Easter weekend plans?

[southerncomfort]

We went to a TREC obstacle clinic this morning where my little pony was absolutely AWSOME!

Considering he passaged his way in to the indoor school, I wasn't expecting much to be honest but he really enjoyed himself. As it was his first time, we did it all in hand first, then I hopped on and we had a wander and a play on our own, before we all did the whole course including trotting down the corridor.

We both had an absolute blast!

I am now stuffed full of chocolate and looking forward to driving down to see my parents tomorrow who I haven't seen since Christmas.

Hope you are all having an equally fantastic weekend. ?

 

[ycbm]

Well he's all moved in and seemed happy, and just about now he should be going out for the night with his new bestie, a big grey horse who is also unshod. They sniffed noses over the door without a murmur and Ludo is very placid and I'm told the other horse is too, so I think that will go well.

If he seems happy enough tomorrow then I'll be on the farm ride early before it gets busy with Easter funseekers. I am so spoilt for choice what facilities to use when ? This morning there was nobody in the 100m by 30m indoor, which is for liveries only, and I could also have used outdoor flat arenas, outdoor jumping arenas or either of the two, (yes two, one with smaller fences), huge cross country training fields. All included in my livery fee, with no booking required.

It was a very sad day to take away the last horse that I will ever look after at home, but there are compensations to look forward to.
.

 

[ycbm]

I could have had this all to myself!

 

[minesadouble]

I could have had this all to myself!

View attachment 90968

Wow!! Looks amazing, really hope it all works out for you. The early signs certainly look good ?

 

[teapot]

Well he's all moved in and seemed happy, and just about now he should be going out for the night with his new bestie, a big grey horse who is also unshod. They sniffed noses over the door without a murmur and Ludo is very placed and I'm told the other horse is too, so I think that will go well.

If he seems happy enough tomorrow then I'll be on the farm ride early before it gets busy with Easter funseekers. I am so spoilt for choice what facilities to use when ? This morning there was nobody in the 100m by 30m indoor, which is for liveries only, and I could also have used outdoor flat arenas, outdoor jumping arenas or either of the two, (yes two, one with smaller fences), huge cross country training fields. All included in my livery fee, with no booking required.

It was a very sad day to take away the last horse that I will ever look after at home, but there are compensations to look forward to.
.

I think all those things go a long way to make up for not having them at home After a few lone schooling sessions in that indoor, winters at home will seem a distant memory!

 

[ycbm]

Wow!! Looks amazing, really hope it all works out for you. The early signs certainly look good ?

It's unbelievable really, they reserve that whole arena for liveries only and nobody can book it out. It's 100m long, with a Charles Bowen surface, as are all the surfaces there bar one old ash arena that also rides well because they have a private water supply and use water cannon on it regularly to keep it wet.

 

[TheMule]

Nova went xc schooling yesterday and was really cool- no problem going away from the others, he popped round most of the 80cm course in short sections. So now we're going to enter an event ??

 

[AandK]

A fairly quiet weekend compared to the excitement of last Sunday! Gentle hack out on Friday after the farrier on Weds, then a lovely session in the school yesterday. Charlie loves to canter! He has so many gears but it’s hard for him to canter in the school due to inexperience. Yesterday was the best canter we’ve ever had in the school, I can feel how lovely it will be with more time and practice, now we have the opportunity!

 

[southerncomfort]

Well he's all moved in and seemed happy, and just about now he should be going out for the night with his new bestie, a big grey horse who is also unshod. They sniffed noses over the door without a murmur and Ludo is very placid and I'm told the other horse is too, so I think that will go well.

If he seems happy enough tomorrow then I'll be on the farm ride early before it gets busy with Easter funseekers. I am so spoilt for choice what facilities to use when ? This morning there was nobody in the 100m by 30m indoor, which is for liveries only, and I could also have used outdoor flat arenas, outdoor jumping arenas or either of the two, (yes two, one with smaller fences), huge cross country training fields. All included in my livery fee, with no booking required.

It was a very sad day to take away the last horse that I will ever look after at home, but there are compensations to look forward to.
.

Glad it all went well. It's a lot to get used to but you are both going to have a lot of fun there!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Happy Birthday to Faran ?

He is four today ? Celebrated by going a hack with my friend on the fabulous Zurich ?

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm ready to move in with ycbm. Those facilities look amazing.

