Hannah and I survived our first competition in 15 months!

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Hannah has been back in work now for 7 weeks and I have been building her work load up very gradually. She still has some remains of her 'Troy Tummy' but I think she is starting to muscle up a bit and is working quite well.

So, I took her to an unaffiliated at Myerscough to do the two Prelims, P7 and P18. Being my usual organised self I had not even ridden through (or looked at to be honest) the tests so was not sure what was coming next. Thank God for my husband reading for me
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We went in and did P18 first. She was a bit tense because it is a spooky arena, but she started to relax a bit and let me ride her. She went onto the forehand a few times which I was a bit slow to correct, but other than that I was really pleased with her. I was quite shocked when she came out with 4th place and 67.08% for it
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We went straight in to P7 because they were running a bit early, so again, thanks to Andy for reading for me as I just didn't have a clue where I was going. She did an ok test, but was stressy going into one of the canters because someone moved in the gallery (how dare they!) But I managed to keep her under control, and was even more shocked to discover she had achieved 70% for that one
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I was really pleased with how she travelled (she can be a bit iffy travelling and sweat up a lot) and how she loaded etc etc.

I am sorely tempted to affiliate her this week as my membership is still on going from Grace. The plan was to affiliate Han in the New Year, but after those results I am sorely tempted
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Hmph - the only thing that made me smile was the comment on my sheet - Must somehow get more calmness, but not an easy task! -
How appropriate!
Will try working her long and low as you said, hopefully the magnetic headpiece will arrive soon, and get some lessons again and see if we can improve somewhat!
 
When I asked her to work more through her back by stretching out, she just had this gorgeous movement coming from behind and she came a lot softer a steadier in the mouth then! It's definitely there though, I could feel potential bubbling out of her
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Well done - great results! Sorry I missed you both, but I was back home watching the appalling football by the time of your tests. Might as well get value out of your BD affliation fees and it will make Grace's time off go quicker!
 
Thanks Little_Mare and Hornby... she seemed to just come out and know her job last night, although she is a nosy madam and will try her hardest to shy at things if she gets the chance. For example, one rider whacked her horse twice with the whip as she was riding past us, and then every time I lifted my whip hand she just tucked her bottom under and ran. So I threw my whip at my husband and rode without it
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How did you do Hornby? Sorry we missed you
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How long into Hannah's pregnancy did you ride her for? Just trying to work out how long she had off
I've got a mare I am bringing back into work but she has had 4 foals so going to take some time to get her fit and feels like its going to take months. I'm trying to do some steady walking out with her, but she's so pleased to be back in work she's bouncing around everywhere
 
I rode her until September which was 6 months into it (competed til August) and just let her tell me when she had had enough... which she did. She suddenly wasn't as willing and that was when the work completely stopped.

She weaned Troy at the beginning of August, and started gentle hacking when she came back into work. She has only been in what I would call 'proper' work the past two and a half weeks as I have started asking for more collection etc etc whereas I was working her longer to start off with.

Han still has her 'Troy Tummy' a bit, but I have finally managed to get her weight on and hopefully now she is working a bit more we can start toning up her pregnant tummy
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It's strange because from the back she still looks a bit under condition to me as her hips are really sticking out as is her last rib. But from the side her belly still has that dropped effect
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When I bought my mare she'd had two foals and been out of work for a few years. Even though she'd been empty for over a year she still had a real pregnant belly! It took a lot to get rid of it but we managed it.

Now she is 5 months pregnant and looks about 8 months as the belly has suddenly re-appeared! This time however, I don't mind
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I think once they have a foal it's a job to regain the tauntest of tummys again, just like people I guess
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Well done - what great results!

Affiliate her now - may as well - it will give you longer to get her qualified for the summer regionals!
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So I threw my whip at my husband and rode without it


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Im suprised he read you the test after that.
Well done, I bet it feels great to be back out there with Hannah. Hows Grace getting on?
 
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