New Horizons

Well, well, well, what a lot there is to learn! My little head is fairly spinning with everything I have to remember - this is certainly different to being turned out in a field every day!

Thelma is right, the first couple of days were rather difficult for me, as we're not side by side any more. She is in the box in front of me, although I can't see her. But once I got used to the fact that she was there I settled in rather well. The routine is quite different - everything starts much earlier here as there are so many of us that need seeing to. Now as you know I do need my sleep, so this has taken a bit of getting used to as mornings are not really my thing at all. Still as long as there is plenty to do and see - which there is, thats fine. I am now a whizz at having my bridle put on and I've been introduced to the horsewalker - now this is really a great piece of kit. At first I didn't really know what was expected of me, and the back bit kept catching up with me and hitting me on the bum - but now I'm a dab hand and really like it, as when I'm going round I can watch whats going on in the lunging ring.


Now the lunging ring is where I have really learnt a lot! Every day I get taken up taken up there twice, and over the week I have been gradually introduced to trotting round the ring on a long rein (now I love this and, as I'm rather nifty on my feet, its been no problem at all). Then gradually each day I've had a new piece of kit put on, until towards the end of the week I had a saddle on - moi! How grown up do I look now! Who'd have thought it - two weeks ago I had no idea what a saddle was and now here I am all tacked up like a proper horse.

My head is spinning with it all, there is never a dull moment and I must say I'm ready for bed each evening, and then before I know it we're up and doing it all over again.

love from a rather dizzy Louise

Settling In

Here we are in our new home - its all very different but we do like it now that we have had a chance to settle in. We must admit it was a little strange at first. To start with we are in a large barn with stalls around the sides and up the middle. Now I'm (thats me Thelma) in a large stall in the middle section - I've got bedding up to my knees, as you can see in my photo, and I must say when I lie down at night I can get very cosy which is just as well as its started to get quite nippy at night again!

Louise has a large stall just behind me, although I can't see her, but I know she's there as I can hear her! It was a little strange not being next to each other like we were at the farm but, after a day or so, we soon got used to it and to be honest there is so much going on all the time that it soon takes your mind off things!

So what goes on - well for a start there are about twenty horses around at the moment of all ages and sizes and we are all doing different things. But whatever we are doing, there is always activity with people or horses coming and going, being ridden, being tacked up, being groomed etc. We also have other stablemates - the hens (thank goodness no geese) who peck around the place all day picking up any grain that we've dropped. As you can see from the photo they're quite pretty and make quite a nice clucking noise - no honking I'm pleased to say.



Then of course there is the mucking out and the feeding. Now the latter is something I'm really pleased about. As we don't go out in the field all day our feed has been raised and I'm being given a healthy 12lbs of food a day - blisssssssssssss! It was worth moving home just for this alone - although I know we both miss the team a bit as they did look after us well.

This week has been a gentle introduction to quite a few things - first of all a bridle - now we have been used to headcollars but this is quite different! At first it felt a little strange having something in my mouth (other than food that is),but after a day or so it was easy - I know Lou felt the same, and now we both stand beautifully still while we are groomed and tacked up - see we're learning the technical jargon as well. Just to show off we have Australian bridles, because Tom likes them and thinks they are best for us, but what's wrong with a British one I ask?

Now what will we do next week? I heard Tom say that we have quite a busy time ahead of us - bring it on - thats what I say.

From a well fed me! Love Thelma

Going Further Afield

Hello from both of us - this has been a momentous week! We have moved out of our cosy stable yard and joined the real world!

The week started quietly with our usual out in the field and in at night routine but, come Tuesday morning, it was all change. For starters we didn't go out to the field after breakfast which was unusual. We were given a good groom and tidy up and were looking fairly gorgeous when two lots of people came to see us and say hello. This was all fine and we were given lots of hay so actually we were quite happy, if a little dismayed not to be out with all the lovley new grass that has grown. Then everyone disappeared for a while, but about two o'clock Tom came by and introduced himself and then The Gaffer, The Mrs and The Vickster appeared. They explained that we were now off to join other horses and were going to be educated and taught how to be racehorses - how grown up and exciting is that!!!!

We were going together - so that all sounded fine and we will be meeting loads of other yearlings, so actually it sounds like we are going to have quite a lively time. Thats not to say that we won't miss everyone here - we know we will - but we are quite grown up now and ready to find out about whats out there in the world. Now one person we won't miss much is that pesky goose, but we have become friends with the Alpaca, the other horses in the yard, all the people who come in and out, the swallows, the puppies just to name a few and we have even become used to tractors, helicopters, cars of every shape and size and we even like cricket (though we're not quite so keen on opera!).

Anyway back to Tuesday, our ropes were put on and we went out through the tunnel to the yard where this lovely little 2 horse box was waiting for us - it looked almost exactly like the trailer that we had been jumping in and out of last week and so it was really no bother walking in and getting settled. I went in first - thats me Thelma - as Tom thought that as I was the biggest I should have the most room to manouvre - and then in came LouLou. We were as good as gold - as if we had been doing this for ages (which of course we had - well, since last week anyway) and we could tell that everyone was very pleased with us and we got lots of pats. We could hear Tom saying how well we had behaved and we think he was quite impressed with us. Then we had to say goodbye - now that was a bit difficult and we had lumps in our throats, but Tom seemed so nice that we were really quite happy to be driven off to our new home and we know everyone will come and see us - so as long as they feed us properly we really won't mind.


We had a lovely smooth ride - we must say it was much better that our earlier trips especialoly the one from Ireland - Tom was a much better driver for a start and because we had had our trailer training the whole thing was a breeze - in fact we were so relaxed that we even started having a little play with each other in the lorry and before we knew what was what we had arrived.....

