Feels like Autumn Weekend Plans

[Chiffy]

Just a little follow on about our weekend at Chillingham Youth Championships. A great experience for both my granddaughters. Snr Chiffet just turned 14 went really well finishing on her dressage score. It didn’t give her an individual place though, the standard was high and although as consistent as usual, th deressage judge wasn’t particularly impressed with Midnight! Team Scotland came 6th in the 90 class.
However, huge excitement next day when Jnr Chiffet as the youngest competitor, just turned 12 the day before, exceeded all expectations in the dressage, a first time in a long arena, then posted a double clear in the time to come 10th individually and Team Scotland WON! the 80 Championship!
All an amazing experience and worth the long trek, eventually home at 11 pm last night.

 

[humblepie]

I love all the different things this thread covers and particularly fun club. Congratulations to everyone on competition results and days out.

We sneaked a couple of top 5 placing at the British Show Horse National championship show.

 

[J_sarahd]

I actually did something exciting and horsey this weekend!

I took my share horse out for a little spin around the 60cm show jumping at his owner’s riding club. It was my first competition in 2 and a half years! And his first competitive show jumping round in 4 years!! He was absolutely mega and we ended up coming first. We are now planning on taking him to the hunter trial there in a few weeks so taking him cross country schooling this week.

Why does 60cm look huuuuge when you’ve been out of the game for so long? To think I used to pop round 90cm on a 13.2

It was a little bittersweet as I so wish it was Nova I was getting those clears and rosettes with and I feel guilty for enjoying another horse. But I know that’s completely natural and normal to feel.

 

[Chippers1]

I was away last week but this weekend ended up being very horsey! Buzz had a week off whilst I was away then he had a short hack Friday and an xc lesson on Sat. He was an absolute star the last time I was there he felt a bit flat and unenthusiastic and I was worried about him but had none of that this time! He was forward and fun and really felt like he was enjoying himself which was so nice. He even did one of his little excited squeals so I know he was having fun!
A couple of photos, we even did some slightly bigger jumps which was great as he really felt so good.



Then on Sunday we boxed to ride around some local woods and I thought he may be feeling it a bit after Saturday but yet again he proved me wrong and felt like he was really enjoying himself, marching out at the front and keeping up with some fast canters. It's so nice to have him feeling great again

 

[Michen]

This was last weekend but I love this photo of Beau, winning both tests. He’s such a big soft horse and tries so, so hard. He’s also really very hot so it is tricky keeping him relaxed in a test!

 

[Bernster]

No pics but we had a lovely day out to cholsey on Sunday. It felt like a last hurrah to summer - warm, dry, peaceful, open countryside all around. Bliss. Both boys were great (my friend rode Bertie I rode Finn). Finn felt a bit careful on his feet in a few places where the ground was harder and a bit stony (he’s barefoot) so that’s one thing for me to watch out for but we did the mainly off road grass ride. Both of them are fitter than I thought and coped really well with a longer ride and plenty of hills. I’ve lost my riding mojo a bit but they are on exercise livery so the yard is doing a grand job of keeping them in regular work.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Showjumping went well with Enormosaurus on Sunday.
The warm up was a bit tense. Well that might be a bit of an understatement... The warm up was in a large indoor that was very echo-y. I was actually quite proud that Enormosaurus went in and all the way round it without issue, but then there was a horse with overreach boots that made a lot of noise when cantering and she exploded. Massive buck straight out of walk. Luckily, it was just the one buck at a time, but we've learnt that noisy indoors are not her thing. I ride her in the indoor at home, but it's open at both ends and the sides, a lot less noise.
Enormosaurus was however really relaxed for the round itself (outdoors) whereas the two youngsters my instructor took had a bit of a meltdown at the speakers. We knocked one pole because apparently I broke her flow (she landed disunited and I hesitated about dropping back to trot to get the correct lead). My instructor keeps telling me to not go so slow with her. The thing is, it doesn't feel that slow to me (I'm normally a pony rider) so I'm going to have to work on it. But so pleased with Enormosaurus, we're aiming for 85cm next month.

 

[catembi]

Well, Saturday schooling at home we were feeling a bit erratic due to being in season. I sat a few really big spooks courtesy of my new saddle, sat a particularly giant one & then got well & truly bucked off. Got back on & carried on. Hacking with a friend on her horses later was uneventful. Boxed to a different friend on Sunday to hack out in company & that too was uneventful.

We have been very, very tricky this week & I am suspecting ovaries/something hormonal. She is still in season today & is very cross to tack up and ride. The vet is coming tomorrow to take a look. There is no point in thinking that she's being difficult & trying to take a hard line with her if she is in fact uncomfortable. We will see. I would rather give her the benefit of the doubt & see if something is amiss.

 

[blood_magik]

Jack had a successful outing - loaded like a dream, behaved himself in the warmup and did two decent tests for 66.91 and 67.19 in our first affiliated novices.

So two sheets down, just one more to get, which we should manage this weekend

My kittens arrived Saturday night and are just the most adorable little balls of fluff

 

[Cloball]

@blood_magik you can not post about adorable kittens without pics!

 

[blood_magik]

As requested
Oreo and Smokey. They join Milan and Paris, who were equally as adorable when they arrived back in June

 

[Jeni the dragon]

What an incredible place to visit!