Hormonal Hannah was determined to muck Grotty Groom's efforts up today.

Baggy and Calum were so tired yesterday, that Clever Bird can't actually remember what they did! But they did decide that the horses, Grotty Groom and Cal could have the day off to rest and recuperate. Apparently the Boys had both been flat out, fast asleep in their paddocks when the grooms went to bring them in! Today however Clever Bird decided that everyone needed to practise what they had learnt on the course, while it's still fresh in their minds. But first Baggy had to face the scales at Fat Club - they swore at her; asked what the heck she'd been doing to put on two-and-a-half pounds and told her to try harder. Rude scales! Baggy has been on holiday! Clever Bird decided that Baggy should not stay for the meeting, even though she clearly needs the support and motivation of her friends at Fat Club, but a) she didn't wish to admit that she had been totally ignoring all of the healthy eating rules and b) Cal was at home! Clever Bird does however not want Baggy to return to her former heavy weight and she certainly doesn't want Grotty Groom to get too heavy for Wesley's back, so this week she will try hard to lose the "gain".

She started by dragging Furry Mama out to take Minty Mutt for a walk, before Grotty and Cal went to the yard. The Boys were pleased to see them, although Wesley did start to get rather concerned when Grotty started to unpack all the rest of the rugs, boots, sprays, etc etc from the car - Clever Bird realised that he thought he might be off somewhere again.

"Where are my riding boots and handbag?" asked Baggy, "Oh s***, did I leave them on the drive?" "No idea", said Calum helpfully, as Hormonal Hannah started to send Baggy into a panic. Baggy remembered that just as she was about to get into Cal's car, he had asked her to move hers back. She'd dropped her riding boots and handbag on the drive and gone back into the house to get her car key. Calum phoned the neighbour and asked her whether there were bags on the drive. There weren't. Then he asked her to check Baggy's car. Yep - in the back. Well done Hormonal Hannah, put Baggy on automatic pilot, why don't you? Grotty decided to wear her old boots to ride in.

In the manege, Baggy could see that Calum and Joey were gliding along beautifully, clearly having remembered everything that they'd been taught. Grotty on the other hand! Well, the moment that Wesley got into the manege he started to go into his dressage diva mode i.e. looking very impressive, but actually going quite poorly and not holding himself together. Bless him, that's what he thought Grotty wanted. Grotty stood and thought for a while. But Hormonal Hannah and Freda Fretter were convincing her that she didn't know what she was doing. Poor Wessles reverted to a jelly fish. It didn't help at all that Grotty had her old boots on. They are such soft leather that they have no support. Baggy can't feel them on her leg, so Wesley probably can't feel them (in the same way as the stiff ones) on his side. Hannah got frustrated. Calum told Grotty what she was doing wrong. Hannah got annoyed. Baggy explained that the boots were making her not feel the same. Calum said that they would make no difference. Hannah got mad. Calum persisted. Hannah got upset. Clever Bird tried again to explain that she meant that because her boots felt so different, she didn't have the "memory" of how Wesley going properly felt. Calum still persisted. Clever Bird told Hannah to "Shut up". Grotty listened to Calum and tried what he said. It worked. Hannah tried not to sob with relief.

A beautiful bit of schooling followed, just as it started to spit with rain. Grotty decided to see whether she could now trot Wesley in a straight line. She managed it briefly and decided to end on a positive. They took the Boys back into their stables, just as the Heavens opened to emit a torrential downpour. Wesley couldn't stop yawning. Baggy couldn't stop yawning. Driving home after doing a food shop, Calum and Clever Bird agreed that Grotty and he must have been riding in the new way correctly, as they were so mentally exhausted from concentrating to get it right!

Same again tomorrow (minus blooming Hormonal Hannah) then..........