2022 accomplishments & 2023 aims?

[millitiger]

I thought it might be nice to have a thread to look back over the year, as it comes to an end, and somewhere to make (the loosest!) plans for 2023.

Starting with the bad I lost my beautiful Jack in July, and he has left a 17hh hole in our lives, which should still be full of his loopy ways.
Sadly a field accident in February caused a lot of compensations from his prior ownership to make an appearance and we couldn't even get him field sound.
I know I will never jump such a brilliant, generous, horse again- my only wish was to have had him since a youngster, however I am pleased he had kindness in his last 3 years and he absolutely knew how much we all doted on him and treated him like the king he was.


In brighter news, Dima had the most incredible competition year and I doubt we will repeat it; we went everywhere with the plan only to have a good day out, and he definitely delivered that!
We did 3 x events and he won them all with double clears. Neither of us are natural show jumpers so I'm most proud of that.
We did riding club dressage and were south west and south Wales Riding Test Champions at Hartpury.
We also qualified for the RC National Champs and trekked all the way to Lincolnshire. Dima was amazing and we won the Novice and the Elementary- only our 2nd test at the level!

Lastly we ticked team chasing off my bucket list and he took to that like a duck to water, straight into lead horse position.


...so gold stars all around BUT it does make me nervous that our 2023 season won't live up to this year.
Plans for next season are-
BRC arena eventing champs in March which we somehow qualified for!
Planning to affiliate BD and would like to do summer Areas at Elementary and then aim for Medium in the 2nd half of the year.
More team chasing in spring and autumn.
Do some more eventing- no aims here except to keep having fun and remembering why we put ourselves through this!

I also have 2 x some to be 2yros to get out and about to some little shows for experience, fingers crossed they aren't too wild!

Please join in everyone, I love reading through these threads ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I backed Faran and went to our first rideout then my year got stopped in its tracks by my spinal Injury.

So for 2023 I’m making no plans as that didn’t work out last year

Bery well done on your accomplishments and so sorry about your horse

 

[ihatework]

So sorry about Jack, but what a great year with Dima!

I know that feeling of it’s going too well so what is about to go wrong ?

Really successful year in IHW land.

3yo Millie took in foal first time. Got backed and I rode her away, she was an angel. Graded into studbook well.
Her plans are hopefully a straightforward birth, healthy foal and the icing on the cake would be a filly.

3yo Turnip got backed and I rode her on a bit. She has also been super cool. Her 2023 plans are to find a long term home for her, be that sold or perhaps loaned to a decent junior/YR (haven’t quite made up my mind).

The 6yo eventer has melted my heart. He is wired a bit weird and is tricky in his brain but has now been on loan to a YR for over a year and absolutely adores her. This year he has been to world class training, and jumped some decent novice/2* tracks. Next year we hope he will step up to Int/3*. But in reality I just want him to stay as level as possible in his head and be sound and happy.

 

[LEC]

Not the year I wanted - the grey mare was tricky to begin the season sjing but got better and we were close to getting some decent results then I was diagnosed with cancer. I then had to make some hard decisions about horses as I couldn’t ride grey horse on chemo. She was too strong, too tricky and was a 9yo so couldn’t sit in the field. I knew it was a long road so she was sold. She won the 2* at Cornbury and was 3rd in her first Int so I obviously did something right breaking her in and producing her. I won’t miss her vets bills though! It still breaks my heart as those were my dreams what she did this year.

Her 7yo sister then had to step up to the plate as decided I wanted to go to RC horse trials champs as grey horse had qualified. This led to frantic attending events at 100 level. I had chemo every two weeks on a Friday and so events had to be done on alternative weekends and when I had lost 4 days staying in bed in the run up.

My lunacy worked and I won one event at 100, and had a fair result at the other so got my qualification done. Headed to RC champs and fell off xc as was just so slow in my brain, exhausted and weak. Decided then not fair to the horse to carry on eventing so switched to dressage.

