So thats the end of my year then

vam

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I dont know how many saw my last thread but basically im being made redundant :( :( Not sure when it kicks in but im looking as of now for another job and if i get one sooner and lose my redundancy i will do that as id rather have a job than the small payout.
Anyway i thought id do a little recap of my year. To be honest i really dont think i got going as much as i would have liked, i wanted to be jumping disco by now but we are still ironing out the kinks at bn. Still in some way he has really come on so fingers crossed that it all falls into place next year.

This is going to be long and not purely comp reports but please indulge me as i'm feeling abit pathetic.

Not a good start to the year, after the snow and a yard move we did bits and bobs at home. Made sure we were fully fledged 'all the gear, no idea' ;)
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Jumping was ok
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Flat work was/is still pants
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Went to go to the first show of the year and he point blank refused to load. It wasn’t good so I spent weeks trying to sort it, in the end I thought I cracked it with a pressure halter and practice. So small journeys then we ventured out to some clear round

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He gave me a couple of nice clear rounds round the 80cm and 90cm
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Some hacking round the field followed
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At this point it is where the real hard work starts, I started having lessons with my fab trainer who has helped me loads.
We still did some schooling
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Back out to some more clear rounds, clear in the 90cm and just tipped a pole in the 1m
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Unfortunately he wouldn’t load to come home, some lovely people came to my rescue and we pretty much had to winch him in. Back to the drawing board.
I still liked him thou

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Started to practice loading again but he would load perfectly at home just be a git at shows. Managed to get to another lesson
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Managed to get home without too much of a drama but I really need to get it sorted so I gave in and tried him with a stallion ring. I have to say it worked a treat and he loaded with in 5 mins. I still use it as he can sometimes get to the bottom of the ramp, plant and the start going backwards, the ring seem to keep him going forward.
So with that in mind we set for the first show of the year at the end of May to Patchetts, got there at lunch time to find them walking for my class which was the 90cm open. Had no really warm up and it wasn’t pretty but he jumped a double clear for me.
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Then did the 90cm speed again not great but he jumped round clear for me
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So came away with a 3rd and 4th, good pony and most importantly he loaded there and back
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Lots of loading practice was needed so we did lessons and hacking through the summer
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Made some friends
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Cracked gallop
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More lessons then finally got him out to some BS shows.
Didn’t do to bad first one out we got a double clear in the 80cm then a pole in the jo in the bn
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On to Cobham where not great on paper as I sailed past a jump and got eliminated in the bn and clocked up faults in the jo of the 90cm am but he jumped so well and I finally felt the lesson were paying off
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Back to Royal leisure for a rather wet 90cm am again a double clear but no prizes as not quick enough in the jump off. Not pics as the camera would have needed arm bands it was that wet.
We then ventured to Duckhurst for the bn and jumped a double clear for 3rd place, I didn’t actually believe my oh when he told me
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So some more schooling, hacking and lessons to finish off.
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A bit gutted I’ve got to put everything on hold but never mind, will use the time to cement everything we have done over the year. I’m hoping I will bad back on my feet sooner rather than later so I can get going again with competing, I'm really hoping that next year is actually our year.

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream for all who get through that mammoth about of drivel :D
 
I know everyone's going to say this but I think he's LOVELY and I really like the relationship you guys seem to have :) you sound like you've worked really hard on his loading too, :D

Also, the first pic of you in the ring in the 1m - those fences look a lot bigger than 1m!! lol

He's lovely :)
 
Oh my! What a lush boy!

We had issues this year with OH being made redundant, it was frustrating and caused a huge change in plans and priorities but we made it through. Good luck with the job hunt and take the time you get to enjoy your beautiful boy.
 
Wow - you look like you done a lot this year! Maybe not as much as you would have liked but still I think you should be pleased!!

My horse is normally fab to load and travel, but he doesn't like herringbone. He is a big, long horse and he feels squashed. Looks a bit similar to the pic of your lad in the lorry. Luckily I found this out before I bought transport so I can pick a forward or rear facing lorry/trailer. Might be something to think about anyway! :)
 
He is gorgeous :) I hope things get better for you soon and I feel ur pain! I'm also hoping that 2012 will be a better year for me, all the best xx
 
Sorry about the redundancy what a pain :( :(, fingers crossed u find a new job soon.
I love your horse, he is one of my favourite HHO horses. So he's not perfect with the loading and wot not but he is so handsome and classy and he looks so genuine and fun. Well done for all your efforts I think you have had a productive year :) :)
 
I like this horse a lot - he seems to have a very genuine outlook - not a single grumpy face among all of those. The only way is up, so keep doing what you are doing and don't let the b******s get you down :)
 
Wow, what a lovely post! Some great photos & you've come such a long way!

