Any weekend shows/ training plans

[Sussexbythesea]

Oh how fab. I went last year, hadn't done much showing ever but I loved it. Good luck!

Thank you I'm not a showing expert at all I used to do mainly dressage but it's too demanding for him now. We got soaked last night as caught out in a deluge on our fitness programme, my boy was a bit miffed that I took a poor old age pensioner out and got him drenched!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

How exciting. We have qualified too and I'm getting nervous now my competitor's pack has arrived. Never done a stay away show before, so much to organise.

Had a great jumping lesson yesterday in preparation. One more to go!

Tomorrow we were going to a dressage show and doing our test (as we haven't ridden it in a competition before) but unfortunately the show's been cancelled so I am having a dressage lesson away from home instead.

Fab best of luck. I'm only going for the day (Saturday) as not too far away. Hope the weather improves though as it could be a mud bath in the showing rings the way it us going.

 

[DirectorFury]

C'mon then, how did everyone do today?

Are you sure she's only 14.3 she looks huge there too!!

I don't want her to look like a warmblood - a show cob would be fine!! I will probably hogg her just not yet. She was really funny about her naked legs. Hopefully she will be used to them tomorrow!

We re-measured after another debate today and she came out as nearly 15.1 <horrified face>. Which would make Maddie at least 16hh <even more horrified face>. There's no need for a Sec D to EVER be that big.

Tullia looks super sweet either way, even if she's not a fan of de-haired legs yet . I'd leave the mane but shorten and thin it personally - however no mane means no plaiting which I can always get on board with!

We had another super fun hack today, the highlight of which was practising keeping pace alongside another horse in a fast canter. Both horses enjoyed that immensely and Molly bounced half the way home sideways. My friend showed me a photo of her when she bought her as a 4/5yo - I'd give my right arm to have had her at that age.

I've not forgotten about Maddie, she's happily eating in the field and occasionally getting some carrots and fuss. With a bit of luck she'll be coming back into work in 5-6 weeks (finally!) so if there are a load of stupid ride-and-lead questions from me soon that's why .

 

[FfionWinnie]

lol it's great how she's growing daily DF

How are you finding your saddle now? Got a GFS for the moment but would like a cob jump saddle next year. (Here we go again!)

 

[Tiddlypom]

Love all these reports and pics.

The RC ODE that I was helping at yesterday went ahead despite torrential rainfall at times. I was glad that I'd reproofed all my wet weather gear beforehand! I think that all these eventers are nuts (aka much braver than me) as there were hardly any withdrawals. The classes were 70cm to 90cm.

I somehow ended up as supervisor of the SJ pole picking team. The sloping grass arena got pretty cut up. Got stuck in picking up poles/moving fences with the team, as you do, and am really paying for it today as my knackered back protests...

 

[scats]

Accompanied my friend today to call two tests for her. She did brilliantly well considering last night we had to have one of the yard horses put to sleep very suddenly while his owner was on holiday. My friend was looking after him so it was an incredibly upsetting and traumatic evening.

We all feel a bit battered today, emotionally.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I'm sorry to hear about the horse at your yard scats, that sounds like a horrible experience

In our weekend news, we did it! Our first 80cm XC round! Nobody died, nobody wet their pants (though it was a close call ) and best of all we went CLEAR! It was very slow, and we ended up nearly 2mins over the optimum time (did you know monsters are more likely to eat horses if said horse is cantering ) but we can work on that another day. I'm just over the moon that we got round in one piece, and got over all the fences! For a horse that just a year ago couldn't canter a circle or jump, and who'd never been XC, and a rider who cried walking a 65cm XC course at the beginning of the summer, I don't think that's bad going

 

[LeannePip]

In our weekend news, we did it! Our first 80cm XC round! Nobody died, nobody wet their pants (though it was a close call ) and best of all we went CLEAR! It was very slow, and we ended up nearly 2mins over the optimum time (did you know monsters are more likely to eat horses if said horse is cantering ) but we can work on that another day. I'm just over the moon that we got round in one piece, and got over all the fences! For a horse that just a year ago couldn't canter a circle or jump, and who'd never been XC, and a rider who cried walking a 65cm XC course at the beginning of the summer, I don't think that's bad going

Well done

Well I made the last minute decision to clip Rubes this morning ahead of our Blenheim adventure on Thursday. . . before going XC schooling - NOT my wisest idea; and then It rained, and the wind and then just to make sure, it rained some more!

She was a little exuberant to say the least, i could have fallen off in excess of 10 times, and she was so exuberant, she managed to snap my neck strap! We just about survived and live to fight another day.

Does anyone else find towards the end of the season their horses are just TOOO fit!?

Hoping pic works; just a still from a video . . .

eta - HOW DO YOU GET PHOTOS TO WORK! :'(

 

[Mule]

Came 6th in the riding club national eventing championships. Am very pleased with my clever boy. He's A Star.