Described Hermosa's day on the backing 3-4 year olds threads. Foinavon had a good day too. He took a real contact for the first time, ever, in his life. Like actually releasing and softening through the whole topline. Not just lowering his head. Since taking him out of the Myler combination bit, I've been trying to find the bit that annoys him the least. He was on contact for a lot of our ride today because our hacking buddy walks slower than he does, and although we were lead horse most of the time, I was still riding with the handbrake on since I wanted to schmooze with his buddy's owners and not be miles ahead. So doing lots of half halts and stuff. He did a little head tossing and bracing (but less emphatic than he's been in other bits), then he just... gave.

I haven't had that feeling down the reins since I retired Gypsum.

 

[milliepops]

Nice weekend here so far. We had an iffy day on Friday after rather too many days off but what I've learned so far with this horse is that one bad day doesn't lead to more bad days, so I now don't worry about it and we just try again... Yesterday the boys had fun frolicking round the field and bounced all the springs out of their feet so productive stuff could happen again

Today I thought it was time to ramp the work up a bit with Q as he has an OK level of base fitness and he is now working with me instead of having his own agenda. So nice to be able to get straight to work instead of have to teach a new horse everything again, he knows all his lateral work and now I'm actually in control we can talk about improving the quality of it. It also makes my soul happy to see this relaxed face afterwards, it's been a slightly trying couple of months at times but I feel we are definitely on track now. Everything i read about Jazz horses is that they are easily distracted and pretty hot, that rings totally true but he is also really motivated and wants to do the right thing, he is a proper grafter and I think he will be the sort that will try his socks off willingly. My job is to just keep topping up his belief that I'm always in the right!

 

[RachelFerd]

It's unbelievable really, they reserve that whole arena for liveries only and nobody can book it out. It's 100m long, with a Charles Bowen surface, as are all the surfaces there bar one old ash arena that also rides well because they have a private water supply and use water cannon on it regularly to keep it wet.

I'm fascinated to know what the livery experience is like there. I love visiting but can't imagine ever being based there. I just suspect I wouldn't be able to get away with all my weird stuff anymore like bridleless schooling ... Or maybe I would?! We have a lot of people who leave from my place to there, and vice versa, so interested to hear what it's actually like ?

 

[stangs]

Nice weekend here so far. We had an iffy day on Friday after rather too many days off but what I've learned so far with this horse is that one bad day doesn't lead to more bad days, so I now don't worry about it and we just try again... Yesterday the boys had fun frolicking round the field and bounced all the springs out of their feet so productive stuff could happen again

Today I thought it was time to ramp the work up a bit with Q as he has an OK level of base fitness and he is now working with me instead of having his own agenda. So nice to be able to get straight to work instead of have to teach a new horse everything again, he knows all his lateral work and now I'm actually in control we can talk about improving the quality of it. It also makes my soul happy to see this relaxed face afterwards, it's been a slightly trying couple of months at times but I feel we are definitely on track now. Everything i read about Jazz horses is that they are easily distracted and pretty hot, that rings totally true but he is also really motivated and wants to do the right thing, he is a proper grafter and I think he will be the sort that will try his socks off willingly. My job is to just keep topping up his belief that I'm always in the right!

His eye here definitely looks softer than it did in pictures after he’d just come to you. You’re clearly doing a good job with him.

Out of curiosity, why do you ride him in a drop noseband?

 

[Roxylola]

Big brave boy on his first solo hack today. Absolutely great with everything ??
I wasn't particularly concerned, he's hacked mostly up front, and he went round Somerford solo but it's nice to be able to, I'm too busy to always guarantee a hacking buddy so he needs to fly solo really

 

[ycbm]

I'm fascinated to know what the livery experience is like there. I love visiting but can't imagine ever being based there. I just suspect I wouldn't be able to get away with all my weird stuff anymore like bridleless schooling ... Or maybe I would?! We have a lot of people who leave from my place to there, and vice versa, so interested to hear what it's actually like ?

I won't be writing about it publicly because it's so easy for things to be misinterpreted or repeated out of context. There are at least 8 livery businesses there, more than 200 horses, all with yard managers with their own ways of doing things and each running their own business.

I'm feeling surprisingly upbeat about things tonight, really looking forward to a whizz on the farm ride tomorrow and the socialisation. Next week when we've moved ourselves (???) I'll only be 5 minutes away, which will hopefully be the best of both worlds.
.

