Mid Feb Weekend Pland!

[CanteringCarrot]

Second "saddle experience" for my 3 year old. He won't have a person on his back for quite awhile, but I'm introducing some basic concepts. This time I put stirrups and leathers on the saddle. We did a short walk, trot, canter session on the lunge, and then I let the stirrups down and he walked around with the stirrups down for a bit. Asked him to trot a few steps. I don't like stirrups just banging around off of their sides, but wanted to introduce him to the feeling of it.

Next I had him line up at the mounting block, which he does quite well. I stand on it, and he moves into position. I put weight in the stirrup, and also onto the saddle a wee bit. Flapped things around. Jumped up and down, and did this on the left side and right side.

All in all, zero f*cks given he did turn around once to sniff the stirrup. Perhaps wondering what that dangling thing was. He's interested in what I'm doing, but in no way nervous or uneasy about it.

I think he's a smart little guy, and curious. We've also built up to this, so that increased the odds of him being relaxed about it all. Plus, I think he's just sort of used to me doing things. Whether it's dragging along things next to him while leading, bouncing a giant exercise ball around, or making him wear things (roller, saddle, lunging cavesson, blanket, whatever).

All of today was done in a halter. His mouth was a bit bloody when I got him in from the field. His mouth is undergoing renovations at the moment! In a good way. Things that should be loose and/or falling out are, and things that should grow in, are growing in well at the moment (front teeth).

 

[Michen]

Second "saddle experience" for my 3 year old. He won't have a person on his back for quite awhile, but I'm introducing some basic concepts. This time I put stirrups and leathers on the saddle. We did a short walk, trot, canter session on the lunge, and then I let the stirrups down and he walked around with the stirrups down for a bit. Asked him to trot a few steps. I don't like stirrups just banging around off of their sides, but wanted to introduce him to the feeling of it.

Next I had him line up at the mounting block, which he does quite well. I stand on it, and he moves into position. I put weight in the stirrup, and also onto the saddle a wee bit. Flapped things around. Jumped up and down, and did this on the left side and right side.

All in all, zero f*cks given he did turn around once to sniff the stirrup. Perhaps wondering what that dangling thing was. He's interested in what I'm doing, but in no way nervous or uneasy about it.

I think he's a smart little guy, and curious. We've also built up to this, so that increased the odds of him being relaxed about it all. Plus, I think he's just sort of used to me doing things. Whether it's dragging along things next to him while leading, bouncing a giant exercise ball around, or making him wear things (roller, saddle, lunging cavesson, blanket, whatever).

All of today was done in a halter. His mouth was a bit bloody when I got him in from the field. His mouth is undergoing renovations at the moment! In a good way. Things that should be loose and/or falling out are, and things that should grow in, are growing in well at the moment (front teeth).

Pics please!!!

 

[Bernster]

Nikkim those plaits are amazing!! Any tips?

 

[tda]

Pleased to report that pony behaved very well with her 2 handlers at the Trec obstacles, good time had by all

 

[RachelFerd]

the curse of the hoof abscess strikes again - my younger horse has just got over one, the older horse came in very lame behind on Friday - there were vets on-site already, so got them to take a look before I could even get to the yard, and was surprised (but ultimately cheerful) that they found it was an abscess - took the shoe off, found a track and a little bit of pus came out. More pus out overnight with a poultice and horse seemed sound by Saturday evening. Now just need the farrier to stick the shoe back on. Daren't turn back out for a bit as fields are just so wet and can't deal with the interruption to event season fitness work again.

As a result, only the young horse went to a jump lesson on Saturday - he hasn't left the floor in 6 months and was very polite about doing some gentle cavaletti and small jump work. But a bit gutted to not have the horse who I really needed to do season-prep work on there! Fingers crossed we get the shoe sorted and can be back out next weekend...

 

[Ambers Echo]

Finished the weekend with a hack. A bit more off the beaten track than usual. 7 gates all needing to be done from ground! Luckily Lottie stands stock still and lets me scramble back on from anywhere. Nice long canters. 2 fast river crossings. Llamas, dogs, sheep. I kept thinking ‘this is why I just do farm rides’ . But she was good as gold.

