The boy done good!

Gold star for Max today. Maybe two!

Yes, we definitely took a few steps back in our progress after the operation, but we've gained some ground over the weekend, and taken a big leap forward today.

Stunning Spring day here in Hampshire, all the beautiful colours of the countryside, a light breeze (with occasional gusts) and hardly any flies. Perfect weather for an unaccompanied stroll.

I gave him a little clean before we left and he didn't need much. Just a quick swipe with the wet cloth and aloe vera on afterwards. Our new ritual is easily done long before Max has munched his way through his chopped carrot and handful of ponynuts. The bonus today was another step forward in his recovery. Willy watch has come up trumps with a fleeting glimpse! Not a full drop, nowhere near it, but a tiny little peek as he finished relieving himself this morning (one day I'll stop looking, I promise).

That is so hopeful, I think. I sent an excited text to Sammie's mum straight away and got a "Woo hoo!" straight back. She pointed out that it shows he's trying, and that's better than he's been ever been able to do in his life thus far, so it's very good news indeed.

As for me and my contingency plans, I started off with a very simple and limited agenda. I'd just walk him up the lane and back. That's all. No pressure, no trying too hard to achieve spectacular results, just a short walk there and back again, so to speak.

But he was going well, seemed comfortable, so I decided to take him up a bridleway. Just a little way, I thought, then turn for home. But we got a little way, and I thought we could go a little further, so we did.

In the end, we were out for 45 minutes, with no calling, no spinning, no fighting, no stubborn streak. A little bit of trepidation, an occasional stop which was not a refusal, but a desire to stand and have a gaze, a couple of shoulder nudges, a lot of "good lad!" praise and no attempts to graze!

As we turned for home down a shady lane, the wind picked up and Max became playful. He did his proud Arab trot which showed no fear or anxiety, just excitement. He was easily contained though, and as we turned back onto the lane which led home, I picked him some cow parsley prizes to munch along the way. Finally, an easy trot side by side. He moved beautifully and did not pull or turn in on me even once.

I've just let him out into his field with a polo mint and a "God bless, be safe tonight" and am feeling very satisfied with our efforts. Am so pleased with him and, though I hardly ever admit it, pleased with myself, too. For all my fear that I was mad to take on a horse when I knew so little, and for all my anxious nights staring at the ceiling in the dark, wondering what I'd put Max through and how I'd bring him back to his confident self, well... We just seem to be doing it.

Partners. We work together, we cut each other some slack, we forgive mistakes and move on. We are not conventional horse and rider, but then again, I've never loved conventional, so why should my relationship with Max be any different?

There is still a lot more I don't know about horses than I do know - and I kind of like that, lots to learn! - but what a long way I've come from May 2006 when I took that leap of faith and bought Max because I just couldn't imagine letting him go.

Watching him trot so beautifully and peacefully beside me, our footsteps in sync, I had an ear to ear grin knowing I did the right thing making him mine, and making me his. The worry I had that Max would do so much better in a more knowledgeable home was for nothing. Nobody could care for him more than I do, and nobody could give him a better life than he has with me, and his good friend the Ent. His perfect, relaxed, happy trot told me so.

We're both exactly where we're meant to be: together.