Second Bank hol weekend plans!

Two grey ponies to get ready sounds like a nightmare fiona! Well done to both you and F on your results.

Glad you had a good day out AE

Sorry to hear about Blue, sorry you had to fill your time in IKEA- hateful place lol

I got back late last night from a very interesting and useful equitopia clinic, I will write a full report in a few days when I'm recovered :)
 
Well done AE :)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed you get some answers this week pipitty x x

Have you recovered from your busy weekend yet wheels?

We took F and Daisy to a charity SJ show today, at a venue they've never been to, and true to form Daisy spooked at an innocuous (but she obviously thought they were going to eat her 😂) set of candy cane poles 😭😭😭 but then jumped a lovely DC in the next class. We also had some yummy cake, though OH did get stung by a wasp buying it...

Tomorrow I've got a road trip to the saddle fitter..

Wish me luck...

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
Well done AE :)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed you get some answers this week pipitty x x

Have you recovered from your busy weekend yet wheels?

We took F and Daisy to a charity SJ show today, at a venue they've never been to, and true to form Daisy spooked at an innocuous (but she obviously thought they were going to eat her 😂) set of candy cane poles 😭😭😭 but then jumped a lovely DC in the next class. We also had some yummy cake, though OH did get stung by a wasp buying it...

Tomorrow I've got a road trip to the saddle fitter..

Wish me luck...

Fiona
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I haven't quite recovered Fiona but I do wish you good luck with your road trip!

Make sure to ask loads of questions and make sure you have a good ride in all paces so you can feel whether a different saddle helps you and the horse - will you have someone there to take pics?
 
Had a really long afternoon at Hartpury writing for the area festival. Big class of 33 for the medium and lots of lovely horses to watch (had a good view of the other arena in between too ;))
I always find it so useful especially if you get a chatty judge ;)

got some good reminders for myself... use your corners, prepare and finish each movement, be accurate (so many 10m circles that were too small :oops: you don't get extra points for making it more difficult ;) ) and also be BOLD! especially in a long class, there were a few riders that really went for it and they were the highlights even if they had a few wobbles.
lovely to write those tests that are getting the 8s, esp when they aren't the most classy horses, but just well trained and giving it their all :)
 
Fiona said:
We've had a busy weekend so far, with more SJ to come tomorrow...

I was busy and stressed on Saturday morning trying to get two grey ponies who live out and have the beginning of winter coats bathed and plaited for WH...

I was first up in the 70cm class, which was spooky enough, but Fionn jumped a lovely clear, and got pulled in 5th out of a big class...

Then we flew off to get F and D ready and into the mini ring for their first class. He jumped a lovely clear for 2nd. Then the spreads and fillers went in for their Cradle stakes qualifier class, but I needn't have worried, they aced it again for another 2nd...

Then to cap it all, they went back in for the mini championship, and got RESERVE CHAMPION 😱😱😱

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Today we had a super 2hr hack in the forest, few canters and wee logs, but mostly just chilling out 😂

Then tomorrow we have a local SJ charity show....

Fiona
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Very well done to all of you, that’s superb x
I love forest hacking , I should go more often but am a bit lazy as the parking isn’t very good.
Good luck with the saddle fitting, I’m in a similar position and having saddle fitting / trying different saddles next week x
 
Writing sounds interesting MP. I’ve done a couple recently at be80/90 level and it was surprising how people had similar comments more half halts, free walk in long rein needed to stretch down more etc.
Well done Accidental eventer you are doing a great job with him.
On Sunday I thought I’d try a lesson on beach with my RI. I’ve stopped going to the beach as he gets too worked up. he again got very worked up, even with RI leading him so I go off, it took 2 if us to lead him off the beach with great difficulty as he was so worked up. Next time we will try a lunge session.
Yesterday we had a physio session - he struggles to bend in canter and maintain canter in a 20x40 arena . Physio found reactive areas under saddle so we’ve managed to get saddle appointment next week.
After his massage she applied kinesiology tape to his back and glutes - apparently I can ride out like this!
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what do you think is making him get wound up on the beach? I haven't taken any of mine so don't have a clue how they would react but it looks like most horses seem to enjoy a trip.

yeah I do like writing, by the end of a 5 hour stint in a hot hut the novelty had worn off rather o_O but it's really interesting to watch that many horses do the same test, something you only really get at championship shows. Lots and lots of people making the same mistakes which is heartening and disappointing at the same time! and then when you get someone who bucks the trend, the judges all sit up and go Oooooh! they really do want to give out the good marks. For me it also highlights the importance of test riding lessons because there were scores of marks lost just due to ringcraft... those are free marks really because you don't have to have a better horse to collect them but a good horse can easily lose them if the rider isn't on the ball.
 
