Horses Arrived Happy and Healthy, Plus a New Addition to the Team!

What a rushed and busy week it has been! I told you everything was going to jet off at high speed, and I just have to say thank god the week is over. The horses are here, college has started and now new chapter begins.
The horses arrived safe, happy and healthy late Thursday (yesterday) afternoon. But it wasn't only Sebastian and Chad that came back... oh no, we brought a third horse back! The regular readers will remember a video I posted of a lovely mare called Bertina (view it HERE if you haven't seen it) who I rode while I was in Germany. I rode her in this video which was used to sell her, but as what happened with Chad too (I rode him for his sale video also!), I bought her :)

She is a horse that was just far too good to pass on the opportunity. I rode her a lot in Germany and we started to form a bond. I would treat her like she was my own, giving her treats and kisses and cuddles. She was stabled right next to Chad so they were best buddies already. For the first 3 weeks that I was riding her, I honestly thought she was 5 years-old, not 3, because I could easily do sitting trot on her and her balance was at a 5 year-old standard. I was shocked when I was told she was still only 3!


Bertina after just coming off the transport truck, her
first moments in England!

When it came time to leave Germany I knew I'd be heartbroken to leave her behind. I figured since poor Julius was out of work, and still has a long way to go until he can be brought back in to full work, she would fit in nicely as another one to bring on as a project. As she is only 3, she wouldn't take much time and can have some rest in the paddock to grow during the busy exam times. So, I made the decision to buy her.
Today my decision proved to be the absolute right one. After only arriving yesterday in a new country, new stable, not having been anywhere different but the yard in Germany before, I threw a saddle on her tonight, lunged her for 5 minutes, hopped on and she was an absolute star. She seriously felt amazing, like she thought she had to perform in this new place in case people were watching her. I rode her in the small indoor, then took her out to the big outdoor where piles of jumps lay on the side, and while she didn't trust them at first, the second time round she didn't bat an eyelid. We were cantering around, her carrying herself automatically and giving me the best feeling. She really is something special, I am so excited about her!
This is also the first mare I have ever owned... I used to think they were too tempermental, but not Bertina. I think her and I get on so well because she is like the horse version of me. That sounds absolutely ridiculous, I know, but I do think it is true. She just goes with the flow, has a bright, sparky personality but without being a psycho, and is always willing to please. Her and I just understand each other, 150% :)
As for Seb, I rode him early this morning before college, and he also did not put a foot wrong. That is expected of him, of course, as he is a grown-up. However I have always known him to mess about in the arena when I would first ride him after a few days off or in a new place. This time, nope not at all. We have lost nothing from the time I left Germany and today when I had my first ride, apart from being a little stiff from the journey, we are on track still. And thank god, because we have a PSG next saturday!

Hacking Seb after our first ride
back in England

And Chad, well, I didn't have a bridle to fit him :( I ordered one, and although the cheek-pieces and noseband were the right size, the head piece was too small. He has such a fine, little head, so needs a cob sized bridle, but around his ears is still full sized. So now we just need to send back the first bridle and re-order one with cob-sized cheek pieces and noseband, and a full-sized headpiece. I order my bridles from the National Saddle Centre, because they have a "build your own" feature for the Albion bridles. It is perfect for horses like Chad that don't have the conventional head size!
So tomorrow I will try and sort out a temporary solution to Chad's bridle (Seb's wouldn't fit him no matter how many holes we punched) and hopefully can hop on and ride him :) It really does feel so good to have the boys (and girl!) back with me, and I still go out to Julius to visit him and give him treats. Bless him he is having a lovely holiday!