LeannePip
Well-Known Member
With a week off work and lots of new developments to update on I figured now was as good a time as any to up date on my girls, but you can just scroll down for the pictures if you like!. . .
After making huge progress with Pip at the end of last year, I was looking forward to a year of competitions and hopefully finally getting out to a BE event, unfortunately that wasn't mean to be, after successful treatment for stomach ulcers, re-hab for her UFP again, followed by a mystery (suspected) tendon injury all within the space of 3 months we decided it would be fair to give her some time out. So Pip has now gone to live with my lovely farrier and his partner as a happy hack, she's a firm favourite on the yard and settled in almost immediately. She loves her new life of pottering around the farm, and being a pampered pet - as if it was possible, they spoil her almost as much as i did and probably love her just as much. Whilst leaving her there was probably the hardest thing i have ever done, i know it was 100% the correct decision! Token photos to show how good she is looking now, compared to during the ulcer treatment!
So with a quite life planned for P, we set out to look for a nice older established gelding, something that i could compete this year, 8-10yo and approx 16.3. So naturally what we came home with ticked absolutely none of the above boxes, and Ruby became a part of the Family!
At only 15.3 on her tiptoes, just 4 years old and only sat on for a couple of weeks, she was everything i said i wasn't looking for yet after 5 mins in the (very wobbly) saddle she was the only horse I was going to come home with. Her temperment is just amazing, she has a brilliantly amazing 'can do, will do' attitude, she's not spooky or silly and very level headed for a baby and a total pleasure to ride, almost every day i get off grinning from ear to ear - what more can you ask for?
She was a bit underweight when she arrived, but she'd done a fair amount of long distance travelling in the last couple of months Ireland-Wales-Shropshire-Southampton, and carried no muscle having not been backed long, so we kept things very low key and quiet for a few weeks as we were off on holiday 4 weeks later, left her out at grass with Pip full time ready to start properly when we got back. . . But as with all great plans, thats not how it worked out! They day before we got back from holiday she sustained a puncture wound to the top of her fore leg that then caused her entire leg to swell to elephant proportions, a further three weeks off, 2 courses of antibiotics and plenty of vets bills later, we were back on board! With the school temporarily out of action, our first ride back was out in the big bad hay field flying solo, the girl was a star, didn't put a foot wrong, something which is becoming a bit of a theme with this horse!
She's now schooling well at home and local arenas, her go-to is slightly over bent at times, however as she's getting stronger and learning to use the power more productively rather than just running down through the bridle, we are noticing improvement week after week.
week 1-2 of trotting solo
slightly later
terrible zoomed in picture
this week
We had our 1st Jump! which was hugely entertaining for all watching as she proceeded to almost launch me into orbit with every attempt - Thank goodness for neck straps is all i can take away from this, double whammy of saving my bacon and her mouth every time!
https://youtu.be/psGXXMlAuzc
We went to our first dressage comp, again took everything in her stride and tried really hard, unfortunately it fell right at the same time where canter transitions caused mass panic, so whilst the trot work was fairly nice (but wobbly) the canter was a little hair raising to say the least and the scores deservedly reflected this, but we had a lovely day out none the less!
once we got canter in the warm up, it was actually fairly nice, unfortunately we just couldn't re create in the test.
https://youtu.be/R_vI2gUy0cU
And possibly the most exciting thing, we went XC Schooling! Armed with my faithful neck strap and new parachute/ crash bagWith just two jumping sessions under our belt thus far, we were just going for the experience, but once again Ruby attacked things with her Can Do boldness and really impressed everyone. Very very proud of her! She didn't stop, or nap to the other horses, waited for her turn to jump and really really enjoyed herself! Mission accomplished
https://youtu.be/Ro7O6fB1oG0
https://youtu.be/H0w-XdyBME8
https://youtu.be/pD_KH-_9Ybc
For now, we have a residential camp for 3 days in a couple of weeks, then we might attempt a little hunter trial end of September before winding down then turning away for a few weeks over winter.
