Diary
2nd July 2008
Time for a catch-up, broadband problems and just lack of time have meant we have been rather late updating the diary!! June has been really busy with shows and work and we have had some good wins and a lot of fun. Spock had his first outing at Fakenham and won and Reserve Junior Champion, he was a really good boy hope he keeps it up for his next show. Tommy had a fantastic weekend at East Anglian Natives he was 3rd in his Prelim14 dressage and that was without any working in - there was a bit of confusion and he had to go straight in! He then won Novice 20 and was 6th in his first ever WHP - he really loves his jumping, then to put the icing on the cake he was Reserve Champion Highland in-hand.
We then loaded up and went off to Lincolnshire County with Red to do the HOYS qualifier in which he was 6th, and DV for the in-hand. Checking the entries on our way to the show I realised that I had brought the wrong pony! I had entered Spock for the yearling class and DV would have had to be in with the stallions, I was so determined that DV was coming I had even written his name on the back of Spock's number, so poor old DV went all the way to Lincoln for the ride!! Fortunately Alan had taken his sense of humour pills but its another one to add to the list of "and then she----".
Red then went to NPS 15 for a HOYS qualifier, a huge class and he was pulled in 1st but unfortunately still being rather novice he just got 1 stride of wrong lead leg and got dropped to 2nd, losing by just 1 mark!! The in-hand boys were doing well tho, DV (right pony this time) was Shetland Champion, Tommy won the Fell, Dales Highland class and was Large Breeds Champion, he then won Large Breeds Home Produced qualifying for NPS Summer Champs and was Reserve Champion.
Meanwhile back at home Elton has gone off to a lovely new home just up the road with Richard Fishenden, the farrier and his wife Juliette and their little boy. He is going to be broken to drive and hopefully also be a lead rein pony, the foals are growing well - and cheekier, both Chestnut colts will be for sale at weaning
And at long last after looking for a couple of years Alan has managed to find a good second hand Nicholson Paddock Cleaner, so next winter down at the big field he can be tucked up in a nice warm tractor cab rather than being out in the elements - very happy man - even more toys especially as he has also added a fertilizer spreader to his collection!
11th May 2008
A much happier week than the last one - and a big thanks for the emails we received about Sasha, they were very kind and meant a lot.
The boys went off to see The Queen - well we went to The Royal Windsor Horse Show, the weather was fantastic, the setting is amazing, we had a great show with DV winning the youngstock class and having to go into the Castle Arena - but Tommy DID get to see The Queen.
However, the day after we got home we went off XC schooling in the heat, bit of a wander between fences and quite a lot of sploshing around in the water jump - but Tommy thought that was MUCH more fun!
5th may 2008
Bit of a mixed bag of news for this update - the previous weekend we went with Abi and a couple of her clients to Poplar Park to go Cross Country Schooling, the first time Tommy had done anything like that, so we thought great he can get a lead if he's uncertain. No, not a bit of it - he stopped at the first couple once, but as soon as he realised they were jumps - he was off and really enjoyed it. In fact he was the one doing the leading, had a bit of a discussion at the coffin - he was convinced there were dragons in there, but after Blythe the spaniel jumping it several times he decided it was OK and was then popping backwards and forwards quite happily!
We then went to the North Norfolk Horse Show this weekend at Great Witchingham, this is the one of the early East Anglian Shows and is very well supported with some lovely ponies forward. It's also a great chance to catch up after the winter and have a natter with lots a banter!! We were very lucky with Ollie going Champion and DV Junior Champion - Ollie was also much nicer to me than at Golden Cross where he almost ripped my arms out!
Then absolute disaster - my beloved Sasha had been brought in with a touch of laminitis, the Vet had been out the day before and she seemed much brighter, in fact she was very chatty as we were loading up to leave for the show, which was only an hour and a half away. Alex phoned at lunchtime as we were leaving to come home, to say he wasn't happy with her and was going to call the vet, but she died before the Vet got to her - don't know why yet, it was very quick and she didn't suffer and Alex was with her but we are mortified.
21st April 2008
We went to the Golden Cross Spring Warm Up show yesterday - well warm in name only, the weather was miserable, but fortunately they managed to move all the classes inside which was a relief! We only took Ollie although we had entered Clive as well, but we think he must have had a knock whilst charging around with the others and he didn't look quite sound and we thought it was a bit mean to expect him to be bathed on a horrid cold day, on the off chance that he might be sound by the morning. Anyway it being Ollie's first time out this season, he was very on his toes so it was more than enough just having him.
