March/April weekend plans

[Accidental Eventer]

April already! Madness.

Tomorrow I'm riding both horses at home, probably jump on Henry and hack Coolie. Hopefully not too wet, but I appreciate the rain. We haven't had much for months.

Sunday Henry and I are going to riding club. Have booked in for a sj lesson and a xc lesson. Hoping to find some more brave doing xc for the first time on him since 2020!

Have fun all

 

[Roxylola]

Assuming I don't get road darted during Bon's first ride in 3 weeks - nothing major just a little tendon sheath inflammation (scanned to check). I'll be doing an arena hire for some show jumping with Charlie as prep for hid first event this year which will be only 2 weeks away by then. Can't believe how fast this year is going

 

[RachelFerd]

Ugh. Another week another event down. Was meant to be at Thoresby on Friday for the novice, but they have cancelled the national classes in order to make sure the 4/5* horses get a run - which is fair enough, but my season isn't exactly speeding into action. Fortunately I had already entered Breckenbrough novice for next weekend too, and that seems *fingers crossed* to have a better forecast leading up to it...

 

[Squeak]

Ugh. Another week another event down. Was meant to be at Thoresby on Friday for the novice, but they have cancelled the national classes in order to make sure the 4/5* horses get a run - which is fair enough, but my season isn't exactly speeding into action. Fortunately I had already entered Breckenbrough novice for next weekend too, and that seems *fingers crossed* to have a better forecast leading up to it...

Unlucky RF, at the beginning of March I was regretting not getting entries in to the earlier events as the ground was so good but now I'm relieved for my normal rule of aiming to start in April, the weather has been foul. Have the events you've had cancelled had abandonment insurance?

My Xc schooling this weekend has been cancelled due to the ground so I've rerouted to a BS. Hoping for two solid rounds to set us up for our first event in a couple of weeks.

 

[RachelFerd]

Unlucky RF, at the beginning of March I was regretting not getting entries in to the earlier events as the ground was so good but now I'm relieved for my normal rule of aiming to start in April, the weather has been foul. Have the events you've had cancelled had abandonment insurance?

My Xc schooling this weekend has been cancelled due to the ground so I've rerouted to a BS. Hoping for two solid rounds to set us up for our first event in a couple of weeks.

Yep - I'm not actually particularly concerned/upset - the weather is the weather. I did have a lovely run on the baby horse at Epworth first weekend in March. And I'm not super contingent on needing any of these runs to happen - I always build a bit of contingency into my event season planning! Also, I've done something weird to my neck and can't turn my head very well today, so it is sort of a relief that its cancelled...

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Busy weekend starting with a SJ lesson today. I want to do a bit more show-jumping as eventing is just too expensive at the moment with 3 kids at Uni and my business somewhat tanking. Temporarily I'm sure, but it's just been a hard year, so far, for various reasons. Lottie was great. Really rideable which is the main aim.

Tomorrow I have hired some dressage boards to try and translate the work we get at home to different venues. Then on Saturday I have another lesson with Joe Midgley which I am very excited about. And on Sunday my sharer has Joe. So Lottie is truly in a bootcamp for a few days.

 

[millitiger]

Another event cancelled
So quick reroute to arena hire with jumps on Sunday to hopefully keep us in the groove.

BD on Tuesday too, 2 x Elementary classes to start Dima's affiliated career

... and please can it STOP raining!!!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Hacking tomorrow and Saturday. Polework clinic on Sunday.

Hope you all enjoy your horses this weekend!

 

[Kunoichi73]

I've got a 1 hour lesson booked for tomorrow and a 30 minute lesson booked for Sunday. I might see if I can do a bit of no stirrup work and some half seat stuff.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I did my first polework clinic today with share horse. Just me and one other rider so really accessible/not intimidating. It's harder than people make it look! We did do some better bits though and there were smiles right the way through despite initial nerves.

Expecting delivery of a new rider confidence book on Saturday so that will keep me busy. Riding again on Sunday in the school.

