First Feb Weekend Plans

[SaddlePsych'D]

Haven't seen a thread yet so thought I'd start one. What's everyone up to this weekend?

The sun has started making a few appearances here so there's a taste of Spring, although another cold snap next week. I've been up at share horse's yard today lending a hand with some extra jobs. Really enjoyed giving him a good groom and hoping I'm going to be taught how to clip him soon to get him looking extra smart. He always looks smart to me anyway.

Had a ride in the school. Still working on our straightness in circles. Not consistent but we're getting the majority of the circles with his head pointing the right way. For some reason the part of the circle in the school corners seems to lose it then we get it back when we leave the track again. The forwards needs more work. I think I will do more transitions tomorrow to get these snappy and him more engaged. Our right rein is definitely weaker although getting better. On the left the forward feels easier, like he is flowing and carrying me but the right at times feels 'stuffy'. I plan to have another lesson very soon to check in on this. I hope we have made the progress I think we have, slight as it is!

Back in the school again tomorrow. Hacking last week objectively fine until I lost my nerve for no real reason, got off, and beat myself up about it the rest of the way back to the yard. So I asked just to school this week to take the pressure off. I know I can (and have!) done the hacking, overcome the nerves and enjoyed, I just want to take the pressure off and enjoy the time with share horse instead of worrying!

 

[McFluff]

First comp of 2023 on Sunday. Thankfully the wind is forecast to drop by then. Riding club dressage so will be nice to catch up with friends and just get out again.

Sounds like you are making great progress SPD - progress feels slow at the time, but remember to look back and you’ll see how far you’ve come. My circles can still get sucked out towards the school walls - if this happens smaller circles away from the edges help.

 

[Michen]

Trail riding and skiing!! And truck shopping.

 

[Pippity]

Further (but distinctly less epic) New Zealand horsey adventures!

I've been to a Parelli trekking centre, which further cemented my belief that Parelli practitioners frequently mean well but are perhaps not the greatest horsepeople. Horses were ridden in headcollars, so at least their mouths weren't being yanked on by beginners, but they were... Well, I wouldn't let my horse be used there. However, always interesting to see new ways of doing things.

And this morning, I went tölting on the beach, on a lovely little Icelandic horse called Glaumur.



I've always wanted to try a tölt, so decided to take advantage of the Icelandic trekking centre just outside Christchurch. It was great fun, and Glaumur certainly seemed to enjoy himself! His ears were so relaxed that they were flopping around whenever he moved his head.

 

[Red-1]

Swimming in a cold lake this morning.

I think today we will be on the arena practicing what we learned in our lesson with Joe Midgely on Thursday. I could already feel the benefits out hacking yesterday.

Sunday will be a longer hack, over the two canal bridges. I would love to have Mr Red bring the box so we could extend our range further but, when I mentioned it last week, he did the eye roll and I had a straight refusal.

Usually by this time of year I would be doing arena hires and clinics, ready to start competing, but I have realised that I have never really bottomed BH's lower layer of schooling. He is quite docile and fun so I sort of just tacked up and went ridin' on the beach, jumpin' the jumps, campin' all over... I intend to knuckle down at home for a while and do the actual work for a better ride later on.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Jumping lesson this morning and off to Bordeaux tomorrow to watch the international jumping (and a wander around the stalls there... I'll try not to spend too much!).

 

[blood_magik]

Cas had a lesson yesterday - feeling like we’re really starting to get to grips with each other now, plus it was nice to be able to get the boards out instead of having to work in/around the jumps for a change



The others will be having a quiet week due to dental work/hock injections/saddles needing re-flocked.

 

[Cloball]

Went for our first hack in company today, tried to chase a cyclist other than that foot perfect

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

First comp of 2023 on Sunday. Thankfully the wind is forecast to drop by then. Riding club dressage so will be nice to catch up with friends and just get out again.

Sounds like you are making great progress SPD - progress feels slow at the time, but remember to look back and you’ll see how far you’ve come. My circles can still get sucked out towards the school walls - if this happens smaller circles away from the edges help.

Good luck for tomorrow!

