Autumnal August Weekend Plans

Ample Prosecco

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Summer my ar$£ - she says looking out at wind and rain.

First weekend back after a holiday and it's a mad one... Weston Lawns on Friday chasing a clear for National Amateur Champs. 5+ hours drivings for a 2 min round is madness but.....

Then London Friday night for my annual Family Dinner of excruciating awkwardness with my dad and his mad family. HHO got me though it last year, along with a bucket of wine! Spending the weekend in London, seeing Hamilton which should be good. Back Sunday ready to..... GO EVENTING on BH Monday. Unaff ODE at Eland. A load of friends are going so I just thought why not...... Busy busy, and I've just woken up with a cold. Grrr.

What is everyone up to?
 

millitiger

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Its my birthday so lots of celebrations tomorrow and Saturday with friends and family.

I am going on a fun ride Sunday, hopefully the weather calms down!

Then full steam ahead with training and practice for Home Nations next weekend- this last week I have regained our elastic contact and suppleness- hoorah!
He can be difficult to get supple again after time off but you just have to be patient while he feels like a board- just lots and lots of boring walk-halt-walk transitions!

Have fun everyone!
 

SaddlePsych'D

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Wow that does sound busy AE!

Happy birthday @millitiger 🎈 🍰

I am aiming for a much quieter weekend as the last three have been full on. Really pleased I have been able to do all these things but it has flared up fatigue again which is annoying as I was really feeling a lot better having the time off work. We're going to view a couple of houses on Saturday and hopefully we will have people viewing ours at the same time! But that's it. The rest is going to be resting and relaxing 😌

Riding lesson tomorrow and I think it will be just see how I feel. Long COVID has changed my view/expectations so I am just glad to be able to ride at all. The primary goal now is 'have fun' and the rest has to follow that.
 

Red-1

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Yes... going to take BH to camp. It was a last minute thing, booked 2 days ago!

I have barely ridden all summer as BH has been away whilst the stables and fields were refurbished and I have been travelling. I am not fit! He's only been back a week.

We may spend a lot of time watching rather than blasting around, but I am still looking forward to camp.
 

dorsetladette

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@Ambers Echo I feel your pain I have one of those uncomfortable family meals tonight. They've come to me as I've avoided them for so long!

I'm going to take Robin out hacking at some point, we usually start off in hand and then get on once we get to the entrance of the bridleway. I'll judge the windy spookiness before I decide if it's an in hand hack or a ridden one. He's 4 so I don't see the point in setting him up fail if I don't need to. The judges comments are still ringing in my head so he is going out to do some thing but how much is another matter.

Enjoy the weekend everyone.
 

j1ffy

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Barring work crises I'm hoping to head to Hartpury tomorrow to cheer on a friend competing at the Midways. Might hack on Saturday but also need to visit my Dad so let's see...probably a little hack on Sunday then an exciting Monday as I'm going to ride a potential loan horse (eek!).
 

blood_magik

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New horse arriving Sunday - vet check tomorrow then he’s being picked up by the transporter Saturday. Overnight at their base near Newmarket then up to Bonny Scotland Sunday. Excited to finally see him in the flesh 😁

Then a lesson Monday. Should probably take Cas as he hasn’t had a lesson for a while.
 

DressageCob

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I'm supposed to be going to area festivals tomorrow, 3rd time lucky after work got in the way the first time, and had a blow out last time. But it's blowing a gale and I need to cross the pennines to get there, so part of me is thinking I won't be going 😆
 

Red-1

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It was calm at 3am but by the time I got up, it was too windy to ride. Gale force winds here. I will try to ride later as it's supposed to be calming down later.

Yesterday I packed the lorry but didn't ride, so I could really do with riding today before setting off for camp tomorrow!
 

SEL

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Typical bank holiday weather! After my bank hol ride was cancelled on Sunday I booked for a x country lesson tomorrow. Not only has the instructor reduced 90 mins to 60 mins because we're 1 person short in the group but it looks torrential.

It's quite a drive for me too so regretting my plan a bit at the moment.

