December's Diary

Week 1

Well we have finally got round to writing the diary, and more importantly got the web site working again.

This week has been chaos.

It has to be penance for having a couple of easy weeks.

Firstly we seem to have got very busy with the horses, a few of extra horses in to school, and a couple in from the fields makes all the difference.

We thought that we had all our staff sorted out, but as usual, 'The Best Laid Plans'
Our excellent groom Zoe was seriously pulling her hair out every time another horse arrived in.
So we have been up early helping muck out. - Very scary- we normally only do that at Xmas!
At least we shall deserve our Xmas dinner this year.

What is it with trying to get staff?
We have plenty of people say they want to work with horses, we spend the time interviewing them, sorting out references etc. then when the day to start arrives it's a no show.
It can't even be that they don't like us, as we don't get as far as working together!!
We are told it is a universal problem. We certainly hope so as we may get offended.

The next problem this week was our web site server had problems.
This caused all the data on the site to be off line for a few days.
We have over 600 different articles on the site.
We know this as we had to upload them all again!! Very time consuming.

Apologies, for the lack of pictures, this week.
With everything going on we have not had a chance to do any pictures.

All the horses are well.

Tanya spent Wednesday evening at Forest Edge doing dressage again with some pupils.
All went very well, Lilly coming 2nd in one test with Emily and Polly having another successful outing with a first and second.
Tanya took Sox one of our 4 year olds, to do a couple of tests to try and stay warm!
He went very well, except for being unable to contain himself in the first test when he shot off bucking!

Apart from that trip not much else to tell you.
Except we did get the bedroom painted!

Hopefully things will have calmed down by next week!

Week 2

Well still running around in circles!
As they say "no rest for the wicked". - we must be very bad!

With no new staff, we are still having to get up early and muck out.
Tanya is getting a little worried that we shall not have found any suitable staff before we go away at Christmas.
Zoe our head girl is getting very concerned!
Mark in is usual laid back way thinks it will all sort it self out. - as would the Christmas shopping!
Is this a man thing?

Tuesday we took our Doncaster purchases to Carol's schooling. After the first 10 minutes when coloured fences were terrifying, they settled down well and learnt a lot.
	We are really pleased with them, probably our best purchases to date.
Tanya took Sam for Polly (one of her pupils) He is a cute 14.2hh who has been doing very well at the dressage, but not had much jumping training.

Word must be getting around that Tanya has been schooling ponies, she has a 12hh and a 13hh in at the moment.
A bit different from our eventers, which are all huge!

Ina took Ardy, this was her first time jumping a course with him. He was a saint really looking after her.

We had a little bit of drama on the way to schooling.
An elderly gentleman who was riding his moped, in front of us got blown off the road by the wind.
Quite a nasty experience. For him and us!
We waited with him until the ambulance arrived, by which time he was talking and moving a little so hopefully all will be well.

Thursday we had a meeting in London. To discuss working on another web site.

We may moan about getting up early to muck out, but it must be better than sitting in rush hour traffic for hours every day.
Unfortunately we did not get a chance to do any shopping.
Well Tanya thinks it was unfortunate, Mark is keeping quite!

Bertha has been sold this week. To a family in Kent
It sounds as if she will have great home, and we are sure that she will suit.

One less to muck out!

Only 9 more days until we go away, and still so much to do.
We have not written any Christmas cards yet.
The next week is going to be busy!!

Week 3

Every day this week we counted the days to our going on holiday.

We leave on the 19th December to go to Ireland over Christmas, fly back on the 26th then out to America on the 27th.
We can't wait!!

In America we are staying with Emily in Utah.
The plan is we are to teach some clinics, and get a little skiing in!
And the good news is that they have had 3 feet of snow this week.

Having sorted out new staff. We feel much happier about going away.

Emma is joining us full time, along with her horse between Christmas and New Year and we have a girl to do 10 days whilst we are away.
What we still have not found is a working pupil to start in the New Year, so keep looking for us.

So a hectic week, we have not only been sorting out staff.
But all the christmas shopping needed buying and wrapping.
Sorting out clothes for Ireland and America.
Christmas haircuts.
Paperwork.
Christmas socialising.

And not to forget the horses!!

We took some of the novice horses to Carol's this week.
	They jumped well all improving on their last visit.

The new mare we have in (Elley) seeFOR SALE is very nice. Only for sale as her owner / breeder does not have the time do her justice. She is by Spotsnight, the same stallion as Muffin, who Tanya evented this year. They are very similar to look at and ride. Muffin did well so Elley's future looks good.

The other bit of news this week is that Tanya has been appointed Cambridge Team trainer.
This is the branch of the Pony Club where she was a member.
She is really looking forward starting with them next year.

Ok, so we may update the diary whilst we are away, or we will just put notes in the Chat Forum so keep looking.