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Hannah Russell
Features Writer
@hannahrussell26
3:34 PM 28th October 2020
family

End Of October – Winter Woollies

 
It’s nearly the end of October and the ponies are looking as woolly as ever around the yard. I love seeing their winter coats. Alfie always looks cute in his winter fluff. After the clocks changed last weekend, Alfie hasn’t been very impressed as it means he is waiting for his breakfast and tea at the wrong times now and I keep hearing him whinny by the gate wondering where I am and why I haven’t fed him.

With the nights now drawing in and the weather beginning to turn Alfie and the rest of the ponies, Paddy and Pepper have begun to stay inside on a night. I always feel better when they are in the stable as I know they will be warm and not getting wet when it’s pouring down.

Alf seems to love it too; he has always enjoyed his stable and I can’t blame him really, I too love being inside on a night next to the fire – especially when there are mince pies in the cupboard!

The past few months seem to have flown by so quickly. I’ve been on recovery after having treatment for Sarcoma cancer earlier this year but slowly now getting my strength back up with help from the horses. They are brilliant therapy and I’m not quite sure where I would be without them. On the darkest of days they have lifted my spirits. I think animals are great in making you smile.

Unfortunately, I lost my first pony In August, who died at the age of 36. It’s still a little strange not seeing him in the fields but every day it gets a bit better and the other horses are helping to keep me busy with walks, mucking out and feed time. One day I am hoping to get back in the saddle when I get back to full strength.

Over October I’ve been working on the next Little Alf book, which I hope to be released next month. This is the 9th book in the series which is exciting, and next year I will be launching book number 10 as Alfie turns 10 years old in April 2021.

For this year I have released Little Alf’s new calendar, with 12 months of Alfie on each page which has proven to be popular so far. I’ll be hanging one up in the office!