Mid-July Weekend Plans

[SaddlePsych'D]

Can't see a thread yet and I have horse plans this week, yay!

I had planned to hack today but wtf is the deal with the weather?! At least dry here but grey and meh. Next week looks nicer so I decided to do my e-riders recording in my lesson today then will do the hack next week when hopefully it is warmer.

My camera person did an excellent job. Me less so but overall I'm happy with it. I was being incredibly harsh to myself when I was riding but watching it back does look better than I thought it would, and my instructor was pleased so I'm entering it and will look forward to getting the feedback. I had an annoying wobble beforehand because of the horror of... someone else riding in the arena Which I was annoyed with myself about because my focus should just be on what I am doing . At least this did wobble didn't come through in my riding though, according to my instructor, so next time I really will just say 'brain, just shush!'

It's my birthday and my OH confirmed he has booked me in for the side saddle experience with mini photo shoot at Knights of Middle England at the beginning of September. Exciting!!! It's on the 2024 goals list so another one to tick off Mum got me a lovely photo collage canvas of some of my favourite riding pics from the last year and a great card.

Tomorrow is dressage writing at Barbury, my first time going there. Very early start but looking forward to it. Good luck to anyone here who might be competing there (or anywhere!) this weekend.

 

[Birker2020]

Knocked off work at half three and I'm off out tonight with OH for a meal as we have a voucher, two carveries and puddings for £20.

Then tomorrow it's shopping, going to the gym, visiting Mum at the home, seeing Lari and calling in at our friend's on the way home before going to bed with a good kindle book.

Sunday early morning swim, housework, long dog walk and then going for a balti in the evening followed by watching the footie!

I'm not on the forum all weekend as my brain needs a rest from social media but have a good time all x

 

[SEL]

@SaddlePsych'D well done for getting your recording sorted - I'm trying to work out how it's mid July already. E-riders are great and I find the judge feedback usually spot on.

I thought mid July would be a safe time of year to take a little hairy pony showing. I'm going to be up at 5 to de-mud her I think seeing as it's supposed to rain. It's only a fun show but I'm regretting that particular weekend plan right now.

Otherwise stressing over the Appy who after breaking her muzzle and trashing fencing definitely has very sore feet. I have an expensive drug from the vet which needs to be syringed in and a teeny, tiny syringe which isn't up to the job.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

@SaddlePsych'D well done for getting your recording sorted - I'm trying to work out how it's mid July already. E-riders are great and I find the judge feedback usually spot on.

I thought mid July would be a safe time of year to take a little hairy pony showing. I'm going to be up at 5 to de-mud her I think seeing as it's supposed to rain. It's only a fun show but I'm regretting that particular weekend plan right now.

Otherwise stressing over the Appy who after breaking her muzzle and trashing fencing definitely has very sore feet. I have an expensive drug from the vet which needs to be syringed in and a teeny, tiny syringe which isn't up to the job.

I liked this but also sorry to hear of the Appy related stress!

 

[MuddyMonster]

Kicked out weekend plans off with a polework lesson this morning. Pony was a super star ❤

Tomorrow I'm meeting up with a friend for more POR/map reading practise. Think we're planning to ride about 12-5km or so but map reading for that long hurts my brain a bit but is beginning to get easier

Sunday will just be a regular hack, I'm tempted to either ride to our local unofficial gallop track or ride to a local farm route I can do intervals on. We'll see what I fancy!

He needs a bath and tail tidy up at some point too.

Now't too exciting compared to many but we are in our happy place cantering around the countryside so looking forward to it

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

A helpful chat from Lucinda Green for anyone else having the devil on should experience like I did this week. I will try her strategy if I need it on my hack next week!

 

[Bernster]

Had lovely weather yesterday if anything a bit warm! Finn and I dusted off our kit and did a grid work clinic. First sj party he’s done for probably 2 years, and me for 1 year but we had a blast. Kept it small but he was forward, flowing and keen. Apparently we were a bit quick but it felt great. It’s a bit like driving a tank as he’s not very supple and has lost suppleness through his neck (has melanoma so I have to ride him sympathetically and don’t do any arena work really) so things to work on to try and help him but overall a confidence giving fun day out.