Hopefully Monday will hold up because @SpotsandBays and I are heading to a new spot for a ride. My 13h pony and her almost 17h warm blood - not going to look at all ridiculous 🤣🤣
 

SEL

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@SEL I take my little 13.2 out with an 18hh hunter 😅 she keeps up before she's a fell and a mare and no one has told her she shouldn't.
Mine is either Fell or Dale's cross so it must come with the breed!! She babysat my friend's gangly young eventer last year and used to happily out canter him, but it always looked like she was taking her child for a ride (from behind anyway 😜)
 

SaddlePsych'D

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Main goal achieved - fun was had despite fairly low energy levels, high life-stress levels, and muscles in desperate need of some help from the physio next week! There were lots of smiles, even when I was literally riding along saying 'I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared' Nothing actually scary was happening, we just had minutely faster trot. On a good day I would be very pleased about this progress.

Other goals achieved were riding in arena with another horse and rider (without getting worried about it), practicing some shapes and having another go at the non-scary thing so that the 'scary' version wasn't the last impression left.

It was interesting to see how my physical tension and fatigue impacted on the horse today. Our bend wasn't great even on our stronger side and transitions a bit pants. I am happy that my instructor noticed this difference with me and that it was a good lesson in adapting to what you have on the day. We still did some good bits of work though and I had some grooming time after the lesson as well so that was really lovely.
 

Birker2020

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Summer my ar$£ - she says looking out at wind and rain.

First weekend back after a holiday and it's a mad one... Weston Lawns on Friday chasing a clear for National Amateur Champs. 5+ hours drivings for a 2 min round is madness but.....

Then London Friday night for my annual Family Dinner of excruciating awkwardness with my dad and his mad family. HHO got me though it last year, along with a bucket of wine! Spending the weekend in London, seeing Hamilton which should be good. Back Sunday ready to..... GO EVENTING on BH Monday. Unaff ODE at Eland. A load of friends are going so I just thought why not...... Busy busy, and I've just woken up with a cold. Grrr.

What is everyone up to?
Sorry phone causing issues again

Weston Lawns was my favourite venue, fab place, only 40 mins from us.
 

Roasted Chestnuts

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Was working today, boys had a few days chilling after our show last weekend.

Tomorrow he’s chilling again as I’m at Blair 😁 first time I’ve been in 10yrs but had to go as it’s the last one.

Sunday he’s getting a nice hack once I’ve sorted my storage for winter 😁
 

Red-1

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We had a power cut this morning, when I had planned on some computer work.

I couldn't have a cup of coffee, couldn't cook breakfast, couldn't do the computer work. Plus, all housework was done yesterday for the estate agent to come and value and I didn't want to go outside to do jobs as it was blowing a gale.

Soddit, I went back to bed!

This aft, I rode BH out. It was breezy but OK.

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He is all ready for camp tomorrow now.

I also had a nice surprise...
I had all my fencing re-done this summer but didn't fancy paying for full post and rails. I had a round post every 12ft and a single rail, topped by electric tape. It has worked but there isn't much space on a round post to nail on 2 rails...

My boyfriend took one look and declared that the rail's wouldn't sit well for long and went and designed/made something to make it all good. He fitted the first few last night to see what I think.

They look really smart! The centre is a big bolt into the post and the rails are then screwed in further back, so they're unlikely to split. They are supported underneath so are less likely to sag, as my last ones did.

I think Post Sits would make cheap fencing much more durable and would be economical in the long run.

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Hoping for a calm day to travel to camp tomorrow.

I am also leaving Riggers and the dogs in the care of BF for the first time. I'm sure he will be fine, but he has, as yet, never even scooped a poop, so it is a task for him!
 

little_critter

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We had our first jump lesson in years this morning.
T was meant to be an all rounder, but I never really got round to do enough jumping to really say we can jump.
Last year he went lame and I decided we wouldn’t jump again, however he’s been feeling good the last few months and I popped a jump up at home to give him a change. He seemed to love it, so I dusted his jump saddle off for the following 2 weekends and discovered that doing practically no jumping in the last 2 years has greatly improved his technique!!
I’m still pretty rubbish so I got a lesson booked to try to improve that. Basically I want to learn all the basic stuff that gets drilled into most kids at pony club.
Number 1 issue is my hands and their inability to release.
So our first lesson was this morning (in the rain ☔️)
We started dinky, just trotting over some warm up jumps. T was a little spritely (he’s been to this venue before but not for well over 18 months). He didn’t do anything too dramatic, but because he’s usually a chilled out dude, any jitters from him gets me riding defensively, which probably doesn’t help.