 

[LeannePip]

Came 6th in the riding club national eventing championships. Am very pleased with my clever boy. He's A Star.

Wow thats an excellent result! Well done, you must be really proud of him!

 

[Mule]

Wow thats an excellent result! Well done, you must be really proud of him!

I am really proud of him. He looked a bit bemused at all the hugs he was getting. :biggrin4:

 

[j1ffy]

Well done Mule - great result!! Well done to everyone else who's been out and about, it sounds like a good weekend. Sorry about the horse at your yard scats

We had lots of fun hunting on Exmoor! As I'd never been before I wasn't sure what to expect, but everyone was incredibly welcoming and friendly. Pocholo was a bit confused to begin with and wasn't sure about hounds charging up behind him, but he soon settled. It was a very quiet day, so ideal for us to look at the scenery and learn about this hunting lark.

We didn't have a great start as my friend's lorry broke down on Friday but thankfully only an hour from Rockley, so we were able to get recovered and the horses settled by 8.30 Friday evening. Sadly for my friend it seems her lorry has decided to permanently retire to the West Country so we had to pay to get the horses taken home yesterday. On the plus side, it meant we spent an extra night at Rockley Farm with fab company, and our boys got an extra night on the Rockley tracks so their hooves are looking great!

 

[milliepops]

Well done everyone, sounds like lots of good times were had despite some hiccups

I'm absolutely shattered from being on 'holiday', got back at 1.30am and the 6am alarm was a struggle... but Kira doesn't do well with time off and I've a lesson on Wednesday so she needs to be re-tamed! Rather uninspiring ride this morning but it's a start...

Dublin was fun ...Went to the zoo, round the old jail, walked through Phoenix park and found some polo ponies, a fascinating exhibition of human bodies that had been partially dissected so you could see the anatomy etc, bus tour of dublin and paddling in the sea OH and the team had a good time shooting and lots of Guinness was consumed. Ready for a rest now shame about work, isn't it?!

 

[DabDab]

I'm sorry to hear about the horse at your yard scats, that sounds like a horrible experience

In our weekend news, we did it! Our first 80cm XC round! Nobody died, nobody wet their pants (though it was a close call ) and best of all we went CLEAR! It was very slow, and we ended up nearly 2mins over the optimum time (did you know monsters are more likely to eat horses if said horse is cantering ) but we can work on that another day. I'm just over the moon that we got round in one piece, and got over all the fences! For a horse that just a year ago couldn't canter a circle or jump, and who'd never been XC, and a rider who cried walking a 65cm XC course at the beginning of the summer, I don't think that's bad going

You pair of superstars! Can't believe how far you've brought him and yourself on in the space of one summer. Really really well done

Came 6th in the riding club national eventing championships. Am very pleased with my clever boy. He's A Star.

Wow, fantastic result. You must be chuffed to bits with him

 

[Mule]

Well done Mule - great result!! Well done to everyone else who's been out and about, it sounds like a good weekend. Sorry about the horse at your yard scats

We had lots of fun hunting on Exmoor! As I'd never been before I wasn't sure what to expect, but everyone was incredibly welcoming and friendly. Pocholo was a bit confused to begin with and wasn't sure about hounds charging up behind him, but he soon settled. It was a very quiet day, so ideal for us to look at the scenery and learn about this hunting lark.

We didn't have a great start as my friend's lorry broke down on Friday but thankfully only an hour from Rockley, so we were able to get recovered and the horses settled by 8.30 Friday evening. Sadly for my friend it seems her lorry has decided to permanently retire to the West Country so we had to pay to get the horses taken home yesterday. On the plus side, it meant we spent an extra night at Rockley Farm with fab company, and our boys got an extra night on the Rockley tracks so their hooves are looking great!

That sounds great. I did a few hunts last season and loved it too. I'm definitely going to do more this year.

 

[Mule]

You pair of superstars! Can't believe how far you've brought him and yourself on in the space of one summer. Really really well done



Wow, fantastic result. You must be chuffed to bits with him

Thanks dab. How did your clinic go?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Like, what took me so long!

First lesson booked with her so thought I better crack on...

 

[j1ffy]

Like, what took me so long!

First lesson booked with her so thought I better crack on...

Wow, what a transformation! She looks fab, what a lovely neck and head she had under all that mane!!

 

[DabDab]

Thanks dab. How did your clinic go?

Brilliant actually - instructor had never met us before but instantly got the idiot horse and instantly got idiot me, which I can honestly say has never happened before. Put her finger immediately on a key weak link - once corrected the quality of the work was fantastic. So definitely going to try to get back to her again before too long if she'll have me.

Ahhhh, that's better FW - still not forgiven you for taking those feathers off though

 

[iknowmyvalue]

You pair of superstars! Can't believe how far you've brought him and yourself on in the space of one summer. Really really well done

Thank you! I've got hope of turning him into a real event horse yet Fab that your clinic went well, it's such a great feeling when you find an instructor who you really click with, and things start making sense!

