Innholdsfortegnelse for 30-Apr-2020 i Horse & Hound

I CAN’T tell you how excited I was to be asked to guest edit Horse & Hound. I’ve been reading the magazine since I was 16 and I never miss an issue – in fact, I get told off by Carl Hester for not getting on with work on a Thursday morning as I can’t do anything until I’ve had a read of it. I’m known for my work in dressage, particularly with Valegro, but I’ve also worked in different disciplines. My favourite thing is watching the racing on a Saturday with my feet up, but I also love showjumping, showing and eventing – everything Horse & Hound encapsulates. So after all these years in the job I felt absolutely honoured to win the groom’s award at the first Horse…

VOTE FOR YOUR BEST BADMINTON EVENTING fans will be able to watch Badminton Horse Trials highlights programmes during the week the competition should have run (6–10 May). The public voted for up to three programmes from 1991 to 2018. A shortlist of 10 was chosen, and a panel of experts chose five of these to play on the event website during the week. • Visit: badminton-horse. co.uk CHARITY’S RECORD NUMBER OF HORSES WORLD HORSE WELFARE has recorded the highest number of horses in its care on record. The charity has 406 equines in its four centres, in Aberdeenshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, and Somerset – where normal stocking levels is around 330. The charity reported it took in 107 in the first three months of the year, 53 of whom were involved…

▲ POETRY A video of Boris Johnson reciting The Iliad in ancient Greek from memory went down rather well when shared online recently. But does that beat Oliver Townend reciting a poem about buying a horse from Geoff Billington, also from memory, for the recent Equestrian Relief NHS charity campaign? We don’t think it does… ▲ PONY CLUB MUMS While some have been impressed by Rishi Sunak’s handling of the budget and press conferences during the coronavirus pandemic, it turns out he is also a top Pony Club dad who always stays to put the jumps away. Could one get a better reference? ▲“COMEDY” Spotted online, a picture of a horse and rider waiting outside a supermarket, and observing the socially distant 2m requirement. Cue all sorts of jokes about…

WE’RE all proud to clap to support carers during the weekly 8pm initiative. Members of Park Lane Stables, a London branch of the Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled Association centre, have even clipped an NHS logo and a rainbow on hairy Annie’s Whizz. Whizz has been raising smiles in the surrounding area and helping raise funds through donations to the centre. “He’s magic. He loves people and he’s recently been spreading a bit of cheer,” centre owner Natalie O’Rourke told…

IN usual circumstances, the only extended period of time I spend at home riding is the winter, when it’s cold and wet. This lovely weather means some aspects of “lockdown” are hardly a hardship, but I know how privileged we are. Normally the end of April and the beginning of May is one of the most intense periods of the season, with two five-stars – Kentucky and Badminton – to aim for. “Kentucky is a wonderful venue; both people and horses really love being there” The first time I went to Kentucky was in 2001, which was foot-and-mouth year. I took two horses, Lord Killinghurst and Mallards Treat, and as well as being their first event of the year, it was also the first time I had ridden either horse…

PRODUCER/RIDER DANIELLE HEATH “I’VE ridden ‘Monkey’ since he was a newly backed four-year-old. He started his showing career as a hack and, having matured, took to riding horse ranks last season. He won his novice class in HM The Queen’s back garden at Royal Windsor and went on to secure the section title. “He was quite challenging in the beginning. He was a bit backwards in his attitude. It took a lot of hacking, some jumping and a few farm rides to get him thinking forward. Last year he really came into his own and he’s now a superstar. We’ve come so far with him and we owe a lot of his progress to my head groom, Tiffany Smith. Tiffany has a great bond with him and knows him inside…

ALLOWING the horse to eat, drink, relax and graze will allow vital replenishment of energy and lost fluids. Water intake should be carefully monitored throughout the competition. While hydration is important for optimal performance, remember that fluids themselves will not make a horse into a better showjumper. Recovery is mainly down long-term training and the correct preparation, along with the rider’s ability to give the horse a good ride both across country and in the showjumping phase. If dehydration is significant after the cross-country, or the horse has “tied up” or is colicky, intravenous fluids might be given. Such treatments will require authorisation by the FEI veterinary delegate, however, and their decision as to what is necessary or allowed may vary according to the event and the conditions.…

