Mid Feb 'will we ever see the sun again' Weekend Plans

SaddlePsych'D

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No rain here but my goodness the grey sky feels a bit relentless and 'doomy' at the moment! I hope others have been at least getting some glimpses of sun.

I know it's early but this week has been intensely stressful and I am thrilled to have made it to (nearly) the end. Or I would be if I wasn't totally exhausted.

I've changed my lesson tomorrow to be ground-based. Not sure what we'll be doing specifically; maybe lunging or in hand TREC/WE. I just decided to take the pressure off given how the week has been and know that I can do a ridden lesson next week when hopefully things will be a bit calmer.

I just got my confirmation of times and who I'm writing for at Area Festival next weekend so looking forward to that too :)
 
It’s blooming cold!!!!

One horse went to the horsepital today for a full pre season MOT and passed with flying colours. As a reward he gets a set of shoes with which to kick off the eventing season 😜 He is going out for his first jump of the year on Saturday. Let’s hope he hadn’t forgotten how.

Her ladyship has a lesson tomorrow and then has to cart her middle aged owner out on an RDA hack on Saturday. Then going jump schooling at Wickstead on Sunday.
 
I felt flipping heroic yesterday! I don't do the spreadsheet job on a Wed and given I have sodden fields and sodden bridleways and no arena I hauled 1 to Cholsey for an hour of tiring him out on their hills, hand walked the wonky one for 45 mins then hacked the microcob. Plus mucking out all 3 and soaking more haynets than I want to count. It was grey, cold & miserable all day and I was basically running on coffee. Asleep on the sofa by 9.

The hooligan is joining a group ride at Cholsey on Sun. It's with the riding club and I'm hoping they won't be too sedate. He doesn't do sedate very well.
 
If its a lady with the initials KD its my good friend and shes lovely and might even bring Coopers sister with her.
For the AF judge? I don't think there's a KD on the list I have.

I've got the same judge I wrote for last year and she was really lovely so pleased about that, it does make the whole experience even better. Also I hope whoever was allocated to make soup last year gets that job again because it was bloody delicious 😂
 
Prepping for me this weekend, for Regionals this time next week.

A quick re-clip, tail wash and trim, hairy leg trim (horse, not me).
Pack as much of my stuff as possible and do a water, oil, tyre check on the lorry.

We'll then spend the weekend cantering around the fields, pretending to be out of control.
Pony is far easier to ride when he is bouncing out of his skin so I am trying to time us getting to Regionals with him coming in HOT!

What I also need to do is actually learn the test as realised this week I've never ridden it 🙈😂
 
It’s blooming cold!!!!

One horse went to the horsepital today for a full pre season MOT and passed with flying colours. As a reward he gets a set of shoes with which to kick off the eventing season 😜 He is going out for his first jump of the year on Saturday. Let’s hope he hadn’t forgotten how.

Her ladyship has a lesson tomorrow and then has to cart her middle aged owner out on an RDA hack on Saturday. Then going jump schooling at Wickstead on Sunday.
As I read this sentence I went 'nooooooo-aaaahh phew!' 😂 I'm glad it was an on purpose, pre-planned trip to horsepital rather than an emergency. Is it okay to ask what the MOT covers for him to check he's good to go?
 
Prepping for me this weekend, for Regionals this time next week.

A quick re-clip, tail wash and trim, hairy leg trim (horse, not me).
Pack as much of my stuff as possible and do a water, oil, tyre check on the lorry.

We'll then spend the weekend cantering around the fields, pretending to be out of control.
Pony is far easier to ride when he is bouncing out of his skin so I am trying to time us getting to Regionals with him coming in HOT!

What I also need to do is actually learn the test as realised this week I've never ridden it 🙈😂
This does feel quite a key thing on the to-do list 😂
 
Driving sunday :D, looks cold but at least dry, it was very much not dry last time! Hopefully will get dressage test correct without being urgently whispered at from behind.

lol @ pretending not in control millitiger 😂. FBHS Instructor 'what did you do to him', well 3 days ago I took him hunting. . . do more of that 😂, he is 24. . .
 
I'm heading down to Moreton Morrell later for a couple of days spectating at Single Horse squad training which should be good fun! Then Monday heading to see the eventing gang before driving back up the road. Vet on Tuesday dental for the ponies here, slightly delayed by the terrible weather then a bit of a hectic couple of weeks!
 
