It has been an eventful week as Daniel fell out with The Boss, Mrs Horse got stuck upside down in her box and Baby had a ridiculous haircut. Worming time came round again and Daniel took great exception to The Boss administering the unpalatable paste. The unhappy memory lingered the next day when it was time to round up the horses from their field.

“I’m not ’avin’ any more o’ that nasty medsun,” said Daniel, trotting naughtily away through the mud and the late afternoon mist. “Come back ’ere, yer little *******!” shouted The Boss, wallowing in angry pursuit.

A weekend of frosty ground and dazzling sunshine saw us out and about with the boys. Before venturing down the lane, Jenny decided to smarten Baby up by cutting back his thick forelock. “Cripes!” said Baby as the large scissors snipped relentlessly.

“He looks like the Last of the Mohicans,” said Steve in dismay, as Baby blinked back at him from beneath his new pudding-bowl haircut.

All three horses had a good stretch, with steady canters through woodland and up the cross-country field, finishing with a short session in the school.

Invigorated, Mrs Horse enjoyed an enthusiastic roll on the fresh straw in her stable, only to get herself “cast” with her legs stuck against the side.

Steve and The Boss rushed to help as the black mare thrashed on her back in a most unladylike fashion. The sight of a gentleman about to enter her boudoir spurred her to give a thundrous kick against the wooden wall and regain her feet, snorting and shaking indignantly.

There was just time on Saturday for Steve to trot up the lane to the pub to watch his favourite steeplechaser, Mister McGoldrick, run another gallant race and again finish third at Cheltenham.

We are looking forward to the visit of some of our friends from work this weekend. Ben, Hannah, Lucy and Tanya have already heard and seen a great deal about our horses – with Steve always on the lookout for fresh “victims” to view his photo collection.

“Tell ’em to bring plenty o’ grub wi’ ’em,” said Daniel, looking forward to extra mints, apples and carrots. What the little chap hasn’t been told is that several of his fans are hoping for a ride.

Sunday’s bitter cold morning saw The Boss cursing as his big yellow digging machine refused to start.

So far, the Land Rover’s replaced engine is coping well with the severe winter chill. Jenny’s problem is the new gearbox. “They’ve forgotten to put in fourth gear,” she complains, going from third to nowhere, to second, to fifth on the Skipton bypass.

“I’ll soon get the hang of it,” she promised. “Like Baby’s haircuts.”

Steve Wright and Jenny Loweth