Roxylola
Well-Known Member
Yes, congratulations and well done Northern, I missed that in my earlier reply
Lock down/second winter/end of season weekend plans
- Thread starter Accidental Eventer
- Start date
Northern
Well-Known Member
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Im in an English lockdown and downpour so am also jealous of the grlorious blue skies and relative freedom of folks in the Southern hemisphere. But my sister lives in Victoria and had been in strict lockdown for MONTHS so you absoutely deserve to make the most of the easing of restrictions.
We have instructors onsite and private lessons can go ahead - hurrah. And we managed to time it for the only dry couple of hours of thw weekend!
Katie and I both had a jumping lesson. Dolly was a star as ever. Jumping 110cm by the end and pinging them easily.
Then Toby who is improving all the time albeit over fences rather smaller!!!
We have instructors onsite and private lessons can go ahead - hurrah. And we managed to time it for the only dry couple of hours of thw weekend!
Katie and I both had a jumping lesson. Dolly was a star as ever. Jumping 110cm by the end and pinging them easily.
Then Toby who is improving all the time albeit over fences rather smaller!!!
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
It’s lovely seeing the Aus sunshine and reading about warm weather! Well done Northern, it sounds like you’ve worked hard for that result.
I made the rather poor decision to school yesterday, thinking I’d sneak it in before the wind picked up. In the 30 minutes I was in the school at 12.45, it got darker and darker, wetter and wetter and the jump stands were all over the place. Danny’s tension (which hasn’t been an issue for months) increased as the weather got worse, culminating in his first proper spook in many months and me just about staying on board. Clearly I’ve been taking his good behaviour for granted and really shouldn’t have put him in such a tricky position, bless him. We did some of the ‘dressage with Georgia’ trot exercises quite nicely and finished.
Today was about confidence building again, we set off for a little warm up around the farm then back into the school. I’m relieved to say we were both a lot more relaxed and Danny worked beautifully - we did the canter diamond exercise and our lesson homework. His contact has improved hugely and we now do straight halts on the bit, hooray!
A photo from our pottering around the farm earlier:
I made the rather poor decision to school yesterday, thinking I’d sneak it in before the wind picked up. In the 30 minutes I was in the school at 12.45, it got darker and darker, wetter and wetter and the jump stands were all over the place. Danny’s tension (which hasn’t been an issue for months) increased as the weather got worse, culminating in his first proper spook in many months and me just about staying on board. Clearly I’ve been taking his good behaviour for granted and really shouldn’t have put him in such a tricky position, bless him. We did some of the ‘dressage with Georgia’ trot exercises quite nicely and finished.
Today was about confidence building again, we set off for a little warm up around the farm then back into the school. I’m relieved to say we were both a lot more relaxed and Danny worked beautifully - we did the canter diamond exercise and our lesson homework. His contact has improved hugely and we now do straight halts on the bit, hooray!
A photo from our pottering around the farm earlier:
SaddlePsych'D
Well-Known Member
I had my first lesson on share horse today which I have really been wanting to do! We got fairly lucky with the weather, between downpours! We worked on sharpening transitions and did lots of canter work over a couple of ground poles. I was pleased to hear I'm secure in my seat and legs (and mostly I feel it!), and not surprised to hear I need to be more determined in what I ask for rather than being so quiet all the time. There was a bit of an 'oh s--t!' moment where I think my instructor had done something to push share horse on (not sure what) and I thought he was tanking off with me and that was how I was going to die - I was very pleased with myself to sit with him and not pull him up, instead keeping going in canter to complete the exercise (and not die, obvs!). Overall really happy with how it went for a first lesson together and really hoping I'll be able to do more and get to know share horse even better.
The Xmas Furry
🦄 🦄
Well done SPd, I was thinking about you and wondering if you would be lessoning or not. Sounds like it went well 
oldie48
Well-Known Member
Rose is being kept quite busy. I hacked her out for the first time on Thursday in glorious sunshine and she was foot perfect. The lanes at her new yard are very quiet as they lead to the river so are not used as a rat run. Sharer had an excellent lesson with Peter Storr on Friday. She'd done her homework and there was a definite improvement in the transitions with Rose staying quicker and more active behind and not trying to lengthen her frame and drop her shoulders. She's getting stronger and her frame is more advanced now, her canter is really good but it's still a fine balance when she's asked to collect and take more weight behind. I'm learning so much about her just watching! took some small bursts of vid but struggling to post them. Yesterday she came out and was "hot", not quite sure where that came from but she did some of the best trot and canter work that I've seen her do, although she got a bit strong in the hand at times she was really coming through and her medium trot was the best I've seen her do. So exciting. Today S hacked her past the dreaded pigs and she didn't bat an eye lid, so that's where we are going on Thursday.