Debbie Barr had some very nice ponies forward and Ollie won the Stallion class and stood standard reserve to his old wife - Champlers Rosebud, they recognised each other immediately and were calling to each other all the time, what was extra nice is that Mandy and Daphne have Ollie and Rosie's yearling colt Champlers Rosepip out and he was there and won his class - so a real family affair.
The foals are growing well and are now beginning to play together, Lady J's foal is very independant and the only time he seems to spend with her is when he wants feeding - reminds me of a certain 2 teenage boys!
14th April 2008
Hurrah! finished foaling - well we only had the 3 in foal, but thats enough for us when we are juggleing sitting up with work, but as it happened we had had a few days off with some shows and all 3 girls were very helpful - it is such a relief when they are all safely on the ground. Flo had another boy by Red tho' which means unfortunately we are going to have to let some colts go later this year - not very good at parting with them! Flo's boy is going to be very like his Dad, Red was the same colour at his age and he has the darker chestnut ring around his eye.
8th April 2008
We had a bit of a swop round today, Bertie the welshie went home, and Elton came back along with Linzi's colt Champlers Viscount. We wanted to get DV in because the show season is fast approaching, and also Tommy is much happier out in a big band of boys, so out they all went together ( closed eyes for my now affiliated dressage pony) , loads of squealing and thundering around but they got it sorted out. DV is in at night (not pleased) but hopefully with two of them going out in the morning Clive won't get too above himself.
Lady J produced a colt to Red last night - he is her first foal and she is very proud of him, the Highland colt is desperate to play - but he may need to wait a few days!
4th April 2008
The show season has begun again - P(UK) Winter Champs at Towerlands always seems to mark the start of the new season, we enjoy this one - there is great anticipation to see what is coming out this year and loads of gossip to catch up with and old friends to see after the winter months.
WHAT - AFTER the winter months! - the weather was horrible, freezing cold, pelting with rain and sleet (until Sunday) but at least a large number of the classes were indoors and all were on surfaces. We took Red (ridden by Becki Penny) and Tommy (ridden by Abi and in-hand with me) and Julie took Honeyman, Junior (his son) and Bein (Greadhaich of Talisker). Blythe, our spaniel came with us, we tried not to take her as the weather was so awful, but she was having none of of it and escaped from the house and staked out the loading ramp. She knows instinctively when the lorry is going out, and if you do manage to get out without her she sits at the gate and howls, she has a cage in the back for while we are loading and if she can she gets in and hides in it so we can't go without her!
The boys were stars, Red and Becki won the Novice Llanarth Qualifier on friday and were Novice Champions, Bein and Rachael Barton were 1st Reserve as well.
They then went on to be 5th in the final of the Llanarth Open and Red loved the evening performance - he's such a tart!!
Tommy and Abi were 2nd in the Senior Dressage Qualifier (to Billy Onions so that was great to have the link) and highest placed 5 year old in the M&M Dressage final and qualified for the Young Pony Champs at Addington.
Tommy was also 6th in the Keston Finals with me - excuse the usual shade of puce!!
and to put the icing on the cake - Holly the Highland (Moss-side Holly Dhu) produced a colt by Moss-side Domhnach on the evening of 2nd April (while we were away) so huge thanks to my Mum, Lewis, John and Hazel and Holly the super groom for all their help!! (Going to cost us some beers this one!!)
22nd March 2008
Tommy and Abi went to do proper serious affiliated dressage today, we were a bit apprehensive because we knew from our eventing days that there can be quite a big jump from good local stuff to the affiliated competitions, added to which the weather was horrible! We printed off directions from the internet and set off to the competition - Alan came with us because the shooting competition he had supposed to have gone to had been cancelled because of the weather, not particularly happy - lots of mutterings about watching emusion dry ( like most men I know - not a big dressage fan) and his temper not helped by the directions getting us totally lost.
Fortunately we were talked in by someone who knew the area well (WHAT did we do before mobile phones?) and Abi managed to get on Tommy 10 minutes before his dressage time - and they won with 66% and they also won their novice 32 test as well, we were very very chuffed!!
The weather got worse and worse on the way home, and I am not a wimp when it comes to driving the lorry - but I was very glad it was Alan driving not me as the snow was coming horizontally and it was a huge relief to get off the dual carriageway and onto the small roads home.
