Day 140 - Grotty Groom went for a canter in a gale.

Furry Mama persuaded Calum to come for a walk with her and Minty Mutt. Calum left the house in a T-shirt! Clever Bird asked if he was sure, as it was very cold. He insisted he'd be fine. Furry Mama had dressed Baggy in a fleece and a down-lined waterproof coat along with her snood. Halfway round it started to drizzle. Within a minute there was a gale blowing and horizontal rain with icy slush in it. Calum blamed Furry Mama for his depth of soakedness. How is that even reasonable? Furry Mama towelled Minty dry, then herself, while Calum got changed. "Well one thing's for sure", said Grotty Groom, "I am not riding in this!" Half an hour later the sun was back out and the wind had dropped.

"So, are we going to ride?" asked Calum. "Well it would be nice to go and see the Boys at least", encouraged Grotty. Off they headed, looking at the blue sky and the grey clouds on the horizon. The weather was so ghastly that all the horses had been left in for the day. "Not sure that bodes too well", thought Clever Bird. "Well, shall we risk it?" "Yep". Very quick groom. Not so quick tacking up. Even slower getting Baggy kitted out in riding boots, full-length chaps, air-jacket, hi-viz, gloves and hat. Nervous visits to the loo. Wessles was totally laid back. As they mounted up, the groom said that both Boys had had a good session on the horse-walker this morning. Okay. Phew.

Grotty wanted to be brave. No playing it safe and sticking to the roads. Straight onto perfect going for canters. Wessles was on a mission. Clever Bird knows he's keen when he chooses to lead the ride! The wind was picking up by the second. As they headed to The Avenue, Grotty was a little apprehensive. Largely because she had kind of forgotten that her stirrup leathers are four-inches longer than she is used to! She didn't feel too secure. But The Avenue looked so inviting.

"Shall we trot?" "Urrrm, oh okay then". Wessles set off. Joey went into a fast hunting trot. "Oh okay then Wessles, canter if you like". He did. Like an angel. Not for far. Just fifty yards or so while Joey stayed in trot, then Grotty asked him to walk. He did. As they all turned the corner at the top of the hill, it was blowing a gale - straight up the horses' and Baggy's nostrils. Wesley was not amused. He got rather strong. The rest of the ride required a fair amount of checking the lad's power. "Well, I cantered Mum, obviously you're okay, so we need to get home before that storm over there". "Just walk Wesley", "No". "Walk". "No really". "Walk". "Grrrrrr". "Right, now we're on the track you can trot". "Yippee, let's go". "Trot, don't race". "But look at that storm Mum". "Walk Wesley, my stomach won't take any more". "Fine, but we're walking quickly". "Good lad".

"See Mum, I told you". Just as they turned back onto the yard the Heaven's opened. It rained stair-rods. But Grotty insisted on a last photo so got her and Wessles soaked. But who cares? It was wonderful to be hacking once more - even if it was only for about thirty minutes..........