Spring (!) Weekend Plans

[Ample Prosecco]

Does not feel like Spring but hey ho...

I have Joe Midgley on Saturday. Super excited about that! Then a grid lesson on Sunday with Niki de Macedo who I have had once before and really liked.

I am more or less recovered from the vein puncturing/ankle spraining episode. Which followed on shortly from the flu/post viral fatigue and broken toe incidents. So far this year I feel like I have just not managed any consistency at all. But it's SPRING. (Allegedly). And I am fighting fit. And so is Lottie. So hopefully I timed all my dramas well and will enjoy a fab Spring/Summer!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

My first dressage comp post KS surgery! I’ve not really had a chance to school but my friend is going and has space in the box so I thought why not!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm loving your JM session updates AE so will look forward to reading the next one.

Good luck for the dressage comp OBAC!

I am with share horse tomorrow and Sunday, in the school but probably no lesson this week. I've been back at work this week and hopefully most of the fatigue is behind me now, once I know for sure I'll get that lesson booked back in! As usual, simple goals are: ride forwards and enjoy the ride.

I'm starting to feel like I want to try hacking with share horse again, although still nervous about it I don't want to give up. I just hoped the weather might warm up a bit and that would help with positive mindset. I know it doesn't really make much difference to actual safety, extremes of weather aside. I'm not sure this is the week for trying again, soon though!

 

[millitiger]

Good luck all.

Will take perfect pony (welsh 2yro) for another walk around the village as he LOVED it last weekend.
Terrified Thomas (warmblood 2yro) will be trying a lap of our arena again- funny how different they are, I think his heart would fail if I took him around the village now!

Then we're out SJ on Sunday.
First voyage in the lorry since non-mechanical OH swapped my exhaust so fingers crossed!

 

[Alibear]

Quiet after last weekend. Amber is settling in at the new yard, very good in-hand in the school on Wednesday, so I thought I might hop on last night, but we had snorty dragon impersonations, so I stuck to lunging. I have a lesson booked on Saturday, which should get us up and running.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

We are (hopefully!) going eventing at Epworth

SJ has been a bit rocky in places the last few outings, but I’m hoping the slightly smaller and more straightforward course, at a venue he’s been to many times, will help.

He’s been fantastic at home, and was 90% there at BS last weekend, but just had a complete wobbly about one particular combination.

It is a BE, but I’m going in with absolutely no expectations, and if we make it over a few XC fences I’ll be thrilled.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

We are (hopefully!) going eventing at Epworth

SJ has been a bit rocky in places the last few outings, but I’m hoping the slightly smaller and more straightforward course, at a venue he’s been to many times, will help.

He’s been fantastic at home, and was 90% there at BS last weekend, but just had a complete wobbly about one particular combination.

It is a BE, but I’m going in with absolutely no expectations, and if we make it over a few XC fences I’ll be thrilled.

OOH good luck. I looked at going there. It's a nice venue, I think, for a confidence giving, early run. Can;t beleive eventing has started already, Still feels like the middle of winter. I need to enter something!

 

[Accidental Eventer]

We had a lesson to brush up on our dressage and then Saturday we are up far too early to have our first go at elementary. I'm a bit excited, and need to remember to ride to my plan. If I do everything will go just fine!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

 

[iknowmyvalue]

OOH good luck. I looked at going there. It's a nice venue, I think, for a confidence giving, early run. Can;t beleive eventing has started already, Still feels like the middle of winter. I need to enter something!

Yeah it’s always been nice when I’ve been, was where we did our first UA90. So feel happy going even if we are a bit underprepared (as haven’t done XC since October and SJ wobbles…). Plus it’s close enough to home that if the s**t truly hits the fan we can just withdraw/retire without too much of a wasted day.

 

[RachelFerd]

We are (hopefully!) going eventing at Epworth

SJ has been a bit rocky in places the last few outings, but I’m hoping the slightly smaller and more straightforward course, at a venue he’s been to many times, will help.

He’s been fantastic at home, and was 90% there at BS last weekend, but just had a complete wobbly about one particular combination.

It is a BE, but I’m going in with absolutely no expectations, and if we make it over a few XC fences I’ll be thrilled.

