Billy was very pleased to see us back
(and hasn't sworn at us once - yet..)
Will and the team, Fran, Becky and Georgia did a brilliant job during our absence. All the horses felt really well having had a week of slightly lighter duties.
Yesterday they went around the big grass field four times (about three miles) with three lots. My poor battered body felt as though it was about to flop off after about one mile! Haunted House was apparently very fresh while we were away and nearly bucked Fran off so we put Will on him and he was 'lively' but much better behaved.
Today Shade and Red went up the gallop while the others all had a session in the outdoor school doing pole work and circles with draw reins to try and improve their top-line and jumping muscles. Leon and Harry found it really difficult - Fran suggested we tried an old boy called Ronnie Longford who is a legend at getting horses straight - I had heard of him and read about him in the newspapers but assumed that he had retired but Fran, who knew him years ago, phoned him up and he agreed to come out that afternoon.
Ronnie is 91 years of age and still looks as fit as a flea. He won an OBE in 2006, went to school every day on a pony, served in the desert in the Warwickshire Yeomanry and is still busy putting horses and humans together. He has got thousands of horses back on the road over the years. He took one look at Harry and said that his shoulder was out, likewise with Dream. Oaka was straight but just needed his muscles massaged and Leon was completely wrong in his shoulders, back and pelvis - no wonder he found it so difficult in the sand school. Ronnie said " I bet that as soon as he comes in from being ridden he always rolls" which is exactly what he does even if the stable is cleaned out and it is bare concrete- apparently he would be trying to correct his back and get away from the pain. He did a few clunks and proclaimed them all straight although he thought that Leon would be very sore for the next few days and would need to have more treatment. It was quite astonishing and fingers crossed if his treatment works we could have found the problem with Leon and Harry. I might book an appointment with him myself... Besides that it was an absolute pleasure to meet such an amazing man. His strength, energy and enthusiasm was an example to us all.
Apart from 'messing about' with the horses we had a really big day in the office yesterday packing one weeks worth of orders. It was a very busy day but we managed to get everything done before the post went at 5 pm. For whatever reason there seems to be a rush on for heart monitors and a lot of new customers for Velvet Energy. That will go some way to help pay for the very expensive holiday.
Although the holiday was great fun it's good to be back but also really great to know that we can go away again and not worry about leaving horses, dogs and Billy as everything was all ship shaped when we got back. Billy sulked for a day and wouldn't talk to me but he is fine now and the dogs don't seem to have missed us at all. Happy days - bring on the next break...