Huge well done if you got this far!
After making huge progress with Pip at the end of last year, I was looking forward to a year of competitions and hopefully finally getting out to a BE event, unfortunately that wasn't mean to be, after successful treatment for stomach ulcers, re-hab for her UFP again, followed by a mystery (suspected) tendon injury all within the space of 3 months we decided it would be fair to give her some time out. So Pip has now gone to live with my lovely farrier and his partner as a happy hack, she's a firm favourite on the yard and settled in almost immediately. She loves her new life of pottering around the farm, and being a pampered pet - as if it was possible, they spoil her almost as much as i did and probably love her just as much. Whilst leaving her there was probably the hardest thing i have ever done, i know it was 100% the correct decision! Token photos to show how good she is looking now, compared to during the ulcer treatment!
So with a quite life planned for P, we set out to look for a nice older established gelding, something that i could compete this year, 8-10yo and approx 16.3. So naturally what we came home with ticked absolutely none of the above boxes, and Ruby became a part of the Family!
At only 15.3 on her tiptoes, just 4 years old and only sat on for a couple of weeks, she was everything i said i wasn't looking for yet after 5 mins in the (very wobbly) saddle she was the only horse I was going to come home with. Her temperment is just amazing, she has a brilliantly amazing 'can do, will do' attitude, she's not spooky or silly and very level headed for a baby and a total pleasure to ride, almost every day i get off grinning from ear to ear - what more can you ask for?
She was a bit underweight when she arrived, but she'd done a fair amount of long distance travelling in the last couple of months Ireland-Wales-Shropshire-Southampton, and carried no muscle having not been backed long, so we kept things very low key and quiet for a few weeks as we were off on holiday 4 weeks later, left her out at grass with Pip full time ready to start properly when we got back. . . But as with all great plans, thats not how it worked out! They day before we got back from holiday she sustained a puncture wound to the top of her fore leg that then caused her entire leg to swell to elephant proportions, a further three weeks off, 2 courses of antibiotics and plenty of vets bills later, we were back on board! With the school temporarily out of action, our first ride back was out in the big bad hay field flying solo, the girl was a star, didn't put a foot wrong, something which is becoming a bit of a theme with this horse!
She's now schooling well at home and local arenas, her go-to is slightly over bent at times, however as she's getting stronger and learning to use the power more productively rather than just running down through the bridle, we are noticing improvement week after week.
week 1-2 of trotting solo
slightly later
terrible zoomed in picture
this week
We had our 1st Jump! which was hugely entertaining for all watching as she proceeded to almost launch me into orbit with every attempt - Thank goodness for neck straps is all i can take away from this, double whammy of saving my bacon and her mouth every time!
https://youtu.be/psGXXMlAuzc
We went to our first dressage comp, again took everything in her stride and tried really hard, unfortunately it fell right at the same time where canter transitions caused mass panic, so whilst the trot work was fairly nice (but wobbly) the canter was a little hair raising to say the least and the scores deservedly reflected this, but we had a lovely day out none the less!
once we got canter in the warm up, it was actually fairly nice, unfortunately we just couldn't re create in the test.
https://youtu.be/R_vI2gUy0cU
And possibly the most exciting thing, we went XC Schooling! Armed with my faithful neck strap and new parachute/ crash bagWith just two jumping sessions under our belt thus far, we were just going for the experience, but once again Ruby attacked things with her Can Do boldness and really impressed everyone. Very very proud of her! She didn't stop, or nap to the other horses, waited for her turn to jump and really really enjoyed herself! Mission accomplished
https://youtu.be/Ro7O6fB1oG0
https://youtu.be/H0w-XdyBME8
https://youtu.be/pD_KH-_9Ybc
For now, we have a residential camp for 3 days in a couple of weeks, then we might attempt a little hunter trial end of September before winding down then turning away for a few weeks over winter.
Huge well done if you got this far!
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