I won’t be posting on Sunday as it is Boxing Day so instead here is Galahad looking festive as we went on our Pony Post rounds. Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates!
Christmas Greetings
Month: December 2021
Christmas Deliveries
This week the time arrived for our annual pony post deliveries of local Christmas cards – and even a small parcel. This is something we’ve done ever since we’ve been able to ride the ponies – all inspired by one evening many years ago when my riding instructor’s daughter took me with her to deliver their cards. It seemed like something out of a story book and I was determined to do the same when I could.
The ponies have been getting more festive as we get closer to Christmas and we had a lovely ride, singing carols as we went. It was especially nice to have my sister with me again as covid kept her away last year. We were even rewarded with a beautiful view of the moon over the valley. It couldn’t have been a better afternoon really.
Cookster’s Adventures
Cookster and I have had quite the adventure this week. We were heading out for one of our usual hacks when we met the new owner of one of our neighbouring fields. We stopped for a chat and were invited to have a ride round the field while he collected logs. Of course, we jumped at the chance.
For one reason or another it has been a while since Cookster has been ridden in such an open space and he was somewhat excited – he held it together to walk down the hill but when I asked him to canter at the bottom he took off into a full gallop. All I had to do was sit there and steer – I was quite grateful the field was so big and I didn’t have to worry about any sharp corners at full speed.
Cookster is not normally a very forward going pony but he had plenty of energy for once and we had a lovely time stretching his legs. I was slightly worried about brakes to start with but he always slowed down when I asked and kept nice and steady when it was needed. It ended up being one of the nicest rides we’ve had and he definitely enjoyed himself too – even if he was rather puffed afterwards!
Dodging the Hail
This weekend my sister and I have been out riding together for the first time in weeks. I am very used to riding by myself but it was absolutely lovely to have someone with whom I could chat as we were riding along for a change.
It may be somewhat early to properly tinsel up the ponies but as my riding with tinsel is of necessity a bit limited I couldn’t resist getting some out and making a start. The good news is that the ponies have never seemed to mind our strange antics.
What they did mind was the incredibly heavy hailstorms we had yesterday. Most of them didn’t tend to last particularly long but they were vicious while they lasted – and the hailstones were huge too. Galahad very definitely wanted to turn his back to the weather and wait for it to be over. I was much more keen to carry on and get home!
The most exciting bit though happened when we were tacking up. The sudden downpour of hail made the most tremendous noise on the roof of the stables and made us all jump. Galahad’s rug – already undone – fell off and scared him even more, making him break the string to which he was tied. I had to hang on tight to keep him in the stable and even then he might have got away if my sister hadn’t swung the door shut. She wasn’t quite so lucky and Cookster was halfway across the field before he stopped. Thankfully though, he did not have trailing ropes like Galahad and everyone was safe. It was quite an experience!
Gadding About With Galahad 