16. July 2009 by admin.

Horrible weather here; heavy rain and a severe weather warning. I really hope we don’t flood as we have a photoshoot here at the weekend and we will need the barn.  Mind you we will be working on the fear of water and issues with towel drying sections in the new book so it might work in our favour.

Tina is now trapped with me in the office. The rain is getting heavier and she is weighing up her options.  Either she gets soaked and rescues her car (the windows are open) or she stays here but then gets soaked when she gets in her car. 

Adolescent Maremma doing very well.  I don’t condone dogs catching wildlife but he does look very funny when he skips about trying to catch the butterflies.  And frankly he doesn’t stand a prayer.  He is growing so fast that he lacks co-ordination at the moment and his movement looks as though he is doing everything in slow motion whilst drunk.   His favourite pastime is to sit in our 26 acre field surveying the glorious vistas around.  Cookie Dough Dynamo, on the other hand (EBT x SBT), thinks this is a COMPLETE waste of time.

Exciting things are happening with the indoor school.  Well I am told that it is exciting but to tell the truth concrete and rubble isn’t quite doing it for me.  Not yet anyhow.   Always a challenge trying to work horses whilst giant diggers and dump trucks are rumbling away at the back of the stables.  Tina and I are working with a lovely horse that is being filmed for the One Show and one of his issues is sensitivity to noise.  All I can say is thank heavens for TTEAM.  He was exceedingly brave today.

All in all it has been a good week.

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10. July 2009 by admin.

Well the sad news continues.  We lost our beloved lurcher Archie on 26th June.  He had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy but the scans on the Monday looked promising so it was a terrible shock when I found him at 6.30am.  He died in his sleep which was lovely for him. Orsa, our Maremma, whom he adored stayed by his body until we buried him.  She came down to the grave that Tony and Jon had dug in our garden and came to each of us gently nudging us with her nose until we lowered Archie’s body into the ground before turning away and walking slowly back up to the house.  So sad.   I do believe however that our animals stay with us until a new part of our lives begins and this is certainly true for us.  

It is sometimes hard to feel motivated at the moment but I still have so many things to be grateful for and we are moving forwards with our plans for Tilley Farm which is very exciting.  The indoor school starts going up next week and a team of willing volunteers are coming down for the weekend to help cheer on Jon and our lovely photographer Bob Atkins who has offered his services after we have completed the final photoshoot for my next book.  The book will be out this autumn and Marie (my co-author) and I had a ten hour day with the editor tidying it all up as I write like I talk.  Far too much!  Archie features on several pages so it was hard going at times but I am so glad I have such lovely pictures of him. He excelled in the section on counter surfing.  As a lurcher, this was his speciality.

Our other dogs are adjusting to the loss, as are we, and as I have my work cut out for me with our adolescent Maremma Leo (pronounced Layo but I can’t find the accents on my new computer at the moment), I cannot wallow in self pity for long.   He is going through a definite teenage stage.  He would love to take on our Shetland Pony Jacob; same size, same colour, same attitude, so I am working on restoring relations with my clicker and plenty of treats.  Tina and Corinne have been out showing Wellington and Sage in the veteran classes.  They are coming home with red and blue rosettes HURRAH!  Wellington was extremely difficult and at times downright dangerous when he first came to Tilley Farm and Sage was intermittently lame when I first met her and was on the verge of being retired so it is more than a triumph that they are doing so well.  Tina and Corinne are both exceptional owners and carers and I am so pleased that their commitment to their horses is being so well rewarded. 

We have a lovely horse in at the moment and I am so proud of his progress already.  He is being filmed for The One Show and is just a delight.  Will let you know when the segment is going to be aired.  He is incredibly spooky and we have plenty to work.  He is an absolute gentleman but at present has the courage of a mouse.  Bless him.  Filming yesterday was great - I know I keep saying it but I really do have the best job in the world.  He was a star today as well and we have a month before the next film session so we are planning all manner of things that we can teach him over the next few weeks to help him build some confidence and self control. So. Life goes on and again I am thankful for all the support and good wishes from my friends.  

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