ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
That's great news AE, at least you did the event after all the build up and Lottie was fab, and you are on your way home now. Thanks for the update, it's a relief things are all OK.
First weekend in April plans
- Thread starter CanteringCarrot
- Start date
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
While the site seems to be cooperating - here are a couple of pics x
The Fuzzy Furry
Living in 🦄 🦄 land
Oh fabulous update on the event, well done ? cracking photos ?
Not so good with transport tho ?
Not so good with transport tho ?
nikicb
Well-Known Member
So pleased for you AE - you deserve success with Lottie, it's been a long road for you with Amber, Toby et al. Looking forward to a full report when the forum is playing nicely again. 
x
xmaya2008
Well-Known Member
I stole my husband’s coblet for a quick jump at arena hire today. ‘Twas fun - I haven’t jumped anything of a sensible size in ages. I am now planning on sneakily stealing him every Sunday ?. My son jumped our older jumping pony round the same course - feel like stealing that one back occasionally too!
3yo was a superstar out hacking with my 7yo daughter. She kept her ears swivelled to check on her, and cantered steadily without worrying if she was being left behind. She is speedier with my son, so is definitely adapting to her rider. I guess it is true - First Ponies are born, not trained!
3yo was a superstar out hacking with my 7yo daughter. She kept her ears swivelled to check on her, and cantered steadily without worrying if she was being left behind. She is speedier with my son, so is definitely adapting to her rider. I guess it is true - First Ponies are born, not trained!
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Fabulous!!!
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
Fin got his long ride in. We did about 17K, but didn't reach the Glengoyne Distillery as we had a lot of navigation faff. Tried to take a shortcut on a track that passes through a series of fields, but with horse gates leading to each successive field. It's a known foot/bridle path. Just before the third field gate, I noticed a couple cows in the field. As we stopped, dithered, and stared at the map, a herd of about thirty young cows thundered past the gate and galloped around excitedly. Nope, nope, and some more nope. I spun the pony around, and we took a longer, but far safer, route to the West Highland Way.
Other than that, the day went really well. The pony was perfect.
I learned this morning that my yard friends had taken their horse on a similar route, but starting from the other side. They found themselves in that very same field with the herd of young cattle charging towards them. They had to shout and wave at the cows and hang onto their horse for dear life, while making evasive manuevers towards the gate. It sounded harrowing. They've kept their horse at the yard for years and used that track many times. Apparently it isn't that uncommon to come across a small herd of old, placid Highland cows in aforesaid field, but they were surprised to find a large herd of excitable youngsters.
Other than that, the day went really well. The pony was perfect.
I learned this morning that my yard friends had taken their horse on a similar route, but starting from the other side. They found themselves in that very same field with the herd of young cattle charging towards them. They had to shout and wave at the cows and hang onto their horse for dear life, while making evasive manuevers towards the gate. It sounded harrowing. They've kept their horse at the yard for years and used that track many times. Apparently it isn't that uncommon to come across a small herd of old, placid Highland cows in aforesaid field, but they were surprised to find a large herd of excitable youngsters.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Your seat is getting better and better, she really suits you. We'll done with the rehab getting her to this today. Brilliant.
.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Amazing AE Well done.
I am up the mountains skiing, back to pony life tomorrow but only because my ankle screws are rubbing raw on my ski boots ?
Fabs pics from everyone!
I am up the mountains skiing, back to pony life tomorrow but only because my ankle screws are rubbing raw on my ski boots ?
Fabs pics from everyone!
scats
Well-Known Member
Early morning road hack today with a very keen Millie.
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Event sounds great AE but shame about the lorry. Sounds like it was on the return journey which I suppose is something positive about that!
6.15 start but not the day I had hoped for ? We had a high speed run out at fence 2. Landed on my arse and B headed off back to the lorry park. Reunited and I was allowed to go round which was really good of them as I was the last on course and they needed to get the next class ready. Did a pick n mix of fences and basically hacked around. So today was a learning day. I need to re assess but I’m feeling ok about it and already making plans.
