Baby Horse is staying. It may be that our visit to Somerford Park built up unreasonable expectations of the ginger giant. Jenny spent two days watching athletic, warm-blooded horses half-passing across arenas and leaping 4ft 6in fences. Baby, stumbling reluctantly over the tiniest crossbar, was found wanting.

But, once back home, Jenny realised she couldn’t bear to part with him. We have had Baby for more than five years, ever since he was some sort of cinnamon-coloured foal.

Jenny looked at his pitiful row of three rosettes and the treasured photographs of him paddling in the Somerford Park water complex.

Baby has become an essential part of our family, a point firmly made by Steve, Esme and Jack. And how could we tell Daniel, who is devoted to his younger brother, that they would be separated?

The decision taken, we were able to reassure Baby fans – dismayed to read last week that he might be on his bike – that he remains an all-too-firm fixture.

Meanwhile, the Boss has excavated a huge hole in front of Baby’s stable. Ladies at the yard were very excited to see the foundations for the long-awaited new hot and cold horse showers.

“Is that a paddling pool for me?” asked Baby, his mad amber eyes aglow at the prospect of indulging in his favourite pastime so close to home.

“You’ll be in it if you don’t buck your ideas up,” warned Jenny.

We are also tempted to bury the Land Rover after it failed to start yet again.

On Saturday, Steve ambitiously donned his cross-country colours for the Pony Club Hunter Trials hosted by Craven Country Ride.

Now back to full fitness, he is determined to catch up after a season bedevilled by injury and a broken Land Rover.

David Coates had, as always, built a safe but challenging course. It included two water complexes, the Multibank and an assortment of logs, rails, spruces, barrels and bales. Jenny was not optimistic, though, as Steve and Daniel wavered their way towards the first log in the 2ft 3in Novice class.

Minutes later, the pair galloped across the finish line to complete their first hunter trial.

“Tha’ were ‘ard work,” Daniel panted. “I’ll be needin’ a great plate o’ grub to get mi strength back.”

Steve was delighted to come half-way up the order, but felt his time of almost 12 minutes was a little slow.

“Maybe you can go a bit faster next time,” he suggested to Daniel.

“Tha’s gratitude,” muttered Daniel, gobbling grass as Jenny hung up his slightly damp saddlecloth.

“’Eaven knows, I’m the last to spare miself,” he added, seizing another lush mouthful.

Our friend Lisa narrowly missed a rosette with Joseph, having one run out at the skinny barrel.

Her proud mum, who cuts out all mention of Joseph in the Diary, will no doubt be reaching for the scissors once more.

Jenny Loweth & Steve Wright