I had club membership and was too tight to pay for full especially as no idea if I would be well enough. Won my quest regional and went to champs. Champs was a disappointing result but learnt lots. In meantime bought myself a ex racer as just liked him and also slowly been producing him. Also had my first ever homebred foal from my beloved eventing mare.
Also started Vlogging - mainly because thought it might interest people - https://youtube.com/@theeventingjourney232

2023 plans are:
Qualify for Regionals for Badminton GR
Qualify for BRC horse trials champs
Qualify for ROR champs
Get ex racer eventing
Go and do a 1*
Maybe go Novice/2*
Deferal the yearling
Go to Geneva Rolex Show as a spectator.
Go to European Eventing Champs as a spectator.

Though if I fall out with horses owner a lot of that will all be moot and I might just give up. Oh and I still have cancer so that could be an issue but can’t worry about that as have a tonne of surgery coming up so it will either resolve it or it won’t but will still carry on. I also keep wishing the awful, incompetent, lying livery will leave and currently that uses up all my wishes over wanting world peace, cures for cancer or a lottery win.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I backed a 3 yo coblet for my friend.. then backed a 4yo for another ….
No accomplishments competing wise.. but we did move yards and we are now very happy and relaxed ?.
We had never passed logger lorries or such but first time seeing one, he was a champ. Hacking on the roads which were a problem before ?
I will take that as a win win ?

 

[Cloball]

No accomplishments but 2023 will be the first year I get a pony vetted and all being well buying my first pony at the grand old age of 32 ??
I'm exhausted listening to yours @LEC

 

[scats]

No real accomplishments and a bit of a downer with Millie’s navicular and arthritis diagnosis… then I smashed my ankle to pieces on Polly ?
2023 is to get strong enough to ride again.

 

[TPO]

The less said about 2022 the better. There was a lot of box rest, bandages and vet bills ?



2023 we're booked in for a clinic in March and April with Clive Johnson. We only managed one with him in October due to Chip's self harming but it was really good for us both.



Bernd Hackl, a BNT from Germany, is over for two consecutive weekends in June. I could only spectate last year so looking forward to attending this year.



Then the big goal/dream is Guy Robertson is doing cattle clinics in Scotland. I'd booked for May when I thought that was the only date but when they announced another in September I swapped to that. Got to give ourselves half a chance of being ready. So really looking forward to that.



Joe Midgley is back up here too but his first clinic is too early in the year so will just be a spectator again. Depending on location might manage one later on.



So basically training, training, training for us. Hopefully will attend the two western shows up here to support them but I don't have a competitive bone in my body.



The only real aim is to end Chip's self harming ways/vet addiction, keep him off box rest and hopefully both have some fun ?



Wishing you all the best with all your aims, goals and health in 2023 ?

 

[Red-1]

This year the baby horse became 5 and was ready to go meet his public. He is a big built and immature type so we have done lots, but little things only. TBH, after a few shocking years (not horse things) I was only just starting to enjoy riding again myself, so my goals were small.

We completed 4 camps in 3 locations, one of which was a beach camp and involved photos at sunrise cantering in the surf, did several XC clinics, farm rides, unaffiliated SJ and dressage. He also did cattle work, trick riding including quintain, hacking and simply being a good egg. Rigsby has continued to be a strong character and is amazing in his own right.

For 2023, I would just like to continue to enjoy ourselves. I feel with BH that I don't know quite what I am aiming at. I guess just finding a way to be happy together is good. I used to take competing so seriously, now I'm not even sure it is what I want to do.