Have to say tho' that in complete contradiction to the general opinion that serious dressage people can be a bit "sniffy" we were made very welcome, almost especially as we had our little Highland stallion and we had a really good laugh - looking forward to the next one and well done to Charlotte and her team for hanging in there with the terrible weather!
8th March 2008
We have had to remove Tommy from Clive and DV. Tommy is the softest creature on the face of the planet, and because he has been coming in at night and going out with a rug on - and horror of horrors smelling of shampoo and stuff, Clive has been rather asserting his authority and poor old Tommy has had huge bite marks down both sides through his rug! Not really very fair when he has been clipped - so he has been introduced to Ernie and Spock (4yo gelding and yearling colt), Tommy is happy he still has mates and Clive is back in control of his territory.
Tommy isn't the greatest fan of showing, he loves his dressage and jumping but in-hand and ridden showing usually aren't his thing. BUT this weekend he did very well and qualified for the Novice Llanarth and the Keston (in hand) for the Winter Champs and really did enjoy himself. (still got plenty of bruises tho' - don't you just love stallions).
Holly the Highland and Lady J are both "on the brew" so hopefully we will have some foal pictures soon. Can't get the dratted CCTV camera to work down to the house - its supposed to have a 100 metre range which is about 1/2 the distance from the house to the yard but it doesn't seem to cope with trees and inglenooks - so back to the lorry!
24th February 2008
We went to Sissons Farm Equestrian Centre near Peterborough today, with Tommy and Abi to compete in the P(UK) Winter Dressage Qualifiers. Tommy hadn't been out since November and as he was in a bit of a grump as he hadn't been out with his mates for a few days through schooling and bathing, we did wonder what he would have to say. He came off the lorry in a bit of a bish, but soon settled to his work and they won the M&M Qualifier and then went forward for the Senior Open. However, they were running about 45 mins late so we had him off too early and he ran out of steam, but was still a very creditable 4th in a non M&M class.
17th February 2008
Tommy has been clipped as he is working quite hard now, and its a bit mean expecting him to work with the equivalent of an overcoat on - but although he is rugged and in at night, he still goes out with his mates during the day. This means that the current tally is 2 trashed New Zealands in one week - could turn out to be expensive. Clive has a good game, he waits for Tommy to come out in the morning and the first thing Tommy does is have a good roll in the muddiest spot he can find - as soon as he gets down Clive stands on him, and then when Tommy gets up Clive hangs off his rug. Very funny boys - but rather on the expensive side!
Red went off to Keysoe with Julie and Katie and qualified for the Open Llanarth at the P(UK) Winter Champs, on a 2nd to Shilstone Rocks Snowgoose. We were very pleased as it was a terrific class with top ponies, so we will just have to wait and see what he has to say at the finals!
11th February 2008
New Year and new show season and all change at Claife Stud. Jason and Lilly went off to Abi's a couple of weeks ago so that Jason could settle in before he was weaned, Lilly was to go on loan to The Newmarket Foster Mare Company, but we had to wait for a phone call to say she was needed, which meant that Jason had to stay on her to keep her milk in. She will not be sound enough to compete anymore and we didn't want to keep breeding sport horses - but - we didn't want to sell her either. Wendy at the Middleton Stud knows Gabby and Richard very well and was convinced they would give her a good home so we agreed to put her on loan as she loves babies, on the condition that she came back to us if anything went wrong.
We got the phone call on friday that Lilly was needed for a TB colt foal who's Mum had died and Wendy was going to do the fostering, so we were really pleased as she knows Lilly well already. The fostering went very well and we were able to stay and watch, Lilly took to her new baby really well - think she was glad to have a little baby rather than her great hulk of a son who is standing well over 14hh at 6 months! We will put some photos on shortly and it will be nice to watch the fortunes of Lilly's foster babies over the years.
Red and Katie Bacon won the Llanarth Confined Novice Qualifier at Patchetts Equestrian Centre on Sunday and then went M & M Ridden Champion, we had a lovely day in the sunshine and really good facilities.
We now have "pop-ups" so if you click on the photo above - you'll get a bigger Red and Katie!! I'll get round to adding links to the others over the next few weeks including me riding Tommy!
16th December
Really don't know where the time goes at the moment, we think its probably down to the dark nights, so that all the jobs you could get done in the evenings get left until the weekend, and then you collapse in a heap in the evening - shattered!