 

[Cloball]

Lovely lesson yesterday considering we were late as D did not feel the need to get out of bed and then I left my girth in the car managed to crack the left canter transition mostly because I let the handbrake off right is still a bit exuberant but we struggle more with straightness rhythm on the right so I think it will come. Much steeper leg yields now can do a nice little zig zag. Managed 4 strides of shoulder in off work this week so plenty of hacking and another lesson I think. Going to aim for some online intro tests I think.
Gave myself a lesson in the bleeding obvious out hacking when I realised half halting with my seat was a much more effectively way of slowing down the power walk home and resulted in zero stroppy behaviour. She really does insist I actually ride properly

 

[SEL]

Jumping practice today with @SpotsandBays did not go well. I need a new hat Baby cob put in a very unexpected buck and I ate arena sand. He was feeling a bit bleugh so I'm glad my saddler is out on Wed so she can see if summer weight = new gullet.

But the big baby Spots found his jumping legs! They looked awesome

 

[SpotsandBays]

It was abit of a dirty bronc @SEL, you lasted longer than I would have!

I think baby spots want to be an eventer

 

[millitiger]

Local show with the cutest Welsh pony today.
We have a lot going on at home at the moment, so lovely to nip out for an hour with the best behaved baby pony I've ever had.
We don't really 'do' showing as it's terribly boring and just someone's opinion but it's good practice for getting out in the horsebox for him.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Henry and I had two really productive lessons at dressage club on Saturday. The first lesson was with my usual coach who I haven't seen for ages (very unusual, I've not had many lessons this year!). It was so nice to catch up. She had a great exercise for working on simple changes and establishing walk in between. She set out 4 walk poles across X, so we cantered on a circle, spiralled down, walked, walked the poles, changed rein and cantered. It was super helpful as you had to have the horse collected for the transition, and the poles meant you had to be organised and quick with the aides. Plus it gave the horses a good visual and the poles identified if you had a clear walk or not.

Second lesson was quite useful too, looking at different sections of the test we have been doing (once this year!). Good to have a tune up. Henry worked really hard, he was quite tired by the end.

 

[J_sarahd]

We trotted!! For the first time since the end of Nov.

We went out on a hack with our sensible friends and I first tested the waters by doing little trots to catch up as I was conscious that Nova may feel uncomfortable or anticipate something when being asked to trot. Then we went on a little walk hack with some roadwork (first time doing roadwork since around September!) and on our way back, we have a nice section to trot on. With the other horse in front, I asked her to trot and she just trotted in a forward rhythm! It was only a short 30 second trot.

Still constantly worried she is still in pain, but she seemed happy. And I was beaming!!

 

[SEL]

It was abit of a dirty bronc @SEL, you lasted longer than I would have!

I think baby spots want to be an eventer

I really think you should be thinking Cotswold cup next year with him!! With those legs he could trot round the 70cm

I'll come as chief bully / groom

 

[Alibear]

We had a really good dressage lesson yesterday. Amber's developing a lovely trot and is offering reasonable attempts at a medium trot, which, seeing as she's a quarter horse, is really quite something.
She also remained completely sane when a swarm of bees came across the arena on their way somewhere.
This made up for her being ridiculously spooky on a hack with her best buddies on Thursday evening.
Seriously, a swarm of bees is fine, but walking on the road returning from a hack, at the yard entrance, dropping down, spooking and spinning. I wasn't tense as I was on a lose rein nattering to my friends! It's a good job I love her.
We're off for our New Forrest adventure on Thursday, which I'm very excited about.

 

[j1ffy]

We spent the weekend hacking with a new hacking buddy, testing the water before a fun ride next weekend. Chilli was a good boy and managed a longer hack with decent trots and canters - he kept pace with the leggy TB ex-racer with no issues though had to resort to cantering behind his trot towards the end of the ride

Vet coming on Wednesday to assess his hocks and decide on next steps with those...

 

[Alibear]

@j1ffy Best of luck for Wednesday.

 

[southerncomfort]

If anyone buys any Longley Farm dairy products, our hack today took us right through the middle of LF!

There was a lot going on, its pretty noisy there with lorries coming and going, plus you have to ride under a clear glass bridge with a moving conveyor belt inside.

Bo and his hacking buddy took it all in their stride. Was very pleased with him!