How interesting...

So how come it has to snow at weekends :(

Or rain.

Last weekend was rain on Saturday, snow on Sunday.
This weekend - snow Saturday, rain Sunday

But by the time the rain set in today, we were already tacked up so decided to get a bit wet and ride for at least a little.

It has been interesting riding Rosie in the arena with Dudley being ridden at the same time. She has previously found it very distracting and her only thought the whole time is where he is. And that is where she wanted to be.

But this time round it has been easier to persuade her that she doesn't need to stick with him and can do what I ask in the meantime.

Last time we did this, I ended up loaning my whip to Dudley's rider.  And was somewhat impressed that I did not get an instant decision to do her own thing. I made sure I told her she was a good girl on a fairly frequent basis, and didn't ask for anything too provocative. And we survived.

So today it was raining, and I was expecting to get some objections. Only we didn't. Well not from Rosie. Dudley decided that, at 27, he ought to be exempt from such stupid behaviour. So it wasn't long before Rosie and I were sans whip again. And....nothing. Some really nice work without any serious objections. I did give myself a contingency by getting the string from my savvy stick passed to me. But flapping that about myself was enough to get her ears flapping back and her attention back. I only did that a couple of times in the whole session. She dd some lovely work in all paces. Stopped while I talked to Duds jockey. Started again without a murmur.

Hmmm. I don't know what to put this down to. But it was really nice to have a cooperative pony.

And on top of that, she had sore eyes :(

Both eyes were still sore when she came in this evening and I ended up running water over them from a hose. After an inital "What ??" reaction, she just stood here and let me do it. I think her eyes get quite warm when they are sore and the cool water is soothing. Poor lass.

She is still very wary of the others. (Duds decided to try double barreling her a few weeks back. Fifi had done the same a few weeks before). Needless to say Rosie has decided that it is worth staying a safe distance. So far no serious damage has been done - but I think they have got close enough for it to hurt at least once.