I have had the best day today!!!! An old friend of mine has agreed to try sharing the house with me for a month and, if we get on OK, rent her house out and rent half of my house from me. I had suggested it to, her hardly daring hope that she might agree.

I have hated living alone more than I can ever say and been more lonely and desolate than I would ever have thought it possible for anyone to be, let alone me with all my horses and dogs for company. Twenty eight years ago, before I knew what it was like not to be lonely, I would have been fine but after four months of trying to get used to it I've been feeing worse and not better. The relief that it's coming to an end is overwhelming!!! We will have 6 dogs between us, so it will be a bit chaotic, but they have always stayed with us from time to time, and my friend has kept her horses here for most of the twenty eight years I've been here.

This morning we went to watch 'Jive Pony' in action. They were awesome - so full of energy and fun - born entertainers, and the horses were beautifully trained and adorable. My eyes were mostly for Ronan, being a native, but Tinker was gorgeous too and incredibly sane and steady for only 7 years old. I took masses of photos and I've put some at the end of this post. Rosie, who writes the 'Jive Pony' blog looked and sounded a really lovely person and I definitely want to try and get to them for some basic vaulting lessons when their show season ends. My friend has threatened to video me so watch this space for a really good laugh!!!!

This evening my soon to be new livery's mum came to meet me and my ponies. She seemed a bit 'old school' to begin with and was very worried about how safe clicker training would be. I explained about the benefits of positive reinforcement on the horses morale and confidence and told her how, as the emotional wreck I've been lately, I couldn't have found the strength or courage to learn to drive if my instructor hadn't been so encouraging, generous and effusive with his praise of every tiny improvement, and the way he laughed off and explained away every mistake I made. I was a nervous wreck and he has turned me into a fairly confident and competent driver in just a couple of months, through his use of positive reinforcement through warm and generous praise. I would have fallen apart at the seams without it.

I gave her a demo with Jack as before then tacked Grace up and did some gallop to halts with no reins up the field. Grace and I LOVE doing this now and could do it all day!!! She glides into a canter at the merest hint and really picked up some speed tonight before sliding to a halt the second I sat back and asked her to. It made me feel like a teenager again!

My audience loved it too and loved Grace. The mother admitted to me that she has confidence issues herself about riding now and would like me to work with her too. I'm really touched and they are both lovely people who are going to be great to have around.

More of my dreams turning to reality, thanks this time to my beautiful, clever, kind, generous ponies!


JIVE PONY - The Chiltern Show. If you click on a picture you can see the full size version. Click on the 3rd photo to see the wisest face I've ever seen on a horse!

Warming up and getting ready.




Showtime!!!















I'd like to thank Rosie and Rebecca for making me forget everything that has happened to me recently while watching them. I've often told my friends recently that I wished I could have a break from myself for a while. Rosie and Rebecca, Ronan and Tinker gave me that break and by the time they finished I felt totally happy and inspired. Thank you SO much! It was exactly what I needed and your energy and joy of life was infectious!

I passed a Land Rover on the way home which had a logo on the sides. It read "ONE LIFE - LIVE IT" You girls looked to be the embodiment of that and I intend to be too!