FW, she's lovely! She looks very smart all clipped out like that

 

[Mule]

Like, what took me so long!

First lesson booked with her so thought I better crack on...

It suits her. How is little Epic?

 

[DirectorFury]

Like, what took me so long!

First lesson booked with her so thought I better crack on...

<heart eyes>. She looks fab - you've definitely got a good eye for a horse!
About jump saddles...I'm mostly happy with mine, it fits pretty much everything I've ever put it on. There are a few changes I would make if I was ordering another (position of the knee/thigh block, narrower twist, and stirrup bars mostly) but it works well for me most of the time. My only big complaint is that the elastic in the (free) saddle cover went after a year .

Sorry to hear about the horse on your yard Scats, always hard when one goes .
Great result iknow, hopefully the first of many .
Glad you survived post-clipping LP, how on earth did she snap the neck strap? For photos try imgur.
Amazing result mule!
Good news about the hunting being fun, less good about the lorry j1ffy. Very jealous of you being close enough to Rockley to visit. Currently debating trying to get a referral to send Maddie down there.
Sounds like you need a holiday to recover from the 'holiday' MP .
DabDab, make sure you keep hold of that instructor! Ones that get you and the horse are very rare and very special.

Maddie is coming back into work in 4-6 weeks (finally <cries>), she's been off since the end of Jan and I can't say I'm looking forward to doing the initial sitting on! Molly had her first ever canter on each rein the school today, surprisingly she didn't do a 'panic run' which I was expecting (her go-to reaction to...well...most things) but was calm and rideable. I am optimistically planning an early spring dressage debut if she keeps improving like this .

 

[Undecided]

Super excited just to be back riding and having a lesson after a 3 week abscess related hiatus which has left a crater sized hole in his heel bulb!

 

[zaminda]

Sadly my yard move went so epically badly I didn't go anywhere. Took her for a first jump for a while and she was fab so hopefully out this weekend. Then there is s ride at the beginning of October for her first proper endurance outing maybe having another fun ride first. Note to self I hate moving!

 

[j1ffy]

<heart eyes>. She looks fab - you've definitely got a good eye for a horse!
About jump saddles...I'm mostly happy with mine, it fits pretty much everything I've ever put it on. There are a few changes I would make if I was ordering another (position of the knee/thigh block, narrower twist, and stirrup bars mostly) but it works well for me most of the time. My only big complaint is that the elastic in the (free) saddle cover went after a year .

Sorry to hear about the horse on your yard Scats, always hard when one goes .
Great result iknow, hopefully the first of many .
Glad you survived post-clipping LP, how on earth did she snap the neck strap? For photos try imgur.
Amazing result mule!
Good news about the hunting being fun, less good about the lorry j1ffy. Very jealous of you being close enough to Rockley to visit. Currently debating trying to get a referral to send Maddie down there.
Sounds like you need a holiday to recover from the 'holiday' MP .
DabDab, make sure you keep hold of that instructor! Ones that get you and the horse are very rare and very special.

Maddie is coming back into work in 4-6 weeks (finally <cries>), she's been off since the end of Jan and I can't say I'm looking forward to doing the initial sitting on! Molly had her first ever canter on each rein the school today, surprisingly she didn't do a 'panic run' which I was expecting (her go-to reaction to...well...most things) but was calm and rideable. I am optimistically planning an early spring dressage debut if she keeps improving like this .

We're not really close enough - it's a four hour drive, and longer for my friend who picked us up! It was worth it though, and luckily both horses (both Rockley Rehabs) are excellent travellers!

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

I managed to conquer a new venue, new test (P14) without a caller and an Austrian coiled spring to get 66.1% (more points for the pony to match the record BD refuse to remove for me ) and some really lovely positive comments from the Judge
Just need to learn to a) breathe and b) smile!!

 

[j1ffy]

I managed to conquer a new venue, new test (P14) without a caller and an Austrian coiled spring to get 66.1% (more points for the pony to match the record BD refuse to remove for me ) and some really lovely positive comments from the Judge
Just need to learn to a) breathe and b) smile!!

Well done - lovely photo!

 

[blood_magik]

We had a pretty good weekend - the old boy did a sweet enough test on saturday for 63.04% and 2nd (happy enough considering it's been over 3 years since his last test and we only ran through it twice) and then R won his first elementary with a PB of 69.82%.

Made a last minute decision to take the old boy out to BS with my big lad on Sunday. There were a few blips (one on my part - naughty jockey) so ended up with 8 faults in the 85cm open but there was nothing particularly awful and T really enjoyed himself.

The big lad had a bit of a disaster and I ended up coming off at fence 2 so we had to do the walk of shame back to the lorry.
We built the same course at home and popped over a few of the combos yesterday so there was obviously a bit of a miscommunication on Sunday. Jumping lesson tonight with a new trainer at a new venue so hoping it stays dry as it's outdoors.