The Bones Of These Hills

I have been painting chalk hares on hillsides. I can already feel this painting becoming a quilt - perhaps my big winter project!

This week's torrential rain has been a welcome relief. These hills are parched, withered brown grass exposes their granite bones. But now the earth is greedily soaking up the monsoon-like downpours.

Rosie pony has come to stay with us for the summer holidays. She's VERY old, and quite creaky, but we've put her on a several supplements, and she is very perky and positive. The idea is for middle daughter to regain her confidence cantering, while I work with Bethan.
About 3 weeks ago, I had pretty much reached the decision that, much as I adore Bethan, perhaps she wasn't the right pony for us. I was on the brink of advertising her for sale. I decided to have one last push with her, a 'make or break' couple of weeks. We've worked her hard every day for 10 days - My eldest daughter and her friends, taking it in turns to exercise her every day, culminating in a session in the school working in circles and over small jumps. Two things have come out of this - firstly she has behaved impeccably, no bucks, naughtiness, nothing. She has done everything she was asked. Secondly, what seemed like a little stiffness behind, and reluctance to engage her quarters, became more pronounced over the days, with her ears back, and neck and head held at an angle when asked to move in a circle. So we stopped, and tonight she had an acupuncture session with the vet. Flexion tests were fine, and her back is ok, but she seems to be very sore across her shoulder. The vet thinks this may have been a problem for quite some time, causing stiffness throughout her body, and quite possibly the cause of her bucking. Following her session she was very sleepy, and quite chilly, so she has gone out tucked up in her rug tonight, and after a day's rest we start on a programme of exercises with her. I am crossing my fingers that this is the turning point with her!