First 2020 weekend plans!

Thanks all, appreciate the thoughts. Today is "D Day", the weather is going to make things incredibly volatile, unfortunately we appear to have fire bugs going around lighting fires at night (especially near the community horse paddocks o_O). All roads into the NPs have been closed, so hopefully that negates any human ignitions.
 
Stressful day today, but no new fires started in our territory. Unfortunately there are 2-3 enormous fires encroaching on us slowly. They're so big they are creating their own thunderstorm (and dry lightning), pyrocumulonimbus cloud can be seen in the photo below. Those aren't storm clouds, they are smoke plumes following the wind change into our direction. We reached a record high of 44C o_O today, it's still 38C at 8:30pm. Tomorrow will be cooler, but the change will push the fires in our direction... :oops: We're still so much better off than so many other places who were overrun today :(
 

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On no, AE, did you have time to go back for it? I went to a camp at Somerford some years ago and realised that I'd brought the wrong saddle, thank goodness my kind OH drove up with it but I do remember that horrible sick feeling!
Northern, stay safe. the situation is just awful for all of you, so frightening and unpredictable!
Rose is home, went nicely yesterday and hacked out politely this morning. Fatty was very pleased to see her but now knows enough to keep a respectful distance from Milady so he didn't get booted!
 
Oh no, AE, did someone lend you one?

We have done our two small outings. On Friday we hired a little indoor arena (40 X 25), I was only on her back for 20 minutes and 10 of that was in walk! But, I insisted on her attention and somehow ended up doing a lot of lateral work in walk, she has remembered leg yield, shoulder in, travers and half pass at walk, and a bit of leg yield, shoulder in and traverse at trot, but not much.

Today it was a huge arena. Only on her for 25 minutes, a long walk warm up, then trot and a good old canter. Because we did more active work we used the whole outside of the arena (which is bigger than most outdoor ones - 60 X 40!) so mainly in straight lies. Today was the first time she had a slight quickening of breath, and she did not sweat, but did feel warm when we finished (not clipped).

Best of all, she loaded perfectly every time, stood, travelled, let me tack up, offloaded, mounted, worked and was simply lovely company. Not bad for one who has done nothing for 3 months!

I hope it stays safe for you Northern, I donated to the Celeste Barber FB collection. Someone said she intended to raise $30,000 but has achieved over $20,000,000!!!!
 
Ample Prosecco said:
:p:p:p

No I did not have time to go and get it. I am an hour away from Somerford. Katie and Dolly rode so it was not a totally wasted day. It was my first trip out involving 2 yards and the lorry and clearly I need to be more organised and have check-lists!
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Not tempted by a bareback lesson? :p

In other news, this really strange wet stuff came out of some clouds today. A piddly amount, but an amount nonetheless! Keep sending that rain :eek:
 
@Northern are people actually starting additional fires? Other than the indigenous methods of fire control, of course. It's crazy. The photo is beautiful. I hope you stay fire free.

I had a lovely couple of days of lessons. We worked again on the half pass with the big lad today; it's getting there, I just need to be more precise. With the little cob we had a little jump, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
 
DressageCob said:
@Northern are people actually starting additional fires? Other than the indigenous methods of fire control, of course. It's crazy. The photo is beautiful. I hope you stay fire free.
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We have had several arsonists start fires in my city, the worst was on Saturday morning when a 20 year old set a fire at some horse paddocks not far from me (not mine thankfully). They were on it quicksmart thanks to someone driving past (at 2am!), and managed to put it out before the day really heated up. They nabbed the guy, but they usually just get a slap on the wrist. During the last few days there have been several more suspicious house and grass fires too. Cannot fathom what goes through their minds...
 
Northern said:
We have had several arsonists start fires in my city, the worst was on Saturday morning when a 20 year old set a fire at some horse paddocks not far from me (not mine thankfully). They were on it quicksmart thanks to someone driving past (at 2am!), and managed to put it out before the day really heated up. They nabbed the guy, but they usually just get a slap on the wrist. During the last few days there have been several more suspicious house and grass fires too. Cannot fathom what goes through their minds...
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If he was caught by police he should be grateful. I wouldn’t blame locals if they undertook their own form of justice given the situation.
 
little_critter said:
If he was caught by police he should be grateful. I wouldn’t blame locals if they undertook their own form of justice given the situation.
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Too right. I actually think they should be sent to the front line with the firefighters, and then to clean up all the carcasses and help the people who have lost everything. Better than a court hearing and good behaviour bond...
 
A-hunting we will go. Fabulous day out drag hunting - ground was very good in the circs (heathland fortunately) and F thoroughly approved. We practised more 'ugly jumping' i.e. me adopting all manner of horrid defensive positions but at least trying not to sock him in the mouth (which mainly involves throwing the reins away) - not elegant and I really need to trust him more, but hey ho we are still both in one piece and he was looking very sprightly last night tucked up in his stable.

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Fab Bernster. I do a lot of ugly jumping - I also drop the reins when she over-jumps to try and not hurt her but I do need to find a better way!
 
*Waves* hello everyone, a late supplementary entry...

You know I said above that did the Friday and Sunday arena hires as I wanted to do our first clinic with a new trainer in a new arena, with a horse who had been nowhere for 3 months? You know I had done nothing for 3 months because mum has been ill? Well...

Yesterday was the clinic. Sadly, yesterday mum had a crisis, and with the clinic at 4.30, I only finished helping mum at 2.00, having not had a shower, no lunch, head a shed, clinic venue an hour away, lorry not packed, horse turned out....

Mr Red said to cancel the lesson. I blooming well refused! I didn't know if I was going to be late. I don't know if I was going to arrive just to walk in and say how exhausted I felt and walk out again, but I was blooming well going to go.

Well... I was on time and... It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. My horse went amazingly well the trainer was amazing, I went in not feeling particularly competent OR confident. I finished on top of the world! My horse went amazingly. Trainer says she is working to come out at Elementary. I actually felt like I could ride!

Horses are amazing. Finn let me join her in a wonderful, secret arrangement between ourselves. Exchange of power and energy.

The trainer was amazing too, all about the subtlety and helping the horse be happy and helping her to be set up to succeed. So confidence giving.

From zero to cloud 9. With many thanks to Tori Peter and long may I have lessons with her!
 
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