Well for my first blog the main subject will be the weather. What can I say, I’m British and therefore have a predisposition for moaning constantly about it. As my boss said the other day as we rode around the arena, rain lashing down, wind howling, "oh Sarah, it's just like Britain". Actually when I lived in America, no one could never believe that I had actually ever seen the sun, believing that the UK is constantly fog bound. That of course is ridiculous - its only like that about 50% of the time!
Freddie on Pongo - dressed for the weather
So the weather here is dismal. We have had heavy rain constantly for about three weeks, the ground is saturated, making the lunge arena and outdoor school very wet. Luckily the yard where I work is situated right next door to a trotting yard and we are able to use the trotting track to exercise. That doesn’t stop me from sometimes wondering if it wouldn't be more fun to have an office job in the winter! However the odd day of sun shine and the few days of frosty mornings that have peppered the rainy days, soon put paid to those thoughts. Is there anything better than riding out, bundled up against the cold on slightly frisky horses with the sun out? But please could we have a few more days like those please.
Nearly all the horses at the yard are back in work after various holidays and a few more will arrive after Christmas. At the moment it’s very quiet and I relish these days because it’s like the calm before the storm, spring, summer and autumn being very busy with the young horses competing in the cycle classic, which is for the four, five, six and seven year old horses trying to gain places at the Grande Semaine de Fontainebleau which takes place in September.
Out for a ride
And so onto Christmas and New Year - Isabella has broken up from school for two weeks, as has Freddie's nanny, who must need a well deserved break from the troublesome two year old. I too have a little respite, as my partner is back from work (he works in the UK) and so I get let off log chopping duties and keeping the fire going … it's the small things!
I hope you enjoy a great festive season and I look forward to filling you in with what is happening over here in Normandy in 2013.
