#119 - finally the days will start to get longer!

The weather has been so terrible lately it's been difficult to do anything with Teddy. The other night the wind was so bad that Teddy was calling out and running round in the dark. I lay in bed listening to him thunder past from the back paddock. I went out to the veranda and called out for him to calm down and he went dead silent. I couldn't see him but the wind was whipping around in circles and I really felt for him as a horse prefers to turn their back on the wind and rain and he had nowhere to turn. I talked calmly and he didn't make a move - just listened. I went back to bed and just as I was about to drop off to sleep he started neighing again! I just had to ignore it and the wind finally died down.

I can tell you that a roaring wind and neighing horse is a haunting sound.

Hopefully I will get more time when the weather improves to work with him. Tonight I made it home with enough light to give him a good brush and oil the crack in his hoof (farrier came out on the weekend and it's superfical). I hope to get home at the same time all this week so I can do more ground work with him but I have unexpectedly been given 17 high school girls to mentor for the week, that means no prep time, so I doubt I'll have much time for anything else. This weeks goal will still be to leave work on time!

Teddy Log: #118 - Playing games in the cold

Teddy Log: #118 - Playing games in the cold: "My poor Teddy Bear has had to deal with my absence and then when I got home he had to wait for me to overcome my sickness. I'm still not co..."

#118 - Playing games in the cold

My poor Teddy Bear has had to deal with my absence and then when I got home he had to wait for me to overcome my sickness. I'm still not completely better - about half way there - but I've been to work so I have no excuses not to spend time with him no matter how crappy I feel.

After work I went out in the freezing cold; this is probably the coldest day I've had in Kyneton with this frosty wind chill factor. I put out his feed and called him from the furthest end of the paddock. He came mozzying so I meet him half way and started running around to keep warm and calling him to follow me. He did! He was trotting back and forth and around me. I'd stop and he'd walk over and get a pat, or fake one out, and then I'd run off again and he'd follow. We played our little game of chasey and then checked on the cows. Surprisingly he didn't try to round the cows up this time! Then on the way back to the house I did the stop/start walking game and each time I stopped he'd stop beside me. He was really loving the interaction. I know he needed the attention as Steve would just leave the feed out for him and check he was ok. I don't think he spent any time with him at all. Even more reason to get him a friend when I can.

I hope the weather improves as soon as I do so I can play more with him. The farrier will keep him entertained tomorrow and if the rain has its breaks at the right times I'll do some ground work with him until we are both up for a ride.

Winter sucks. Note to self - buy more winter clothes!

#117 - Home from Japan and Teddy is a bit shirty with me

I got home from Japan late at night so I couldn't see Teddy until the next day after work. He came up to me as usual but there was no little neighs or anything like that, which I am used to. He seemed unhappy; maybe because I had gone and left him with Steve who basically leaves food out for him and goes.

I explained to Teddy that we now have a new ute so we just have to wait for the float then we are off learning together. He just ate his feed. It was sad. Poor Teddy feels neglected, I will have to make this a special weekend for him.

Teddy Log: #116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...

Teddy Log: #116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...: "I have settled on a 2010 Ford Falcon Ute as my new car and above is the picture of the one I have signed for (though if Bendigo Ford come ba..."

#116 - Car taken care of - now for the float...

I have settled on a 2010 Ford Falcon Ute as my new car and above is the picture of the one I have signed for (though if Bendigo Ford come back with a better offer that might change).

It's a beauty and the reason I picked it is because it has the towing capacity I need, has a Hayman Reese tow bar and electric brake unit (being installed for me), dedicated gas, full rego, 3 year warranty and it isn't white! Also because it's totally country! The dedicated, factory installed gas is the main reason I looked at the Fords; that and because my friend JP never shuts up about the wonders of his favourite car FORD.

I have also got a great float lined up, which is at an amazing price and in excellent condition. It belongs to a friend who is having a new float made so she is selling hers on to me. I wont be able to get it until her new one is made and delivered as she has five horses and will need to have something on hand in case of emergency. This is fine by me as I've already waiting this long so a little longer wont hurt. It also gives me time to add more to the kitty, though I found some extra money that I had put aside to take a friend away as a birthday gift (taken from the float kitty), but it doesn't look like that's going to happen now so I wont have to save that bit harder.

All this means Teddy and I will be getting our lessons together soonish! Yay!

Last night I rode the horse named Dick and had a great time. He really is a great horse, I will miss riding him when I get Teddy to Kim's place but I am so keen to work with Teddy with a professional that the horse named Dick will just have to watch from the sidelines. I can guarantee he wont mind a bit.

As for the riding... I'm riding well, not great, but well. I get on like it's second nature, feel totally comfortable in the saddle, can feel the diagonal each time, trot and canter smoothly and have pretty good balance, even over logs. I have also managed to steer with my butt... well sort of. I will work on honing these skills and look forward to what comes next. I'm actually feeling that confident that if the weather holds out on Sunday I will take Teddy out and explore Rollinson Reserve.