Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend Plans

[Season’s Bleatings]

Sneaking in here first since I think for a lot of us, the weekend starts tomorrow?!

This week I’ve been doing a bit of this again:



Monday did 15 mins walking in arena, yesterday did 20. Day one he felt a bit uppity but was totally chilled last night. Going to do a bit of road walking tonight, now that I’m fairly confident he isn’t going to be stupid* - and I think plenty of walking/hacking will be the plan over next few weeks. I have to bear in mind he’s essentially been on box rest for two months and so is feeling a bit weak.

*no more stupid than he would normally be on the road, anyway

Otherwise we are slowly reintroducing him to the world of grass. He had some time out with a few of the other lads last night, it’s a bit stressful tbh as they are getting a bit excited and his normal herd has changed in his absence - so just want to take it slowly to avoid any dramas. The fields are well covered, but after about 9 weeks without any real grazing, I’m taking my time!

Exciting weekend ahead for us - off to Millstreet International for a couple of days with some pals from the yard! There is a great mix of local and international talent so very much looking forward to it. It’s a bit of a drive, but we’ve a nice Airbnb booked.

What are you guys up to?

 

[Petmurf]

Lunge lesson tomorrow as I’m acting as guinea pig for our apprentice at the yard who needs more practice.
Friday off to a pole clinic
Saturday an early morning hack
Sunday who knows yet!

Tomorrow meeting some friends for Afternoon tea for a good catch up

 

[Alibear]

Yay, I'm so pleased we're starting a little early this week
Amber and I are off to see Guy Robertson on a 3-day horsemanship camp for the long weekend.
My goals are to introduce her to water and the sea-saw type obstacle to boost her confidence and mine.
There's also optional cow working, but we may save that bit for another time.
Amber is already very cowy, and my instructor and I think perhaps that box should be left unopened until she's had a few more years riding.
It can be exciting to sit to her turns as it is.
Guy will know what to do as a friend's horse was similar, and he's worked with them.

 

[millikins]

Dales Southern show on Sunday. Very much looking forward to it, we've had the mare almost 3 years but have been thwarted at every attempt to go showing. Covid, broken collar bone, no decent saddle, pregnancy of both horse and rider, foal too young (1 bleddy week for the dales show), so fingers crossed.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Tomorrow morning I'm escorting hacking chum on her new horse that arrived on Sunday, just for a short pootle one as horse only been back in work 3 weeks following losing a foal.
Friday meeting 2 other ladies to go round farm ride, however have just had group message from one saying she would rather not canter.... ?? I think I'd rather save my dosh and go another time as it's one of the few places I do like to do all 3/4 gears. #selfish

No major plans for weekend as yet....

 

[milliepops]

I had a lesson this morning, been in a bit of a funk since hitting the dirt but i had decided to cut myself some slack as it's not entirely been related to the horse, have had rather a lot to deal with in other areas and it was getting on top of me a bit.
Back with a bang today though (a good bang, not the crashy disaster kind of bang!) . said to trainer i felt like we weren't getting anywhere but as I set off trotting around with the horse in a nice balance and decent way of going, we both concluded that actually he's come a long way

Had a great ride working on transitions and improving the quality of his sideways and finished by making a plan to keep developing his work outside as he's not anxious in the outdoor, and just use the indoor to practice "riding" rather than try to do "training" in there. I felt it was a cop out initially, but I see now it's really not and this way, we will both enjoy it a lot more.

Young Frank went to his new home this morning. He's got a long trip but he loaded quite well so hopefully he will arrive feeling relaxed.

Some horse logistics for me again now as Quiz is slightly distraught at losing his mate (very one sided friendship there!). i think i will borrow Millie again as she will be able to teach HIM about the lorry next!

 

[KEK]

Busy weekend here, also a long one (only 3d not 4 though). Picking up my husbands new lease horse, a rising 7 paint mare Sat morning, the dogs have the state agility trial all weekend too, our biggest trial of the year. Working Mon morning then trying to recover!

 

[Peglo]

@Sheep so glad your back on board.
@milliepops best wishes to frank in his new home. Going to miss his gorgeous face.

no plans this weekend. Hack tonight with a few friends.
@The Fuzzy Furry i had a selfish moment last night so that makes me feel better. A friend wanted to meet up but she only wants to walk. I’ve missed the beach for about a month now with either high tides, poor weather or being busy but this week the tides out and the weathers good so I wanted to get on the beach and do some canter work for Tali’s fitness. So I left it open that she could come meet us but did say I needed to do some quicker stuff so she didn’t come. I felt bad but also feel bad taking Tali out and about when she’s not as fit as I should have her.
anyway we planned to meet her tonight but she can’t make it so will get back on the beach again.

