Getting somewhere now

This week has been quite a horsey week. My sister Shirley has been staying and when I asked her what she'd like to do after we'd been to Coromandel and Whangamata for a bit of R&R. She said she'd just like to be around the farm and the horses. SO that is what we have done. The 4 horses have been up on the steep hill behind the house,

 so we brought Sarg and Gypsy down (Gypsy is now fine after her episode on going through a plank on the bridge) Monday we put Shirley ( who is a novice rider- but you wouldn't think so from looking at the photos) on Gypsy in the roundpen to make sure she was ok - butt wise- didn't want her going off on her travels unable to walk well. They went really well- no hiccups, and she just loved it-

 Tuesday morning Jon came to trim the boys and refit Gypsy's shoes - then we spent hours grooming Gypsy and Sarg until they gleamed- we left Louka with Parker to chill out while we pampered these two. Wednesday we went to get Louka and Sarg to do some more groundwork with them and discovered Sarg had 4 deep kick marks on his hips and Louka was looking so sad we wondered what had happened- he was hanging back in the paddock looking so forlorn- when I went to get him I discovered 2 huge chunks bitten out of his neck....I think the grass may be way too much for Parker or he is in love with Gypsy and he is keeping these 2 young whipper snappers away from her- he has been cornering them and really dominant & bullying them....Such a shame he can't stay because he is usually such a lovely horse- but he will go back home again- their grass has regenerated now so it has at least given their paddocks a rest. Thursday we decided to pamper Louka- so we groomed him from head to toe - he is so gorgeous- Hope everyone saw the Horse & Pony Magazine as there is an excellent article in there about  our Kaimanawa's- and Louka made the front page. Friday we brought Sargeant and Louka out and spent all afternoon doing PNH groundwork- Shirley with Sargeant and me with Louka...Sarg put his nose first then front foot onto the tyre filled with metal- and Louka put his nose on it- but not quite his foot yet. BUT I introduced Louka to the float today- He put his nose on it straight away- he's just so curious then he stepped onto the ramp- both feet- stuck his nose in the door- no problem to him- he is soooo calm about everything just very inquisitive. He is leading like a pro now- backs up really well and I can circle him really well to the right and not so well to the left ( we'll work on that though) - porcupine and driving he handles with ease- yoyo nice and relaxed- squeeze me is a breeze - It's a real pleasure to be with him...He not only looks gorgeous his temperament is too. Shirley goes tomorrow night to stay with other relatives and may come back for a night before she goes back again- it'd be great if she did- we all loved having her here.