Roxylola
Well-Known Member
Our medium trot took a bit more building in the arena than it has out hacking but we managed to show a bit off in my lesson, and the canter is getting better and better. He struggles to maintain it at the moment - if I let it get fast and heavy he can keep it but to keep it balanced needs a bit more strength than he has at the moment. All super positive though
nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Saturday - Rooni had a saddle check. I ended up trying a new model. I ended up buying a new model. Whoops!
My current one has been niggling away at me and the alternative model just felt like home. Very excited!
Fig had a quick whizz round the school. He will have a quieter week next week as he’s been so good. Hoping to fit in a hack for him.
Sunday - 24 miles and nearly 6 hours of riding!
Rooni was ace
My current one has been niggling away at me and the alternative model just felt like home. Very excited!
Fig had a quick whizz round the school. He will have a quieter week next week as he’s been so good. Hoping to fit in a hack for him.
Sunday - 24 miles and nearly 6 hours of riding!
Rooni was ace
scats
Well-Known Member
The weather here has been dreadful. Poured down with rain.
Girls are having a bit of down time. I’m so unmotivated in November and just can’t cope with the weather and dark, plus working 6 days a week is killing me off.
Girls are having a bit of down time. I’m so unmotivated in November and just can’t cope with the weather and dark, plus working 6 days a week is killing me off.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Mainly enjoyed being indoors this weekend! it's so liberating not having to plan the day around the weather forecast did our homework from Thursday's lesson and I think we might be on the verge of cracking it.
also swapped back to our trusty french link bradoon. I had been trialling a turtle top which seemed like a go-er initially but has resulted in some right old strops, so that's that. If BD do follow the FEI and ban the french link then we will have to have a rethink then
did our homework from Thursday's lesson and I think we might be on the verge of cracking it.also swapped back to our trusty french link bradoon. I had been trialling a turtle top which seemed like a go-er initially but has resulted in some right old strops, so that's that. If BD do follow the FEI and ban the french link then we will have to have a rethink then
HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
Hacking sat:
May have made some jumps out of logs ?
Jumped Skylla today and Topaz had another hack.
May have made some jumps out of logs ?
Jumped Skylla today and Topaz had another hack.
Sprat
Well-Known Member
Hacking was a complete disaster yesterday. Fully clipped and fresh as a fart resulted in spooking at anything and everything vehicle wise. We had an impromptu canter in a field through an open gateway when a Land Rover had the audacity to slow right down when it was coming past us, but madam just couldn’t contain herself ? add that to taking offence to 2 chaps running behind us, she showed me an impressive levade and a bugger off up the road.
However, she completely redeemed herself today in our first lesson in 2 months. Worked a lot on the lateral work, the leg yield is nicely established. A few bits to work on in terms of yielding away from the wall but good results when I put my leg on / used stick if ignoring me. Really pleased that my lovely instructor thought that the shoulder in is clicking now which we have had problems with for a long time.
I’ve had some concerns about the canter getting a bit heavy, I need to keep pushing for the forwards to get the weight off her forehand and onto the hind legs.
Lots to think about but overall a bloody fab lesson and I’ve come away buzzing. Looking forward to comps starting again so we can head back out and try and get some more Novice points ??
However, she completely redeemed herself today in our first lesson in 2 months. Worked a lot on the lateral work, the leg yield is nicely established. A few bits to work on in terms of yielding away from the wall but good results when I put my leg on / used stick if ignoring me. Really pleased that my lovely instructor thought that the shoulder in is clicking now which we have had problems with for a long time.
I’ve had some concerns about the canter getting a bit heavy, I need to keep pushing for the forwards to get the weight off her forehand and onto the hind legs.
Lots to think about but overall a bloody fab lesson and I’ve come away buzzing. Looking forward to comps starting again so we can head back out and try and get some more Novice points ??
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
Walked Robin and B1 went out for a walk today. Robin had a panic with a van that didn't slow down and slipped on the tarmac. He's OK but it definitely knocked the wind out of his sails. Lots of puddles and cyclists which seemed a bit scarier than last weekend.
To much rain and to slippy to do any ridden work with B1 so he just got his amble out and a graze in the forest. He really gets spoilt when OH is around.
To much rain and to slippy to do any ridden work with B1 so he just got his amble out and a graze in the forest. He really gets spoilt when OH is around.