 

[scats]

No real plans, other than hacking.
I had my first little reminder yesterday that I’ve been a bit affected by my accident. Ankle feels amazing, riding is fine and I honestly don’t notice it all now. I’ve coped happily with Millie’s spooks and even when she spooked and shot off across the field after just I’d started riding again, I wasn’t bothered. But yesterday she was being really tense and daft out hacking, but I ignored her and we carried on. Then she stopped dead at the edge of one of the fields, stared into the hedge as if she’d seen something, with her head going further up with every second. Still fine. Then her back went up. Urgh, that was the exact feeling I had on Polly the day of my accident. Needless to say I froze, went cold and I just wanted to get off but I couldn’t move. All I could think was that it was going to happen again, she was going to explode and I was coming off. Horrible, horrible moment.
Anyway, I held my nerve and after ten or fifteen very horrid strides of walk, where her back was up and she felt like she might send me into orbit, her back went down and she relaxed. We took a slightly shorter route around the tracks and then headed to the manège to get some energy out, before heading back out for a walk in the fields. All fine again after that.

Tried to work out why Millie had reacted that way, and why she’s been a bit more stupid than normal over the last week, even on the ground. Shes even been stupid to bring in, needing a rope over her nose, which isn’t normal for Millie. Then I remembered I’d started her on a lo cal balancer again last week and I’d had to buy Baileys coz the spillers one wasn’t in stock. I remember buying it and thinking there was a reason I don’t normally buy it, but brushed it off. Quick peek through previous years riding journals (I’m sad enough to keep them!) and there it was, we’ve had this same reaction with the baileys lo cal before.
It’s safe to say that she’s been taken off it and is back to a handful of light chaff with vitamins!

Anyway, I do need to address the confidence thing, as I can’t freeze everytime a horses back goes up or I’ll be no use to anyone so I have booked a session with the lady who helped me previously with a confidence issue. Got that in two weeks time. Giving Millie a couple of days to get that stuff out of her system and then we’ll chance another hack.

 

[dottylottie]

sunday should’ve been lily’s first ever show and our first show together, but instead we’re having a lovely visit from the vet tomorrow and the show has been cancelled anyway, not that she’d have been going to rub some salt in the wound, my jacket has finished being made and should arrive tomorrow or saturday!

hoping everyone who is out and about (or staying at home!) has lots of fun

 

[racebuddy]

sunday should’ve been lily’s first ever show and our first show together, but instead we’re having a lovely visit from the vet tomorrow and the show has been cancelled anyway, not that she’d have been going to rub some salt in the wound, my jacket has finished being made and should arrive tomorrow or saturday!

hoping everyone who is out and about (or staying at home!) has lots of fun

Oh know is she ok ? Xx

 

[Alibear]

A weekend over at my happy place for training with an awesome American trainer who comes over once a year.

 

[Caol Ila]

So far, Fin has been in some bogs and Hermosa has been to a castle.

I understand the the Kelpie folktales now.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Won a prize! Different to the usual!

 

[j1ffy]

I’ve been doing this!

Now for a couple of days in Anglesey with the OH’s family then the long drive home…

 

[humblepie]

I’ve been doing this!

Now for a couple of days in Anglesey with the OH’s family then the long drive home…

That looks really good. We went to Anglesey last year for a week's holiday, it was lovely.

We are back hacking after 4 weeks off, but does look like it may be stopping raining now.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

So we went to riding club today and I signed us up for a show jumping lesson and a cross country lesson. I didn’t tell my husband I was going Xc as I didn’t want to worry him!

we did Xc first. Henry hasn’t seen a Xc fence since November 2020. He was a bit hesitant at the water, which is the first thing we did but he’s always been like that and he went in with very little fuss.He just needed a bit of a look.
After that we were flying. He jumped everything without hesitation and was super rideable. We jumped ditched, drops, combinations and mostly jumped 80

Amazingly I was confident and rode normally, like I did prefall. Maybe even better. My position was solid and I committed and my brain didn’t get in The way! So funny how I’m fine jumping solid fences but sjing makes my legs turn to jelly.