“I’VE ended up looking after the most famous dressage horse in the world, Valegro, but I started in hunt service with the Puckeridge and Thurlow. I was 16 and working for a ferocious head girl who promised my parents she’d put me off working with horses. Luckily I had a thirst for knowledge and couldn’t be put off. “I went to America for four years in my 20s as a travelling groom, working with showjumper Michael Matz, who had a horse called The General who went on to win gold at Pan Am Games. I’ve also worked for event riders, and in showing for Tania Alexander, who won the ladies hunter at HOYS in 1996 on Trump Card. “Still at my age I will go and ask the eventing grooms…

• For hacks, cobs, riding horses and hunters, ladies and gentlemen should wear tweed jackets with a neat collar and tie. • Breeches should be fawn, cream or buff – not white. • Plain black or brown boots can have a garter strap fixing with a button at the knee, and spurs should be worn by adults at the heel seam of the boot. • Gentlemen may wear a bowler hat and ladies a navy or black hunting cap, although the British Show Horse Association recommends the wearing of an approved safety hat at all times. • Gloves should be brown, fawn, cream or tan. • A correctly tied hunting stock with pin is required for evening performances.…

BESPOKE STOCK BY VESTO EQUESTRIAN Stylish, pre-tied stocks made in the colour and fabric of your choice, with coordinating trim available to match your hat, jacket or waistcoat. £30 including stock pin facebook.com/vestoclothing BIR LADIES’ SHOW SHIRT BY ANIMO The delicate Swarovski-encrusted lace design of this shirt gives the perfect look with your show jacket, finished with a graceful silver Swarovski Animo logo on the collar. Colours: white, navy, burgundy or black Sizes: 4–20 £140 animoitalia.com SPORTS SHOW JACKET BY MARK TODD This elegant competition jacket features a suedette collar, piped detailing and back vents. The addition of elastane aids movement, making it comfortable to wear. Colours: black and navy Sizes: ladies’ 8–16 (men’s and junior sizes also available) £162.98 marktoddcollection.co.uk SPORTSTYLE DIAMOND GLOVES BY UVEX…

• Under British Showjumping rules, riders must wear a jacket at competitions – either a traditional-style tailored jacket, hacking jacket, or new-style jacket which must be fully zipped. • Shirts can have long or short sleeves, but they must have a white collar. Ladies may wear shirts with high white collars without a stock. Coloured ties or stocks may be worn with hacking jackets. • Breeches or jodhpurs must be white, pale yellow, beige, grey or fawn. • Boots must be plain black or black with mahogany or patent tops, plain brown or brown with patent tops, plain navy blue or navy blue with mahogany or patent tops. • Traditional style leather jodhpur boots in plain black, brown or navy blue may be worn by junior riders, who may also…

“She crossed the country in great style, catching up with hounds some 10 miles distant” WHEN you’re hunting hounds in a tricky country, the last thing you want is to be battling with a difficult horse. Fortunately for Nigel Dickson, joint-master and former huntsman of the Badsworth and Bramham Moor, Merry was anything but difficult. “I had her as a five year old,” he remembers. “She was bought by then joint-master David Carr, who used to have racehorses with Jonjo O’Neill and knew a good horse.” The half-bred Irish mare was a star from the first. “She started fantastic,” Nigel explains. “Never had to do anything with her. She was always 100% true.” Having whipped-in to the Bramham Moor before hunting the York and Ainsty South, Nigel had returned to…

MANY equestrian centres are eligible for the government’s Covid-19 financial help, despite the fact some have been told this is not the case. As part of measures aimed to support those forced to close during the pandemic, businesses can claim a year’s business rates holiday and a significant grant. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and the Sport and Recreation Alliance have confirmed the retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund can be claimed by “businesses used for the provision of sport, leisure and facilities to visiting members of the public (including for the viewing of such activities)”. This applies to riding schools, livery yards and competition centres. Kate Morris, of Blue Barn Equestrian Centre in Kent, was told repeatedly by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) that she could not claim the assistance.…