Clear round was a success with two clear rounds!

We went to Parwood for clear round at the lofty heights of 60 and 70cm as my first attempt of jumping a course on Magic without my lovely instructor talking me through it.

Magic has done it all before and knows what she's doing, but it was great experience for me! I'm now looking forward to Friday evening as we're off XC schooling. Roll on Friday!
 
Good question! I’m a little confused really, it’s not like he is a 4 year old who has never been on the beach before! He was ridden on the beach with previous owner. I think she went in a group and probably galloped (teenagers!). I have taken him now and again with my friend and her horse though I was a bit of a wuss and just lead him. I guess it’s the open space and possibly picking up the fact I’m anxious. Thinking back to our Xc issues, he does enjoy a gallop in an open space so maybe it’s anticipation. I need to take him with my friends horse more often and get him used to it, it’s stupid that I live so close but can’t go on the beach with him.

Yes I’m probably guilty of losing unnecessary points , I said to RI after last competition that time seems to speeds up and I forget how to ride!

milliepops said:
what do you think is making him get wound up on the beach? I haven't taken any of mine so don't have a clue how they would react but it looks like most horses seem to enjoy a trip.

yeah I do like writing, by the end of a 5 hour stint in a hot hut the novelty had worn off rather o_O but it's really interesting to watch that many horses do the same test, something you only really get at championship shows. Lots and lots of people making the same mistakes which is heartening and disappointing at the same time! and then when you get someone who bucks the trend, the judges all sit up and go Oooooh! they really do want to give out the good marks. For me it also highlights the importance of test riding lessons because there were scores of marks lost just due to ringcraft... those are free marks really because you don't have to have a better horse to collect them but a good horse can easily lose them if the rider isn't on the ball.
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Ye
 
Reacher said:
Yes I’m probably guilty of losing unnecessary points , I said to RI after last competition that time seems to speeds up and I forget how to ride!
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I think we've all been there!

There is so much emphasis on scores particularly when people are asking when they should move up a level. I've come to realise that we are ready to move up when we don't have that "time speeding up" sensation during a test. That's when I feel that I've really nailed a level, when I have the brain space to notice every movement and prepare them all properly instead of it all whizzing past in a flash ;)
 
Mixed day at Llanymynech for me. Dressage was great. Toby relaxed quite quickly which is good, and did a nice test for 30.3.

Show jumping was going well until he lost his footing in a dip on the ground and had no choice but to turn away from the first part of a double. We've never show jumped on grass before, and the slip rattled us both so it was better for us to turn away than to push and shove to get over the fence. We are new to this so we have to make it nice and straightforward still. I also need to sort out my position to make life easier...heels down and hands forward! I can do it at home but at competition the nerves mean those things don't always come off for me!

I went down for cross country, and the working in was awful. We kept sliding on the grass. The ground was rock hard, with a thick layer of long grass on top, which was still covered in dew. My horse just couldn't get traction, and the more he slipped, the more I lost my nerve. After one good jump over the working in fence I went in. The working in was knocking our confidence rather than preparing us.

We went to the cross country and jumped the first two fences beautifully. Turned the corner to the third, which was on a lovely big bend, and he slipped again. It was too close to the fence so did a circle and presented again. This time he slipped a little but I didn't have my leg on. It was the only fence on the course which I was concerned about, a big wooden box with a brush sticking out of the back wall at the top. And because we had slipped and my horse had backed off, I then didn't have the guts to kick and say we were going for it. I then realised I shouldn't go any further. Firstly because of the slipping and the risk of doing an injury somewhere, but also because I wasn't riding confidently enough to make up for the slipping. So we retired on fence 3.

I am having back shoes put on for other reasons anyway, and I'm not sure studs would have made a difference in these particular circumstances, but I'll have them ready for Sapey next week.

I went on Somerford farm ride yesterday to have a nice quiet ride with some jumps thrown in to get our eye back and to build confidence. We jumped quite a few nice roll tops, brushes, a little double, a ditch, sunken road etc. We had no hesitations nor issues of any kind so feeling good about next weekend.

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I forgot to post here yesterday, so here is my copied post from the 'morning' thread:

Well, went to show (sorry to those who have already seen on Faceache). Swapped the afternoon ridden class to do the 9am whp class, having not a, jumped on grass yet and b, not yet done a workers.
B Fuzzy popped round clear tho a little sticky at one, pulled in 2nd after the go round, did a lovely show and went up to win. Took her back to yard and she was in the shady stable by 10. Returned to show which is 5 miles away by road at 1 and she won the in hand class too, v good fuzzy :)

That said, she was a complete ar5e to hack on Sunday, and a partial one on early hack this morning!
 