We're also at Epworth tomorrow. All our prep was going very well until our final BS outing, where I managed to fall off at the 2nd fence, cue giving the horse the fear that I'm going to fall off over every showjump - have been patching that confidence issue up for the past two weeks, but as such, feeling a bit more trepidation than I would normally be! He XC schooled last week and felt absolutely mega - so I just hope we do manage to get to the third phase!

 

[iknowmyvalue]

We're also at Epworth tomorrow. All our prep was going very well until our final BS outing, where I managed to fall off at the 2nd fence, cue giving the horse the fear that I'm going to fall off over every showjump - have been patching that confidence issue up for the past two weeks, but as such, feeling a bit more trepidation than I would normally be! He XC schooled last week and felt absolutely mega - so I just hope we do manage to get to the third phase!

You’re in the same boat as me then! Was all going swimmingly for us until a silly issue that seems to have taken a bit of confidence out of the SJ. We’ve been having lots of lessons and he’s been going much better so fingers crossed… but like you, I wouldn’t normally be worried about the SJ but now am.

hoping we get to the XC because he’s a machine and absolutely loves it. And because trialling a new bit setup which has transformed the SJ, and will be worth every penny if it works for XC.

what class are you doing?

 

[RachelFerd]

You’re in the same boat as me then! Was all going swimmingly for us until a silly issue that seems to have taken a bit of confidence out of the SJ. We’ve been having lots of lessons and he’s been going much better so fingers crossed… but like you, I wouldn’t normally be worried about the SJ but now am.

hoping we get to the XC because he’s a machine and absolutely loves it. And because trialling a new bit setup which has transformed the SJ, and will be worth every penny if it works for XC.

what class are you doing?

90 - we're in sec B

 

[oldie48]

I schooled this morning, it was very cold, not at all spring like! Mr D is feeling fab ATM and I'm getting consistently good work which makes me want to go out and compete however, I doubt I'd make it round a test as I'm still a bit lacking in energy and puff! Apart from having friends over for supper tomorrow night I've got nothing planned except dog walking and gardening. Just as an aside I'm on the ZOE nutritional programme so my new obsession is tweaking my diet (please message me if anyone wants to know more info but I've found it really useful) I'm definitely not having the energy dips in the afternoon and I'm having better sleep, I could do without the additional sound effects in pilates though! Have a great weekend and a good result if you are competing!

 

[iknowmyvalue]

90 - we're in sec B

Me too, will see you there

 

[Chippers1]

We're also at Epworth tomorrow. All our prep was going very well until our final BS outing, where I managed to fall off at the 2nd fence, cue giving the horse the fear that I'm going to fall off over every showjump - have been patching that confidence issue up for the past two weeks, but as such, feeling a bit more trepidation than I would normally be! He XC schooled last week and felt absolutely mega - so I just hope we do manage to get to the third phase!

This is interesting as I came off SJ-ing in summer - a first for me! - and since then the 2 comps i've done Buzz has been really flat/unenthusiastic during the course (but fine in warm ups, fine at clinics and arena hires and feeling great at home) I wonder if he's had the same and got the fear in courses? I'm not jumping the heights you do but it's worth pondering when i'm out and about!

Nothing much for us this weekend after a busy few. Camp soon which is exciting though! Have good weekends

 

[RachelFerd]

This is interesting as I came off SJ-ing in summer - a first for me! - and since then the 2 comps i've done Buzz has been really flat/unenthusiastic during the course (but fine in warm ups, fine at clinics and arena hires and feeling great at home) I wonder if he's had the same and got the fear in courses? I'm not jumping the heights you do but it's worth pondering when i'm out and about!

Nothing much for us this weekend after a busy few. Camp soon which is exciting though! Have good weekends

Yes, horses generally really don't like us falling off! Mine is soft as hell as well because I've had him since a 3yo, and know that he's really not used to people getting unbalanced and coming off him.

 

[shortstuff99]

Hopefully surviving a jumping clinic tomorrow with the Spanish Potato and then I'm running BRC combined challenge qualifier on Sun!