We went the the National In-Hand and Ridden awards dinner, fantastic do organised and run with great style and effort by Gerry and Kevin. We had a fabulous night, great company, food, music and dancing - far too late a night - can't wait for next year!!
Last weekend we went to P(UK) Xmas show at Manor Farm, Huntingdon, the weather was HORRIBLE, we were soaked and frozen. Red had the hump beacause the classes were running late and he was on and off the lorry like a yoyo. BUT despite being intially tense as the rain was hammering down on the roof of the indoor school, he did a lovely show for Becky Penny and was a really good boy to finish 3rd - so we were very pleased with him.
Abi came and schooled Tommy yesterday, he is going very nicely and we are on the look out for some more dressage competitions for him. However, he is still living out with his mates which means that he gets so hot as he isn't clipped. When Jason and Lilly go he can come in and we will clip him, he can still go out with his mates in the day to keep him happy. Yesterday tho' he was so wet we had to keep him in overnight which meant that Ollie had to stay out so that Tommy could have his stable. Very very cross Shetland tonight as despite a VERY thorough mucking out, he still knew Tommy had been in HIS stable and was not best pleased!
29th November
We have had a brilliant day today - Abi (who has always competed Bailey and Lilly) took Tommy to his first ever dressage competition today, he was a star! He was the only pony, with everything else being large and dressagey and when all these huge things were working in he just kept on going, he wasn't fazed one bit. He was 4th in his first test out of 23 and the judge's comments were "what a lovely little chappie. His 2nd test - he won!! and they got a "9" with "much to like about this little horse". One other stallion there (big one) with lots of signposting to stay away - did Tommy care - not a bit - he just got on with the job!
24th November
Major change around this weekend - we decided to wean Tilla and Spock, they have been eating hard food and hay for what seems like forever, plus Pastry and Vanity were beginning to get rather grumpy with them, so we thought the time was about right for a parting of the ways.
The smaller of the new fields was fenced this week so we planned to move the mares up there out of earshot. It all went very well - we led the mares into the field shelter, (which has gates) with the foals in on one side, through and out the other side leaving the foals shut in, and the mares straight onto the lorry and up the road without so much as a winny from any of the four concerned. Tilla and Spock tucked into their supper and haven't seemed the least bit bothered that their Mums aren't around. The mares are enjoying their new field and we moved Lady J, Moonwalker and Florentina up there with them.
Thats when the fun started - Ernie was majorly miffed that Lady J had gone and yelled the place down, despite being in with Elana, the foals couldn't understand it, they had "whats up with him" looks on their faces all day.
18th November
Apparently Tommy has a new trick - we haven't seen him, but several of our neighbours have commented that he rolls down the hill in his field, over and over like a child, then stands up at the bottom and looks at his mates as if to say, "that was fun - come on have a go", and they all stare at him as if he is bonkers.
Bertie, a 2 y.o. welsh section A gelding has come to stay for a few months to chill out with the boys. He is owned by Jean Claydon who has the super Hackney Glenshane Prince (Pops - 4 x winner at HOYS and many more to numerous to mention), Jean used to teach Bailey and I years ago so we have known her for a very long time. She has been doing some basic work with Bertie as her next project, and felt he would benefit from some time out with the lads before starting work next year. He is very pretty with loads of bone and has settled in well, Tommy as always adopts anyone new, and looks after them which is handy, as Clive likes to point out who is boss.
9th November
Well what a month and a bit its been - broadband problems have meant that we have been unable to update the website. We have remote access to the admin site of the designer, and our broadband has been so unreliable that when we were attempting to update the website the pc just kept locking up, very frustrating and lots of pc rage in the house!!
Alan's dad Peter hasn't been very well and was in hospital for a month, so that meant Ernie was without his boss and daily apple and walk so he has been rather miffed. Peter is home now but won't be up to daily walks for a while, but I expect the apples will restart shortly.
We had great news from Gerry that Ollie had won the stallion section of the In-Hand Awards and DV was reserve in his section, so we were very thrilled about that, and then we heard that we had won the EASPG points trophy, we have been very lucky this year and have had a fabulous show season.
Red went to the P(UK) Autumn Cup with a new jockey as Linzi wasn't feeling too good and Becky Penny kindly stepped in. It was only his 3rd time out under saddle and he does like to test out new riders, and so was an absolute rotter in his class with some storming bucks, but Becky did a fantastic job and didn't let him get away with anything. He has to learn his job and as a friend of ours is fond of saying "the good bits were really good!"
