Green card! I've got a green card!

No, not the US immigration variety. Not the golfing type either. This is the card that shows I've passed the tests and am allowed to compete in e.g. dressage or show jumping. In order to get it one needs to take a course and pass a riding test, a practical horse handling test and a written exam. I did the practical test last week and today I did the written one - and I went away with a shiny new green card in my wallet!

To compete at anything above club level one also needs a riders' licence, which costs money - and to get the riders' licence you must have the green card and be a member of a club which is a member of the Swedish equestrian sports association. So the green card isn't a license but it's a prerequisite for the license.

I fully intend to take part in at least one dressage competition, even if only at the club level, this autumn. And even if I don't, at least I've got a major sense of accomplishment out of getting the green card!

Cat news

Tusse keeps getting better, but it seems that he's managed to lick his wound despite the e-collar. I put a tighter one on him and hope that will be enough. Tomorrow we're taking him for a checkup at the vet's; if he's still able to get at the wound I should think they'll have something that works better.

I've found the perfect way of giving him pills. If I just put it in his mouth he manages to spit it out - he did that twice today. So what I do is I prepare the cat food he likes - then I give him the pill before putting the food bowl down. At that point he's so eager to get at the food that he just swallows the pill and rushes at the bowl.

I don't think that'd work with the other two...