Harry horse & Charlie adventures! Horse chat & much more! Everyone welcome!

[rebrascora]

Yes my lot are sporting big bellies too but not carrying fatty crests or gutters on their rumps like many overweight horses you see, so I don't worry too much about it. Well done for getting out on Harry again and great that you had lots of company. It is a shame that the young girl was so nervous but at least the pony behaved. Hopefully she will be able to do it again soon to help build her confidence.
Lauren was competing today at York and came 8th overall again but this time unfortunately her teammates did less well and they came 4th. She was the highest placed of them though which will have boosted her confidence enormously. She is still a reserve and doesn't have a place for the final competition next month but I am hoping they will rethink the selection since her last 2 placings have been so consistently good.

I didn't make it out on horseback today. It was too windy to risk going out on my own and I have felt a bit wobbly. Not sure if it is the lack of sugar because I am mostly being very good with my diet (apart from that slip up with the honey roasted nuts the other day), or the diabetes. Looking forward to seeing the nurse on Friday and hopefully getting some reassurance that I am getting it under control or the medication increased if necessary because I just haven't felt well today.
Hopefully we will both sleep better tonight and awake refreshed in the morning.

XX

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara! Did it all go ok yesterday with the nurse? Hope you are ok and are feeling better. I didn’t get an alert for your post the other day I also hope the lovely weather we have been blessed with down here is shining on you too
Harry has been enjoying some T time sunshine in a summer turnout!

Managed to get another

this afternoon. Steady hack round the village with my friend as the end of the month is fast approaching. She had another scan yesterday which was all good. She sent me a pic afterwards and you can see the babies hands, fingers, feet & toes now so it’s all of a sudden become very real for her rather than just a baby bean!

Catch you soon xx

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim
Yes weather is glorious here too. Pleased to hear you got out on Harry with your friend again. The end of the month is really fast approaching. Time really does whiz by these days. Lovely that she sent you a pic of her scan and that the baby is developing well and starting to look human!
My trip to the nurse was a bit of a demoralizer. She was lovely but I naively went in there thinking that I was already well on the way to cracking this as I had been pretty good diet wise for 3 weeks prior to getting the diagnosis because I suspected it was diabetes and then a week of being really strict since I started the medication. Considering my previous huge level of sugar consumption, I was kind of expecting that my drastic cut back would have had some effect already, but it doesn't work like that apparently. I also thought she had over played the level of my blood sugar when we spoke on the phone but it turns out that I was borderline for being treated with oral meds and nearly had to start straight in with insulin injections. I have to steadily up the Metformin to 4 a day like Scott and continue to be very strict.... actually even stricter, as I have to cut back on my fruit intake as well. I am really struggling with fatigue.... even just holding my phone to my ear makes my muscles start to burn after a minute or two. Mucking out, loading and delivering manure, spreading manure on the land and grooming mud monsters takes at least twice as long and I have to keep stopping for a break. Just picking out a horses feet and I am knackered! All that said, I feel a lot better mentally for coming off the sugar and I am losing weight which makes me feel better physically. The nurse was even kind enough to say I was "quite slim" although I will be happy to lose another stone and I'm sure the GGs will be pleased when I do too. I guess most Type 2 diabetics the nurse sees are significantly overweight which will make me at the slimmer end of a scale of fatties.... like being top of the bottom class.... an achievement of sorts but not an accolade!

Anyway onwards and upwards. Lauren and I got out on Friday afternoon

and did 6 miles and we had a little paddle in the river again although no significant progress with MeMe there and we are hoping to get out on GGs again this afternoon, so I am doing OK with flag flying but could be better.... just lots of other jobs to do when the weather is fine like this.
Hope you managed to get out on Harry again this morning. I'm sure he enjoyed having a lighter rug on. I felt awful turning Ian's horses out yesterday with 2 heavy rugs on but it is his call not mine. It is so good for their skin/coat to have exposure to the sun. Arthur is looking very well (he has been out all winter without a rug) and I had to take him for a little walk yesterday whilst the farmer was moving sheep through his field and the sheep were not cooperating.....just another little favour request since Ian had to be away to go hunting! I can't wait for payback on all these favours!!!

Anyway, my bowl of porridge is finished, so must head back out. Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend. XX

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Oh no Barbara, how disappointing with the nurse when you have been doing so well staying off the bad stuff! Unfortunately it is a long road but I hope the tablets start to make you feel better soon. They do usually say it’s being obese that causes it so I’m surprised you even mentioned it let alone have been diagnosed with it. But as you say she must see many overweight people with it. Scott is over weight but I wouldn’t say obese like you would think for someone diagnosed with it. We originally put his fatigue down to over working & stress but obviously it wasn’t as once he got going on the tablets it made so much difference. I can understand your frustration at feeling that way and not just been able to get on with things. It would drive me batty!!

