Easter weekend plans

[palo1]

Delighted with my little Alw today. First arena session for 5 months - she loaded and travelled beautifully, fidgeted to be tacked up and then passaged her way around the arena in-hand whilst we looked at everything. I was actually pretty impressed with her level of 'sit' as well as the degree of elevation achieved...Eventually I decided to get on board and had a fantastic hour working on all manner of basic (but not necessarily easy) stuff. She is starting to work into a super contact, bending much more evenly on each rein and developing considerable power from behind. We had a few 'yeehaaa' moments which I am delighted to see and feel actually as I can truly feel how 'alive' and self confident dear Alw is getting She will be 5 at the end of this month. Trainer complimented her hock action and at last, at very long last, just when I thought we may never see or feel it, I can feel how powerful she is going to become when she can really transfer all her energy to her quarters. She is a sweet little fat lump just now but she really doesn't feel like that; it feels as if I have at least 3 horses under the saddle!! The plan is to start asking a few more questions - she was absolutely up for everything this morning - and then seek out some opportunities to put that learning to the test. She loaded to come home like a total pro but although eating her hay and very happy to let me walk round to sort the partition and breech bar etc still very impatient to get going to the next thing. Her Welsh dragon is awakening...

 

[milliepops]

I love Alw stories
and the way you call her little, at 16 hands Kira is 14.2 all puffed up with new shoes on

 

[Ample Prosecco]

DF I feel the same way. Back to basics iz always useful.
Oldie that's brilliant!

 

[palo1]

I love Alw stories
and the way you call her little, at 16 hands Kira is 14.2 all puffed up with new shoes on

Well she was actually little when I bought her... I came home from the stud (before she was delivered) and asked myself why on earth I had just bought such a small pony...!! We have a whopper at home as well. Up until recently too she has had days where her thumb has been metaphorically in her mouth so she has felt mentally very 'baby'. I realised today as I huffed and puffed round with her passaging and neighing (just to let everyone know she had 'arrived') that she has indeed grown up and is actually no longer truly 'little'. I never see a 14.2 as small either though so clearly I have no sense of scale at all with horses!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Dolly was fabulous at BE U18s training today! They focused on technical combinations and ditchrs/water/steps/ banks. Dolly did not hesistatecat anything but just pinged. She was super feisty, super fast but didnt break a sweat. She could have gone round twice! Very excited for the season now .

 

[Roxylola]

Whee, flying dolly! She looks great ?
In other news, after realising we can now get the girth up to the top holes on both sides comfortably we've subbed in a 2 inch shorter spare which also goes to the top on both sides although that would be a squeeze.
I've been hacking with the longer girth 1 hole down from top on both sides...
How am I still here ?
May need to go a size shorter again to sit comfortably half way up ?

 

[Wishfilly]

Nice chilled schooling session today, after the acrobatics yesterday. Got some lovely work within about 20 minutes, so finished with a quick hack around the fields.

 

[palo1]

Dolly was fabulous at BE U18s training today! They focused on technical combinations and ditchrs/water/steps/ banks. Dolly did not hesistatecat anything but just pinged. She was super feisty, super fast but didnt break a sweat. She could have gone round twice! Very excited for the season now .
View attachment 69029
View attachment 69030
View attachment 69031

Brilliant!! How incredibly exciting and rewarding

 

[Sprat]

Really good news Oldie, I bet you’re chuffed to bits! AE, photos look ace ?

I had a quick school tonight as I was still so buzzing from our lesson yesterday. Pushed for more through the connection which I’m pleased to say I got, carried on with the lateral work and tested the change again just because I didn’t want it to be a fluke ? it wasn’t!! Told her she was a genius and left it at that. I am completely obsessed with this mare, she just gets better and better ?

 

[DabDab]

Great updates everyone!
Managed to get to my clinic with Arts today, although after following some cyclists most of the way I managed to arrive one minute to start time. Threw tack on while nervously eyeing up the fairly spectacular acrobatics being thrown by one of the horses in the group. But needn't have worried as Arts settled as soon as we went into the arena, there wasn't even any giraffing or looking about.
And then she proceeded to be a star for the rest of the session too. We were working on lines, straightness and pace. She did her first skinnies and first brushes (and first skinny brushes ?), and I couldn't have been prouder of her. She was actually really controllable and nice to ride (canter work is paying off), but I've got to work on my habit of riding light seat for a couple of strides after the fence (spent too many years riding youngsters likely to throw a buck!). So I left with homework to do ?

OH was with me but utterly failed to take any photos. But here she is all tired and happy afterwards ?

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

I havent posted in here in AGES because we haven’t been able to do anything!! But looking like we are xc schooling tomorrow. I will be on foot, OH is now working overseas but home this weekend* so he can take the reins. Excited to get out!!!


*he is being tested frequently (x4 this week alone) and not subject to isolation rules

 

[racebuddy]

Had a great day out to somerford but was disappointed on how rock hard the farm ride is / impossible to jump
A lot due tp
Being like concrete and stones ??

 

[TheHairyOne]

I didnt think Id have anything to add to this weekend as I was having a massive sulk about the fact my 1st BD comps been cancelled due to the indoor school rules.

However, YO has made some new fences at the yard over the last few weeks, so I manned up!

Horse and I have jumped 1 hedge ever, but he was flying and I was surprised and very pleased and he had a lovely time.

 

[Bernster]

Some lovely updates and pics!

 

[TheMule]

Weekend part 1 went well- lovely fun ride this morning, then a dash back to get the ginge out SJ and she was a whole lot more professional, focused and forwards than before lockdown so feeling a bit more confident about eventing on Tuesday now


And the 4 year olds both managed a few laps of the arena large without too many wobbles- same again tomorrow whilst I've got someone capable on the ground brandishing a lunge whip

 

[LEC]

This is the youngest yesterday - she came out brilliantly after hardly doing much apart from hacking. She is super green and hasn’t even jumped a sj course yet but she is very bold.

