A Soggy, Soapy, Sicknote Shelford *with vids*

Baydale

Baydale

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Make yourselves comfy, join me if you like as I've got the Oyster Bay open and the chilli is nearly done. :D

Where to begin, hmmmm? We had a quick trip to Houghton on Friday, after my hastily rearranged Herceptin on Thursday, and somebody's pants must be on fire as they've fibbed about there being no side effects. :mad: I felt pants, but not in an on-fire way, more of an if-I-sit-still-for-a-minute-I'll-be-asleep way. :rolleyes: We'll ignore Jooooopiter's round as he obviously wasn't right, grunting a lot and having 4 of the 25 jumping efforts down - I reckon he'd been climbing on the lorry lockers en route, thereby ensuring he could get out of his week ahead (Shelford PN and 2 x working hunter classes) with a sicknote. :( Moo Cow more than made up for it though by being super-confident and just having one down. Shame I was slow as a boat but I was never going to gallop round, it was more for the big arena/atmosphere practice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A86RsKlpV0

I tried jumping Joooopiter a couple of days later but nope, twasn't the cheeky, chirpy chap I normally have so I substituted Marty in his place, as he needed a xc school anyway and the ground at Shelford was fab the day before. We arrived in the rain and it continued to rain all day, I blame myself for a) having whinged endlessly about the hard ground and b) washing my car, a failsafe method of producing rain-filled clouds. :p

Marty first, who managed a very safe, level test, no demi-changes (aka disunited-ness ;)) in right canter but perhaps a little lackluster in trot. Looking at the bigger picture I'm thinking a non-stressy test might bode well for future tests, but ask me about that again after Saturday at Lt Downham! Oh, and the 'soapy' reference in the title is my knees, look at the foam I'm producing with the friction! :eek: That made me chuckle. :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePU7avKOoyE

SuperFran was disappointed when she saw it was a 35.5, but there were bigger-moving, uphill horses that will have got 7s where I got 6s, so I won't gripe about it.

Moo Cow next, cheeky and cocky, thankfully without his partner-in-crime to egg him on even further - thank God! :eek: He was a bit gobby, did a huge trip into free walk (normally his best bit :rolleyes:) but overall his balance is better, especially in the canter, and will be better still when he lets me get my leg on it the trot (spot the Pony Club kick as I go down the centre line to finish :o and wacky halt).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IAIwdaMNT8

Smarty to showjump next, and back in the Universal with a curb strap which had worked well in the lesson this week and did for most of the round, up until the last line where he set sail, bunny-hopped over the first part of the double, had me take his back teeth out over the second part, then took off making the five strides to the upright very short - argumentative beggar:mad::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvv_7JDfKT8

Cross-country, and it was still raining, but off we set, steady-eddy, me squinting and struggling to get my eye in, then getting going better in the second half - oh, if you exclude the part where he jumped to the right mid-air over the corner and I had to yank him left to avoid hitting the decorative milk churn :eek::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DTEILDZUNg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NcGj18zRcs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfAOM7KQYRA

My mincing early on meant I was a second over the time, but he jumped well so I was happy. I may try him in Moo Cow's nathe gag this week though, as he's still a bit grumpy about the Universal and a snaffle isn't quite enough. :confused:

The big-eared one was keen as mustard to get out in the rain again, strange pony, and the showjumping warm-up was starting to churn up so I didn't over-jump him, stopping for a chat about the effects of chemotherapy on hair growth with Kenneth Clawson, as you do... :p

All was going well over 1 and 2 and then we had a bit of a "moment" before 3, and I added a stride in the related distance rather than chase for the five:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTWO96ovQE

It turns out he had the tiniest rub on the right-hand side of his mouth, hence the melodrama, so we whacked some cream on it before xc and I had the feeling he'd not worry so much once the adrenaline was pumping round his body. ;) What can I say? He was awesome. :D Never mind point and kick, he was just point, and even the murky-looking water didn't really bother him, so I was happy for him to trot through. He wasn't just enjoying it, he was showing off, flicking his tail and his back end and practically woo-hoo-ing after every fence. Such a cool pony. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OIoyWkdQyg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC4LIQRKgYk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A7WKkBKJGM

So, double clears, pingy, happy ponies, what more could a girl want? :rolleyes: Marty managed a 6th and Moo an 8th, so not a bad effort. :)

I started this last night then my t'internet went down so you've missed the chilli unless you like it cold, ewwww, but I can offer builders' tea and muesli with chopped banana on top. :p
 
Sounds like an awesome day with frillies to boot :)

How much more treatment do you needor is it just a suck it and see kind of thing? Glad I'm not based 'oop north if you're this on form with a sick note ;)
 
Fab report as always, and all of the videos are grand - I love Cal's bash at Houghton, looking very classy with some rather good lines by yourself :D Marty is just fab, he really is my type of horse. Still don't know how the hell you do it, and do it so elegantly and successfully!
 