 

[Alibear]

Has a good clinic on Friday. Amber had to go in the round pen for 10 minutes beforehand as the lunge sessions in the week hadn't been enough to keep her calm. But she quickly settled and then worked really nicely. Again things started to boil over as the speed and pressure increased, but she tried hard, and I was pleased she stayed soft despite the odd squeak. We did a pattern in the afternoon session, and that left too much room for tension and it hit from the start when she was asked to move away from the others. She's funny standing in line pulling mare faces at the other horses but ask her to leave them, and suddenly they're her best buddies, and she can't cope without them. She gets like this every spring, and it improves quickly in the summer and she's then fine until the next spring.

I moved her to the training barn afterwards, and the look she gave me, she knew exactly what was up and she was not happy. But the weather has been awful since, so she's in the best place, as I couldn't have ridden her the last few days anyway. I'll find out later this week how she's gone for them and start to fit in some sessions for me to go over and ride.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Finished the weekend with a hack. A bit more off the beaten track than usual. 7 gates all needing to be done from ground! Luckily Lottie stands stock still and lets me scramble back on from anywhere. Nice long canters. 2 fast river crossings. Llamas, dogs, sheep. I kept thinking ‘this is why I just do farm rides’ . But she was good as gold. View attachment 134374View attachment 134375

Amazing landscape there AE, and a dramatic looking sky! Sounds like a proper adventure.

Ride 1 for me on Friday was a private lesson which confirmed that I made the right choice to stop at schoolmaster RS - I needed to be able to put my hand up a few times to pause for a breather because my stamina is pretty poor! I then find that impacts on feeling nervous because I feel less in control of myself. We had some nice work practicing turn on forehand, and using seat to move up and down gears in trot. Also an unplanned canter (thank you horse in next door field!) but I was soooo pleased with how I managed it and got some positive feedback on this (i.e., did not pull up and cry, said 'don't be silly, now trot back on please', then did some really nice 3-loop serpentines as instructor wanted to help get my mind busy before too much time to worry about it afterwards).

Also...physio exercises making a huge difference to my grippy knees and unhappy hips already, and I can feel how this is makes me more secure in the saddle and able to control my rising trot, hurrah!

Ride 2 was a private hack nudging me closer towards my goal of a canter in Cirencester Park. Back riding Mr Sporty (this is not his name but he is an ex event horse and certainly the sportiest model I've ever sat on!) who along with my instructor really helped me manage nerves. It probably was a bit much today, I'm not feeling well again (boooo!) and it makes such a difference to my confidence. That said, I am mega pleased with how I dealt with the nerves (like 'I want to get off and walk home now' level of nerves), again got some positive feedback and actually really enjoyed the majority of the ride. Trotting across an open field in the sunshine was probably a highlight, and the views on the way home (helping me ignore the fact that I seriously dislike riding down steep slopes).

 

[j1ffy]

Amazing landscape there AE, and a dramatic looking sky! Sounds like a proper adventure.

Ride 1 for me on Friday was a private lesson which confirmed that I made the right choice to stop at schoolmaster RS - I needed to be able to put my hand up a few times to pause for a breather because my stamina is pretty poor! I then find that impacts on feeling nervous because I feel less in control of myself. We had some nice work practicing turn on forehand, and using seat to move up and down gears in trot. Also an unplanned canter (thank you horse in next door field!) but I was soooo pleased with how I managed it and got some positive feedback on this (i.e., did not pull up and cry, said 'don't be silly, now trot back on please', then did some really nice 3-loop serpentines as instructor wanted to help get my mind busy before too much time to worry about it afterwards).

Also...physio exercises making a huge difference to my grippy knees and unhappy hips already, and I can feel how this is makes me more secure in the saddle and able to control my rising trot, hurrah!

Ride 2 was a private hack nudging me closer towards my goal of a canter in Cirencester Park. Back riding Mr Sporty (this is not his name but he is an ex event horse and certainly the sportiest model I've ever sat on!) who along with my instructor really helped me manage nerves. It probably was a bit much today, I'm not feeling well again (boooo!) and it makes such a difference to my confidence. That said, I am mega pleased with how I dealt with the nerves (like 'I want to get off and walk home now' level of nerves), again got some positive feedback and actually really enjoyed the majority of the ride. Trotting across an open field in the sunshine was probably a highlight, and the views on the way home (helping me ignore the fact that I seriously dislike riding down steep slopes).

It probably doesn't feel like it at times, but it sounds like you're making good progress!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It probably doesn't feel like it at times, but it sounds like you're making good progress!

