3^rd. Mega clean up in the tack room. Rugs to the cleaner for a wash/repairs as wont be that long before we need them. All the tack cleaned and put away. Even washed all the brushes, can't believe that we have so many though the hoof pick goblin has been about as could only found 3, probably come on a ram raid with the lead rope monster, as can't find either when you need one but when you get them all together there are loads. What's that all about?

5^th. Warm spell forecast for the next few days. Causing a few problems. The stallions and youngstock that play and run round all day are coming in sweaty and wet, will have to think about clipping the necks out to make them more comfortable. Don't want them to get a chill whilst standing in on an evening.

6^th.Relented and clipped necks out. Send blades off for resharpening and clippers for a service.

7^th. Central Horse News is out!! Rushed out to get one and see if Wendy's picture is in. She is famous!! There are 6 photos of Wen receiving her awards. Well done Wen and the boys.

8^th. Hedge cutter today. Always looks so much tidier. It is like a major spring clean outside. Thankfully it is still dry so even the paddocks did not get churned up. Brill.

11^th. one extreme to the other. Now forecast a very cold snap. Had another 6 ft haylage dropped at the girls. Really hard frost could not turn out till lunch time. Mustn't grumble we have not had too many days when we can't turn out.

13^th. ordered the yearly wormers as about out. Had a funny experience on the way home from a night out with friends. 2 bullocks walking down the centre of the road! Ah! Ended up getting the farmers out of bed, rounding them up with the car and driving them into the farm yard. You couldn't make this stuff up!

14^th. walked the field that the girls will be moving in, checked for gaps, rabbit holes and scrubbed out the water trough.

15^th. Farrier out to trim the girls feet. A long day. Began the work schedule for the show stock. Did 5 minutes with each of them.

16^th. another beautiful sunny day like yesterday. Moved all the girls to the new paddock and closed off the other to rest, with all this sunshine it won't be long before the grass is back up on it again. Try to make sure the winter grazing is not munched down to nothing before they go onto the new ground to save changing their diet too much and over grazing the pasture.

Wendy worked the show stock at this stage it takes longer to get the rollers etc on and adjust than to work them. As they haven't done anything through the winter. Last year there were some winter shows but not done so many this year so they have been left to be horses, so will have to take their work slow and steady.

17^th. so warm again today. Girls are happily munching away in the new paddock. The experienced show team are soon back into the swing of working. The newbie's are coming on well. We make a point of making all stock walk, trot and stand for just a few minutes every time they are fetched in/out. It is then easier to work them as they already have a grasp of the basic's and some manners, bonus. We try to give them a different routine to stimulate and be interactive. Working them loose, lunging, long reining, jumping, walking round the block, running up the rocks or just walking in hand. The initial aim is to give them confidence and free forward movement, praising their learning skills. This cannot be rushed and babies take a lot of patience and repetition. They will not be ready to show for a while so make sure you practice at home and not in the show ring.

18^th. Heavy ran today so took the stallions a walk around the block for a change. Took twice as long as people always stop us to talk. The babies, just can't get used to them being yearling's, were practicing their standing up as a little too wet to be running them round the road and was a different thing to be asked to being worked in hand. Don't forget that although repetition is how they grasp the concept of what is required of them, boredom has no usefulness when training. Don't do too much or expect them to be spot on when standing up. Reward good behaviour, just standing still and square with concentration on what you are asking is a brilliant step in the right direction. 1^st day of 5 day guard wormer.

19^th. raining. Too slippery to ask the stallions to lunge/long rein so put out some poles to do some grid work and begin the stretch work at a walk, now they are back in work to give them something different to do. Babies were practising walking away from you. This is to build confidence, forward free movement and stop them from tripping you up of trying to jump in your arms because they got scared. Bless.

21^st. New owners of one of last year's fillies came to collect her today. She will have a lovely home with a gelding we sold them some time ago. Will look forward to regular reports on how they are getting on and seeing them all out showing.

23^rd. Middle daughters 14^th Birthday. At the NEC to see Appassionato. She had took a can of pop in so security had asked her to leave it at the desk. Don't know if it is because she is quietly spoken, the noise of so many people or the screen of glass that the assistant sits behind but she thought that Chloe had said that she had cannabis in her bag not cans of pop so had to avert a sticky situation. Only us!

27^th Took my son to work and left my house keys in the car. Chloe left for the school bus and locked the door. Great we are stuck in the house. Chucked Kelsey out the window with the car keys. Told her to open the car door on the path side and climb over, like a responsible parent. Watching her through the glass front door. Key in door lock, she turns does a thumbs up smiling, not looking what she is doing and drops the keys down the drain…AAAHH.. My only set of car keys are down the drain, the house keys are still locked in the car, my 10 year old is locked out, I'm locked in. Nightmare, no wonder I am grey!! Anyway along comes a nice man who lifts the drain cover and miraculously retrieves the keys, reuniting Mother and daughter, house and car keys. Thank goodness.

28^th. a local farmer has offered us a huge pile of cow muck. Not the best present a girl can get but a free muck spread on 4 paddocks is not to be sniffed at, pardon the pun. So looks like a major change round to empty the paddocks, have to walk the last of the unused winter grazing before we move the girls again. Most of the girls that we did cover last year were done late due to a sudden, unexpected and tragic lose of a family member. That means that we will be covering mares from the end of April as it just got too late to get them all covered last year. Not too much of a major problem as like to give them a year off after having a few babies. Did not have any tested 2005 to see if in foal. Decided that what will be will be, so will start testing them with the stallions shortly and be bringing back the early foalers this weekend for monitoring. Double dose of wormer to all after the 5 day guard.