 

[millikins]

LEC that sounds like a very difficult year, I hope 2023 goes well for you, horse and health wise.
I've had a pretty rubbish year, so 2023 can only be better I hope.
Old connie who looked like he'd be towing me round the woods disgracefully for another few years has been wrong/off/bit lame since Spring, the awful hard ground didn't help, vet diagnosed sidebone, shoes, pads bute made it worse. Finally had his coffin joints injected just before Christmas by the senior vet on basis that sidebone likely incidental and so far (only had a chance to ride 3 x) he's sound bar the odd miss step so hope we can resume hacking.
Son in law decided fatherhood not for him so that pretty much scuppered daughter's plans for the new connie we bought in 2021, she's gone on a breeding loan (pony not daughter ) and will be back late summer hopefully.
Dales mare going beautifully, sent her off to be broken to drive, took to it like the proverbial duck, then some moron in a BMW hit her from behind at 40 mph when riding quietly on the road. Incredibly both mare and daughter escaped serious physical injury but previously rock solid horse is now unsafe on the road, currently waiting to see if we can claim rehab on insurance, but I don't think she'll ever drive again.
As an aim, I'm itching to buy a lead rein pony for my grand daughter who seems interested, there's a really cute ride.n.drive unregistered Shetland on NFED atm.....

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Accomplished - eff all. Plans - slightly less than eff all if at all possible.

 

[Bernster]

Can anyone remember/find the thread from last year with goals and accomplishments from the year before and plans for the next one? I liked tracking back over those to see where I was and see if I’d made any progress at all!

 

[SpotsandBays]

Not our year this year.
Started off well! Pootling at home with my older boy. Took the youngster out to a couple of inhand shows and got our first red frilly!
Did a little ridden work with him (lightly backed him last year). We took him to an arena hire - did some inhand walking out on the roads and he was a superstar. Gave him a couple of months off with the plan to continue ridden education in autumn however plans changed when he came in from the field with a large swelling on his head. Had our first X-rays, ultrasounds and hospital trip for a CT scan to discover he had fractured his skull in the field, assumed kick. Haven’t ever had to do any of the above with a horse so it was pretty overwhelming with other things going on in the background - I was abit of a wreck to be honest! Scary couple of weeks waiting to see if surgery would be required however thankfully it sorted itself out with some antibiotic help. He was a trooper through all of it. He also decided to make a grand escape to pastures new, scaring the life out of me, and making me do a walk of shame to a local land owner so I could get him out of the locked field he’d helped himself to! He was very pleased (and very bloated from the lovely lush grass!) but also behaved very well walking the main roads home being passed by artic lorries etc - rainbows I guess!
Decided I’d just leave the education until next year as I’m in no rush. The bills were abit of a financial hit so not much else happened this year. Feel a little deflated as I planned to do much more than we did, but I’m so thankful that my little herd is happy and healthy.
Decided that I’m not going to go to heavy with goal setting for next year, to avoid any “meh” feelings if we don’t manage it all.
Instead I’ll set some maybes:
Depending on where we are with our education/fitness, maybe I’ll take the young one to a sponsored ride. If it’s not too expensive, and I’m in a better place financially, maybe we’ll enter the spotty class at Windsor, and maybe the national breed show again. For my other boy, just any outing anywhere! Somewhere fun for sure, and maybe a dressage test.
But we’ll see!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

The year started brilliantly - affiliated with Dressage Ireland and qualified for our regional and national champs at prelim and novice. Sadly our horse went lame a couple of weeks before the regionals, after lengthy investigation it was discovered to be a DDFT injury from which we are now doing our best to rehab.. he had surgery back in June so we’ve a whole team of vets holding our hands through it.. stressful! His surgeon is happy with his progress and we are tentatively looking at introducing a rider at some point soon. ?
2023 goal is just to continue doing our best with the big guy. It would be a dream come true to get him out dressaging again, but I’m making no plans. We’ve already agreed that his (barely started) event career is over - just too risky.
2022 was a tough year personally with a lot of losses, so I’m just hoping it’s a little less mentally taxing tbh!

 

[Marigold4]

2022 was a slow but steady progress year for my buckskin 6 year old Otto. He's very highly charged in new environments so aim has been to get him out and about to new places. He's done a pole clinic, started competing at dressage and has qualified for the championship, and some inhand showing. Aim with him for 2023 is to continue working on his confidence out and about and find him a better saddle - riding in a treeless currently.

