stangs
Well-Known Member
Love this description. She definitely doesn’t quite look sober in the photo.
End of May weekend plans
- Thread starter stangs
- Start date
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Storm did amazing all weekend, rara did ok too 
. I got some good pics going round section A before we got to the really terrible bumpy bit where we lost the water bottle out it’s holder, retrieved it and taped back on, only for us to lose it and run over it in obstacle 4. RIP .
Finished strong for prob his longest marathon distance, won dressage and cones too so red frilly for him
. I get a few days off until we take the horse to cricklands
. I got some good pics going round section A before we got to the really terrible bumpy bit where we lost the water bottle out it’s holder, retrieved it and taped back on, only for us to lose it and run over it in obstacle 4. RIP .Finished strong for prob his longest marathon distance, won dressage and cones too so red frilly for him
. I get a few days off until we take the horse to cricklands Attachments
Cloball
Well-Known Member
She knows she's not allowed grass whilst leading up the field so she gets overwrought at the prospect of going back to the field to eat... Only at this time of year then normal service resumes
she's also itchier than she's ever been ... Or maybe has just discovered I'll do it for her 
stangs
Well-Known Member
Well my weekend wasn’t as successful as ester’s but I still had fun.
Despite my boy having never shown before, and not having done any sort of competition/outing in the last eight years or even been on a box since we moved yards, he was an absolute star at the show. Got a bit wound up when he came off the box, but was pretty much foot-perfect in the warm-up area.
I had prepared myself for him to be anxious and so get strong, try tank off, get studdish, etc, but he practically had a soft eye and was quite happily plodding along next to me. If anything, we could have used a bit more spark in our actual shows but he also stood perfectly (both in terms of staying standing and also letting me stand him up correctly, even though that’s something I couldn’t be bothered to practice); walked nicely; and trotted up perfectly (and to think he wouldn’t trot up in-hand when I got him).
We came towards the bottom of the pack in all our classes, only beating horses who couldn’t trot up without throwing shapes. But the placing was deserved as, despite the fact I spent maybe 8hr all in all bathing and grooming him for the show, and got lots of pictures of him looking all shiny and polished in the field, the minute we arrived at the show, he somehow looked scruffy again and very under-haired compared to the other cobs
I doubt we’ll go showing again, since we just can’t be competitive, but it was a lovely first outing and we’ll definitely be boxing out again, maybe for some arena hire or walks away from home.
Also had a good time grooming for my friend at her show too. No results of value but I realised that I quite like mothering horses and handlers and getting everyone looking shiny on time. And it made me a lot more thankful for the show I went to yesterday - ‘my’ show ran on time, almost on the early side, and was on the loveliest surface; friend’s show was running 1h30 behind schedule towards the end because the judge couldn’t make her mind up in any class and just had everyone walking endlessly, and the surface was absolutely foul to run in. No way my boy would have been happy to trot on it.
Despite my boy having never shown before, and not having done any sort of competition/outing in the last eight years or even been on a box since we moved yards, he was an absolute star at the show. Got a bit wound up when he came off the box, but was pretty much foot-perfect in the warm-up area.
I had prepared myself for him to be anxious and so get strong, try tank off, get studdish, etc, but he practically had a soft eye and was quite happily plodding along next to me. If anything, we could have used a bit more spark in our actual shows but he also stood perfectly (both in terms of staying standing and also letting me stand him up correctly, even though that’s something I couldn’t be bothered to practice); walked nicely; and trotted up perfectly (and to think he wouldn’t trot up in-hand when I got him).
We came towards the bottom of the pack in all our classes, only beating horses who couldn’t trot up without throwing shapes. But the placing was deserved as, despite the fact I spent maybe 8hr all in all bathing and grooming him for the show, and got lots of pictures of him looking all shiny and polished in the field, the minute we arrived at the show, he somehow looked scruffy again and very under-haired compared to the other cobs
I doubt we’ll go showing again, since we just can’t be competitive, but it was a lovely first outing and we’ll definitely be boxing out again, maybe for some arena hire or walks away from home.
Also had a good time grooming for my friend at her show too. No results of value but I realised that I quite like mothering horses and handlers and getting everyone looking shiny on time. And it made me a lot more thankful for the show I went to yesterday - ‘my’ show ran on time, almost on the early side, and was on the loveliest surface; friend’s show was running 1h30 behind schedule towards the end because the judge couldn’t make her mind up in any class and just had everyone walking endlessly, and the surface was absolutely foul to run in. No way my boy would have been happy to trot on it.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
It's great experience for them regardless at all levels.
humblepie
Well-Known Member
That’s a shame but good use of time
SEL
Well-Known Member
ester
Not slacking multitasking
one of the stewards took a pic after they worried the noise had been something breaking on the carriage. .
