Variety is the Spice of Life

Yesterday was a long and most enjoyable day at Werribee Park teaching the Young Rider Dressage Squad.   This seems to be a popular pastime as there were a lot of young riders of all standards. They seemed to be having fun. It was nice that there were only 2 in a lesson, and the 14 riders I taught were well matched in their pairs which made them easy to teach.

Of course it was a little difficult convincing some young riders that doing the 'tricks' of dressage is great but they are dependent on the quality of the paces! In the end it is up to the riders to learn for themselves. Yes, as a coach it is frustrating to know how much better a horse and rider combination could be performing but some riders are just not ready to understand the value of a correct way of going. What I do find interesting is how obvious the good ones are. They are not necessarily on good horses but talent, interest and dedication just oozes out of them. They take responsibility for their own riding. These are the riders that keep us coaching.

Two of the younger riders on their lovely ponies.

Last night I had dinner with the Martindale family from Tonimbuk. It was John's birthday. People say that if you have a handful of real friends you are lucky. I have a handful in one family so am extremely lucky. Catherine is an EA Level 2 coach and a racehorse trainer, and Jane and Sarah are Level 1 coaches. Hopefully they will all progress up the levels. It is young coaches of today that hold the future of equestrian sport in their hands.

I was away for a short time this morning and returned to find that Thomas the Terrible had sliced his ear and had a 3 cm cut, so his ear was very much in two parts.  Being a Sunday there was no vet nurse working so I helped the vet as he had to have a general anaesthetic. Every time I hold a pet while its front leg is shaved for an IV injection it is to say a final farewell. It was a very odd, and not very welcome, emotion as my subconscious got ready for 'the end'. I had to convince myself that Thomas was going to come home very much alive. Stitching an ear is a very intricate operation. On one side of the ear he now has a running blanket stitch and on the other individual stitches. Thomas may have to wear a bucket on his head if he starts scratching the stitches.

As there was no-one working at the clinic today I took Thomas home as soon as he was conscious. He has spent the rest of the day in front of the fire.

Friends of mine came to help move hay and it managed to stop raining just in time. About 12 bales fell off the back of one of the trucks, despite being strapped on. When we went back to where the bales had fallen off someone was already putting 5 bales in their trailer. When I went home later the last 2 bales were being strapped on to someone else's trailer. So at least 3 people will have had a 'windfall' today!

Moving hay is an aweful job. I think one would lose friends pretty quickly if they had to do it too often!