Backed Finlay in 2022, 4 year old connie. He's been out and about to clinics and a show winning his novice showing class, and hacking out on his own. Aim for 2023 is to get him jumping, then sell in June.

Honey (Future Glory) is in foal to Killour Star. So fingers crossed for a safe delivery in 2023.

 

[Michen]

We’ve had a hell of a year. We got out eventing tons, got our sub 30 dressage a few times and some really excellent placing sat BE90. Went on holidays, pub rides, hacked a lot and camps.

Topped it off by moving across the world to Colorado and whilst any competing is firmly at the back of my mind we are having so much fun exploring our new country, culture and wildlife. I have been so lucky to be able to do this with him.

2023 goals are a western saddle and a ranch holiday (hopefully with Boggle)

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Love these threads. Thanks for posting.

Millitiger what an amazing season! Very well done.
IHW - another impressive season. I sometimes think I'd enjoy being an owner and not the rider - not sure how it all works or how you find the right rider though.
LEC sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You are inspirational! What a season you had despite everything. Must be very bittersweet seeing your horse go on and do so well - proud at what you produced but sad seeing someone else living your dream. Hope 2023 goes well in every way - health, horses and livery dramas.
TPO: Lottie had a great tome at Guy's camp. And Joe comes to us every 6-8 weeks now. Both are great trainers. Hope you get to one or both of them.
Red: Beach Camp sounds amazing - where was that?
Marigold 4: Otto is GORGEOUS. Do love a buckskin
Michen. Your year has been EPIC in more ways that one.

My 2023 was better than I could have hoped. I kept a diary all year and it is fascinating reading it back.
Highlights (and Lowlights!)
January: Lottie was wild as a wild thing.
Feb: She calmed down jumping but was still far too onward in flatwork. And still is.
March we had awesome 69 and 67% resullts in a prelim dressage test - which did me no favours as that was totally against the run of form and did not remotely reflect where we were. We never got those scores again ALL YEAR. And so I have spent the year feeling as though we have made no progress. Whereas those scored were total outliers.
March we went to camp and she was fantastic. I was told to get her entered - she was ready for 80s.
April - Northallerton ODE. Double Clear! Beyond my wildest dreams after her behaviour in January.
May - Chatsworth AE at 90. Just rolled a pole. (I'll ignore my error of course!) Also beyond my wildest dreams. And Epworth ODE. SJ faults but another clear XC
June: Guy Robertson Cowboy camp with sharer. Lottie loved it. Feedback: "she does not have a soft stop." Yes we know . How do we get one?!! And Joe Midelgely lesson which gave us a tonne of homework on 'soft stops'. Her default position is always forward, forward, forward. She needs to learn to maintain pace, stop, sideways and backwards. And DC at Eland ODE.
June also saw the birth of the gorgeous FELIX! Such a cutie. And so, so easy. I got very lucky with him.
July: Combined training at Kelsall saw our first BS 90 course - which she jumped clear. Disappointing dressage though. As per.....Then 4th in the Kelsall ODE with a DC, 0.4 time. Very happy with that!
August: Team ODE at Eland. 3rd team, 7th individually with another DC, no time. But JUST missed out on Brigante Cup qualification by 1 point.
Sept: Stepped up to 90 for the ODE at Frickley - instead of the Brigante Cup Championships course. AMAZING DAY. Caught the planks at 9 but clear and no time XC over a bold, techincal course.

So 2023 ambitions:

New foal to arrive safely.
Amber to stay well and to be as good a mum again as she was with Felix.
Lottie to stay sound.
Felix to grow up healty and happy
Finally (please, please....) get to grips with dressage. Why oh why am I so sh1t at it! I work very hard on it!!! I am swithching to 'Joe Midgely' style dressage. I have spent years riding with loads of other trainers and got nowhere. Let's see what a year of embracing nh approaches fully does for us.
Step up to 90 ODEs - though not sure what specific goals to target till I see the schedules for Brigante Cup as well as BE.
Do some stay away SJ shows at 90/100.

