Spring (!) Weekend Plans

[iknowmyvalue]

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

Congrats, that’s a fantastic result!

yes, feel like we need a few training outings away from home. We have weekly sj lessons at home, but need to find a way to get some more away from home around work. Might even take him right back to 75/80cm until we get things patched up. He’s got miles of scope, and usually loves the job, but does sometimes go green and overjump and scare himself/unseat me.

I’m fairly confident that there’s no significant physical problem as he’s been x-rayed/scanned within an inch of his life in the last 18mo to make sure he’s just quirky and not in pain. But even a tiny niggle could definitely cause a big reaction for him, so I’ve sorted saddle fitter/osteo and will trot him up this week to be absolutely sure.

 

[J_sarahd]

I was meant to be carrying on Nova’s return to work programme with a bit of longreining in her tack but she decided to come in today with a fat, hot leg. She has a very small cut so I’m thinking it’s just an infection and any sign of it getting worse or not improving, I’ll be ringing the vet. A bit miffed but that’s horses, and definitely young thoroughbreds, for you.

However, as she’s not lame and seems completely fine in herself, our plan tomorrow isn’t cancelled. My friend is competing so we’ve nabbed the spare trailer space to go with and soak up the atmosphere. Our physio recommended it as a pressure-free way to get her used to being out and about. I’m quite nervous to be honest

 

[Caol Ila]

Hermosa was a star during her first ride to the Mugdock visitor's centre. About a 1.5 hour round trip from the yard. On the way, she dealt with am ambulance with its lights on (which passed us twice), a tractor, a guy throwing glass bottles into a recycling bin, the usual feral children, a stand-off with a cyclist in a gateway. Did not miss a beat or bat an eye.



We were relieved that Fin was on second shift and missed the ambulance and the tractor. Up until the point we heard guys shooting something like an air rifle nearby. It had that distinctive gunshot popping sound. Not sure they should be doing that in the park, but they were. Twats. That triggered some kind of post-traumatic reaction in him, and he went from bopping along the trail, happy as anything, to fire-breathing dragon mode. We pranced and jigged our way out of the park, and he only settled once we were about within about half a kilometer of the yard.

 

[Marigold4]

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

So sorry to hear that - that's devastating. Horses are such heart-breakers.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Wonderful result Rachel! What a great start to the season!

 

[Surbie]

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

Ah no, am so sorry. I was really hoping you'd find a way through.

 

[RachelFerd]

Too easy!

 

[scats]

Hacked yesterday and today we did some polework in a very light 20 minute session. We may have even had a tiny canter at the end
Ankle feeling fab!

 

[Jeni the dragon]

That's brilliant Scats! Lovely to see!

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Baby pony went showjumping! Slightly overawed in the first round but a lovely clear in the second and won a red frilly! Clever Paddy and Jodie!

 

[millitiger]

Great time SJ, Dima feeling super fresh and ready to go!
Apart from his shaved knee, you wouldn't know he had such an odd injury 4 weeks ago.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Friday's ride I came back feeling a bit pants but then remembered I am very lucky to have a horse to ride and get to know so I stopped feeling sorry for myself and went back with a positive attitude today. We're 'banana-ing' again which I thought we'd cracked after last lesson, but our transitions are better and we are moving forwards more.

The main achievement was in my mindset to not accept plodding and when we start going forwards more in trot to remember this is good not scary! I know it's low level stuff but my brain really does hold me back so every tiny bit of progress means a lot.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Grid lesson was great fun. Rode in a snaffle and didn’t really seem that different to how she is in the Pelham.
I also entered an ODE as I was feeling very jealous of all the event reports and pics on FB!

 

[Curly_Feather]

Too easy!

View attachment 108766

Such a completely lovely photo!!!

 

[J_sarahd]

Nova was an angel yesterday. She was wired in the field when the trailer came out but it was like she was an old hat when she was there. Obviously looked at everything and a tiny bit of calling, but no silliness, no snorting, no stressiness. It was busier than I expected but not bothered by the tannoy, buzzer, horses banging in boxes, ramps going up and down. So proud of her.

The leg is also looking better. No heat anymore and a tiny bit of swelling still.

 

[Alibear]

Amber is continuing to settle in at the new yard. Calm enough that on Friday night I got on for 10 mins in the arena and then on Saturday she was a bit tense so the instructor popped her on the lunge for 5 mins, then got on and did 30 mins ridden and I did the last 25. Yesterday the yard was quiet so I hopped on and did a nice 30mins solo. Will see if we can keep up the arena work in the evenings this week and try a hack at the weekend.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Was going to have a lesson instead of the cancelled dressage but baby got conjunctivitis and then kindly gave it to me.

We did go buy a new car instead though! I've been banned from taking it to the stables as it's very very clean and shiny.

Rescheduled my lesson to tonight although I'm still a bit swollen and gunky so could be interesting with limited vision.

 

[stangs]

Hermosa was a star during her first ride to the Mugdock visitor's centre. About a 1.5 hour round trip from the yard. On the way, she dealt with am ambulance with its lights on (which passed us twice), a tractor, a guy throwing glass bottles into a recycling bin, the usual feral children, a stand-off with a cyclist in a gateway. Did not miss a beat or bat an eye.

View attachment 108757View attachment 108758View attachment 108759

We were relieved that Fin was on second shift and missed the ambulance and the tractor. Up until the point we heard guys shooting something like an air rifle nearby. It had that distinctive gunshot popping sound. Not sure they should be doing that in the park, but they were. Twats. That triggered some kind of post-traumatic reaction in him, and he went from bopping along the trail, happy as anything, to fire-breathing dragon mode. We pranced and jigged our way out of the park, and he only settled once we were about within about half a kilometer of the yard.

Where'd you get that bosal? She looks very pretty and grown-up in it.

View attachment 108804

Great time SJ, Dima feeling super fresh and ready to go!
Apart from his shaved knee, you wouldn't know he had such an odd injury 4 weeks ago.

Such a nice photo! You both have the same expression.

 

[Caol Ila]

Where'd you get that bosal? She looks very pretty and grown-up in it.

It's actually a loping hackamore, and I bought it here. https://www.classicequine.co.uk/schutz-brothers-loping-hackamore-21251-p.asp

I want to change her over to the real rawhide bosal but I am having a miserable time finding a hanger for it. The ones available in the UK are tiny. She is not a big horse, but these things will barely fit a pony.

 

[Pippity]

I'm finally back from NZ/Aus after an epic two months away, and am starting work on fittening Blue up. She was turned away for the whole two months, so I'm doing a week or so of groundwork before getting her saddle refitted. She's not great at long-reining (she isn't very brave and finds it hard to be in front) but she went round our new farm track twice yesterday with only one hiccup, so I'm very proud of her. Plan is that, alongside the long-reining, we'll do some ground poles in walk, gradually introduce trot and raise them a bit, and then get the saddle checked and hop on board for lots of hacking.

 

[millitiger]

Such a nice photo! You both have the same expression.

Last fence relief from me!

 

[oldie48]

Great schooling session this morning but it was very cold! Owner came out and was very encouraging, which pleased me. Mr D felt really good but it's nice when "eyes on the ground" agree. Quick tip from owner, I'd got a nice jump in the canter but he wasn't totally straight on the left rein. She got me me moving him off my right leg in canter away from the fence, which really demonstrated that he just wasn't listening to it, so we did some diamond shaped circles (IYKWIM) with a little touch from the whip (held in my outside hand) if he wasn't listening so we got the straightness, kept the jump and improved the canter. Great result, then I went to pilates and was totally knackered!