Easter Weekend Plans

[SaddlePsych'D]

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!

Smashed it today!

Share horse's owner didn't want me going up and down the lane again like I did the other day. I agreed with the reasoning (not teaching him to nap) but the shortest loop/lollipop ride felt waaay too far. Chimp went into meltdown (the fear, for those who won't know what that means!), I cried and told OH I didn't want to even get on. Ignored that and tacked up. OH was given a quick lesson in lead-reining and off we went. An hour later we got back, big smile on my face, 'I stayed on the horse' I declared on our return!

The anxiety spiked a few times along the way as well as a couple of times where it dropped and the lead rope came off. It was such a good opportunity to practice different ways of staying on, instead of looking for the exit strategy! I hope the lead rein won't be for too long but for now I know it gets me actually doing what I want to do which is to build the partnership with share horse and enjoy the countryside on horseback. I am so lucky to have my OH!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Fabulous! No stopping you now!!

 

[Caol Ila]

We went on some hacks. I swore at the twats leaving dog poo baggies within 100m of the trailhead (which has...you know... bins). On Saturday, Fin wiggled around some posh houses, and Hermosa did the short loop. Today, Hermosa went to the visitors centre, and Fin did the short loop.

 

[Bernster]

Got some nice pics that my trainer took of our sj lesson yesterday. And today it’s raining!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

We managed our fun ride, though it got cancelled after we set off round due to the weather! We got soaked! But Beryl was mega , need to work on her not getting upset about horses coming up behind but otherwise she was outstanding .

 

[j1ffy]

Lovely pics and reports! Beryl looks fab HP. Well done to everyone who’s been out competing and to SPD for your hack.

I got back on Chilli . Just walk work in the school and on the (very!) soft tracks around the farm for now but it’s great to be back on board. He’s feeling great!

 

[Cherryblossom]

Well we had a fantastic first arena eventing experience today. Poppy jumped a lovely chilled clear and I’m now itching to get out properly eventing. Tyrella is such a great venue; cooling legs in the sea is definitely the way forward, although Poppy was not so sure!
I feel a bit emotional tonight- from the wee skinny scruff that I took a punt on because I liked her attitude, and H&H told me to buy her (thanks @conniegirl and @Meowy Catkin!) it’s been a long a bumpy road, but she’s everything I hoped she would be and more.

 

[Cloball]

Those pictures are amazing @Cherryblossom!
@SaddlePsych'D you're doing better than me, still not confident enough to go out by myself.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Those pictures are amazing @Cherryblossom!
@SaddlePsych'D you're doing better than me, still not confident enough to go out by myself.

I think we're at similar stages timewise for our new horsey partnerships (January for me and share horse)?

I reckon we're both making progress. Going out solo feels a long way off for me too.

 

[Bernster]

Cherryblossom - to be fair, h&h always tells you to buy the horse

 

[Cloball]

@SaddlePsych'D yes she arrived in Jan. Going in front this week and feeling safe felt like a big step. Might start walking out and then riding home if I can persuade the OH to come with. He's a bit scared of her as she was a bit of a tit last time we went for a walk but at least I'll have some nice photos

 

[Cherryblossom]

Cherryblossom - to be fair, h&h always tells you to buy the horse

If ever you needed proof that your statement was true- this is what they told me to buy!

 

[Chippers1]

We went to a fun ride on Sat, considering how spooky and awkward Buzz is to hack alone he is such a superstar at fun rides doesn't get hot, doesn't spook, goes first or last and will go at whatever speed you put him in rather than what the other people in the group are doing. Isn't bothered by groups heading off in front and will walk on the buckle if needed, he's just brilliant.
We even did a row of xc jumps whilst his friends cantered up the field on a different path and he jumped nicely at the pace I wanted!
Here's a lovely photo of him too. This was at the end of the ride, he didn't even break a sweat - what a dude.


