Mid may weekend plans :D

[Michen]

We had an SJ lesson weds and a dressage lesson last night! Was really chuffed when Cara our dressage instructor said he absolutely should be in the 20's in his eventing dressage. But followed up with "if you two can refrain from thinking your on the hunting field" woops.

He's not schooled in 6 weeks properly as the schools been riding a little deep, so I was chuffed with that. Obviously being capable of a 20's dressage and actually getting it are two very different matters!

No proper pics as videos were from far away but a rubbish blurry one from SJ. Another clinic tomorrow and then that'll be it jumping wise until we go to Elmwood next sat (if it runs)

And a boring pic of what Bear is up to at the moment! I’m getting fit though ?

 

[Chippers1]

Buzz got the all clear from the vet yesterday he very occasionally gets locking stifles (although very rare when he's in work) and he thought that they may have locked or something whilst also slipping and strained the muscle but he's fully sound, can be ridden and is back out...and very happy about it too!


So light work for him for now, just to check everything is ok. I'll hack him tonight and do a bit over the weekend, then i'm away for a few days so he can have a little rest again!

Then I need to sort out a locksmith for my horsebox, there's always something!!

Although FF has a pair of gun canisters that I love jumping so hopefully get to jump them on him again. Desperately hoping the weather holds up for the hour or so that we’re out there.
.

Is that Field Farm? You must be quite close to me. I like it there but haven't actually used the xc course, must do it soon!

 

[J_sarahd]

Is that Field Farm? You must be quite close to me. I like it there but haven't actually used the xc course, must do it soon!

Yeah! We must be quite close. Whereabouts are you? I love their xc because it’s so open and big and there’s a lot of fences from quite teeny to massive. Definitely recommend!!

 

[Chippers1]

South Notts, Vale view, Aylesford, Field Farm and Brooksby are all within about 20 mins drive for me so quite close to the a46!
Ah good, I always have to start off small so it sounds perfect for me! I'd also like to try the canter track they recently built there too. I've had a couple of SJ lessons with Jo and really rate her.

 

[J_sarahd]

South Notts, Vale view, Aylesford, Field Farm and Brooksby are all within about 20 mins drive for me so quite close to the a46!
Ah good, I always have to start off small so it sounds perfect for me! I'd also like to try the canter track they recently built there too. I've had a couple of SJ lessons with Jo and really rate her.

They’re all about 20 mins from me too!! The canter track is great too. I went at the start of Jan when it was snowing so couldn’t take complete advantage but I would definitely go again.

 

[Chippers1]

We'll have to go at the same time one day!

 

[Alibear]

Both mares have been slightly challenging this week. The trial turnout together failed so we split them back up and things were going well. But the last two days they've taken it in turns to be very difficult to catch and have only capitulated once they hear tea being given out on the yard.
Also, the indoor school which is Ambers happy place is no more, the surface is being moved over into the lovely new bigger indoor but that leaves us with the outdoor for now and Amber doesn't think much of it. Add in the builders scraping up the surface from the indoor on one side of it and telehandlers etc on the other end, plus horses going past to be turned out in the mornings and it's all been too much for her. We're not allowed to lunge on that surface either so I've been a bit stuck and it's not been a productive week. Our safe space has gone and I need to create a new one. I'm hoping once the builders are gone and the weather is nice again I will finally crack it. I think I may pay my instructor to ride her out there a few times to get some confidence going. We did hack out last night which had one lively moment but the rest of it she was very well behaved. We have camp in 6 weeks time so I really need to crack this so we're confident regardless of location.
Daisy has been hacking with a new hacking buddy and they get on really well so we've had some lovely rides out, if we keep going I'm going to need boots for her hinds. She's being shod tomorrow so am going to be cheeky and ask farrier to measure hinds for me once he's trimmed them; as I have a complete inability to use a tape measure with any level of accuracy. I tried trotting Daisy in the school last night and she's gone back to square one balance-wise so I need to crack on with that. I really need to get her hacking alone so we can speed up and get the forwards established. Canter is still a no, I'm wondering if anyone specialises in getting horses that struggle with balance in canter to go forwards, she really needs a good straight track with a buddy who has gears in canter and is happy to go upsides to encourage her along.
As ever lots to work on!
I have lesson with Amber tomorrow and will hack Daisy out at some point.

 

[humblepie]

Lovely early morning hack in the rain but had great canter round the edge of the fields. Had entered Area Festival but they changed the days and I withdrew. Horse had had a couple of long days at showing shows recently and has a long day showing next week so felt going to dressage a bit too much as well as neither of us as young as we were! Good luck to all who are out and about and enjoying the home photos as well.