Everything crossed that you find a new job shortly.

FWIW, I share your pain re having to give up. My house needs urgent structural work & I've had to sell my lorry to pay for some of it, so no lessons or competing for me :-( I am trying to be pragmatic & enjoy the break.
 
he's lovely, and time spent cementing the basics is never wasted, i know i would hate an enforced break, but try and get every positive out of it you can, and i look forward to hearing you are back out there asap :)
 
He is gorgeous, I love the expression on his face :) You should be very proud of what you have achieved this year. It is frustrating that you have had to stop competing early but keep practicing and you will both come out stronger next year.

Its rubbish about the redundancy but hopefully you will find an even better job with more money and then you can compete even more :D Always the optimist!!
 
Thank you guys, i have to say there are times when i would quite happily give him away as he can be very frustating.:o He does make me smile as he is abit of a character and is a happy chappie. He has lots of talent so finds things easy i think, he just makes me work alot harder than he does!
When i look back it doesnt seem so bad, i guess i was hoping a more competive year but im working on the theory that everything happens for a reason.

As for the loading, he was fine in the dealers lorry and the box i picked him up on both of which where herringbone. He was also fine in my lorry when i was at the old yard, it was just when we moved yards he chucked it in.
I think ive got it sorted as the more room he has the more he throws himself about trying to look out the windows :rolleyes: I'm traveling him at more of an angle but with less room between the partitions and it seems to work better for him.Shame ive had to take the box off the road.

Im lucky in that my Dad has said he will cover his cost if things get bad as i dont want to sell him. If it comes to it i will find a field to chuck him in and go from there.
 
Oh and in the pic of me jumping the 1m the double behind wasnt in the course i was doing. I think they had been left out from the day before but i did eye them up thinking i'd like a go :D
 
Sorry to hear you've ben made redundant, hopefully you will be out and about again very soon! He really has improved since you've had him, so a well done! He has a lovely jump. Look forward to seeing more from you in the future.
 
Lovely horse and any improvement is better than none! Sorry to hear about your redundancy though but at least you can keep him - keep smiling.

Off topic - where did you get your stallion ring - I'm borrowing a friends for git horse leading in the dark/wind from field and want to buy one but can only find them on Kate Negus site and toooo much money (even the ring would do and I'll make webbing straps for it
 
Gorgeous horse& really enjoyed reading about your progress. Obviously he jumps really well but you do too- you look great!
Hope u find a new job soon :(
 
Gutted about you redundancy :( hope you get sorted soon though.

He really is gorgeous, just my type, big and beautiful :) you look so good together, and real lovely pair :)
 
He looks really lovely, just my type :) I am sure that the enforced time at home will make you come out even better and have a fantastic season when you can get back to it - enjoy him :)
 
Thank you everyone, the more i look at the pics the less i feel quite so rubbish about everything. Onwards and upwards i think. :)


Miller- my oh made it for me. I was borrowing a proper one but couldnt afford a proper one at the time so he made one out of a lighter metal than the proper one as a mock up. It works just as well so im using that with a dressage slip head attached to some ringed pelham roundings. I might get a proper one at some point or get one made in the same thickness as the proper one.
Have a look hear as they do a attachment type one which is cheaper.
http://www.worldwidetack.com/controller-headcollar-attachment-p-330.html
I have to admit im a bit of a convert as its not in the mouth and it just seems to suit us.
 
Your horse is lovely and the pictures are fab. It sounds like you have made real progress though so try and stay positive.

I am sorry about the redundancy, what job were you doing btw?
 
Your horse is lovely and the pictures are fab. It sounds like you have made real progress though so try and stay positive.

I am sorry about the redundancy, what job were you doing btw?

Thanks, im in sales admin and do a bit of payroll etc as well. Lucky there seems to be jobs out there that i can do its just getting them :)
 
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