I had a crashing fall from the grey pony in the afternoon where she made a green mistake and have screwed my back badly but piecing myself back together slowly as need to take her xc schooling in tomorrow

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Well the saddle fitter did not tell me what I wanted to hear. Saddle don't fit, horse not comfortable and Henry is most certainly lame. But, at least it's not in my head that my jumping saddle in particular didn't seem right when it should have been, since it has now been fitted 3 times in less than 12 months. The lameness we will go to the vet for and work out what is going on. Frustrating but thats horses. Hopefully nothing too terrible. So Henry seems to be officially off work until after baby is born. Thankfully we have al the time in the world to get him right, then bring him back in slowly and find a new saddle.

Coolie and I had a great session schooling this morning before our lesson tomorrow morning. Flat work is not his favourite, but he did some good work and I am pleased with how well he is going post semi retirement. No one tell him he is no 1 horse again, I don't want him broken too!No hiding the bump now either!

 

[Xmasha]

Lots of fabulous updates and impressive photos . So lovely to see everyone getting out and about agin . Here’s hoping it continues

My daughter and I made it out together for the first time in 12months . No action shots as Pip was rather fresh, she could have easily gone around the ride twice . Which to be honest might have done her good . Finn was his usual superstar laid back self . The weather was perfect and Somerford looked glorious . Pip has never gone through the small running stream , but she went straight through . Was really chuffed with that , but then she blotted her copy book and kicked out at Finn while we where cantering up hill . I’m hoping it was just sheer excitement as she’s never done that before . They normally canter side by side nicely .. maybe it’s because she’s not out in the same field as him at the minute as she’s baby sitting Aria .
photo of them looking like a pair of plums ?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Whoops. Never mind.

Will return later with working photos.

 

[DirectorFury]

Great reports and photos from everyone, v jealous of you all out and about at competitions and training!

We went for a gallop yesterday to make up for me feeling like I’m incapable of sitting on a horse, unfortunately it was a bit busy so we had to stick to a very leap-y canter instead ?. Hopefully the link will work for a video.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

We get good views of Swansea Bay from the top though!

 

[Xmasha]

Great reports and photos from everyone, v jealous of you all out and about at competitions and training!

We went for a gallop yesterday to make up for me feeling like I’m incapable of sitting on a horse, unfortunately it was a bit busy so we had to stick to a very leap-y canter instead ?. Hopefully the link will work for a video.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

We get good views of Swansea Bay from the top though!
View attachment 69070

your hacking is glorious! Love your photos . Muchos jealous ?

 

[DabDab]

Looks spectacular there DF ?.

We are having a very relaxed morning here and the weather is glorious. Just had a little play with Pebbles in the school and convinced an (unwilling) victim to take some blurry far away photos because I wanted to see if we looked totally ridiculous as I contemplate possible parties. I should work out a way of mounting my phone to something to video...
Anyways, happy Easter from me an Pebbles!

Dignified trot:




And some Yee hah canter ?

 

[Squeak]

Lovely to hear so many happy reports of people finally being able to get out and about again. LEC I hope you're feeling better this morning.

I'm a bit down in the dumps - Got out to an arena hire yesterday with my complicated one and unfortunately lock down just came at completely the wrong time for him and we're back to pretty much square one and a course would be too much.

My straightforward youngster is off games from last week so I'm just praying that it's something minor. I'm not sure I can take another year with the complex one being my only ride, it's a bit soul destroying and doesn't involve much competing and no eventing.

 

[Roxylola]

Looks ok to me DabDab.
Squeak thats such a shame, good vibes for your youngster, and hopefully your complicated one will pick up quicker than you expect.
I'm so glad winter clipping is over and now I can start summer clipping ? I started with a hog so didn't bother putting my waterproofs on, decided to crack on and clip out (again). I've binned my jumper, so much short prickly hair ?
Edit for a pic

 

[milliepops]

urghhhhhhh Roxy, you always need disposable clothes at the end of their useful life if you're going for summer clipping, yuk.

 

[Roxylola]

urghhhhhhh Roxy, you always need disposable clothes at the end of their useful life if you're going for summer clipping, yuk.

Luckily the jumper and t shirt pretty much were anyway. I'm giving the breeches a chance in the washer though - they're not new, but serviceable (well they were ?)

 

[oldie48]

Rose has been on the walker and behaved reasonably well considering, she had a 30 minute ridden session with some trot work (with a little sedation) and then went out into the pen in the sunshine in a very chilled state. I sat in the sun and topped up my vit D and then we played grandma's footsteps, probably because she could smell the polos in my pocket but as she's so fat she didn't get any!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Fingers crossed for a speedy resolution, Squeak

 

[DabDab]

Looks ok to me DabDab.

Thank you. Yes the pics did put my mind at ease a bit, was having a bit of a paranoid moment, which was frustrating because she's super loads of fun to ride and I want to take her out.
Hope you manage to save the kegs!

Hope your straightforward one comes sound and the complicated one gets back into a less complicated swing again Squeak

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Our xc schooling turned into sj schooling after too much faffing about in the planning stages.
Great day, OH had a super round at about 1 - 1.10. Horse is a giant remember and he makes jumps look small!



I hopped on at the end and popped over a couple of smaller jumps. Got a wee bit left behind here, oops.


Went for one more and it all went to pot unfortunately!! Horse went to take off, somehow got a bit muddled, so off I tumbled. It is hard to see in the pic sequence but basically he kind of went to take off, then changed his mind, then took off and it all went pear shaped! Ouch. Got back on after I got my breath back and made it over in one piece. Called it quits then ?