More progress, great day.

Well he’s got more character than I ever bargained for. Every time I get a little pang about missing Tetley, Jazz does something that just makes me laugh – all he has to do is roll that funny eye and I giggle. And he has my absolute favouritist character in a horse – he is so darned interested in everything you do with him and everything that’s going on around him.

He was a very good boy and a very cheeky boy today. The good boy was that I left him in his stable and took Tia out for a half hour hack. She was lovely, and the morning weather was blissful, and when we got back he didn’t even rush to the front of the stable when he heard her hoofbeats. He did whinnie a couple of times and my goodness what a wooss he sounds for a big horse :- )

One of her front feet was interesting after the roadwork – she has brought back the breakover point by a whole half an inch in one go. It is now well behind the current lie of the white line. This was the front foot that suffered concussion and was the worst of the three with it. I don’t know if it’s related,but it’s very interesting to see. She is sound on all surfaces now, even rubble :- )

I rode Jazz then, and got Cheeky Boy. I don’t know if he was cross at being left alone, or he just wanted to go out in the wonderful sunshine, but he didn’t want to work and he was bouncing around all over the place. I have to say that “didn’t want to work” for Jazz translates into an EEEnnnORMOUS trot, which is real good fun. I almost felt like I would have to watch that my head wasn’t going to bang on the roof. He was also very strong at times and I’m glad I wasn’t outside today.

We did 20 minutes of walk, shoulder-in and travers. He didn’t understand travers but he did some really nice steps after a few minutes. He does try to work out what you want, which is superb. He remembered shoulder in but had forgotten turn on the forehand and had to re-learn it. We tried some halts (sticky!) and at one point he insisted on a canter right round the bend, which is amazing in that small a space from a 4 year old. I am not going to do much big trot or canter in there with him while he is so young. I don’t want to cramp his paces and I don’t want to stress his joints.

He was dead keen to go out this morning, and led Tia through the gate. For a horse who used to put himself back in his stable if he was turned out, he seems to like being out in a room with a view!

I’m hoping Victoria will tell us how Tetley is soon, I don’t want to bother her by ringing her up but I do keep wondering if he has settled. I have rung Caddy’s new owner twice and left messages but I think that she is very nervous of using the phone and isn’t ringing back. Meanwhile, news from Scooby camp is that the mad fool has gone and done an Intermediate on him. Yes, after clocking cricket scores all summer in the showjumping he went to Intermediate. All credit to him, he got a clear round cross country and came 13th because so many people didn’t even finish. The man’s got guts, I’ll give him that. He says the problem with the showjumping is that Scooby is going too fast and scattering poles and running out. I know what he means, it took me months to work out how to stop him doing that.

I still have a grin on my face from being with Jazz this morning, and this stupendous weather is too good to miss so I’m off outside to get some more sunshine.

C.