So a sort of lie in today (didn't have to be at work till9) due to having to cover one of the instructors and teach untill 9.

Then off to the yard to do my little bit of mucking out then a lesson on Murphy. Good boy today well a little argumentative in places but then he can't be good all the time. Today we had moments of really nice work but then he'd go no can't do it to hard and then go oh ok why not. He's one of those horses you ask a question and he says ok no problem how much do you want just sometimes he goes well actually no i'm not sure I can do that today but in such a polite manner it takes a while to realise what he is doing!! Bless him. Then I had a super teenager who owns one of the working liveries. She actually rode the little horse really well. Think I've written about him before the ex show cob. He now is really beginning to work correctly between the leg and hand and building muscle slowly but surely in the correct places. We have a in house SJ/simulated XC on saturday so she wanted to practice for that and she did superbly considering the little horse really didn't think the XC chair should be in the outdoor school and that the roll top was hiding a horse eating monster. Try persuading a little horse that is of the nervous variety that it really isn't going to eat him even though it has moved!!! Hmmmmm anyways by the end he was jumping it really well after she nearly decided to get off without permission the first time he jumped it.

Had to take a lady out on a 1 1/2hr hack on which I had to ride a little cob that had been off for ages but is now pretty much back in full work. He was always a little strong willed but the time off seems to have said to him that actually he reckons that him being in charge is a super little thing. In the school he behaves impeccably as is also does out hacking inless of course you actuaaly want him to go in front. Now he is not scared he is most definately trying his rider out for size. Anyway it made for a very interesting hack with lots of stopping mid canter and trying to spin round and go home etc. However it did provide a nice bit of entertainment for the rider who I took out who's horse behaved 100% as good old Stanley does.

Couple of hours off then back to the yard. Stevn (the 4yr on box rest) is going back to his owners on monday as they have a horse walker and it is just getting silly trying to walk him in hand. He's in a chiffany and on acp and it is most certainly not working in fact it's a little dangerous. He went up today and ccame down on my arm!!! A little unfortunate me thinks but at least it's just bruised nothing serious but bit scary for a while. We've come to the decison that it would be safer. So it's sad and difficult after all I've seen him through so much and really do think the big fella is going to be super someday you never know once he's back in work i might get him back. Do have a feeling of great sadness that he is going but deep down I realise that it is for the best. :(

So taught till 9pm and actually had great fun teaching. Had a teenage group at 7 which was great fun practising for saturday then adults at 8 where i took their stirrups away and worked on them for a while. I think sometimes we get so into working on how the horse is going that we forget that actually how we do things and the position we are in greatly effects the horse and how it is able to go.


Now its time for bed. Off to Monmouth show this weekned with the driving ponies and we are hoping it'll be successful.

Sad day for me tomorrow some memories I'm sure will come up but as long as I have lots to think about I'm sure it'll all be fine.

x