THE MONTHLY MUSTER
[belated] November Newsletter

Hello, and welcome back to the blog for the November Monthly Muster. I had full intention of writing another post throughout the month of November and of having this post out on time, but with Harry being at the vet and things being up in the air as a result, I didn’t get round to it.

Personal Updates

I have made it to the end of my first teaching position in Australia! It has been a big learning year for me in getting used to a completely different type of school as well as a new system and curriculum. It has been a challenge but it has also been very rewarding and it has set me in good stead for next year.

Due to Harry having to have continuing treatments for his fungal eye infection/ his cancer recovery, my husband and I are now unable to go back to Scotland for Christmas. It is really disappointing for us, but we will try to embrace the holiday season here in Australia. It’s absolutely not the same but it is very much out of our hands.

This will be our first Christmas just the two of us so I think it will be lovely to start creating our own traditions and finding our own way of celebrating Christmas. It also gives me time to prepare for the new school year and to potentially get Harry back into more serious work again, depending on how he goes, of course.

Training updates

I don’t have any training updates for poor Harry because he has obviously been out of work for around 7 weeks now. Harry came home on the 18th November and was absolutely overjoyed to be back with his friends. He has been chilling out in the field and getting treatments and feeds three times a day. It’s so frustrating because I was starting to see a difference in his weight and muscle mass just before he went to the vet. Now, he has lost weight again due to the stress/ routine of the vet and I’m having to start all over again to feed him up. It’s such a challenge trying to get and maintain his weight, a constant battle and a constant financial suck!

Goals for December

The vet told me that Harry can do ‘walk’ work only as too much work can affect the healing process. I’ve been thinking about what I could do with him throughout the rest of December and into the New Year to help him regain some muscle, while still learn some things too.

As a result, I am going to go back to basics with him and do some fun groundwork games, hopefully leading to some liberty work. Alongside this, I will lunge him and get him walking over ground and raised poles to help him at least gain some muscle back.

I’m trying to think of as many fun things as I can to teach him as well as carry out purposeful sessions to help him get back in shape, but all, of course, at a walk.

Recommendations

Mochara Leggings

I have heard about Mochara from multiple sources, mostly Megan Elphick from Elphick Events Ponies and from the That’s Lame podcast by Joanna Thurman-Baker and Evelina Shrieve. They have all raved about the product and I have been looking for a more comfortable option for riding/ just being at the yard. I decided to order a pair and oh my goodness am I glad I did. These leggings are so versatile and comfortable. I feel a lot more confident going to the shops before/ after the yard and they also just look and feel so nice. 10/10 from me!