Easter Weekend Plans

[Ample Prosecco]

I am BUSY!

Dean Valley SJ lesson this afternoon.
Book launch event this evening.
Howden Way training tomorrow (better lay off the fizz at the launch).
Flying over to Canaries for a holiday in the sun on Saturday morning.

Phew.

Right I need to find the emojo buttons..... Ah there they are. Loads of 'em.

 

[Britestar]

Normal working up here as always.
Lesson on Saturday morning.
Hacking Sunday I would imagine.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Beryl has her first ridden outing Sat for a lesson and then a fun ride Monday . We're going early so hoping to avoid too much chaos!

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Tomorrow I'll jump Henry at home and hack Coolie, Saturday Hen and Ihave dressage club, and Sunday and Monday will be hacking I think. Maybe anther little jump. Pretty easy and relaxed!

 

[millitiger]

Meant to be at Waverton on Saturday, however I'm currently laid up with pretty awful food poisoning...

 

[Ample Prosecco]

SJ lesson was good!

Howden way XC has been cancelled which means I’ll be doing Norton Disney without Lottie doing any XC on grass since September. Eek.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

The photo quality is terrible now!! Boo

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Drum roll.... I have blagged a short time in YO up the lane arena tomorrow morning! We've been in an arena once since early last October.
Will be interesting to see how how we are or not. If all goes ok, then I'll get back into some training, tho we will be very rusty!

Good luck to those competing and whatever you are doing, have fun

 

[webble]

Lesson this evening, happy hacking tomorrow and a trip to Mostyn Farm ride on Sat

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Reading my new rider confidence book

Riding tomorrow and Sunday. Weather looks good so will attempt a hack or two. Not massively looking forward to that (hence the confidence book!) but I will see what I can do. Going in the school every time isn't great either so it seems worth coming back to some hacking.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Riding lesson tomorrow and on Sunday. No other horse focused stuff.

 

[webble]

Reading my new rider confidence book

Riding tomorrow and Sunday. Weather looks good so will attempt a hack or two. Not massively looking forward to that (hence the confidence book!) but I will see what I can do. Going in the school every time isn't great either so it seems worth coming back to some hacking.

Good luck, remember to breathe

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Reading my new rider confidence book

Riding tomorrow and Sunday. Weather looks good so will attempt a hack or two. Not massively looking forward to that (hence the confidence book!) but I will see what I can do. Going in the school every time isn't great either so it seems worth coming back to some hacking.

Hope you’re enjoying it!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Hope you’re enjoying it!

It's fab. Literally cannot read it fast enough

I've had the idea to ride to the village pub which has quite a bit more adventure and appeal than 'maybe I'll get to the end of the lane and back'.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

It's fab. Literally cannot read it fast enough

I've had the idea to ride to the village pub which has quite a bit more adventure and appeal than 'maybe I'll get to the end of the lane and back'.

Then you can also get a bit of liquid courage if required
I wish riding to the pub was a thing here! I don’t know what they do if we turned up with horses!

 

[Cherryblossom]

I’ve got my first arena eventing with Poppy on monday. I keep having to tell myself that it’s only 65cm so she can jump it from trot if needs be, but the nerves are definitely kicking in! It’s been years since I evented, and it’s strange to discover that while my general confidence is much less, I’m still more worried about the showjumping section than the XC! I think it’s a throwback to being a teenager and having a horse who would always do a terrible dressage and a clear XC, so the SJ was the bit that could make or break our chances of being placed.

 

[mavandkaz]

Pub ride today, and the sun has come out could be interesting as I think there are about 9 of us going en masse. The pub have been warned so hopefully will be a fun afternoon.
Other then that probably just hacking. Belle is still having a few issues with her breathing following a flare up of her COPD, so she's taking it easy.
Sham went to a Diane Thurman Baker in hand clinic yesterday, and has a flatwork lesson on Tuesday so a chilled weekend for him too.
Hopefully they will both enjoy some more naked turn out time over the weekend.

 

[scats]

What a lovely lazy day I’ve had! Much needed

Then I took Millie out this evening




Ankle was a bit achey today so we just did a 25 minute walk route.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ok so I didn't quite make it to the pub today but I did get on even though I didn't want to. Go out of the yard mounted even though I didn't want to. And rode to the end of the lane and back multiple times even though I didn't want to, and kept going until I felt less anxious. Stopped for a couple of photos and to admire the view, to breathe and chat to share horse. Progress made!

Will head out again on Sunday. OH is being entrusted with a lead rope and I don't care if I need a lead rein if it means I can get closer to what I'd actually like to be doing which is enjoying the countryside on horseback and enjoying the time with share horse.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Ok so I didn't quite make it to the pub today but I did get on even though I didn't want to. Go out of the yard mounted even though I didn't want to. And rode to the end of the lane and back multiple times even though I didn't want to, and kept going until I felt less anxious. Stopped for a couple of photos and to admire the view, to breathe and chat to share horse. Progress made!

Will head out again on Sunday. OH is being entrusted with a lead rope and I don't care if I need a lead rein if it means I can get closer to what I'd actually like to be doing which is enjoying the countryside on horseback and enjoying the time with share horse.

Brilliant. It’s far better to do less or have more help but finish feeling less anxious, than to push yourself to a point where the anxiety is overwhelming and then get off. On paper it might look like you achieve more in the 2nd situation, but from a confidence point of view you gain far far more in the first. Finishing on a good note applies to people as well as horses!

