Temper

I'm worried about my temper. These past few days I have been sporting a dramatic black eye - a real shiner that started with my right eye almost completely closed and enormously swollen. As the swelling subsided the colour has started to drain down my face, completely surrounding my eye and upper cheekbone with a black/purplish blotch.

I got it from a horse ! I had just fed Bouncer who naturally had his head in the bucket, when I noticed that his water bucket was empty. As I was reaching over to get the water bucket he threw his head up and the massive bone of his head smacked straight into the the top of my eye socket. I could not believe the pain and swore violently and mindlessly for a full five minutes - blinded with pain and fury. When the first elements of rationality began to return to my senses my immediate thoughts were hatred of the animal and enormous desire to to assault him. "You fucking bastard" I shouted at him. Curiously though, I did not even lay a hand on him and found it easy to control my actions.

Adieu Beamish

Looking at that last post nearly two years ago now it seems strange that he will soon leave me. Now I no longer drive the bus and opportunities for riding are more restricted. Beamish only gets ridden once per week and if anything happens on that day to disrupt the schedule then he does not get ridden at all.

Owning him has been a great experience. Before he came here I had no conception of how you could have a relationship with a horse and that I would get to grow very fond of him. It is with a very heavy heart that I have arranged for him to go to a new owner next month where hopefully he will be ridden more often.

Going Solo

Out on Beamish today for the first time on my own. No problems at all. I thought today would be good for several reasons. It is the first day of the Devon County Show and the numbers on the school bus this morning indicated that quite a few people will be in Exeter rather than farming at home. Also, tomorrow will be bin day and Beamish is reputed to be "funny" about bins.

He is a wonderful horse. The trickiest bit is actually mounting up in the first place as he tends to wander off just as you swing your leg over his hind quarters. Last time I wasn't quick enough about this and ended up clinging on with my arms trying to wrap around his enormous neck. Having a hogged mane has disadvantages in that there is one less thing that you can hang on to.

So - having completed our first adventure without mishap, the future looks good for us. I will call his former owner tomorrow and send off the cheque.

Beamish is here to stay !

YAB

Yet another blog ! This is just another technology searching for a need.