 

[racebuddy]

Thanks RB, am I right you're liveried on there? My owner will be there too so we should be ok but I'll let you know my times even if we just get to say hi that would be cool.
I'm a bit concerned that it's on grass after the rain we've had, but I know their ground is generally good - nice positive round ready for somerford next weekend I hope

Hi nope not on livery there but go there a lot , yep if u need a hand just message me can always come and help ,whats on at Somerford next week ?

 

[Roxylola]

Next weekend is the BE at somerford, only doing the 80 but hoping for a good gallopy go round

 

[windand rain]

Taking little fatty to x country training tomorrow I am assured there are plenty little jumps for her novice jockey. Also hoping to con a lightweight adult to pop her over some a bit bigger as she has developed a habit of trotting over 45cm like trotting poles. Both kid and pony need to jump them.

 

[oldie48]

Rose has moved stables because she was heard kicking out at the wall in a diva temper with the gelding in the next stable! She seems to have settled OK but she now doesn't have anyone next to her although she can see the other horses, I'm actually a bit sad for her but it won't help her hock recover if she's slamming the wall. There's a lot of activity on the yard as the new outdoor arena is going in and they are resurfacing the drive, so at least she has something to look at apart from the lovely view.
I hacked out with a friend this morning, it's the first proper ride I've had for months and my thighs are sore and tbh I feel knackered. We only walked and trotted but the pony was a star I felt like a sack of potatoes but it was lovely to be back in the saddle.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Good luck to everyone with plans!

Henry is still lame so my only plans include worrying, crying, changing poultices and praying an abscess bursts out somewhere or he starts getting less lame...

 

[Xmasha]

Good luck to everyone with plans!

Henry is still lame so my only plans include worrying, crying, changing poultices and praying an abscess bursts out somewhere or he starts getting less lame...

didnt want to like that . I feel your pain about the abscess . My mare had one and it took ages to come out . So hoping yours bursts soon . Will do the ‘we need it to be an abscess dance ‘

 

[Xmasha]

Next weekend is the BE at somerford, only doing the 80 but hoping for a good gallopy go round

I’m fence judging next week , so will give you a cheer as you go past !

 

[Britestar]

Outdoor TREC training again at same place as last week, only this time riding the old horse. Who should know better, but won't ? He nearly dropped me last, bouncing wanting a canter up a verge. He's 24 ?.

Sunday going to a farm ride, not sure if I'll take him or the big nobber.

 

[J_sarahd]

I am on cloud 9 at the moment. The cross country lesson was just perfect. I’m proud of how I rode and pony felt incredible. We’ve swapped him to a Waterford and he felt so much lighter and rideable today! A few moments when we started asking more difficult questions, but my instructor has got it into my head to aim for BE80 on him!!

 

[Roxylola]

Hi nope not on livery there but go there a lot , yep if u need a hand just message me can always come and help ,whats on at Somerford next week ?

Im on 13.48 and 14.37 this Sunday if anyone fancies a laugh at me at kelsall - if you come please take pics just in case we get stuck at any point ?
Or just a coffee there or something in between/before/after

 

[racebuddy]

Im on 13.48 and 14.37 this Sunday if anyone fancies a laugh at me at kelsall - if you come please take pics just in case we get stuck at any point ?
Or just a coffee there or something in between/before/after

Hi , i think im
Free , will definitely know more tommorow if u need a hand ? Xx

 

[Northern]

Boring weekend here, first frost of the year due in the morning (-4C, brrrrr).
Will have a school tomorrow and help a friend through a dressage test (which I suggested she enter ).
Next weekend I have a dressage clinic, so we better pull our socks up and look presentable! Hoping we can work on lateral work, travers allllmost but not quite there yet. Will also hop on baby WB this week again, I am trying to book her a saddle fitting but no dates as yet :/ I'm just being super impatient!

Have a good and warm weekend all

 

[palo1]

The problem with goals is that there are many steps to reach them!! Basic stuff is going ok here with Alw; she is enjoying her lovely drop noseband and loose ring snaffle for a much more settled contact which is great - I am really happy with how she feels in that and it is much easier for her to come off the forehand. 2 weeks ago cantering in a micklem with eggbut snaffle setup left me aching like I had been hit by a bus and she was generally not happy. Today was so much nicer for both of us! Happy with that. Canter transitions are improving no end too. For one reason or another Alw has only been ridden twice this week in walk so she was full of beans for arena based stuff today!

