Gabby's New Home

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What a mad 6 months we have had. Apologies for no updates. Without going into great detail, we had a fall out with the yard manager at our livery which resulted in us leaving. Fortunately I was able to find a new yard almost across the road and start again.

It was hard at first for Gabby as she had been there for longer than time could tell. At the age of 16, its a large chunk of her life. She was unsettled in her stable, we could not deep litter as she was pacing her box. To start with she had her own little paddock where she became the queen of the damn and was loving it. Then came another horse who invader her space and she was not best pleased. I got the feeling she wanted to ram it out of the field, but nicely, so her paddock was cut in half for them to get to know enough other. By this time we had moved into our permanent stable and she was far more settled. So much so that we have been able to deep litter now since October, and its February. Dig up day must be soon. HELP!

Eventually Gabby let this other mare join her without any problems. She was only there short term so Gabby was soon to be alone again and due to move in with the geldings. And then THE RETURN OF THE GAMS took place (sequel to GAMS REUNITED). Miracle was due to be homeless as things had not worked out for her either at the old place (enough said). We all want nothing more than Gabby and Miracle to be together, and so it was. Miracle came home to Gabby. Gabby welcomed her into her paddock with a stomp to say, its my turn to be boss! Or at least least for a week or so.

Miracle done all the same things Gabby did, pace her box, demand to be out, not want to come in. But again she has settled and is now deep littered too. Double dig up day then.

During December we had a new boy come. Gabby went to meet him up on the South Downs and bring her new boyfriend home. However, when it came to turn him out, he didn't want to be alone in his paddock, so he jumped out into the boys which didn't work out. As Gabby had already "hooked up" with him, I offered our paddock as an alternative. He was welcomed with heads down, eat up. It was lovely to watch the girls and boy bond. Especially when Miracle came into season. She was a little tart, poor boy didn't know what way to turn. Then suddenly she was no longer horny and lost interest again. POOR BOY!

And then January came, I managed to ride once. It all started on January 5th 2008 when Gabby was attacked by a dog which resulted in multiple lacerations of which all had thankfully missed the tendons. The vet done a marvellous job of stapling her leg back together. She managed to stay off Bute (pain killers) and didn't have a day of lameness. She had two weeks box rest and lots of bandage changes (I'm an expert now). Just as we are getting ready to remove her staples and think about turning out, Miracle goes and gets injured. We had a lot of continuous rain, so much so I even left her in for a day. Sadly the day after, she sliced her frog down the centre, an inch long, centimetre deep on a flint. So I spent two weeks doing a poultice her foot and keeping her in. (Now I really am an expert at bandages). So two stables, twice a day muck outs, hideous! Fortunately she recovered well, very lucky as she is 22. She has a pad on that foot now for 8 weeks but at least she is back out, especially now the nice weather has come. They spent a few hours out bare on Sunday.

Gabby has come back into work fighting fit. She is jumping again and hacking out good and proper. We have our next endurance ride coming up at the end of the month. 26km. WOOO HOOO.

Below are a selection of photos taken over the last couple of months. Look out for the couple with Gabby's tongue hanging out.

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