Early September weekend plans

[little_critter]

We are dressaging tomorrow. I was hoping to move up to doing novice & ele this season but the novice isn’t strong enough yet to think of moving up so we’re sticking with prelim & novice for the moment.

Well it was a disappointing outing. I think coat change season has hit and he’s flat as a pancake. Feels sound, level and well. No attitude from him, just nothing in the tank which is a shame because our work is improving. But I can’t be cross, he did what he could. He’ll have a gentle week this week then a week off while I’m on holiday. Hopefully he’ll be back to normal when I get back.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Henry is now sold subject to vetting. Despite behaving absolutely atrociously for me to ride in the viewing (think a 3yo who has never been in an indoor arena, not an 11yo who was perfectly behaved in the very same indoor arena less than 24hrs before ??‍) he still managed to charm the pants off them so much that they still want to buy him. They seem lovely people, and I’m sure he’ll love stepping down a level and just pottering around with her novice OH and maybe the odd farm ride/jump session with her.

Very frustrating day at 80cm ShowCross with Pepsi! The way Epworth run it, it’s basically eventing without the dressage. One annoying pole in the SJ because steering went again, but now we appear to mostly have brakes so that’s something. Annoying because he’s very capable, but at least we can work on the steering.

XC was going amazing until fence 7, when for no apparent reason (other than being very slightly left behind, but shouldn’t have been nearly enough to set it off!) my air jacket went off halfway over. Obviously this was enough to send him shooting forwards/sideways on landing, and being a Michelin man in an inflated air jacket I did not stick it. Soo frustrating because he was trying so hard for me, and we were clear to that point, which is amazing for his first full XC course, plus at a very full up and busy venue! Plus I have no idea why/how it happened as I’ve been left behind/jumped out the saddle much more in it without setting it off. Grrrr.

Just hoping it hasn’t scared him too much. We’re back next weekend for a “Have a Go” Eventing day (which is just eventing but non-competitive), so hoping we can have a better run there. Air jacket is being sent for service in case it was a problem that caused it to go off, rather than simple bad luck. Suppose the main thing is that we are both ok. Im a bit bruised and with a cracking headache, but I’ll live to fight another day ?

Edited to add pics

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Back dressaging again yesterday, same venue. Much more relaxed thankfully! 67.14% this time, made a few stupid errors (dodgy circles…) and horse still had a few minor spooks at M (the other markers were fine, apparently) which impacted on scores any time we went past it as he shied away slightly. Anyway, very pleased with him - he warmed up really nicely and felt very with me and positive. Day off for him now!!

 

[Bernster]

Woohoo he’s giving those some air!

handsome boy, sheep.

As the course wasn’t up, i did flat work and pole work on Saturday instead. The place was a bit further than I’d want to go regularly, over 1 hour, with the last 30 mins along a windy A road so we turned up a bit late. It was fairly empty there (only used for retired horses) and Bertie was much more chilled without other horses to distract him. he relaxed really quickly and we did some decent work. Lots to work on but a good start. Managed canter on both reins which I’ve avoided in our school as I’ve freaked myself out a bit about how unbalanced he is. It was fine, he’s got a nice canter. The trot after was long and flat however, he needs to learn to balance himself a bit more and not fall out the front door. But overall a good day out. Came home via the m40 which was a better route too.

Terrible grainy photos but this post is too dull without pics!

