There’s dismay as the Land Rover breaks down just as all our horses and riders are fit for action. It will cost hundreds to fix, so that’s that at the height of the competition season.

Daniel has had a week off after Steve decided the little chap was worn out throwing people off. He was brought back in on Saturday, minus his powder blue fly mask. We found it suspended from a tree in the most inaccessible corner of the field. “’Oped I’d seen the last o’ tha’ ‘at,” he muttered.

Mrs Horse and Baby Horse have been kept very busy. “When’s it my turn for a rest?” puffed Baby on his third training session of the week.

Esme and Mrs Horse are rebuilding their partnership in leaps and bounds, thanks to the help of David Horton. Jenny and Esme first met David, head groom on the Bannister estate, at Malham Show five years ago. A six-year-old Mrs Horse had dislodged the planks in the first class and thrown a front shoe. As we led her back to the wagon – our day seemingly over – David appeared. He replaced the shoe and lent Esme his spurs. In an amazing turnabout, Mrs Horse came fourth in the Open class and went on to win it the following year.

On Saturday, The Boss generously took time out from his formidable workload to heft Baby into the trailer for a trip with Mrs Horse to Craven Country Ride. Steve and Jack were keen to hone their cross country skills and Jenny came along on foot, anxious neither gentleman should tumble.

Small logs and the Multibank were safely negotiated before the gentlemen reached a triple line of eventing-style fences. Mrs Horse jumped the yellow pipes and the rolltop. Baby cut in behind and impressively launched himself over the rolltop.

“Now chaps, let’s have a paddle,” said Jenny, ushering them towards the safety of the water complex. But both riders were anxious for new challenges. Jack chose the chair and a daunting double of hedges. Steve urged Baby over the barrels, a solid fence that was part of 2008’s Coniston Hunter Trials course.

Steve and Baby then recklessly took on a “skinny” barrel, snapping the marker flag clean off, before trundling shamefacedly away. To finish, the horses matched strides in a perfect doubles leap over the plastic sacks.

Jenny was congratulating herself when the gentlemen set off on a last, downhill gallop. Within two strides, Mrs Horse had taken hold and Baby seemed alarmingly able to keep up.

As Jack steered to the right, Baby buried himself in the hedge, leaving Steve clinging round his neck.

It was very nearly the first real fall anyone has had off Baby. Last summer, Steve slid head-first down his neck when the ginger giant shook himself vigorously!

Jenny Loweth and Steve Wright