Early October Weekend Plans

[j1ffy]

We've been at camp for the last two days - it was fab! Really good lessons. I went with the aim of moving from sh*t to mediocre and feel we achieved that - the excellent dressage trainer sorted our right canter hang-up within about 5 mins and he loved Chilli (helps that he likes Iberians). We also did pole work, a working equitation 'have a go' round where we really moved on from his terror of the vara (lance), I had a facial and massage, drank loads of wine, ate loads of nice food and caught up with old friends from the now defunct BD Central region.

We finished up with a test riding clinic yesterday afternoon where Chilli warmed up brilliantly under the watchful eye of the trainer - by far the best he's felt - then we went super-tense in E43 for 61%. I felt quite deflated as the dressage judge then 'taught' me how to relax him by having us do the same things we do every day at home . Not his fault at all, there wasn't much he could work on in terms of the test moves as it's Chilli's tension that affects his way of going rather than issues with any specific movements and he was just trying to help with what he'd seen on the day.

Felt much better today having had a good sleep and a bit of perspective. I exceeded my aims for the two days and Chilli was a ️

ETA a couple of screenshots:

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Had a fab hack yesterday followed by fry up breakfast in the sunshine.

Today we went to RC, my 1st training this year. Had the most super coach and the session was on grass, good surface tho, B thoroughly enjoyed herself and neither of us ran out of puff! Result!
Finished up jumping the whole course of sj, not having popped 5 of the fences. B flew round like a Ferrari on steroids.... dodgy brakes but super light steering lol
Now to chill a bit as a v active fun ride tomorrow l

 

[SEL]

Baby cob did a polework clinic today. Instructor always makes sure it's a challenge for the riders rather than drilling the horses and he was a star. The best behaved he's been in a group situation to date - not a hoof out of line.

We used to be demolition derby over poles but today he was really concentrating and looked very pleased with himself.

 

[Red-1]

Pub ride was in the rain. Still, it only goes skin deep



I was good and just had a coke.

 

[Red-1]

Just a little jump today. I moved them, lowered them but put some width in. It isn't about the jump, it is about him injecting some energy that I can then collect.

I went a bit off script today. I concentrated on him lowering my inside seat bone when I asked him to bend (meaning he was stepping under and his barrel was swinging to allow this). I was insistent. It helped him be straighter, then we were able to build and contain energy. He could walk to canter.

 

[MuddyMonster]

40km of hacking from Friday-Sunday for us. Bliss ❤

If long countryside canters won't set me up for a big week at work, nothing will.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

More hacking, got soaked Saturday and Beryl met the local peacock . Stayed dry today for a wee 10 miler on Skylla .

 

[blood_magik]

Raz was a good boy yesterday.

Managed to wing my way through E40 without any mistakes, only to forget the first canter circle in E53 but hey ho… first time for everything


Pleased enough with 65 and 64 as a starting point as he’s not as supple as he used to be thanks to various things. Lots of work to do once we get next week over with.



Jack was also a good boy - my friend has been riding him since Beau’s been off with a suspensory injury and they got a whopping 73% in their second test

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Not a bad weekend for me. I got to try out Enormosaurus, new mare at the riding school. She's very kind though severely lacking direction (I jumped a jump when I really wanted to go next to it...). My instructor wants her to see the dentist and the osteopath before cracking on with any real work, at the moment it's just walk, trot and canter with large circles / loops (arena is 80mx60m so plenty of space). I'm hoping to come to some sort of share agreement with her if I get my Little Madam in foal next spring. Time will tell.
Little Madam was excellent in our jumping lesson and I didn't make any mistakes for once (it got commented on by my instructor). We jumped a meter, which we haven't done in a long time and she flew it. So remaining cautiously optimistic that work and management is suiting her at the minute.
To my shame though, I didn't notice the two scratches on the outside of both her hind legs before the lesson (I was running late and got a kid to help me tack her up). I have no idea how she did them as they looked rather fresh and it had been a good 3 or 4 hours since I brought her in from the field. The trailer was suggested as a culprit, but there is nothing in there that she could catch herself on and no blood either. It shall remain a mystery but today she just got a lead round the village from my Old Lady (and a clip! If I were her, I wouldn't be giving the hairdresser a tip...)

 

[scats]

I swapped the girls round last night so they are in overnight.
Millie hacked on Friday in the evening sunshine, then we had a 20 minute stretch in the school tonight.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We had a very, very big weekend away! First time camping as a family and our first time away with the horses for 3 years. It was a lot of fun.

Henry was quite tense for our tests, walk was optional in the first and the canter transitions were... explosive. The first test was a generous 57% and the second which was so much better though still very teste, this time with walk and less explosive transitions was 60%. it was an educational weekend for him I think, and now, at the end of the season, I want to get out and do more with him. i think with more time and exposure he will settle, right now we are very green at this level and he anticipates a bit. Hopefully I will be feeling like wanting more at the beginning of next season.

Mr 2 loved camping, loved the tent and loved the swag. He loved seeing big tractors and headers and slightly smaller tractors and a road train at a friends farm the most.

 

[Alibear]

Enjoyed catching up with friends at the western round-up day and Joe Midgley got to demonstrate how well his approach works with Remy and her first introduction to working cows. Remy was also thoroughly crowd and applause "broke" by the end of the day.
My local instructor was flag bearer on another friend's horse so it was great to see them both doing so well.
Then had a good lesson on Sunday although Amber did spot an invisible cow halfway through which showed my lack of core fitness at the moment. I need to lose weight and go back to the gym!

 

[Bernster]

Had a great time at the south ox ride. The ground was really good, lots of places for a trot and canter. Well organised and friendly with a nice choice of jumps. Always enjoy this ride.

 

[Chippers1]

Very late to the party but we did our first ever team chase on Sunday and it was the most fun I think i've ever had! After being eliminated xc the previous weekend I was a bit worried about Buzz and after a sticky first jump, then a pile up at the 2nd (first horse refused, we were too close, we all refused haha) he absolutely flew round despite being very wet, rainy and muddy! I had aimed to stay on the 50cm course for his confidence but we felt brave enough to attempt some of the bigger 80cm fences, so I am very pleased with that. If he could grin he definitely would have been! He's never been so fast around an xc course
It's a shame the course is closed for good now as it was so much fun and i'd love to be able to do it again.

 

[blood_magik]

5 hours and 200 miles down, just under 90 miles to go to Arena UK.

Hoping i’ll manage a quick 15 minute stretch off tonight ahead of our class tomorrow. I’m 2nd to go so at least we’ll be able to get off up the road early-ish if we don’t make the top 10.

Is anyone else going?

 

[Britestar]

Home and unpacked from DTM champs.
Thrilled with a placing in the pairs, and whilst a top 10 place evaded in the individual class, I could not have been more pleased with pony.

She can seriously loose her s**t at times, and there was every chance she wouldn't even go into the school. But she did, and apart from a wobble at the start, and an explosive canter trans (and possibly a little tourettes from me ), she got a clear round and we entered and left at A.

Onwards to the next episode of our riding.

 

[Bernster]

Some fun outings it sounds like! Chippers - I love the idea of small heights for team chasing. Never knew they had those!

 

[Chippers1]

I'd not seen one before either, it was a pick your own height team chase and the heights were 50, 80 or 90 so I stuck mostly to small and did the more inviting looking 80s. Being able to do a course and not worry about the 'big scary fence' was a revelation! As the other 3 of my team knew the course well I didn't even walk it so couldn't worry myself further just followed the lead horse.
It's such a shame it's closed now, I definitely would have gone again or more often if i'd known about it.