Christmas

I arrived at the yard the other morning to the twinkling of fairy lights and the arch of Dudley`s posterior peeping through the stable door. Christmas is everywhere at the yard, from the beautiful lighted tree outside the back door to the house, to Blue`s red Christmas stocking and sparkling tinsel hanging from his door. That the poor boy is clearly scared of the yuletide objects seems to have been overlooked. No such fears for Dudley - if he`d even been offered them he`d have made short work of devouring the contents and picking off the tinsel.

Today was even more exciting (on a small scale you understand; I don`t `do` Christmas!) because it snowed! As I turned off the lane into the drive I could see the twinkling lights of the distant yard, the green fields now white and a thin layer of soft white snow perched atop the fencing. It was a magical scene of festive anticipation. Dudley was less amused to be stuffed on the walker with the others while the workmen pummelled and pounded some tarmac into holes on the drive beside their field. He`s a happy sort, Dudley, too short in stride to keep up with the long-legged others, hence the odd hoppity skip to keep up. Yep, he`s a happy sort!

Ab Fab

It was a lovely day today and although originally I had planned to ride Dudley in the school, procrastination and the lure of the sun drew us beyond the gate and into the loveliness of the day. Besides, Sarah was teaching and I had faffed so much as to make it unfeasible to use the school before her student arrived.

One of the things I`ve been learning in my lessons with Sarah is the need to be consistent and definite in what I`m asking of Dudley and to insist that he gives what I ask. I am learning the difference in Dudley`s way of going when he is on the bit as opposed to when he is lolloping along.

We turned right out the gate, Dudley`s favourite direction. I cut some slack as we walked downhill on the slippery tarmac and allowed him to slow as the bus rumbled past. At the T junction we turned left towards the village and wow, Dudley`s feet had little wings! The sun provided a shadow which enabled me to see (rather than feel) if Duds was on the bit. I had taken up the rein and pushed him forward into walk and felt that what he gave was the feeling of being ridden into my hands. He slowed only to ogle the firemen who happened to be returning to their vehicles which were parked at the TA camp. Not one to argue, we ogled together!

Riding him into a contact seemed to release an energyy and impulsion that was maintained throughout our hack. He was responsive to the slightest aid to the extent that I barely needed to do anything but sit and enjoy the ride. I could concentrate on where my legs where and what my heels were doing . Unlike on most hacks previously, I didn`t feel that I was constantly moving him over to the left or being thrown to the right. He was forward and straight and absolutely fabulous!

Arriving back at the yard with Dudley on a loose rein and ambling happily stablewards we were met by Peter who commented on the relaxed picture before him. I commented upon the difference that having Dudley on the bit had made and just what a lovely ride we had had.

It`s like having a born-again pony and I`m liking it a lot!

Many Little Kindnesses

It`s the little things that make the biggest difference. A simple little thing like the appearance of a cup of tea, mid mucking-out, tranformed the day from alright to on the up. It wasn`t asked for which enhanced the delight and unexpectedness of it. Further, it was exactly as I like it! Little kindnesses and considerations like that elevate the ordinariness of a day into something beyond the mundane. The rainbow, I thought, had sealed it. Not quite - that was the tea!

Yesterday at work was quite tricky and for a number of reasons very upsetting too. The sense of responsibility and protectiveness I felt for our `girls` and our unit was sufficient to spur me into action and to enable me to stand my ground. All well and good but what touched me beyond all else was the exceptional kindness and utter consideration of a colleague who could quite simply have gone home to bed after a shift on her own ward but who instead offered her services and solidarity to one of our girls who needed it most. A bad situation was made good through kindness. Bless that girl!

Talking of bad situations, I have got to get to grips with my determination and be focused in what I want to achieve with Dudley. With Sarah aboard, he is responsive, light, willing and forward. With me on board, he`s not! Granted, Sarah is top class (and half my size) and I`m not even middling while Duds is in a class of his own. Point is, he gives what Sarah asks and then some. After the initial waking up it`s as though a switch is flicked and he offers his best, even making corrections as he goes along. He`s poetry in motion to observe, smooth and collected, on the bit and oh, so very pretty! Then I get on . . .

Sarah`s natural approach is one of positive reinforcement towards both Dudley and me. To Dudley I only ever hear her say `good boo-ooy` in her quiet sing-songy voice and he responds with willingness. I`m not like that and much as I hate to admit it, I tend towards the negative. We talked about me having shorter but more positive sessions in the school when I am on my own with Duds, even if that means only ten minutes of good, positive, forward work. In yet another glorious, impromptu lesson, Sarah spurred and encouraged me on in a way that put me in mind of the midwives I have observed when they`re attending a mother in the second stage of labour. I have marvelled for some time at the incredible piece of theatre that transforms even the quietest, most timorous midwife into a forceful, encouraging and totally believable character who convinces the woman that she can indeed deliver this child. Sarah, in a piece of theatre of her own, convinces me that despite my lack of schooling and refinement, I can achieve a good deal more than I believe I am capable of. Dudley is such a talented, capable and genuine boy who, although he grumps and swishes his tail, means no harm and has no malice. He is willing, after discussion, to help me to learn what he already knows. Bless that boy!

Pridey

I had the most amazing phone call this morning from a lady enquiring after a pony I had on loan some years ago, Claymore Pride Vll. She had made contact with me via another member on HPEC who passed on a message for me. I emailed the address I was given and included my phone number and today the lady rang me. Apparently, she had googled Pridey and a post I had made on HPEC back in 2005 came up thus she was able to trace me via another member who was a contributor on another forum. Seemingly, this woman has been offered Pridey, now 17, as a companion/light hack and wanted to know some of her background and the story of her time with me. She was unaware of her past medical history and the reason I had to return her following vetting and was obviously quite shocked to hear the diagnosis. There is no money changing hands between this woman and the family who currently have Pridey so I doubt there is any deceit. At any rate I was aable to tell the woman that despite Pridey`s limitations, her nature was honest and very genuine and she had clearly been able to fulfil her potential with her current owners.