 

[DressageCob]

My supercob has finished box rest and now is allowed bursts of turnout. He approves. He’s in a paddock without lush grass since we are being careful with his belly. He had fun jumping nettles and giving me a heart attack.
The photos are from last weekend but we did more of the same this weekend ?

otherwise I’ve been having some great lessons on the yard baby horse. He’s such a sweet boy. I was going to include a photo but it keeps going upside down.

 

[DressageCob]

managed it!

 

[milliepops]

His eye here definitely looks softer than it did in pictures after he’d just come to you. You’re clearly doing a good job with him.

Out of curiosity, why do you ride him in a drop noseband?

Its what he arrived with. I generally prefer not to make a lot of changes at once with a new horse, the change of environment and rider is enough to be getting on with. All my others have gone in a cavesson and ultimately I'll probably try the same with him when he is more established in the contact but it's only been 8 weeks so far

 

[Sam_J]

I'm feeling surprisingly upbeat about things tonight, really looking forward to a whizz on the farm ride tomorrow and the socialisation. Next week when we've moved ourselves (???) I'll only be 5 minutes away, which will hopefully be the best of both worlds.
.

I'm so pleased to hear that everything has gone well and you're feeling okay about it, I've been thinking about you today. I look forward to hearing more about it, and a proper in person catch up soon!

 

[scats]

Bit of sideways stuff yesterday afternoon for P.
Then Millie had a tail wash. Took the wagon for a quick drive to blow away the cobwebs as it’s not done anything for a while.

My poor mum has only just got home, at 6.30am, having been in A&E with my uncle since 2pm yesterday. He’d only been home a few days after a month in, but had to be readmitted. What a mess the NHS is in. It took from 2pm to 6am for a seriously ill man to be admitted.

 

[TPO]

View attachment 90987
Bit of sideways stuff yesterday afternoon for P.
Then Millie had a tail wash. Took the wagon for a quick drive to blow away the cobwebs as it’s not done anything for a while.

My poor mum has only just got home, at 6.30am, having been in A&E with my uncle since 2pm yesterday. He’d only been home a few days after a month in, but had to be readmitted. What a mess the NHS is in. It took from 2pm to 6am for a seriously ill man to be admitted.

Hope your uncle is OK Scats

 

[scats]

Hope your uncle is OK Scats

Thank you. It’s a really difficult situation because has been unwell for a couple of years due to various issues but this main one is linked to raised potassium levels (he is type 1 diabetic). He lives alone in my Nans old house but he really can’t care for himself anymore and my mum and aunty are having to take it in turns to be with him and clean the house, cook etc, but he lives over half an hour away and my mum is nearly 70 so it’s really taking its toll on her going every other day. We’ve tried to get him to move in with us but he wont, yet the reality is we need to eventually sell my Nans house. We were hoping he could maybe move to some sheltered accommodation, but he’s landing back in hospital every few months and then when he comes out we want to give him a few weeks to rest and things before having any discussions about moving, but then he ends up back in hospital again. He’s younger than my mum but he’s in a bad way. It’s very sad.
It’s like a never ending cycle and my poor mum can’t see a way out. She’s lost a load of weight herself and is barely eating anything with the stress of it all.

 

[TPO]

Thank you. It’s a really difficult situation because has been unwell for a couple of years due to various issues but this main one is linked to raised potassium levels (he is type 1 diabetic). He lives alone in my Nans old house but he really can’t care for himself anymore and my mum and aunty are having to take it in turns to be with him and clean the house, cook etc, but he lives over half an hour away and my mum is nearly 70 so it’s really taking its toll on her going every other day. We’ve tried to get him to move in with us but he wont, yet the reality is we need to eventually sell my Nans house. We were hoping he could maybe move to some sheltered accommodation, but he’s landing back in hospital every few months and then when he comes out we want to give him a few weeks to rest and things before having any discussions about moving, but then he ends up back in hospital again. He’s younger than my mum but he’s in a bad way. It’s very sad.
It’s like a never ending cycle and my poor mum can’t see a way out. She’s lost a load of weight herself and is barely eating anything with the stress of it all.

Like in support, not liking...