IN THE NEWS BILLY CONGO William Funnell’s 2013 European gold medal-winning ride will stand at stud in Ireland this season. The Billy Stud’s 19-year-old retired from showjumping in 2019 and is standing at the Kylemore Stud in Co Galway. SHAMARDAL Godolphin’s dual champion racehorse and star stallion, who sired 25 Group One winners, has died aged 18. His progeny include the highest-rated two-year-old in 25 years, Pinatubo, and history-maker Blue Point. MUSKERRY BLUE DANUBE The Bates family’s prolific roan Welsh section B has died aged 21. In 2009, the gelding was M&M champion at the RIHS and won his section at HOYS. He also competed at Olympia on multiple occasions.…

THE government has “no plans” to make requested changes to the Highway Code in its second response to a road safety petition. The petition, launched by Pass Wide and Slow founder Debbie Smith, asked the government to make rules 163 and 215 of the code law. This would mean drivers must only overtake when safe to do so, pass horses wide and slow, at a maximum of 15mph, and abide by riders’ requests to slow down or stop. After the petitions committee felt the government’s response on 1 April – stating that a review of the guidance of the Highway Code and consultation was due to take place later this year – did not address the petition, it asked the government for a revised response. On 22 April the government…

DEFRA Good old Defra. In its advice for horse owners during the coronavirus pandemic, it recommends those with the virus contact vets or councils to help with horses, should they have no one else. I’m sure the councils are hugely appreciative of such a suggestion… PLACENTAS A top footballer recently said he underwent a massage involving horse placenta to try to heal an injury. Apparently it didn’t work. Next week, Pope’s religion revealed, stay tuned! TURKMENISTAN As Turkmenistan celebrates its national horse day, president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov reportedly revealed $680m has been earmarked for improving conditions for horses and breeders. Wonder how much he’s told his other half that cost……

A QUESTION I’m still continually asked is why there’s virtually no coverage of showjumping on mainstream television – especially when it was so popular in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. Due to the enthusiasm for football, other sports have had air time reduced. But I really do think that British Showjumping (BS) must put more resources into the promotion of our sport. For years I’ve been at odds with the present administration over it. They maintain that BS is a body for all members, and from a democratic point of view, I agree that it’s run very fairly. But having lived through those earlier days of extensive TV coverage, I know just how much effort a number of astute businessmen and promoters put in to make showjumping so popular with…

What was the last book you read? Bradley Wiggins’ autobiography My Time – it was really inspirational. What are your favourite tunes for a road-trip? I love to listen to a bit of Avicii. What’s your most annoying habit and your best trait? My wife Elisabeth says my worst habit is putting my wet towel on the bed after a shower. I’d like to think my best trait is treating others how I like to be treated myself. If you could have any horse in the world, which would you want? Tough question – there have been so many incredible horses over the years. But if I had to pick one it would be Big Star. He was scopey, careful, fast and rideable. He looked untouchable on his day. If…

TIMES SQUARE III Age: seven Breeding: Willowcroft Regal Bronze x Still Time Left Owners: Guy and Isabella Mears Rider: Danielle Heath Breeder: June Dent Greatest achievements: lightly shown as a hack in 2018, where he was novice champion at North of England spring, BSPS Area 1B and White Rose county. His debut season as a small riding horse the following year saw him win the novice riding horses and overall section championship at Royal Windsor. He also qualified for both Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International, where he stood fifth and seventh, respectively.…

WHAT qualities make great equestrians great? “Natural feel” will come high up on your list. After all, it’s a degree of feel that allows a jockey to control their pace, a showjumper to see a stride and a dressage rider to make tiny corrections before the mistake has even happened. This is not unique to equestrian sport – or sport overall. Good feel is also important in musicians, surgeons and pilots, to name just a few. So the question is not whether feel is important, but if it can be developed. This is where psychology has the potential to have an effect on the way we learn our craft and develop intuitive skill. Feel and intuition are closely linked. And it’s thanks to intuition that we can respond to deviations…

WHEN we cheer on an Olympic champion jumping his final clear round, we see the glorious fruition of months and years of training, practice and nurtured talent. What we don’t see is the monumental amount of time, negotiation, effort and the unsung heroes involved in physically getting not just that horse, but every horse in that championships, safely to – and home from – the event. Just flying hundreds of horses across the world to compete in a global championship is marvellous in itself, but that short plane trip is a tiny crumb of the years spent preparing for that journey. In most cases, it’s far longer than the time the rider has spent training his champion. MARTIN ATOCK is managing director at Peden Bloodstock, the appointed equestrian transporter and…

