Skylla's first Champs!

[HufflyPuffly]

Now we are a bit of a fraud about this as the criteria was only 2 x 58%+ scores, which we got....just

From our last outing to Aintree we found she gets too tired for two tests in a day, I think its mental tiredness as much as anything as she is getting fitter and stronger. So as a result we went just for the championship test.

Lovely acceptable time of ten past three :lol: which after the past few outings was very welcome.

First ticks of taking her out by myself and getting us both ready were achieved, cannot be doing with a horse who has to be watched/ mollycoddled/ never left for a second/ etc, get on and do is our motto :lol: and Skylla is learning quick :clap:.

Into the warm-up and I will hold my hand up that we haven't done enough practise with other horses yet, so she did over cook a little, with a couple boil over moments :eek3:. She only seems to do it now once we've cantered, and then if I let the canter out and keeping going until she settles it seems to stop too much 'excitement' . She is proving VERY talented for flying changes mind :lol:, lots of air and pizazz!

Then as if she'd not brought enough attention to herself already by being that flying grey blur, she had the longest, fartiest wee ever , I had hoped maybe this was what the hysterics were about but no it just seemed to spur her on :lol:.


However into the test and I just love the little bones of her , no spooking at trade stands, no spooking at flowers, no being led into the arena, just adorable!!!!! Her general work is still not good enough for top marks but I'm super happy for the moment for a sheet of mostly 6's and a 7 , but a 5 for the jockey forgetting which letter to walk to , which meant a 59% score and around the last quarter of the class (but not last ).

Very proud for her first big championship atmosphere and she was super, clever Skylla :clap:.

Pictures:

I am aware I seem to have forgotten how to stay sat up straight and how to sit on my bum :loleven putting my stirrups up another hole), so lots for both of us to practise on!!

 

[Lanky Loll]

Now we are a bit of a fraud about this as the criteria was only 2 x 58%+ scores, which we got....just

From our last outing to Aintree we found she gets too tired for two tests in a day, I think its mental tiredness as much as anything as she is getting fitter and stronger. So as a result we went just for the championship test.

Lovely acceptable time of ten past three :lol: which after the past few outings was very welcome.

First ticks of taking her out by myself and getting us both ready were achieved, cannot be doing with a horse who has to be watched/ mollycoddled/ never left for a second/ etc, get on and do is our motto :lol: and Skylla is learning quick :clap:.

Into the warm-up and I will hold my hand up that we haven't done enough practise with other horses yet, so she did over cook a little, with a couple boil over moments :eek3:. She only seems to do it now once we've cantered, and then if I let the canter out and keeping going until she settles it seems to stop too much 'excitement' . She is proving VERY talented for flying changes mind :lol:, lots of air and pizazz!

Then as if she'd not brought enough attention to herself already by being that flying grey blur, she had the longest, fartiest wee ever , I had hoped maybe this was what the hysterics were about but no it just seemed to spur her on :lol:.


However into the test and I just love the little bones of her , no spooking at trade stands, no spooking at flowers, no being led into the arena, just adorable!!!!! Her general work is still not good enough for top marks but I'm super happy for the moment for a sheet of mostly 6's and a 7 , but a 5 for the jockey forgetting which letter to walk to , which meant a 59% score and around the last quarter of the class (but not last ).

Very proud for her first big championship atmosphere and she was super, clever Skylla :clap:.

Pictures:

I am aware I seem to have forgotten how to stay sat up straight and how to sit on my bum :loleven putting my stirrups up another hole), so lots for both of us to practise on!!

Look at those concentrating ears! Well done, I've yet to make it up to aintree but always think it looks amazing

 

[Bernster]

Super Skylla. She's a pretty thing. Although perhaps not when she's being uncouth in her toilet habits!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Look at those concentrating ears! Well done, I've yet to make it up to aintree but always think it looks amazing

She has super cute ears, always forward of listening , well except for those stroppy moments by if a mare cannot be stroppy is she really a mare .

Super Skylla. She's a pretty thing. Although perhaps not when she's being uncouth in her toilet habits!

SO embarrassing, it echo'd around the arena

 

[Cortez]

Well done Skylla, she looks very businesslike and sweetly concentrating Can I be awful and make a little, inconsequential observation? Your mare has a beautiful, long head BUT the noseband looks too high up.....if you dropped it a hole or two I think it would compliment her (sorry). Can't help with the wee/fart combo, all you can do is smile broadly and carry on.

