Splish & Masons mum
Well-Known Member
After Friday nights inevitable hour delay on leaving, when I remember about 25 things I havent packed, and have to go home a few times, I arrived at Milton Keynes Event Centre with just enough time to settle Mason into his stable, unpack my kit, put up my tent, sort out my bedding etc, and get ready to have dinner. I had intended on arriving in time to have a hack around the cross country course, but due to the delay in leaving, I didnt have time. Maybe in hindsight its lucky that didnt happen! more about that later
After a fantastic meal provided by Chubbys catering, a couple of glasses of wine and a bit of a catch up with old and new friends, it was time to retire to my comfy airbed. The last time I came to camp it was so cold that I actually used Masons Thermatex on the second night, but I came prepared this time, 2 sleeping bags, kingsize duvet and hot water bottle I was snug as a bug until about 3 am when I woke up absolutely boiling!
Saturday morning was overcast and cool. We were in the indoor school for a flatwork lesson to start off with, to give the instructors a chance to assess everyone and work out if the groups were well matched. As it happened, thanks to the incredible organisation of Susie P, the groups were pretty perfectly matched, and we all stayed with the same people all weekend.
After lunch we trekked back up to the indoor school for a polework and mini jumps lesson I was a bit anxious about poles as my horse has had confidence issues with them ever since Ive had him, and I had a break of about 18 months where I stopped jumping him completely as he would stop and spin at a pole on the ground. We got back into jumping about October last year when after having done months of lungeing and longlining over poles, I decided I needed to grow a pair, got someone confident to jump him for me, and eventually got back on board myself, but only at home. Its been slow progress, but we HAVE progressed. Anyway, back to the lesson. We started going over poles placed between wings in various positions in the arena, first in walk, then trot, then canter, then came my nemesis the cross pole well I neednt have worried, just a small look and we sailed over it, even remembering to go straight afterwards! They say that the first one is always the hardest, and they are right, we sailed over a few more little jumps and ended on a good note.
Another couple of glasses of wine and more great food from Chubbys, tonight was a BBQ, followed by a talk on different therapies, and who you should get to come out to your horse if you suspect a problem. We discussed Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Massage/bodywork, and Physiotherapy, and the differences between them, along with the registration bodies and qualifications required for each. One of the things that surprised a few members was the need to have veterinary consent before anyone (other than you) works on your horse. Very interesting and thought provoking.
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm, and the moment I had been dreading time to put on my brave pants (and my lucky jumping socks!) and face the cross country. We went down onto the mini course, and started with a couple of laps of the canter track just to take the edge off. Then onto the jumps, again, I neednt have worried, as Mason flew over everything I pointed him at, giving some of them a little too much air on the first go, and with a bit of a wobble here and there mainly at the killer branches that decorated the sides of some of the fences. He needed a growl to go over one of the bigger fences, a sort of solid set of steps, but we did it, and I was on cloud 9! Then we ended by wandering down to the large water complex in the main field, we walked, trotted and cantered into and out of the water, went down and up the steps, and were just about to walk back up to the stables to finish when it happened
I dont know exactly what IT was, but the combination of cows cantering behind the hedge, another set of horses coming down to the water complex, and a man with a couple of dogs running around, coupled with the XC excitement, and the bouncing started. Now Im no Mary King, but I can deal with a bit of bouncing, however when the bouncing turned into rearing, bucking, and then into full blown capriole (and Im not exaggerating) I decided that Id pushed my luck sitting 2 caprioles and now was the time for a strategic dismount. Mason then proceeded to turn himself inside out with some incredible airs above the ground for about 15 minutes while I tried to calm him down, and walk slowly back up to the stables. Once we were on the track, and there were 2 hedges in between us and the water, it was like a switch had flicked and he calmed right down, and just walked sensibly back. Very, very scary, and like nothing Ive ever experienced in the 4 years Ive had him. Once back at the stables I let him graze in hand for about 20 minutes (while I calmed down!) before putting him back inside, and he seemed to be back to his normal self.
I was a bit upset, felt really stupid and embarrassed, and cross with myself for not sorting out the situation better (especially not helped by people saying if it was my horse, Id have galloped it round the field until it stopped and I wouldnt have got off if it were me) and I wasnt even sure if I wanted to ride again at all, and I was really quite anxious about the afternoon session which was going out to the showjumping field just in case he did it again. I discussed it with my instructor Susie (who knows us both well) and I decided to man up and give it a go starting again with a few laps of the canter track just to see what was what.
Well, he started off on his toes a bit, perhaps feeding off my anxiety, but apparently sounding braver than I felt I encouraged him on, and we did 2 full laps of trot and one at canter, arriving back at the showjumps just as the others turned up for the session. We started off with poles on the floor, and I had my pony back! He approached everything in a lovely rhythm, came back to me afterwards, and even when the fences went up to jumpable size, he stayed calm, and sailed over everything including those with fillers at the side (hes always been a bit filler spooky). I was so pleased and we ended on a massive high!
I just wanted to share my experience with anyone whos ever considered going to a Riding Club camp, but never actually been. This is only the 2nd time Ive attended camp with Mason, as before that I always thought that camp was for the good people, but there were people and horses of every ability from me on my 14.2 hairy cob to a lady with a 17.2 ex Grade A showjumper. There really are lessons for everyone from Intro dressage right through to Novice XC and everything in between.
My goal for the weekend was to overcome my fear of jumping and jump my horse over (small) showjumps and XC fences for the first time away from home, and we definitely achieved that!
There are a few people I need to thank that made the weekend such a success, Naphill Riding Club and particularly Sue and Jane for organising everything so well, Susie for being her usual patient self, and pushing me just hard enough, all the participants, but especially Karlyn, Angela and Sue for being so supportive and sharing my highs and lows with me, and there were definitely low points, but they really do make you appreciate the highs even more - I suppose thats horses for you!
