I was going to do some ground work with Jazz today as a change and because it would obviously help the loading issue. But the weather was nice enough for a hack out for the first time in days, and I couldn’t resist it so we went for 40 minutes down the road. Jaz is totally unspooky. He looks interestedly at sheep, flapping bits of silage wrapping etc, and he is asking me if it’s safe. But as soon as I tell him that it is, he is perfectly calm and accepts it all. We were passed by five cars and he was impeccable each time. Where the road was narrow he stood and waited. Where it was wider they went right past I can’t imagine that traffic is going to be an issue with him at all. When I turn for home, he doesn't rush. In fact he feels a bit lazy, but that is quite likely to be genuine tiredness from unaccustomed work.

I trimmed his feet again when we got back and they now look really cute. The only thing wrong with them was having been allowed to grow too long. They are now as nice a set of white feet as you could wish to see. He's totally sound, they clack along the road, and I have yet to see or feel him notice treading on a stone anywhere. The blessing of catching a horse before it has really been shod (fronts only for four weeks, that's all he's ever had).

He is a delightful character. He talks all the time - little squeals when he doesn't like something, whinnies when he sees me, deep grumblng noises while I'm riding. If turned loose in the stable or on the yard when you are doing stuff, he follows and looks inquisitively at whatever you are working on. And he loves a cuddle and a stroke and is always snuggling up close. He's a treasure. I don't think for one moment that I'm going to be able to cross country him in a snaffle, he is far too strong. But we'll see, that's for later.

Tia was a complete sweetheart today. I just did some walk work on a relaxed rein today and she did super shoulder in, travers and circles. Her first try at halt was up and forwards and so we stopped after just 10 minutes, because it was 10 real quality minutes and who could ask for more than that. The feel of Jazz is giving me some reallyuseful pointers about how to get a similar feel on her, and where I need to sit to do it.

It's a jolly good job that I bought two WOW saddles. Tia is in a 0. Jazz is in a 2 and set to go wider yet. It's also a jolly good job that I got wide gullets, because Jazz would never fit a standard TB gullet in a million years. His wither is beginning to rise now, and his chest is broadening. It's very clear that he is going to be a very big horse!

C