Blindfolded and pegged to the wall, Daniel was beginning to think it wasn’t his day. “’Scuse me folks. Anybody there?” he said. “There’s a bloke ’ere needs ’elp.”

Sunday’s predicament was the final straw after a week of problems with his hats. First he lost his red fly mask, then he lost his blue one. It was found 20 yards into the next field the following morning.

By Friday, Jenny was not surprised to receive a text message from Esme saying: “Daniel ‘Peter Rabbit’ horse has lost ’is ’at again!”

He was reunited with the red mask for just two days before his persistent efforts to remove it landed him in real bother. Trying to scratch it off on a metal peg outside his stable, he crumpled it over his eyes and hooked himself to the wall.

“Tha’ ’at’s more trouble than it’s worth,” Daniel grumbled, after a kindly chap at the yard freed him.

Soon afterwards, his determination to scratch his other end led him to tip over a heaped barrow outside his stable.

Daniel’s sore tail – so bad he needed a visit from the vet – is healing, but he still has raw patches on his head. We hope the autumn’s first frost will kill the midges that have plagued him with sweet itch all summer.

The decision to keep Daniel’s younger brother, Baby Horse, was more than vindicated on Sunday afternoon when the pair were reunited after a few hours.

When Baby returned to their field in the late summer sunshine there wasn’t another horse in sight. He neighed, hoping for a friendly reply. From above the tree line, came a noisy response. Daniel charged down the hill, shoes skidding and the silvery skirts of his fly rug flapping.

He and Baby greeted one another affectionately before wandering off happily together.

Baby has been trying harder since his reprieve. Jack put in hours of hard work last week doing poles and grids and boosting his fitness with hacks and canter work.

Sunday saw Baby and Mrs Horse taking a trip to Craven Country Ride. Baby, as usual, had to be hauled into the trailer after planting his front feet on the ramp, mad amber eyes rolling.

We were glad to travel in fine weather after a windscreen wiper fell off the Land Rover.

Baby jumped many of the Novice fences from the recent hunter trials, including the first log, Multibank, rustic double, sacks and barrels. Mrs Horse built on her success at Somerford Park by leaping most of the Open fences.

Steve and Daniel are working towards Coniston Hunter Trials in less than two weeks. After coming sixth in the Pairs class last year, they are teaming up with Lisa and Joseph in the hope of another rosette.

Jenny Loweth & Steve Wright