The grass is even greener

 Hello old sports!

Well, I did warn you didn't I? Now that Spode is a teacher, I rarely get computer access... but really, that't not much of an excuse is it? The real reason is, well, the grass is pretty damn green here old sports. I can barely tear myself away to log on here. I've finally had my fill enough to give a little update here.

Who am I kidding, I never have my fill!

Due to my extreme laziness and fondness for British grass, I haven't written since I moved stables the first time! That's actually happened again would you believe it. Things weren't working out between me and the other horses, and the drama of the previous stable started to affect Spode's mental state so a move was decided upon. And what a good move it was! I do miss my girlfriend, but the grass is good here, the fields are bigger, and drama? There's none! Bliss! My horsey friends will no the rarity that is a drama free barn I'm sure. 

Plus, there are still tiny ponies to be friends with here

There was a bit of drama initially actually, but only on my end because this new farm has a strange creature called an alpaca inhabiting there. Three of them actually. They make weird sounds and they run strangely too. Very confusing animals!

Very popular with Oli though

But lets back track a little bit first because I am WAY behind. First big event-Spode dislocated her shoulder when I accidentally bumped her spooking at a cart. I swear, I barely even touched her but her arm was at a bad angle and out it popped. And she popped it back in again. As it should be. I need my attention and can't have a one armed Spode!

And still smiling to boot! Hard not to smile around me I suppose

I also celebrated my 6th birthday. SIX! Can you believe it? I'm such an old man now, I don't know where the last 4 years with Spode have gone! 

It's not a party without a hat. And I know how to party. 

Now that I'm a my new stable (been here 2 and a half months now!) I feel much more settled in the UK. I'm used to the different horse keeping methods and have adjusted to the weather. 

Spode has also adjusted, though clings to Canadianisms. Such as stick families, which aren't a thing here. But I like it. Everyone needs to know Spode's most important family member!

Alas, this was always supposed to be on her car as well, but it didn't quite work out that way. Makes a good stall plate anyway.

Now that I've settled in, riding is much more back to normal as well. The time off made me quite lazy and unbalanced, I admit. Spode and I have had a few disagreements about that, but we're back to where we were now. With the addition of teaching Oli to ride... 

I quite like the guy now that I've gotten over my jealousy issues when it comes to Spode. He gives me more treats than her. 

And my skills have also increased to include, wait for it.... JUMPING! Yeah, I know! Me, the partially sighted horse! It's quite fun now that I've learned to pick up my back feet (er, well, most of the time. Hahem)

So it's not the world's largest jump. Give me a break!

I've also become a pro at hacking on the road. There's some lovely woods and fields around, but we have to cross a bridge over a busy highway first, or take a tunnel underneath. Both are pretty scary! The first time I came across the bridge I legged it to the other side. A terrifying experience! The woods are lovely though. We take Oli with us sometimes. He's a good egg, old sports.

He's our personal GPS. Since Spode and I are both directionally challenged. 

In not so good news, my eyes were bad about a week ago. A bit painful but not in a uveitis way. Still, Spode got the vet out to me and I'm all better now thanks to the wonders of Maxidex, that very familiar medication. I just sighed when Spode showed me the ointment. Ah, we're back to that are we? But only 3 times a day, so that's better than usual. Lucky Spode is off of school at the moment!

Ouch!

Yep, put in in my eyes and let me go back to sleep please. 

You can call them sunglasses as much as you like, old sport, they still wouldn't be accepted in East Egg. 

I do feel like I've landed in my home though. I miss the old Fox Hollow at times, but this is a good equivalent in the UK. It's homely and lovely and very very green. And sometimes muddy!

What are you looking at? 

It just means more grooming time for Spode, and I know she loves it!

So all in all, things are going great old sports!

Life is good anywhere where daisies grow. Gatsby's life motto.

It's hard not to miss Canada of course, but we all celebrated Canada Day together, and our little family makes it feel like home, slowly but surely. Spode and I take comfort in each other to combat our occasional home sickness. After all, what's more Canadian than being outside and with one another? 

We're all Canadian at heart! Oli is an honourary citizen!

Until later, old sports.

Jay. 

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.