Second week in April plans

Boggle turns 10 tomorrow and he tried to roll in the dressage warm up (with me on him) as he fancied the look of the surface then after being very hot warmed up beautifully. Then went into the test, screamed his head off and then came out with a 40 dressage.

An 8 mark drop in 7 days, horses are great levellers ?
 
Michen said:
Boggle turns 10 tomorrow and he tried to roll in the dressage warm up (with me on him) as he fancied the look of the surface then after being very hot warmed up beautifully. Then went into the test, screamed his head off and then came out with a 40 dressage.

An 8 mark drop in 7 days, horses are great levellers ?
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Bold boy ??‍♀️ Hope the jumping bits are more fun!!
 
We had a nice time at the spa this morning. Horse walked in without hesitation which was nice, stood like a rock and seemed to “enjoy” it.
It’s basically a chamber they stand inside, a door at either end - the first time they go in, they use a very quick release door so the horse can be rapidly let out if they are a bit freaked.
Once they’re in, the cold salt water is released - on the first go, it was filled to just above fetlock, today they filled it to his knees. It’s 2 degrees so a bit colder than we’d get with normal cold hosing. There is a bubble function to keep the water moving but I don’t think he’d like that, moving water freaks him out a bit ?
His legs are feeling really good and the inflammation seems to be subsiding, throwing everything at it and hoping to be back on board soon! Back again on Wednesday evening. All being well, back in to work next week.

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Nappy on and ready to go in ?

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How nice it was to be back in the saddle! Lots of lateral work, brain ache, and the horse improved. A true schoolmaster in as much as only giving you as much as you ask, with a bit of a pony brain :D

Now to train my brain to enjoy it for what it is, rather than as part of a wider thing/aims...
 
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Not our day at all today and it’s given me some things to think about. We retired at fence 4 on the cross country today. I don’t think eventing is for him. He was incredible in the show jumping and maybe he is better suited to a pure show jumping home. So unfortunately I think he will be for sale soon. A80C7B98-CAA4-456B-8982-6F75ADE75D35.jpeg
 
Upthecreek said:
I think 90 is a bit small! Did he jump them all out of stride at that speed? ?
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Pretty much yes. I don’t really see any benefit to fiddling too much to slow him, as it always feels pretty bang on albiet we Got a couple of time faults but Aston is so flat for a Boggle! The class was full of big fancy movers but finishing that (last) fence slightly out of running. Meanwhile Bog hasn’t broken a sweat ?
 
Michen said:
Pretty much yes. I don’t really see any benefit to fiddling too much to slow him, as it always feels pretty bang on albiet we Got a couple of time faults but Aston is so flat for a Boggle! The class was full of big fancy movers but finishing that (last) fence slightly out of running. Meanwhile Bog hasn’t broken a sweat ?
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By the look of him going up to 100 wouldn’t back him off either! Great to see a horse so confident and in his element.
 
Upthecreek said:
By the look of him going up to 100 wouldn’t back him off either! Great to see a horse so confident and in his element.
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He did a BE100 once with his semi pro rider a few years ago and jumped a very easy double clear. I am just getting to grips with 90 frankly and trying not to be a total idiot SJing at that level ?

He is absolutely wasted on me, he should be doing proper pony trials with a gutsy kid!
 
Today's hack was just perfect. Lovely sun, lovely horse, met up with a friend on their horse, chatted and laughed and split up again with no fuss.

Photos of the woods and crossing the iron bridge (the GerDung GerDung bridge).

Probably boring to anyone else, but I had a fab ride.

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Good ponies in IHW land.
The 3yos loaded first time and were deposited in their respective locations without drama. Millie blissfully unaware what this week holds for her, but Turnip delighted with her deal ?
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Then the 6 yo jumped another quick double clear (with a slightly wild dressage ?) for another top 10 placing. One more BE100 for him then he steps up to novice.
 
J_sarahd said:
Not our day at all today and it’s given me some things to think about. We retired at fence 4 on the cross country today. I don’t think eventing is for him. He was incredible in the show jumping and maybe he is better suited to a pure show jumping home. So unfortunately I think he will be for sale soon. View attachment 90480
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Was he napping? How much XC has he done?
 
5yo went "eventing" for the first time at Epworth's have a go day. He loved the xc - we set out jping the 80s, upgraded to 90s for most of the way and jumped the last few 100 options. We had steps, skinnies a full coffin and water and safe to say he loved it...


The Dr and SJ before weren't beautiful though... Somewhat cheeky!
 
Set off for a 20K ride to the pub. Had a minor clusterf*ck due to some pigs (see Tack Room thread) but altered our route slightly and stuck to the plan. We did about 5K of trot, but the West Highland Way is mostly a rock-fest, so there's not a lot of fast sections to be had. The day wound up being 22K. But we made it to the pub, then made it home. Our longest ride yet.

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These little feckers will make excellent sausages.

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Michen said:
Was he napping? How much XC has he done?
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That could be an explanation but he’s never been nappy before out of a start box. He’s done quite a bit of XC practise and yesterday was his 5th or 6th time out of a start box. He’s normally onward and peppy, but will still listen to me. But, he was just unrideable, bulldozing his way around and really not listening to me no matter what I did, which is why I retired because although they were pretty small, I decided it was dangerous. Plus I’d rather an R than an E!
 
J_sarahd said:
That could be an explanation but he’s never been nappy before out of a start box. He’s done quite a bit of XC practise and yesterday was his 5th or 6th time out of a start box. He’s normally onward and peppy, but will still listen to me. But, he was just unrideable, bulldozing his way around and really not listening to me no matter what I did, which is why I retired because although they were pretty small, I decided it was dangerous. Plus I’d rather an R than an E!
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It seems drastic to think you need to sell him off the back of one bad run? Could literally just be an off day. Assuming you like the horse I’d just go schooling then try again! X
 
Been a great weekend! Faran had his saddle fitting on Saturday and went up three gullet sizings ? so he’s got the physio next Friday for a check up and a work over which works out well ?