 

[Alibear]

I had a minor rollercoaster moment this week when the physio pointed out that my saddle no longer fits Amber. Western saddles are even more challenging to get and fit in the UK than English ones. So I admit it I overreacted a tad and was madly searching and contacting everyone. The week before I'd arranged to sell my other western saddle as I thought it was too narrow for Amber. On Saturday my instructor kindly took a look and had brought her saddle over to try. It turns out my "old" saddle that I thought was too narrow now fits quite nicely. We think it's because she now has withers as she's grown up. Anyway tried her in it with a lot of swapping of stirrups ( not easy on a western saddle) and looking at fenders (stirrup leathers, a complete pig to change, they're not really designed to be changed) and we had set up we were happy with. I wimped out and made the instructor hop on first just in case Amber raised objections but she went really nicely in it and showed a cracking extended jog so we're happy that for now, this is a good enough fit. I will get the western saddle fitter out next time she's on a road trip and see what she says/look into getting a new one specifically for Amber, like all fitters post-COVID she has a long waiting list. But at least I've got something to ride in for the breed show in 2 weeks time. Thankfully the people I was considering selling to are fine about my change of heart. The downside is the "new" saddle weighs about twice as much as the more modern one so my arms are getting a workout. It's a good job I lost 2 stones this year so it all works out in the end!
The yard was running a gymnastic jumping session on Thursday so Amber and I did 20 mins gymnastic poles 6 lope overs in a row when previously we'd only done 1. Perhaps we'll do trail classes in future We also managed a couple of nice hacks out over the weekend with another livery and XC is definitely not in our future as my non-spooky pony shot sideways into the cornfield at the sight of an XC log on the track Ambers had another busy week and to be honest feels just a tad flat and tired so I think I'll give her an easy week this week and see how she is at the weekend.
I started packing my trailer ready for the breed show as it will be my first overnight stay in it, I'm pleasantly surprised at just how much stuff you can fit in it! I'm thinking of getting a mini-fridge as I'll have an electric hookup, any recommendations? Just for milk as otherwise, I'll end up spending £5-8 per day on cups of tea!
ETA The fenders I'm now using aren't turned so try to force the stirrups flat against the horses' sides, which is rather uncomfortable to ride in, so you have to twist the fender leather round and hold them in place with a broom through the stirrups. Over time this trains the fenders to hang twisted which is much more comfortable. So I now seem even madder to my fellow liveries as I have a broom attached to my saddle.

 

[Chippers1]

My friend and I decided to take the ponies somewhere else to hack, we went to Bradgate park in Leicester (if anyone knows it!) as it was sunny it was pretty busy but they were so well behaved, took it all in their stride - although we did have a hairy moment when we were very close to some deer with some very huge antlers!! Buzz did not know what to do with himself but he considering there was so much space he could have ran off into he listened to me instead and went past them fairly calmly!
Some pics..

 

[dorsetladette]

Well - we survived!!

Robin went for a little journey round the block on saturday in the lorry. We pulled up in a local car park in the forest where a friend of ours recommended as she has ridden from there previously. Took him for a little walk round the forest and then back on the lorry and home. Throughly recommend the equi travel safe to anyone with a naughty climbing/rearing pony when traveling. He never even attempted it.

Bathed, wrapped and turned out again. Prayed he stayed clean over night. He managed to remove his neck cover (i think with a little help from friends) and was proudly wearing it as a bib sunday morning.

I planned for traffic, dirty pony, escaped poultry etc etc on sunday morning. none of this happened so we left 15 mins earlier than planned. No traffic meant we got to the show ground 45mins earlier than planned. By the time we got in the ring the atmosphere was all getting a little much for R and we spent a good proportion of the time on 2 legs in the collecting ring. Luckily the judge kept things moving pretty well and we only had 1 little rearing incident, which the judge didn't see. He was the youngest in the ring by a couple of years and his immaturity showed in the placings.
We came 5th (last) and the rossette's only went to 4th . He stood tied to the lorry for a few minutes and had a look around while I had a cold drink. Then back on the lorry with his travel safe and off we went home. travelled like a pro on the way home too.

An educational day for all of us.

 

[rara007]

We managed the win, winning all 3 phases

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRfNMLmP/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRfNJtDu/
Next stop osberton at the end of the month

 

[Roxylola]

Congratulations rara

 

[The Xmas Furry]

We managed the win, winning all 3 phases

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRfNMLmP/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRfNJtDu/
Next stop osberton at the end of the month

Very well done ???