Settled

Dudley seems to have settled himself in to his new abode very nicely.  On the second morning I was met by the sight of Duds in a huff, manifested by his large, guttered posterior presented at the door, head firmly fixed in the corner of the stable from which he could view my approach without acknowledgement.  On the third morning, he deigned to pop his head over the door before disappearing to his corner.  This morning  his big, grey face was planted against the window as he regarded my arrival with faint interest.  He is very precise in the way he expresses himself, his thoughts transparent and clear. 

Despite his apparent huff, he quickly recovers and these last two mornings he has been very sweet and receptive, grooming the nape of my neck as I pick his feet out or nuzzling me gently as I stoop to pick up the debris of the night before.  There`s so much more for him to watch and engage in on this yard, as well as more space, more company - and more mares!  He seems happy.  He seems popular, too, with the yo`s partner this morning declaring him to be a nice, quiet sort who doesn`t bother anyone and gets on well with his fieldmates.  I confess to a little swell of pride on hearing that!  John is a very down-to-earth hunter/hacker type of bloke who I expect doesn`t tolerate fools or bad lads easily so I was pleased to hear his assessment of Duds.

Apart from the other liveries, there is an assortment of other animals on the yard.  There are the cats, Bubble and Squeak, two tiny litter-mates who run and leap around and are the sweetest little things.  The black is an un-neutered male who is set to be de-bobbled soon, if it isn`t already too late to avoid another generation.   Then there are the chickens who, like all chickens, flutter around the feet and make dives for the banking.  The cockerel struts around with his harem following, quite unfazed by all around him,  Lastly, there is Dudley and Scruffy, the yard owner`s two collies (I think they`re collies).   They`re a lively pair who bound around with youthful exuberance and a bark that demands attention.  They are used to me now so don`t bark when I arrive or bound up at me when I walk across the yard.

We haven`t ventured out for a hack as yet as I wanted to work Duds on the lunge first to build up a level of fitness before he has to tote my excess weight.  I also wanted to get him listening to me again so that we could re-establish the easy partnership we had created before.   We may have hacked out this morning but oh my goodness, the wind is biting and brutal and whips right through the layers  of my jods and jacket.  So we went in the school instead, a nicely sheltered arena in which I run around huffing and puffing on the end of the lunge line and Dudley emerges calm of wind and not a bit out of puff.  Something not quite right there!