Zurich well what can I say this guy is amazing! Popped everything I put him at despite his mum not liking solid fences ? he was as total saint and was giving the kids leads on their ponies.

Absolutely smitten with him all over again he is genuinely a super cob ❤️ some screen grabs from the vids and one I have some uploaded I’ll add them ?

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Michen said:
But he jumps like this ? double clear (hilarious sj) with some XC speeding faults ?

[video]
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He looks so fun there!

RachelFerd said:
5yo went "eventing" for the first time at Epworth's have a go day. He loved the xc - we set out jping the 80s, upgraded to 90s for most of the way and jumped the last few 100 options. We had steps, skinnies a full coffin and water and safe to say he loved it...


The Dr and SJ before weren't beautiful though... Somewhat cheeky!
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You must be over the moon with him, he looks like a proper eventer!

We schooled on Saturday, with more nice boring trot, then a good left canter, then complete hysterics about right canter. He actually got it right but then his brain went as he was so anxious about it, so it took another 10 minutes to settle (I find myself drifting into a Zen-like state when he gets ridiculous - I can do little more than sit quietly and wait for him to take the pressure off himself) but we ended with some very nice, relaxed almost stretchy trot. Once he stops worrying about getting things wrong, he'll be great! I can see it taking a couple of years though.

Then the pole work clinic on Sunday - I wasn't sure if working in a group and doing complex exercises would settle his mind or be too much but I was prepared to stop early if needed. Turns out he was absolutely brilliant! Trotted happily around the others, followed or led as needed and stayed very relaxed and focused. The clinic itself was very useful, with a strong focus on biomechanics and proprioception so each exercise had a clear aim that the trainer talked us through. I was over the moon with Chilli bean, and we did an accidental very nice right canter after one of the exercises so he got lots of big pats for that too.
 
Michen said:
It seems drastic to think you need to sell him off the back of one bad run? Could literally just be an off day. Assuming you like the horse I’d just go schooling then try again! X
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Yeah I realise it sounds very over the top now that I’ve slept and I’m a little less emotional. I an going back schooling sometime this week and I will find another nice event to take him to. I have withdrawn from my next event which was on 7th May as I need some more time I think - especially as I’m away the last week of April. The plan was always to sell or full loan (head v heart) this summer anyway as he is a cracking pony but I’d never push him higher than 80 (maybe a small 90) as I’m probably almost the max he can comfortably take and I feel a bit stagnant. Yes you could argue that we have a lot of practise/improvement to make out eventing, so I should keep him for this season.
 
J_sarahd said:
Yeah I realise it sounds very over the top now that I’ve slept and I’m a little less emotional. I an going back schooling sometime this week and I will find another nice event to take him to. I have withdrawn from my next event which was on 7th May as I need some more time I think - especially as I’m away the last week of April. The plan was always to sell or full loan (head v heart) this summer anyway as he is a cracking pony but I’d never push him higher than 80 (maybe a small 90) as I’m probably almost the max he can comfortably take and I feel a bit stagnant. Yes you could argue that we have a lot of practise/improvement to make out eventing, so I should keep him for this season.
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Makes sense, good luck whatever you decide!
 
j1ffy said:
He looks so fun there!



You must be over the moon with him, he looks like a proper eventer!

We schooled on Saturday, with more nice boring trot, then a good left canter, then complete hysterics about right canter. He actually got it right but then his brain went as he was so anxious about it, so it took another 10 minutes to settle (I find myself drifting into a Zen-like state when he gets ridiculous - I can do little more than sit quietly and wait for him to take the pressure off himself) but we ended with some very nice, relaxed almost stretchy trot. Once he stops worrying about getting things wrong, he'll be great! I can see it taking a couple of years though.

Then the pole work clinic on Sunday - I wasn't sure if working in a group and doing complex exercises would settle his mind or be too much but I was prepared to stop early if needed. Turns out he was absolutely brilliant! Trotted happily around the others, followed or led as needed and stayed very relaxed and focused. The clinic itself was very useful, with a strong focus on biomechanics and proprioception so each exercise had a clear aim that the trainer talked us through. I was over the moon with Chilli bean, and we did an accidental very nice right canter after one of the exercises so he got lots of big pats for that too.
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I am really happy with his XC performance - we've done a lot of schooling prep to get to this point (I think I can count 9 or 10 XC schooling outings in the past year), so its nice when all the homework has been done, you test them, and they have all of the right answers. Fortunately he's a very independent character, so he has no fear about being out there alone without horse company. I had way more challenges with that with the other ginger.

Now his dressage on the other hand featured no less than three flying changes, which isn't a required move in BE96 :rolleyes:

Your polework session sounds great - I think poles can be fab for taking them out of their internal worries and getting them thinking about their feet.
 
RachelFerd said:
I am really happy with his XC performance - we've done a lot of schooling prep to get to this point (I think I can count 9 or 10 XC schooling outings in the past year), so its nice when all the homework has been done, you test them, and they have all of the right answers. Fortunately he's a very independent character, so he has no fear about being out there alone without horse company. I had way more challenges with that with the other ginger.

Now his dressage on the other hand featured no less than three flying changes, which isn't a required move in BE96 :rolleyes:

Your polework session sounds great - I think poles can be fab for taking them out of their internal worries and getting them thinking about their feet.
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At least you know the advanced work is in there..!!

I've just had some photos sent to me from the polework. Chilli's so chunky now, I forget until I see pics!

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He enjoyed the 'standing around chatting' bits :D
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