Jerry.

It's been so wet here all over Christmas that my musles have been suffering big time. Lugging heavy hay nets around and filling the large hay mangers has taken it's toll on my shoulders and hands. I've had so much help, for which I'm very grateful, but all the same it's been tough. Today wasn't so good and I had to go back to bed for a couple of hours, which I hated as I just don't like wasting a day.

I was restless, but couldn't settle to anything, so I went outside to hang out with the ponies and horses. Since arriving here, T's horses have been very wary of me. The journey was stressful and they only respond to T. I've waited patiently and left them to settle down. It's been nearly four months since they arrived and I've barely been able to lay a hand on any of them.

(Jerry on the right and Flash on the left)

I decided that Maggie needed her mane sorted out. In the picture below, she looks lovely, but in the last four months, her mane has become knotted and tangled. Frankly she was a sight! She let me loop a rope around her neck and for half an hour I carefully combed the knots out. She looked beautiful again and asked to be scratched all over her neck. A persistent little nudge on my shoulder told me that Flash was feeling left out. I still couldn't do much with him, but he was close and that was good enough.

Next horse to push in was Benson. He laid his head over Maggies neck so that I could fuss him without getting too close. I combed his forelock and he was happy. The biggest surprise of all was Jerry. He is T's horse and that's that. Arabs are very loyal to their people and Jerry hasn't spared me a single glance. However, this time, he came right up to me and I carefully lowered the rope to the ground and stood, looking down. He touched my hand and I slowly moved the brush towards him. He sniffed it and let me move it up his neck. I slowly groomed his mane and worked out the knots. As I worked, the weariness left me and I felt a great surge of love for him. He moved closer and I scratched his neck with my fingers. I moved away before him as I wanted him to know that I wouldn't push him. It was a lovely moment.

The next day, the weather was terrible and Jerry and Maggie seemed to be struggling with the cold and wet. I spent a little time with them and resolved to put rugs on them. They've been so stressed since their arrival that rugs seemed a lot to ask.
The following day was warm and bright so I just hung out with the horses and they let me move the rope over their necks. I plaited Maggies mane to stop it from tangling again and then fetched her rug. She ran away, but was soon by my side as I fiddled with the rug in the field. I put a halter on her and with much persuasion, I was able to rub her neck with the rug and finally put it across her back. She loved the attention. Much later, it started to rain and I was glad that I'd taken the time with Maggie as she let me put the rug straight onto her. Jerry was no problem at all! I caught him by accident, I was eating an apple and suddenly his head was in the halter that I'd used for Maggie. Of course it was too small for him, but it didn't matter, I slipped the rug on him, but needed T to help me fasten it as I can't deal with fiddly buckles at the moment.

I'm so glad we did rug the two vulnerable horses (well, pony and horse) as the rain and wind built up to a very wild night, last night and I was able to feel less worried about how they were all coping. My three ponies are fat and have wintered very well, but as Jerry is an arab and Maggie has been stressed they needed the extra protection from their rugs. Soon we hope to build their shelters.

I forgot to say why this post is called 'Jerry', it's beause he made me feel so happy, helped lift me from the doldrums and for a while, reminded me of my dear old Oliver with his gentle, careful manner <3