We did various different pairs of jumps until we jumped a course of 10 jumps. It was not a smooth, flowing round, with lots of trotting in between. But we gave everything a go.
The biggest change in him is that previously if he didn’t like the look of a jump, he would duck out.
Now he goes over it but balloons. We had several jumps with bright boards / fillers and no refusals, just HUGE jumps.
The trainer complemented him that even when he balloons he stays straight. I’m just pleased that he’s giving it a go.
I did say to the trainer at the start that I’m working with a “no blame” model with him. Previously if he got anxious he would start refusing, and he would worry about getting things wrong. I’m currently rewarding every attempt at a jump, even if he demolishes it because I want him to feel comfortable giving it a try. It seems to be working.

I was told my lower leg position is good (self preservation with his balloons!, I can guarantee that I would have been off at least 3 times today if my lower leg wasn’t secure)
Not much critique yet from the trainer, but I guess lesson 1 is a bit of a familiarisation session. Also with T being a bit jumpy, and me riding defensively I think it would have been hard to introduce instruction on technique.
I’m looking to go back again in a month.
 

BronsonNutter

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View attachment 145244the rain stopped for the 90 minutes of our lesson! We're not impressed by tyres - I didn't dare take him over the bigger one despite the height he got here. Going to try and build one at home so he understands they don't bite 😜 Grateful for that neck strap 😅
He’s really giving those the side eye 😂

After the disappointment of not getting to the RoR champs earlier this week due to my old ex-racer pulling his shoe and a large chunk of foot off 😩 the Unicorn Connemara cheered me back up at our RC qualifiers for combined training and combined challenge - individual 2nd and 4th, plus two team wins. So we’re off to ALW in October I think. We haven’t competed much this year but he never lets me down 🦄
 

Wishfilly

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Haven't been very active on here recently, but I have been having pretty consistent jumping lessons this summer, including on grass, weather permitting. Anyway, this weekend I went cross country schooling with my pony, which is something that in the past would have felt hugely out of reach! Blue was incredibly honest, and really enjoyed himself, and I did loads more than I thought I would for our first time xc together (as far as I'm aware, he's never been to proper cross country before, although we've jumped a few solid fences/logs on fun rides and things). Very proud of my pony, and I surprised myself with how brave I was! There were a few hiccups but nothing major and overall really pleased with how it went!

For anyone in the SW, who's nervous or has a young horse, I would hugely recommend Southcott XC near Winkleigh, they had a lovely range of smaller/inviting jumps, and it was a really good venue for being able to be progressive both at/between jumps.
 

SaddlePsych'D

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He’s here 🥳

Will get better pictures once he’s settled and recovered from his travels.

View attachment 145275
Well this is very exciting! What a beaut! 😍
Haven't been very active on here recently, but I have been having pretty consistent jumping lessons this summer, including on grass, weather permitting. Anyway, this weekend I went cross country schooling with my pony, which is something that in the past would have felt hugely out of reach! Blue was incredibly honest, and really enjoyed himself, and I did loads more than I thought I would for our first time xc together (as far as I'm aware, he's never been to proper cross country before, although we've jumped a few solid fences/logs on fun rides and things). Very proud of my pony, and I surprised myself with how brave I was! There were a few hiccups but nothing major and overall really pleased with how it went!

For anyone in the SW, who's nervous or has a young horse, I would hugely recommend Southcott XC near Winkleigh, they had a lovely range of smaller/inviting jumps, and it was a really good venue for being able to be progressive both at/between jumps.
Well done you and Blue :) sounds like the jumping lessons have really paid off and you both made some fab progress trying out the XC.
 

Pippity

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My Blue actually stayed sound for long enough for the saddle fitter to visit! And, best of all, she managed to adjust an old Wintec I hadn't managed to sell so that it would fit. It's only an interim measure, until Blue loses some of the lard she's piled on over her time off, but I feel a lot more secure than in my TCS.

Secure enough that we ventured out for an off-yard hack today! It's the first time Blue's been off the yard in nine months, and she loved every second of it. She had a bit of a startle when we met a flock of cyclists, all changing gear and whirring and clonking, and a pile of sand had to be given a Firm Glare and a Wide Berth, but she had no objections to a rattly van or a car zooming past.

I was a nervous wreck. I think I only took three breaths in the whole thirty minutes. But we both survived, which is the important thing!
 
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