Horses can be just like people, with their own unique personalities. We thought Baby was an alien because of his glowing amber eyes and very peculiar ways. But on Sunday, he was likened to the star of a horror movie.

Our friends, Keith and Nicola, strolled down the hill to say hello to the horses after having lunch at the nearby pub.

Keith’s brother, coming face to face with Baby for the first time, was taken aback. “He looks completely mad – like Jack Nicholson in The Shining,” he said.

If Daniel was to star in a film, the obvious role would be the hungry orphan, Oliver Twist. The little chap would be first in the queue with his rubber supper dish, saying: “Please, Sir, I want summore.”

On Saturday, his fear of being short-changed at mealtimes became reality when Jenny returned from Skipton with a deluxe new haynet for Baby. The Easyfill resembles a large fishing net, with rigid circular opening and capacious black mesh interior. Once full, Jenny could barely lift it.

Daniel boggled in furious disbelief as the Easyfill was dragged across the yard towards Baby’s stable. He booted his box door in temper as two of us hauled it up into position.

On the subject of films, we have found the ideal role for one of the yard’s most high-profile (some might say annoying) characters.

We think black terrier, Jack, an ever-present bundle of mischievous energy, would be the perfect Toto in BBC TV’s search for Dorothy’s dog in “Over the Rainbow”.

Jack, who belongs to The Boss’s mother, is always getting into scrapes. He narrowly escaped being squashed by the dustcart, almost drowned in the midden and was retrieved after going missing for hours when he accompanied walkers to a pub miles away. His habit of running under show jumps just as a horse takes off prompted one livery yard customer to remark that his passing “would not be mourned.”

The chilly Easter weekend, with heavy showers, led to the postponement of Monday’s Trail Ride. “Never mind, can’t be ’elped,” said Daniel, grumpily munching on his old haylage net.

Instead, he was taken on a demanding two-hour ride. “I betta get seconds fo’ this,” he panted, trotting up his umpteenth hill in a blustering wind and driving drizzle.

Later, Baby got himself in a tangle on the horse walker. As it began revolving, he turned to face the wrong way. Panicking, he got his powerful bottom wedged against the sides before heaving himself around in the nick of time.

“Yer a great actor, Bruv,” said the still resentful Daniel.

Steve Wright & Jenny Loweth