fidleyspromise
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone for the previous suggestions of what to pack.
Til is older and struggling with hay so I took soft haylage which she didn't touch so I gave her buckets of fast fibre and in hand grazing.
We went to hitch up and realised we forgot the pin adapter for the electrics so had to shoot off back home for that. Off we went and I drove the first bit - 3.5T van towing. We stopped very briefly at my parents and then my partner towed. (I have M.E. so careful with my energy).
Got there, unloaded pony and all her stuff. I had way more than anyone else but that included a feed bin and 4 haylage.
We decided to go round the farm ride and let the ponies stretch. It was stunning scenery and lovely tracks around fields with optional jumps.
There was a motivational talk that evening on positivity thinking and what we wanted to achieve that weekend. It got everyone in a great mindset going forward.
Fri AM - I had a polework lesson. Slight straightness issues where we veer left but we went over different pole set ups and were straighter by the end as well as changing pace within the trot.
Afternoon was a flatwork lesson and instructor saw I lean in on both reins so once I focused on my outside leg Til went better. We did more within the trot and worked on 10 steps trot, 4 steps walk and decreased the walk strides so by the end Til was pushing forward and off the leg. To finish we did some leg yielding.
Sat AM
Cross country lesson. This is what I'd been dreading. I havent jumped properly since coming off 2 years ago and breaking my wrist. Til before that would tackle almost anything I asked of her but she'd lost confidence in me.
We did nothing big but a simple gate and then others were jumping bigger fences and I liked the look of the roll top - maybe 60cm.
My best friend was in the same lesson so I took Til behind her to give us a lead and we jumped it. I was so proud of us.
We went over smaller logs and through the water. Jumping a small step she stumbled and came down. I checked her carefully and she felt OK. She was moving fine and went through again and did it perfectly.
Stepping down into the water Til launched into it and I slid off and ended up drenched
. Jump back on and we jumped a few more fences.
Afternoon
We had another poles lesson but within 5 minutes the instructor apologised but said Til wasn't quite right. I took her out and took her around the farm ride to stretch her legs in walk and let her walk it off. A couple times she tried to choose the longer routes so although she wasn't 100 percent she wasn't lame. She's been like this a few times in the past. I gave her a danilon to help.
That night it was hammering down with rain. So glad my trailer is watertight. Turns out my friends isn't but she managed to stay dry.
Sun AM
We had show jumping so I took her in as she felt fine again but explained to the instructor that she's older, she'd been not quite right the day before so I'm taking it one stride at a time. He fully agreed so we did a course of 5 jumps one at a time. She stopped and ducked out at the spread and I went flying onto the poles. At the time I was fine but it turns out my left butt cheek is quite bruised
sitting is a little painful.
She popped over the jumps. We had a few stops but we did it and most importantly she felt good.
We were supposed to go cross country that afternoon but I made the decision she had done enough.
We packed up and got her home where she is very glad to be turned out.
Til will have a few days off mooching round the field but that is her last event.
She's 23 and is retiring to be a happy hacker. We may go do a few low level pleasure rides.
Til is older and struggling with hay so I took soft haylage which she didn't touch so I gave her buckets of fast fibre and in hand grazing.
We went to hitch up and realised we forgot the pin adapter for the electrics so had to shoot off back home for that. Off we went and I drove the first bit - 3.5T van towing. We stopped very briefly at my parents and then my partner towed. (I have M.E. so careful with my energy).
Got there, unloaded pony and all her stuff. I had way more than anyone else but that included a feed bin and 4 haylage.
We decided to go round the farm ride and let the ponies stretch. It was stunning scenery and lovely tracks around fields with optional jumps.
There was a motivational talk that evening on positivity thinking and what we wanted to achieve that weekend. It got everyone in a great mindset going forward.
Fri AM - I had a polework lesson. Slight straightness issues where we veer left but we went over different pole set ups and were straighter by the end as well as changing pace within the trot.
Afternoon was a flatwork lesson and instructor saw I lean in on both reins so once I focused on my outside leg Til went better. We did more within the trot and worked on 10 steps trot, 4 steps walk and decreased the walk strides so by the end Til was pushing forward and off the leg. To finish we did some leg yielding.
Sat AM
Cross country lesson. This is what I'd been dreading. I havent jumped properly since coming off 2 years ago and breaking my wrist. Til before that would tackle almost anything I asked of her but she'd lost confidence in me.
We did nothing big but a simple gate and then others were jumping bigger fences and I liked the look of the roll top - maybe 60cm.
My best friend was in the same lesson so I took Til behind her to give us a lead and we jumped it. I was so proud of us.
We went over smaller logs and through the water. Jumping a small step she stumbled and came down. I checked her carefully and she felt OK. She was moving fine and went through again and did it perfectly.
Stepping down into the water Til launched into it and I slid off and ended up drenched
. Jump back on and we jumped a few more fences.Afternoon
We had another poles lesson but within 5 minutes the instructor apologised but said Til wasn't quite right. I took her out and took her around the farm ride to stretch her legs in walk and let her walk it off. A couple times she tried to choose the longer routes so although she wasn't 100 percent she wasn't lame. She's been like this a few times in the past. I gave her a danilon to help.
That night it was hammering down with rain. So glad my trailer is watertight. Turns out my friends isn't but she managed to stay dry.
Sun AM
We had show jumping so I took her in as she felt fine again but explained to the instructor that she's older, she'd been not quite right the day before so I'm taking it one stride at a time. He fully agreed so we did a course of 5 jumps one at a time. She stopped and ducked out at the spread and I went flying onto the poles. At the time I was fine but it turns out my left butt cheek is quite bruised
sitting is a little painful. She popped over the jumps. We had a few stops but we did it and most importantly she felt good.
We were supposed to go cross country that afternoon but I made the decision she had done enough.
We packed up and got her home where she is very glad to be turned out.
Til will have a few days off mooching round the field but that is her last event.
She's 23 and is retiring to be a happy hacker. We may go do a few low level pleasure rides.
She looks in great shape, and really enjoying a party away.