I enjoyed my ground based lesson today. Mostly it was walking in hand in the school, we did some raised poles, rein back, and lots of shapes. I mainly watched the lunging bit this time and it was actually really helpful to understand how things translate into the ridden stuff I do with this horse. It was just lovely, easy horse time which is exactly what I need atm. The weather is pants for riding and with all the stress I have going on it's so valuable to take the time to do 'not riding' things :)
 
Great lesson today - I was on a lovely forward cob, so I even had a couple of canters! RI said I have a good position, just need to work on bringing my shoulders back more in the canter but that should improve with more canter work to ‘retrain’ my body again.

Interestingly since I’ve returned to riding after my break I’ve not been getting nervous (yet!), I’m not a confident rider and a bit of a wimp if the horse is quite forward so I thought I was going to struggle today with cantering and my irrational fear that the horse would take off, but that didn’t happen. Maybe the beta blockers are helping too but it’s nice to actually enjoy a horse taking me forward rather than gripping and tensing up because I’m worried.
 
Horse was wired on our walk today and after his third spook turned croupade (someone remind him he’s supposed to be a crippled retiree…), I decided to just walk him around the yard instead. Think he enjoyed it as he was dragging me around sniffing everything, and tipping boxes and bins over to inspect the insides. It was a non-subtle reminder that I need to start doing scentwork with him again.

No other horsey plans for me though I have bought a copy of the latest Horse&Rider solely so I can spend a hour circling things in a Shires catalogue like I’m a kid again.
 
Horse was wired on our walk today and after his third spook turned croupade (someone remind him he’s supposed to be a crippled retiree…), I decided to just walk him around the yard instead. Think he enjoyed it as he was dragging me around sniffing everything, and tipping boxes and bins over to inspect the insides. It was a non-subtle reminder that I need to start doing scentwork with him again.

No other horsey plans for me though I have bought a copy of the latest Horse&Rider solely so I can spend a hour circling things in a Shires catalogue like I’m a kid again.
Oh god this has unlocked a core memory! 😂
 
For the AF judge? I don't think there's a KD on the list I have.

I've got the same judge I wrote for last year and she was really lovely so pleased about that, it does make the whole experience even better. Also I hope whoever was allocated to make soup last year gets that job again because it was bloody delicious 😂

definitely not my friend as you are a totally different area, I have no idea why I assumed you live near me.
 
Building stuff today. Desperately trying to find a way of serving water in the field without the youngsters either climbing in it or tipping it over. Can't be metal as reggie tap dances in troughs and the neighbours complain about the noise at 4am 😱. Honestly can't win with horses sometimes.

Hopefully a ride tomorrow on Robin.
 
Both boys had the dentist/vaccination visit this week, Rigs now has the go-ahead from both physio and vet to continue to do his work with BF, who is a little heavier than ideal for Rigs. He has a clean bill of health from both professionals, no signs of him suffering. He only does a pub ride once or twice a week (one pub is 1 mile away, the other about 2 1/2) , but Rigs doesn't spare himself and loves carting BF around the countryside. Really looks after him too.

My right leg is still very painful and I'm doing a Ambers Echo and Cloball soon so want to get it right before then. To that end, Rigs is off work by default and BH has been carted off to my friend to continue his work for her for now.

There will be nothing to report next week either, as my leg tends to take around 6 weeks to settle when it goes wrong. I may have someone else to ride Rigs for me, and BH will stay with my friend for now.

Is it weird that I am glad it is me who is injured, not either horse???
 
I’m working this weekend, which I forgot until after I entered a BS show. I can’t blame anyone else, I arranged it myself and it’s on my calendar 🤦🏼‍♀️

To make myself feel better I’ve entered BS for next weekend instead, and also entered our first event of the year (which is only 4wks away now!)
 
I’ve been at my trainer’s for a pre-Areas tune up. Sammy felt awesome, he was consistently forward so I could focus more on position - both my own and our positioning, bend and balance. I tend to adopt an awful ‘lean back and drive’ position when I’m worried the horse might drop behind the leg so I’m consciously trying to bring my shoulders more forward.

Are you writing at Prestige @SaddlePsych'D?
 
I’ve been at my trainer’s for a pre-Areas tune up. Sammy felt awesome, he was consistently forward so I could focus more on position - both my own and our positioning, bend and balance. I tend to adopt an awful ‘lean back and drive’ position when I’m worried the horse might drop behind the leg so I’m consciously trying to bring my shoulders more forward.

Are you writing at Prestige @SaddlePsych'D?
Yes on Saturday :)
 
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