Now Freda Fretter has something else to worry about.

Slightly to Freda Fretter's surprise, Calum managed to get up and get to work this morning! Clever Bird had been sure that he'd be too bruised and stiff after yesterday's fighting, to even get out of bed. Furry Mama got Baggy up to take Minty Mutt out before it got too hot. Then she decided to put her "stress management" into practise. Hormonal Hannah has not let Baggy near the yard for a week, but Grotty Groom really wanted to see the Boys today. Her friend Amanda had kindly said that she'd be there to support Baggy, if she needed it, so Baggy decided to "face her fears". What, after all, is the worse that could happen? Not going, is bringing Baggy down, so she set off to the yard, doing deep breathing exercises as she went. Unfortunately, Hannah started to give her a bit of a panic attack as she turned off the main road to head to the yard. Then Baggy was in tears. Then Clever Bird "saw" the stress management slide and started talking to her, "There'll probably be no one there but you and your friend". "You can spend some quality time with Wessles". "You don't need to ride". "You can always leave if there are people there you don't want to be around". "You'll feel much happier once you've had a Wesley cuddle". Baggy stopped the tears. By the time she got Grotty to the yard she was actually smiling.

Then Clever Bird spotted Joey still in his paddock. No sign of Wesley though. "Very odd", thought Freda Fretter, until Clever Bird realised what had probably happened. When Calum and Grotty popped in to see the Boys last night, Joey was being a lawnmower on the long grass at the front of their paddocks. Clever Bird realised that he'd probably decided this morning that he didn't want to leave that grass. Freda then started panicking about whether Wesley would be okay in the stable block on his own. He whickered when he saw Grotty. "You okay baby?" "Yep Mum". "Okay, I'll just go and get you some hay". "Don't leave me" - very loud whinny! As Grotty tied up his haynet, she realised that he already had one. "Ah well, you've got a choice now". "Thanks Mum, I'll eat this one, as I can look out while I'm doing it". Grotty spotted the grooms. "I'm guessing that Joey refused to be caught, so you decided to leave him out?" Yep, Clever Bird was right. "Serves him right", thought Grotty, as he was now back on the short grass.

After, and during, tea and chat with her friend, Grotty groomed the very fluffy, moulting Wesley and redid his plaits. With no Joey to groom, Wesley got twice the time that he might otherwise have had and Baggy could feel herself feeling more and more relaxed. He also relaxed and stopped calling Joey, as he munched his hay. Apparently, not only had he totally ignored Joey's numpty (hurtling about the paddock) behaviour, he had even gone on the horse-walker without Joey! A first. It will do the Boy good to know that he's okay without Joey. Baggy was proud of him.

Most of the day has gone already! Calum has just called Baggy to say that he'll be home tonight. Lovely! But that he might try to get to the "drop-in" clinic, to have his arm checked out. Oh no! Freda Fretter was worried yesterday that he might have fractured a bone, where he was hit by a sword.........