Back in the winter field, waiting for their feed 

Waiting for the farrier.

Aberaeron festival of the cob

Every year at the beginning of August the seaside village of Aberaeron holds the Festival of the Cob on the village green. Usually there is a pageant were local riders enact a story from Welsh history, we have taken part twice in the past, but sadly this year there was no pageant nor did we have the usual stunt riders. However there was a driving display, dressage, scurry driving, Welsh Mountain pony grand national, a knock out jumping compation. The Tristar  display with the carriage drawn by four  horses. Also the usual running of the stallions and the event finishing off with the inter hunt relay.
There are stalls in the road alongside the green  (although sadly not as many as in previous years )and the locals ride round the streets stopping off at the occasional pub for refreshments.

Back in the saddle again.

I've not been on Sara since easter and then I only managed about 4 minutes! I've been going for short walks on Imshi who is much less wide than Sara to try to get those muscles working again and also been doing yoga to try and get myself a bit more supple. Now the caravan site is open for the summer I can't ride around there until it closes for winter  (health and safety )and I'm not fit to go on the road at the moment. I've been lungeing in the corner of the field but didn't feel confident to get back on board there as there are caravans alongside with dogs barking and people doing things in the gardens. So the only place I can ride is in the yard round the cattle shed and I have to fit in with when they are working round there. If all this sounds a bit negative and defeatist you're right! I've not been feeling very motivated lately but when I went to see the horses today the yard was deserted so after a bit of lungeing to settle her I climbed aboard and did a few circles and figures of eight and even managed a couple of short trots. ...the first time since I fell off nearly a year ago. I'd forgotten what a lovely trot she's got. I must admit that going down the slope to the cattle shed was absolute agony and I didn't quite manage 10 minutes but next time I should manage a bit longer.

There was no one about to take a photo so these are some that were taken when I first got back on after her cracked hoof had healed at the end of 2013.

Breakfast in bed!

The field that the horses are in is next to the cliff path. When I went to check on them a couple of days ago they were both flat out by the fence, there was a man with a child and a dog standing next to them and they were oblivious. My first thought was someone had fed them something poisonous, but as I got to about 10 yards away Sara lifted her head. I didn't have the heart to disturb them so I gave Sara her bowl of food while she was still lying down at which point Imshi lifted his head and had his without getting up as well.
When they'd finished they both had a roll and got up!

What a difference a day makes.

Sara was a totally different horse today. She came up to me asking to be caught, stood as good as gold while I got things together and was a little angel on the lunge. I made her work hard and she was blowing a bit when we finished so we did a quick lap of the site on the long rein to cool down. I was even tempted to get on without her saddle which I have never attempted before.
She enjoyed a good roll when she went back in the field.

And Goldenoldy Gelding

When I couldn't catch Sara this morning I decided to take Imshi out. Although he's officially retired now  (he'll be 31 this year ) he still likes to feel useful. We went to Tresaith to get his feet wet but what little  beach there was, was too stony to stretch his legs so we just stood in the surf for a few moments before returning home.
I think he enjoyed his outing. He certainly enjoyed his bowl of food when we got back especially as he ate it in front of Sara who didn't have any because she still wouldn't let me catch her.

Mad Mare

After being such a good girl yesterday when she was so patient walking round the site for the 10 minutes which is all my leg will stand at the moment Sara refused to be caught today. She had a great time pretending she's a rodeo horse, I don't think I would have got on if I had managed to catch her. Instead of chasing her round and giving her the satisfaction of knowing she can get away whenever she wants I decided to take Imshi out, he isn't as wide as her so I can ride him for longer but even so after 40 minutes I was pretty stiff. I thought I might do a bit of lunging with Sara when we got back but no,she still wasn't going to have that head collar on! So I fed Imshi in front of her and took her bowl away without letting her have it. You should have seen her face when she realised she wasn't being fed! I think I'll have to start catching her every day when I feed rather than just holding the bowl for her.

When you've got an itch. ....you just have to scratch it