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Grace's first drive in Shetland
It was a lovely day yesterday, so we decided we would give Grace her first drive in Shetland.
We were a bit worried about how Harvey would react to her leaving the field. He has become very attached to her since their journey up and is rarely more than a few feet from her side. The last thing we wanted was for him to jump the fence again - he's only just had the stitches out! So we were very pleased when a horse and pony owning neighbour turned up with 2 girls from the village. My OH could then stay with Harvey while my neighbour could act as groom.
All things considered, we decided to keep to the road alongside our land and the pier area at the bottom.
What with the move and everything, I haven't driven Grace for about six months, and she was "enthusiastic" but, thankfully, very obedient. Harvey did start to freak out, especially when he lost sight of her behind one of the sheds on the pier. Eggwub wanted to join in the fun, though whether that meant rushing around the field with Harvey or joining Grace on the road is debatable. And of course the Muppets were very interested, from their field on the other side of the road.
So, at one point, we had Harvey (all 16.3 ISH of him) calling frantically to Grace and thundering along the fenceline, with Eggwub in tow, on one side of the road, while on the other the 2 Muppets were trying to race each other - and Grace - along their fenceline. Grace, bless her, stayed in walk (her least favourite gait) until I considered the situation around us stable enough for her to trot, coming back to walk when I asked.
She also coped with the unloading of one of the mussel boats on the pier without a mumour. I was able to give both girls a ride in the cart, with my neighbour walking by Grace's head "just in case". Harvey did calm down a little when he realised Grace was not going far, so we ended up with my neighbour riding in the cart with me and Grace needing only the lightest of contacts. Phew!
OK, we did not go far in distance - I suppose three times up and down the road would come to a bit less than a mile - but I feel Grace deserved her apple, and us our cup of tea, afterwards.
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