Good on you for getting another flag out even when you are feeling pants! Did you manage another yesterday? Try, try & try again with MeMe & the water I guess? She would make a good pal for Tally as she absolutely hates water, even puddles she will avoid at all costs. Whimpers when it’s raining and she’s out back in the car and bathing her is a total nightmare. You need about 6 hands to keep her under control. She is so different to Keeper who is like a fish and loves it! I can’t see Tally jumping into the pond like he does in the summer.

No more flags here yet and I should have really with the nice weather we are having. It has been very foggy here on a morning though but glorious sun on an afternoon. H sure is enjoying a thinner rug but has the bigger one back on at night as it’s been dropping pretty chilly. Wow Ian’s horse must have been cooking with 2 big rugs on! Even I wouldn’t have done that and I’m a total rug freak thinking he’s going to be cold. Did have a plan for hacking out with my friend (who sold her horse last year) again in the morning as she was going to borrow another liveries horse again but she has come in from the field this afternoon. Pretty disappointing for my friend but that’s nags for you. Tried to borrow one of the kids ponies for her but she’s off college this week so is already riding her pony. So I’m off with my other pregnant friend in the afternoon when she’s finished work. She has only got 3 more days left before she hangs her hat up for a while! Baby due beginning September so I’m sure she will be raring to go then again!

Will Arthur be ridden again soon? How old is he now?
I hope you are making notes of all the “favours” you do! You need to make sure that you are recompensed correctly & fully!

Hope you are relaxing this evening! Xx

 

[rebrascora]

I hope you are making notes of all the “favours” you do! You need to make sure that you are recompensed correctly & fully!

Fat chance!! I think I must have missed out on a whole term's worth of lessons on how to maximise the benefits of my feminine whiles. Of course the main means of repayment.... a box of chocs.... is now well and truly off the table.

Afraid, I didn't manage to ride on Sunday as I went a bit wobbly and whilst I would have gone if I was riding with my sister who I know could cope if something happened when we were out, Lauren would struggle to manage 2 of my horses even just to stand and hold them let alone get them home, if I took a bad turn.
I am really struggling to keep my sugar consumption low and I'm eating far more fruit than I should to try to offset the craving but I know that I need to reduce the fruit too. I was a bit naughty and bought a bar of 70% chocolate (not my cup of tea at all but less bad than Dairy Milk and at least I am not tempted to guzzle the lot in one go) that I have a piece off if I am really desperate and so far that is nearly 2 weeks old and only 4 squares gone, so I am trying to be good. Yesterday I bought some bags of nuts to snack on instead of fruit and nuts. I had to extract some honey yesterday which proved a challenge even down to just not licking my sticky fingers!

Anyway, my sister is coming over today to ride out with me so she will keep me right this afternoon. Hope you manage to fly a flag again today too.
I wonder if Tally will take to the water better in the summer when it is hot and she sees Keeper enjoying a swim. Funny how animals can be so different in their preferences, but no different to us I suppose.
Hope you have a great day and manage to enjoy this wonderful sunshine. X

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Do you want some lessons in how to use your feminine whiles? Would Ian succumb to conditioning or is he too set in his ways! I got Scott trained pretty early on in our relationship!

Gosh you must have been feeling under the weather not to ride I do understand what you mean though if anything happened whilst you were out. Some at the yard would not have a clue what to do if there was ever a panic on. Not that I’m saying Lauren wouldn’t know what to do! But trying to manage with 2, I totally get it.

Don’t feel bad about the 70% chocolate! I’d say 4 squares of it in 2 weeks is good going! And surely the little bit of honey on your fingers isn’t like eating a whole jar full! Are you really going for the full on no sugar at all? If so you have got some good will power!

Did you get out this aft? I’m getting a

for today. Had a hack out round the village. Managed a team of 4 again! My pregnant friend says she not quite ready to hang her hat up yet even though her husband & dad have been going on at her! So as we got going today she decided this weekend was going to be the cut off but by the time we got nearly back she had talked herself into another week on top of that! Goodness knows when she is actually going to but once she has eventually hung the hat up for a while I’m going to ride her pony a couple of days a week for her to keep her ticking over. Although we weigh the same she is a bit shorter than me so I will probably be able to touch my feet under the ponies belly But we will see how it goes...
I’m thinking my other friend who sold her horses could ride Harry & me on the pony so it might all work out well in the end.

Well I must head off & get in the bath as with nice weather today I’m not smelling particularly pleasant! It’s like summer already!!

Catch you soon Barbara xxx

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

Pleased you got out with your friend and that she is thinking of extending her deadline for riding a little, but great that you have a plan for after she stops. Ponies are so much fun, especially when you haven't ridden one for a while and so much easier to get on and off as and when you need to. I hope it all works out well and ideal that your horseless friend can come and ride Harry with you.
Yes, my sister and I got out yesterday on Rascal and MeMe and had a pretty long ride..... maybe about 7 miles. They were very nappy at first and it was quite hard work (never have that problem with Rebel!) but once we got near to half way things improved significantly. I got a couple of big bucks from Rasc when we were galloping across a field but he also gave me some really lovely canters and a bit of extended trot here and there and a lovely forward going walk coming home, so I will forgive him those minor indiscretions. They were exceptionally sweaty because I haven't managed to get them re-clipped yet and they were very keen to roll when we got back, and Rebel of course couldn't help but join in with them.
My sister managed to sort my phone out so I can now post that photo....

