Really windy today (nothing like the Australian cyclones though, so shouldn't complain!) It made the horses really fresh. We had a new work rider called Lee, who wanted to ride out for us in the hope of getting a ride in a race. We took the horses to the schooling field and gave them a pop. Lee rode Oaka and Shade and whilst he was a great chap he is unfortunately not a good enough rider over a fence yet to get a ride.
Leon schooled upsides and he was suddenly full of enthusiasm and a different horse. Quite impressive actually. Doris was good but has started to rush everything - she is super fit now and wants to do everything in a hurry. She now needs her work cutting back and we need to concentrate on her jumping. which we couldn't do before because of the frozen ground.
Jake and Dream were schooled on their own with Will on board as he is riding them both on Sunday - they both jumped the big fences really well, they are both proper big chasing sorts and the bigger the fence the better. We have decided to take them both to Whitfield. The ground conditions should suit Jake better if it rains and Dream if it doesn't but as it is our local track it makes more sense to run them both there whatever the ground is like, especially as Dream with her one eye (!) doesn't travel too well.
I have just spoken to my father who is under a bit of stress as Mum has been having a full week of radiation as sadly her cancer has returned and spread to her lungs. They have been going each day to Coventry hospital. Mum is still in very high spirits and doesn't seem worried at all. She really is quite extraordinary and Dad seems to be bearing up reasonably well. They are popping over for morning coffee tomorrow so I will be able to get a better idea of how they are coping then. It really is an evil disease. I guess the only plus is that the older you are the slower it spreads....
I'm waiting for some Shepherd hut guests to arrive. I wish they would hurry up as I want to hunker down in front of the fire and watch the Wales v England six nations match.