Girlracer
Well-Known Member
Well after a terrible 2012 (god knows how many falls, an the discovery of KS) I was determined for 2013 to be a better year. I had a few goals, which we didn't quite achieve, but despite that I feel like we've over come an awful lot and learnt a lot from one another.
The year started with a cracking day in glorious sunshine at the Cottesmore New Years Day meet.
When it was dry enough we did some schooling on a small grass paddock.
Then the company I was working for (in Rutland) suddenly ran out of money and stopped paying me, they also stopped paying for the house I was in incl the gas (on a card) so I was in a freezing cold house in one of the coldest Aprils with an empty bank account. Thankfully me and my dad had already discussed me returning home (Worcestershire) to help run his business later in the year, so within a week Major was on the trailer and my life was packed in a van once again (I only moved up there from a job in Oxford the April before) and we set off home. Major went to a yard a mile away from my mums house where I would be staying,
Best of all we had a school!
Then more snow came
Once it cleared up I decided to see what he did over a little fence (first time in well over a year). It was interesting to say the least.
Then we went to a local EC for a SJ clinic, he was absolutely great, if a little spirited!
Id say at this point we were both the most confident wed ever been over fences.
We then had some fun on the ground.
Along with more hacking
Then came our first ever show, we hacked up to a local RC. We did two showjumping rounds and a prelim. Didnt get a clear round, but we got round and thats all that mattered.
The very next day we went to the local EC again for another SJ clinic (May 12th) which didnt go at all according to plan
As some of you know I struggled after this, I realise now it was totally my fault, he told me he wasnt happy and I didnt listen. It turned out the saddle was pinching that day, I used a different saddlecloth which wasnt as thick and he was not comfortable. He now has two big white marks on his back, and honestly I hate myself, if Id known I would of put it right I had the saddle over a year with no problem.
I considered a break from horses all together, I considered sharing, I considered never seeing a horse again. I put him up for sale.
X ray before
X ray after
As soon as I came out of hospital (I was kept in for a week and operated on) I went to see him, which lifted my spirits some what.
He then went onto full livery at another yard, for obvious reasons...
As soon as I could drive I went up every day to give Major a groom, then when I could I started lunging again (end of July/beginning of August).
Back in the saddle by the middle of August
Then a place on the yard Major went to when I first got him in 2010 came up, its a small yard that a friends parents own and Ive had horses there since I was about nine, only me my mum and a good friend. He went into his old stable, and we back onto DIY.
We did our first dressage anywhere test in September.
Before we knew it hunt season was upon us again!
Then we went on a local funride at the end of September, as you can imagine I was pretty nervous, it was the first big thing wed done since my fall and the first time really jumping. In the end we jumped absolutely everything, including the biggest photo jump!!
Then we agreed to a pairs hunter trial, only 2'6-2'9 . except upon walking the course I realised it was around the BE90 course at Broadway (2)!!! I nearly died, I have never been so nervous I knew we were totally over faced, it was massive! Didn't go too badly, but hit the deck again! But through no fault of his, just jumped awkwardly at the second part of a double and off I came...
XC schooling shortly afterwards.
Then we had a photo shoot
And played...
More hunting...
Then his new little brother arrived!
Which was very exciting!
They both had a photo shoot...
Then came our Christmas ride
And that more or less sums up the year, we once again started the year hunting on NYD, although slightly wetter this year!
So plans for 2014, Major is going to concentrate on some dressage, our first lessons are booked and I've done dressage anywhere the past few months so will continue that. Aim for the end of the year is to score over 60% in a novice test. And of course enjoy ourselves on the hunt field,
Oakley has his first in hand show pencilled in for May, and I will back him over the summer and turn him away again for the winter.
Roll on 2014, can't wait!
The year started with a cracking day in glorious sunshine at the Cottesmore New Years Day meet.
When it was dry enough we did some schooling on a small grass paddock.
Then the company I was working for (in Rutland) suddenly ran out of money and stopped paying me, they also stopped paying for the house I was in incl the gas (on a card) so I was in a freezing cold house in one of the coldest Aprils with an empty bank account. Thankfully me and my dad had already discussed me returning home (Worcestershire) to help run his business later in the year, so within a week Major was on the trailer and my life was packed in a van once again (I only moved up there from a job in Oxford the April before) and we set off home. Major went to a yard a mile away from my mums house where I would be staying,
Best of all we had a school!
Then more snow came
Once it cleared up I decided to see what he did over a little fence (first time in well over a year). It was interesting to say the least.
Then we went to a local EC for a SJ clinic, he was absolutely great, if a little spirited!
Id say at this point we were both the most confident wed ever been over fences.
We then had some fun on the ground.
Along with more hacking
Then came our first ever show, we hacked up to a local RC. We did two showjumping rounds and a prelim. Didnt get a clear round, but we got round and thats all that mattered.
The very next day we went to the local EC again for another SJ clinic (May 12th) which didnt go at all according to plan
As some of you know I struggled after this, I realise now it was totally my fault, he told me he wasnt happy and I didnt listen. It turned out the saddle was pinching that day, I used a different saddlecloth which wasnt as thick and he was not comfortable. He now has two big white marks on his back, and honestly I hate myself, if Id known I would of put it right I had the saddle over a year with no problem.
I considered a break from horses all together, I considered sharing, I considered never seeing a horse again. I put him up for sale.
X ray before
X ray after
As soon as I came out of hospital (I was kept in for a week and operated on) I went to see him, which lifted my spirits some what.
He then went onto full livery at another yard, for obvious reasons...
As soon as I could drive I went up every day to give Major a groom, then when I could I started lunging again (end of July/beginning of August).
Back in the saddle by the middle of August
Then a place on the yard Major went to when I first got him in 2010 came up, its a small yard that a friends parents own and Ive had horses there since I was about nine, only me my mum and a good friend. He went into his old stable, and we back onto DIY.
We did our first dressage anywhere test in September.
Before we knew it hunt season was upon us again!
Then we went on a local funride at the end of September, as you can imagine I was pretty nervous, it was the first big thing wed done since my fall and the first time really jumping. In the end we jumped absolutely everything, including the biggest photo jump!!
Then we agreed to a pairs hunter trial, only 2'6-2'9 . except upon walking the course I realised it was around the BE90 course at Broadway (2)!!! I nearly died, I have never been so nervous I knew we were totally over faced, it was massive! Didn't go too badly, but hit the deck again! But through no fault of his, just jumped awkwardly at the second part of a double and off I came...
XC schooling shortly afterwards.
Then we had a photo shoot
And played...
More hunting...
Then his new little brother arrived!
Which was very exciting!
They both had a photo shoot...
Then came our Christmas ride
And that more or less sums up the year, we once again started the year hunting on NYD, although slightly wetter this year!
So plans for 2014, Major is going to concentrate on some dressage, our first lessons are booked and I've done dressage anywhere the past few months so will continue that. Aim for the end of the year is to score over 60% in a novice test. And of course enjoy ourselves on the hunt field,
Oakley has his first in hand show pencilled in for May, and I will back him over the summer and turn him away again for the winter.
Roll on 2014, can't wait!