Lady J having fooled us all last year, looks as though she is in foal to Red and should be due in March next year - either that or she has a terrible case of wind!
We had a terrible fright last week, we woke to find the water main had burst in the boys field across the road, so we brought them all home while Anglian Water were in there for 2 days sorting it out.
Groundwork completed, we took the boys back - Tommy noticing the lovely muddy patch went over to prepare for a nice roll - only to disappear up to his stomach in mud! Thank goodness he isn't a panic- er and we managed to get one foreleg free onto some hard ground and between us haul him out. All they had done was to put back the sopping wet mud they took out, and not wacked anything down to make a hard base.
So back home came the boys (much to Ollie's disgust - he doesn't like other stallions on the yard) and we got back on the phone to Anglian Water. Apparently this method of "making good" is the policy on "Open Ground", after we had expressed our displeasure at how they could regard a field with animals on it as "Open Ground", we had to threaten them with the local paper before they came and fenced it off and made it safe.
It doesn't look very pretty but at least they won't sink - hopefully they will eventually get round to sorting it out properly - but please take care if you have to have utility companies on your fields! Photo shows Tommy and Clive with the offending area.
30th September
Very very pleased with "The Beast", Red had his first outing of the season, and his very first under saddle today at the P(UK) and BSPS Winter qualifier at Newton Hall. He has only been in work for 4 weeks and has spent the summer covering so we weren't quite sure what he would have to say about it. Its fine them working at home, but a different matter when they get to a show - anyway, he was a star working in, despite the working in area being rather manic (why do people assume shetlands aren't stallions just because they are small - and this one has more than his fair share of testosterone!), excellent in his go round, but did boil over in his individual show with a couple of stonking bucks, but we were very happy with him and felt he coped well. However - he did redeem himself by winning the small breeds adult in-hand and taking the M&M Championship.
24th September
Well the end of the summer show season has come at last - we went down to the Autumn Show at the weekend and had a lovely time. We stayed nearby at a lovely little livery yard, and with the ponies happily bedded in down in some very smart stables, with a couple of very nice Arab Stallions and a beautiful 2 year old Trakenher as neighbours, we parked the lorry in a sweet orchard with a walled garden. Next day off to the show, not helped by some cheeky people pinching the signs, but we eventually found it and had a very pleasant day. The boys behaved beautifully and Clive won his 2/3 year old colt class and was Reserve Junior Champion and Ollie won his class and was Reserve Standard Champion. We have been very lucky this year and had a storming season and Ollie has now come home to chill out, although he did rather go "off on one" when he got home and saw all the mares!
DV and Clive have been turned out with Tommy and Elton, they all seem to be getting on well and I will put some photos of them on the diary if it ever stops raining. ..................... just heard from Julie ... seems Red has his first outing under saddle this coming weekend - so - no peace for the wicked!
17th September
Newbury for the Royal County of Berkshire this weekend, fabulous weather, really nice trade stands and a lovely flight of hot air balloons overhead as we drove in in the evening. Jane Paterson had very well filled classes in the Miniature classes and although numbers were rather disappointing in the Standards (always seem to be the case at this show) Viv Hampton had some very nice ponies forward.
We took Clive (Klingrahoull Cavalier) for his first outing, which with hindsight was a bit in at the deep end for him as it is a big busy show with an overnight stop, but he was a star, he was a bit tense in his class but then settled and was Junior Champion and Ollie was Standard Champion with a very nice coloured stallion HRE Clumlie reserve (thanks for showing him Sarah!!).
Didn't do much shopping though, don't think some bread mix and a pot of hoof cream really did the assembled retail outlets much justice - must try harder!
photo by horsepower photography
12th September
It was the East Anglian Group Show at the weekend, it is always a nice show - its in the indoor school at the ILPH so it really doesn't matter about the weather. There is a good selection of affiliated classes in the morning and some fun ones in the afternoon (although we had to dash home this year - but more of that later) and Diane, Jessica and their team run a really good day - usually with lots of banter between the assembled competitors!
We took Ernie (Cranford Eminant AKA "shortarse" - who belongs to Alan's Dad) and he was 5th in an excellent mini 1,2,3 y.o. class, although his adoring owner nearly missed him by putting the wrong post code into the Sat Nav and ending up at Banham Zoo.
Champlers Elana, who has recently joined us, was 2nd to Linzi's colt who is her 1/2 brother in the std 1,2,3 y.o. class and then they were Junior Champion and Reserve. Ollie was overall supreme - which was really lovely.