I meant to get the oldies in my paddock to get it eaten down and get some poles set out but haven’t done it yet. I will check how long the grass is and if it’s not too bad I will do some pole work at the weekend.

I have to work over the jubilee celebrations so hope all who are off have a great few days.

look forward to hearing how everyone’s weekend goes.

 

[Irishcob6]

Nothing! Horse has come up with a fat fetlock and is lame in trot so will be cold hosing and paying a fortune for emergency vet call out as they couldn’t come today but I don’t want to wait till next week to see what is wrong?

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Nothing! Horse has come up with a fat fetlock and is lame in trot so will be cold hosing and paying a fortune for emergency vet call out as they couldn’t come today but I don’t want to wait till next week to see what is wrong?

Oh no! Hope it’s just a wee tweak and easily fixed. Fingers crossed x

 

[Irishcob6]

Oh no! Hope it’s just a wee tweak and easily fixed. Fingers crossed x

fingers crossed ?? Although I should definitely stop trying to Google diagnose it as that’s not helping my stress ?

 

[MuddyMonster]

Pony needed some time off so initial plans got shelved for now.

It was suggested we avoid hills if we can for another few days but given that we're in a valley, he's turned out on a hill and almost all of our hacking is hilly, that's not quite as easy as it sounds ?

Dutifully took him on a short, flat route this morning & we'll be going for a longer jaunt around a fairly flat farm and bridleway route tomorrow. Could go t'otherway round on Friday, I guess ?

Then that takes us up to a week post physio so he can hopefully resume normal hacking over the weekend ?

Hope everyone has a lovely Jubilee weekend ?? ?

 

[Alibear]

Had a great ride working on transitions and improving the quality of his sideways and finished by making a plan to keep developing his work outside as he's not anxious in the outdoor, and just use the indoor to practice "riding" rather than try to do "training" in there. I felt it was a cop out initially, but I see now it's really not and this way, we will both enjoy it a lot more.

This made me smile, I got told the same last week, except Ambers is better indoors than out, so indoors we have gone and suddenly everything is back on track Once we're fully established again, then we can start on occasional moments in the outdoor areas.

 

[j1ffy]

@milliepops that's great news about Frank, you've given him a wonderful start to life and his new owners are very lucky!
@Sheep , @Irishcob6 and @MuddyMonster I hope your sick notes are better soon!

We're going to our first 'away' show - eek! Just a couple of intro classes at a small local venue. Indio did his first ever competition there 7 years ago so it feels right to go back there now with Chilli. Warm up is on grass, but worst case I'll just walk around until our turn! Aim is to get into the arena and through at least one of the tests (I like to start with a low bar ).

 

[scats]

I’ve got 2 days off now!
Making time for family and friends this weekend. The girls will hack but will take a bit of a back seat.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Just schooling today and tomorrow. Vaccines and tooth check up on Friday (he has a missing tooth so we want to see how the other is doing with no counterpart, growth wise). So the weekend will be low key, and the weather looks dreary.

I was pleased with his schooling today because I felt like we *finally* found another gear in the trot in our quest toward the best extended trot we can produce. I was quite pleased with that and the feeling was fabulous. Counter canter suppling work is paying off as well. He's felt quite good lately and his self carriage feels amazing. He's not the most eye catching mover but the feeling he can give to the rider is just fab. He was a bit spooky (somewhat normal for him, tbh ?) because apparently after 10 years on this earth, he still hasn't realized that the wind moves things...like a leaf. Totally cool with the fence flapping around sounding like a subwoofer (idk, it's this thick plastic fencing and it's a bit loose I guess?).

 

[southerncomfort]

Yay, I'm so pleased we're starting a little early this week
Amber and I are off to see Guy Robertson on a 3-day horsemanship camp for the long weekend.
My goals are to introduce her to water and the sea-saw type obstacle to boost her confidence and mine.
There's also optional cow working, but we may save that bit for another time.
Amber is already very cowy, and my instructor and I think perhaps that box should be left unopened until she's had a few more years riding.
It can be exciting to sit to her turns as it is.
Guy will know what to do as a friend's horse was similar, and he's worked with them.

Ooh...please report back!! I'm determined to take Bo to one of his cattle working clinics so I'll be interested to know how you find camp. ?

 

[teapot]

Catching up with a friend tomorrow.