OH came to video my session today. I was excited to watch the videos back then on seeing them thought 'well, it's good to have some 'before' video!' We did a few strides of canter on one circle on our better rein, just because the trot felt good and it seemed like a good moment.

Went for our first hack in company today, tried to chase a cyclist other than that foot perfect

Better than running away I guess?!

Further (but distinctly less epic) New Zealand horsey adventures!

I've been to a Parelli trekking centre, which further cemented my belief that Parelli practitioners frequently mean well but are perhaps not the greatest horsepeople. Horses were ridden in headcollars, so at least their mouths weren't being yanked on by beginners, but they were... Well, I wouldn't let my horse be used there. However, always interesting to see new ways of doing things.

And this morning, I went tölting on the beach, on a lovely little Icelandic horse called Glaumur.

View attachment 107163

I've always wanted to try a tölt, so decided to take advantage of the Icelandic trekking centre just outside Christchurch. It was great fun, and Glaumur certainly seemed to enjoy himself! His ears were so relaxed that they were flopping around whenever he moved his head.

This just looks so epic. What an adventure!

 

[Bernster]

Had a really good day at bury farm. The warm up was a bit hairy with lots of wizzy ponies and Bertie felt a bit spicy but he kept a lid on it. Couldn’t really get into any kind of rhythm in the jump warm up and felt less confident the more I did. Fortunately it all came together much better in the arena. Really nice flowing course. First half was not so good, got a few dodgy strides, but overall much better. I didn’t ride like a total idiot and was able to ride more quietly. managed to work on a lot of things I wanted to work on. Next up, dealing with my awful hands as I need to ride softer and with a more forward hand! But it’s all going in the right direction.

No decent photos so here’s one of our dodgy ones!

 

[Cloball]

We did some new things (as a pair), discovered she understands most of the concept of lunging. Upward transitions a bit of a rush, downward transitions reluctant. We practised standing still so I can get on, and we investigated all the new things in the school.

 

[J&S]

Gosh Bernster, he looks pretty keen, reckon you could go a bit higher!! Glad it went well.

 

[oldie48]

I haven't posted anything recently as it's been frozen solid or I've been coughing my guts up with a respiratory virus (it has been pretty vile!) and I have felt too ill to school. However, I did a paired pole work clinic this morning, beautiful weather and some really interesting tasks which tested me and my control of the shoulders. We finished on cantering 20m figures of eight with the change of rein over three canter poles on the diagonal. I am thrilled to say that Mr D did beautiful changes without bumping me too much up the rear although it was little to do with my competence as a rider as I was a complete passenger! He is such a clever chap. I loved the session but came home totally knackered!

 

[Bernster]

Gosh Bernster, he looks pretty keen, reckon you could go a bit higher!! Glad it went well.

Haha yes, I hope if we ever do go higher he won’t over jump so much. That way I won’t notice the difference !

 

[Cherryblossom]

Yesterday I took Poppy to a saddler and got the most gorgeous new (to me) saddle! I’ve struggled to get a well fitting saddle in NI, and after a few dubious fittings, the difference with this was was immense!
I’d thought about doing dressage today, but a local place had go as you please after their jump cross competition so we headed there for our first go at XC together. Poppy did me absolutely proud. I realised she was going to enjoy it when I tried to get on her from a step and she jumped up it instead and then stood looking at me like “what now?”
We didn’t try too much but she had a blast and was much more mature than her stage of training would suggest.
I then packed Bubbles up with the kids and went for an adventure in some wee woods nearby!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Trail riding and skiing!! And truck shopping.

View attachment 107162

Just admired your very impressive video of you riding Bog on the snowy trail on insta… and there was me having trouble getting my horse to walk over a wet patch (as in, water -not un-set) of concrete this evening.

 

[Michen]

Haha it was pretty hairy! You can’t appreciate the sheer drop on the right side from the photos and video but… my horse is great

But don’t be fooled, I still have to work hard to convince him about the odd rock or leaf…

Video for anyone interested.

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

youtube.com

 

[oldie48]

Here's me and Mr D in our pole work clinic. I rarely have any pics but owner's daughter took it.