I'm Daring to Dream re. the Dizzy one...

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

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Just posted this in Comp Riders, but thought I'd stick it in here as well and see what response, if any, it gets...
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Okay, so I and the Dizzy one are not as well known in here as we are in NL2, so a quick background:

Dizzy - 16.3hh DWB mare, six years old.
Me - fat and unfit 47 year old. Used to be pretty competant rider, but that was many moons ago. Working on it
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History: bought Dizz 20th December '08. On 1st January '09 she came in lame from the field. Cue box rest, vets, Rossdales, she has bony irregularities on her pelvis and secondary damage to both rear suspensory ligaments. More box rest. Then trying to get fit again. Lost a huge amount of weight and despite the then 'best' feeds on the market, no weight gain 'till effectively turned away over summer.

She 'refused' to go lame, so further investigation could not be carried out.

Slipped on the road in May (nothing silly, just one of those things). I cracked my arm, cue no riding for a month-ish. BAck on, then she went lame on back end, high up, for no apparent reason. We thought 'This was It'. Went to the AHT for a week - refused to go lame. We've been through every possible future scenario, ending up with the fact that some horses have this issue and are fine, some have it and are not.

Anyhoo, we get back into work again. Then mid-September she went slightly left and I didn't - result was a bleed on the brain and no riding for me until end November. We moved yards to get more facilities, then the bad weather came...

But, now we've actually hacked out twice this week (once on our own, other than OH on foot), so now I'm daring to dream!

I bought this horse to BSJA. It might be that neither of us are up to it, but we'll deal with that as and when, for now I'm actually daring to dream that we might get to compete - at something! Anything!
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Which leads me to my question: what do I aim for? The local RC show? A dressage test at somewhere like Eland? What???

We can't jump. That is to say, she doesn't start jumping 'till it gets to about three feet, whereas I'm currently more your three inches kinda gal
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. It will come with time, I have a good instructor and other horses that will help remind me of what I've forgotten
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. Just to say I don't think we're ready to do much more than knock all the poles on the ground and walk our way round the clear round class
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Due to her issues we haven't done much (if any!) schooling, and cantering is still unbalanced.

Dizz is just starting to mature and should be fit (barring anything else happening/the pelvis causing a problem) both mentally and physically towards the end of this year/begining of next.

Hm. Hope that made sense...
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Sounds like you have both had an eventful start!

I would start with the local shows and take each day as it comes! It is good that you've got an end goal though - and when you reach it you can enjoy it even more!

Not really much advice to give! I just though I would comment!
 
Thank you L
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. She's been walked round a show and taken it in her stride
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, but not been boxed to one... The RC local to us now is quite big and busy, but it's a good hack to it, so that might be an idea
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If her canter is still getting there how about aiming to do a walk/trot test in summer at either RC or a local show?
do things like sponsored rides interest you? or do you think that would blow the Dizz's brain?!
 
I know exactly where you are coming from. Of course it is ok to dream, you just have to believe in yourself a bit more. I would do the local stuff first, get that confidence thing going and overall do what YOU want to do. Sounds like you have had one thing after another stacked up against you, but your time WILL come. Stick with it and over all believe. xxxxxxx
 
I'm right there with you Mrs M
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Hope to get fitter and better and maybe try 'something' in the summer, but have no idea what yet. Don't think either of us are cut out for stressage but I have heard Chad likes to bronc his way round the ring when faced with jumps so will have to see how that one goes!

Does us all good to dream, something to aim for, and perhaps more so at our advanced ages
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Thank you for those thoughts and ideas folks
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Which do you think is best... the local RC show (walk trot dressage after a good hack there), or a pure dressage day at Eland where it will be calmer (though that depends on having got a trailer by then, and at the rate we're going on that front...
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[ QUOTE ]
Thank you for those thoughts and ideas folks
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Which do you think is best... the local RC show (walk trot dressage after a good hack there), or a pure dressage day at Eland where it will be calmer (though that depends on having got a trai
ler by then, and at the rate we're going on that front... ).

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why cant you do both if you have transport? Just spend the summer out and about a bit, not doing anything too exciting doing some walk trot test just building up both of your confidences in different situations. do your summer shows have separate clear round rings at adjustable heights? maybe aim to do that later on if all goes well if you feel happy enough to.

I would just spend the time getting her to see different stuff and relax at shows gradually without putting too much pressure on yourself or her and see how it goes. Dont necessarily plan definite goals, just rough ones. I think definites can make you push yourself a bit too much and not necessarily back track if you need to.

