Sound as a pound!

Not sure that saying works now, considering the pound isn't that sound at the moment.

Nevertheless, Max is sound as a sound thing. He had his session with the YO today and was very forward going and bright as a shiny copper powering through his trot and canter transitions.

I got to the yard a little before my shift started to make a fuss of him and tuck him up in his rug for the field. He was bright as a button and full of mischief, just the way I like him.

He suffered one almighty, clingy hug though, because Sunday was not a good day. We lost one beautiful Olympic horse in a tragic indoor XC event yesterday - the less said about it the better. Also lost a dear old soul at my friend's yard yesterday and it is a very sad loss indeed.

Colic is a bar steward and it frightens me. It strikes out of nowhere and whether it takes your ned away or is just a grumble that will pass is anybody's guess.

It has taken two horses I know now, and in another it has pinpointed a tumour and led to a successful operation and recovery. Luck of the draw.

Some days, we are reminded of just how fragile it all is. Some days we do well to honour the passing of the big hearted, noble equine spirits who walk willingly beside us for so many miles, and then suddenly, walk away from us to a place we cannot follow.

I'll bet the place they go is a good place. It's full of horses, so how could it be anything but heaven?