left alone. It's easier for the little one to charge around. It seems 'Zac' has his mother's temperament: 'Why rush? I am not interested in running, I just want to eat.'

 'Rookie' - Cuddly and cheeky - also the stirrer upper

'Zac' the gurmpy - I am sure this will change though!

And then we have 'Zac' the grumpy. His ears mostly pinched back even though he doesn't actually mean it. Pretty much like a grumpy teenager. 'Hmmpf. Get away - Nope, don't want to do that. Grmbl - Bah! bored. Get away with that rug! DO NOT look, I am eating!'   etc etc

Especially around feeding time does he have a grumpy face and we are quite sure that this stems back to when he was with his mother 'Ester'. She used to eat 'Zac's food after she'd finished hers if he wasn't quick enough. 

'Mr F'  and his shiny rear-end ... my usual view from my stable 'office'.

As the night is drawing in I spend some more time watching what the boys get up to. The youngsters are quite keen on rolling, especially 'Rookie'. It seems 'Zac' has yet to develop spatial awareness: quite often when he lies down to roll he is too close to the partition and lands up on his back with feet in the air, unable to get himself back up. More than once did 'Jackie' have to give him a hand by pulling him over onto his other side.

Limestone Plateau & Making the Menage interesting

It's Sunday and I give myself a day off so my hands can rest for a day.

After having been to see 'Mr F' for the usual morning routine I take myself to a local coffee shop where I warm up and spoil myself to a large (HUGE!) hot chocolate. No doubt it will bite me in the butt later as milk doesn't agree with me, probably the lactose.

It is a sunny winter's day with a very chilling breeze. I spend just over an hour in the coffee shop, until it begins to get busy. It's time to leave. The previous weekend I went to visit one of my favourite haunts in the White Peak with it's beautiful lime stone pastures. Soft rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Today I have taken my camera with me to capture some of the beautiful landscape. Although a photograph will never do it justice.

I used to live near this area so know it well.  There is a particular place that I had been wanting to visit for years but never did. It's called 'Magpie mine'. A former lead mine that was used up until the 1950s. It's ghostly remains stick out as an almost eerie reminder of the past.

I park in a nearby village and make my way up to the mine. Now fully exposed to the elements, the wind is pulling and tugging on my jacket and the ear flaps of my hat. Nonetheless, the views are stunning and so joyous.

View over the limestone plateau and it's pastures

'Magpie Mine' - From a distance it looks strangely steampunk-ish.

 Closer up - taken with mobile phone as fingers too cold to operate camera!

As I am standing in the grounds of 'Magpie Mine' enjoying the views my thoughts wander for a while and I briefly envision riding over these fields with 'Mr F'. He would greatly enjoy the views up here. Alas it's no good thinking as in reality I may not be able to ride him again. Instead I soak up the views without thoughts.

Luckily we have had hard ground frost and all the mud remains frozen in time. By the looks of it, walking up to the mine without the ground being frozen would have meant to wade through ankle deep mud.

What bliss a little stone cottage would be here in the middle of nowhere. With a little fireplace, surrounded by nothing but nature. 

The freezing temperatures are working on my bladder and it is time to retreat to the pub in a nearby village. I know this pub well from previous years when I used to live in the area. As I am driving, I stick to lime and soda, at least it's cheap. I make myself cosy in a corner of the bar out of the way of walkers that want to eat. My notebook always travels with me and I spend a good hour noting down observations, thoughts and ideas. 

On the way home I stop one more time to take another picture of the stunning and so peaceful views before I continue my journey back to 'Hill Farm' to spend some time with 'Mr F' before it goes dark.

The initial plan was to go for a walk with 'Mr F' but the roads where just too icy. But there is still the menage. Not necessarily my favourite place. 'Mr F' isn't too keen on it either although he likes the coverings as it is soft on his feet. It's an odd thing really: every time I enter a menage all enthusiasm leaves instantly. Now what? 'Mr F' is a very quick learner and is easily bored. I have to come up with new 'challenges' all the time to keep his attention and willingness to join in. 

Being an ex-racehorse he will have had loads of different types of stimulation, be this travelling to and from races, the races themselves, the busy yard, people coming and going. He livens up when things are happening. It is my job to offer him some form of stimulation, especially as he is growing older. I need to keep his brain stimulated. 

We don't have much in terms of obstacles for the menage but there are a few poles and cones. It is enough to put together a little obstacle course. I lead 'Mr F' up to the menage and 'park' him in the middle where he quietly stands and watches what I am up to. He isn't so sure about those yellow tiny cones. There is something about the colour yellow that he doesn't agree with. Yellow sponge, yellow  tape measure, and so forth. I place the cones so we can slalom around them. The poles are placed so that he has to learn to walk between them. Some I place so he has to walk over them lifting up his legs properly. The idea is that he thinks about his feet and where he places them without knocking stuff over. 

I haven't done this with 'Mr F' before as we didn't have such easy access to a menage. Getting him to walk between the poles rather than dodging them took a few tries. At first I placed them fairly wide apart and slowly narrowed the gap between them.  I could see by his face that he was concentrating on where he put his feet so he wouldn't stumble. The same with the slalom. Here the idea is that we slalom around them without me having to push him across. Bear in mind we are both walking, this isn't ridden work. I wanted to find out if he observes my body movements. And low and behold, I didn't need to do anything. We both slalomed around the cones, head (his) to shoulder (mine), on loose rein. I didn't have to push him out of my way or pull him back in.  We spent a good 40 minutes in the menage and 'Mr F' was eagerly observing what was going on and what I might want from him.

Again I think: how willing these horses are to cooperate with us. WHY? It's a difficult balance to keep, not to turn the horse into some kind of pet but to preserve at least a bit of it's true character. I don't wish to 'condition' him or shape him into some being to suit my needs. That never was of my interest. What I do here in the menage is solely to keep his brain involved a little bit. They play with each other, all this is is play. When we play we learn.

It's time now to fetch the boys. 'Jackie' will be back late so I am bringing in the youngsters. As I lead 'Mr F' into his stable and walk off to fetch the boys, he is remarkably calm about being left behind! He just stands there watching me walk away. It is as though he is still busy digesting what we have just done. A busy mind, perhaps too busy to panic?

'Mr F' being very content and interested in what's going on.

All the horses are very pleased when they can come back to their stables where it's dry, where there is food and shelter from the winds as 'Hill Farm' is very exposed.