“FLYING back from Sydney in 2000 we had an engine failure – one out of six failed and we had to land in Singapore as scheduled for refuelling; the other engines were enough to get us there. We had 52 horses on the plane and we needed a plan – we could either wait for the engine to be mended, which could take days and stabling and transport were limited, or we could load them on to an empty incoming plane that was on its way to Sydney to pick up horses. “It was a logistical nightmare getting those horses off the plane in 30°C and on to the next plane as quickly as possible – it took about an hour and a half. They went on in the order…

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• Under British Dressage rules, riders are required to wear jackets in a conservative colour in a muted tone. Subtle embellishments and coloured collars/piping are allowed, but not bold patterns. Tweed jackets are allowed. A tail coat may be worn at advanced level or above, with a protective hat or top hat. • Breeches or jodhpurs must be plain white, cream, beige or canary yellow. • Riders can choose between a shirt and tie, white American collar or a stock. • Gloves must be worn. • Long or short riding boots are permitted, and short boots may be worn with or without gaiters or half chaps in the same leather and colour as the boots.…

THERE are many dates in a hunting year that are hugely significant to those involved, most of them fairly flexible, like the opening meet or the puppy show to name but two examples. The one fixed day that holds significance to every hunt official, the end of one season and beginning of the next, a time for change and renewal, is 1 May. Masters and staff start a new hunt year on this day. Some careers come to an end and others start, optimistic and full of hope about their future in the new and ever-evolving world of hunting. For many hunts, spring hunting used to continue until May, and some masters would try to catch a May fox every year. The month of May would herald hunter sales, when…

TRUE showing legends are few and far between, but hunter specialist David Tatlow certainly ranks as one of them. During a career in the ring spanning some 60 years, he notched up more than 40 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) wins and championships, numerous Royal Windsor and Royal International (RIHS) titles, countless championship show triumphs, and pretty much every major county show tricolour not once but several times. “Their achievements mean far more to me than my own”DAVID TATLOW ON HIS DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN’S SUCCESS The boy who grew up on a farm in Warwickshire was certainly bred for the job – his father Harry was one of the most revered showmen of his era, at the top of the tree with both hacks and hunters. “With my brother…

FORMER National Hunt jockey Bill Smith (pictured) has been a great friend and supportive owner for many years. “One of the reasons David was so successful was that he left nothing to chance,” says Bill. “He also never worried about changing his way with a horse if it wasn’t working out. “I’d ridden his racehorses a few times and one October, a jump meeting at Fakenham clashed with HOYS, so he asked me to go and ride his four runners so he could compete at Wembley. I won with three; it was his first treble as a trainer and mine as a jockey, but all he said to me was, ‘What happened to the other horse?’ “While the races were running, David was in the cinder ring with his hacks,…

“AS a judge, I’ve ridden lots of David’s horses, and you always knew they had been produced for a judge to ride,” David Walters (pictured) says. “They went forward and carried you; they felt they were just on the boil, which I loved. “He was always particular about limbs, too – they’d tend to have lovely flat bone and clean joints in correct alignment. I also loved the way he could just leave them to stand in line on their own, with their reins on their neck, while he went off to chat to someone. “David was always very competitive and once, when I was judging, he pulled himself into line in top before being asked. I wasn’t having that, so I signalled to the steward to send him back…

OWNERS are allowed to visit horses more than once a day if this is necessary for their welfare, the government has confirmed. In guidance for maintaining animal welfare during lockdown, Defra said people not showing coronavirus symptoms “may leave your house to exercise once a day and should combine this with [providing] care for your horse or livestock”. The release of this information on social media sparked questions from concerned owners who need to tend horses twice daily. In response to H&H requests, Defra confirmed this is allowed if necessary to maintain welfare. Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and keeps horses at livery must not visit them. “You should contact your yard manager or vet to make suitable welfare arrangements,” Defra stated, adding: “If you are too unwell to…

Jockey Tom Marquand has been fined £1,000 for breaking Covid-19 social distancing protocols in Australia. Tom celebrated a win by hugging the horse’s groom Safid Alam. National Hunt trainer Seamus Mullins has swapped the yard for his local Waitrose after stepping in to help the short-staffed store. Seamus said he is doing a few shifts each week. Showing producer Sam Roberts rode for four hours, on eight ponies, without stirrups in aid of Brooke, in place of the London Marathon she had been due to run. She raised £3,060. Racehorse owner and father of former showjumper Tim, Bill Gredley has donated £50,000 to Newmarket’s Covid-19 Fund. The fund supports initiatives including delivering essential supplies. The Professional Jockeys Association’s executive director and company secretary Ann  Saunders has retired after 43…

