Last Weekend of August Plans

[SaddlePsych'D]

What's everyone up to?

Weather looks fairly pleasant so I am off for a hack tomorrow. Got to keep working on that confidence! I am feeling physically better/stronger than last week so able to go for it and get out of the school.

I'd hoped with my pay rise this month perhaps to step up my lessons to weekly next month so that I can make quicker progress, but seeing as me now 2-years post qualified is apparently worth a whopping 4 quid a week more to take home than I was when freshly qualified two years ago, I'll need to hold off on that plan for now.

 

[stangs]

Hope you enjoy your hack.

Same old here. Horse went for his usual walk (50% walking, 50% snacking because neither of us could be bothered with the heat) and then he had an easy clicker session to keep him sweet on the basics. We had one very entertaining moment where he spooked mid turn on the forehand but, the instant the spook was over, he continued the turn on the forehand without me asking. A bit like he’d gone “We're-all-going-to-die! ...... Now where was I?” It was a nice reminder that it’s all just reflexes in the end.

That’s my horsey time over for the week as I’m working on the weekend. Looking forward to living vicariously through the people who get to do actually interesting stuff with their horses.

 

[Michen]

Dressage lesson on Beau! I definitely need help on my position per the photo lol. I love schooling in this arena. Going to a comp next weekend I think it’s the first pure dressage competition I’ve done in about 7 years.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Last chance to qualify for Champs at Eland on Sat. Then some dressage for fun on Sunday. In schooling I am focusing on quality so I ask for transitions when she has 'qualified' from what she is currently doing. Ie she is balanced, rhythmic, soft and on the aids. Which does not really work for test riding unless she is perfect all the time - which obviously is the aim but we are a long way off that!. So the question was do I ride for marks and sometimes have a horrible braced transition, or ride for quality which might mean missing markers if she is a little late or braces in a movement so is not yet 'qualified' to to move on.

Joe pointed out that we don't want her associating schooling with with less stress and different riding than test riding. So rather counter-intuitively I am practiciing instant responses at home, but if she ignores me I stop and back up rather than just let her be late -- and in the test I will ride for quality at the expense of accuracy. And I hope the comments are useful.

 

[dapple_grey]

4yo is still enjoying her holiday. It has unintentionally coincided with them moving on to a new field with more grass, and being ID I have to be a bit careful with her weight. So will probably be buying a muzzle over the weekend!

Taking my other one out with our local bloodhound pack on Sunday which I'm excited for. We'd usually be looking forward to the first Team Chase of the season, however she's recently had hock injections so still easing back into work. We won't jump anything but it'll be great for her fitness and nice to be back out again.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I did have a hunt ride booked with the local pack tomorrow, but Dex decided to clonk himself on the leg, with the other leg (I am assuming) so hasn't done anything all week.
I've had to order some turnout boots as this isn't the first time he's done it, or even the second....

 

[AandK]

Lovely hack on the downs this morning and then tomorrow we have arena hire. Taking him to use the indoor school at the venue we did dressage at a few weeks ago, it was his first ever time in an indoor so more getting used to it is needed in a non comp environment!

 

[tda]

I am actually doing something....without pony tho, I'm going to a Mechanical horse session. Just half an hour but looking forward to it

 

[Michen]

Started the weekend without horses though, in Taos- New Mexico. Hiked up to this lake in the dark with Pepper before work! Nothing beats hiking with a spaniel. She’d do the whole thing ten times over and still have a ton of energy.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Really wonderful scenery for walking and riding there @Michen

Fingers crossed this is the one for getting your qualification @Ambers Echo

My hack was good - really beautiful sunshine, no clouds but also not too hot! The views were beautiful. My confidence is still a bit pants though and I'm trying not to give myself a hard time about it. We had a little tense/mildly joggy moment and it was fine. My person on foot was excellent, really encouraging and reminding me I'm not on my own with getting nervous.

I feel like I'm doing the right things, other than perhaps the frequency of getting out as weekly would be better to build on progress. I've got a good instructor, great setting to ride in, partnered with a horse that's safe but not totally switched off, being accompanied on foot. My mindset is good, I think, and I'm on board with all of the theory (my job to give horse confidence, ride forwards/positive etc.) It's just in the moment of a spook or a jog getting the message across to my brain/body that it's all good. I * think * it's getting through; even when I was nervous I sat up/back, didn't grip or hold with my hands. Maybe I just need to accept the butterflies will come but hopefully in time will be less and less. I'm not sure if there is much else I can do

 

[Britestar]

Getting to play for a change, instead of running the shows.

Dressage tomorrow. No practise, 100% winging it.