Oh DC shame about Llanymynech , but it sounds like a very sensible decision to pull up - if your heart isn't in it because of things you can't control then it's always best to go home safe and sound, always another day. You'd have kicked yourself if you'd had a whoopsie. Great to be able to head out straight away to get back on track :)
 
milliepops said:
I think we've all been there!

There is so much emphasis on scores particularly when people are asking when they should move up a level. I've come to realise that we are ready to move up when we don't have that "time speeding up" sensation during a test. That's when I feel that I've really nailed a level, when I have the brain space to notice every movement and prepare them all properly instead of it all whizzing past in a flash ;)
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Thanks for posting this, it's a great way of thinking about it.
 
Love reading all these posts and photos of what everyone done on the weekend! :)

Pretty laid back weekend for me. 4x4 is in for repair, so no boxing out.
Went for a long hack Sunday with a friend early morning, which was gorgeous. Bathed the ponies when I got back.
Yesterday was a non horsey day, visited Lulworth cove and Durdle Door in Dorset. Beautiful place but it was just so busy, we expected busy but nothing like that. The dogs enjoyed a swim though.

Oh, just ordered some 'turbo flakes' in hope to give my gelding a bit more buzz.. ;)
 
Hallo2012 said:
Friday i went to Harry Potter world which was AMAZING but i think you need 2/3 visits to do it all! Then Saturday was London zoo.....i have been totally won over by the lemurs, super cute!

Sunday raf helped with the gardening...

https://www.facebook.com/618438661516390/posts/3112575715435993

Monday he pretended to be like uncle Fig....

https://www.facebook.com/618438661516390/posts/3114377158589182
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OMG I want your weekend 😱😱😱

Is HP world really that good?

Brave boy Raf, our Welsh mare would absolutely wet herself....

That sounds really interesting MP, I haven't scribed for years...

My ponies like the beach Reacher, but I imagine if you constantly galloped and raked about that they would get really over excited....

Well done AH...

Fiona
 
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Well the saddle fitting road trip was today, and a three hour round trip plus there for two hours, I'm wrecked 😭

Saddler looked at his saddle, and reckoned it wasn't too bad, but he wanted to see me ride in it so we headed up to the manege.

He quickly decided it was pushing me back, but reckoned the saddle basic fit was good enough that if he widened the tree a wee bit that it would be much better.

So Fionn smooched with the shop ladies who all thought he was adorable, and I browsed in the shop, gathering up some chaps and a top for Fergus, a couple for me, and some showing turnout supplies for our stay away show this weekend.

No bits unfortunately 😭😭 but I did buy some latex bandage....

So much less damage to the bank account than I had envisaged, and I can contact them again, he still not happy...

Pony Club Rally tonight...

Fiona
 
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reacher I've known a few that can just get very overawed by the concept of a beach and it's rather unusual horizons if that makes sense? and it makes them very anxious.

Plenty of ambles with friends horse might help.
 
Sasanaskyex said:
You MUST go Fiona!

Jealous too Hallo2012 although I have been 6 times! Every time I leave they add a new feature and I have to book to go back. Not ashamed to admit that I'm the biggest Harry Potter fan ever.
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I thouģh maybe it was just for kids....

Don't shoot me, honestly I had just assumed it.

I love HP books.

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
Well the saddle fitting road trip was today, and a three hour round trip plus there for two hours, I'm wrecked 😭

Saddler looked at his saddle, and reckoned it wasn't too bad, but he wanted to see me ride in it so we headed up to the manege.

He quickly decided it was pushing me back, but reckoned the saddle basic fit was good enough that if he widened the tree a wee bit that it would be much better.

So Fionn smooched with the shop ladies who all thought he was adorable, and I browsed in the shop, gathering up some chaps and a top for Fergus, a couple for me, and some showing turnout supplies for our stay away show this weekend.

No bits unfortunately 😭😭 but I did buy some latex bandage....

So much less damage to the bank account than I had envisaged, and I can contact them again, he still not happy...

Pony Club Rally tonight...

Fiona
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That's good, did he see you ride in it again after he had widened it?
 
Fiona said:
I thouģh maybe it was just for kids....

Don't shoot me, honestly I had just assumed it.

I love HP books.

Fiona
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Don't worry, I'm not offended. The first book came out in 1997 when I was 3 years old so Harry Potter was my childhood. There are lots of lessons in those books that I only understood as I got older.
 
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