I’m hoping it’s a fairly easy fix as I got my timings wrong, despite the early start, and didn’t do enough warm up so he wasn’t settled by the time we headed off. Fence 2 was causing lots of issues as it’s leaving the warm up area. More homework for us…
The people there were lovely (munstead) and I left with my confidence still intact, thx to them letting us get round.
6.15 start but not the day I had hoped for ? We had a high speed run out at fence 2. Landed on my arse and B headed off back to the lorry park. Reunited and I was allowed to go round which was really good of them as I was the last on course and they needed to get the next class ready. Did a pick n mix of fences and basically hacked around. So today was a learning day. I need to re assess but I’m feeling ok about it and already making plans.
I’m hoping it’s a fairly easy fix as I got my timings wrong, despite the early start, and didn’t do enough warm up so he wasn’t settled by the time we headed off. Fence 2 was causing lots of issues as it’s leaving the warm up area. More homework for us…
The people there were lovely (munstead) and I left with my confidence still intact, thx to them letting us get round.
Attachments
The Fuzzy Furry
Living in 🦄 🦄 land
Bernster, well done for getting back on and popping him round. They are indeed very helpful at all events when faced with different mishaps, nice pic x
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Well done Bernster. Sounds like a very useful outing. Great pic x
scats
Well-Known Member
Can’t wait to hear all about your first event with Lottie! I was thinking about you yesterday, wondering how it was going.
Super pictures x
Chippers1
Well-Known Member
Buzz was an absolute star on the hunt ride (glad I took him in a pelham though!) he's a bit slower than everyone else but he never tried to go faster to keep up with his friends, always kept at the pace I wanted him at and didn't care about horses cantering past him either. He brings me so much joy did a couple of little jumps but I haven't had a chance to practice xc style with a pelham yet so didn't want to jump anything too big!
did a couple of little jumps but I haven't had a chance to practice xc style with a pelham yet so didn't want to jump anything too big!
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Never one to be defeated where I can throw time and effort at an issue - I’ve booked course hire at munstead on Friday with an instructor, to work on our warm up, move off and getting round a course hopefully in one piece! Fortunately not too stiff after yesterday’s, ahem, speed dismount, and limbs all seem to be in reasonable working order!
TheMule
Well-Known Member
I didnt make it to a show but I did have a lot of fun riding in the fields instead
The mule is just coming back into work following her winter break
The mule is just coming back into work following her winter break
iknowmyvalue
Well-Known Member
Dressage lesson on Thursday was fab. Even had a little play with the starts of medium trot/canter! Very happy with how much softer and more rideable he is now.
XC lesson today was very useful. New instructor and I liked her approach. Pepsi was incredibly bold and keen (a bit too keen!). Did ditches, steps, water, trakheners with no issues at all. Plus a skinny log very like the one he ran out at last weekend, which he flew like everything else.
We worked out that the sideways happens when I don’t ride him forwards enough or I get too handsy with him, which is hard when he tends to either go on the spot or too fast, then lock on and launch himself the last few strides. Going to have a little play with bit/noseband combos to see if we can get him a bit happier with me applying some brakes. Instructor thinks this is how he’s been allowed to go, and it’s not going to be a quick fix. Luckily he’s bold and athletic enough to go that way without too many problems. But we will be chipping away at it, and hopefully we will get on top of it like we have SJ ??
XC lesson today was very useful. New instructor and I liked her approach. Pepsi was incredibly bold and keen (a bit too keen!). Did ditches, steps, water, trakheners with no issues at all. Plus a skinny log very like the one he ran out at last weekend, which he flew like everything else.
We worked out that the sideways happens when I don’t ride him forwards enough or I get too handsy with him, which is hard when he tends to either go on the spot or too fast, then lock on and launch himself the last few strides. Going to have a little play with bit/noseband combos to see if we can get him a bit happier with me applying some brakes. Instructor thinks this is how he’s been allowed to go, and it’s not going to be a quick fix. Luckily he’s bold and athletic enough to go that way without too many problems. But we will be chipping away at it, and hopefully we will get on top of it like we have SJ ??
nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Bit late but better than never!
Just a lovely chilly hack and a lovely chilled schooling session for us!
