Pandora's Box

Oh, what am I doing? Abi has long been bugging us (well, me - it's not worth bugging Glenn) on her deepest and most fervent desire to own her own horse. She has been so determined, and sat down in the week to write to all the people she could think off who own fields or stables nearby. This included a letter to the 'person who owns the stable at the top of the lane' where she introduced herself and told the recipient that her stables and fields would be perfect, and she (and her horse of course) in turn would be perfect tenants! Having cracked and entertained this idea, I did acknowledge today that it would make far more sense for her to have a horse at the local stables where we have been riding. At least that way there will be other people around, she would have access to a ménage and indoor barn, covered areas to groom and tack up, and some advice along the way where needed. Of course it would also mean that we could pay for the privilege of someone else doing some of the work so I don't have to do it all.

Ho hum - why do I let myself get into these situations? On the one hand I have no need or desire for yet another time / money consuming past time. On the other hand I see just how much Abi loves being around horses, and I love the fact that she is keen to do everything from muck out to grooming to riding to hunting or competing. It gets her out of the house doing something that is active and away from screens - what parent doesn't want that these days? I keep thinking I want them both to be able to do something they love... I just wish she hadn't chosen something so expensive and difficult to achieve!

Glenn very clearly thinks I'm mad, but even he sees that we should be channeling their energy into positive activities rather than iPads or worse so I feel its inevitable and therefore we need to find the most efficient / least intrusive way of making it happen. In the end I think we'll just have to find a horse that will be suitable for Izzy to sit on, Abi to do everything to and me to be able to exercise for she times she can't.

Izzy on the other hand has gone completely art mad and is drawing at every opportunity she gets. She's currently specialising in portraits of stylish ladies with fabulous hairdos and extravagant make up - everything she aspires to. At least one of them has chosen something which doesn't require a second mortgage.

In other news, if I wasn't too busy having a mild panic about suddenly owning a horse that I really don't want or need, the dogs are being more and more of a liability and I really don't know what to do about it. Freya had (I thought) got better with other dogs and for the most part has been coming back to me when she sees another dog, meaning I can put her on the lead and avoid any problems. Yesterday however I checked there wasn't anyone in the field, let her off her lead and then watched as Bertie flew off into the distance with her following. They shot into the next field where he had seen someone and before I knew it I could hear barking and shouting. I ran over to find Freya jumping up at a dog being held by a teenage girl and trying to nip at it. I shouted at Freya, Bertie was barking, she was barking.... not our finest hour. I managed to catch her and pinned her to the ground and apologised profusely to the 3 kids and their dog. They headed off with the youngest boy in tears. Not great and I don't know what to do with her. She is the sweetest thing in the house and a pain outside if we meet another dog. Memories of Boomer abound. Anyway, tomorrow I'm calling the dog trainer and making an appointment - I have to try and sort it before it becomes either too late to fix or she does something we really can't just make excuses or apologise for.

Looking on the bright side, as a result of all this I walked them at 6am this morning. The woods are lovely at that time, it was light, the birds were singing, I saw lots of deer and I had the entire place to myself - funny that!