IN THE NEWS HAZEL HILL It is hoped the Cheltenham 2019 Foxhunter winner will return to racing next season. The 12-year-old, owned by Diana Williams, is in good form after an irregular heartbeat meant withdrawal from the 2020 race. MALLARDS WOOD APOLLO Victoria Edwards-Sonnex’s New Forest has died aged nine. The bay stallion was a big success under saddle for Victoria, with placings at both the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and qualifying for Olympia. CORRALASS The 128cm showjumper, who helped launch the careers of many riders and had top results at HOYS, Hickstead and the RIHS, has died aged 32. Her riders included Coral Mowbray, George Whitaker and Holly Williams.…

YOUR story about keeping horse sport viable for when we compete again (news, 16 April) has prompted me to write. As secretary of the Cottesmore Hunt, I have seen the devastating effect the Covid-19 pandemic is having on a membership-based organisation. All our summer fundraising plans have been scuppered, which is a potential disaster, so please do consider the future when cancelling your membership to a club or governing body. When the restrictions are eventually lifted, you will want to crack on with your favourite event or training session. However, without your membership, clubs and organisations may have to close their doors for the season and some will cease to exist completely. Life after Covid-19 is not going to be the same, but it would be tragic to see institutions…

IT’S heartening to see the ways in which horse owners cope in these strange times. I’m so sorry for those unable to see their horses, but the overwhelming feeling is that we must plan, be positive and encourage each other as much as possible. Riding schools and livery yards face enormous challenges, and the determination and initiative some businesses show is inspiring. I’m determined to stay positive, not least for the sake of the staff with us in self-isolation and for the clients trusting me to look after their horses. We’re taking the chance to stand back, see how riders and horses are progressing and work on improvements. We’re still riding because riding – albeit with restrictions, such as not backing youngsters – seemed the best way to maintain morale.…

I have the perfect job – I love horses and everything about trucks. But I was born a cockney in London and, until we moved out of the city when I was 11, I thought milk came from a supermarket, not cows. But I fell in love with horses then, and haven’t looked back. I used to work as a breakdown van driver, and it was on a call-out that I got speaking to this guy who turned out to be Bruce Wofford, who runs his international horse transport business. He asked if I fancied a change and I ended up working for him before setting up on my own in 1991. There is no typical day, or passenger, in this business – the number of horses I travel around…

“I always give my horse a kiss on the nose before I get on to warm up” I’VE always been of the opinion that if a horse doesn’t do something the way you’d like him to, there can only be two reasons why: either they don’t understand, or they physically can’t. That could be because they are not strong enough, not coordinated enough, or are uncomfortable in some way. Thinking this way helps me to approach problems, whether in my teaching or my own riding, with a more positive mindset. We often assume horses think like we do, and we humanise them, but actually they can’t think and plan with the same levels of logic that we do. Another attitude I’ve picked up over the years is the thinking that…

“YOU can’t have a groom on board the plane for every horse, but I always used to fly with Valegro – he wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without me. “Horses react in different ways, and you have to be ready for that. Freestyle is bold and brave, and was busy looking out the window when going up on the hydraulics, which are really noisy. I was handing her millions of carrots. Meanwhile Delicato said: ‘I’m fine, I’ll just sit in the corner and eat my hay.’ “They relax quickly in the air, and then it’s a case of keeping an eye on them and making sure they’re comfortable and it’s nice and quiet. “If they get travel sickness, they spike a fever, get pneumonia and have to go straight on…

WHEN Piggy March (née French) won her first Badminton last year, she was quick to credit her team. “It isn’t just about me,” she said. “It’s about the people around me who work so hard every day.” Piggy nominated her groom, Amy Phillips, for the Horse & Hound NAF Five Star Groom of the Year award last year, too – which she won – saying: “Without her my dreams wouldn’t have come true.” Behind every great rider is a hard-working and devoted team of grooms, and there are some who have become well-known for the dedication they’ve shown to the job. From taking charge on the yard to ensuring everything runs smoothly at competitions, grooms are an invaluable cog that help to turn the wheel of success. The role of…