Then today we have a jump lesson, i'm going to join those confidence building and work on my fear of oxers! Funny how I can jump a line of xc jumps that I don't even know the height or width of yet quiver over an oxer...

Some lovely photos from everyone!

 

[LEC]

I had my worst days eventing in over 20 years and that says a lot really. You can all watch my awful day!!

I have sold the lovely boy child due to lack of time and instead have kept a complete witch of a horse who is going onto regumate this week….

 

[webble]

@HufflyPuffly was that Cefn?

 

[HufflyPuffly]

@HufflyPuffly was that Cefn?

It was, it's a lovely ride and the group who organise it are fab! We did it last year but brought Topaz who was a nightmare so think everyone was happy we left her at home and brought Skylla and Beryl. Quite tough going with the ground getting very slippy and boggy in places (definitely the right call to cancel as I'd said to mum the ground was going to be lethal by the end of the day not realizing they'd cancelled the second half of the day). Plus the river crossing was quite something this time , luckily Skylla is a star and gave a good group of us a lead through!

 

[webble]

You were brave, I did Cefn last year and the river terrified me then. My avatar is taken there, we were covered in mud from the first section of forest so it must had be been even worse this year. Fingers crossed I will do the next fnd if the weather improves

 

[HufflyPuffly]

You were brave, I did Cefn last year and the river terrified me then. My avatar is taken there, we were covered in mud from the first section of forest so it must had be been even worse this year. Fingers crossed I will do the next fnd if the weather improves

They did it the other way round this year, not sure if it was due to the weather or not but it was still a tough ride! Wasn't expecting it to be that wet to be honest as I'm only a few miles away and our ground was almost too hard!

The Nant Clwyd ride we also did last year and we loved it, it's literally down the road from us, the parts through the forest were full of wild garlic in flower and bluebells! But I do seem to remember that had a couple of boggy places in the woods, but overall it was lovely, you got to ride down a private air strip last year (though no galloping on that bit lol).

 

[j1ffy]

I had my worst days eventing in over 20 years and that says a lot really. You can all watch my awful day!!

I have sold the lovely boy child due to lack of time and instead have kept a complete witch of a horse who is going onto regumate this week….

What a shame! She looked very tricky throughout (even in the dressage warm up she looked ready to explode) but your stoicism is fantastic. I hope you can fix the boot!!

 

[LEC]

What a shame! She looked very tricky throughout (even in the dressage warm up she looked ready to explode) but your stoicism is fantastic. I hope you can fix the boot!!

I have spoken to my vet and we are going to stick her on regumate. In chatting with him I realised she has never done much in the spring as the other older horses have always taken precedence so pretty convinced it’s hormonal as she was a different horse to how she comes out (chronic ADHD on Sunday) in June/July which is when she normally gets picked up for eventing. Apparently the spring seasons are the worst and we are pretty convinced she will only need it until the end of May. She is also tight in her poll so have contacted my amazing physio. Probably from being hormonal and ragging my poor little TB round with chronic mare stare and when in the stable.

I have managed to find someone locally to sort my zips so that has made me happy!

 

[Bernster]

LEC, shame it wasn’t a good day but she’s very smart and you ride beautifully !

 

[LEC]

LEC, shame it wasn’t a good day but she’s very smart and you ride beautifully !

Thanks that’s very kind of you to say as get very frustrated with the way I ride.

 

[Fire sign]

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.

Hi Ambers Echo .. hope you don’t mind me asking but who do you have for show jumping at Dean Valley ? I need to arrange a trip there and some help would be good

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Hi Ambers Echo .. hope you don’t mind me asking but who do you have for show jumping at Dean Valley ? I need to arrange a trip there and some help would be good

Liz Jackson x

 

[Fire sign]

Hey thanks ! I know Liz , she is very good

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Hey thanks ! I know Liz , she is very good

Yes I really like her. Only had a couple of lessons with her so far, but Lottie has gone really well, and I feel like we made a lot of progress. Dean Valley is a good venue too x