3rd weekend in April plans?

[Britestar]

Another fun day at dressage.
Pony lost her s**t again (nappy little creature). First test completed, but not much more, retired on centre line at end.

Trot around for 2nd and was near damn it on the floor. Decided trying to get around top end wasn't the best plan. Back to entrance and 2 pals came in and stood at E and R. Little madam then agreed to do a reasonable test if a little tense - or maybe that was me! Added to our collection of 2's and 3's.
Amazing she won elems last year .

Just as well I love her, she's a total monkey. Didn't lose marks for swearing either, lol.

 

[RachelFerd]

Bit annoyed at a very late notice abandonment at Solihull. Wasted a lot of time and fuel on a now re-named scummyhell. Horse hasn’t run yet this season, no one’s fault, but notice is nice

I saw that - much too late in the morning to be sending the abandonment text, how annoying for you

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Boys and girls come out to play. Of course Lunar Fire would come into season just because I brought her in for the night and she doesn't like being in so taking a 3yo Colt and an in season mare was not something I was looking forward to today. But both behaved impeccably to be fair to them. I double tie them in the trailer so there's no going over or under the bar and they can't even remotely talk to each other.

Dum Dum started the day off by being pulled in top of his mixed small breed youngstock class before being dropped to 2nd because he is a wee bit too podgy for a youngster. I completely agree with the judge there. Unfortunately he lives on thin air and even though he does a lot of running around with the Welsh cob it doesn't do much for his waistline but he picked up his Blair ticket which is what I wanted most.

Lunar Fire was up next in a big mixed small breed adult class which was mostly flashy Welsh ponies so I wasn't expecting much as she is scruffy as and was on a bit of a lazy day in the ring today. But she was pulled 4th and stayed 4th so I am absolutely delighted at that.

Home before lunch time too! I didn't end up bathing them either. I felt bad as it's been a cold wind going through here the last few days so it was just a legs and tail wash, a good brush and then a case of - don't touch the body! It will bring the dust to the surface if you do

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Bit annoyed at a very late notice abandonment at Solihull. Wasted a lot of time and fuel on a now re-named scummyhell. Horse hasn’t run yet this season, no one’s fault, but notice is nice

B was there with Deeks and was warning up for his dressage when it was called! Awful!

 

[ihatework]

B was there with Deeks and was warning up for his dressage when it was called! Awful!

Completely disgraceful. I’m disproportionately angry at Solihull right now and vowing never to go back First world problems I appreciate…

 

[scats]

Hacked yesterday around the farm tracks and then did a road hack this evening. Millie hasn’t been on a road hack since October last year and I contemplated enlisting a foot soldier to accompany her the first time (largely to avoid having to get off and lead her if she kicked off, as I’m not sure I can get back on from the ground yet!) but decided to pull myself together and just go. She was very spooky and tense, stopped a couple of times at some horrifying things - ie a lady putting some rubbish in a wheelie bin, a van turning in the road, but went on again with no fuss. She even behaved with no more than a jump when a couple of children appeared out of various gateways on scooters and bikes. She’s a good ‘un.

 

[McFluff]

Good weekend for me and pony.
got the dragon for our sideways lesson, which meant we spent a lot of the session in walk trying to calm him down. Bless. Still learnt lots though.
Today he did well. Good (for us) novice test then our first shot at music. And we survived. Lots to work on, but it was something different and good fun.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Very frustrating about Solihull. So late to let people know! Luckily Norton Disney went ahead despite hideous weather all day. Terrible result on paper but we had a blast. And Lottie was fab 95% of the time That other 5% was very, very expensive in terms of penalties when Lottie reacted with appalled horror to a horse’s head on top of a corner fence.

But clear SJ and very confident over everything else.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Looking great AE!

 

[shortstuff99]

I'm currently in sunny, warm Portugal riding some Lusitanos

 

[Michen]

So happy to be reunited with boggle and pepper after three weeks. Went straight to go ride after getting off the plane. Bog is fresh, hot and wondering why the heck he’s not out eventing.

The best bit is that I am soooo happy to be back in Colorado and there’s not a single doubt in my mind as to where I want to be, however sad the goodbyes.

Now to find a truck!!!

 

[Chippers1]

My weekend got a little more exciting as I got engaged! And OH had set it all up in part of Buzz's summer fields as he wanted Buzz to be involved those summer fields are on of my favourite places so it was very thoughtful

 

[Ample Prosecco]

My weekend got a little more exciting as I got engaged! And OH had set it all up in part of Buzz's summer fields as he wanted Buzz to be involved those summer fields are on of my favourite places so it was very thoughtful

Congratulations!! And what a lovely way to do it

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Congratulations Chippers! What a great idea!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Congratulations Chippers! How thoughtful of OH

 

[Chippers1]

Thank you I was very surprised!

 

[j1ffy]

Congratulations Chippers1!!

 

[Squeak]

Congratulations Chippers.

 

[southerncomfort]

My weekend got a little more exciting as I got engaged! And OH had set it all up in part of Buzz's summer fields as he wanted Buzz to be involved those summer fields are on of my favourite places so it was very thoughtful

Congratulations!

Sounds like you've got yourself a good'un there!

 

[Chippers1]

Thank you! He even designed the ring himself and it's got dinosaur fossils next to the diamond as I love dinosaurs and we often go fossil hunting

 

[Bernster]

He sounds like a good ‘un chippers! Congrats

Lots of great reports, apart from the weather still being an issue for some.

