Another change in circumstances

Hello old sports! Once again, my apologies for the lack of writing. I do believe this may be my new life with Spode as a teacher: I only get access to the computer to write during break time.

A lot has happened since I last wrote. First of all, Oliver has taken a shine to me (jeez, took him long enough!)

He tends to bring me treats, so I am also fond of him...

He even tried riding me, though he has only done this a few times.

You realize that Spode is going to keep nagging us to get along forever now, right?

I also left behind my chilled out home in St. Albans. I'm rather sad to have left it as I did have lots of space to myself and loads of time outside, but I was also rather bored and grumpy at only having one friend in the field.

How boring, old sports.

Spode has now moved me to Welwyn Garden so that I can have more time with her by being closer to home. I was not thrilled to see the horse trailer show up, let me tell you! I was initially convinced that Spode had decided to move away from England and back to Canada. I am not ready to go back on a 4 day trip and another flight! No sir! Once Spode said it would only be a 25 minute drive though, I quickly walked on. (well, and when she showed me the apple I suppose I should add...)

I'm blaming you if this ends up being longer than half an hour, Spode.

We arrived at the new place and I quickly had a crowd of people around me. I'm not sure why, but every horse at this yard seems to be 15hh or shorter. In some cases, a lot shorter!

Everyone can practically walk underneath me here! But the ladies love a tall man, it seems. 

I seem to be a bit of a novelty because of my size. Most of them seem used to me now though, and I'm also used to being surrounded by little ponies. No one is mean to me in the field like before thanks to my stature. Perfect! 

The downside to this place is that I have to come inside at night, which I'm not overly fond of. However, thanks to cultural and climate differences, coming inside isn't so bad because I'm not in a closed in barn. Instead I'm in a box that opens up to the outside. I like that a lot more than the American style barn I've grown up with! We would never have water in the winter though, if they followed the same system in Canada. We'd have ice in minutes. No worries about that here!

I quite enjoy my new home. And all of my stuff is in a personal tack room behind these water buckets. Perfect for Spode but awfully mean for me as I can smell my grain all night!

I've quickly become used to being an indoor horse again, and Spode assures me that I'll soon be back to an outdoor horse as we all go back out 24/7 in the summer months. Spode is looking forward to that, though she also enjoys stopping by before going to school to turn me out and even came to visit me at her lunch break once. It's much nicer being close to home and seeing Spode a minimum of twice a day. More time for spoiling, old sports!

The weather here has been delightful and Spode is riding me lots as we have a little ring here as well. A little uneven in places so Spode has been trying to get me to pick up my feet more (fat chance!) but we're doing well getting us both back into shape and into dressage mode. We're back to working on outside shoulder control and canter transitions. Happy all around! And I love being in a big herd again rather than just with one horse. I've even buddied up with a couple of the ponies here.

All in all, life is good! Can't complain when I have green grass to eat while I know my friends back home are still fetlock deep in snow. Hopefully it won't be long before i can go out exploring the wonderful countryside here.

Though for now I'm quite content in my bed, eating straw because I'm too lazy to pick the hay out of my net!

Looking forward to a week of lots of riding and fussing now that Spode is on holiday again. 

Until later, old sports.

Jay. 

Cultural Differences

Happy half term!

Miraculously, the weather has suddenly turned wonderful just in time for the school holiday!

Here is a conversation I overheard between Spode and her new barn manager:

S: "Which halter do you want me to use?"

"What?"

"Which halter is Lucky's?"

"What?"

"... Um. Ah, which headcollar?"

"Oh! The purple one."

Spode is having a little trouble adjusting to the ever so subtle differences in language here. So am I to be honest. In fact, I shouldn't even say "barn manager." It's yard manager in this country. And Spode always says she's at the barn, when in fact she's at the stables. And my blanket? Well it's now my rug. And there's straw in the stall where she grooms me rather than shavings. I definitely thought it was just a stall full of hay when I first went in. What a disappointment!

Why did you trick me? 

I mean, I sleep in hay anyway. Might as well have a bed that I can sleep in and eat, no?

Spode has been spending lots and lots of time up here since it's the holiday. I'm ever so slowly getting fit again, though we're taking it slow because Spode was very unimpressed with my manners on the ground. Apparently I need to go back to school (teachers probably always say that though, as I pointed out. Then she gave me a detention). 

The problem is, language isn't the only cultural difference here. I'm finding it a little difficult to adjust to other things as well. Example a, hedges. I hate them. They're terrifying! Massive plants that I can't see through but I can hear horses and other animals behind them. I don't like them one bit, and England seems to have an obsession with them. 

Always keep one ear on the hedge, that's my motto!

This has led to some issues between me and Spode. Namely that I bolted three times when she led me to the hedge and even the shelter near it. Spode wasn't impressed. But then, neither was I. I got over it eventually, but I'm still very wary which is making hacking next to impossible at the moment. Spode has started taking me for walks to get me used to them, though we did have a little hack today.

Can we go back before we get to the hedges on both sides please?

They're up there. I know they are.

That's better, lots of open space!

And I'm done. Stop with the photos, I want to go home!

I suppose I'll get used to it eventually. Same with these stables they have here. Apparently the only stables I know are called "American style" here. Instead, what's more common here are courtyard stables that open to the air. Which is quite nice! I get tacked up in one and i like being able to look out and breathe freshness in. 