Good luck and have fun everyone.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Actually my first goal is to get rid of this fecking cold/cough. Been ill since first week of December. Have tried to ride intermittently: Did 10 mins ages ago, then 30 mins a week ago then 30 mins today. Lottie is back to being wild as a wild thing. She needs work! But I don't have the energy to give it to her!! Urghh. I have not had a cold since 2018. I havent missed them.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Just to follow on from my post, despite our lameness issues we did at least get a couple of nice frillies as we came 3rd in our regional league both at prelim & novice. So that’s something I suppose!!

 

[RachelFerd]

2022 was a pretty decent one competition wise.

The first two-thirds of Simon's season went pretty well to plan. We completed Chatsworth 2* short and Houghton 2* long (albeit with an annoying 20 pen run-outs at each - one to the right at Chats, and one to the left at Houghton!!). He jumped clear in all of his novice runs though, picked up a 2nd place at Warwick Hall novice and jumped a fabulous double clear in the RoR Intermediate-Novice at Gatcombe to finish 4th. He picked up 11 BE points in the course of the season and is now nearly out of novice - which is just crazy to me when I can remember struggling to get him around a BE80 as a 5yo.

The things I'm most proud of him for are the great SJ rounds he did at Chatsworth and Gatcombe in big, busy arenas with video screens, grandstands, funfairs, spectators lining the arenas - and me not falling apart or riding like a total idiot. I've struggled with SJ over the years and would admit to being pretty crippled with nerves before that Chatsworth round...

Chats:

Gatcombe:

Unfortunately his season ended with a silly field injury to his splint bone, so we missed the chance at redemption in another 2* long at Bicton.

And Isaac got his eventing career underway. Started with a terribly underwhelming performance with a kamikaze showjumping at Kelsall... but we went away and did some more training, focused hard on keeping him settled, and it paid off with 3 double clears at BE90 - 5th at Berriewood, 6th at Warwick Hall and a WIN at Frickley Park!

He has me very excited for the future because he's just so cool and bold XC - vid of him schooling at Somerford back in the summer:

Sooo.... next year. Focus is on eventing with them both, but I might try and do a bit more BS showjumping with Simon and some Le Trec with Isaac.

Isaac's big eventing goal is to complete some 1* classes - hopefully Warwick Hall, Blair and/or Osberton. First we need to move up to BE100 though! A Jan/Feb BS campaign to confirm the showjumping is definitely going to happen.

And Simon - he's only just coming back into full work now post-injury, but all being well, I'd like to try and get that 2* long clear XC on his record. Blair is the dream, but I'm not totally sure where we'll go yet. And the pipe dream of doing an intermediate still exists, but I'll only do it if everything feels right and his confidence is on top-form. I'd like to jump a foxhunter BS round on him - which feels like it should be a do-able goal, and would also propel him to the top of the RoR showjumping rankings based on last year's lack of competitors. I'll also try and head back to Gatcombe for the RoR eventing champs class - or the British novice championships if we've actually made the move to intermediate (less likely).

Mainly I just want to enjoy them both and have plenty of fun!

 

[Peglo]

Well done everyone! So many amazing accomplishments this year.
@LEC you are a super human. I’ve really enjoyed your new channel and hope for good health for you in 2023.
Can’t wait to hear of all the exciting things everyone gets up to this year. At my low level it’s inspiring follow your journeys. (And love your pictures and videos)

So many firsts for me and Tali.
-Joined the riding club for the first time.
-did our first show inhand
-did our first working hunter
-first dressage
-Tali learnt jumping
-our first course of show jumps
-our first time XC (just playing, no competition)
-our first ridden show
-Tali’s first time doing riding of the marches
-Tali’s first time in the sea
-we went past alpacas and pigs for the first time without even a spook

I’m probably forgetting things but she’s just been so so much fun. We’ve gotten lots of frillies and had lots of fun together which is the main thing.

this year I just want to gallop on the beach! I’ve not ridden for months so I want to slowly get her back into work when the light gets better and if all I do is hacks to the beach I will be happy. I feel a bit exhausted atm so that’s all my goals are for now.

