The erratic British weather may not always give us a clear indication of which season we are in, but sometimes there are other clues. When the mares turn frisky, you know Spring is definitely here, so I was reassured when Havana –

normally a rather superior girl who will battle with any other alpha mare for herd supremacy – turned all flirty and submissive (yes, really, she was following me with her head down, obviously interested in something more – which I hasten to add she didn’t get…). Summer may be just around the corner but fortunately we are still able to enjoy some welcome rain which eliminates the dust, softens the tracks, and encourages further grass growth. This is equally true on Wimbledon Common and at Manor Farm, where I enjoy most of my week, hanging out with my mates down there; at this time of year, with our Summer coats coming through, mutual grooming sessions – as with my chum Mario – are much appreciated.

I don’t very often ride out with Harley, although we did pop over to Putney Common during one of the many lockdowns, which was fun even though we could not stop ourselves from winding each other up about the advisability of venturing into the various underpasses that we had to navigate to get there and back. The other weekend, however, we were both on a ride “escorted” by She Who Must Be Obeyed on Onyx (who has negotiated some time off because of a bruised sole); I was calmly cantering up Warren in the number three position when suddenly and for no apparent reason, Harley (at the back) sharply accelerated and tried to overtake me. Even though I typically prefer a more sedate pace than some others, sometimes you just have to make a point and this was one of those occasions, so I stepped up a gear or two and we had a jolly little gallop to close the gap between us and the two leading horses, until forced to slow down because SWMBO had positioned Onyx diagonally across the track. To be honest, I was quite relieved as we were able to finish our race with both participants’ honour intact and no hard feelings on either side. Meanwhile, Elvis and Important Executive Tracey, who were leading the canter, were in a little world of their own and completely unaware of the excitement taking place behind them – some people are obviously so self-centred that they pay no attention to the welfare of others! The moral of this story, however, is that it is good to make your riders remember who really holds the reins – after all, a bit of adrenaline never hurt anyone. I also think it useful to ensure the Old Bird recognises how generous I usually am in letting her imagine she dictates how fast or slow we go on hacks.

As if our little bit of fun were not excitement enough, immediately afterwards we encountered an Ocado van coming towards us at the top of Warren which – for reasons that escape me – appeared to terrify both Elvis and Onyx who refused to go near it; I, on the other hand, brave little soldier that I am, casually sauntered past (only giving it a cursory, curious look) while the others followed meekly in my wake. On the one hand this experience demonstrates the joys of being a leader, but on the other it was also a way of putting me back in the Old Bird’s good book in case she had been more anxious during our little race than she might like to have let on. But where, I ask myself, were the paparazzi when you need them – sadly no photographic evidence of either event is available.
You may have heard that WVS was visited by a couple of luminaries from the British Horse Society (does nobody care about Irish horses??), and we rode back down the road for lunch beside CEO James Hick on a disappointingly well-behaved Hudson (another sickening nomination for teacher’s pet). I am sure he is a delightful man, but I don’t understand why the conversation between him and the Old Bird was all about how lovely the hacking is on the Common and so close to London, blah blah, when the obvious subject for discussion should surely have been ME. Humans so rarely fail to disappoint.

In another depressing development, I hear that I have been named and shamed in the latest Livery newsletter, where my snacking habits have been described as totally unacceptable and a very poor example to the other horses. It’s true that it is certainly best practice not to let your horse snack on grass or grab leaves off trees when out hacking and I am sure all the WVS riders will ensure they comply with She Who Must Be Obeyed’s advice. Otherwise we horses tend to assume that this is the accepted routine which can lead to fights between horse and rider if we are denied, which is no fun for anyone. Even so, I am secretly hopeful that the Old Bird will remain as biddable as ever and allow me to be the exception, even if perhaps more discreetly than before – after all, I take care not to behave in unapproved ways when ridden by anybody else.

More pleasingly, it has been decided that every WVS horse should be allocated a specific carer who is charged with our individual well-being, noting any changes in our behaviour and schooling (if needed, which it clearly isn’t in my case). I am happy to report that my designated supervisor (when I am in Wimbledon) is Mojca – I am sure she feels very honoured and is delighted – but I am hoping that her other duties working with Ludo and Smartie will keep her sufficiently occupied that she won’t feel the need to put me through my paces (other than when teaching the Old Bird) as I fear she might detect the odd imperfection or two in my performance.
It’s now barely a month until Midsummer, not that you’d know if from the temperatures we have been experiencing but, personally, I prefer cooler and damper weather to relentless sun and heat as it keeps the ground softer and the grass more plentiful. I am now off to check the conditions down at Manor Farm, so will sign off until next time.
Rory x