Show jumping was also super and I finished the lesson wishing I’d had the chance to jump bigger fences. It was a good lesson focussing being accurate, straight and then doing some jump off lines which was really fun! So just a fun day all around.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

My brain well and truly slammed the brakes on today! Technically I did ride. He was slightly snorty and looky before I got on. I thought about not getting on but told myself to just get on and give it a go. He was more forward than usual and looking out of the arena so I thought right lets get some turns and halts in to get him listening to me. Small spook with a little buck. Told him to walk on and not be silly, did a couple more turns, and thought 'sod this' and got off. One day I'll be able to stay on, ride forward, and get working so he really is concentrating on what we're doing. Today was not that day. Had a little cry about it, gave him a groom and fuss, then cleaned some tack. My biggest horse-related achievement today was probably stripping down and, nearly correctly, putting back together a double bridle.

 

[blood_magik]

BD for us today.

Cas hasn’t been quite right this last week so I withdrew him, only for the other horse I was supposed to be taking to trot up lame yesterday.

The show secretary was kind enough to let me swap horses rather than lose my entry so I ended up taking Raz in HC.

He hasn’t competed since July last year so it was nice to have him back out.

 

[Splash2310]

Finally I have something to contribute instead of reading on jealously!

64.5% in Prelim 12 and 65.7% in Prelim 1 unaffiliated today. First ever dressage tests for me and I’ve only been riding my new share horse for a month, so pretty chuffed!

 

[Cloball]

I’ve been doing this!

Now for a couple of days in Anglesey with the OH’s family then the long drive home…

Ooo I've been trying to convince people to get me vouchers for there for ages

 

[scats]

A lovely day today. We held a surprise 60th birthday party for my aunty so was with family all afternoon.
Arrived a bit later at the farm but it was such a lovely evening that I just had to take Millie out. She’s not been ridden since her daft hack last week, as I was giving her a few days off to let the balancer get out of her system. Needless to say, normal service has resumed and my horse is back to normal, which was a relief!

 

[Roxylola]

0 dartings so far and 2 rides back on Bon. SJ wasn't glorious with Charlie, scrappy in parts but cleared a decent course in a small indoor with bigger wider fences than we'll be jumping at eland so world's alright

 

[Michen]

No competing, nothing exciting. Just time spent in the saddle on this unbelievable little horse.

I don’t know how it’s possible to love him more each day after six years!

 

[Accidental Eventer]

My brain well and truly slammed the brakes on today! Technically I did ride. He was slightly snorty and looky before I got on. I thought about not getting on but told myself to just get on and give it a go. He was more forward than usual and looking out of the arena so I thought right lets get some turns and halts in to get him listening to me. Small spook with a little buck. Told him to walk on and not be silly, did a couple more turns, and thought 'sod this' and got off. One day I'll be able to stay on, ride forward, and get working so he really is concentrating on what we're doing. Today was not that day. Had a little cry about it, gave him a groom and fuss, then cleaned some tack. My biggest horse-related achievement today was probably stripping down and, nearly correctly, putting back together a double bridle.

I think the fact you got on at all is a huge accomplishment. It can be the hardest thing to do to get on a horse who is feeling a bit sparky, and you did it, you rode through the issue and finished on a good note! It might not feel like it but you did a big thing and also knew when to call time. And it’s ok to call time when things don’t feel right.

 

[dixie]

Took my 7yr old to a dressage, his first show since last May due to suspensory issues.
I’ve spent all winter trying to get him to relax, take a contact and swing along.
needless to say he reverted back to his choppy, chomping giraffe .
Never mind, I’ll do a couple more to see if he improves and then switch to fun rides, which he’s great at.

 

[DressageCob]

No competing, nothing exciting. Just time spent in the saddle on this unbelievable little horse.

I don’t know how it’s possible to love him more each day after six years!

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He is such a cutie. That saddle looks unbelievably comfortable too

 

[Bernster]

I prefer the look of English tack but he suits that western outfit! He looks very handsome.