Major
Tegoz Marianos, or Major, is my 16 year old Welsh Section D. I bought him from Oldfold while I was working there as he was generally causing trouble in the riding school and it was very clear that after 3 years he'd had enough. He never enjoyed a life of being ridden by lots of different people and would run away from everyone when he was led from the field, untie himself and disappear from the stables and buck and catleap around the school. It was clear, however, in the 3 years I knew him that he had great potential and he had a very sweet personality when he wasn't trying to kill people!
I was asked to keep him busy over Christmas 2002 when all of the other riding school horses and ponies were given a break - we knew if he was allowed 2 weeks off there would be chaos when he was brought back into work - and my suspicions were confirmed. He was a brilliant horse when given one on one attention and I decided that if I passed my driving test on the 28th January 2003 then I would buy him - I passed and treated myself to a pretty special Valentine's present!
Despite being warned by everyone who had ever witnessed Major's bucking displays that he would never be safe to ride outside, I ignored them and started working towards our first outing - a hunter pace at Dinnet in summer 2003. All went amazingly well and we completed the course. Twice in fact!
He's gone from strength to strength and we have competed successfully in cross country, showjumping and in hand showing throughout Aberdeenshire and beyond:
Dunecht XC course, 2003 (2 falls in the warm up arena alone must be a record!);
Tahuna XC course, 2003;
Loanhead Showojumping League;
Denburn Summer Showjumping League - placed at several heights;
Turriff Show 2005 - M&M in hand, 4th place;
Oldfold Gymkhana 2006- First place in 2ft6 and 2ft3, qualifying for the Saltire Series Championships in Carluke, Glasgow, coming 4th in our section;
Aden Park 2006 - First place in 2ft3 and 2ft6, took home the 2ft6 trophy for 2006
We're already planning ahead and looking forward to competing next summer!
Judi
Judi is our third and current Lhasa Apso. She is 4 years old and absolutely mad. There's nothing she likes better than playing with her blue duck (used to be mine), her Gordon the Gopher (also used to be mine) and her furry yellow banana (recently deceased).
She can be quite grouchy with people she doesn't know and for this reason we have to warn all newcomers to the house not to touch her until she's used to you. She warms to you after a few visits and then she'll be your best friend in the whole world, especially if you give her some carrots.
As you can see, she's none too impressed with the idea of having a bath...
Chewy and Vince
Chewbacca and Vince Noir are my 1 year old guinea pigs. They share a large area of the garage with my gorgeous black Netherland Dwarf rabbit Scooby Bob Valentine (long story!)
These guys are the greediest guinea pigs I have ever owned - Vince especially - and they will squeak so loud you can hear then from the house if you so much as rustle a carrier bag of food.