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Well, BF made no comment on the first time he'd seen me in tailored long boots, cream breeches and a decent hat, but he was a superstar, coming to the show to be top supporter and groom.
The 70 class looked smaller than I expected, even the 80 looked small...
H was fab. All I really care about is that he goes and acts like a safe sofa. Jumping is a bonus. He was Mr Supercool! He was cautious at the very first fence of the day, a jump including plank near the café. Offered to jump it from a walk but I said no, and represented properly. After that he flew all rounds. Had just one down in the 80cm, but did well all day.
I have a video of the second class, the 75.
Met a fellow HHO'er, @Gamebird on her rather handsome ex racer, who seemed equally as chilled out as H.
A lovely, sunny morning. Home just after midday then went to the next town for a Thai massage with BF, followed by a trip to the next city for a shop at the major shopping centre, where 3 outfits were bought, then a date night! We had a meal, then watched Mission Impossible the Final Reckoning.
Back just in time to poo pick the fields as the light faded. BF is now totally cool with this thing where we get home, scruff up and go do horses.
The 70 class looked smaller than I expected, even the 80 looked small...
H was fab. All I really care about is that he goes and acts like a safe sofa. Jumping is a bonus. He was Mr Supercool! He was cautious at the very first fence of the day, a jump including plank near the café. Offered to jump it from a walk but I said no, and represented properly. After that he flew all rounds. Had just one down in the 80cm, but did well all day.
I have a video of the second class, the 75.
Met a fellow HHO'er, @Gamebird on her rather handsome ex racer, who seemed equally as chilled out as H.
A lovely, sunny morning. Home just after midday then went to the next town for a Thai massage with BF, followed by a trip to the next city for a shop at the major shopping centre, where 3 outfits were bought, then a date night! We had a meal, then watched Mission Impossible the Final Reckoning.
Back just in time to poo pick the fields as the light faded. BF is now totally cool with this thing where we get home, scruff up and go do horses.
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
I withdrew from Sunday's BD competition in the end - I realised on Saturday that a main road was closed all weekend and the diversion options were pretty unpalatable. Rather than spend most of my Sunday in a lorry (and Sammy's not the best traveller), I spent the day riding, doing some house admin, then going on a lovely walk to scatter Whisky dog's ashes.
Friday and Saturday were pretty good too, a lesson on Friday then cinema date with OH to see The Phoenician Scheme (highly recommended if you enjoy madcap Wes Anderson films!) then a nice hack on Saturday - Sammy is learning about mooching along with Pocholo and snacking, which is nice to see as he's not the most relaxing hack! Followed by curry with old Uni friends
Friday and Saturday were pretty good too, a lesson on Friday then cinema date with OH to see The Phoenician Scheme (highly recommended if you enjoy madcap Wes Anderson films!) then a nice hack on Saturday - Sammy is learning about mooching along with Pocholo and snacking, which is nice to see as he's not the most relaxing hack! Followed by curry with old Uni friends
Reacher
Dishonourable Member
Glad lots of people had successful outings or had fun at home.
Went to the local RC comp (it was a sort of XC but with knock-downable jumps), weather was windy and showers.
First jump was downhill, we slipped a little and knocked the jump down. I decided to treat it as a training round, I missed out 2nd which was downhill also and trotted through the wood and missed out 3rd which was on bare / greasy ground then emerged into the next field and put him into a SJ canter over 4th and managed to keep him at a sensible canter over the rest of the jumps which we jumped clear (5-12).
A shame about the slip and that we had to miss out 2 and 3 but keeping him at a sensible speed was a very good lesson for him, even though he let me know he wasn’t impressed! We have had issues with lack of brakes XC so I was very pleased with him.
Nice little day out, it’s only 15 minutes up the road after his long weekend the previous weekend.
Went to the local RC comp (it was a sort of XC but with knock-downable jumps), weather was windy and showers.
First jump was downhill, we slipped a little and knocked the jump down. I decided to treat it as a training round, I missed out 2nd which was downhill also and trotted through the wood and missed out 3rd which was on bare / greasy ground then emerged into the next field and put him into a SJ canter over 4th and managed to keep him at a sensible canter over the rest of the jumps which we jumped clear (5-12).
