Heatwave weekend plans?

SEL

SEL

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Can be summed up in one word for me "CANCELLED" :rolleyes: Relieved to not be driving in this (no aircon and I worry about overheating the neds) but also hugely disappointed as I was very much looking forward to a weekend of dressage. Fortunately our riding club were keeping a close eye on the forecast and cancelled both events for welfare reasons earlier in the week. I've got a couple of low-level championships in August and this weekend was supposed to be a big training session and instead I hand walked the wonky one and came home already dripping.

The hooligan had a very robust physio session yesterday so is having a day off. Until the end of May I was religiously getting him up hills every fortnight with a lot of trot and canter - he was super fit and evenly muscled. Pulled back on that because of the ground and he's now getting a bit one-sided which the physio and I believe is always going to be a slight issue from his injury 18 months ago. He HAS to work his weaker leg trotting and cantering up hills but it looks like on the flat I'm going to have to have a think about how to engage it better. Or it could rain which would solve a lot of issues - I've just picked up an emergency small bale of hay to tide me over until Sunday from the feed store and it was nearly £9!!

Its £74m on the euromillions tonight - that should be enough for a temperature controlled indoor arena shouldn't it?
 
Hacking and packing as a week on Sunday were off to the New Forest for a weeks hacking holiday. True camping in a field with no electric so need pack well. Also catching up with family.
Hacked out with friends last night which went really well despite me being a bit windy, did a lunch time dash to get a new waterproof for the trip just in case.
 
I'm meant to be competing tomorrow, 30mins away from home......it hasn't been cancelled by the event organiser yet so i guess its at owners disgression :-/
 
We have gone from wind and rain storms to baking heat in about 2 days so I don't think it would be fair to make an unfit little pudding do a lot, even if exercise would be helpful for that problem in the long term! If I don't cook to death myself we can do some in hand physio exercises maybe. To be cooler on Monday and I'm off work so might do a decent hack that day.
 
I had a brilliant polework lesson this morning, although it was warm (I think it was about 22° when we finished at 8.30am ish) pony is pretty fit, fully clipped, supplied with an array of electrolytes and hydration mashes and coping well with the heat.

You'll find us hacking in the glorious sunshine Saturday & Sunday ☀️ I do hear you on the ground front though - I usually keep pony super fit with fast hacks, intervals out hacking and lots of hill work, he's definitely not as fit as he was in May as I just can't do the same faster work, even booted with pads ... no doubt we'll be wishing for dry ground in October 🤣
 
dressage on sunday-looks like most have WD, only me in one class, me +2 in other and only about 8 people over all classes!

mine will be fine he copes well, and we have a none motorway route and fans so ok travelling.

and will hack the other one about 10pm when flies have gone to bed!
 
I found some breeze Thursday night for some field schooling practised some shoulder in and walk piris.

Going to a Joe Midgley clinic sans pony as I haven't had the time or brain space to work on loading since last time. Work has been more manic than usual.

Prepping the fluffy black one Screenshot_20250712-073341-344.png
 
Too hot for anything really but I had an early lesson yesterday morning, mostly in walk and that was easy on horse and very useful for me. We got up at 4am this morning to gather our sheep off their hill for shearing. It was lovely at 4.30 but heating quickly by 7. Horses had a fun time scampering about but now washed off and on the shady yard. I really ought to ride at that time more often...I would not be traveling horses to any event today tbh and did wonder about doing it yesterday though it was an easy journey with plenty of planning and contingencies for any problems.
 
Yesterday was the first really hot day up here for a while so horse hadn't time to acclimate to it. I hacked out at 10pm which was beautiful but unfortunately due to running out of light had to drop the number of hill laps from 3 to 2. Did see a badger for our troubles though! Home just as it got proper dark at 11pm.

Going out shortly before it gets too hot to give the dog a good walk in shady forestry then a quiet day before a very early alarm call tomorrow because I want to get a solid couple of hours into her as we've let our exercise slip a bit the last few weeks.
 
5am, hack out 2 and lead Ted the Twit, he loves being led, it is his only opportunity to bite the stroppy mare without having his lights punched out.

Back at 6, all showered off, fed and in the cool. Yard done by 8 and home. Meet husband on way home and very quickly tell him there is a breakage on the yard that needs mending. I didn't mention he will need a crow bar, sledge hammer and a sense of humour ! Who would have thought Alice's arse could do quite so much damage !

Question is can I maintain the energy and enthusiasm to keep repeating the riding until it cools off. Doubtful at my age.
 
AdorableAlice said:
5am, hack out 2 and lead Ted the Twit, he loves being led, it is his only opportunity to bite the stroppy mare without having his lights punched out.

