One Week

...and we had the best day ever. After warming him up, I decided it was time to tackle a few jumps - and found Darcy simply stepping over the jumps he'd been enjoying leaping over a few days ago. He was absolutely raring to go - I had quite a job holding him in, and trying to settle him. I put up the rails another hole, and let Ashleigh take him over to see if she'd live through it - and boy, did he jump! We soon put it up another hole, and I took him over at 3ft which he cleared with ease.

Showing Darcy what we were about to take on.

Even after I decided he'd had enough after only a short time, he was still pulling at the bit to trot over the other jumps when I walked him around on a loose rein. I took him back to the cross ties, washed him down and then sat by his feet and let him nibble and chew on my feet. He really is the sweetest natured horse, and soon I was teaching myself to vault onto his back, and trotting him around bareback holding onto his mane. He seems to have as much fun as I do, and even when Cam put his rug on back to front the other day, he simply dozes off as he adores the attention. And really, the tail flap didn't look too bad as his neck rug...

My first jump at 3 ft :)

Day 6

After having another great day jumping yesterday, Darcy and I were both feeling a little stiff today, so instead of giving him a work out I decided it was time he had his bath. I got slightly carried away, and ended up having a good giggle with Ashleigh as we soaped him up and made his mane into spikes, and drew pretty pictures in the suds on his back. He seems quite content having two girls fuss over him for hours on end.

Whenever I go to see him - which is currently twice a day, even though he gets fed and rugged by the staff at the property - I seem to end up staying for hours, walking him around and grooming him, and watching him fall asleep when I scratch under his ears. I'd like to think he's starting to like me a bit more - he follows me around the paddock and comes up when I call him, even though I'm not the one who feeds him, and he loves standing in the cross-ties as I fuss over him and have chats with him.

And even though he was a little stiff today, I could barely get him out of the jumping paddock last night. Even when I cool him down and walk him on a loose rein, he makes a bee-line straight for the jumps and tries to break into a trot when we go near the trotting grids. I'm having more and more fun with him every day, and he's looking more and more handsome. On Friday when the farrier comes to do his feet and he gets his teeth done after that, he'll be looking even better - if he hasn't gone and undone all the good work I put in today by rolling in his paddock.

Day 4

...and isn't he looking good?

After giving Darcy a very easy start to let him settle in (and due to some pretty feral weather over the weekend) we got into the swing of things on Sunday evening.
I took him out into the jumping paddock, and gave him a bit of a warm up, and to see if his stiffness had abated at all.



Today, I took him for his first proper session - and we had a great time, doing trotting poles and grids and, after a few minutes of trying to steady him, taking him over some jumps. The girl that works at the place he's agisted at came out with me, and we were soon giggling and taking videos of each other as we took it in turns to do a circuit. Darcy and I started off small, then had a go at a few of the bigger poles after I learned to steady him and get his take-off right. We had a great time, and had quite a good workout - we were both absolutely knackered and covered in sweat by the time we'd finished. I had one of the best days ever!


P.S... how cute is this foal?! She's only 5 months,and is going to be a bit of a superstar - and currently loves devouring my coat when I sneak in to give her a cuddle.

Day One

After waiting over 20 years for the day I had my own horse - that day has finally come! Mr Darcy came home today. He's being agisted at a place not far from me, where he has 7 mares to whinny to during the day and lots of lovely grass and food to consume whilst he's pigging out - which seems to be almost constantly. After he had his worming treatment, he was rugged up in his lovely new rug and had a few carrots, before being left to settle in for the night.