Family trees

The hunt was out in our area today so of course John had to stay in otherwise he might well have joined them when they went past. A couple of the others who knew what it was all about, having hunted before, got a little excited (the hunt was meeting just down the road) but in fact I don't think John, happily tucking in to hay and carrots in his stable, realised anything was up, which seems to suggest he has not.

I wish I knew more about his past. According to his owner before me, he was an eventer in his younger days - and the state of his legs would seem to back that up - but she got him from a dealer and didn't know anymore than that. He does have a freeze mark but again, according to his last owner, she tried to trace it and discovered the company responsible had gone out of business.

Is there any way to trace a horse's history without putting a pleading ad in the back of horse magazines?

Happy - horsey - new year!

Who can believe it, it's 2011 already and that means John is now 23 years young. As with people, I think age with horses has a lot to do with the mind - if you act like you're old, tired and worn out then you will be old, tired and worn out; but if you act like a youngster then you will be a youngster - in outlook and deed. That's certainly true of my boy, watching him canter up the field you would never believe he has seen as many summers as he has. Hacking out too, he can still throw a surprise or three at me, and while he casts a disdainful eye at his younger field companions spooking at a tractor, he can still outshine them in the nonsense stakes when he wishes.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

The snow has now gone and the horses are at last out, yet turning him out after a week stuck in the stable was a joy, no pulling, no barging, no being Mr Tall Horsey, he behaved with the utmost grace and decorum, let me lead him to the field with no spooking or shying. What a star.

I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle, I can't even remember when we last rode out, but... I always get nervous when I don't ride and so not having ridden in a while means more nerves than normal. I know it's no big deal, I face this every time, but still, I'm looking forward to getting that first ride out of the way so we can move on - weather permitting of course, I'm told we are in for snow again...