It did not feel like it when I managed to convince myself of imminent doom during a brisk trot earlier (spoiler, there was no doom imminent or otherwise!) but overall I am starting to really see the change I so want to see, and to hear instructors giving feedback along those lines is brilliant.

It was quite hard work today in combo with not feeling well so we agreed a steadier horse for next time though!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Pics please!!!

None from yesterday with the saddle, but today we played ball, did tarp stuff (walked over it, wore it, attempted to eat it, the usual ), and pole stuff.

He's gotten really good about kicking the ball and had it going for a bit. According to him, it's also tasty!

Probably should've taken video or action shots, but OH and I were in the moment "in the game" and it was an intense international football match!

 

[nikkimariet]

Finished the weekend with a hack. A bit more off the beaten track than usual. 7 gates all needing to be done from ground! Luckily Lottie stands stock still and lets me scramble back on from anywhere. Nice long canters. 2 fast river crossings. Llamas, dogs, sheep. I kept thinking ‘this is why I just do farm rides’ . But she was good as gold. View attachment 134374View attachment 134375

Amazing hacking. I miss doing this with Rooni but no one to go with now!

 

[FitzyFitz]

Had a very busy but pretty successful weekend!

Took my grown up but not super well educated mare to a riding club clinic on Friday, got lots of comments of "she's a livewire isn't she? and "light aids, she's quite a hothead" and "does she always get disunited?" BUT she not only cantered the whole way around a (scary indoor) arena, she also cantered over poles without pitching me off into a wall or anything like that so I was very pleased. And exhausted.

Next day I took her to a 24km early season endurance social ride, a distance well within her capabilities even over hilly and technical terrain (VERY slippery in places too) although she was not quite so full of vim and vigour as usual. Especially after 10km of slogging up hills without sight or sound of another horse. She kept on going though even though it was a pretty significant workout and almost no canter opportunities so she was using all the same muscles. In driving rain! Saw plenty of horses when we got closer to the venue which perked her up again but I think she was just a bit tired from the lesson the night before. The venue parking had fenced horse corrals though so she got to have a big roll right after her ride to go with her grass nut soup which made her day. I'm tentatively planning to do her first 64km in april so I really need to crack on with her fitness, and more canter work which is pretty difficult with our local hacking unfortunately. Lots of trailer trips in our future I guess!

On the Sunday I took my 4yo loan horse on her first ever ridden outing to day 2 of the social ride to do 12km, accompanied by our 30yo who is invaluable for this sort of thing. I first sat on her in august last year so she's still very green but i've done an awful lot of slow introduction to adult life and lots of hill walking both before and after actually starting to ride her. Boring, but does mean that by the time I finally get round to do more exciting stuff it's not very exciting at all, just how I like it.
She was pretty keen and was marching ahead the whole way, up and down hills, through puddles and mud, being very sensible on the trickier bits except one steep uphill corner with very rough footing where she decided she was going fast and I just sat there and didn't interfere we stayed upright anyway. Also met a very scary wrapped bale that the 30yo had to go stand next to while we sidled closer step by step.
She's gaited too so we get all the fun of a quite keen forward going but slightly drunk young horse trying to figure out what it's doing with it's legs, except rather than doing a sloppy strung out trot or a tranter she swaps which order her legs are going in every 3-10 steps she did do some nice even smooth saddle gait in places but it's still inconsistent, then again, I don't know many 4yo's who do a perfect rhythmical trot all the time either!

 

[nikkimariet]

Nikkim those plaits are amazing!! Any tips?

I braid up from the neck (with the first plait behind the bridle path a little looser, otherwise it looks a bit sad and flat next to the head piece), stitch through the band but instead of folding the braid in half I fold it over by a third. Secure with a stitch then roll it over, I stitch in a X pattern at the base of the plait and then usually do one stitch right through the middle to hold it ‘up’.

He has a double mane and the weight of it pulls my plaits down but I discovered than only folding the plait by a third works a lot better and you have more of it standing up off the crest. It’s really made a difference and takes no longer/makes them no less secure!

 

[Bernster]

I braid up from the neck (with the first plait behind the bridle path a little looser, otherwise it looks a bit sad and flat next to the head piece), stitch through the band but instead of folding the braid in half I fold it over by a third. Secure with a stitch then roll it over, I stitch in a X pattern at the base of the plait and then usually do one stitch right through the middle to hold it ‘up’.

He has a double mane and the weight of it pulls my plaits down but I discovered than only folding the plait by a third works a lot better and you have more of it standing up off the crest. It’s really made a difference and takes no longer/makes them no less secure!