For example I have 2 goals for this year. Get his lordship clear round an XC, and hopefully do the elementary dressage to music in addition to the novice. That will give me enough to play with to start with.
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Other goals are not to damage myself or the pony this year too after last year, that would probably be a good one for you to have!
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just wanted to add re the specific goals, those of a certain age I know (quite a few) who have a couple of specific classes in mind at particular shows over the summer seem to get really focused on that one thing and work themselve up about it which doesnt really help, does that make sense?
 
Ta E
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We don't yet have transport (I thought we had it sussed, but the weather put paid to that, so on the hunt again).

Although of a pretty competitive nature lol, I'm totally chilled about what we do - so long as we Do Something
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I guess my confusion is which to do first..., though I'd have to borrow a trailer if the recommendation is to do a walk and trot somewhere quiet (Eland) or to hack to the local RC
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Im competitive too! I tend to just keep an eye on dates of what is on when and then see what I feel like doing nearer the time.

she was ok at the show last time wasnt she?

go the RC one then, poss advantage assuming it is in field is that there is often more space to warm up than at show centres.

does your RC run members only stuff too do you know? we do and it is a bit more low key and quieter and ideal for youngsters.
 
Nice to hear things are going well for a change.
Couldn't you maybe hire out a venue for an hour at the place you would plan to do a walk/trot test maybe then you could have a practise run through it all without the stress of other people there and then go the week after and do the actual test?
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I'd say go to a few RC dressage and start from there. We started off by going to dressage because its "safer" and I was much less intimidated by it. Only problem was that in the next ring they were SJing and it looked like sooo much fun that we did that next time as well.

If you want someone to have a sit so you can see what she looks like jumping while you get your confidence up I'll come over and have a sit
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E - yes, they do club only shows
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and yes, they are definately quieter
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. She was fine at both the shows I've hacked round
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. Maybe if I go to the first club one, she won't be totally fit and will be hacked there, so maybe less oomph for silliness lol.

MW - ta hun
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. Hadn't thought of that! Hm. Will wobble off to see what is possible
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D - yup, the dressage arean is next to the showjumping
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, actually it's on both sides lol. Thank you for the kind offer...
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Have a go at some of the dressage clinics that take place at places like Eland, Hargate etc etc. This way things will be very quiet and much more structured. Good Luck!!
 
Ditto Wimbles - get your transport sorted and start going regularly to RC lessons and clinics. That way you are both getting out and about, having to work with other horses, and learning at the same time, but in a much less stressy and more organised fashion than going competing atm.

Then a couple of months down the line you will be more than ready to start doing a few local, low key competitions, see how you both are enjoying yourselves, and then decide whether you want to up the ante a bit or maybe carry on doing what you are doing.

You both need to be enjoying yourselves, so small steps, lots of fun, and everything will just fall into place
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(not you though, you have done too much falling already
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Lol R, you know me so well
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Hm. So Fun rather than Falling. Okay, I think I can do that...
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Right. Transport. Know anyone with a two or three hoss trailer for under £1,000? Must take a 16.3hh dingbat
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I know just how you feel and YEAH YOU DREAM!!! I am dreaming too and also have a 6yr old WB and am just a bit younger than you but have a very knackered ankle and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I will be aiming at local RC first, after doing a couple shows at my yard.

If I were you I would go for the quieter show at Eland. It has an arena so better for your first one. A bigger show on grass you might not have the same control there.

Just my thoughts though
 
Not read all your replies so I am sorry if I repeat.

I was sort of (very ish) where you are now, last year - minus the once upon a time being a good rider
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I had a good but not very well schooled horse who had got away with murder due to my crap and nervous riding. I didn't think we'd get any better than a bit more consistent riding in the school. I'm more confident on her now though and, despite a few health setbacks last year, managed to get some w&t tests done, some visits to other venues and also some jump lessons. We did srart hacking then took a step back there (she's very spooky - with me).
I'd aim for w&t tests within hacking distance. Then do some further away and progress to prelims. Even if jumping is your goal I feel dressage gives you a steady pace to start bonding together in your riding and also prepares your schooling for jumping - helped me anyway!
This year I'm starting off with prelim tests and hoping to be attempting some novices by the end of the year, cracking on with the hacking and getting my jumping steadier but I'll not be too bothered what happens so long as I;m having fun and making some steps forward.
 
Lol WB, you sound like you're doing a grand job
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I shall go the dressage route and get her used to being out and about and being in the ring/arena
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As you say, it's about having fun and taking some steps forward
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