 

[milliepops]

Well done Skylla, she looks very businesslike and sweetly concentrating Can I be awful and make a little, inconsequential observation? Your mare has a beautiful, long head BUT the noseband looks too high up.....if you dropped it a hole or two I think it would compliment her (sorry). Can't help with the wee/fart combo, all you can do is smile broadly and carry on.

FWIW I'd agree on the noseband. I've recently popped Kira's up a hole as it looks better... I think popping yours down would set her head off nicely

Still wishing Kira would wee while she's out.. even a farty wee would be OK :lol: she unleashed Niagara Falls when we got home this eve!

Love Skylla, looking forward to seeing her mature <3

 

[JennBags]

Definitely good to have a horse that will wee when out, even if a rather embarrassing noisy farty wee, she's just showing she's a true lady :lol:

Well done Super Skylla and Alex

 

[scats]

Love her! Top of my list for the next big purchase I make is a horse who does not spook idiotically at everything, yours sounds wonderful!

 

[Roxylola]

I think your stirrups could even go up one more but that said, I don't think your saddle is helping you. As a small person who often rides big horses I am millions better in a saddle with a nice narrow twist, I personally find an Albion always sits me nicely if you know what I mean. I also hate this thing for big knee and thigh blocks, ideally I would have a 17" saddle or even a 16.5" in a bigger saddle the blocks are never in the right place, you look like your leg is being pushed back and taking your seat with it - knee hip ankle is all about right but all pushed back if you know what I mean.
That said what a girl for going out and behaving, I like Aintree, it is such a light bright arena but can be very scary and for a baby horse to go out and behave nicely is terrific.
Your bridle is lovely btw.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Well done Skylla, she looks very businesslike and sweetly concentrating Can I be awful and make a little, inconsequential observation? Your mare has a beautiful, long head BUT the noseband looks too high up.....if you dropped it a hole or two I think it would compliment her (sorry). Can't help with the wee/fart combo, all you can do is smile broadly and carry on.

Hmm she photographs all innocent but it's lies :lol: no I'm joking in the test she was super sweet!
Ah I'm a bit picky about nosebands interfering with the bit , but can certainly give it a go!
Even if it is one of those annoying old style comfort headpieces, so super difficult to get everything to sit straight as the noseband strap goes through the headpiece.
Lol no I blushed and giggled, so ladylike!

FWIW I'd agree on the noseband. I've recently popped Kira's up a hole as it looks better... I think popping yours down would set her head off nicely

Still wishing Kira would wee while she's out.. even a farty wee would be OK :lol: she unleashed Niagara Falls when we got home this eve!

Love Skylla, looking forward to seeing her mature <3

Ok will try it a hole down .

Only Doodle is wee shy, so maybe it's a Friesian/Hackney thing to be extroverts about weeing :lol:

Definitely good to have a horse that will wee when out, even if a rather embarrassing noisy farty wee, she's just showing she's a true lady :lol:

Well done Super Skylla and Alex

Pah she is so uncooth! :lol:

Though I'm glad she did it in the warmup and not where the judge could see .

Love her! Top of my list for the next big purchase I make is a horse who does not spook idiotically at everything, yours sounds wonderful!

Yes most definitely, it's been such a wondrous thing to have one so bold!!!!

Top tip, get them unbacked, show them inhand and really cement a reaction of if you're scared just woah and look, until they relax a bit.

Skylla is naturally bold but seeing the craziness of the showing world and a lot of ground work, means she's a happy wee thing and knows her human is the place where good things happen .

I think your stirrups could even go up one more but that said, I don't think your saddle is helping you. As a small person who often rides big horses I am millions better in a saddle with a nice narrow twist, I personally find an Albion always sits me nicely if you know what I mean. I also hate this thing for big knee and thigh blocks, ideally I would have a 17" saddle or even a 16.5" in a bigger saddle the blocks are never in the right place, you look like your leg is being pushed back and taking your seat with it - knee hip ankle is all about right but all pushed back if you know what I mean.
That said what a girl for going out and behaving, I like Aintree, it is such a light bright arena but can be very scary and for a baby horse to go out and behave nicely is terrific.
Your bridle is lovely btw.

