Elf On A Shelf
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It's getting colder - yes! Of course it is! It is Scotland! It is December! It is to be expected so why oh WHY do people continuously whinge about it!?!?!?!?! If you don't like it move to the Bahamas!!! It means getting up 5 mins earlier to scrape the ice off of your car, it means digging out the thermals (of which I have many pairs though my favourites are my Harry Potter trews from Primark! They are SO cool!) it also means digging out the thick socks and gloves. No big deal, we had them last winter - ah! But no! We didn't! We had a very dry, mild winter last year so we need to hunt them out from the year before. But hey! At least we are finally getting some proper jumping ground - Bog! Today being a Monday means lots of trotting. Lots and lots of trotting. Trotting with short stirrups. Blah! First lot in the dark was the Reprobate! He has a spot (yes an actual spot! Like we get on our faces!) on his spine which has popped but to keep him more comfortable I put one of the Wintec GP saddles on him as it has a wider gullet than my exercise saddle. I HATE the GP saddles! I can't ride in them lol! I am too used to my next to nothing exercise, saddle, show saddles and pony pads! They are so wide which causes my hips to complain. The last person to ride in the saddle had had the stirrups jacked up the nines and they are really hard to move so I left them where they were. BIG mistake! I figured I would be ok just trotting 1x up then cantering 2x but how wrong I was! I hadn't even trotted up the drive before my knees and hips were in major protest! Oh well! I am just going to have to put up with it! The Reprobate is in great form and was putting on his big trot! This trot could take you down the center line at HOYS and make everyone gasp! This was not helping me lol! As we trotted down the gallops all of a sudden the wee dick shot to the left! He was spooking at the white railing - Really sunshine?!?! The white railing that you see all of the time everywhere!?!? "Yes Mum! It's 3/4 dark still and therefore it is incredibly scary! Look! I will even spook at it going back up the gallops! Muahahahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaa! This is great fun!" 'Oi! Twatbag stop it! My hips can't take it this morning!' *manic giggles appear from the Reprobate* The cantering wasn't too bad even if we were still spooking at the white railings! The Reprobate is having a whale of time - he really is one of these cheeky little kids that toes the line, occasionally goes over it but gives you a cheeky wink and grin and melts your heart and makes you laugh so you always forgive him.
Next lot was a cool wee dude, thankfully back in my exercise saddle for the same work as the Reprobate. But this one didn't spook at the white railing, plus it was almost daylight by this point. Even trotting up with longer (but still short to normal peoples standards) my knees and hips were protesting. One second we are trotting along quite the thing the next we are all pilled up in a heap trying to untangle horses before someone gets kicked. One of the horses in front had spooked, shot sideways and slammed on the brakes. Hence the pile up. But we all set off again none the worse for wear. As we headed round the bottom bend to set off cantering the wee dude shot off up through the air fly leaping. Just the one big leap and off we went. He is so funny he is a high blower - every single stride but it is so loud! Honestly you couldn't plan a stealth attack on this thing! You hear him a country mile away! The next canter went much the same way - leap and settle.
The cool wee dude last week working on the grass with me (near side)
My 3rd lot was even more trotting. This time i had to trot twice up the gallop before lobbing up once. This little filly is awesome, she is normally such a nice ride and she looks an absolute picture just now! I dropped my stirrups a few more holes seeing as I was doing more trotting than cantering and given how nice a ride she is I wouldn't need the strength riding shorter gives you in canter. Well! I normally wouldn't! The filly was quite fresh! She ran the other day so hasn't been doing overly much and today was her first canter which went a little like this - canter to the left, canter to the right, swing those hips from side to side! A bronc here, a bit of a buck there, pull your arms out and snatch because I want to go faster! 'Little madam! What on earth are you up to?!?' I ask. "I am having great fun! I can't contain myself and this muppet in front of me is going faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar to slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwww snail alert!" She replied. Well at least she is in good form! I will give her that and I will never disppoint a horse in a good mood and certainly never disappoint a mare!