So, then we had to dash off to get Julie home, she had come with us as she was complaining that she never gets a turn with Ollie - but she did have to get back for the afternoon. Alan drove (as usual) and I have to admit that Julie and I were enjoying a glass of wine on the way home when the siren and blue flashing lights brought us back to earth with a bump. Apparently our number plate is illegal - although we have only taken a small liberty with the spacing N 90NYS and not fiddled with anything else, so wrong place, wrong time, bored policemen, should have stayed for the unaffiliated classes and it wouldn't have happened - and a £30 fine to boot!!
29th August
Time for a bit of a catch up - I have to admit I didn't really feel much like doing the diary since we lost Bailey, but at least the old boy went downhill quickly - and he had a fabulous life.
We FINALLY managed to get the hay in, poor old Steve who makes it for us must have been pulling his hair out, because the weather was so bad and everything was backing up into harvest. We were concerned about the quality and how much we would manage to get in, but someone must have been watching over us as it's nice hay and we got 1200 bales which was better than last year! We did sell some off the field as we had run out of space (hope we don't live to regret that!!) but we were really grateful to our friends Andrew and Jason for coming down with a load of help, a flat 8 grab and trailer - especially as No 1 son had gone off on holiday with his mates and the nephew was otherwise engaged - we are sure it was just a fluke!
Then we went off to the Breed Show at the Royal Welsh Showground Builth Wells. We had never been to that venue before and its beautiful, the weather was great, the standard of ponies excellent, the atmosphere was much more positive this year and the society really seems to be moving forward, we had a really nice weekend.
Lilly's foal has earned himself the stable name of Jason (yes - named after the other one), and he's been being turned out on his own with his Mum as she wouldn't tolerate the ponies being near him. But, he was getting rather big for his boots and was desperate for someone to play with, so we bit the bullet and turned them out with the other mares and foals. Lilly guarded him for 2 days and made him stand in the corner of the field, but eventually she gave in and he is now having a lovely time with the others, especially Spock - it does get a bit rough sometimes, but boys will be boys!
15th August
Bailey was put down at home today - his old joints just gave up. He was my horse of a lifetime and I will never forget him.
6th August
What a lovely week - fabulous weather and we went off to the NPS Champs at Malvern. The groundstaff had done a fantastic job to get the showground ready considering the awful weather and the devastation in the area was terrible. We took Ollie, DV and Lady J and had a very relaxing time only doing in-hand classes apart from 1 ridden class where Jemma kindly rode Ollie, but he was rather "off on one" and must have nearly pulled her arms out of her sockets, but she did look nice on him! They had several wins and some good placings so we were very pleased.
On Sunday we went to Wayland which was a really lovely old fashioned country show and we really enjoyed it, despite it being baking hot and me being completely puce all day. There were lots of friends from the East Anglian Group to natter to and catch up with, the shame was with the foot and mouth the livestock classes had to be cancelled.
Then we went to pick up Lilly and her foal from The Middleton Stud at Newmarket and bring them home, they both travelled really well and the foal has settled in nicely. He's very bold and inquistive and is already happy to lead the way out into the paddock in the morning.
Several people have asked if we still have Red - most definately yes, but as he had been shown quite a bit as a youngster we thought he would benefit from some time off, so he has just been out with his mares this season. He will be swopping with Ollie shortly and going over to Julie's to do novice ridden classes this winter, here's a picture of the beastie in his field - still seem to have the same number of bruises despite leaving him at home tho'!!
29th July
Bailey has had his shoes taken off this week - his old joints are much to creaky for him to continue being ridden, but he doesn't seem to mind, he's very happy out in his field with his little mate DV, although it is very funny watching them playing together.
Sad tho' we have had to say goodbye to Dan - we are probably losing our "boys" field as the house is under offer and so we are having to cut down on the stallions and colts. Kate, who lives up the road from us has had her eye on Dan for some time, she has a very nice coloured traditional "Painted Wizard" for herself and wanted Dan to show in hand and then break for her little daughter to do lead rein. So - as it was a very good home we decided that we would let him go, he has gone to Linzi's initially and so we will see him out at the shows. 
Clive was a bit miffed about losing his mate at first but has settled down well - Elton also needs to go and be a lead rein pony if we can find the right home for him.
DIARY HAS BEEN ARCHIVED PAST THIS POINT - PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANYTHING AGAIN