Easter Weekend Plans

SaddlePsych'D

SaddlePsych'D

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 December 2019
Messages
4,741
Location
In My Head
Visit site
What are we all up to? :)

I've had a crap week with fatigue, having to be off work sick (dreading all the stuff waiting for me that needs to be rescheduled when I get back!), and OH abroad for work. So not feeling at my best today BUT! my lesson was bloody brilliant. I started off with a back up plan to get off and do groundwork if I was really feeling unwell but as I didn't ride last week I at least wanted to try.

Back on Little Cob (he's not little at all really, just seems like it when the other horse I have lessons on is 17.2/3) and he had his marching walk on today. Nerves were there ready to step in, quite strongly at points, but I just sat with it and smiled at the bounciness when he was really going for it! Instructor said we were actually doing a fast walk today, not just me thinking it was 😂 A few 'sat nav' errors where LC likes to stop in certain places and/or to head over to my instructor. Previously this would have really worried me as I would feel out of control and lose focus/start getting disaster images flashing through my mind. Not any more :) I could get used to this 'forward going' stuff :D Especially on low energy days!
 
Britestar said:
It all depends on storm Dave 🙄.

Plan would be to run through DTM either or Saturday or Sunday morning, in prep for BRC DTM champs at end of month, but will need to see the wind/rain situation.

All practice is outside so a little weather dependant.
Click to expand...
Oof yes just seen the forecast here is for gusty winds. I have drawn a line and will not ride in anything described as 'gusty' 😂
 
No big plans here- will see what the weather does and go from there!
My pal did persuade me to go to an arena hire with her so I dug out my brave pants and jumped a few fences. Was petrified, but Ace is so good and generous, he just cracked on and let the doofus jockey just sit there.

Took a real flier here 🤣🤣🤣

IMG_6521.jpeg

But I did manage to slip my reins so his back teeth are intact 😬

IMG_6526.jpeg

Great fun. Scary! But fun. 😀
 
sheep said:
No big plans here- will see what the weather does and go from there!
My pal did persuade me to go to an arena hire with her so I dug out my brave pants and jumped a few fences. Was petrified, but Ace is so good and generous, he just cracked on and let the doofus jockey just sit there.

Took a real flier here 🤣🤣🤣

View attachment 174456

But I did manage to slip my reins so his back teeth are intact 😬

View attachment 174457

Great fun. Scary! But fun. 😀
Click to expand...
Weeeee!
 
After posting in the Happy thread about last nights lesson we had another full turnabout today!! Went for a hack, loose yearling on the lane. Texted yard manager, half secured her, jiggy jogged back. Decided to have a trot round the arena, all going well until the wind flapped a big banner and we had a lap at full gallop. Got her back to me, bloody wind flaps it again, off we go again, I only manage half a lap before I stop trying and let myself hit the deck 😂

SO I will be sitting out the weekend as I hit my head. Not that I would have been doing much with Dave anyway! God love her she has held it together like a pro the last few weeks, a loose baby and an incoming storm is too much!!!

sheep said:
No big plans here- will see what the weather does and go from there!
My pal did persuade me to go to an arena hire with her so I dug out my brave pants and jumped a few fences. Was petrified, but Ace is so good and generous, he just cracked on and let the doofus jockey just sit there.

Took a real flier here 🤣🤣🤣

View attachment 174456

But I did manage to slip my reins so his back teeth are intact 😬

View attachment 174457

Great fun. Scary! But fun. 😀
Click to expand...
Oh you should have hung about, you might have just missed the above shenanigans 😂😂😂 that hedge is so beefy!!!!
 
smolmaus said:
After posting in the Happy thread about last nights lesson we had another full turnabout today!! Went for a hack, loose yearling on the lane. Texted yard manager, half secured her, jiggy jogged back. Decided to have a trot round the arena, all going well until the wind flapped a big banner and we had a lap at full gallop. Got her back to me, bloody wind flaps it again, off we go again, I only manage half a lap before I stop trying and let myself hit the deck 😂

SO I will be sitting out the weekend as I hit my head. Not that I would have been doing much with Dave anyway! God love her she has held it together like a pro the last few weeks, a loose baby and an incoming storm is too much!!!


Oh you should have hung about, you might have just missed the above shenanigans 😂😂😂 that hedge is so beefy!!!!
Click to expand...

Eeep!! Sounds like a lot of unplanned excitement - hope the noggin is ok!
Is that where you’re stabled? Only a hop and a skip away from me, if so!

