Last Friday we woke up after a night of torrential rain and gale force winds to find a lake outside our house! We all ran outside in our pyjamas and put our coats and wellies on to stand in the water and take pictures! it was the bizarrest thing ever! no one felt much like serious horseplay so we got the horses and played in the water with them! Anna pulled out some santa hats she had cut holes into and we did a christmas photo shoot in the lake!
Unfortunately on Monday Paris had an incident in the stident stalls. I'm not sure how he did it, he might had tried jumping out, but he managed to rip the top layer of hair and skin off of a large are across and around his gaskin and inner thigh. It was not a major wound but he was sore on it and didn't roll all week which tells me he was not comfortable! this is the dirtiest horse i've ever met, he's not happy if he's not rolling! so last night when i fed him and saw he had rolled i was so happy i hugged his neck! I've never looked forward to grooming him so much!
Marie-Claire made the decision this week that she wants to watch me ride every day from now on. So this week i rode Riva and Touria on alternate days. They are both doing great online, it's a lot more like a conversation with both of them rather than heated discussions or the cold shoulder!
With Touria I am riding her in the snaffle with horseman's reins and slobbers and we just do follow the leader and a lottle indirect rein. it's been going well and we have even been trotting again! I have a lot to think about and it is great having Marie-Claire really help me with my technical correctness. I realise I have a lot of habbits from so much time without instruction. i guess that's the danger of a home study program! I am really trying hard to be clear and fair with the reins - it is a good experience for me to learn how to use the bit again too!
With Riva I am really focusing on my postition in the saddle - which is really crooked! I have also been practising riding figure eights without reins, and learning how to ride accurate and correct bow tie patterns at the walkand trot. I certainly give marie-claire a lot to say! but i am learning loads and really look forward to my daily lessons with her!
Seth was off work for a week due to an absess in his hind foot. he is back now and this week i have worked with Gabi - we played with saddling Seth and yesterday I mounted him and we did friendly games with my legs and Gabi moved him around so he would fell my weight moving and shifting and my leg aids for indirect rein. it was the coolest thing ever to be part of such a big step for a horse that has had such a complicated history in accepting the saddle and rider!
This week has been all about getting ready for christmas. Earlier in the week everyone made cookies. i helps roll pastry and cut cookies but i did not get involved in the making dough process. finally i got brave enough to offer to try to bake traditional mince pies! so last night i made a "mince meat" of mixed fruits and spices - it tastes gorgeous! now i just have to make the pastry and bake the pies!
I went brach picking with Rianne and Marie-Claire this week too and we made beautiful table decorations! i made a massive one!
last night was the first time that the girls and i went out to a real night club together! we had to go an hour to find one in Blois! It was club mix night and we rocked the dance floor like it's never been rocked before! all the rench people could tell we were not native because we were having far too much fun!! all the girls looked gorgeous and quite a few french guys were hovering around! it was a lot of fun! I had a nice dance with a cute French guy called Frederic but the best part of the night was dancing like a crazy thing with the girls! the club owner liked us and gave us free entry and cloakroom and we drank water all night which was free so all in all it worked out to be a very cheap and fun night!
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