Lodestar Eventing

Before the ducks incident

Repeat. Another first place at Prelim. Definitely time to move up.

Offender. Firstt place achieved despite an attempt to leave the arena at a speed that would have put the Light Brigade to shame when one of the ducks at M looked at her with a gleam in it’s eye. Yes, the feathery things that weigh, at most 1/100th what Mabe weighs. Scary apparently.

While cooling her down daft neddy then led me back towards the feathery fiends with an expression of intent curiosity on her face. Only to spin round in a panic when they decided to get out of the way of the hoofing great horse coming their way.

Fortunately the move up to Novice means slightly later start times and hence the possibilty of a lie in. The sooner we can get to Elementary the better IMO.

Rasta rosette

A lovely rasta rosette from Windmill Farm for Mabels first ever first place.

Thirsty Mabel

Whodda thunk they even made electrolyte replacements for horses.

I give the bacon sandwiches 68%

Mabe The Babe is now getting out to a few fancy Southern dressage venues. I have a whole new set of bacon sandwiches and cups of tea to rate. Patchetts EC is winning so far, and I haven’t even tried their plated breakfast which looks suitably large. Bury Farm was doing well, but the service last time was shocking; 30 minutes to make a bacon and egg roll! Aston Le Walls must get an honourable mention for the quality of their sausages.

Now that I’ve told you the important stuff I ought to let you know that Mabe is getting used to going out to new places and is rearing less. Did I mention she rears? I must dig out the photo of her stood on one, yes, one back leg sometime.

Cartman: Respect my authority!

Settled into their new home it’s been time to introduce Mabel to the joys of hacking out. Being a world-weary H=hunt horse Monster has seen it all and makes a good babysitter – so long as we don;t tell anyone about that stream crossing. Anyways, traffic has little respect for a youngster, even if she is nearly 17 hands and with an even bigger presence. Normal hi-viz helps you be seen, but sometimes you just need a little more.

These Polite jackets form Equisafety are just the ticket. Now even the doddery old fool in his Volvo 440 slows down. It has to be said that the boy racers round here have, so far, been the drivers who have behaved best. Mums with fraught kids in the car and just plain stupid older men who don’t think they need to slow down on the way to getting to the newsagent for a Daily Mail are the worst offenders.