I hate Albions do absolutely nothing for me!
Skylla is a truely odd shape so to have any saddle that fits is a miricle in itself (plus it is only a 17" and I'm not sure I could go smaller though I'm still playing with the blocks to get them in a better position) so I will not be getting a say until she matures :lol:. My Equipe is amazing so I'm hoping once she gained more muscle over her back it will fit her....

Thank you she's a little star about most things, just need to get the confidence up about warmups and get her stronger and more established.

 

[Roxylola]

Definitely second the in hand showing thing. My horse was carted all over in hand as a youngster and although he was spooky he was generally pretty solid about it - he still got overexcited sometimes in the warm ups but that is a whole different ball game! My current ride is quite funny in that he spooks and takes the mickey at times but those always involve a leap in the air and a bog off - the genuine spooks that happen when he is working and concentrating are always a complete stop and a look of total astonishment at whatever "it" is - the other day just 100 yards from home he did this and genuinely wanted to spin round and bog off in the other direction. I still have no idea what "it" was but I was so disgusted with him - your house is just there what are you doing you fool!?!?! He has not seen nearly enough of the world for a grown up horse (or even a baby one in my opinion) but he is gently chilling out as we get out more - apparently it used to be dangerous to hack out and would just gallop home.
Is there anywhere local you could go for an occasional small group lesson with Skylla - might help her to settle in the warm up if she goes out and works with other horses more and the advantage of being in a lesson is you have some level of direction coming from instructors - at my old place we taught to a pretty good standard and our riders could be asked to give a youngster a bit of space etc although that would probably be a bit too far from you - towards Preston, but I am sure other places exist.
As for the saddle - fingers crossed she grows in to your Equipe. For what you have, maybe try blocks a bit higher if you can?

 

[Embo]

Aaahh well done, Skylla! The photos are great, she definitely looks like she's really concentrating on you! And well done you for surviving the warmup

Bowser will pee when we're out... but then sometimes he won't... He didn't yesterday, so when I took him off the trailer he couldn't even wait to get back to his stable. He got into position as soon as he was off the ramp!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Definitely second the in hand showing thing. My horse was carted all over in hand as a youngster and although he was spooky he was generally pretty solid about it - he still got overexcited sometimes in the warm ups but that is a whole different ball game! My current ride is quite funny in that he spooks and takes the mickey at times but those always involve a leap in the air and a bog off - the genuine spooks that happen when he is working and concentrating are always a complete stop and a look of total astonishment at whatever "it" is - the other day just 100 yards from home he did this and genuinely wanted to spin round and bog off in the other direction. I still have no idea what "it" was but I was so disgusted with him - your house is just there what are you doing you fool!?!?! He has not seen nearly enough of the world for a grown up horse (or even a baby one in my opinion) but he is gently chilling out as we get out more - apparently it used to be dangerous to hack out and would just gallop home.
Is there anywhere local you could go for an occasional small group lesson with Skylla - might help her to settle in the warm up if she goes out and works with other horses more and the advantage of being in a lesson is you have some level of direction coming from instructors - at my old place we taught to a pretty good standard and our riders could be asked to give a youngster a bit of space etc although that would probably be a bit too far from you - towards Preston, but I am sure other places exist.
As for the saddle - fingers crossed she grows in to your Equipe. For what you have, maybe try blocks a bit higher if you can?

Yes clinics is on the cards now to help her calm down, to be fair she has improved she initially just attached herself to another horse and napped to it . Keeping my fingers crossed she grows into the Equipe as it's the only saddle that has fit me as well .

Aaahh well done, Skylla! The photos are great, she definitely looks like she's really concentrating on you! And well done you for surviving the warmup

Bowser will pee when we're out... but then sometimes he won't... He didn't yesterday, so when I took him off the trailer he couldn't even wait to get back to his stable. He got into position as soon as he was off the ramp!

She is such a sweetie once she's away from the other horses, she just needs to learn how to balance which will slow her down, carriage horses just like trotting really fast apparently :eek3: :lol:.

See even that's better as it's not right in the way of all the other competitors trying to warm up, or like Topaz in the box and ruining the floor!

 

[j1ffy]

She's growing up so fast! Lovely girl, and a champs is a champs regardless of the qualifying criteria

 

[HufflyPuffly]

She's growing up so fast! Lovely girl, and a champs is a champs regardless of the qualifying criteria

:lol: Thank you.

 

[rachk89]

Yay well done glad she behaved.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Yay well done glad she behaved.

She behaved in the test, just need to sort our warm-up out now!