Baydale
Well-Known Member
Ok ok, I know you should be careful what you wish for, but now the school has defrosted I am overwhelmed with what getting back to normal involves.
Bolshy Hunters
Our lot seem to have forgotten their manners, so I've spent most of the weekend reminding them of the basics: stop means stop, one kick for go, two for emergencies (OH's riding mantra
), so they should be all ready for this week's hunting hopefully - or my ear will be well and truly bent by their riders.
BSJA
Full of my new-found confidence from the Equine Pathway day, I took HumungaHorse and Hector to Manor Farm. If you remember, HH was a star with his jumping at the EP so I did the 1.15m, he tapped the first fence out but then jumped really sweetly clear round the rest, trying his hardest to squeeze his huge body around a tight course with short distances. Why I then entered him for the 1.20m I'll never know, as it felt like every fence was no more than three strides after the previous one.
Bless him he did try, but once he'd had one down he just tightened and worried and I had no time to soften him before the next one was upon us. Lesson learnt was huge horses need huge arenas: expect to see me at Weston Lawns in the near future.
Onto Hector, who was distinctly average at the EP, worryingly so in fact but, after he and I had had a heated discussion in the warm-up, my idle yak turned into a JA pony.
He went in to the 1.20m and was feeling fab, attentive, pingy, careful - up until the point where I pressed him way too agressively to the base of a big oxer and he shot off my leg like he'd been electrocuted, having it down.
Oh well, that's why we go out practising isn't it? I've decided he and I are alike in that we both need a socking great big boot up the backside to get the best out of us, wishy washy does not produce the goods.
Babies
No, I'm not pregnant, I'm talking about young(ish) horses.
Remember Marty, now 6yo, bought as a hunter but not...ahem....settling to as quickly as I'd like (two falls in one day is a bit excessive, especially at my age
)? Well, he's going to learn his manners by way of eventing, yay
I think.
And his partner-in-crime is going to be Tino, who belongs to the lovely GT_02. Tino is 5, was backed last year but hasn't done a lot. Baydale Bootcamp has been a bit of a shock to his system after his easy life, but he's getting the hang of it. Tomorrow both boys are going to Arena UK to go in an arena for the first time and then jump a course, all in readiness for Cranwell ODE in two weeks' time.
New Rides
Our livery owner who has two hunters with us also owns another horse, Wilbo, that Matthew Wright has evented for the last couple of seasons. He's 10yo, has 30 points, been placed at N and I, and he will be sold at some point. Apparently a lot of people are put off buying them when they know that a rider of MW or OT's calibre have been riding them, as they know they could get three-legged donkeys round Intermediates successfully. So, the logic is that if a numpty like me can get a tune out of him he'll be easier to sell. Hmmm, watch this space, and if anyone's got any spare metalwork for brakes, please let me know as I've seen MW with half the tackroom on Wilbo when he goes cross country.
So, Baydale is going to be busy, feel free to slap me if I ever dare whinge about that fact.
Ploughmans and a half of lager for anyone that's got this far.
Bolshy Hunters
Our lot seem to have forgotten their manners, so I've spent most of the weekend reminding them of the basics: stop means stop, one kick for go, two for emergencies (OH's riding mantra
BSJA
Full of my new-found confidence from the Equine Pathway day, I took HumungaHorse and Hector to Manor Farm. If you remember, HH was a star with his jumping at the EP so I did the 1.15m, he tapped the first fence out but then jumped really sweetly clear round the rest, trying his hardest to squeeze his huge body around a tight course with short distances. Why I then entered him for the 1.20m I'll never know, as it felt like every fence was no more than three strides after the previous one.
Onto Hector, who was distinctly average at the EP, worryingly so in fact but, after he and I had had a heated discussion in the warm-up, my idle yak turned into a JA pony.
Babies
No, I'm not pregnant, I'm talking about young(ish) horses.
New Rides
Our livery owner who has two hunters with us also owns another horse, Wilbo, that Matthew Wright has evented for the last couple of seasons. He's 10yo, has 30 points, been placed at N and I, and he will be sold at some point. Apparently a lot of people are put off buying them when they know that a rider of MW or OT's calibre have been riding them, as they know they could get three-legged donkeys round Intermediates successfully. So, the logic is that if a numpty like me can get a tune out of him he'll be easier to sell. Hmmm, watch this space, and if anyone's got any spare metalwork for brakes, please let me know as I've seen MW with half the tackroom on Wilbo when he goes cross country.
So, Baydale is going to be busy, feel free to slap me if I ever dare whinge about that fact.
Ploughmans and a half of lager for anyone that's got this far.
