A brilliant day at Border Union and a great weekend

What a weekend!

Friday morning I was up at 4am to walk and feed the dogs before heading off to groom Ruth & Bazil before loading them into the truck to take them to Border Union Show. My niece Stephanie was helping me, her job was to lead Ruth at the show, and I would lead Bazil.

We arrived at the showground with half an hour to get the ponies and ourselves ready for the ring. We didn't even have time to go to the loo!!

The foal had travelled lying down and his front legs had poo stains down them, which I didn't notice until we were in the collecting ring - I spent the time trying to pick the little bits of straw out of his mane after giving both Ruth and Bazil a final polish before entering the ring. Not very professional of me, but it was too late to do anything about the stains. I was embarrassed.

The class was for Mares (with or without a foal at foot) and Geldings over 4 years old. Seven ponies were entered in this class but only five turned up. Ruthie led by Stephanie did a good show. Although a bit overweight, she trotted with a decent amount of energy and tracked up quite nicely. Bazil behaved himself, that means he didn't jiggle about too much or rear up as he does at home when bored.

Ruth was initially placed 5th and last but after her individual show, she was moved up a place to 4th. I was delighted with her performance and over the moon with her final position.

So why do we have no photos of this big event? Christopher went off to buy a bacon roll and missed the class! All he saw was the ponies leaving the ring - can you believe it? So the photographs at the top of the page were taken last night - can you see Ruthie's smart green rosette?

On Saturday, I took Stephanie to ride Maud for a couple of hours before lunch. I rode out on Bombay. When we got back home, Stephanie was so exhausted that she lay down on the grass in the garden and fell asleep, and Fleur being Fleur took advantage of a warm pillow!

On Sunday, I promised Chris it would be a horse free day. So we packed the dogs into the car and headed off..... we drove south. We had no plans and eventually ended up on the Rinns of Galloway. The weather was fantastic although there was a coldish wind just enough to keep a jumper on, and the views across to Arran, Campbelltown and Ireland were superb as the air was so clear.

We had a lovely day and I had a fabulous weekend.

Practise for Border Union Show

I had arranged with my sister to help me "train" Bazil to walk and trot with his Mum in preparation for Border Union Show this Friday. Sunday was a glorious day and in the afternoon, we took Ruthie and Bazil for a walk up the road, before going into the paddock to do some serious work. To be honest, I have no idea what is expected of Ruth or Bazil on Friday, but any training is better than no training.

After the awful behaviour Bazil displayed the last time we all did a training session together, my sister brought with her a packet of water pistols, to teach Bazil not to bite me and rear and lunge at me. I only had to use the pistols 3 times and he learned not to be so cheeky. (the water pistols is a dog training aid, and it worked with the foal - so far!)

What we learned on Sunday is the foals don't do training at that time of the day! He was lethargic and just wanted to have a feed and go to sleep. So we gave up, although Ruth is walking out and trotting with more enthusiasm than the other week.

Rachael decided she would groom Ruth, so the poor pony was plated up, tail as well and flowers put in her mane. She didn't mind, she really is a very decent pony. Meanwhile Bazil lay sound asleep at his Mum's feet, whilst Rachael stepped over him to brush Ruthie's tail. All this training is just too, too exhausting for young chaps!

We have another training session tonight. Tack & kit cleaning on Wednesday night. On Thursday night, I plan to give Ruth a warm water rinse to remove the dirt from her back, and wash her tail. (I'm not a great believer in washing horses, elbow grease does not give them chills or arthritis, but the foal keeps "gunking" her and the trees have dropped sticky stuff on her back, so I'm making an exception to my rule.) And finally load the lorry because it is an early start in the morning.

DARYMPLE AGRICULTURAL SHOW 2007

On Saturday I took Ruth & Bazil to Dalrymple Show. Bazil's first show! He behaved so well, not too much jumping about and miss behaving, in fact he was the perfect gentleman - for a change! He really enjoyed his morning out and about and was very tired when he returned home, Oh.... the wee button.

There was only Mum around to help me show the pair, so there are no photos of the event, but the pictures above I took last night.

I entered Ruth into the Broodmare class and Bazil in the foal class. It was unfortunate that in the broodmare class there was only one other mare entered. Ruth refused to trot out in her show, the reason for this I'm unsure. She is a bit over weight which could have put her off running, which I doubt, I think it was just laziness. So for that reason she was placed second, but Bazil behaved himself, such a star!

Bazil was entered in the foal class, to be accompanied by the dam. Again and unfortunately he was the only entry in the class, but he put on a reasonable show for the judge. We have got an awful lot of practising before Border Union Show at the end of this month, but the judge was most helpful and gave me tips for showing the pair and what to practise in the meantime. The judge did notice that Bazil does move well and made nice comments to that effect.

So we came home with two rosettes - a second place for Ruth & a first place for Bazil. The object of the exercise was to find out how Bazil would behave at a show at such a young age. His behaviour was better than I could have dreamed. What a good boy - I'm so proud of him.

So now its practice, practise, practice until Friday 27th July - our big outing. I've ordered a filly slip and a leather lead rein for him as the foal slip that he has at the moment is rather scabby and not really suitable for this event. It has holes punched all over it so that will fit Bazil and also the nose band is chewed and that was caused by Ruth. I put it on Ruth after Bazil was born so that I could catch her, but she somehow managed to get it off her head.

Building the kennels - one step closer to completeion!

I took this photo of my garden last night. This is the area where the dog's kennels are going to be built - to the left of the pile of soil.

Last weekend, at vast expense I hired a mini digger to remove at least a foot of earth from the area I'm setting up the kennels. Where the soil is piled up at the moment will be a flower bed again, which means all the plants that I removed originally can at last be put back into that area.

The girl who walks my dogs suggested that I was just a little "jammy" on Saturday when the digger arrived, as I had to go to work and had enlisted the help of Dad, who then enlisted the help of James to dig out the hole! I did operate the digger for about an hour and showed Dad how to work the machine before rushing off to work. By the time I came back home, the job was done!

So all I have to do now is get stones for drainage, tamp them down, then some sand and membrane for damp proofing , define the area with wooden slats then pour in the cement. EASY!! After that, phone the kennel company and tell them they can at last come and erect the kennels.

But now I really have a deadline to get this project finished. The wonderful dog walker is going back to college in September! As she cheekily said "she will watch the garden with great interest". I'll get the job finished for September..... I'll show her!

ARNAMURCHAN 2007

A FEW HOLIDAY SNAPS OF ARDNAMURCHAN

We had a great time away in Ardnamurchan this year. As I suspected the weather was not at it's best, but we were only confined to barracks twice due to torrential rain. We were not to be put off having Bar - B - Ques in the wind and rain - we're Scottish after all! The true blessing was that there were NO MIDGES! Too cold windy & wet for them.

The dogs loved their time away from home, in fact I think Imogen is a bit depressed at the moment because she is back at home. Fleur on the other hand is exhausted.

The garden has grown wild in just one week, apart from that, all the other animals are doing fine. Bazil has grown and thickened out, become more muscular and head strong. I plan to take Ruth and Bazil to Dalrymple Agricultural Show next weekend to get some experience before going to the Border Union show at the end of the month. The BU show is an important show for both of them but especially the foal. So we need to do a lot of practise before then, and of course go for short runs in the lorry. Oh what a fun two weeks ahead I've got!

Better go and do some work now. Bye.