You may have been wondering where we have been. We are still here, The Ugly Brown Foal and I. Life just got difficult and sad through the autumn months, with the passing of my father and my father-in-law. Nothing prepares you for the death of a parent, grief works in strange ways with its tumultuous twists and surprising turns. The regular routine of the horses has helped so much, making sense of it all and encouraging me to live for the present moment only, breathing in all around me which is good and pure. Horses are masters of the present and I have spent a great many hours just watching the UBF eating his hay, enjoying the sun glisten on the heavy morning dew, waiting for the duck to come and share any nuts he spilt from his bucket, touching him gently all over - mindfully checking for any bumps, lumps and scratches.
Throughout the last few months, as I flew back and forth from the UK, the UBF's routine has not changed at all. With help from friends and his trainer, his life has remained the same. His food turns up at the same time every day, the garba (a type of hay made from oats) is placed in the same two piles every morning, his shelter is diligently mucked out each morning and bedded down each night, with thick fluffy piles of paja (straw) so that he can rest. His days are happy, safe and predictable. With the final arrival of rain in November, the UBF spends time searching for grasses and tasty plants over his acres of land. He's a very lucky Spanish foal, being left to grow and mature with calmness and no hurry. And because of these factors he is turning out to be a very easy, mature and friendly horse to train. Nothing phases this baby!
He has had a bit in his mouth, a kind rubbery one which he enjoys chewing and playing with. He has had a bridle on and is confident to walk around the farm and in the pista (arena).
He has regular trips to the main road and is happy with lorries, buses, tractors and trailers hurtling passed his nose. In fact he loves it so much, such a nosy boy he is, we struggle to get him home!
He ties up confidently next to my other horse Kira, not fussing when she goes back to her field and he is left alone with us. He wears a saddle pad and a surcingle without any bother. We brush him, spray conditioner in his tail, hose the mud off his legs and comb his mane gently.
He is easily desensitised to strange objects.
...and he wore antlers and tinsel like a pro!
He is still only 3 years old. There is no need to rush this process. We may or may not sit on him this year. He may or may not be lunging at a canter. He may or may not be long-reining around the lanes of Calvia. The goals of this year are the same as the last. To have a happy, confident and connected horse who will be ready for the next step whenever he is ready - however long that may take.
Happy New Year to everyone, sending peace, love and light!