I have been trying to develop a 'neat' leg yield as our original one was functional but scruffy...Yesterday saw us happily going left and right across the lane but today we had a super leg yield on the left rein and not a single one at at all, no thank you very much on the right rein!! Even so, left leg yield feels so much improved and I would, tentatively be happy to use that in a test if everything else were in place which it isn't quite!! Of course. We couldn't find a good walk-halt transition today either but hey ho, Alw did offer a few really lovely strides of extension in trot. I don't think I had asked actually but I was delighted to feel so much more reach in her; she usually has more of a knees-to-chest effort bless her. I love that exuberance and expression coming directly from her as well.

Progress is far from linear so the 'goals' are like a mirage; on the horizon one minute and then vanished the next. I have no idea really when we may be ready to do a test debut; today we had a bit of a dress rehearsal with my instructor and feedback was really positive for the stuff I know is good. Less said about other stuff the better but we have to start somewhere and I have learnt to be pragmatic and not let perfection be the enemy of the good I can at least see real, genuine improvements in places - yipppppeeeee!!

I have had a couple of people advise me to sell sweet Alw lately; largely because of the market being so mad. It has made me a bit sad because whilst I recognise that selling a horse at the top of the market would potentially allow for a 'smarter' model (which is what advisors have suggested ) , I do love my girl, feel incredibly proud of her and really want to see what she and I can do. I know what she is and I feel very protective of her! She's not got the best action and she isn't probably the 'dream' horse for lots of folk but I clearly have very Welsh tinted specs as I think she is absolutely beautiful and she fills me with confidence and joy. I slightly wish that people wouldn't suddenly assume aspirations for me I guess!! Though kind of them in some ways...

Sorry, no pics as usual - I am always on my own and pics of a half-tacked up horse just aren't interesting lol!!

 

[milliepops]

Love Alw stories, and of course if you love her you must keep her! Ride the horse that makes your heart sing

Fortunately for my welsh tinted specs, mine is basically not saleable so people gave up with that advice quite some time ago we're better off together, haha.

 

[palo1]

Yes, it is lovely to ride a horse that makes you happy, even if other folk can't see it!! I have no faith whatsoever that I could sell her (my attachment to her!) and I am pretty dire with any transaction involving money in any case so I think she must stay. I think I would rather live in the fantasy that I have a wonderful, beautiful sweet mare and that I shine with happiness riding her than the reality of a dauntingly 'enviable' horse. I have no idea why anyone would think a 'better' horse is needed for me either tbh!!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Was supposed to have a lesson yesterday, instructor isn’t well so have rescheduled to Tuesday. Went for a hack instead which was pleasant, then schooled this morning. The big guy was awesome, full of beans and really upping his game in the medium trot... just one of those really fabulous rides that leaves you beaming.

Swapped my old boy into Coop’s stable, it’s a little less stark now it is inhabited again. Haven’t brought myself to take down her door sign yet; that’s for another day.

 

[teapot]

Happy playing/lessons/partying everyone!

No lessons this week for me - have now emailed given the lack of available lessons over the next seven weeks (it looked awful as a typed list!) As yet no reply and I sent it 48hrs ago... So in meantime, might work at work one day this week and school one of the horses if I can (subject to workloads).

 

[windand rain]

She had a whale of a time both kid and pony loved it

 

[nikicb]

Lovely pics WandR - gorgeous pony, and great little jockey.

 

[Michen]

On my own so no SJ clinic pics. Bog admiring himself and rightly so he was epic! Mostly grids and a couple of wide fairly meaty oxers where he had to actually make a shape over rather than the tiny things we’ve spent the last month basically treating like a canter pole. He thought this was excellent and was very enthusiastic but rideable. He’s really busy at the moment, all low key stuff but lots of trips out and it’s suiting him really well, he’s behaving himself out hacking again.

Bear long reined again, he’s a fresh little monkey at the moment and hopefully will get signed off from the vet in 2.5 weeks otherwise he’s getting turned away for summer.

How the heck am I going to plait that mane!?

Good luck to everyone competing!

 

[milliepops]

If I can plait this mane, you can plait that one ?

Good girl today, think being forced to Do Hacking yesterday reset her attitude to schooling much safer in the sandpit rather than the great outdoors. Tightened up a few things and starting to feel like a proper grown up horse again ?

 

[TheMule]

My little homebred 4yr old was a superstar at his lesson today- only his second trip away from home, it was pouring rain, there was a fair bit going on around the arena and he was just a total poppet. He's very green still so a huge amount of improvement to come, but I am loving the journey