Don't let that chilled posture kid you. He is a terror once he gets the other side of that gate! Hope you are impressed with the lovely sweep of that clip line .... I can't guarantee the other side is so uniform, but I didn't realise I had done such a nice job on even one side. He also has nearly a 3 inch Mohican, so his neck isn't really that big!

Anyway, I'm off out now to make the most of this sunshine whilst it lasts. Hope you are able to get out there and enjoy a bit of it too. X

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara! I’m loving the pic of Rascal & MeMe! He looks so sweet & innocent there and like he could never put a foot wrong He’s looking great in the western tack and boy does that saddle look comfortable. Also your lines look great, sweeping & flowing along there. Much better than any effort & I can manage. Were those the lines you did in the middle of night?

Harry was sweaty yesterday under his saddle & girth. That’s with a full clip too but it’s to be expected when this weather has been so nice. My car was reading 18c yesterday afternoon when I headed to the yard. Got quite a few outside tidying up jobs done whilst it’s been so nice. Had the farrier this morning & he was impressed with the wear on Harry’s shoes Warranted a new set today!
Got my field waters cleaned out & re filled plus the field totally cleared of poo. The nice weather sure does make you feel like getting a bit more done.

Got another hack planned for tomorrow at 5 when my friend has finished work. Forecast is much cooler though & cloudy for here so I’m hoping it won’t be too dark Whikst the sun has been out it’s seemed a little lighter for later so we shall see for tomorrow.

On another note have you ever used a solo comb? Just got one to try and tackle Harry’s long bushy mane but the comb doesn’t seem that big He’s ok to have his mane pulled but is a fidget and I take too long so he loses interest. I was hoping this comb might work better and he might not fidget as much.

Hope you have treated yourself to a little square of chocolate tonight! Xx

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Interesting afternoon here! Had a lose horse pass the house this afternoon Scott was in the office & said “a horse has just gone past” I thought he meant one with a rider until he said it was on its own! Ran out the house but it had disappeared. A farmer from down the road then past and asked if I’d seen it as it had broken out of another farm at the end of our road and across the field. He’d seen it coming across his land and jumped in the car to try & head it off. Scott had said it had gone right and unfortunately that is the railway track. Owners turned up looking about so I jumped in the car and headed to the next village where there is a gate over the tracks. Abandoned the car and ran to the gate just as the mare appeared from the right. Got some grass and was trying to entice her but she was walking towards Goole! Silly me hadn’t picked my phone up so I was running to the nearest house but as I turned round she was heading back to the gate. I ran back to the gate! My big clump of grass worked & I managed to grab her! Good job she had a head collar on! But then I was stuck there with a horse I don’t know with just a head collar and not able to get off the track as the big gates were both padlocked with chains.
Thank god her owner turned up with a rope! She had to ring the railway emergency number so they could come & unlock the gates for her. Such a lucky horse that it’s not a very busy line or I dread to think what would have happened. Really does not bare thinking about! But no way could I not do anything at all.

A lovely surprise just now as they turned up with a bunch of flowers for me as a thank you. Unfortunately owner says she’s looking like a bit of colic is developing at the moment with her escapades of the afternoon and she’s got sore feet from all the railway ballast she walked on.

the colic comes to nothing for her. So with all that I didn’t get a flag flown this afternoon!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Interesting afternoon here! Had a lose horse pass the house this afternoon Scott was in the office & said “a horse has just gone past” I thought he meant one with a rider until he said it was on its own! Ran out the house but it had disappeared. A farmer from down the road then past and asked if I’d seen it as it had broken out of another farm at the end of our road and across the field. He’d seen it coming across his land and jumped in the car to try & head it off. Scott had said it had gone right and unfortunately that is the railway track. Owners turned up looking about so I jumped in the car and headed to the next village where there is a gate over the tracks. Abandoned the car and ran to the gate just as the mare appeared from the right. Got some grass and was trying to entice her but she was walking towards Goole! Silly me hadn’t picked my phone up so I was running to the nearest house but as I turned round she was heading back to the gate. I ran back to the gate! My big clump of grass worked & I managed to grab her! Good job she had a head collar on! But then I was stuck there with a horse I don’t know with just a head collar and not able to get off the track as the big gates were both padlocked with chains.
Thank god her owner turned up with a rope! She had to ring the railway emergency number so they could come & unlock the gates for her. Such a lucky horse that it’s not a very busy line or I dread to think what would have happened. Really does not bare thinking about! But no way could I not do anything at all.

A lovely surprise just now as they turned up with a bunch of flowers for me as a thank you. Unfortunately owner says she’s looking like a bit of colic is developing at the moment with her escapades of the afternoon and she’s got sore feet from all the railway ballast she walked on.

the colic comes to nothing for her. So with all that I didn’t get a flag flown this afternoon!

You saved the day! That's worth one of your flags.