We went pinging around Milton Keynes yesterday. Didn’t start well as pony was beside himself at being reunited with his riding camp buddy from last year. Took a while to settle and I did contemplate getting off at one point but I worked through it and he did relax a bit. I had low expectations of what we might manage for the rest of the lesson but we did step up quickly in height and technicality. My riding is ok now when I’m confident but it goes out the window when we move up in height. A bit of hunting seat was engaged and it wasn’t pretty but we tackled some meatier fences. For me to even feel ok enough to attempt them is a big improvement. I’m in a really good place confidence wise. Uh oh….

I’m now thinking about some comps, which may be a bad idea if that knocks my newly found confidence! I really enjoy training and clinics but there‘s that annoying drive to want to test it out in a competition. But I’m in the C&T thread here, so I’m sure you guys get it! My main worry is whether Bertie boils over mentally, and getting him to go away from others out on a xc course. Any tips on how I make the transition from lessons to comps, to help with that? Not sure pairs will help as he’s fine in company. He’s an experienced competitor however, and dressage and sj is going ok. Next up is the xc element

 

[Kunoichi73]

My weekend got a little more exciting as I got engaged! And OH had set it all up in part of Buzz's summer fields as he wanted Buzz to be involved those summer fields are on of my favourite places so it was very thoughtful

Congratulations!

 

[j1ffy]

Plenty went wrong on Sunday - Indio refused to load so Chilli and I went solo (I felt really bad as originally it was only supposed to be Indio and loaner going! We loaded him and drove him around the village a couple of weeks ago so it's not as if he's not been in the new wheels before...), the zip popped open on my boot and I couldn't fix it so did the whole lesson with the boot gaping open, then once home I had a complete fail leading Chilli and Pocholo to the field as one dived for the new shoots on the hedge and the other for the grass on the other side of the path and I nearly went splat in the mud

However, Chilli stood calmly on the lorry while Indio was being a tit, he was fab at all the Working Equitation obstacles apart from the rope gate...he was convinced it was electrified!...we even did a little bit of trot and canter and he didn't get silly, and he loaded and travelled beautifully both ways. Then we took Indio and Pocholo for a hack and they completely ignored various massive flapping St George flags and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their potter around the village, then we did some more loading and got Indio on and off multiple times once he'd decided the lorry wasn't going to eat him.

The WE was great fun and a really good way to engage Chilli's brain without over-exerting him physically! I will definitely do more with him, it gives dressage a clearer purpose!

Over the wooden bridge - he didn't hesitate:



Rein-back after ringing the bell:



First attempt with the 'vara' - note the gaping boot!

 

[humblepie]

In my lorry as away over night for early class in the morning. Was hailing when I unloaded but supposed to be dry tomorrow. Lots of fab reports and congratulations Chippers.

 

[oldie48]

Congrats, Chipper! how exciting, I hope you know that you'll have to post wedding pics!
I had an absolutely rubbish weekend, really not well I struggled to walk up a slight incline, no way could I have ridden a horse. But hey, I woke up this morning feeling well, so I rode Mr D, used the franklin ball which really works well, I could actually feel my left seat bone and we did some lovely work. Went to pilates and spent the afternoon cooking as I have visitors for three days arriving tomorrow. It's a pretty rubbish start to the eventing season, feel rather sad about all the cancelled events, it will be yet another "short" season.

 

[nagblagger]

Congratulations Chipper, any chance of a photo of the 'ring', sounds intriguing ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

He sounds like a good ‘un chippers! Congrats


I’m now thinking about some comps, which may be a bad idea if that knocks my newly found confidence! I really enjoy training and clinics but there‘s that annoying drive to want to test it out in a competition. But I’m in the C&T thread here, so I’m sure you guys get it! My main worry is whether Bertie boils over mentally, and getting him to go away from others out on a xc course. Any tips on how I make the transition from lessons to comps, to help with that? Not sure pairs will help as he’s fine in company. He’s an experienced competitor however, and dressage and sj is going ok. Next up is the xc element

I love competing. So I totally get it. You mention both your own and Bertie’s confidence. Deal with them both separately:

For you: enter at a level that is very comfortable so you are competing at a height that feels ok. Consider a Hunter Trial so you do the XC on its own before considering an ODE. Or enter an Eventer Trial which is sort of a training/competition hybrid. Feels like a competition (and you can treat it like one) but you can also just school round and mix/match heights.

Don’t anticipate problems- assume both he and you will be fine! If you can link fences in a lesson - well just do the same in a competition. It’s no different, it just goes on for longer! He and you will feel better and better as you get into a rhythm and confidence grows with every fence. Lessons are harder with all that stop-starting.

For him: don’t worry too much about him not leaving others. That’s harder in group clinics than at a comp. Some get nappy heading to the start box but once underway it’s normally fine. Have a warm up plan to address high jink eg get trotting and redirect the energy with lateral work, small circles etc. Expect a bit of excitement and don’t worry about it. Just means he’s keen! Don’t overthink it. Just stay calm, focused and present, and see how it goes

Have fun!

 

[Btomkins]

Went on a lovely 22km pleasure ride with my friend on Sunday. The forecast was abysmal but thankfully we only got a tiny bit wet right at the end! Crossing the ford was a particular highlight and it was a really well run and organised event, I’ll be going again next year. I’m determined to get out and about more this year and loving it so far.

 

[Bernster]

Thx AE, lots of good points there. Interestingly, Finn is the same with the xc napping, so I wonder if I’m part of the issue?! I def don’t like the stop start of a lesson and prefer solo outings as I’m better if my blood is up. We’ve been doing that sj but not with the xc so much. I should try and sort a solo xc lesson and mimic a comp set up.

btomkins - that’s a lovely photo.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well competitons are perfect for getting your blood up! Just go for it!!