Private flat lesson on Sat. Debating whether I book into the jump lesson that runs before it as some extra saddle time. Not jumped in three years but trust the horses and coach, would be zero pressure and might do me some good riding forwards... Someone give me a nudge

 

[southerncomfort]

Had a lovely 'family' day today. Went to Chatsworth to see the Burning Man sculptures and then had a nice pub lunch.

Working until 1pm tomorrow then going to ride Bo in the school. He would far rather hack out (so would I!) but we're restarting our lessons in a couple of weeks so it we need a bit of school practice.

Friday I'll see if I can find a bunting-free route to hack.

Saturday I'm working and then Sunday I'll be riding the long route through the sheep fields and past the wind turbine which he is, thankfully, completely unconcerned about!

Have a great long weekend everyone!

 

[Britestar]

No holidays up here, so all normal.
But this weekend away for 2 days to RC areas. 3 tests on Saturday, jump judging Sunday, but notice last XC is around 5.30pm ?, so late late home (2hr drive home).

Trying my new saddle today, god I hope it fits.

 

[Red-1]

Busy for us too.

Yesterday afternoon we booked to a new place with a trainer and small XC course with baby horse (BH). Sadly, it tipped it down all morning and farrier had said they were putting stud holes in but forgot (actually he filled the hole he made with a dome road stud - at my request but I think he then forgot I also wanted a screw in stud - we're gonna need more holes LOL), so we switched to a SJ lesson. It was in a competition arena, and we worked up to a small course, fillers to the side as baby horse is rather green still (honest and really tries his best, but is one of those who takes a while to catch on as well as being steady away!).

BH was ace! travelled alone, got out to find horses being worked in an arena and on the course in the large complex, but just let me get on with tacking up, mounting and got on with his own work independently. Despite working alongside a glass fronted cafe, he just got on with it and did as asked.

I felt a bit for the trainer, who usually coaches posh sporty horses, and BH is somewhat more suitable for an aged lady, but he said no, he loves to train a horse who makes the owner/rider happy, as this one is doing. BH has a lovely rhythm to a fence, no fuss and is a true character. I plan on roughly once a week lessons there to get us jumping at shows soon.

Today I am hacking locally, bunting is all out but we did hack out in the wind the other day with flappy flags strung overhead through the village as well as in each garden. BH really wasn't bothered, he is ace! I will also take Rigs out, as a friend is coming to ride out with us on him on Tuesday! She hasn't ridden for ages so, although I am sure Rigs will be fine, I will test pilot him for her, and also it means he will have been ridden in living memory!

Tomorrow I may be boxing out on BH to ride out with a friend. Just a walk/stroll/chat round her local village.

Saturday I have hired our local arena/show ground. It is really annoying that the local show ground, which I can hack to, is the only place that BH finds spooky! We did his first prelim dressage competition there on Tuesday and there were gremlins in the back hedge and BH, uncharacteristically, decided that the bottom of the warmup was too spooky for words. He did well in the actual test (won, in fact) but he was wary of the back hedge and the (admittedly) scary lawnmower that was behind it.

I am hiring on Saturday as we supposedly have his first ever jumping show there on Sunday! It is just a 'stressless' one, with no fillers or show gear, but I do question my decision to take him to his first show at the only arena he is spooky at!

Monday I have left clear. But... I am off work so, if I don't feel BH has done too much at the show (it is all of 45cm!) we may go and hire the farm ride, about an hour from here. I feel we could go alone, which is permitted, and depending on how he feels we could just stroll round or we could pop the odd log/ditch etc.

Tuesday riding out with Rigs locally.

It does sound busy, but we only do 1/2 hour on a lesson or arena hire. BH lacks stamina as yet, so we do a warmup and do something to be proud of then stop.

Alibear, we were at Guy Robertson's not so long back with BH. He had a great time, really got it about cows.

Hope the sun blesses us all and have a great jubilee weekend everyone!!!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yay, I'm so pleased we're starting a little early this week
Amber and I are off to see Guy Robertson on a 3-day horsemanship camp for the long weekend.
My goals are to introduce her to water and the sea-saw type obstacle to boost her confidence and mine.
There's also optional cow working, but we may save that bit for another time.
Amber is already very cowy, and my instructor and I think perhaps that box should be left unopened until she's had a few more years riding.
It can be exciting to sit to her turns as it is.
Guy will know what to do as a friend's horse was similar, and he's worked with them.

I love Guy! Lottie is going to a 5 day camp with him later this month. I took Amber and she really loved cow working. She understood the job really fast and became utterly focused and absorbed.

