Jezebel the day she was first ridden.

Dahlias are good value for money

These never get lifted just flower profusely every summer.
I spent ages today planting 250 tulip bulbs to give us some spring colour next year. I hope the mice don't eat them this time..

I can't bel;ieve how green the garden still is.

For anyone wondering how my house renovation is getting on

ARGH!!!!!!!!SCREAM......

Ghost ship?

I only spotted this clay ship after I loaded up the pictures.

I was on the beach early today

and the waves were much bigger than this! The dog loves huge breakers and there were few other people about.

Selwyn and his new girfriend Pollyanna.

Little Charlie and Reid

We may well regret turning him out on 40 odd acres as he decided not to be caught last winter, but he has a headcollar on this time just in case.

Raf

Who seems to love his new life and appears to be smiling!

Zac, one ofthe retired gang

Robin

This retired grey was enjoying the warm sunshine this afternoon, they all spent the morning lying down subathing and the afternoon eating.

Some incredibly sad news.

This lovely home bred horse Hero had to be euthanised two days ago.
He was by a now gelded ID stallion called Silver Bertie out of Genevieve one of our brood mares.
Hero was a lovely chap, willing, sane and friendly, and we sold him aged four to a smashing lady who adored him.
Last I heard she had been enjoying gallops along Studland beach...

Apparently he got a severe eye infection that didn't respond to treatment and ulcerated his corneas. he was suffering a lot so the decision was made to end his misery.
We can't believe he has gone, but at least in his short life he knew nothing but kindness, he grew up here in a natural way and then went to someone who treated him superbly, but how sad to die so very young..

First task today..

Yesterday the herd sprang a gate open and guess where they aimed, yes, the haybale stack.. As you can see it used every bit of duct tape yesterday then first thing this morning spent an hour mending bales. I think because it was made late it shouldn't come to any harm, but my fingers are sore from ripping the stuff..

Mixed herd, babies and oldies..

Greetings!

friendly horses..

one of the nicest things about keeping the horses in a natural manner is the way they become friendly towards humans. With little to fear other than being wormed or trimmed, they soon decide they like you and rush over to see you whenever they see you arrive in their fields.
It's very flattering to be greeted and surrounded by twenty plus horses (can be intimidating, you have to keep your wits about you too) all of whom are simply coming over to say hello..

Lucia again..

Comical expressions...

the horses sub divide into smaller "gangs" donated by age or colour. This is a nucleus of the "pink" colours, they all came rushing over to say hello to me and I just had time to take this before I was surrounded!

Lucia

I may just have to eat my words about this being a runt, she's suddenly maturing into rather a pretty filly..

Reid

this lovely Connemara has joined the herd for 6 months while his owner travels, he's settling in well and has already made a friend.

William

still looking slightly poor but bright enough and friendly.

Callisto and Galaxy

Rug I won in a competition.

This is a really useful rug, so much so I have just ordered another two. It's lightweight so suits the stallion who can run about his field so can't wear a heavy rug in autumn.
They are sold by Elle Horse hoofware.

Guess which one we bred?

Clearing out the kitchen drawers prior to ripping the whole lot out I found some really old pics. This is of Narramore Roxanne who is now owned by someone in Dorset, here she was a 5 year old and just starting her career. She went on to do really well in H Trials and won the open Working Hunter class at Kingsbridge Show the following year.

More ancient pics!

This was a very long time ago, and I had just won a hard fought equitqtion class of 15 entries. Good job they didn't take the fit of the tack into consideration, look at that awful noseband!