How he do that?

Houdini strikes again.

I left Max yesterday, in his lightweight rug, playing happily with his pony pal.

This morning I arrived at the yard in the dark. Max was brought in with three others by the YO's husband, and I did a quick glance, thought to self "Hmm... Max doesn't look like he's wearing his rug... Nah. Trick of the light!" and I went off to get my gloves then walked back to collect him.

Definitely no rug. Naked, decidedly soggy pony greeted me with a happy whuffle.

"Where's your rug, Max?" I asked.

"What rug?"

Too dark to look for it, so I waited until there was a little light, stomped back to his field and lo, there it was in a muddy heap.

I was glad to find it, and equally glad that however Max had managed to wriggle out of it, he hadn't got entangled or hurt himself in the bargain.

Picked it up to look and there was no damage. It was also still completely fastened in every place it should have been fastened.

Monkey! How he take it off, the wriggly boy?

Set it on the straw bales in the barn to dry, and carried on with the morning's chores, interrupted by one lost dog (found closed in one of the boxes with the lot who'd been brought in) and one semi-cast three year old. The thumping against the walls alerted me. Ran over to find gangly youngster scrambling his feet against the wall of his stable. While I was calculating what to do, he managed to right himself, stand up, and then came to the door and planted his big head against me, blowing with surprise and alarm, with wild eyes.

"Goodness, that was a pickle!" I soothed. "You're ok now though, aren't you, my lovely?"

Stood with him for ages until he settled, assured myself that he was undamaged, then back to work.

This afternoon was glorious, and Max and I were invited to join another livery and her old horse for a hack. Thinking back on it now, I think it's the first hack Max has been out in the company of Another Horse this year. Hard to believe, but true.

We had a wonderful time, and Max was good as gold. Very happy and relaxed to follow his senior, settled leader, and in the end, quite happy to be the upstart and jog past him, while the oldie picked up his game to show the young pretender that he must respect his elders and know his place.

Really perfect afternoon, with fluorescent green fields and bright sunshine casting long shadows on an idyllic Hampshire landscape, and two happy horses who rubbed along together very well.

Back to the yard for carrot stretches and rug adjustments, and lots of praise for young Max who was a brilliant boy today. Sure footed and keen, tireless and sturdy, playful and alert.

What more could I ask? Another day in paradise, reminding me of why I held on to that "one day I'll have my own horse" dream for so many years.