Accidental Eventer
Well-Known Member
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekends as best they could. Northern, L looks lovely and that looks like proper spring weather!
I wish I had pictures of blue sky to share, but it has been so wet here! We have so far had the wettest November on record! Not complaining, rain is needed and better than the heat I was expecting to have this weekend. We managed to stay dry for our lesson on Friday. Henry was great, we did a very tricky exercise and he nailed it, made it feel really easy.
Saturday we headed to the comp early, it rain pretty much all day. I got very wet warming up for dressage and he was slightly over done when we went in. He did a lovely first half of the test, then a horse farted next to him in the warm up and he decided enough was enough, so the second half was a bit less flowing shall we say. Still a big improvement though and I was pleased. I learn a little bit more on how to manage him each time we go out.
SJ was Saturday arvo, and I stayed dry in the warm up. I didn't have him forward enough, wasn't quite in the zone but I woke up before I went in and we did a lovely clear and confident round, in the pouring rain!
We had a very rowdy course walk, and the rowdy continued in to the evening before we all crashed into our swags.
Sunday the sun came out, and we stayed dry. I managed to get all our gear dry before I went XC (and we didn't have to pack wet camping gear up). Henry has previously gotten very stressed in the XC warm up, but I had a good plan to keep him away from the busy warm up until the last minute, and the grounds provided a separate warm up away from everything going on for riders to use. That worked perfectly, and we managed a nice calm, easy warm up before we were called to the start box. Because he was so relaxed, we stood in the box to be counted down and then set off calmly, getting a nice forward canter to the first fence.
It was such a good round, he was confident and happy the whole way. he cruised over everything, was adjustable and relaxed. Everything felt really easy, and he jumped off a bank into water (tiny bank!) for the first time in a comp. He hesitated for a microsecond but he went as soon as I put my leg on and so I was pretty happy with that. We finished clear, but apparently I was out for a nice Sunday ride so picked up a few time penalties! oops!
It was an excellent way to finish our season. Henry is the most confident and happy he has been so far. He is starting to understand how it all works, and gets better with each outing. I was so impressed at how well he ate and settled all weekend, he ate everything I put in front of him which is a huge win. We both had a great time, and I am very proud of how well he is coming on.
He gets a summer holiday now, before he slowly starts to build up again for next season. I am already planning!
I wish I had pictures of blue sky to share, but it has been so wet here! We have so far had the wettest November on record! Not complaining, rain is needed and better than the heat I was expecting to have this weekend. We managed to stay dry for our lesson on Friday. Henry was great, we did a very tricky exercise and he nailed it, made it feel really easy.
Saturday we headed to the comp early, it rain pretty much all day. I got very wet warming up for dressage and he was slightly over done when we went in. He did a lovely first half of the test, then a horse farted next to him in the warm up and he decided enough was enough, so the second half was a bit less flowing shall we say. Still a big improvement though and I was pleased. I learn a little bit more on how to manage him each time we go out.
SJ was Saturday arvo, and I stayed dry in the warm up. I didn't have him forward enough, wasn't quite in the zone but I woke up before I went in and we did a lovely clear and confident round, in the pouring rain!
We had a very rowdy course walk, and the rowdy continued in to the evening before we all crashed into our swags.
Sunday the sun came out, and we stayed dry. I managed to get all our gear dry before I went XC (and we didn't have to pack wet camping gear up). Henry has previously gotten very stressed in the XC warm up, but I had a good plan to keep him away from the busy warm up until the last minute, and the grounds provided a separate warm up away from everything going on for riders to use. That worked perfectly, and we managed a nice calm, easy warm up before we were called to the start box. Because he was so relaxed, we stood in the box to be counted down and then set off calmly, getting a nice forward canter to the first fence.
It was such a good round, he was confident and happy the whole way. he cruised over everything, was adjustable and relaxed. Everything felt really easy, and he jumped off a bank into water (tiny bank!) for the first time in a comp. He hesitated for a microsecond but he went as soon as I put my leg on and so I was pretty happy with that. We finished clear, but apparently I was out for a nice Sunday ride so picked up a few time penalties! oops!
It was an excellent way to finish our season. Henry is the most confident and happy he has been so far. He is starting to understand how it all works, and gets better with each outing. I was so impressed at how well he ate and settled all weekend, he ate everything I put in front of him which is a huge win. We both had a great time, and I am very proud of how well he is coming on.
He gets a summer holiday now, before he slowly starts to build up again for next season. I am already planning!