Thats so difficult for you all. Hopefully the hospital can maybe help with finding sheltered accommodation for him to go into when he's discharged this time. That should help everyone a but like you've said. Take care, it can't be easy for you all x

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Our big lad still isn’t right - back to the drawing board ? (booked in with vet again next week).
Got on board and he was very civil - didn’t bother trotting up first or lunging because it just invites bad behaviour. Walked around arena for 5 mins then went out on the road for about 15 mins, back to yard then and went into arena to test trot - straight away still not right. Gutted, hopefully we get answers soon ?

 

[ycbm]

More stuff I get "for free" included in my livery. The grass roots cross country training taken from out on the farm ride this morning.




And over the other side of the site, half a mile away, the full size cross country training, also taken from the farm ride (but several miles round the ride from the photo above.



He was very tired, so I cut the ride short, but he behaved really well even though I could tell he was upset by the move. He's such a sweetheart, he never makes a fuss about anything.

He didn't seem particularly interested in my arrival, which I was pleased about, because other people do most of his care now. He got a good report card from yesterday and catching in this morning and was demolishing the top class haylage when I arrived.

I'm very relieved things are going so smoothly.
.
.

 

[palo1]

More stuff I get "for free" included in my livery. The grass roots cross country training taken from out on the farm ride this morning.

View attachment 91030


And over the other side of the site, half a mile away, the full size cross country training, also taken from the farm ride (but several miles round the ride from the photo above.

View attachment 91029

He was very tired, so I cut the ride short, but he behaved really well even though I could tell he was upset by the move. He's such a sweetheart, he never makes a fuss about anything.

He didn't seem particularly interested in my arrival, which I was pleased about, because other people do most of his care now. He got a good report card from yesterday and catching in this morning and was demolishing the top class haylage when I arrived.

I'm very relieved things are going so smoothly.
.
.

Cor blimey - I would love access to those facilities!!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Had a lovely meet up with 2 others that I've not ridden with before. After tippy toeing around each other being polite, we then realised that we were indeed safe to trot, then canter and gallop together. B had a whale of a time, was pretty polite too, decided after the 2nd canter and 1st gallop that her pogo stick could be thrown away ? Perfectly lovely morning ?
Good end to the weekend, just a sj clinic to attend on Weds and that finishes off 11 days of trips out doing different things.

Ycbm, that's one hell of a lot of facilities there!

 

[SEL]

The microcob ran into a fence in Jan and ended up heading to the vets in early Feb. They found lots and lots and lots of stuff wrong but it all seemed to be old rather than something that had just happened. I'm still struggling to get the vets to sign off physio but a bodyworker friend took an unofficial look and said she thinks she's probably got something like whiplash with all those old injuries flaring up as a result.

I tried her saddle on today and she perked up so I thought I'd try a little ride. Marched me up the road on a loose rein, ignoring idiot bank holiday drivers and bounced up the bridleway. I didn't go far for a first ride but she only grumped on the downhill bit and there's some interesting front hoof X rays so perhaps there's something there we can help with.

Nice to have her bouncing back. She was very miserable when she was sore and she's such a sweet pony normally.

 

[scats]

Had a lovely time at the farm ride, except for the unplanned dismount which has resulted in a fat lip, a fat knee, a stiff jaw and a massive headache…

Millie was extremely saintly upon arrival and to begin with, and I felt slightly more relaxed about my decision to stay in the snaffle. Got to one of the jumping fields and was having a lovely time jumping and having a canter about. Then went to turn to canter down one of the paths and she decided to inject some humour into the occasion and did a Millie special of spectacular proportions and I just wasn’t expecting it. At some point her neck collided with my face and I bit my lip, then I remember seeing the side of her body, and some unruly mane before landing with with a thud on my right side and banging my head. That’s the first time my eyes have ever wobbled after a head bang. I was trying to put my stirrup leather back on (that flew off at some point in the moment) but everything was jumping about . Anyway, my eyes only carried on for 2 minutes and thankfully by the time I clambered back on, the wobbling had stopped and my vision had cleared, but the headache had started. I think I just gave myself a rattle.
Jumped some more and had a few more blasts and she was good, so can only assume it was hi-jinx!
Travelled home and although my head is absolutely throbbing, I don’t feel sick or anything and have managed some food.

Only had that hat about a month and now I’m going to need a new one!

Pictures of partially saintly beast to follow!