 

[Bernster]

Horsey MOT day yesterday, getting teeth and jabs done. Finn is terribly needle shy and doesn’t like his head being messed with too much nowadays due to his melanoma. So we had an interesting time trying an oral sedative (no effect), then one into the muscle from a distance (new tactic which worked well) with enough to down an elephant and he was just about ok for teeth and jabs.

Mean owner taking a pic whilst Bertie was recovering from the sedation! (I never used to sedate for dentist but vet said it was better, to get right to the back teeth.)

Lesson today, then hacking, sj course hire Saturday, and jubilee bank holiday socialising.

Have had Bertie for 1 year now. We’ve not done as much as I thought we would tbh but my riding of him has come on leaps and bounds, so I try to be positive about that. Flatwork is much more established, now working on getting better canter trot transitions, which is a long way from the initial wall of death canter. Jumping has been a bit up and down (haha) as I don’t jump enough at home. Arena hire has been good. I got put off after I came a cropper xc a few weeks back but am working on my confidence and have sj arena hire booked this weekend.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

My sharer has arranged a groundwork lesson with Joe Midgely today so I will go along to that. Then test practice tomorrow, a hack Saturday and showjumping at a local venue on Sunday. Plus plenty of Amber cuddles. Nice and low key for a change.

 

[MereChristmas]

Rest day today, gardening instead.
Hacking tomorrow and a brief lesson on Saturday. Maybe we will manage a trot this week. Probably another longer hack on Sunday then on holiday on Monday, hopefully flight will be fine.
Finan will have a week or so off unless he begins to get plump in which case he will be exercised by YM.

 

[Red-1]

Hacking went well, did a bit of extra training first. Rigs too, he is bullet proof with flags! A friend rode him too, just a little play date for the old man.



Hope everyone else is having a fabulous jubilee day celebration.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Bank holidays don't exist in my world ? I was working today and although I am off tomorrow its my day off for the week as I am working the weekend.

Tomorrow I am judging the horse sections at a Jubilee show.

Saturday I am taking the flat runner to Musselburgh and he is in the first so away and home early!

Sunday I am working, not sure if I am racing at Perth or not yet. Dec's go in tomorrow for that.

I hope everyone else has fun with their plans!

 

[nikicb]

Great to see you back riding @Sheep . Sorry to see that Frank is off to pastures new @milliepops , I shall miss your updates on him, but it sounds like the perfect home. Hope all the sick notes sort themselves out sooner rather than later.

Maddie and I had an early start this morning as we headed out with the sole intention of completing our Prelim Regional points. I still haven't' completely decided between Area Festivals and Regionals at this level, but I wanted to have the choice once the qualifying period closes. Maddie hadn't been to this venue before, and I went on my own with her, so was a little in trepidation of how we would get on.

She was really good in the warm up - she wanted to look at the people in the XC field fixing fences, but she was told to get on with the job in hand. We both got a bit of stage fright in the first test, but I had only entered it as a warm up as it wasn't a qualifying test for regionals, so although it was a bit meh, it didn't really matter. The second test was loads better and I managed to keep her forwards and focussing on her work. 67.5%, and 4th overall out of 13, which I am really pleased with as there were lots of gold riders on lovely big fancy horses.

In our most recent lesson, we worked on keeping her straight on the centre line, and the 'give and retake', so I was very happy to get both good scores and positive comments for those two movements in particular.

Regional qualifying points

Maddie will have the next couple of days off as we have Jubilee celebrations in our hamlet. Monday she has the treadmill, Tuesday we have a lesson, then on Wednesday we are heading out to do an in hand session in a 'play park' with all sorts of different obstacles - I'm looking forward to doing something a bit different with her. I hope you have a lovely long weekend, whatever you are up to!

Here's an 'arty' picture of Maddie from earlier today. xx

 

[Wishfilly]

Amazingly, I have plans two weekends in a row!

Will ride tomorrow, and maybe do a little bit in the jumps field. Then, on Saturday going to groom for a friend at the yard who is going out and about, and then going showing on Sunday as I've been very kindly offered a lift for Blue. I haven't done any showing since being a child, and haven't ever shown in hand, but I think it will be educational for him if nothing else. I'm not expecting anything in the way of frillies, but as it's just a fun show I think it'll be worthwhile to go along and let him see a bit more of life.

 

[Britestar]

Saddle was fine.
Was a little ? when I first got on . Wider in twist than other saddle, and the new hip was a bit unsure about it.

After a short hack to neighbours school all was good. Ran through my DTM test for next week, all good.

Of course didn't run through the tests I'm doing at weekend. I'll learn them Saturday morning ?