My 4th lot at yard 1 was Big Bad Boris. He ran the other day too so he wasn't doing over much - 2 trots and a lob. By this point my hips were in absolute pieces so I dropped my stirrups to leg long. It helped a little but not much! Trotting up and down I asked him to collect and trot properly and he did not argue. He floated up and down, toes flicking like no ones business! Then the little toad napped at the gate! That got him a skelp but by this point it was raining and I didn't have my gloves on. So he shot off and my reins went right through my hands! Note to self - get some new reins! These ones have absolutely no grip left what so ever! Back to a big lick trot we got to the bottom of the gallop ready to lob up. Normally I can rely on him to bob away quietly if I don't pick up my reins which would have been ideal today given I had no gloves and no grip. But oh no! One of the lads on a fresh, numb, keen little toad of a horse shot up my arse so Boris grabbed his bit and went to scoot off. 'No chance buddy!' " But mum he cannoned into me and he is sitting RIGHT up my hoop!" 'I don't care! You just behave!' I had leg long stirrups so had no where near as much strength up out of the saddle. Then the other lad shot past - thankfully 'cos then Big Bad Boris settled and lobbed away nicely in the hand.
I seem to have real trouble trotting for long periods of time up and down hills. It doesn't matter if I am up out of the saddle or doing rising trot, short stirrups or long. On the flat I am fine it is just hills I struggle with. And before anyone suggests physio etc I can't do it! I can't stand people touching me! I don't hug anyone, I don't touch anyones arm or shoulder to get their attention, I avoid shaking hands at all costs. There is no WAY in hell I am letting a stranger poke and prod at other bits of me! Blergh! Nope! Sorry! Can't do it! I know I am a bit of a freak but nope! Really just nope! There is one woman at work who is very fond of walking up silently behind you and squeezing your shoulder. I have lost count of the number of times I have nearly knocked her out whipping round fists raised! I have asked her not to do it but she still does! Grr!
Anywho! Over to yard 2 and I just had Dickie to ride going for a single lob up the gallops. He has been having one of the new lads ride him because he is generally an easy ride but he is still nervy and very tetchy in the mouth it would appear! I nearly had my nose smashed a few times coming back down the gallops. Then he tried to jog home - nuh uh! Sorry sunshine! I don't do jogging!
The lads were in rare good form today! All of them! You usually get a few of them in a good mood and a few being grumpy but they were ALL in a good mood - probably because there is no racing until Saturday so they can actually eat normally for a couple of days. So this good mood brings out the best and the worst in them. There is piss taking galore and no one - and I mean NO ONE! Is spared! But it's fine, I give back as good as I get and retort in place of those that aren't as quick witted at times before the lads take it too far. This morning we also had a hunting horn out on the gallops. Most of the lads were keen hunters/common riders in their youth and the horn makes a few appearances a year. And the best bit? Not one horse minds! Half way up the gallops the horn is in full swing and whilst ears prick no horse reacts negatively. See! We are preparing them well for their future lives outwith racing! And yes whilst the boss might have words to say if she was out on the string or the horses reacted badly generally she is usually more amused by their antics if it isn't detrimental to the horses work.
At some point before new year I will doing a yearly round up with way more pictures!
Next lot was a cool wee dude, thankfully back in my exercise saddle for the same work as the Reprobate. But this one didn't spook at the white railing, plus it was almost daylight by this point. Even trotting up with longer (but still short to normal peoples standards) my knees and hips were protesting. One second we are trotting along quite the thing the next we are all pilled up in a heap trying to untangle horses before someone gets kicked. One of the horses in front had spooked, shot sideways and slammed on the brakes. Hence the pile up. But we all set off again none the worse for wear. As we headed round the bottom bend to set off cantering the wee dude shot off up through the air fly leaping. Just the one big leap and off we went. He is so funny he is a high blower - every single stride but it is so loud! Honestly you couldn't plan a stealth attack on this thing! You hear him a country mile away! The next canter went much the same way - leap and settle.
