The big freeze

The gallops and Oaka and Shade settling in to their new home

It was been the coldest November for seventeen years. This is the first day where it was just too slippery to get to the gallops so all the horses went on the walker for a good hour and then out in the field.

We have been lucky in that we haven't had the amount of snow that other areas seem to have had, but actually I would like some as we have all the problems with everything being frozen solid but none of the fun - I want to go sledging! Even riding in the snow is much safer than trying to ride on the frozen ground.

Apparently the all-weather gallop is completely solid now as they tried to rotavate it this afternoon but the snow mixed in with the sand and fibre has now frozen. At least we have managed to get a fair amount of work into the horses up until now, so as long as we keep them ticking along they wont lose too much fitness. We have entered Dove for Cottenham, but that has now been postponed until the 12th, and Harry for Bangor which is supposed to be on Monday 6th. Fingers crossed as it looks the perfect race for him but it is unlikely to be on.

Tomorrow lunchtime we are going to have our 'office' Christmas party, with everyone who helps with the horses having drinks in the shepherds hut to begin with and then down to the local pub for lunch. I don't think there will be too much work done in the afternoon...