A lavendar. bergamot and frankincense scented Swallowfield BD report....

P

Prince33Sp4rkle

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 November 2009
Messages
6,880
Location
Leicestershire
Visit site
aaaaah, and all breathe calmly.....

tried some calming aromotherapy oils today (after the rather tense regionals outing) and either they are some kind of miracle oil or today was a complete fluke.....

......he loaded for the first time in aaaaaaaaaaaages without his blindfold, literally stomped straight up the ramp, which could be a fluke (as he is in no way bothered by travelling, just a mildly obstinate swine about loading)........and did not one handspring or star jump in the warm up (which again could be fluke, sunny day, not that busy, spacious outdoor warm up) or it could in fact be a miracle oil as he never usually loads first time going out, and it was blowing a gale which usually encourages feral behaviour.......will definately be doing it again next time however!

got there hours early and let him graze and mooch round peeking in the warm up and generally absorbing the atmosphere, then popped him back on lorry, equissaged the hell out of him and did some more miracle oil sniffing.

gave myself 55 mins to warm up for E43 but he was really chilled, and i am starting to get the really lovely swingy punchy warm up trot i get at home, so pleased with that before we even went in to test.

did a really nice fluid one, not quite as *through* and rideable as at Moulton a few weeks back, but a very sweet test, except for hopping on to the wrong leg AGAIN at C......bit confused about that as he only ever does it in test, not at home or warm up, and its only going trot to canter on left rein at A or C,hmmmm.

anyhoo, second on 63.4% which i though was maybe a smidge mean, but we beat a lot of much older/more established looking horses all going happily in double bridles, so cant complain.

(now comes the bit only an animal person can be excited about....my pony had a drink and wee between tests, which i am immensely pleased about because he is finally relaxing at shows, hurrah!!!)

back on for E58, started stretching him, and then discovered the judge was MIA.....so we all wound down again and stood around gossiping whilst organiser tried to call original judge, and then try to find a replacement when she couldnt get hold of her......we resorted to playing trot to the back of the ride with no reins/stirrups etc to entertain ourselves!!!!i offered round the world but the guys thought they might get bucked off, so gave it a miss!

replacement judge located and we all leapt in to action.....

was his first go at E58 and wouldnt really be his ideal test as its a bit stop/go/stop/go, but he gave it his best shot. comedy moment in the pirouettes (which are fine at home, but not yet acceptable at shows apparently.....)...."you want me to do WHAT?!"...so our pirouettes went something like-step,peer over shoulder at me, step,peer over shoulder at me, etc etc which didnt gain great marks, but did make me laugh. absolutely no point hassling him, after a couple more goes at them at shows, he'll be fine, and its more important to keep him confident :)

pleased to report we conquered the trot to left canter as well!!!

clever pony got 62.8% and won it, so really really pleased. not amazing scores, but for a 5yo, im chuffed to bits.

CS is all wrapped up in big PJ's tonight as it is chilly willy, and he is smug that fatty Bru is being clipped tomorrow and he isnt!

mooching...
P1010838.jpg


stretching...
P1010882.jpg


prancing....
P1010912.jpg

P1010913.jpg


go...go...GO medium canter!!!
P1010906.jpg


like this one :)
P1010905.jpg


jam tart or a mars bar for all, as that all iv eaten today!
 
Well done, I'm glad you had a good outing, and what a result. :D:D

I know what you mean about your horse drinking and weeing when out. We don't even take water to dressage now as we just pour it away. (must look like cruel owners). :(
 
Definitely gorgeous and very smart. I feel very embarrassed that my 5yo is going BDing soon and isn't really established enough for the trickier novices, let alone elementary!
 
He looks lovely (as usual!), and well done on the scores :D
With the loading thing, Wilby has been like that - absolutely fine once he's in but prats about when loading - and then last week he went in straight away both times we went out? No idea why, maybe they have made a pact together!
 
mickeymoo-have you tried grated carrots? i grate about 4/5 big carrots in to a tupperware, add enough water to make it sloppy and then pour it in to bucket when i wnat him to drink, he loves teh carrot so takes in some water whilst trying to scoff it all, and he has started to slurp up the water that is left, and then last two outing some *normal* water when he has finshed the carrot water too-worth a shot?

MD-shame, would have been nice to meet you :)

thank you all, he is have a well earnt day off today,bossing toby round the field!
 
PS I will try that with the carrots as we can be out all day and he won't drink. We do take apples and carrots and I sponge water into his mouth so at least he gets some moisture. :)
 
I say the same everrryyyyy time you do a report but he looks absoloutly amazing, and so unracehorse like, youve done so well with him :) well done
 
Very well done , great hear he is being calm at parties now.
As the owner of a stress head pony, please can you point me in the direction of the magic oil? Thanks.
 
Sounds like a successful outing! Fingers crossed for the magic oil being the secret if it helps with loading and being relaxed etc

Hurrah for wee and drink! Don't think E will ever wee anywhere apart from his stable!

I have used lavender in the past when I started riding again and used to get nervous and I used to give the horse a sniff too!

What was the thinking behind each of the different ingredients - do they have diff effects? xx
 
Well done he is fabulous...really should be a posterboy for race horse to riding horses! Well done re: the wee & drink....being an ex-racer he prob used to popped in a stable at the races hence his reluctance to pee or drink on the lorry!! He is soooooooo lush!
 
He is looking fab-u-lous - as always! I don't always comment on your reports of your lessons and outings, but I always look forward to reading them, as it gives me something to aim for!! One day me and my boy might look as fab you as you two!

Re the weeing - have you tried training him to wee when you whistle? I did this with my mare, and I would ask her to go for a wee before we left home in the morning, and then ask her again (whistling at her!) when we get to the venue. I would whistle at her every time I took her out for a ride, as practice. I have found that geldings are generally easier to train to do the weeing on whistle than mares - but I have found it a useful little "trick"!

:)
 
aw thank you, thats such a nice thing to say :)

re the weeing-worth a shot?! he is quite happy to week in a skip if i catch him in the act, so def a possibility. i did think he had a wee on the lorry at the regionals too, so getting the hang of chilling out totally now i think!

DD-i think the bergamot is for soothing the butterflies in tummy anxiety, and the frankicense helps distracted/agitated/unable to concentrate sort of nerves.
 
Just caught up with this! he looks great hon! :) Wish I had your problems with lack of weeing - mine wees in the lorry religiously as soon as he is loaded to go home, every single time! Which means a trail of wee down the road, and the smell all the way home..............
 
Have just given the bergamot some thought. I'm the most chilled out person I know - except for when I first get up on a morning until I've had a cup of Earl Grey (flavoured with bergamot). Think you could be on to something there!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top