Just a lovely chilly hack and a lovely chilled schooling session for us!
sheep
Well-Known Member
Thought I’d pop in here with a quick update on this big eejit, not interesting enough to start a new thread and I’d mentioned it in here previously!
So we went to the vets today. He is slightly lame still but has improved a little bit - we’ve been cold hosing, ice booting & arc equine-ing religiously so hopefully those bits are helping.
The short answer is he has some inflammation in the fetlock, vet thinks it probably has been caused by messing about in the field - he pulled a shoe a few weeks ago and we think it is probably linked to that.
She wasn’t hugely concerned which is good, so our plan is continue as we have been for another two weeks - she’s happy for him to go out in field providing he’s sensible (he normally is…) and then get on board, hopefully he will be ready to slowly come back into work. If he’s not 100% then we are to rest again, if after 4 weeks (from today) we aren’t any further on then we will go back to dig a little deeper. X-rays looked pretty good and vet happy with foot balance etc, so there’s another positive.
So keep your fingers crossed for the Big Unit!!!
So we went to the vets today. He is slightly lame still but has improved a little bit - we’ve been cold hosing, ice booting & arc equine-ing religiously so hopefully those bits are helping.
The short answer is he has some inflammation in the fetlock, vet thinks it probably has been caused by messing about in the field - he pulled a shoe a few weeks ago and we think it is probably linked to that.
She wasn’t hugely concerned which is good, so our plan is continue as we have been for another two weeks - she’s happy for him to go out in field providing he’s sensible (he normally is…) and then get on board, hopefully he will be ready to slowly come back into work. If he’s not 100% then we are to rest again, if after 4 weeks (from today) we aren’t any further on then we will go back to dig a little deeper. X-rays looked pretty good and vet happy with foot balance etc, so there’s another positive.
So keep your fingers crossed for the Big Unit!!!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Hope all ok soon- so stressful when they have those minor niggles. It does sound a bit like how Bear's presented which turned out to be a tiny tiny "lifting" of the suspensory branch" aka minor soft tissue. Annoying but not the end of the world! Defo get assessed under saddle as his lameness could only be seen with the extra weight of the rider
sheep
Well-Known Member
Every time I try and post here the page reloads… so annoying! And yes, I remember the stuff you went through with your boy - you’re flying now and he looks absolutely fantastic!
Absolutely, if we are still in the same position in a couple of weeks then I will definitely push for ridden assessment and more investigation into possibility of soft tissue issues. We are lucky that our vet has fantastic facilities so if we need to dig into it more, we can easily do that.
Thank god for the lighter evenings, gives us great opportunities to get out hacking more once he’s ready for it.
I am seriously missing riding though - my back aches and my evenings are too long ?
Michen
Well-Known Member
Fingers crossed for something super simple! X
The Fuzzy Furry
Living in 🦄 🦄 land
Sheep, hope he continues to improve x
Just back from a blooming good lesson, mix of flat and jump, B very attentive for much of it. Lots of homework to do.... plenty of opening me up and getting a better left bend included.
Super coach, will def book again, and found out that she's coaching at upcoming rc xc clinic soon that I'm booked into ?
Just back from a blooming good lesson, mix of flat and jump, B very attentive for much of it. Lots of homework to do.... plenty of opening me up and getting a better left bend included.
Super coach, will def book again, and found out that she's coaching at upcoming rc xc clinic soon that I'm booked into ?
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
I was released from Covid quarantine on Saturday! Did some light schooling and a walk on the weekend. Yesterday's ride was really great. He is carrying himself in all gears within the canter so wonderfully. The canter pirouette's are really starting to fall into place, and our flying changes have improved due our pirouette work. It just really put things together for him and I found an exercise that just suited us and what we needed to address.
Today we just did some free lunging and a handwalk, but we also practiced some of our inhand stuff and got a few steps of piaffe! I've been slowly building up to this, and once he really figures it out I'm sure he'll be thrilled to show off this new party trick ? he was quite pleased with himself when he figured out the Spanish walk (but isn't every walk a Spanish walk when you're a Spanish horse? Ba dum tss). He really enjoys in hand and liberty work. He's an intelligent and attentive type so I think he likes the different types of interactions and training.
So all in all, a good weekend and most importantly...freedom!