I learned that she had arrived at her current family via a dealer and that she had been sold as part of a job lot - unbelievable given her pedigree and the price her breeding and colour demands. Happily for her she was bought by a family who has loved and cared for her and basically kept her as a pet for a number of years. I`m not sure how the lady who contacted me knows Pridey`s current owners but she was keen to hear my part of her story. It seems that Pridey has a couple of progeny, one of whom was foaled before I had her but of whom I was unaware. Interestingly, there is also one for sale . . .

I actually found it quite emotional. For many years I have wondered what became of my beautiful little Rum pony. Although she was mine for such a very short time she was my first ever pony and I was deeply attached to her. I was heartbroken when she failed her vetting and I was advised to return her to her owners. I can remember the day we took her back and we put her in the orchard on her own. I was on nights that night and walked out of handover feeling very low indeed. Mel had noticed my sagging shoulders and had placed a hand on either side and given me a squeeze for reassurance. All these years later and I still recall that act of kindness.

The lady who rang is going to keep me informed of progress. She has promised to email me to let me know what happens, especially after she speaks to Pridey`s current owner. I have said that I am happy for my number to be passed on for this other lady to know a bit more about the pony they have loved for all these years. My hope is that I will be able to visit Pridey in whichever home she is at.

Incredible, after all these years of wondering, that I should now know what became of her.


Pridey (right) with Willow

Norty

In front of Dudley`s stable is a lovely lawned area which separates the top yard from the bottom. Within an hour of Dudley moving there he had barged through the chain on his stable to munch on the lush green grass, to my absolute horror. Today, I missed sliding the bolt into the holder, an error Dudley spotted within nanoseconds and which he exploited to the full in order to access the grass. I was mortified to see the big, deep hoof marks on the soft wet grass. Fortunately he stood while I caught him and led him back to his stable, remonstrating as I went. He looked suitably chastised - even putting himself in the `norty` corner! Bless!

The HiPo and the Heffalump

We had a lesson yesterday in which Dudley excelled and which I, well, didn`t! The format at the moment is that Sarah will ride him first to warm him up and to get him going then I will take over. Yesterday was no exception. For Sarah he did his usual stuffy beginning then click goes the switch and he loosens up and is responsive and forward-going. Cue me getting on and although he initially stepped off quite well (following a pure Thelwell moment when he leaned over the border of the school to help himself to some grass), he slowed down and tossed his head and was generally not terribly co-operative. That boy really made me work and at the end of it we were both huffing and puffy and sweating not inconsiderably. Sarah took some photos which don`t portray the amount of effort that I at least was putting in. One thing they do show is just how much weight I have put on - I look like a regular heffalump sat atop of a much fitter HiPo. It`ll hopefully shame me into getting myself into gear and lose some weight. Hopefully!

The Expert:


The Learner:


The Heffalump:

Strange

Strange how things work out, isn`t it? I knew that one of the young girls who rides Blue is called Martha and having spotted her with her father one day at the yard, thought that I recognised him. She was there again today, this time with her mother who I definitely knew as they used to live down the road in Deb`s old house! Today I came back in on Dudley and she looked across and asked if I lived at such and such a place which I confirmed. She asked my name and I greeted her with hers, to her surprise! Turns out she`s quite a chatterbox and I was there for some considerale time before Dudley became ever more impatient and insisted on his liberation. Boldly, she asked if it might be possible to have lessons on him. I have no issue with this as she is a gentle person who I know would not hurt him. The only issue would be how she rides so the upshot is that Sarah is happy to give Jane a lesson on him and she will assess her suitability for Dudley. I have said that we`ll have a trial period and if it proves beneficial for all concerned, we shall proceed.

One thing it has made me realise is that I can never share him! Having a lesson once a fortnight is one thing, riding him more often is quite another. Dudley is my boy and I just don`t want to share him! Maybe once over but not now. He`s mine!

Silver Linings

Dudley and I have moved again. Not through choice and very traumatic at the time. The other liveries displayed an array of feelings from shock to outright tears which helped to soften the blow and offered much by way of consolation. As happens at times like these, human nature is laid bare to gaze upon and to reflect anew the kindness and care that crises so often bring. This was no exception and I was moved to the core by the outstanding consideration shown by Carol in securing us a place to go, and to Hannah, Sue and Chloe for helping us make the move. I am exceedingly grateful and not a little humbled that they should care so much.

I had thought that Dudley was settled at the other place and maybe he was. What I realise now is that he was probably keeping his head down and staying out of trouble. What is very evident in our new abode is that he is happy. In fact, very happy! It`s been some time since he`s played with me, unpicking velcro, removing my hat and generally joshing around with me. He whinnies when I walk up the drive to his stable, his beautiful big, black eyes fixed on my approach. He has a routine that seems to suit him and companions who don`t attack or intimidate him. He`s just a lovely, relaxed, happy pony; a pleasure to behold.

I thought he was settled in the other place. I thought he liked the busyness and the comings and goings. He was a popular pony who attracted attention through his quirkiness and good nature, who kept a blackened eye on all who passed his stable. He had his `corner` in the paddock, the right angle formed by hedge and fence in which he would park his head, backside out, switched off to the world. Was he merely creating space, his place of peace and quiet, much the same as I sometimes do? I don`t know. What I do know is that he is happy now and that, for me, is worth everything, the silver lining of a big, black ground.

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