Early September weekend thread

[j1ffy]

It’s Saturday morning but I can’t see a thread!

We’ve got dressage at the yard tomorrow, I have a horrible feeling I’ll end up on the ‘Mistakes’ thread as Chilli just wants to go FAST at home currently. Let’s see, maybe he’ll be a little more willing to wait for me tomorrow.

What’s everyone else up to?

 

[Kunoichi73]

Just my usual Sunday lesson tomorrow. Hope everyone's weekend plans go well.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Nice relaxing hack tomorrow then going to suss out a bridleway not too far away , will take the dogs for a wonder too. Tomorrow afternoon we have a family bbq. Originally it was meeting at 1 to eat at 2. Just got a message to say it's 2 to eat at 3 now. No food for me then as coming home for 3 to watch the end of burghley!!

 

[humblepie]

Not competing but nice hack this morning with the birds singing. Have a good one all.

 

[millitiger]

Glued to the sofa watching Burghley for me.

Actually waiting for a vet appointment as Dima just not feeling right in front to me - we've improved shoeing balance and had physio but we need a more comprehensive check so having a performance work up done

So some home DIY instead of riding- we'll be taking our porch down and smashing the concrete base etc tomorrow- obviously before Burghley SJ starts!

 

[Cloball]

Lovely (hot) hack this morning, off to cycle to a vineyard tomorrow for OH birthday. Will try and hack Monday and Tuesday before hacking buddy going back to work. Instructor is away this week so will be a quiet one although I have been brave enough to school by myself this week in walk AND trot

 

[teapot]

Watching Burghley from the sofa, but going to Cornbury on Thurs

 

[humblepie]

Glued to the sofa watching Burghley for me.

Actually waiting for a vet appointment as Dima just not feeling right in front to me - we've improved shoeing balance and had physio but we need a more comprehensive check so having a performance work up done
So some home DIY instead of riding- we'll be taking our porch down and smashing the concrete base etc tomorrow- obviously before Burghley SJ starts!

Hope all okay.

 

[Michen]

Wonderful morning ride on Boggle, we did a full hour, he is soooooo energetic and bouncy and I basically grin every second of the ride. Plenty of long uphill trot stretches and another week or two I’ll start some proper cantering.

It’s funny to think that this time last year I was bothered about getting around a BE100. Achieving a sub 30 dressage. Jumping a good SJ. I will never again lose sight of what ACTUALLY matters.

 

[smolmaus]

Day 1 of Adult pony camp was today, day 2 tomorrow. Me and pony are going to be TIRED. Actually we are both already tired.

 

[blodwyn1]

I went to see a pony and have agreed to buy her!

 

[scats]

Did a 30 minute schooling session on Millie last night and she was ace. Tonight me and Millie are hacking a new route as the local farmer has very kindly said I can nip around the edge of one of his fields to access some more hacking. We are so lucky already to have our own farm ride, but to have this option is absolutely incredible as it’s even more off road stuff we can access from our doorstep. Millie tried to take me that way the other day (over a newly formed track) but I didn’t have permission so I had to disappoint her. She’ll be made up tonight though!

 

[nagblagger]

I went to see a pony and have agreed to buy her!

Details required.!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Did more hacking though trying to put some schooling in too, but it’s hard not to just go exploring up the hills!

 

[smolmaus]

Pony Camp day 2 was even better than day 1. Jumped our first ever course of jumps! Aced her little show piece, nobody "won" but we won

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I've been AWOL from this thread for a while. But reporting in that I took B to sj trainer on Sat for a short lesson.
I got back on 2 weeks ago after a major op and started slowly, building up from 15 mins a day. Saturday reminded me what I've been missing, but I couldn't last the whole session after hopping about 7 jumps, so trainer hopped on and completed some work with B. I was pleased that I still had some fitness there, and trainer only raised an eyebrow when i mentioned that i was allowed to start riding next week..... oops.
Today was just a lovely early pootle from the yard on the home patch.

Just wondering if i might be fit enough to do a class or 2 next weekend.....

 

[Michen]

Colorado views I love this place!

 

[scats]

What a gorgeous evening

 

[Bernster]

Lovely horsey weekend! Bit hot for my liking at Burghley and the shopping was really disappointing. But we had a nice time pottering about and catching up with friends. We didn’t walk the whole course and missed quite a few riders but sometimes its more about spending time with friends etc.

Then had a very fun afternoon at a local xc course hire. The day didn’t start well as I left the lorry keys behind so we were late for our slot, then when I was putting the ramp up after we’d unloaded the horses I managed to pop the partition out but fortunately those were the only mishaps and we had a blooming marvellous day. We cruised round the fields taking a look around then did a 2nd circuit and popped quite a few of the jumps (they have lots of tiny ones). The 3 horses all went really well. My friend had a blast taking Bertie round - she got the measure of him pretty quickly and he was fab. Finn is getting fitter and doing really well barefoot which I’m really pleased about.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

I had a lesson on Friday evening, working on some flatwork. We mostly walked, because the thing that is the most broken is our turn on haunches. So we unpicked it and it's so much better.

Saturday I schooled at home working on general flatwork things. Hen is so much more consistent, but I'm getting nervous for our comp next weekend.

Yesterday I wasn't sure I was going to get a ride in, hubby was SJ judging all day but Hen and I went for a short hack. Our hacking is a bit limited right now which is a shame because he needs a good long ride, he is feeling very hot and spooky with the spring grass! I could go out but it involves a busy road, and I'm not feeling that brave on a spooky horse!

 

[j1ffy]

The dressage wasn't as much of a disaster as I had feared! Actually despite some big blips I was pleased - we made it through both tests, there were some lovely moments (8 for his free walk in both, a smattering of 7s including for G&R in canter, stretchy trot, medium canter and 10m circles - so pretty diverse!) but also some bloopers (tantrum about going into right canter, meltdown after the canter in our Elementary test, so I took him out of the arena for a trot circle to settle him before the final centre line so a 0 for that movement).

The judge was super-helpful and really encouraged soft riding and relaxation - as it was a friendly unaffiliated she was keen for me to use the second test as a schooling round. We had a chat afterwards and she recommended doing the Intro next time on as long a rein as possible, then the Elementary ("don't bother with Prelim and Novice"), which I think we'll try. We've also got two dressage camps before the next yard comp so hopefully she sees a big difference!

I also wrote for the Intro - what a challenge that is for a judge! From semi-pros doing young horses' first comps to a child on a pony that's still too big for her to very nervous adults.

A few screenshots of our Novice test (sadly no-one filmed the Ele!):

 

[Alibear]

Schooled Friday night but Amber was rather distracted with all the goings on at the yard. Had a much more successful session on Saturday and managed to repeat some of the work from camp Then, a lovely hack on a new route for us yesterday afternoon. Watched Burghley on the telly in between all that and house work.
I also discovered that Amber and I have qualified for the amateur ranch riding champs at the breed show. I had written the show off as it clashes with my Dad's birthday, but I am free on championship day, so am contemplating going over for the day and that class. The only previous time I've qualified for something was back in my dressage days and I never got to the champs then so I'm thinking what the hell, go do it whilst I can I don't expect to place well, but it should be an enjoyable day out.