 

[shortstuff99]

I've had a pretty good year really. Sorry to hear of everyone's trial and tribulations, I hope 2023 brings brighter things!

The beginning part of 2022 was pretty quiet. I've decided to not really do competitions with the Spanish potato anymore as she doesn't really enjoy it. So we changed the dressage wow to a jumping one and now we are having some fun with that!

Over the summer I slowly backed Bean and she has just been the best! She takes everything in her stride and just gives everything a go. We have gone out a couple of times and did an online walk and trot test. I was really pleased with the judge comments.

We have also done some poles and hacking etc.

My plan for 2023 is to keep having fun. Taking her out to more places and maybe doing a few competitions !

 

[Cherryblossom]

I started the year rehabbing my 5yo Poppy from injury, with no guarantees she would come right. Introduced a rider in feb and finally got back on board in July. My confidence had taken a knock and I was so stressed about ruining her that I really wasn’t enjoying her until my bit fitter sent me to the most incredible instructor, who just gets us both, and we’ve made incredible progress together and are having great fun!
Last week the freelance rider who schools her for me once a week took her for her first go at XC, which she loved, and today Poppy and I had our first beach trip, complete with paddling and canters! My heart is absolutely full to bursting with joy that she seems sound and is gaining confidence all the time!

2023 will hopefully bring more beaches and forests and the start of some competitions locally.

 

[humblepie]

Some amazing achievements and echo wishing you well LEC.

My horse won at Royal Windsor which was absolutely amazing and we had great fun out and about. We were also on ITV twice ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

2022 started pretty well for me. Hacking with lovely share horse in beautiful surroundings, had a bit of a confidence wobble she helped me through, and had a go at an Intro test at the yard's friendly dressage competition - unexpected rosette and some nice comments

Summer was hard as I moved back home after finishing my studies, which meant giving up the share. I still miss share horse, although did go back for a visit in the Autumn and hope to go again in the New Year. Eventually found a new RS to attend. Confidence pretty low getting to know different horses but now have at least a couple of favourites!

Looked for another share, tried a couple, including a month long trial which I gave up as felt something not quite right despite initially falling in love with the horse. Had given up hope of finding a new share but then...

...am having a lesson on a potential new share horse tomorrow. If this goes well I am hoping to go ahead with the share, and have opportunities to do pole clinics, lessons, and hacking. I don't want to get ahead of myself but the horse seems great, just right for my level, and the yard is going to be a good environment to learn better horsemanship and progress my riding.

Even if the share doesn't go ahead I hope that via RS I could pursue similar goals which are to:

- ride a Prelim test with score in 50s
- be able to jump a small course of jumps (I'm not sure what height! 50cm?!)
- ride round the teeny tots' XC course as the RS

 

[SEL]

I thought I'd set my goals pretty low for 2022 but the microcob put paid to even easy aspirations by crashing into a fence in January which resulted in vets bills, box rest and a long, long rehab. I don't think she'll ever be sound enough for anything apart from hacking now - but she's great on the roads and that makes her worth her weight in gold.

Baby cob joined in April just before his 4th birthday. I've done nowhere near as much as I wanted to with him because the ground turned to concrete within weeks and stayed there. Hasn't done him any harm to have a quiet year and hopefully if he doesn't decide to read "101 ways to get out of ridden work" we can get out and about next year.

Lost my big boy in September. I knew it was coming and you always hope for a miracle but he went downhill fast. Left a huge hole and I've really struggled without him around at Xmas.

