Oh good, that’s the lighter quilt on the bed, must be getting closer to summer. Ok so it’s still pretty cold, I'll just pull the throw over me. That’s great to get Tag out without a rug on, no, wait a minute, I think we’ll just put a rug on at night. Well that’s us … Continue reading Zombie →

'Stay at home'. Yup, no problem. No Asda for weeks on end, excellent, (that is one place I definitely do not miss). No running around like a headless chicken, telling the kids that eating their tea in the car on the way to football training is all part of the 'craic'. No staring at a … Continue reading Stay safe? →

Oh you live in the sticks…. ****hole of nowhere then....You know there's some nice houses on Property Pal.... I couldn’t live up there….Bet it’s a nightmare in the winter…… And yes, it is a bit of a nightmare in the winter, at times, but at the minute I couldn’t be more grateful to live where … Continue reading Comfortably numb →

There’s something I’ve been wanting to write about for a while, but it’s an emotive topic and I really don’t want to start a social media argument with anyone, but I can’t keep it in any longer…………… The Great Sex Debate. And before my mum starts calling my aunties apologising on my behalf and saying … Continue reading Something Inside →

Well, my ability to write anything of any substance, has been fogged over the past weeks by the arrival of the pressure cooker, aka the ‘festive period’ and all that goes with it; school concerts, nativities, Christmas nights out, excessive eating, drinking baileys for dessert and generally indulging in behaviour and being in situations, that … Continue reading Double the trouble →

You often hear people voicing their frustration that certain situations in life don’t come with a ‘manual’, particularly anything to do with children or animals. In other words there are no hard and fast rules about how to work them, but still the library is full of books aiming to impart their wisdom on how … Continue reading Automatic or manual? →

So I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle and following a week of doing little more than lying in the sun and making sure my San Miguel beer was cold, you would think I was more than ready. But it appears that the journey of my back has not reached the finish line … Continue reading A novel idea →

So I’ve promised myself that I will give my body a break from riding for a couple more weeks as I am absolutely determined not to go back to square one, if I can help it. At the start of our enforced rest, Tag did his usual and worried about why he wasn’t doing anything … Continue reading No sweat! →

Even when I'm not sure of much else, I know that when I'm in the saddle, or even in the company of equines, everything that I am, kinda 'clicks' into place. Having recently 'unclicked' myself - with a back that decided it needed a rest - it has given me a chance to have a … Continue reading Cocky or confident? →

On the run up to any competition there is always a ridiculous amount of planning that goes into making sure as little as possible is left to chance. And unless you are happy to hack around the countryside, everyone at one stage or another wants to go to a show and be proud of what … Continue reading Lightening the load →

It's nearly five years since I first met Tag, when he spent his days in a field being bullied by a wicked black pony and I decided to take on the task of seeing if he would/could adapt to a new life. To save making too many changes all at once, I kept him at … Continue reading Control or Freak? →

I recently enjoyed watching some of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival – through my fingers of course - and I usually find myself hugging Tag a bit tighter afterwards, quite certain that I could never watch him racing. Not because I don’t love the sport, of course I do, but I have always struggled … Continue reading Chapter forty – The carrot or the stick? →

It has nearly been a year since I started doing my blog and in that time much has changed - some of it good, some bad - yet a lot has stayed the same. One constant, is how much I mention my daughter, as over the years she has become an integral part to my … Continue reading Chapter Thirty nine – Like mother, like daughter? →

With the huge array of breeds and cross-breeds across the nation, there is no shortage of different personality traits when it comes to horses. And we've all met them; the ridiculously clever ones, the nervous ones, the athletic ones and the can't get out of bed ones. Over the years I have always enjoyed imagining … Continue reading Chapter thirty eight – Horses for courses →

Writing about my adventures with Tag and then posting them on-line using Word Press and Facebook, is something I find both exciting and scary in equal measures. And I don't think the nervous feeling I get when I click on the 'publish' button will ever leave me. But what motivates me and makes it truly … Continue reading Chapter Thirty Seven – Generation X →

Now that Tag has his hooves firmly under the table, I suspect he doesn't feel like the newbie any more and is a bit more relaxed by the familiarity of his surroundings, routine and people. As I've mentioned I've had a bit of experience at being the new kid on the block, which taught me … Continue reading Chapter Thirty six – Life’s Faux Pas →

Clearly unhappy with my marital status, Tag broke my wedding ring finger (self diagnosed, obvs) when I caught it on his headcollar, as he struggled with me to gallop off for a frolick round the field. Now after nearly six weeks of managing to bang/catch/pull my dodgy digit on nearly everything I touch, it’s still … Continue reading The green-eyed galloper →

At many times I have questioned whether I should replace Tag for an easier model - and some still think I should. But after four years, a lot of the guess work has gone out of having Tag as part of the family. And although it would definitely be boring without any more surprises, I … Continue reading Chapter Thirty Five – Better the devil you know? →

It's now officially that time of year when owning a horse becomes three times more difficult and my desire to; come home from work, shut the door, light the fire and watch rubbish on the tv, is really starting to creep in. Due to work and school commitments, most of our outings are now after … Continue reading Chapter Thirty Four – To the core →

Most Friday mornings, there is a brief window of child/work-free time, where my friend and I can meet for a coffee and a catch up (and of course housework avoidance). Now I have heard about these coffee dates - so I know they're not an urban myth - but I'm not sure that we're doing … Continue reading Chapter Thirty Three – A bit of a squeeze →