I am already used to one big difference though: year round grass! Yes, I'm living almost entirely on grass alone in February! My wildest dreams have come true!

Delicious stuff!

Even in the muddy field I was in before there was grass to eat! 

Alas, I hear that I'll be having slightly less grass in future as Spode has told me that I'll be moving at the end of next month to a yard closer to her house. And unfortunately I'll have to stay in a stable at night during the mud season (November to April/May, so I'm told). These will be my new digs:

A nice big stall in the new stable block to the left. 

Spode is sad to move me and I'm not thrilled to hear that I'll be in at night, but needs must. I suppose it will be fine once I get used to it. For now, I'll enjoy the full time grass while I still can. And as I learned today, Spode and I both enjoy sleeping in the sun.

It's 14 degrees and I have a coat meant for -30. It's a recipe for sleepiness!

Spode on the other hand just spent 2 hours mucking out my field, so that's also a recipe for sleepiness!

So all in all I'm having a lovely time getting used to the new country and all the differences in horse keeping. Another example, the lack of cross ties.

Guess I'll just have to hold myself to be brushed then...

And I'm happily getting used to having Spode feed me again and look after me. Just like old times! Proof that anywhere you have family is home.

Please, Spode, can I have some more?

They even have "snow" here!

So that's all for now, Old Sports. Until later.

Jay. 

Globe Trotting: I have arrived!

True happiness!

Well hello there Old Sports! I know, I know. I'm terrible. I haven't update my blog in ages. But you know, when you're a horse relying on an internet connection from your owner, it's fairly important that your owner lives in the same country as you. Alas, that has not been the case for 5 months. (5 months? If felt like 5 years!)

Spode left in August and I took a holiday from my blog (not a holiday I chose for myself, but still, a holiday is a holiday I suppose).

So let's start from the beginning. Spode came and kissed me goodbye and said she promised to be back at Christmas time and reunite us as soon as possible. I'll be honest, Old Sports, it kind of felt like I was once again mirroring Fitzgerald's Gatsby when he and Daisy become separated. Ah the never-ending connections with The Great Gatsby. Spode would be proud.

It wasn't very long before I started to get bored though, I'll admit. Luckily Spode's family and friends kept me occupied during the long wait to return to being Spode's bestie. (Beastie?)

Hmm, so maybe a little bit more exercise than I'd hoped.

One of the best things about Spode's absence was the endless sympathy treats I received from other boarders and friends. I really played up my loneliness as well, so it's no surprise that my belly expanded quite a bit over the last several months. That was a good thing really though as I lost a fair bit of weight when I began my quarantine process.

My life was much the same until mid-December when suddenly I was whisked away from all of my buddies over at Fox Hollow and taken to a quarantine stable called Ashland. The place was lovely, the people were lovely, my distant neighbouring stallions were lovely, but boy was it boring. I greatly underestimated how much I appreciate the company of other equines! I was so happy to see another horse after all that time! It made getting on the airplane easier--I pretty much said I would go anywhere there was another horse. Desperate times, old sports.

Anyway, Christmas was also a big change because Spode came back for a brief spell. Along with a new person I had never met (except over FaceTime at the barn): Oliver. Apparently this person was one of the reasons I was making this move in the first place. Hmm, not sure about him yet. He's not a very horse savvy person and I did make a statement one day in an attempt to tell him that Spode's all mine. Spode says I need to share though. She also would really like us to get along. I suppose I'll make an effort... if he gives me treats maybe.

So... treats Oli?

Guess I will have to share after all. 

I survived the rest of my quarantine without Spode and then began my journey on Saturday morning with a trip to Toronto airport. Being the seasoned traveller that I am, this was actually my second time in Toronto so I settled in to enjoy spying out the window at the world passing by, oblivious to my upcoming adventure.

Transferring from one box to another at the airport. Story of the next 4 days I was soon to find out.

We sat at the airport for much longer than expected because of a plane issue, but then we were finally on our way to Amsterdam. I had a thoroughbred gelding as my companion and we both just relaxed and ate happily for the whole journey.

Once in Amsterdam on Sunday, we were off to a stable to rest before beginning out journey to the UK. They drove us up to France and then we took the Eurotunnel train. A very strange experience but as usual I took it all well. Why? Because I'm Gatsby.

Next stop, the UK!  We arrived in Dover and then went straight to St. Albans (er, well, after a long stay at customs!).

Arriving in style! 

I was so happy to see Spode and know that I'd reached my final destination. I hadn't been outside since Friday! I was bursting!
Before I could begin my run, I had to stay with Spode and wait for the yard manager. She just held me while I grazed (Yes! GRAZE! They have grass in this country!!! Mind Blown!). Just like she never left.

My new digs look pretty nice. Spode says we can go exploring once I'm settled in and relaxed again. Lots and lots of quiet hacking to look forward to!

Flowers are springing up already here!

That's not a Canada Goose!

I now live on an estate. I think I've officially moved into East Egg! (My place is most definitely a West Egg place though!)

Once I was allowed in the field, I had a blast. I ran and ran and rolled and whinnied, and ran some more. I am so happy to be free again, old sports! That felt like an age!

I have a feeling I will be running for quite some time!

I'm out with 4 other horses, 2 of which are very young and happy to have another playmate. I'll tell you more about my adventures later as right now I need to go for a run again. That's enough typing for one day!

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay.