Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Is the quality too bad to see? CJD’s test sheet - blank obviously! Just before she came in.
Bank Holiday (again!) weekend in May
- Thread starter Ambers Echo
- Start date
maya2008
Well-Known Member
New horse cuddles x a million. She’s been here a day and is ever so sweet. Aiming to get her to eat out of my hand by the end of the weekend, along with just being more comfortable around humans.
I was going to book SJ course hire…then my son threw up this afternoon. Not sure I want to risk losing my money if I catch whatever he has and can’t go, so going to do that next week instead. Will hopefully be fixing son’s pony’s cow worries instead. He’ll go past…but isn’t happy. If we go past and back and past and back and snack on some grass, we should be able to show him they’re behind a fence, and he’s safe!
I was going to book SJ course hire…then my son threw up this afternoon. Not sure I want to risk losing my money if I catch whatever he has and can’t go, so going to do that next week instead. Will hopefully be fixing son’s pony’s cow worries instead. He’ll go past…but isn’t happy. If we go past and back and past and back and snack on some grass, we should be able to show him they’re behind a fence, and he’s safe!
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
Was she eliminated today? I saw someone mention it. You had a lovely day for writing.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Sadly yes. After a beautiful test
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Fell foul of the ‘arrow facing the wrong way on NS bits’ issue. Such a shame.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
What really surprised me at this level though was that 2 riders saluted with their whip hand. Which was very expensive. It was a very educational day. And wow does Somerford look after you! 3 course lunch with wine!! And bizarrely, my dressage judge and I discovered we both lived in HK in the 80s and learned to ride on racehorses. And had friends in common from the 80s! Small world
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Two bits of training today.
First, Rigs gets a shout in the thread. He is visiting a care home for a PAT type visit next week and I don't think he has been on a horsebox since his last PAT visit last year. So, he had a ride out being dropped off in the horsebox (then a bath!).
Then, BH has been busy so had a 'day off' only I don't really do a day off so he had a little play with the umbrella. He has had issues with them when we have met people carrying them. I don't generally introduce such things per-se, just make sure they turn up in his everyday life and he is expected to get on with the set task and ignore the umbrella.
Today, I chose lining up at the mounting block practice.
First, Rigs gets a shout in the thread. He is visiting a care home for a PAT type visit next week and I don't think he has been on a horsebox since his last PAT visit last year. So, he had a ride out being dropped off in the horsebox (then a bath!).
Then, BH has been busy so had a 'day off' only I don't really do a day off so he had a little play with the umbrella. He has had issues with them when we have met people carrying them. I don't generally introduce such things per-se, just make sure they turn up in his everyday life and he is expected to get on with the set task and ignore the umbrella.
Today, I chose lining up at the mounting block practice.
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SEL
Well-Known Member
Baby cob went on an organised ride along with @SpotsandBays Baby Spots. It was carnage with horses everywhere and lots of people cantering in big groups close to other groups. Baby cob found it all very exciting. Showed his excellent airs above ground and proved to the lady with the gorgeous Connemara that he was no plod when he left her (& most of the rest of the ride) eating dust 
Baby Spots however was a superstar.
In fact for two young horses they both did really well - but I need wine!
Baby Spots however was a superstar.
In fact for two young horses they both did really well - but I need wine!
Britestar
Well-Known Member
Judging SJ for PC today.
Some super rounds, couple of departures.
But oh my goodness, how many took the wrong course??? Like missing a fence that they actually went past whilst missing it out. Another went from fence 4 to fence 7. Two got upset they got E'd after going wrong.
Wrong whips, wrong legwear, hair not in hair nets. Arrgh!
But gone by 2pm, bonus.
Some super rounds, couple of departures.
But oh my goodness, how many took the wrong course??? Like missing a fence that they actually went past whilst missing it out. Another went from fence 4 to fence 7. Two got upset they got E'd after going wrong.
Wrong whips, wrong legwear, hair not in hair nets. Arrgh!
But gone by 2pm, bonus.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Brain fried after a joint clinic with Joe M. So grateful for the opportunity and hope people enjoyed it. Feedback has been positive. 
Now home ready to get prepped for BS tomorrow - 5:30 alarm call. Looking forward to collapsing in a heap Sunday afternoon and chilling on Monday
Now home ready to get prepped for BS tomorrow - 5:30 alarm call. Looking forward to collapsing in a heap Sunday afternoon and chilling on Monday
ihatework
Well-Known Member
I’m spoiling myself with a week in Portugal playing posh ponies 
Whilst watching on livestream my home bred storm round his first 3DE at Bicton, with only one prep run this season, clear in the time. Such a little legend.
Whilst watching on livestream my home bred storm round his first 3DE at Bicton, with only one prep run this season, clear in the time. Such a little legend.
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
That is such a shame! You'd think after that issue was pretty high profile at nationals everyone would have checked and re-checked their bits... I know I did
SEL
Well-Known Member
He's written a lovely post about you on his FB pageBrain fried after a joint clinic with Joe M. So grateful for the opportunity and hope people enjoyed it. Feedback has been positive.
Now home ready to get prepped for BS tomorrow - 5:30 alarm call. Looking forward to collapsing in a heap Sunday afternoon and chilling on Monday
dottylottie
Well-Known Member
i’m working 7-7 all weekend so bare minimum pony time, and went to the yard in a bit of a foul mood tonight (sorry girls) but diva soon cheered me up, i dropped an empty net in the stable and she picked it up and shook it around for a bit
i’m glad that as she’s settling in her character is coming out more and it’s more cheeky than outright diva! thank god
i’m glad that as she’s settling in her character is coming out more and it’s more cheeky than outright diva! thank god
scats
Well-Known Member
Schooled Millie last night and then had a wander in the fields to cool off. We will probably hack this evening.
She had the vet Chiro on Tuesday, first time since just before my leg break.
As you might remember, Millie was diagnosed with navicular, coffin joint and hock arthritis last year. She had arthramid injections in the summer. As a result we just hacked from then on last year, but I did feel that the lack of some school work had a detrimental effect on her. She just felt stiff and stuffy all the time. She had Bute and aspirin over the winter, as the vet thought the hocks were starting to fuse and obviously she had the winter off with me being out of action.
When I got back on in Feb, she was so hot and full of it that I ended up in the school a couple of times a week as I didn’t want any mishaps out hacking with a newly healed leg (understandably!) and I realised that Millie seemed to be enjoying the work and was feeling really good, so I have carried it on. The vet Chiro said it’s the best Millie’s felt in a year, so that was encouraging! The SI issues seem to have disappeared (I also think regular equiband sessions have helped this- thanks TP for lending me yours!) and the only area of tightness was her hyoid, which has been an ongoing problem for a few years.
So it seems that 2 light school sessions a week are working wonders for her. It’s very basic stuff and we only do 30 mins max, but we do a mixture of poles, basic lateral work and nice big shapes (no tight turns) and Millie seems to be enjoying it more than she’s ever enjoyed schooling before. Needless to say I was a happy Scats this week, which sounds ridiculous because it’s not exactly a big thing but I really enjoy schooling and I did miss doing a bit of that with Millie. Vet Chiro said she saw no reason why we can’t get out and do some intros/prelim tests again as Millie is sound and happy
Polly has started long reining again, too. She loves the mental stimulation of work and had started to get grumpy seeing Millie come and go- box walking, screaming and face pulling. I’ll admit that I’d put her on the back burner and concentrated on Millie and probably hadn’t spent enough time with her, which is sad really as she’s a sweetheart in her own weird way. First evening of long reining and she was like a different horse afterwards- daft, cuddly and relaxed. She does like spending one to one time with me. I’m undecided as to how much we are going to do now but we will continue with some ground stuff for now and see how I feel.
She had the vet Chiro on Tuesday, first time since just before my leg break.
As you might remember, Millie was diagnosed with navicular, coffin joint and hock arthritis last year. She had arthramid injections in the summer. As a result we just hacked from then on last year, but I did feel that the lack of some school work had a detrimental effect on her. She just felt stiff and stuffy all the time. She had Bute and aspirin over the winter, as the vet thought the hocks were starting to fuse and obviously she had the winter off with me being out of action.
When I got back on in Feb, she was so hot and full of it that I ended up in the school a couple of times a week as I didn’t want any mishaps out hacking with a newly healed leg (understandably!) and I realised that Millie seemed to be enjoying the work and was feeling really good, so I have carried it on. The vet Chiro said it’s the best Millie’s felt in a year, so that was encouraging! The SI issues seem to have disappeared (I also think regular equiband sessions have helped this- thanks TP for lending me yours!) and the only area of tightness was her hyoid, which has been an ongoing problem for a few years.
So it seems that 2 light school sessions a week are working wonders for her. It’s very basic stuff and we only do 30 mins max, but we do a mixture of poles, basic lateral work and nice big shapes (no tight turns) and Millie seems to be enjoying it more than she’s ever enjoyed schooling before. Needless to say I was a happy Scats this week, which sounds ridiculous because it’s not exactly a big thing but I really enjoy schooling and I did miss doing a bit of that with Millie. Vet Chiro said she saw no reason why we can’t get out and do some intros/prelim tests again as Millie is sound and happy
Polly has started long reining again, too. She loves the mental stimulation of work and had started to get grumpy seeing Millie come and go- box walking, screaming and face pulling. I’ll admit that I’d put her on the back burner and concentrated on Millie and probably hadn’t spent enough time with her, which is sad really as she’s a sweetheart in her own weird way. First evening of long reining and she was like a different horse afterwards- daft, cuddly and relaxed. She does like spending one to one time with me. I’m undecided as to how much we are going to do now but we will continue with some ground stuff for now and see how I feel.
Cloball
Well-Known Member
No weekend plans for me as I'm away celebrating my mum, sister and grandads joint 180th birthday party 
but I've got the rest of the week of and I'm not going anywhere so I thought I'd do lots of hacking and a lesson in the week. (And study for my next big exam 
)
The aim is to get brave enough to do some school work by myself and work up to hacking out alone. It wasn't until recently that I worked out it's probably been about 10 years since I did any sort of riding without someone else being present and my anxious brain is taking a while to come around to the concept. D has been much more settled and chilled out this week.
but I've got the rest of the week of and I'm not going anywhere so I thought I'd do lots of hacking and a lesson in the week. (And study for my next big exam )The aim is to get brave enough to do some school work by myself and work up to hacking out alone. It wasn't until recently that I worked out it's probably been about 10 years since I did any sort of riding without someone else being present and my anxious brain is taking a while to come around to the concept. D has been much more settled and chilled out this week.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Set my alarm for silly o-clock to go showjumping. Packed the lorry, laid out the comp gear and got my competition bag ready. Went to bed. Next thing I remember is the alarm going off. And the next thing after that it was 7:50 in the morning. Oops. I think my body was saying I was NOT going out for another stressful day. But I am disappointed and frustrated at missing a chance for another DC! Oh well - still plenty of time. I clearly needed SLEEP!
@SEL those comments were pretty overwhelming tbh. Now stressing about the next once as people's expectations will be quite high after that write up!! But very nice to read. Thanks for drawing my attention to it. x
@SEL those comments were pretty overwhelming tbh. Now stressing about the next once as people's expectations will be quite high after that write up!! But very nice to read. Thanks for drawing my attention to it. x
Bernster
Well-Known Member
What a bummer AE! You obv needed the sleep.
Camp started well but ended early with an unexpected fall in the sj. Landed badly and ended up in an and e
. Nothing broken but think I’ve popped the ‘floating ribs’ as I felt something ‘go‘ on landing which knocked the breath out of me. Had the awful process of getting me back and horse and lorry but thankfully lovely camp people, family and friends have sorted it all for me. Painkillers made me sick, shaky and woozy so I’m off those now but liquid beechams is helping. At home now being looked after by the OH.
I’ll be laid up for a while, re-thinking various plans and contemplating my life choices! But it’s all mendable and I should be better in a few weeks. Might stick to dressage for a little while though!! I’ve never been to a. and e before, never injured myself badly (riding or generally), so this is all a bit of a shocker.
Camp started well but ended early with an unexpected fall in the sj. Landed badly and ended up in an and e
. Nothing broken but think I’ve popped the ‘floating ribs’ as I felt something ‘go‘ on landing which knocked the breath out of me. Had the awful process of getting me back and horse and lorry but thankfully lovely camp people, family and friends have sorted it all for me. Painkillers made me sick, shaky and woozy so I’m off those now but liquid beechams is helping. At home now being looked after by the OH.I’ll be laid up for a while, re-thinking various plans and contemplating my life choices! But it’s all mendable and I should be better in a few weeks. Might stick to dressage for a little while though!! I’ve never been to a. and e before, never injured myself badly (riding or generally), so this is all a bit of a shocker.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Ouch Bernster. Heal well and hope you feel a lot better soon x
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
Oh crikey Bernster, hope you heal soon! Xx
palo1
Well-Known Member
I feel very far out of the usual training and competing loop but I did want to post about Alw's 'working' life lol. As we are so far from competition venues and because of other things too, competing simply isn't on our horizon right now BUT I am training and working away with all 3 horses that are in work (2 of mine and my OH's lovely horse). Alw is currently being developed as my shepherding horse 
OH's horse is already skilled in that department but it is sometimes useful to have 2 mounted and of course it means that Alw gets to do fun stuff on her own too. Cattle work may be next lol. But shepherding sheep from the saddle is a skill of it's own. Horse and rider simply must be quiet - less assertive than when dealing with cattle and much more sensitive to the sheep's flight distance and their propensity to scatter in amongst the gorse. Alw is doing so well at understanding that if I am looking for a lamb/ewe, her job is to keep moving forward carefully without much input and to respond really super quickly when asked - all on a loose rein. I do school transitions all the time but it really reveals those weaknesses (and strengths) when we put that into a real life situation. The other thing I am really proud of is how incredibly careful yet bold Alw is over the terrain. She is totally steady and I trust her judgement about teeny sheep tracks/boggy bits/boulders etc so much now that I really don't have to worry about the fine detail of the track if i am trying to focus on particular sheep/problems etc. Ground tying is still a work in progress but on the whole if I am out of the saddle, she will just follow me!! Not sure how that will pan out the day that the hill ponies try to take her off for a party though...Most of today's work was done at trot strangely but we enjoyed some speedy canters over open ground and plenty of relaxing walking too. It's not much but I think we are both really enjoying it and it feels really 'right' and 'proper'. I didn't even get FOMO at my mates going for a fun ride lol!! Brava Alw.
OH's horse is already skilled in that department but it is sometimes useful to have 2 mounted and of course it means that Alw gets to do fun stuff on her own too. Cattle work may be next lol. But shepherding sheep from the saddle is a skill of it's own. Horse and rider simply must be quiet - less assertive than when dealing with cattle and much more sensitive to the sheep's flight distance and their propensity to scatter in amongst the gorse. Alw is doing so well at understanding that if I am looking for a lamb/ewe, her job is to keep moving forward carefully without much input and to respond really super quickly when asked - all on a loose rein. I do school transitions all the time but it really reveals those weaknesses (and strengths) when we put that into a real life situation. The other thing I am really proud of is how incredibly careful yet bold Alw is over the terrain. She is totally steady and I trust her judgement about teeny sheep tracks/boggy bits/boulders etc so much now that I really don't have to worry about the fine detail of the track if i am trying to focus on particular sheep/problems etc. Ground tying is still a work in progress but on the whole if I am out of the saddle, she will just follow me!! Not sure how that will pan out the day that the hill ponies try to take her off for a party though...Most of today's work was done at trot strangely but we enjoyed some speedy canters over open ground and plenty of relaxing walking too. It's not much but I think we are both really enjoying it and it feels really 'right' and 'proper'. I didn't even get FOMO at my mates going for a fun ride lol!! Brava Alw. Attachments
humblepie
Well-Known Member
Palo that is fab and I’d said far more fun than a fun ride.
palo1
Well-Known Member
Aw, thanks!! I like the idea of a fun ride with friends to be honest but they always take far, far longer to include in the day than is currently practical. Also, I don't really need the added hassle of trailering anywhere atm as I am really over busy during the week; it is probably 'better' for me to have things to do quietly but purposefully at home. And I love spending time with just my horse.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
So proud of my little homebred weirdo, pulled himself right up the order after a slightly tense dressage with a double clear in his first long format. He now gets a well deserved little holiday before thoughts turn to intermediate 
Kunoichi73
Beware... My Plants...
@Bernster ouch! Hope you recover quickly!
southerncomfort
Well-Known Member
We went to a TREC obstacle clinic today where my little pony was an absolute superstar! This one was set around cross country jumps which he'd never seen before.
He was rather overexcited to begin with as I led him round the obstacles (loud snorting/rather a lot of piaffe). Once I was on board he was great and gave everything a good go.
We even had a go at hopping over some rails and up and down steps etc.
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
ETA sorry about your fall Bernster, hope you recover quickly.
He was rather overexcited to begin with as I led him round the obstacles (loud snorting/rather a lot of piaffe). Once I was on board he was great and gave everything a good go.
We even had a go at hopping over some rails and up and down steps etc.
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
ETA sorry about your fall Bernster, hope you recover quickly.
Attachments
humblepie
Well-Known Member
Bernster - hope you feeling bit better.
YourValentine
Well-Known Member
I feel very far out of the usual training and competing loop but I did want to post about Alw's 'working' life lol. As we are so far from competition venues and because of other things too, competing simply isn't on our horizon right now BUT I am training and working away with all 3 horses that are in work (2 of mine and my OH's lovely horse). Alw is currently being developed as my shepherding horse
I love doing stock work with horses, and have found that they tend to enjoy it too. I think because it is a nice clear job. They can see and understand what's being asked of them.
DR and some of the stuff we ask of them must seem very odd/abstract. They might enjoy it, but the point isn't as clear. If that makes sense?
Also you get to spend lots of time together in a low pressure situation which is always nice
ester
Not slacking multitasking
So we may have done a thing. .
I'm used to backstepping for rara quite a lot these days, and about 3 weeks ago she decided we should enter the gateway newcomers class at windsor even though I had never actually driven this supercob, and said supercob was yet to do any sort of solid obstacles on grass as he'd only done the indoor season with us so far having previously only driven in straight lines (he totally gets the assignment though and is loving his jew job!)
We fitted in two practice sessions with some cones and round a few barrels in the meantime and were declared ready
. Expectations were low, and I quote rara 'I knew we wouldn't die' so no pressure at all, only avoidance of death expected!
Said super cob only went and won it didn't he. We did a very short dressage test which is designed to be driven in any sized arena but for this set up meant a 40m circle, I can confirm that's a very big circle that you feel like you might never finish and start wondering what on earth shape you've just created, but somehow we managed to win this stage.
The cones course was a lot twistier than we expected and 2 sections of it seemed built for the mini shetlands rather than us but we only had one down 2nd from last (I blame the cyclists acting as distraction) and were 3rd in this stage.
Then onto the obstacles, we drove 2 obstacles twice each which is how it works in indoors and is nice as it means you can have another go with a bit more confidence and improve on what you managed the first time. He tried super hard, listened really well despite really wanting to go faster and we won that stage too so a win overall!
We then switched places and he got to do them all again but faster this time with rara steering, and he won her class too.
It's quite exciting getting your first rosette doing something totally different! A fabulous opportunity and I did of course have some pretty experienced advice/coaching as we went round
Vids courtesy of my sister who came from bristol to watch/support
Cones
and our second go at both obstacles
and some pro speed obstacles
I'm used to backstepping for rara quite a lot these days, and about 3 weeks ago she decided we should enter the gateway newcomers class at windsor even though I had never actually driven this supercob
, and said supercob was yet to do any sort of solid obstacles on grass as he'd only done the indoor season with us so far having previously only driven in straight lines (he totally gets the assignment though and is loving his jew job!)We fitted in two practice sessions with some cones and round a few barrels in the meantime and were declared ready
. Expectations were low, and I quote rara 'I knew we wouldn't die' so no pressure at all, only avoidance of death expected!Said super cob only went and won it didn't he
. We did a very short dressage test which is designed to be driven in any sized arena but for this set up meant a 40m circle, I can confirm that's a very big circle that you feel like you might never finish and start wondering what on earth shape you've just created, but somehow we managed to win this stage.The cones course was a lot twistier than we expected and 2 sections of it seemed built for the mini shetlands rather than us but we only had one down 2nd from last (I blame the cyclists acting as distraction
) and were 3rd in this stage.Then onto the obstacles, we drove 2 obstacles twice each which is how it works in indoors and is nice as it means you can have another go with a bit more confidence and improve on what you managed the first time. He tried super hard, listened really well despite really wanting to go faster and we won that stage too so a win overall!
We then switched places and he got to do them all again but faster this time with rara steering, and he won her class too.
It's quite exciting getting your first rosette doing something totally different! A fabulous opportunity and I did of course have some pretty experienced advice/coaching as we went round
Vids courtesy of my sister who came from bristol to watch/support
Cones
and our second go at both obstacles
and some pro speed obstacles