Back at 6, all showered off, fed and in the cool. Yard done by 8 and home. Meet husband on way home and very quickly tell him there is a breakage on the yard that needs mending. I didn't mention he will need a crow bar, sledge hammer and a sense of humour ! Who would have thought Alice's arse could do quite so much damage !

Question is can I maintain the energy and enthusiasm to keep repeating the riding until it cools off. Doubtful at my age.
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I know what you mean. I was up at 5 this morning, field chores done and pony exercised by 8 but how long can I keep it up?
 
Late to party. Had Area qualifiers dsg this morning. Test was at 9.42 in a huge lovely cool indoor. Kept warm up short and sharp. Was meant to be doing a 2nd test at 16.44!! Have withdrawn from that one. It's only 15 mins from me so was home before 10.30. Loaded horse soaking wet and he was fine.
Going back later to help and read for others.
Early morning walk hack tomorrow and Monday off.

Oh and a stupid woman pulled away with her trailer with horse still tied up 🙄 Her excuse: I thought my daughter had loaded him! Caused a bit of an upset in the warm up as said horse galloped through it naked as snapped headcollar. Honestly some people shouldn't be allowed near animals.
 
Well we are already back from eventing!
On our doorstep, 2nd to go in a section starting at 8am, perfect!
Sweet test for 31, a bit spooky at tents sj for a couple but the bits inbetween look better, and a very steady in hand canter clear xc.
Very pleased, she hasn’t been out since April as had a holiday so not even xc schooled!

And spoilt rotten with a lovely other owner lending us her posh lorry with ventilation and solar roofing! We all wanted to hang out with the horses!!


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Day 2 of a 3 day dressage camp . It’s is hot but not as hot as down south. We are indoors so out of the sun.
Mr HRH didn’t complain too much about being washed off after class, which he normally doesn’t appreciate.

Done circles with flexing, he was rather resistant in first lesson but much softer much quicker in lessons 2 and 3.
Bit of shoulder in, tried travers in trot without success, this will be our next challenge!
 
Fun club was cancelled which was a good job as I have had a bad blood sugar day swinging from 6 to 15.6 pity us diabetics in the heat we ride a real roller coaster with insulin control!
 
blodwyn1 said:
Fun club was cancelled which was a good job as I have had a bad blood sugar day swinging from 6 to 15.6 pity us diabetics in the heat we ride a real roller coaster with insulin control!
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I share your pain although I'm on a roller coaster of lows - with sweets in the car that have melted into a sugary lump.
 
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Good cob :) He’s pretty predictable these days to be fair. He loved his 220 seconds of fame in exchange for a whole Stubbs scoop of haycobs with electrolytes 🤣
The lorry fan kept going for a good 5 hours or so which is good to know as I’ve never left it going with the lorry off for so long! Fun day :)
 
Stunning as ever @rara007
Indoor was pretty cool at the clinic and it's a super friendly bunch so was lovely just going to relax and hang out with some stunning horses to look at. I learnt a bit more groundwork (a bit more sunk in) I think. The went up to the yard to a very grumpy D as someone had decided shooting today was a good idea so she barely ate her dinner and did not appreciate her bath 🤦
 
Cloball said:
Stunning as ever @rara007
Indoor was pretty cool at the clinic and it's a super friendly bunch so was lovely just going to relax and hang out with some stunning horses to look at. I learnt a bit more groundwork (a bit more sunk in) I think. The went up to the yard to a very grumpy D as someone had decided shooting today was a good idea so she barely ate her dinner and did not appreciate her bath 🤦
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I think I may have sat next to you, it was lovely to meet you. Joe was good at explaining things and I look forwards to actually getting this horse to meet him. Hope to see you in September.
 
I am at the yard waiting for it to get cooler. There is a slight breeze. I am hoping to have a ride in walk for 30 minutes at 8pm. If Bert was not fat we would be doing nothing but managing to do some exercise most days. He is still recovering from his liver disease so even if less hot he probably not feeling like doing much. Vet said will take a few months for him to feel completely better.

Horses have been let into the rested winter field as there are shady trees for them to go under to escape the sun during the heatwave but have they used them no they have been stuffing themselves in the full sun. Looks like it will go down to 21C on Tues with some light rain then gradually increase again so next weekend is 28/29C.
 
Cloball said:
Hi 👋 how funny is that 😁
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normal for hho 🤣🤣n

great day with the supercob, managed only one micro slide with the carriage, failed with rosette throwing to random child and just hit a mum with it 🤣. Storm didn't even break sweat 👍but we did have a decent breeze in the ring which makes a big difference.
 
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