Yee-hah! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Yippee yee-hah! Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! Bloggees who know Baggy well, will understand that this means that Grotty Groom has ridden the Boy Wessles. Having totally run out of day yesterday, she was determined to do it today. As they'd agreed to help their friends with the house move again this afternoon, that meant getting up and riding this morning. Today, alarm set, they actually managed to get up. Derek the dove decided to come out of his cage when his Mum appeared, so Baggy and Calum left by the front door so as not to disturb them.
Calum and Grotty groomed further small animals worth of hair out of the Boys. Then as Freda Fretter made Baggy start to get really anxious about letting Grotty get on, she side-tracked her by going for a cup of coffee. Freda decided that Grotty needed to be safe. Fair enough as the Boys have not been ridden for three months, are not on any turnout (other than for leg stretches), are at a new yard, and the weather is on the turn. So Grotty put on her full-length suede chaps as well as her air jacket. After lots of prevaricating and chatting with one of the grooms, they headed with their tack to the Boys' stables. They were totally chilled out and not bothered that they were going to be ridden. They happily wandered onto the yard. Calum got onto Joey, who stood stock still, looking relaxed. Grotty took Wesley to the mounting block, he immediately turned away from it. She took him back, he turned away. Calum was yacking to the groom and lying on Joey's back. Grotty took Wesley back. He turned away.
"Calum, will you please pay some attention", snapped a very nervous Baggy.
"Why, what do you want me to do?"
"Just put Joey where Wesley can see him".
Calum moved Joey. Grotty took Wes to the mounting block. He stood still, so Grotty could mount. Daft horse.
They started the walk down to the indoor school. Joey planted all four feet and refused to move. Wesley grew by two hands and walked backwards. Baggy's heart rate shot up. Clever Bird realised that a) Grotty needed to lead and b) Wesley was going backwards, because Baggy was so tense that Grotty was actually inadvertently asking him to "rein-back". She dropped her nervous rein contact, gently squeezed and Wesley walked on. Joey followed. Baggy started to sing to calm her nerves and ensure she was breathing. Wesley snorted like a dragon but kept walking. He trusted Grotty enough to ride into the school. Joey followed. Both horses were on full alert and looking for any little thing to spook at. Grotty and Calum walked the Boys around the school as a pair, then separately, then passing each other. They gradually began to relax. After twenty minutes or so Baggy's back was burning with pain, and she decided that that was enough for everyone. They headed out of the school and immediately Wesley went into full alert mode once again. But both horses behaved impeccably and Grotty and Calum were very proud of them. Their reward, a bowl of carrots a few parsnips and a minty treat or four, to go with their hay.
This afternoon much lifting and carrying was done, but a lot was achieved on the moving front. Furry Mama was a little bit worried as they drove home as to where Derek might be. She needn't have been, as he'd put himself back in his cage for the night. She then checked on Terence the toad, who was happily tucked up in his flower pot. It's been a busy weekend. Baggy is going to sleep like a log tonight!................
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