Now we'll tell you all about our arrival next week when we've had time to gather our thoughts because there is so much to tell you about - but what we can say is that we are excited to be here.................

Love from a quite grown up Thelma and Louise xxxxxx

Orfeo Off

What a week - I can't tell you, people everywhere and the noise! Listening to The Gaffer and The Mrs they have been putting on something called an opera at the farm - actually in the barn right next door to us.

It seems to involve lots of people, lots of banging, lots of singing, and lots of music. Now I'm as tolerant as the next filly but they do make a lot of NOISE - they practice very late in the evening just as we are trying to settle down and then, just as we are relaxing, there is a burst of applause! Don't they know we need our beauty sleep? Especially Louise - she can be very grumpy in the morning if she doesn't get her full eight hours.

Then to cap it all they had a dress rehearsal - and all these people were walking around in togas - now someone should tell them that this really is not a good look - as for the laurel wreaths - they're something I'd eat at the drop of a hat - they definately shouldn't be worn!

Then after all these dress rehearsals there were the actual performances - what a performance thats what I say! We had to be in our boxes before it all kicked off (I like it - thats something I usually do) and then we had to wait for the interval to have our tea - then they all poured out into the yard and sat down to eat and drink - and nothing quiet about it either. Still, lots of people did stop by and say how gorgeous we are - so every cloud.... Everyone seemed to enjoy it - but if I'm really honest I would have to say that it all sounded a little dull to me - no jolly tunes - but then what do I know about opera? Nothing I'm sure - but The Gaffer did say to someone that we would now be very highbrow fillies - highbrow - I think my brow is just about right personally - don't you?!

Anyway its all gone quiet again now - phew.........

Love Thelma

Up, Up and .........

Suprise, suprise, I'm the superstar this week - not only do I look lovely, as my photo shows, but I led the way this week!

For some reason, known only to themselves, The Gaffer and The Mrs decided that this week we were going to do 'trailer training'. So on Monday we walked past this open trailer in the yard with the back and the front down. We both had a good look at it. I thought it looked rather nice but Thelma wasn't so sure but we both had a good sniff around it on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning we had another close inspection, but I didn't really want to go in, but on Wednesday - that was quite different altogether! I had a look and, with The Vickster leading, up the ramp I went and out the other end - simples, as they say on the telly. Everyone seemed very pleased with me. Now Big T had a look but didn't fancy it herself. The next morning up I went again - showing off a bit I have to say, but I did tell Thelma it wasn't too bad and up she came and off the other side. Now I don't think she liked it quite so much, as she came down in a bit of a hurry - but at least she tried. The next morning we both did it again - lots of pats and 'well dones' from the team. I could tell that they thought that I had been very, very good.

Come Friday, I was actually a bit disappointed as we just walked straight on by - just when I was having fun too - spoil sports ........

Love Louise

A Trainer Calls......

Well it never rains but it pours, but hopefully the grass will now start to grow again and there will be more in the field for us to eat!

Now on Friday, which I have to say was rather wet and miserable in this neck of the woods, we were suddenly brought in around three by The Mrs and The Gaffer to our stables. Now this was a funny time in itself so that was out of the ordinary. But not only that - on the way in from the field we had to pass no less than three new obstacles down by the cricket field, large (and I mean large), red bags full of stuff that were rustling in the wind. Did this bother us? Not a bit. I led the way and after a moment's hesitation Lou Lou followed - good or what. Then we got into our stables - to our horror no food, just hay - and there was all this growling and squeaking going on and we couldn't work out where it was coming from. I must admit it was all a bit scary to start with, and we were a bit upset for about 10 minutes, but then we calmed down and got used to it. We worked out eventually that the puppies were in the stable next door, as it was raining and they couldn't be outside, and there was no need for us to worry.



But that wasn't the end of it - after we had been dried off and tidied up The Gaffer and The Mrs came back with The Trainer - or at least my Trainer! He'd come to inspect me as he hadn't been able to come when we were on show before. Now I have to say this was all a bit tense making - I mean would he like me????? Well I needn't have worried. I heard him tell The Gaffer and The Mrs that I was in excellent condition and well forward (whatever that means) and that he liked the look of me and my 'good legs with lots of bone'. Well judging by everyone's faces this was all good and I will be going to Summerdown to be trained. Now I like the sound of that - Summerdown - it sounds rather romantic and beautiful - just like me!!!!!!!!!!! Actually, I have to be honest here and tell you that he said some nice things about LouLou too - but this week its my story.

Well after all that excitement it will take us, and especially me, a few days to come back down to earth - my Trainer liked me! Meeeeeeeee.......

Love Thelma

Free Feet

Well as you know we have our feet done regularly by Brian the farrier. So imagine my suprise when last week two (two not one!) young men came into my stable. They looked around and then one of them came and held me round my neck - no headcollar or rope of any sort - while the other started to do my feet. Now this was unprecedented - The Gaffer, The Mrs and The Vickster were nowhere to be seen and even Thelma was somewhat non-plussed. Anyway, they seemed to know what they were doing so I just stood there as good as gold and let them get on with it while Big T watched over the stable divide.

No sooner had they finished and left my stable to move onto Thelma when someone from the house came rushing over to ask them what they were doing. It turned out that they had been sent by the blacksmith who does the other horses with the instruction to 'do the horses feet' - so they had just started with me - who they weren't supposed to do at all!!!! So I got a lovely free manicure and poor old Thelma was left out and will have to wait until Brian comes again.

Now the dry weather has continued and the grass is just not growing so we were getting a bit concerned about preserving our supply so we decided that our friendly fleecy friend just had to go - enough with all this sharing its every filly for herself. So we gave chase and she got the hint and went through the electric fence back to the sheep side of the fence where she belongs. Phew - more for us.

It must rain soon - musn't it?

Love Louise