Transport is my biggest aim for 2023. I'm begging and borrowing for a small lorry so no excuse then not to get out.

Lovely to read everyone's achievements and hugs to all those who have had a rough time.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

It’s been a good year for us despite a few complications!

I made a list of 3 goals I wanted to achieve at the beginning of the year: complete a BE80, score >65% in a prelim/BE90 dressage test and jump a 95-1m course.

We achieved all of those goals pretty early on in the season, which I’d have said was ridiculous when I wrote them but there you go! He’s taken me from my first BE80 since 2016 in April (where I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick and nearly cried several times) to storming round BE90s by October. Also fulfilled a dream of competing BS (BN and amateur 95cm) with just a pole in each class, and several unaff 95-1m classes.

He definitely got the hang of the eventing game by the end of the season, because he started out very honest and willing but pretty green and wobbly. So I’m hoping he will continue to enjoy next season and have a crack at a few more 90s! We are also now working at Novice level dressage at home, and starting to play with some Novice/Ele moves in lessons. So would be nice to try our hands at a novice test next year.

Mostly we have just had a lot of fun with beach rides, camps, hacking, fun rides… so long may that continue. He is simply my best friend and we are doing things I would only have dreamed of 18mo ago when I got him, and making my childhood dreams come true.

He’s not always the easiest or most straightforward, but I love the bones of him and he’s the best thing to come out of my 2020!

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We have had a bit of a mixed year this year with some great success and some pretty hard times too.

Henry and I stepped up to 90 successfully SJing but I had a pretty hard time with my confidence. I kept working at it and was getting so much better but then I got covid and missed a key show and lost momentum a bit in the middle of winter. We have placed at most shows and improve all the time.

Then I fell and broke my collar bone which woke me up to the fact that I needed to go back to being as strong and as fit as I used to be. I had surgery and was back on board 4.5 weeks after I broke it but also added in cycling and pilates.

The end of the year was even harder confidence-wise BUT I got back out competing. I even had fun, won a few comps and felt a lot fitter and stronger.

Coolie got out eventing twice, once was great and I had the best time and the second time was very meh. I loved catching up with all my friends but have decided that eventing isn't the right fit for us at this time, SJing is just more fun!

2023

The main goal: keep working on getting fitter and stronger. I'm not sure exactly what that looks like, but I bought a mountain bike with a baby seat on the back so Samuel and I are going to hit the (very tame!) trails. Pilates 3-4 times a week too, and hopefully back to park run too. I have a 4km run entered in May.

Show jumping: consolidate at 90 and start working towards 1-1.05m. Keep it confident. ENJOY IT. Get to Yalambi (big, fancy show here!). Jump little and often, I need to be jumping weekly to feel like I can do it.
Dressage: compete at elementary! We are currently working hard on that and our next comp will include an elem test. I just need to learn the new ones.
General: Keep both boys happy and sound. I have found what works for them, so we will just keep on keeping on.
Coolie: he gets his own coz he will be 20 in January! He is having a bit of a break right now, so when I feel motivated again, I am going to gradually bring him back to work. IF he feels up to it, he will go back out SJing, starting at 80-90, then hopefully stepping back up to 1m. I also need to look into getting a new saddle for him.

I am also planning to put the horses into agistment for about 8 weeks over winter to help us all out because we dont have an arena, it'll save me time and I can have lessons without floating out. I also want to have fortnightly lessons throughout the year.

Oh and a stretch goal for Henry: take him to the beach! He hasn’t been since he disgraced himself many years ago but he’s Turing into a great all rounder so I’d like to tick that box too.

 

[humblepie]

Some lovely photos and isn't it nice the different types of horses and ponies we have and how we enjoy them.

 

[millitiger]

Thanks all for adding to the thread so far, I really enjoy reading through them all.
Horses are amazing levellers, we all have personal highs and lows with them, but I love reading through these posts and keeping thinking forwards with enjoying our big pets.