My partner and I were talking recently about my special touch with horses. It’s not the first time it’s been mentioned, my “Special knack”. But I don’ see it. To me it is ordinary, the way things are, and my belief is that anyone can have that touch if they want it. After all, I’ve […]
Yesterday, after 3 months of intense “Blind horse meditation”, we let our beloved Doodle return to spirit. Blindness was no place for this most free-spirited of creatures to live, so despite our breaking hearts we released him. For 3 months our lives here have revolved around keeping Doodle safe and happy after he suddenly became […]
Naturally enough, people who come to spend time with us here often ask me how I got to where I am today with my horses. I have a tendency to scratch my head, gaze inwardly, mumble, “Well, one thing led to another, more or less…” I mean, how does one get anywhere, except one step […]
Nick Hill is who I call when I need guidance with the horses feet. He will be here at Over the Edge sometime this year (dates not confirmed) for a workshop that will include feet, food and fun (for horses!).
Exploring horse is on the move! After two years as the guests of the Woodleys, in Central Portugal, we have found a home of our own in the fabulous Alentejo region (warmer, drier). It has been six intensive months of searching, but we have finally agreed a price and are now in the contract signing phase. […]
There are not many days in a year with weather as perfect as this. It’s Spring (always a good thing in my book), birds sing. The sun is warm enough for me to sit in the shade, on a mossy rock (curiously dry moss here in Portugal), the breeze is coolish. Behind me the water […]
One of my small obsessions is watching my horses eat. I love the way they pick and choose so carefully and precisely, how their nose and whiskers work together to sort through a dense mat of green stuff. Negev is an absolute master, a gourmand, who takes a little of this, a little of that […]
We’ve been doing a lot of horse-herding recently. The grass is almost finished on our slopes and the new hay isn’t in yet, the result of a colder/wetter year than is usual in these parts – our weather is dictated by the Atlantic, which is suffering from melting polar caps, as I’m sure you all […]
I was watching the horses the other day (just for a change!), it was early evening and they were making their way down the terraces to the shelter, as is their habit, munching on hay as they went. I was looking down on them from the terrace above, which is a fabulous vantage spot as […]
My problem child The other day I went for a walk with GG and Sensei, gathering kindling. GG is my problem child, he has issues – his story is a whole other blog – but, he is basically terrified of life. On one hand he is a big softy who loves a cuddle, on the other, […]
