Such a bore!

Ok I know its been a while but I have been busy driving around the countryside to lovely yards and treating horses, dogs and people! Its official...I have lost my mojo. Dressage has become a bit of a bore to be honest. All that bickering and point scoring, all the excuses, the judge didn't like me/my horse/my boots/my music lalala! When it comes to the importance of training ethics and riding the horse some people appear to be more interested in the bling they wear, what colour bandages they have and the latest bit contraption that will put the horse 'on ze bit' once and for all. I am thinking of marketing a small bottle of magic dressage potion that enhances the horses movement and if taken regularly will take the horse all the way to the top! Hmmm...maybe that has already been done!

I was looking in on a classical riding website the other day and was really suprised at what is considered classical riding! Apparrantly its ok to have no contact and a poking nose, and an almost working trot is considered to be extended. LDR was mentioned and all hell broke loose! To be fair many did not know what LDR stood for (Long Deep and Round)but those who did had plenty to say and none of it was complimentary! Two riders of distinction had paid a visit to the site and one of them had a video of a recent performance. Well, the critique from those who do not compete, (unless in a pelham), was vitriolic! Ah well I suspect the little Lippizaners are happy traipsing round with their noses out and not working particularly hard. At least they are well fed and watered and loved if in a somewhat strange world. Which brings me to the vast amount of cruelty and neglect we are seeing of late. Our country used to pride itself in being a land of animal lovers. What has happened? Every day there is something either on TV or in the newspapers about some heinous crime against helpless animals. I am appalled and even more so that the RSPCA will not involve itself unless the animal is near to death or dead. It is high time we had a new enforcement agency for the rights of animals, something akin to that in the USA. These officers do not tell the owner that they are coming, they do not give a warning, and there is no way they will be allowed any other animals once charged. There is no waiting until the half starved beast is near death, it is taken away immediately. The punishment fits the crime too and many go to gaol for quite some time, and so they should! So if you love animals, please look out for those abandoned this christmas and the rest of the year. Look out for those in fields with no food or water and no shelter. Report to Redwings or WWFH and get something done immediately. Donate to the people who do most not to those interested only in publicity.

So what do you want for christmas? I am hoping for a blue tooth sat. nav. which will make my job so much easier. It will also mean I can answer the phone hands free too! Apart from that I would like to see all the vulnerable and weak fed and in the warm. Our house always has room for waifs and strays at christmas. Of course its easy to turn a blind eye and unwrap all your goodies whilst glugging down a few gallons of wine but thats not what this time of year is all about........ Of course I will be expecting the little bottle of magic too!!