Thank you! I band not stitch so I might not be able to recreate that. But I’ll try the roll by 3rd as that I could easily do. And see if it makes a difference. I get what you mean about them lying a bit flat otherwise, as that’s what mine tend to do.

I don’t think I could handle the extra faff of thread and needle I’m afraid but yours do look blooming marvellous!

 

[nikkimariet]

Thank you! I band not stitch so I might not be able to recreate that. But I’ll try the roll by 3rd as that I could easily do. And see if it makes a difference. I get what you mean about them lying a bit flat otherwise, as that’s what mine tend to do.

I don’t think I could handle the extra faff of thread and needle I’m afraid but yours do look blooming marvellous!

These only take 30 mins from start to finish (with regular practice and a clean/ready to go horse, which always helps!). I agree I don’t think bands would give the same effect. Lots of people try the quick knot method, that may work? I love the security of stitched plaits!

 

[RachelFerd]

These only take 30 mins from start to finish (with regular practice and a clean/ready to go horse, which always helps!). I agree I don’t think bands would give the same effect. Lots of people try the quick knot method, that may work? I love the security of stitched plaits!

I did some stitched big plaits the other day and, as someone who always bands, was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take me any longer. Sure I only did 6 plaits not 15, but that was the point I reckon with practice I could do it quicker. I band for eventing for easy removal for the jump phases though.

 

[Bernster]

Googled quick knot, then watched a you tube plaiting video. Gonna try a few things next time

 

[humblepie]

Googled quick knot, then watched a you tube plaiting video. Gonna try a few things next time

I can't plait with bands and was given some quick knots things when they first came out at a trade show. I couldn't get to grips with them at all. I can stitch plait a mane pretty well as show but just cannot get my fingers to work for bands or the quick knots. I wanted to try them as thought they may be useful for dressage rather than showing but instead just decided not to plait for dressage, to save his mane from too frequent plaiting.

 

[SEL]

And that's why I hog Plus I have arthritis in my right hand so unless the horse stands completely still plaits get messy.

I did an indoor arena hire today. It was windy, everything was rattling, we were very tense. I was aiming for lovely long reaching into the contact trot, but we got short neck snorty passagy nonsense.

But we felt sound and I didn't die - neither of which was a given!

 

[Ambers Echo]

Entered an E-Riders dressage test. I forgot to salute (-2), forgot to introduce Lottie (-2) and my camera-person did not zoom in for the stuff at A (-2). Oh dear!

But I have uploaded the test anyway for the comments. And it can only improve from there....

Well they were kinder to me than I expected. No penalties! And I scored 68% for 5 out of 18 in the Prelim. Happy with that. Comments and score very similar to the test I did the following weekend - no more 'hard against the hand' no more 'bracing and tense' comments! Hurrah! Both judges picked me up on CL accuracy (I'm never on it!) and bend. Which I know I need to work more on. Lottie is still not that supple really. But a lot better than the plank of wood she used to be!

I think I will keep doing one a month and see how we get on over the year.

 

[Squeak]

Just a note on the quick knots, they worked well for me but I made the mistake of jumping in them and luckily it was only one round as I gouged my finger on one of them. To be honest I was glad it was my finger not the horses neck so in short, good for flat but be wary of using them if you want to jump!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The quick knots didn't work so well with my thicker maned horse. It was easiest to let him grow his mane a bit longer and do scallop (or reverse scallop, idk) braids. Or if I let it get quite long, a running braid. He was a PRE so it was suitable. The quick knots are kind of pokey. They do come in 2 different sizes IIRC.

 

[SEL]

Well they were kinder to me than I expected. No penalties! And I scored 68% for 5 out of 18 in the Prelim. Happy with that. Comments and score very similar to the test I did the following weekend - no more 'hard against the hand' no more 'bracing and tense' comments! Hurrah! Both judges picked me up on CL accuracy (I'm never on it!) and bend. Which I know I need to work more on. Lottie is still not that supple really. But a lot better than the plank of wood she used to be!

I think I will keep doing one a month and see how we get on over the year.

I do one a month because I find the judges always do a good job of writing decent comments - feed back is appreciated.

We're normally pretty good at CL but my OH was filming and told me my final one was awful. Submitted anyway (he wasn't up for hanging around) & yup, pulled up on it! Just intro for us as first one back after lameness and I'm riding on wet grass