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We had a great lesson today at dressage club. It was hard work but I feel like we are making progress. Everything is coming together faster each time and Henry is enjoying the work so we are halfway there! I keep getting these glimmers of a really good feel so I know what I need to work towards. Also found out that that particular coach is just around the corner from us so I think I’ll go for a few lessons with her to reinvigorate us!

I love my usual coach but I’m finding a fresh perspective is helpful as we embark on this harder work. I’m missing having my eastern states coaches coming over regularly. Covid put paid to that!

 

[Bernster]

Had a lovely horsey day yesterday. Hacked to the common which is the one good off road ride we have round the yard, then came back for a run round the exercise field. Feeling much more confident with Bertie now, although he still feels a bit quick and only seems to have one gear but he did steady up for the corners and feels sure footed so it may be a case of me getting used to his paces. The sun was out, the flowers were blooming and my friend and I chatted nonsense the whole way round. Then 3 of us had early dinner at the pub.

Trying to sort a Sj lesson on Sunday.

Booked my accommodation for May camp at my go to place near Aston le walls. And had great news that my ins has a place at camp after being ion the wait list. And found a hotel for our badminton stay after many searches and getting a bit worried. We’re going from the Thursday as I know someone in the grassroots champs. It’ll be nice to cheer on someone I know and see the grassroots for a change.

 

[SEL]

I'm so chuffed with baby cob. I thought the traffic would be quiet on a bank holiday Saturday so took him on a longer ride. Well we met all the idiots, vans, motorbikes, cyclists, over taking on blind bends, passing too close, roadworks, flapping rubbish and dog walkers. Even another rider in the distance which has been his nemesis.

He literally didn't put a foot wrong. Hesitant at times but stayed in front of my leg listening.

Can't believe he's been here nearly a year! Seems like only yesterday he turned up all polished and clipped out. I have lovingly turned him into a hairy bog monster

 

[RachelFerd]

We actually got to go eventing after a series of cancellations

Just the older thoroughbred - did a mistake laden dressage test for 34.5, rolled a very unlucky pole from a tiny tap, and then went clear XC with a handful of time faults as ground was a little drying tacky and I've not done quite as much fast work as I'd have liked in the lead-up because of the wet weather and ground.

Anyway, good to get started - xc got better the further I went (I was a bit backwards and needed to get my eye in for the first few) and it was big and technical enough with some fairly skinny skinnies. Now to crack on with the rest of the season!

 

[Haniki]

Well done, looking good.

 

[Cloball]

Hacked out Friday morning and this morning in glorious sunshine just a wee 3miles but some quite steep hills. Darcy pony went in front for the first time for about half the ride including some bits she hasn't done for a while. I was very proud (of myself as well as it's my confidence holding us back) . Met some rattly trailers and tractors so I hopped off on Friday as last time she met a tractor she was a bit wired. Needn't have worried as she barely noticed it was there and was more concerned that we were stopping 200m from the home turning need to plan some longer rides now.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Well we survived our lesson . Worked on acceptance through the bridle and accepting the contact more. Using the halt and asking for a release so she understands the basics .

Worked on getting the go with a contact plus go, contact and going in a straight line . Forwards is always the most important thing to establish but once she’s forwards we can then add the other stuff in.

Finished by looking at the canter but the fuel had run out a little by this point so we just cowboy cantered on both reins and told her how clever she was .

 

[millitiger]

Managed to get out of bed, still feeling rubbish from food poisoning, however Dima made it worthwhile with the best xc round. A bit too easy for him so we even got too fast time penalties, oops!

 

[FlyingCircus]

I've been playing with the new pony this weekend. He was a lead rein pony (at 14.2!) in the distant past but hasn't done anything in atleast 4 years.

Fri I sat on him in the school to see what he'd do. Nothing. Doesn't understand aids but happy to follow someone anywhere. Plodded to end of driveway.

Yesterday I (not very sensibly) jumped on him bareback in the field for 10 mins to start teaching steering and go/stop. He understands steering more than go

Today we plod out behind another horse to help him understand. He doesn't lunge or long rein other than in walk, so having to think abit outside the box about installing forward. I'm thinking the slightly backwards approach will then do him wonders on lunge and long lines too. At the min he just doesn't see the point And honestly I don't blame him. Some nice steady hacks with a friend will go him understanding.

Tomorrow probably more of the same and a massage. Tough life for a pony who thought he was a forever companion haha.

 

[Bernster]

Great photo millitiger!

Had a lovely horsey day today too. Managed a last minute sj lesson which went really well. Felt much more together, tidier riding from me (mostly). Bertie is more balanced, no leaping and rushing off. We even tackled some meatier (for me) fences and I just about kept a lid on my nerves!

Came back and bathed Finnegan, which he wasn’t a fan of, and gave him a haircut so he looks less feral. He almost looks like a riding horse again, apart from the huge belly. Grazing muzzle back on! He’s in light work after rehab from surgery and various complications so it’s been difficult keeping the weight off him as he’s a very good doer. One of those complications was a huge lump of scar tissue in his neck due to an infection from the catheter he had in. Antibiotics didn’t touch it but my physio has been using a cold laser on it (with vet approval) and it does seem to be helping. Measured him for hoof boots too as we’re doing a bit more roadwork and I’d like to see if he can stay barefoot.