A busy weekend saw Jenny flung off in the lane and friends from work having fun with the horses. Baby is bouncing with vigour after local event rider David Elms suggested lacing his supper with vegetable oil.

On Saturday, he bucked round the yard before pushing his way to the front for a hack to Bank Newton. On the way back, Baby again shouldered bossily past Mrs Horse and Daniel to take the lead.

Rounding a hilly bend, he came suddenly upon two ramblers picnicking in the shelter of the stone wall.

“Yikes!” said Baby, spinning abruptly and throwing Jenny over his right shoulder on to the hard, stony ground.

“Ooh, err,” said Baby, planting himself across the lane and peering down at Jenny with a surprised look in his mad amber eyes.

The picnickers left their thermos flasks and striped camping stools to assist.

Jenny lay prone in the mud, still clutching her whip. After fearing for a few seconds that she may have suffered some catastrophic spinal damage, she climbed painfully to her feet, muddy, bruised and feeling very silly.

It was only the second time Baby had launched his rider from the saddle. Last summer, he propelled Steve skywards over a brush fence. At last he is becoming the powerful, forward-going horse we would like him to be.

On Sunday, it was the turn of journalist Hannah to brave the jaunty ginger giant in a gallop up the cross-country field.

She was one of four friends from work to turn up at the yard in sturdy boots to meet the horses. Daniel’s eyes lit up as they produced a bag of goodies, including carrots and mints.

“Wot’s fer afters?” he asked, greedily wolfing his fifth carrot. “Lots of exercise,” Steve replied.

There were plenty of volunteers to brush and comb the boys and help to tack them up. Steve cantered Daniel up the cross-country field, jumping the Loch Ness Monster and the big rail. Then he was handed over to Lucy for a ride round the school.

“’Ow many more?” Daniel asked, trotting up the lane with Tanya. “Noranutheran,” he puffed as Ben took to the saddle.

While Daniel was busy, Esme and Mrs Horse went showjumping in the school, while Baby and Jack steamed over a small crossbar with great enthusiasm.

Everyone then walked up the hill to the pub for drinks in front of a roaring log fire. Eight of us sat down to lunch in the restaurant, overlooking the canal and summer turnout fields.

Daniel yawned before tucking into a hearty tea.

“I ’ope it’s a steadier day tomorrer,” he said, unaware he was booked in for an energetic schooling session.

Steve Wright & Jenny Loweth