We do love our horses; the smell, touch and feel is enough to melt any equestrian’s heart BUT and that’s a big but, as with anything in life, days don’t often go as smoothly as intended.

Here we run down 19 points that, if you are a horse owner, you’ll be able to relate to.

1. The hay man running late
2. Everyone’s opinion is right, yet conflicts with the next persons
3. Dropping the brand new riding hat while being careful not to
4. Electric fencing that won’t stay in place
5. Horses that escape, with said electric fencing being snapped (poles) and trodden into the mud (fencing) – each time reminding you of the need to buy a new battery
6. Overflowing muck heaps and the individuals that like to dump and leave it all at the bottom
7. Wheelbarrows left full (and overflowing) to be blown all over the yard
8. Having to collect the horse’s rug from the middle of the field when you’re short on time (and it’s probably their new one)
9. Getting stuck in the mud whilst holding the gate with 5+ large horses cantering towards you
10. Tacking up, climbing on board and entering the arena, only to realise the horse is lame
11. On bringing a non ‘horsey’ friend to the yard the horse acts like a twit the entire time
12. The snapped shavings falk is telling of a heavy winter
13. Turning out when you’re in a rush and not being able to find the horse’s lead rope
14. Getting to the yard to realise your muckers are at home and you have to muck out in work heels or riding boots
15. Horse shoes torn off in bog
16. The items of tack and yard gear that just disappear
17. Drumming up the enthusiasm to ride, yet when you arive the heavens open and there’s no indoor
18. Strange looks from shoppers in the supermarket, school mums and those in coffee shops when clad in your full equestrian wear
19. Partners that fail to understand the importance of needing to see your horse every day – sometimes twice