Trade stand on Sunday at a place 2.5hrs away, 6am start to set up. Boooo.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Argh 4 faults. But Lottie felt FAB so I'll take that!! Feels good to be out there having fun on a sound, fit horse.

Have a pic from Monday at Weston Lawns. No photographer at Eland. Don't organisers realise it's ALL about the pics (Sod the rosettes - but I am a total sucker for a nice picture!)

 

[nutjob]

Been at a dressage competition today. My horse got a respectable 69% in his novice class, he was obedient but just felt flat. We've only started competing again after 18 months off, really hope he's OK.

 

[Britestar]

1st test, rather naughty. Fair bit of **** u nappy bucks. Stopped dead when a trailer left down the drive .
2nd last, lol.

2nd test, nicely onside, 69% , won it.

First time I've ridden the new tests, but both were 'old tests'. Long arena novices.

She's very happy with the treats she won .

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Went hacking today, might try again tomorrow if the weather holds .

 

[SEL]

I've had a busy few days and when the alarm went off this morning and it wasn't exactly daylight (6 am) I felt shattered!

I'm never sure whether this is the right thread for updating on my bodywork training, but it is horse related so....
3 whole days of training on myofascial release techniques for horses. I have now completed levels 2 and 3 - my brain is a bit fried - and fascinated by the effects the work was having on the horses we worked with. Releasing areas of tension in the head and seeing the pelvis come into balance without any other work done on the horse was eye opening. We know the hyoid has a knock on effect throughout the body, but its something else to actually see 15 minutes of gentle head work improve the whole stance of the horse.

With a room full of therapists we also had space to discuss the 'big name' bodyworkers who are all over social media with expensive on-line courses. Quite bluntly the work I have just spent 3 days doing cannot be taught on-line. The theory and pre-reading most definitely but having a trainer / coach who can walk around and show you or move your hands into the correct space is something that you can't experience any other way than in person. There's a number of therapists now who have had sight of the BTMM course notes for instance and I think we were all in agreement that as an add on to an existing qualification then it would be ok, but not in its own right. (albeit if you have an existing qualification then your time and money would be better spent doing the 5 days of practical myofascial release training!!)

Woke up yesterday morning feeling exhausted and was underwhelmed by a weather forecast showing thunderstorms when I had a jumping lesson. Fortunately the storms stayed away but I was dripping under my body protector. Excellent lesson with the use of poles to challenge the rider and make the horses think (very useful for my little cob who has a tendency to throw himself around if he gets bored). The top end of the school had canter poles on a half circle, which progressed to raised / small jumps, then there was a small bounce across the middle and some right angles to ride through. Very pleased with BabyCob for working out his legs and he was actually changing in canter through the middle, but we're not quite balanced enough to make the turns through the right angles in canter. Probably the most technical stuff he's ever done though and it was hot and humid so I was pleased he stayed in front of my leg. I do have a bit of an issue with him spooking if another horse rides towards him - not the other rider's fault (everyone was polite and leaving space) - but he seems to have had a confidence knock around other horses and I'm not sure how to sort it out.

Then took the microcob for a very hot and sweaty hack. I only did the short route but the ground is so hard we had to stay in walk for most of it so she wasn't impressed. I did tell her if she wasn't piling on the pounds she could have had a day off, but she's eating for a very cold winter right now and looking pregnant

 

[Red-1]

Not a lot...

Friday Chatsworth Country Fair, Saturday Parkrun and.... oooh, a hack. Boyfriend's 8th time ever on a horse and we took BH and Riggers to a field that still has a stubble headland...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7409339546501991713

Not exactly competition, but my priorities have changed.

Sunday, BH went back to the field and also did canter work.

 

[dapple_grey]

We had a brilliant time on our Hunt Ride on Sunday. Just one hairy moment when we came into a field which had loose horses and cows in! Of course they found it very exciting and we all sat tight and held our breath until they were rounded up

 

[southerncomfort]

"My name is Bo, and yesterday (aged 8 years old), I was finally persuaded that I can, in fact, canter for a whole lap of the school! Today, instead of celebrating how clever I am, she made me go hacking...IN THE RAIN!".

Bless him, he really doesn't like the rain.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Late to update as usual....

Stressage on Sunday was frustrating. Went wrong twice in test 1 and she had her tongue over the bit in test 2. Which they don't seem to like very much given the 4s that netted me, even though she was moving really nicely. So although from my POV she felt good, it was the worst score I've ever had. I don;t think she was particularly objecting to the bit as she was so soft and light and holding herself well. But hey ho. She's never done it before so I'll move on and hope to eventually pull out a decent score in an actual test!

Pretty though...