 

[ycbm]

Sadly my spring plans are now to move Ludo into retirement livery

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Sadly my spring plans are now to move Ludo into retirement livery

I'm so sorry to read this ycbm. He's such a lovely boy and I know so special to you.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

So sorry ycbm x

 

[southerncomfort]

Rubbish news. I'm so sorry. X

 

[oldie48]

I am so sorry about Ludo, ycbm. Sending a hug.

 

[shortstuff99]

Sadly my spring plans are now to move Ludo into retirement livery

Ah no

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Sadly my spring plans are now to move Ludo into retirement livery

So Sorry YCBM, thats devastating.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Sorry to hear that YCBM

My dressage has been cancelled. Was actually an event I had organised myself so doubly disappointed we had to cancel due to low entries.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

So Henry and I had a great day today! He was super chill and our first test was a little too chill, he needed a little more spark and we felt lacking a little harmony. But it was a good experience and Henry is such a stress head I’ll take too relaxed as it’s so much easier to add spark!

had my warm nailed down for the elem and he felt amazing. Sparky, with me, relaxed and then there were some money that I just felt wow, we can really do it.

then having run early all day, it started running late and Henry got a bit over cooked and the tension came back. However the test was actually really good. He was with me and I rode the horse not the test and my plan came together. Loads to improve on and an error in the second canter transition when he wasn’t off my aid but other than that it was actually pretty good.

it scored 60% which was my goal and I felt a little bit teary about it because I was just so proud. It felt like we were exactly where we should be and Henry really tired his best.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Ended up on the floor in the SJ, didn’t even get to the fun part. Bummer.

Warmed up brilliantly, fell apart in the ring again. I don’t think it’s pain related, it doesn’t really fit with what I'm feeling, but he’ll get a full MOT just in case. Organising an arena hire with my instructor over a full SJ course in 2 weeks, see if we can work out what’s going on. I suspect it is in part my anxieties getting to him, plus a bit of his own from pain memory (and memory of me falling off him, which I’d completely forgot had happened until the RF mentioned her issues upthread)

Even more frustrating because he did the best dressage he has ever done on grass. And was just generally (other than the SJ round) so easy to deal with, like a different horse to when I first got him! And my jumping instructor has commented the last few weeks how much better he’s going and how confident he looks in our lessons!

 

[shortstuff99]

Hope you get to the bottom of it iknowmyvalue!

The Spanish potato and I survived our first jumping clinic! She tried very hard and I was really pleased. She is still very green at jumping as for many years she couldn't wrap her head around jumping at all .

I'm also very rusty but enjoy our video anyway!

 

[Cherryblossom]

Took Poppy XC schooling to give her some experience on grass before her first two phase next weekend. After an initial 5yo strop, she settled down and was super chilled at everything. Being out with a TB really highlighted how slow we are though!

 

[RachelFerd]

Ended up on the floor in the SJ, didn’t even get to the fun part. Bummer.

Warmed up brilliantly, fell apart in the ring again. I don’t think it’s pain related, it doesn’t really fit with what I'm feeling, but he’ll get a full MOT just in case. Organising an arena hire with my instructor over a full SJ course in 2 weeks, see if we can work out what’s going on. I suspect it is in part my anxieties getting to him, plus a bit of his own from pain memory (and memory of me falling off him, which I’d completely forgot had happened until the RF mentioned her issues upthread)

Even more frustrating because he did the best dressage he has ever done on grass. And was just generally (other than the SJ round) so easy to deal with, like a different horse to when I first got him! And my jumping instructor has commented the last few weeks how much better he’s going and how confident he looks in our lessons!

Oh what a bummer. The pressure of competition added to some kind of residual anxiety definitely makes any small issue so much worse. Hope you get back on track quickly with confidence restored. Mine ended up SJing ok today, but it was definitely thanks to having done a few training outings to patch up his confidence after my floor diving efforts. I've also been popping some canter cavelettis most evenings in the arena to try and keep the jumping quiet and boring.

Felt like it paid off today anyways - 33 DC, 4th, ready for be100 next time out dressage would have been better if he hadn't spiced up the trot work with some shoulder in and Travers - that BE90 test is too boring