Haven't watched the vids as at work and about to shoot off to see vet for C soon, but as always you are an inspiration - lots of positives, especially when the weather 'was' and you 'were' feeling crap. Frillies too so all good, pass on the builders tea (yuk) and no muesli as I have a sick feeling at the mo :) Good luck at Little D :D
 
Congratulations. I don't post very much but love reading your reports. You really are an inspiration most people would sit around feeling sorry for themselves not be competing in the rain and doing well. Hope your treatment is soon over and you are back to full health. How is Jup?
 
Wow, if you can do all of this not feeling well, you will be flying when firing on all cylinders:)
Horses look fab as alwyas, hope Jups is back to his normal cheeky self asap.

If it hadn't have been quite so wet I would have come across to watch, but would have had Mini D_K in tow, who doesn't do standing around in the rain, so had a day of watching DVD's with him instead, got a bit fed up with Animals United the 3rd time round:rolleyes:
 
I love Marty- he always looks like he's trying hard- he's got one of these eager faces (which must be mildly galling when he isn't!).

2 rosettes with 2 DCs is brilliant, and I like the frothing saddle effect- we'll try it on Reg as a potential distraction for the judge!
 
Very well done N! I simply do not know where you find your energy from, it's phenomenally impressive! :D Really hope Jup picks up pronto and is back to his cheeky self asap :) where are you off to next?
 
Fabulous report, love the vids, all looking great. Am very much in awe of you. I don't know how you do it. I'm sure I'd be curled up under the bed covers feeling sorry for myself.
 
Baydale said:
I started this last night then my t'internet went down so you've missed the chilli unless you like it cold, ewwww, but I can offer builders' tea and muesli with chopped banana on top. :p
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I was going to say - Oyster Bay at 8.18am even beats my record! haha

Glad they're going well :)
 
What size was the GP? It looked quite decent :eek:.
As for Shelford: two horses, two rosettes, no unscheduled CO2 usage. What more could you want. Job done!

Is Jooooop off Bramham then? I can't believe that he'd skive that one, the big fairy :mad:.
 
I'm surprised you manage to remember that course at Houghton if you were feeling dodge, I'm dizzy just from the video! Boys all sound very good. Are you aiming for Osberton 1* with them?
 
Well done for your two placings! Sorry I didn't hang around to say hi - was totally drowned and just wanted to get home. Clever boys!

The Houghton vid was fab - how on earth did you remember the course? :D

Hope your feeling better.....
X
 
You're a stubborn bu**er aren't you? The harder it gets the harder you push yourself. Very well done and both horses are looking as fit and well as fit well things :D.
I enjoyed the GP vid (except the close up of moving grass made me go cross-eyed) and I do wonder how you remember what to jump next - it's a showjumpers competition really as far as I can see.

See you at LD with a bit of luck but Frodo is on early so if we do pants we'll probably vanish asap :(
 
Leg_end said:
Sounds like an awesome day with frillies to boot :)

How much more treatment do you needor is it just a suck it and see kind of thing? Glad I'm not based 'oop north if you're this on form with a sick note ;)
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Thank, Leg_end, not a bad day. I'm having this drug every three weeks: 2 down, 16 more to go. :eek: :rolleyes: Maybe my body will get used to it (says she, the eternal optimist :D)?
 
Weezy said:
Fab report as always, and all of the videos are grand - I love Cal's bash at Houghton, looking very classy with some rather good lines by yourself :D Marty is just fab, he really is my type of horse. Still don't know how the hell you do it, and do it so elegantly and successfully!
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Awwww, thanks Weezy. :o We had the team trainer with us at Houghton (LD) so he was giving me some handy hints. :p Marty is one of those slow-maturing Irish 'osses I think, so let's hope there's more to come from him.
 
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