Today we just did some free lunging and a handwalk, but we also practiced some of our inhand stuff and got a few steps of piaffe! I've been slowly building up to this, and once he really figures it out I'm sure he'll be thrilled to show off this new party trick ? he was quite pleased with himself when he figured out the Spanish walk (but isn't every walk a Spanish walk when you're a Spanish horse? Ba dum tss). He really enjoys in hand and liberty work. He's an intelligent and attentive type so I think he likes the different types of interactions and training.
So all in all, a good weekend and most importantly...freedom!
Chippers1
Well-Known Member
I'm still trying to perfect the bitting issue i'm having, so yesterday tried in his normal snaffle but with a flash instead (as suggested by a knowledgeable co-worker) and he was having none of it, very very slow and backwards! Tried popping some small jumps but had no power bless him back to the pelham and to reins!
back to the pelham and to reins!Widgeon
Well-Known Member
Look fantastic - what amazing photos! Shame you didn't make it to the distillery....I am fully hoping / expecting that when you do you'll be having a quick one for the road before heading home?! I also dislike young cows - we have Highlands up on the moors but they're super docile and just watch you go past. The young cattle down in the farming areas are a pain though, you can never tell from the gate a) whether they're going to be there or not, and b) whether they're going to be in a good mood or a "nosey yobs with traffic cones" sort of a mood.
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
AE - that sounds very stressful but well done on the good result!
Sheep - I hope he keeps improving.
After our failed attempt to go to training late last week, we schooled on Saturday and hacked Sunday. He felt fresh schooling but did some good work and no naps - yay! Sitting trot and baby lateral work to help him find his balance seems to be helping. I think the herd had a party on Saturday night as Chilli was very sleepy on Sunday, and Pocholo was found in the woods next the their field...he's always been a Houdini but until a couple of months ago he'd been very well behaved on our current yard so I thought he was finally growing up at 17. Clearly his sense of humour is as good as ever!
Yesterday my trainer came over for a lesson and Chilli was great - fresh to begin with but we finally achieved our mini-Holy Grail of boring trot, i.e. slow, knees close to the ground, listening to me and almost relaxed at times. Canter was more challenging as he pushes against my leg once he gets hot-headed, resulting in him pushing his quarters out and striking off on the wrong leg if we start canter when he's carrying (mental) tension. We got some ok canter on both reins by the end and it will come with more work.
Here's a video of his boring trot!
On another note - the forum is driving me (and I assume everyone else?) mad at the moment. It constantly re-loads if I'm on my phone, and is very slow and juddery when adding a post from my laptop. Grr.
Sheep - I hope he keeps improving.
After our failed attempt to go to training late last week, we schooled on Saturday and hacked Sunday. He felt fresh schooling but did some good work and no naps - yay! Sitting trot and baby lateral work to help him find his balance seems to be helping. I think the herd had a party on Saturday night as Chilli was very sleepy on Sunday, and Pocholo was found in the woods next the their field...he's always been a Houdini but until a couple of months ago he'd been very well behaved on our current yard so I thought he was finally growing up at 17. Clearly his sense of humour is as good as ever!
Yesterday my trainer came over for a lesson and Chilli was great - fresh to begin with but we finally achieved our mini-Holy Grail of boring trot, i.e. slow, knees close to the ground, listening to me and almost relaxed at times. Canter was more challenging as he pushes against my leg once he gets hot-headed, resulting in him pushing his quarters out and striking off on the wrong leg if we start canter when he's carrying (mental) tension. We got some ok canter on both reins by the end and it will come with more work.
Here's a video of his boring trot!
On another note - the forum is driving me (and I assume everyone else?) mad at the moment. It constantly re-loads if I'm on my phone, and is very slow and juddery when adding a post from my laptop. Grr.
nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Amazing pics!!!!
Squeak
Well-Known Member
I'm still trying to perfect the bitting issue i'm having, so yesterday tried in his normal snaffle but with a flash instead (as suggested by a knowledgeable co-worker) and he was having none of it, very very slow and backwards! Tried popping some small jumps but had no power bless him
I've missed your history on this but have you tried a drop or grackle instead? The flash would be more harsh than both of those.