The cool wee dude last week working on the grass with me (near side)
My 3rd lot was even more trotting. This time i had to trot twice up the gallop before lobbing up once. This little filly is awesome, she is normally such a nice ride and she looks an absolute picture just now! I dropped my stirrups a few more holes seeing as I was doing more trotting than cantering and given how nice a ride she is I wouldn't need the strength riding shorter gives you in canter. Well! I normally wouldn't! The filly was quite fresh! She ran the other day so hasn't been doing overly much and today was her first canter which went a little like this - canter to the left, canter to the right, swing those hips from side to side! A bronc here, a bit of a buck there, pull your arms out and snatch because I want to go faster! 'Little madam! What on earth are you up to?!?' I ask. "I am having great fun! I can't contain myself and this muppet in front of me is going faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar to slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwww snail alert!" She replied. Well at least she is in good form! I will give her that and I will never disppoint a horse in a good mood and certainly never disappoint a mare!
My 4th lot at yard 1 was Big Bad Boris. He ran the other day too so he wasn't doing over much - 2 trots and a lob. By this point my hips were in absolute pieces so I dropped my stirrups to leg long. It helped a little but not much! Trotting up and down I asked him to collect and trot properly and he did not argue. He floated up and down, toes flicking like no ones business! Then the little toad napped at the gate! That got him a skelp but by this point it was raining and I didn't have my gloves on. So he shot off and my reins went right through my hands! Note to self - get some new reins! These ones have absolutely no grip left what so ever! Back to a big lick trot we got to the bottom of the gallop ready to lob up. Normally I can rely on him to bob away quietly if I don't pick up my reins which would have been ideal today given I had no gloves and no grip. But oh no! One of the lads on a fresh, numb, keen little toad of a horse shot up my arse so Boris grabbed his bit and went to scoot off. 'No chance buddy!' " But mum he cannoned into me and he is sitting RIGHT up my hoop!" 'I don't care! You just behave!' I had leg long stirrups so had no where near as much strength up out of the saddle. Then the other lad shot past - thankfully 'cos then Big Bad Boris settled and lobbed away nicely in the hand.
I seem to have real trouble trotting for long periods of time up and down hills. It doesn't matter if I am up out of the saddle or doing rising trot, short stirrups or long. On the flat I am fine it is just hills I struggle with. And before anyone suggests physio etc I can't do it! I can't stand people touching me! I don't hug anyone, I don't touch anyones arm or shoulder to get their attention, I avoid shaking hands at all costs. There is no WAY in hell I am letting a stranger poke and prod at other bits of me! Blergh! Nope! Sorry! Can't do it! I know I am a bit of a freak but nope! Really just nope! There is one woman at work who is very fond of walking up silently behind you and squeezing your shoulder. I have lost count of the number of times I have nearly knocked her out whipping round fists raised! I have asked her not to do it but she still does! Grr!
Anywho! Over to yard 2 and I just had Dickie to ride going for a single lob up the gallops. He has been having one of the new lads ride him because he is generally an easy ride but he is still nervy and very tetchy in the mouth it would appear! I nearly had my nose smashed a few times coming back down the gallops. Then he tried to jog home - nuh uh! Sorry sunshine! I don't do jogging!
The lads were in rare good form today! All of them! You usually get a few of them in a good mood and a few being grumpy but they were ALL in a good mood - probably because there is no racing until Saturday so they can actually eat normally for a couple of days. So this good mood brings out the best and the worst in them. There is piss taking galore and no one - and I mean NO ONE! Is spared! But it's fine, I give back as good as I get and retort in place of those that aren't as quick witted at times before the lads take it too far. This morning we also had a hunting horn out on the gallops. Most of the lads were keen hunters/common riders in their youth and the horn makes a few appearances a year. And the best bit? Not one horse minds! Half way up the gallops the horn is in full swing and whilst ears prick no horse reacts negatively. See! We are preparing them well for their future lives outwith racing! And yes whilst the boss might have words to say if she was out on the string or the horses reacted badly generally she is usually more amused by their antics if it isn't detrimental to the horses work.
At some point before new year I will doing a yearly round up with way more pictures!
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