Sorry that turned into a bit of an essay! cookies if you made it to the end!
After a fantastic meal provided by Chubbys catering, a couple of glasses of wine and a bit of a catch up with old and new friends, it was time to retire to my comfy airbed. The last time I came to camp it was so cold that I actually used Masons Thermatex on the second night, but I came prepared this time, 2 sleeping bags, kingsize duvet and hot water bottle I was snug as a bug until about 3 am when I woke up absolutely boiling!
Saturday morning was overcast and cool. We were in the indoor school for a flatwork lesson to start off with, to give the instructors a chance to assess everyone and work out if the groups were well matched. As it happened, thanks to the incredible organisation of Susie P, the groups were pretty perfectly matched, and we all stayed with the same people all weekend.
After lunch we trekked back up to the indoor school for a polework and mini jumps lesson I was a bit anxious about poles as my horse has had confidence issues with them ever since Ive had him, and I had a break of about 18 months where I stopped jumping him completely as he would stop and spin at a pole on the ground. We got back into jumping about October last year when after having done months of lungeing and longlining over poles, I decided I needed to grow a pair, got someone confident to jump him for me, and eventually got back on board myself, but only at home. Its been slow progress, but we HAVE progressed. Anyway, back to the lesson. We started going over poles placed between wings in various positions in the arena, first in walk, then trot, then canter, then came my nemesis the cross pole well I neednt have worried, just a small look and we sailed over it, even remembering to go straight afterwards! They say that the first one is always the hardest, and they are right, we sailed over a few more little jumps and ended on a good note.
Another couple of glasses of wine and more great food from Chubbys, tonight was a BBQ, followed by a talk on different therapies, and who you should get to come out to your horse if you suspect a problem. We discussed Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Massage/bodywork, and Physiotherapy, and the differences between them, along with the registration bodies and qualifications required for each. One of the things that surprised a few members was the need to have veterinary consent before anyone (other than you) works on your horse. Very interesting and thought provoking.
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm, and the moment I had been dreading time to put on my brave pants (and my lucky jumping socks!) and face the cross country. We went down onto the mini course, and started with a couple of laps of the canter track just to take the edge off. Then onto the jumps, again, I neednt have worried, as Mason flew over everything I pointed him at, giving some of them a little too much air on the first go, and with a bit of a wobble here and there mainly at the killer branches that decorated the sides of some of the fences. He needed a growl to go over one of the bigger fences, a sort of solid set of steps, but we did it, and I was on cloud 9! Then we ended by wandering down to the large water complex in the main field, we walked, trotted and cantered into and out of the water, went down and up the steps, and were just about to walk back up to the stables to finish when it happened
I dont know exactly what IT was, but the combination of cows cantering behind the hedge, another set of horses coming down to the water complex, and a man with a couple of dogs running around, coupled with the XC excitement, and the bouncing started. Now Im no Mary King, but I can deal with a bit of bouncing, however when the bouncing turned into rearing, bucking, and then into full blown capriole (and Im not exaggerating) I decided that Id pushed my luck sitting 2 caprioles and now was the time for a strategic dismount. Mason then proceeded to turn himself inside out with some incredible airs above the ground for about 15 minutes while I tried to calm him down, and walk slowly back up to the stables. Once we were on the track, and there were 2 hedges in between us and the water, it was like a switch had flicked and he calmed right down, and just walked sensibly back. Very, very scary, and like nothing Ive ever experienced in the 4 years Ive had him. Once back at the stables I let him graze in hand for about 20 minutes (while I calmed down!) before putting him back inside, and he seemed to be back to his normal self.
I was a bit upset, felt really stupid and embarrassed, and cross with myself for not sorting out the situation better (especially not helped by people saying if it was my horse, Id have galloped it round the field until it stopped and I wouldnt have got off if it were me) and I wasnt even sure if I wanted to ride again at all, and I was really quite anxious about the afternoon session which was going out to the showjumping field just in case he did it again. I discussed it with my instructor Susie (who knows us both well) and I decided to man up and give it a go starting again with a few laps of the canter track just to see what was what.
Well, he started off on his toes a bit, perhaps feeding off my anxiety, but apparently sounding braver than I felt I encouraged him on, and we did 2 full laps of trot and one at canter, arriving back at the showjumps just as the others turned up for the session. We started off with poles on the floor, and I had my pony back! He approached everything in a lovely rhythm, came back to me afterwards, and even when the fences went up to jumpable size, he stayed calm, and sailed over everything including those with fillers at the side (hes always been a bit filler spooky). I was so pleased and we ended on a massive high!
I just wanted to share my experience with anyone whos ever considered going to a Riding Club camp, but never actually been. This is only the 2nd time Ive attended camp with Mason, as before that I always thought that camp was for the good people, but there were people and horses of every ability from me on my 14.2 hairy cob to a lady with a 17.2 ex Grade A showjumper. There really are lessons for everyone from Intro dressage right through to Novice XC and everything in between.
My goal for the weekend was to overcome my fear of jumping and jump my horse over (small) showjumps and XC fences for the first time away from home, and we definitely achieved that!
There are a few people I need to thank that made the weekend such a success, Naphill Riding Club and particularly Sue and Jane for organising everything so well, Susie for being her usual patient self, and pushing me just hard enough, all the participants, but especially Karlyn, Angela and Sue for being so supportive and sharing my highs and lows with me, and there were definitely low points, but they really do make you appreciate the highs even more - I suppose thats horses for you!
Sorry that turned into a bit of an essay! cookies if you made it to the end!
Which of the cobs in your sig did you take? They're both gorgeous 
