This evening we went to the mix and match cross country at Solihull Riding Club. Nina and Jasmine took Bess and Maisy. We had wanted Alice to take Merlin but unfortunately he was a little lame so we were unable to take him this time. The ponies jumped well but gave the jumps plenty of space- often giving the jumps so much clearance that it was difficult for the girls to stay on! Fortunately no one went swimming in the water jump although neither jumped clear (bess did come close with only one refusal). We hope to get more of the horses introduced to cross country in the near future. Well done to all involved in taking the ponies... particularly to Ros who drove the trailer.

Nina has done two weeks work experience at the stables. It has been a busy two weeks with lots to do particularly tidying up in preparation for the building of the new stables. The first week was very wet and we were unable to do very much other than stable the horses and then spend all day mucking them out. The second week has been much better and so we had a much busier week.
If anyone else wants to do work experience with us it is possible for this to be arranged through your school.

Today we started on the big build for the stables. it took a team of about eight of us a whole day to build the four stables from flat pack. They now have four walls and windows and doors. Unfortunately they will have to wait till next week for a roof. The Stables are huge as as well as being big stables they have a twelve foot overhang at the front so we dont get wet when we are mucking out! When we are finished I am sure the horses will be very happy in them. A MASSIVE THANKS GOES TO EVERYONE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO HELP BUILD THE STABLES TODAY!!!

Unfortunately tuppence had to be put down this week as she had lost a lot of weight and was very wobbly on her legs. She was not grazing due to problems with her teeth and were very worried about her condition which had originally caused us to retire her. If she did not graze her blood sugar went very low and she did have fits. We were worried that as she was very thin if she had had a fit whilst no one was around then in the mud in the winter she would be unable to get up. We decided that this was unfair on her and the decision was made to have her put to sleep. She was a much loved member of the team and she had particularly enjoyed her long retirement as a companion pony. She was approximately 30 years old and we had had her for 11 years.

Today was the dressage test at Solihull Riding Club. We took Apollo and Maisey as many people are at school and others were short of money.  The ponies warmed up well and it was nice to be inside out of the rain as the weather outside was terrible. Maisey was calm in her test and although she wasnt on the bit all the time she did well for her first test with Jasmine and got 58% and some good comments. Apollo despite warming up well was far too excited in the main arena and wanted to leave as soon as he got in. He got 54% which is his worst score yet but on the plus side he did get some sevens on his test sheet he just was let down again by his walk on a free rein and his submissiveness! The ponies were generally well behaved and Apollo boxed well to the event despite the fact he has never met Maisey before.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Tonight we went to the Tuesday night jumping at Solihull riding club. We took Bess and Merlin. Unfortunately it was a late night as the event was very crowded but the horses were generally well behaved. Merlin jumped clear both times with Kezzia and Alice. Kezzia jumping 2'0'' Alice jumping 2'3''. Bess was jumping well with Lauren and was going clear until they were coming past the exit on one of their turns. Lauren turned right but Bess decided to jump left! Lauren came off onto the floor of the indoor school which is very hard and as her foot continued to hurt it was decided it would be a good idea to get it checked out. Whilst some of the group stayed with Ros and Nina jumped bess in the 2'3'' and got only one refusal Kezzia Lauren and George went to Selly Oak A & E for a check up. The X- ray didn't show anything and at the check up at the children's hospital the next day day it was decided that it was soft tissue damage. This is painful but heals much more quickly and they hope lauren will be ok in two weeks. Until then they decided that a plaster cast would help her to rest it!