Middling March weekend plans?

[millitiger]

Firstly, no snow this week, hurrah!

We're off to a Howden Way training day on Saturday, doing SJ and XC on a surface.
Was hoping to be on grass but the rain has put paid to that!

Sunday we're off to the gallops, to do some faster work, in prep for the Broadway hill next week.
Monday I fly to Cairo for 4 days with work, so Dima gets a rest!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, whatever you're doing.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Have fun MT!!

We are just hacking. I love having no solid plans, ie no comps etc. Its definitely making me realise how little I enjoy competing now!!

Hope everyone has fun!!

 

[BallyJ]

Thought I'd drop in as I'm doing something horsey this weekend!!

Spending Saturday cleaning but Sunday I'm XC fence judging at Lincolnshire horse Trials.

MT - Cairo sounds exciting!

Fern007 - I enjoy a chilled weekend, hope the weather stays dry

 

[J_sarahd]

More hacking for us. I also need to go into the school for a walk round as we have a saddle fit on Monday, but she hasn’t been ridden in there since November and we have a new mirror so I want to see if she’s okay with it instead of being dumped in my saddle fit. She’s been longlined and walked past it - sometimes well and sometimes like a kite!

I’m excited for the saddle fit because it will hopefully mean we can start adding more things into the mix and not just walk hacking, longlining and in-hand walking.

 

[humblepie]

Have fun all. We aren’t out competing yet. Instead Saturday planning stable spring clean as need to rearrange mats.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I wish I could just say, 'I'm going for a hack' and be looking forward to that but I can't because I need to work on building my confidence with it which of course will take time and some extra work. It will pay off, it's just motivation is low at the end of my working week! There's some yard-related stuff I don't feel I can post about too much. I never quite know what to expect which adds to the 'am I really looking forward to this?' feeling.

Anywho, what I'm doing is going in the school again. OH might come with me and video, and it would be nice to have some company. Plus if I do want to take some steps with hacking I'll have him there be my on-foot person.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I'm off down to Warwick on Saturday afternoon for 2 days of heavy cavalry training (horse archery, polearm, sabre and shield). Nervously looking forward to it...

 

[Michen]

Going to go skiing and also ride Boggle in his beautiful new western saddle!!! so in love with it! Can’t wait to get a blingy headstall

I’ve had him 6 years today. What a horse and what an adventure we’ve had together so far.

 

[blood_magik]

I’m attempting my first advanced test tomorrow

feeling rather unprepared at the moment as Cas ended up needing some dental work done so we didn’t make our lesson (Raz was rather unimpressed at having to take Cas’s place )

 

[SEL]

I'm going to re-do the route where baby cob decided he was a rodeo pony. He's been fine at home so here's hoping I'm not shopping for another new hat....

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We had a great lesson today, felt like I was riding well from the second I was in the saddle and we jumped through lines and got them right the first time where I’ve previously struggled! Really positive lesson, I felt like my old self again!

tomorrow we are going show jumping. Just a training day, decided I’d rather train than compete at this point in the season, I need positive outings, not ribbons!

 

[RachelFerd]

I've got a SJ lesson tonight with youngster, and then a SJ competition tomorrow at the same venue tomorrow with both youngster and older TB. It's the scene of our big 'splat' incident a couple of weeks ago, so good to go and slay some mind-demons!

 

[Birker2020]

Firstly, no snow this week, hurrah!

We're off to a Howden Way training day on Saturday, doing SJ and XC on a surface.
Was hoping to be on grass but the rain has put paid to that!

Sunday we're off to the gallops, to do some faster work, in prep for the Broadway hill next week.
Monday I fly to Cairo for 4 days with work, so Dima gets a rest!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, whatever you're doing.

I've had a lovely ride again on the horse I've been riding, might go back Sunday for another ride. My muscles are aching. 3rd ride this year. Loving it, its really made my day.

I think I'm going for a swim and jacuzzi now before going to muck out.

 

[oldie48]

Schooled Mr D this morning, it was remarkably warm and I ended up in short sleeved polo shirt! We're doing a pole work clinic on Sunday and I'll school again on Monday with a hack on Wednesday. I hope anyone out competing is successful and everyone stays safe.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The sun came out for us too!

Really happy with our time in the school. I nearly decided to have a canter. Nearly. It's the first time I've regretted not going for it. I made some video of the ride which from the little bits of watched is a little disappointing in that I thought we were going forwards more than we are but I hope it shows at least a little progress from last time I videoed!