Cant believe I jumped an actual hedge - I am fairly committed to being a wimp but to be fair to Ace, he has been there, done that & got the tshirt so he’s a real confidence giver. And I had a teenager egging me on so 🤷🏻‍♀️😂
 
sheep said:
Eeep!! Sounds like a lot of unplanned excitement - hope the noggin is ok!
Is that where you’re stabled? Only a hop and a skip away from me, if so!

Cant believe I jumped an actual hedge - I am fairly committed to being a wimp but to be fair to Ace, he has been there, done that & got the tshirt so he’s a real confidence giver. And I had a teenager egging me on so 🤷🏻‍♀️😂
Click to expand...
It is now! Still settling, obviously 😬

The person who put the hedge up says "it jumps really well, just a rider frightener!!" but of course she had to say that as so many people are scared of it. So you can put the wimp label away!!!! Big brave sheep 💪
 
smolmaus said:
It is now! Still settling, obviously 😬

The person who put the hedge up says "it jumps really well, just a rider frightener!!" but of course she had to say that as so many people are scared of it. So you can put the wimp label away!!!! Big brave sheep 💪
Click to expand...

Aww well I hope you enjoy your new digs, it looks a great setup!
I have to say it did jump really well, def a rider frightener, tbf a cross pole is a rider frightener for me atm 😂
 
sheep said:
No big plans here- will see what the weather does and go from there!
My pal did persuade me to go to an arena hire with her so I dug out my brave pants and jumped a few fences. Was petrified, but Ace is so good and generous, he just cracked on and let the doofus jockey just sit there.

Took a real flier here 🤣🤣🤣

View attachment 174456

But I did manage to slip my reins so his back teeth are intact 😬

View attachment 174457

Great fun. Scary! But fun. 😀
Click to expand...
Well sat ☺️
 
We went showing today - Fizz’s second time out, and the last time was 2024 as a yearling. She’s 3 now so wanted to get some more youngstock classes under her belt for experience before it’s too late. Well she only went and bagged reserve champion! Just a small local show but she was impeccably behaved and I’m so proud of her.

IMG_8350.jpeg
 
Cloball said:
I swear I used to be good at it now I just get my knitting tangled and pony confused!
Click to expand...
Same! I used to do gates and all easy peasy with no problems and today I just had to drop everything and start over 😂 Use it or lose it, like everything else!!
 
My weekend started on Thurs with a jumping lesson. The hooligan was full of himself to start with, but tends to blat towards the fence then get in a muddle so we trotted into most until he'd remembered to put his brain back between his ears! I don't do him any favours I'm so rusty 🙄

Anyway it turns out jumping means we do dressage with a lot more enthusiasm 48 hours later. Nice test, just a bit wiggly in walk circles because we've been doing a lot of leg yielding and he was trying to predict whether we were going out or in. Neither! We got lovely comments for our free rein walk but just 7.5. We really can't do it better than that (superb stretch said judge) so no idea how we'd score higher. Anyway we won a frilly and a rainbow tail extension 😜20260404_125458.jpg
 
I have had a fabulous bank holiday weekend!
Went to the beach, mine and Rockys favourite place and had the most amazing time, really filled up my cup.

Then today, took my 4 year old connie to a WH arena hire, where we had a play around and he loved it.
We have actually had very nice weather for Wales, which is always a huge bonus.

Very happy ponies and a very happy me :)
IMG_6429.jpgIMG_6422.jpg

Facetune_05-04-2026-15-18-52.jpgFacetune_05-04-2026-13-03-26.JPG
 
H had a jump on Friday, just in my arena at home. I'm trying to get him used to jumping weird and wonderful things, as he's a wuss, so Friday was wooden shelves!

Sat, I went out with my BF on our pedal bikes. Fab ride out, exhausted after so the boys got a day off.

Yesterday was a box over to the country park, where we have a fab solo ride, again so he learns he has brave pants. He is fine solo, but more relaxed in company.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7625301384094584086

We did a few fences, but more as trot and pop than XC, so it was a relaxed hack with a few little jumps rather than a proper training session.

Today, we go to the garden centre!
 
Btomkins said:
We went showing today - Fizz’s second time out, and the last time was 2024 as a yearling. She’s 3 now so wanted to get some more youngstock classes under her belt for experience before it’s too late. Well she only went and bagged reserve champion! Just a small local show but she was impeccably behaved and I’m so proud of her.

