Every winter when the field gets too wet for riding I have to put all the jumps and dressage markers away.  Inevitably, I’m not very good at doing that and so they often don’t get put away until it is basically time to get them out again.  Even then, they would probably just stay where they were if it were not for the fact that the field needs harrowing and that’s a lot easier if there are no jumps in the way.

That time had finally come so the dog and I spent a very hot afternoon lugging poles across the field.  At least, I carried them – the dog just jumped over them.

It seems only a few weeks ago that we were knee deep in mud but the dry weather we have had since lockdown started means that the fields are now bone dry and the harrow kicked up a huge cloud of dust.  I only did a tiny bit of the field but my Dad – who did most of the work – had to wear a mask for the worst parts.

It was warm work but the field looks so much better for it now.