Some pole work.... bareback style!

Every once In a while Violet's cousin Harry comes to visit and normally schools the horses for her. But he always trains them in his style... Bareback!

Harry always rides the horses in just a neck rope and a head collar. They all have their own neck ropes, and naturally Mitzy's is purple! His favourite horse to ride is Mitzy (just don't tell Madigan that!) because of her flowing paces, un-fazed nature and ability to do just anything! 

Purple Poles! XD 

                         
                    Today they just did pole work, hopefully advancing onto jumping next week.

Later on after a hard session, Mitzy was turned out in the large meadow- whats that behind her?

Purple flowers of course! 

  And he'res an old picture of Mitzy and Violet bareback from ages ago.....

Some morning yard photos...

Here's some photos of a typical morning at Meadow Valley!


Violet's giving Madigan his morning groom before his morning hack. He really loves his groom! He'll make an excellent riding school mount we reckon.

Ferdi and Billy are sleeping in the hayloft-here they can sleep undisturbed for as long as  they like! Ferdi sleeps on the rugs, and Billy sleeps on his old - dog bed.

Billy is a lovely old cat, and is getting on a bit at the age of 8. He absolutely loves Tuna, and is quite happy to be stroked and fussed over!

Ferdi came to the yard as an abandoned fox cub. After many attempts to release him into the wild, Ferdi just kept coming back. He seemed to love the hussel and bussel of busy yard life. Violet took pity on him and made him a permanent lodger. He's completely tame and will even walk on a harness! He'll jump up and fall asleep on your lap if you're lucky!

Cindy and Lucky are both boarder collies and came from the same litter. They are both dears and are so friendly. They love being with the horses and kids, and like nothing better than a treat. They're waiting for some breakfast- shame they've already had it!!

Here's Mitzy in her temporary stable. She's sporting her funky polka-dot stable rug- the spots really suit her, she is an appaloosa after all!  Hiding behind Mitzy is Honey, Meadow Valley's adorable little palomino yearling. Her nose is just visible! XD

And last but not least is the rabbits. Speckle and Splodge were Violets first rabbits, but Cottontail and Brandy arrived last week. Here they are all warm in their hutch. The bunnies love cuddles, and are popular with all visitors!

Photostory: Madigan and the Phesants

Madigan was waiting patiently over his stable door for his morning ride. Violet rode him every morning, with a small lesson in the afternoon until the riding school was fully set up. Today the yard owner was sorting out the yard's tame fox, Ferdi in the tackroom. He'd come to Meadow Valley as a homeless cub, and never left. The wild just didn't seem to "suit" him, so he kept coming back until Violet made him a permanent lodger. A door banged in the wind, and Madigan pricked his ears. His owner was coming.
 

"Hey lad! How are we this morning?" Violet's soft voice drifted over the yard as she came to unlock the bolt on the stable door. Madigan gently pushed her with his nose. "I was thinking a canter over winterberrie common?" She entered the stable, kicking wisps of dry straw to the back of the stable. She carefully clipped on a lead rope and began to lead him out of his stable.

Cindy the boarder collie came out into the yard to see what was going on. Madigan eagerly stepped forward onto the cobbled ground. A morning ride meant a morning groom, and he loved his morning groom more than anything. Madigan came out of his stable when something colorful and flappy landed under his nose. A pheasant.

Madigan HATED pheasants. Anyone who rode him on hacks knew to hang on tight when one was within a 20 meter radius of him.  They were flappy, and anything flappy and squawky  was enough for Madigan. He spooked and refused to walk any further. Cindy hid behind Violet. Luckily the pheasant was quite content with staring Madigan out.

Suddenly a female pheasant fluttered down from the roof and landed on Madigan's rump. "Uh-Oh...." Muttered Violet. Madigan started bucking and rearing turning from riding school mount to rodeo champion in the flick of a tail. The pheasants took fright and flew of leaving a trembling Madigan behind. Violet took one look at him. "Oh Mads. What am I going to do with you?! Maybe I'll put you back into your stable and let you settle down."

Violet did a quick U turn and popped the gelding back into his stable. She sighed. Typical Thoroughbred she tutted. Still she loved her chestnut neigh and would never swap him for anything. NEVER. She busied herself with yard work, Giving Mitzy and Honey a pat, sorting out the hayloft....Eventually she went to check on Madigan to see if he'd calmed. He had calmed alright.

"MADIGAN!!"