View attachment 174516
Click to expand...
Oh she is just Stunning - well done both of you 👏 ☺️
 
As is traditional for a Bank Holiday where it doesn’t absolutely pee it down we went to the pub.

This was my pony’s response to being told he’s underage and therefore not allowed a drink (desperate times desperate measures and all that!)

IMG_6890.jpeg

IMG_6891.jpeg
IMG_6892.jpeg

He also demanded to look at the kids menu but was eventually placated with grass.


IMG_6896.jpeg

IMG_6906.jpeg
 
A busy weekend for me.

I was a volunteer pole picker for the French young handlers and para agility championship on Saturday. It was really interesting, the poles were so much lighter than the horse jumps and I'm in awe of the para agility handlers who compensate for physical disabilities with better dog training. They will hopefully be over in Warwickshire in June for the para agility world cup.

Sunday and Monday were the riding departmental championships. With Little Madam and I signed up in the 80 SJ class. This was Little Madam's 2nd real competition since maternity leave and her first 80cm since, as well.
She was brilliant. A couple of bucks slowed us slightly on the first day to 8th out of 38. No bucking involved today and we placed 5th out of 34. Over the two days, we were the fastest double clear of the department, making us the champions!
I think having a foal out of Little Madam was the best thing I could have done. Not only have I got my lovely Pippin, but the break from riding seems to have done Little Madam a world of good. She has come back happier and stronger, both jumping and dressage, and I keep falling in love with her again and again. She is cool as a cucumber but so talented. This morning, knowing we were heading out (they can hear the trailer and early means competition) she walked up the field to me and self loaded in the trailer on the side of the road in the dark (no way near as dangerous as it would probably be in most of the UK), and spent most of the day munching hay or dozing tied to the side of the trailer
 
It's lovely seeing everyone being able to get out and about again. Please can we keep the good weather?
I had a lovely time up at Oakridge for our first affiliated show since 2024. (Only did 1 show in total last year).
Travelled up on the Friday, first classes were ranch trail on Saturday and Amber came out happy and relaxed and did our smoothest softest patterns ever. There was a tricky log drag in the second class that everyone was struggling with and the judge had said just deal with it and make it look smooth, Amber must have heard him, and we got a +1 for it (max possible score is a +1.5). There was a long ground tie required, and Amber stood like a pro despite not having done one for ages and we came out with a 74 1/2 for 4th and I'm over the moon. A lot of good riders in the class and a couple of minor mistakes by me so as ever room for me to do better.
Sunday ranch riding was more like our usual selves all a bit gung ho ; we got our flying changes in a lesson Tuesday so were told we just had to try them. I did in the first class and got a small ish bounce so not smooth but got the change, I wimped out in the second class and then promptly forgot to show a collected lope afterwards then the last class she did buck in the change but a lot of luck must have been on our side as I don't think they judge saw it so we got 3rd and a very nice trophy to bring home :)
I think with a few more years practise I might actually get the hang of this and Amber will be so relieved. She seemed happier in the arena and collecting ring too, ears forwards and taking it all in , although she still has a grumpy concentration face when we run the pattern, but she looked bright happy and cute at times. I'll keep working on keeping her soft and happy, we did a lot of hand grazing as she didn't like the 2nd bale of hay I'd taken, and I don't think any of the horses got much sleep on Saturday night as storm Dave came through and tried to take the roof off the temporary stables. Everyone was fine and roof stayed put but it was really noisy. Poor Amber was trying to doze off as I was trying to load her to come home on Sunday afternoon, she was very happy once home and she can have today off as well to recover.
 
Poor Roons has been through it! He had a tooth extracted the other week 😓 No symptoms aside from copious amounts of snot from one nostril only (no smell). So endoscopy, x rays, CT + pulling a Dino tooth out. He was amazing for the vets, he made their job easy. Good lad.


387b0b54-d4c7-4704-916e-77d813ec5ebc.jpeg
7cedd8d8-b744-4b89-9819-24fc1b92d5bc.jpeg

It was ironically well timed as I was away on holiday so he would’ve had much of the week off anyway.

He’s come back into work very nicely (pure Bob the cob he is SO sensible at things like this) so fingers crossed he continues to feel great 🥰

Did blot his book though by refusing to be caught by my freelancer whilst I was away! She tried for 2 hours and he was having none of it. Luckily I was back that night (and it wouldn’t have hurt him and the companion to stay out), but I was very determined and caught him after another 40 mins. Naughty boy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top