Sunday sun is forecast and if it does, I think I'm going to do a bit in the school and try a teeny bit of hacking. I don't want to waste a second of Spring sunshine and I have riding dreams which are going to need me to start taking some little (minute!) steps towards riding off the yard. I'm thinking up to the end of the lane and back by myself, then back out with OH on foot to do a small lollipop route if feeling good

 

[Cherryblossom]

I’m taking Poppy to her first event tomorrow! Thankfully I’m not riding her as I’d be a bag of nerves, but I have signed up for some arena eventing in a few weeks, so it will be good to see how she goes with her pro tomorrow.

 

[Pippity]

Bringing Blue back into work has finally progressed to sitting on her, after a couple of weeks of in-hand work. (I'm probably taking it too slow, but I'd rather go too slow than too fast.)

Unfortunately, my saddle fitter has cancelled two appointments, so I'm not using my saddle just yet. You've got to love having a horse who can have two months off, then be ridden bareback without the slightest hint of excitement! I'm not quite willing to risk hacking her without a saddle, though, so it's just been long walks in hand and a few ten-minute sessions in the school.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Trying to work out what is going on with Pepsi and SJ. I am coming to the conclusion that I might be the majority of the problem

In theory the problem is jumping away from home. But had a lesson at arena hire tonight (somewhere we’ve been once a year or so ago, so pretty much new) and he was brilliant. Probably the best lesson we have had away from home, very much his normal self. If it was physical I think it would have shown up in that situation too (plus we’ve checked the physical side already)

I’m glad it’s not physical, but it’s also harder in some ways because I can’t just “fix” it. We will step things down a level or two height wise to see if that helps both our confidence.

the real test will be taking him to a clear round at Epworth on Sunday (the location of the most recent disaster). Will be interesting to see if he starts napping once other horses are involved, or if once we take the heights down and I actually give him some sort of direction he goes back to his normal self…

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We had a great morning show jumping. 2 rounds at 70, which while not huge at all, was exactly what we needed to keep building my confidence.

First round I didn’t have him quite forward enough to start but got him more forward and despite a few sticky spots went around clear. Nothing fab but we did it. Had a breather while another rider went then us again.

This round was way, way better. I lifted my hands, sat taller and then got him in front of the leg. He was foot perfect, landed all his correct leads, I stayed with him and finally felt like I was competent. Hooray!

 

[shortstuff99]

The Spanish potato and I went to a SJ clinic again today! She is proper bonkers but is enjoying it. Trying to work on the basics still so jumps are small but no matter

 

[blood_magik]

Cas still isn’t 100% happy so we ended up retiring - gutted as he felt amazing in the warmup

back to the drawing board…

 

[Cloball]

Well the plan was hack Friday as I had an earlier finish and then practise a bit in the school as my hacking buddies are all busy. Then instructors said she could fit me in Friday even which in hindsight wasn't a great plan but also worked out quite well. What with car troubles, snow and torrential rain D hasn't really been out enough and was on one, particularly as her pals were heading in, as a bucking napping pony was not what I had in mind. So I got off and lunged for a bit and it was like lunging Pepe le pew on speed. Instructor really helped calm me and pony down so I got back on and we finished doing some calm walk and trot work. If I had been left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have got back on so alls well that ends well.
Did some more of the same by myself today and some poles and we were back to business as usual chilled pony . Hacking tomorrow with YO and then I need to be more motivated during the week to get out and about more so I don't end up in this situation again. Entirely predictable but you live and learn. Can't take being a sensible native for granted

 

[SEL]

Baby cob had his shoes back on Friday and felt sooooo much better today. He just wasn't getting on with boots. I decided we would walk the route he turned into a rodeo last weekend and I could feel he was wound up and wanting to go, but on the buckle pretending I was a sack of potatoes and he didn't put a foot wrong. So we'll walk it a few more times because I think he's started anticipating and needs to listen instead.

Microcob is "off". I gave her some bodywork tonight and she was tight all over and grumpy. I'm not sure if she's been sliding around in the field and aggravated something.

 

[RachelFerd]

Successful but long day SJ today - more than 300 entries at Kelsall BS today

Youngster popped round the British Novice with just 1 down, and remained rideable. Had a few unlucky rubs in the discovery so score was worse than the round - but I didn't fall off and he remained rideable - so boxes ticked.