A shame about the slip and that we had to miss out 2 and 3 but keeping him at a sensible speed was a very good lesson for him, even though he let me know he wasn’t impressed! We have had issues with lack of brakes XC so I was very pleased with him.
Nice little day out, it’s only 15 minutes up the road after his long weekend the previous weekend.
SEL
Well-Known Member
We're not going to be asking the eventers to budge over & make room for a little one any time soon - 40cm high pipes were our downfall at the hunter trials. We could have stepped over it. Instead we refused twice then did a huge leap. Unfortunately having just about stayed on that the final fence was blue pipe and he wouldn't go near it. Never mind - from a training perspective it was a good outing but I need to buy pipe!
E-riders results came through yesterday and we got over 70% in a prelim! Huge jump for us. Scoresheet comments were spot on with 7/7.5 for trot work an 8 for the walk (which counted x2) and falling down in the canter marks - esp the transitions. But if we can keep the scores at the stuff we do well then hopefully the canter will come with time.
E-riders results came through yesterday and we got over 70% in a prelim! Huge jump for us. Scoresheet comments were spot on with 7/7.5 for trot work an 8 for the walk (which counted x2) and falling down in the canter marks - esp the transitions. But if we can keep the scores at the stuff we do well then hopefully the canter will come with time.
Reacher
Dishonourable Member
Good experience re the Hunter trials and excellent dressage score!
Compasses
Active Member
We are out to a dressage show (Intro and Prelim) at the weekend. Only use intro as a warm up but think we will move onto doing two prelims instead soon if I can get my canter leads sorted. We showjumped last Monday at an arena hire, it was my first time taking him out jumping anywhere bar home. He did brilliant, I was a bit wimpy, only did up to 70cm max (mostly between 50-60) but there was lots of brighly coloured fences and after having a stopper I am very wary! Luckily he did not stop (other than when I basically told him to) and only had one spook at a fence and pulled out of it, but I reckon he would have gone if I put my leg on more. In a couple weeks we have our first cross country hire planned then I’d hoped to do a small hunter trials and a small SJ comp. The warmup actually worries me more than the competition for jumping as he is quite horse shy, but I’m hoping I can ride braver in the dressage warm up this weekend as practice.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I've got a couple of weeks crammed with non horse stuff. That said, he's done 3 competitions in 3 weeks (Hunter trial, arena eventing, and SJ) with farm rides in-between so I don't suppose a bit of hacking locally will do him any harm.
WelshHoarder
Well-Known Member
I haven’t been around much as everyone had a quiet winter and we’ve been struggling for momentum with little Welshie (mainly because she still looks like a scruffy field potato with straggly bits of winter coat left so no point taking her showing!), but… not-so-baby-anymore Satin went out to her first dressage competition last weekend! We found a fantastic sharer last year who has been working so hard on Satin’s schooling since her winter break, so decided to take the plunge with sharer on board to see if we could get her between the boards, past the mirrors, and onto a surface for the first time in 2.5 years (we only have a grass school at home).
It turned out to be a massive success, a few wobbly green moments but she was so brave for a youngster in that environment for the first time, scored 61.36% with a few 7’s in there and came 4th in her class. Very, very pleased with how she’s coming on, from a real gangly baby we’re now getting glimpses of just what she might be capable of. Hopefully next time out her boy will pilot now he’s seen how chilled out she still is.
It turned out to be a massive success, a few wobbly green moments but she was so brave for a youngster in that environment for the first time, scored 61.36% with a few 7’s in there and came 4th in her class. Very, very pleased with how she’s coming on, from a real gangly baby we’re now getting glimpses of just what she might be capable of. Hopefully next time out her boy will pilot now he’s seen how chilled out she still is.
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AppyLover1996
Well-Known Member
SEL
Well-Known Member
Apart from reading her name as Satan (!) this was a fantastic update - she's beautiful
WelshHoarder
Well-Known Member
Aw, thank you - she’s come a long way from the gangly rising 3 impulse purchase I shared on here because no-one in real life would understand how excited I was by her!What a beautiful horse you have
WelshHoarder
Well-Known Member
Don’t worry, a friend always thinks she’s called Satan too, and it does get used if she’s naughty - but she’s such an angel it doesn’t get used very often! She’s grown up so much, I must find my original thread and update it properly