More Trec photos

These were taken by Jo's husband Stewart yesterday, and they are fabulous.......it's great having someone else taking pics for a change!

He managed to capture the naughty pony in action!!

Our first TREC competition

Today we loaded up Gandalf and Chester and headed off to do our first ever TREC competition. We did the "Parcours d'Orientation"  which is basically orienteering on horseback. Hollie and Aliénor came with us to ride ponies from the riding school and our friend Jo with her lovely youngster Socianda made up the "English" team.

The boys travelled really well, I've never actually taken Gandalf anywhere in a trailer, but he was great.

We tacked them up and headed off to get our maps, then off we went.

 It was all going really well til we got to an open field, when the girls' ponies decided they wanted to eat and resisted all attempts to get their heads off the floor. When I went to help, Hollie's pony kicked poor Gandalf!! So I got off and read it the riot act, got the pair of them on lead reins, I had one and Tanya had the other and off we went.

Sadly by this time both girls were thoroughly frightened by the ponies' behaviour, so at the first checkpoint they opted to get off and go back with Jo's husband in the car......

The checkpoints were great, lots of food, coffee, wine.....

We rode through some gorgeous countryside.....

and met the little kids on Shetlands doing the mini trec.....

Gandalf was very taken with the Shetlands and wanted to stop and say hello to them.....
When we got back, the boys went into a stable to munch some hay...

...although Chester wasn't  too keen on the neighbours trying to steal his food!

We had a nice meal too whilst the horses munched hay. And we finished second out of the club (ie novice) section! A very good day........

The Secret Diary of Chester, aged 6 and a half....

"Hmmm, what's this, a new boy? Not sure I approve....

Is anyone looking? No? Good......

let's try biting him......

Hmmm, that's hasn't worked, he's still here.......let's try this:

and this:

Yep, that's done the trick!!

Result!!"

Couple of firsts for the babies today, we took them out for a bit of a graze and a walk around. Chester had just had his saddle taken off, so I thought I'd see how Sky would react if I put it on her, she didn't mind one bit......

As soon as Éowyn saw the saddle on her she started asking if she could ride her........so I stuck her on just for a second - and Sky never moved a muscle!

Then Kinna go ther first jumping lesson with Ali....little video here

Chester was a good boy too today, we wanted to check how he'd be in the trailer as we're  going to do a TREC competition next week (more about that here if you're interested).

He loaded fine....

A very soggy Sunday.....

Went to feed the troops this morning and they were looking decidedly sorry for themselves.....
They soon cheered up when the hay arrived though!

Poo picking was a bit of a challenge, but Ali did a good job!

Chester seemed to think he needed more food though.....

...and Kinna was happy to wear hers.

Getting Christmas dinner organised......

Yes, it's that time of the year again, time to fill the freezer with lots of ducks....we had 9 hatched this year, and very cute they were too.....

But now they are huge and there are just too many  of them. So we have sorted out the boys (7) from the girls (2) and they are in the stable awaiting their doom.......

We killed one this morning, he looked quite substantial

Once we'd plucked him though he looked a bit on the small side, so the others have a stay of execution for a few weeks so I can fatten them up.

Still, Man the Hunter looks pleased with himself..;-)

Full of the joys of....erm, autumn?

The boys had energy to spare this morning, I put them in the small paddock to keep the grass down and off they went, haring round and being silly!

Choccy thought all this was great fun, here's a little video
We went for a hack this afternoon and every time we even thought about haing a little canter they got very excited, Maverick kept bucking, even Gandalf put in a little one! Think they need more exercise........