The Old Bird prides herself on always telling me when she will next see me and, to be fair, her forecasts are typically pretty accurate. On Friday, however, she was a no show, apparently prioritising some soppy cat who needed urgent attention from the vet (cystitis is such a girl’s condition), [...]

I am told that in preparation for the reopening of the stables next week, the carers are making sure that all the horses will be ready for riders other than their owners, which requires more effort for some than for others – not that I would want to call anyone out (no [...]

Last week ended on a very sad note, as on Saturday we had to say goodbye forever to Jack, who will be sorely missed not only by his owner, She Who Must Be Obeyed’s younger daughter Steffi, but also by her whole family and by everyone who knew him. […]

They say you should be careful what you wish for and, indeed, so it was when I returned to Manor Farm after having been clipped out for the Spring; the weather had turned chillier and wet and I mourned the loss of my thicker winter coat. On the other hand, [...]

I know you will sympathise with me when you learn that, as a result of some incompetence somewhere by someone, my planned dental and hairdressing appointments were postponed from last Monday to today. Although I can’t say I much care for either procedure, […]

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but since the liveries are no longer allowed to do much other than stay at home (or ride), their conversations have become pretty tedious. They yap on about Covid and things they can’t do (often things they never wanted to do when they were able to) [...]

Although the snow from the weekend before last was over by Tuesday, we were stuck with freezing temperatures that prevented a thaw and left the Common too icy and dangerous for precious horses like us to be allowed out on it. Instead, the full-time WVS residents were obliged to trail round the [...]

When I came over from Ireland all those years ago, I was rather baffled by the constant talk about the weather that the Brits are so fond of, but it’s amazing how quickly you find yourself adapting and picking up their habits. […]

Honestly, they say you can’t choose your family and the same is also true of your carers: after being press ganged into six days of work the previous week, last Thursday, with no notice AT ALL, […]

I should probably introduce myself to any of you who don’t already know me. I am Rory, a 22 year old, very handsome Irish Sport Horse (originally named Lucky), found by Gertie and sent over from Ireland to WVS in November 2004. […]