Older TB did some fast work on the gallops first, and then jumped in the newcomers, which seemed plenty up to height (probably sensible given the 78 entries into the NC/110) - anyway, jumped a fab round where he stayed nicely lit up but 'with' me - ended up being fast enough for 2nd out of 52 in the NC section, which I am totally surprised but very happy about he's such a funny thoroughbred - with most of them galloping first would be a terrible idea, but it actually sharpens him up nicely. And then the faster I try and ride in a jump off, the better he gets - if I try and go for a quiet double clear and get hooky with him it can just get a bit underpowered, but the more I dare him, the better he jumps. So not thoroughbred traits, but then, he's not your average thoroughbred. He then spent a lot of time chatting to random strangers to tell them all about how good he is

Video here as am super pleased with him

He's having first run of the season at Thoresby in a couple of weeks time.

 

[Cherryblossom]

Well my nerves are truly shattered after watching Poppy do her first 2 phase! It was advertised as 75-80cm, but they must have had a different measuring tape to me!
I sent her off with instructions to not push it if she wasn’t capable or enjoying it, and positioned myself at the start as I wasn’t sure she would make it much further. She stopped at the first but then headed off and I saw her as far as #4 before losing sight of them. I then had the total horror of hearing that the course was held at #7, and was running across the field leaving my children in my wake with a vague instruction of ‘don’t let them get run over’ when the announcer said Poppy was waiting at fence 6. I’ve never known relief like it!
I’m going to do some smaller ones on her now, which will hopefully be more within her comfort zone. Pics aren’t great, but I think the last one demonstrates just how generous the some of the sizing was!

 

[J_sarahd]

Well my weekend plans went out the window. The friend I was meant to be hacking with yesterday cancelled so I went in the school for 5/10 mins (anyone who has seen my thread will know we have had issues with the bit and I just wanted to try another ahead of our saddle fit tomorrow). I was meant to be hacking today but Nova has lost a shoe!! So that plan has been aborted and she’s having a day off. I’m hoping our farrier can fit us in before the saddle fit but I think she will be okay for a walk and brief trot in the school if he can’t.

So today I am helping my friend with fences whilst she jumps and I get major jealousy because I haven’t jumped since October.

A little photo from yesterday’s ride. She really is such a lovely mare

 

[scats]

I’ve really struggled this week for various reasons. Hoping to pull myself together and get back to doing a bit.
Pretty girl

 

[TheMule]

Successful but long day SJ today - more than 300 entries at Kelsall BS today

Youngster popped round the British Novice with just 1 down, and remained rideable. Had a few unlucky rubs in the discovery so score was worse than the round - but I didn't fall off and he remained rideable - so boxes ticked.

Older TB did some fast work on the gallops first, and then jumped in the newcomers, which seemed plenty up to height (probably sensible given the 78 entries into the NC/110) - anyway, jumped a fab round where he stayed nicely lit up but 'with' me - ended up being fast enough for 2nd out of 52 in the NC section, which I am totally surprised but very happy about he's such a funny thoroughbred - with most of them galloping first would be a terrible idea, but it actually sharpens him up nicely. And then the faster I try and ride in a jump off, the better he gets - if I try and go for a quiet double clear and get hooky with him it can just get a bit underpowered, but the more I dare him, the better he jumps. So not thoroughbred traits, but then, he's not your average thoroughbred. He then spent a lot of time chatting to random strangers to tell them all about how good he is

Video here as am super pleased with him

He's having first run of the season at Thoresby in a couple of weeks time.

Simon is looking fab! I think you'll have another really competitive year of eventing

 

[TheMule]

My weekend started a little early as I'm working today, Nova went to a lesson and was super confident over lots of technical angled lines. Still lots to work on and can’t really believe we're eventing in 2 1/2 weeks time…. Desperateply need to get out actual xc schooling

Then we had a play with the youngsters yesterday and they popped a tiny pole, all very confidently….. think I've got a couple of little jumpers in the making

 

[oldie48]

Did a pole work clinic this morning. Mr D was really on form and thoroughly enjoyed himself. We worked up to trotting then cantering a "clover leaf" shape over poles and he was totally "ace" despite being quite tight for space. It's great for improving strength and balance and his owner made it a bit more taxing by having a rather more complex pattern of poles than just a square. We had one "squeak" when I messed up and he met a canter pole wrong so he showed his talent for jumping and socked me up the backside! Great session though!