LACE STRETCH SHOW SHIRT BY EQUETECH This breathable, wicking and quick-drying show shirt has beautiful lace shoulder panels for ventilation and style. With 5% spandex, it gives you complete freedom of movement. Tie not included. Colour: buttermilk Sizes: 8–24 £34.95 equetech.com SHOW TIE BY SHOWQUEST Choose from a selection of ties in spots or stripes, manufactured in the UK, with matching accessories such as hair scrunchies and browbands also available. Colours: red, navy, burgundy, pale blue, bottle green, pale pink, cerise, navy and red, navy and pale blue, with gold or silver spots or stripes Sizes: adults’ and children’s From £12.20 showquest.co.uk ROECK-GRIP GLOVES BY ROECKL These synthetic leather gloves give exceptional grip and tactility while being supple, elastic and highly breathable. They are also touchscreen compatible…

• Under British Eventing rules, riders must wear a “jockey skull” meeting appropriate standards, with no peak or peak-type extensions. Noticeable protuberances above the eyes or to the front not greater than 8mm, smooth and rounded in nature are permitted. • Riders must also wear a body protector meeting the appropriate BETA standard, or an exo body cage. • Airbags must be worn over a permitted body protector. • Long sleeves are strongly recommended. • Long boots or full-grain smooth leather gaiters with matching boots should be worn, with breeches; under-16s can wear jodhpurs and jodhpur boots.…

KNEE-HIGH BOOT SOCKS BY FELIX BÜHLER These extra-thin boot socks have been specially developed to be worn with riding boots and to make it easier to put boots on. The high cotton content of the footbed ensures perfect comfort, and the comfortable cuff creates a perfect hold. Colours: black, aubergine, cobalt blue, mint, navy, peach or white Sizes: one size (3–7) £4.49 kramer.co.uk AUBRION PARK ROYAL SHOW JACKET BY SHIRES This sleek jacket is made of stretchy quick-dry fabric and tailored for a slim fit and shorter length. It features a suede collar trim with iridescent diamantes, two concealed zip pockets, contrast suede trim rear vents, a concealed zip fastening and a contrast mesh lining. Colours: black, navy, royal or grey Sizes: 28–42in £119.99 shiresequestrian.com AYRBRUSH REFLECTION WITH…

HUMANS are the most adaptable species even when over-conditioned by habit and convention. While we wildly resist tumbling into Huxley’s Brave New World, we are operating under a “new normal” which will then become the “old normal” as we build yet another “new normal.” Our vocabulary has inflated almost unsuspectingly: self-isolation, furlough, Covid-19, social distancing, lockdown. Fresh from this morning’s home-schooling session on quadrilateral equations for six-year olds – plus ça change – I concur that our national respect for teachers, like our NHS, has rocketed, shamefully so. After childhood tears and tantrums, I now appreciate why my mother, who once wore the Union flag on her competition coat, used to “outsource” my riding lessons. My horsemanship would undoubtedly be better if I had gracefully accepted her tuition, but familiarity…

ONE of David’s main rivals was Robert Oliver (pictured, above, on Tenterk in 1978), who usually calls him “Tat”. “One of Tat’s advantages was his background – his father, Harry, was an amazing horseman and taught both David and his brother so much,” Robert says. “And because Tat was also a jockey, this varied experience was invaluable. “He was also naturally flamboyant and rode every horse to the best of its ability. He’d out-gallop most of the professionals, too – some tended to gallop with the handbrake still partly on, but David would come round the corner and scatter us all. Some judges liked it, but some didn’t! “We became great friends outside the ring, but fierce opponents in it. I was once at the Royal Show on a four-year-old…

ONE of the things that has irked me over the years is that the ponies don’t get used enough. With Alec and Mary away at school and Jack not really bothered either way, they take on field ornament status during the term time. When Alec and Mary come home, they’re never very enthusiastic about riding around the farm. It’s all changed now, trapped at home without all the other distractions life can bring; Alec and Mary have been building and jumping fences, having races, riding around the fields daily. It’s a joy to see. I SUPPOSE we’ve all adjusted in some way or another. Finding pleasure in new things. Previously I would rather poke my own eyes out than spend an hour pushing a trolley around a supermarket. Since the…