Update

Way too much excitement for such a laid-back Spig! Last weekend Fraser and Toffee started living out for the summer, which meant Fraser got lots of exercise running round the paddock when Toffee went for a hack on Monday evening. Started out at a gallop, then decided cantering was more appropriate, then realised trotting was probably less effort before settling on walking around. All this activity was accompanied by a lot of whinnying, but no fence jumping. Phew! Not sure if that is due to being too dim or too lazy… :p Sadly he wasn’t living out when Nina took Toffee to Carlton XC on Sunday, as to mark his displeasure at the trailer going out without him, he took his hooves to his stable wall. Bad Spig! Toffee was in season with a vengeance last week, so was all loving towards him. He couldn't quite understand the change in attitude, but enjoyed it while it lasted. Which wasn't long... We can however allow him a bit of wall bashing, in the light of what a true sofa he actually is. On Saturday morning Mac and Nina were not far from home, heading down a tractor track, when they met a tractor approaching them. The farmer turned the engine off and Nina tried to get past, but there was no way the highly tractor-phobic Toffee was going to walk past the monster, which would surely devour her in one gulp. Mac tried to get Fraser to go past it, but Toffee was giving off her strongest ‘don’t go near the monster’ vibes, so he erred on the side of caution. Nina decided to get off and lead Toffee past, and then the fun started! Toffee got away from her and thought ‘Whee! I’m free!’ before heading off full pelt into a field of rape. Realising it was rape, she soon turned round and headed back, lashing out at Fraser as he tried to block her way. Somehow in the confusion Mac sustained a bruised/sprained ankle, and at one point Fraser thought he would join Toffee on her fun run across the field, but he didn’t, and Mac realises just what a genuine, well behaved hack he really is. Yesterday’s hack was a far less excitable affair, with Andrea joining them on Pete. It was a glorious day, and Nina, Mac and I finished power washing the rubber mats and both stables, so they are all ready for when the horses start living in again. We also had the first barbecue of the year, but sadly Nina wouldn’t let me put Toffee on it. *sigh* Below are various pictures in no particular order.