NEXT week the clocks go back, signalling that winter is well and truly on its way.

The number of daylight hours are reducing, but do you think the horses notice? It's recognised horses require routine for feed times, turnout etc but this changes in the winter. It's darker in the mornings - so are they still kicking the door and stamping to get out at their normal time or do they behave differently when it's dark in the mornings?

I think we've been quite lucky this autumn with mild temperatures, although last weekend's cold weather will have sent many horse owners into taking out their horse's heavyweight turnout rugs from the summer store cupboard and putting them on their horse (me included!)

Just last weekend, I still saw hedges laden with brambles, hawthorn bushes have heavily branches of fruit and our apple trees have produced a bumper crop.

This summer has been marvellous, let's hope the winter is kind - dry, cold without too much frost or rain, or is that asking too much?