Sunny April Weekend Thread

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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And I have plans! I am running a Joe Midlgey camp for next 4 days. And Myka is a demo horse. Almost a year on from the last time we did this which was pre major set back but at that time she was only just under saddle and it was a bit nerve wracking riding in front of a crowd! This time the focus is on groundwork for dressage and she will be exopected to strut her stuff a bit.

Whereas last year it was getting a sharp horse ready to mount, the pre flight checks stuff. Ie how to check in with your horse on the ground bnefore riding to make sure they are with you.

But tbh every demo is guided by what the horse can deal with so if her mind is blown by the occasion the demo will become dealing with that! Remy is coming too. Can't wait!
 
Yessssss so excited to hear how it goes! Always enjoy your write ups!

I have my usual lesson this evening, hoping to pick instructors brain on how to best prep for a dressage test away from home (in 2 weeks) as the last time I did one was 2 years ago!!!! 😱 weekend therefore might NOT be just usual hacking, might actually have to go and school in the outdoor. And also go to IKEA, as I promised the OH! 😂
 
Sounds a great clinic. Enjoy your lesson Smol.
I have a couple of Quest tests Sunday, prelim with the team and an individual Novice. First time since my fall 3 months ago so have been supporting them from the ground.

Really need to get my backside in gear now to get my BD vanilla and music scores on the board for areas!

I'm not allowed to jump anymore on surgeon's orders which really makes me want to jump 🤦 no no no no no.
 
Wow will look forward to the camp report AE!

I have a lesson on Saturday. Last week wasn't so good but my sports Psych session since then has helped me think about what happened in a helpful way. So focus will be on leaving last week behind and taking the useful learning into this week.

Life stuff just completely followed me into my lesson last week, so the psych focus was on a strategy for managing that. Feeling good about it.

Plus the sun will be shining and that always helps!
 
Well someone cast herself last night and had to be rescued 💀 so lesson was investigatory, she's 90% fine, the 10% not fine only showing up when asked to canter so a bute in her tea and maybe a few days off. She had £100 worth of anti-inflammatories last night so I suppose if she was going to wreck herself for no reason she picked the best time! 🙃
 
After all the excitement of BD Winter Champs last Sunday (I don't think there was a weekend thread so I didn't do a report!) we've got a quiet one, partly as I had a keratin treatment on my hair on Wednesday so I'm not allowed to put a riding hat on before Sunday 🤣.

I'm going to lunge Sammy today, I did ride on Wednesday and he / we still felt a bit weary after the busy weekend so he had another day off yesterday. Tomorrow his future loaner is coming to ride him and on Sunday my horse hunting begins - I'm trying a cute looking Hanoverian gelding not too far away.
 
My busy weekend was last weekend too, camp at Sommerford. H was his normal affable self. He was still in his winter woolies so looks a bit scruffy!

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ATM he is away at a friend's as we had some building work go wrong and damage done to fences. We are at a jumping clinic on Saturday and he is coming home after that as it should all be sorted

We did, of course have a pub ride on his return!

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Down at BRC music champs at Arena UK.
Fab 1st day with the lovely @Flowerofthefen coming to give us a hand.

Two tests ridden, and whilst no placings could not have been happier with my little cob. She dealt with the spooky arena, kept her s**t together, and I'm so incredibly proud of her.

Two more tests tomorrow, and then Quadrille in the evening. Going to be exciting!

And of course our lovely helper is coming back! 😊
 
Alibear said:
@j1ffy Please can we have a winter regionals report?
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Well if you insist 🤣. I wasn't the only HHOer at the Champs so there may be some more to come.

We had automatically qualified for the PetPlan Areas Champs at Advanced Medium Bronze as we came 2nd in our Area Festival. Three weeks before the Champs I had a call from BD to say that I'd got a wildcard for Medium FSM Silver as well, we'd come 6th at Regionals in a big class and I had hoped we might be in with a chance. The Medium was on the Sunday morning and AM on Sunday afternoon so it meant we only had to do one drive there...the downside was that I knew it would take a bit out of Sammy as we'd stay overnight. He's outwardly very relaxed at competitions but there's a lot going on and it does take it out of his old-ish bones!

He's an old pro so I didn't bother with arena walks, in fact I quite like him a bit lit up. I had a session with the sports psychologist a couple of days earlier and set some goals - my big thing was to stay in balance (mentally and physically) with him, ride with precision, soften my hands and lengthen my legs. I was hoping for a top 10 finish in both classes (24 in the music and 34 in the AM I think so both big classes!).

Medium FSM I was really pleased with, I felt like I achieved my goals and I think it was the best test we've done together. Unfortunately I got way ahead of my music! The arena is firm and flat so I think the canter work was faster than usual even though it didn't feel it. I was a bit disappointed with 67.5% but there were some really smart combinations there and it was good enough for 10th 🥳

We had a few hours in between so I had coffee and flapjack and Sammy had some recovery mash and a snooze. He felt a bit quieter in the warm up but still felt great, our changes were on point although I was having to work a little harder to keep him active. I was really pleased with the trot work, we got 7s for our walk pirouettes and popped up into canter. I promptly forgot the medium canter 🙈. It fell apart a bit after that, we didn't get a single clean change even though we'd been doing them so well in training and in the warm up. I was so annoyed with myself as I forgot my goals and ended up chasing for the 'feel' of the morning class, it was our last ever test together and I didn't ride the horse under me. Grrr.

He's such a quality horse though that even with the error of course and the failed changes we got 65%! We stayed in 6th place for much of the class then the last 3 riders pipped us so we ended up in 10th again. At least we're consistent and I achieved my top 10 goal in both classes...just!

It's been an amazing journey with Sammy over the last 20 months - we've qualified for the PetPlan Champs from all five Area Festival classes that we've done, I've done my first freestyles and gone to the Winter Champs with that, had championship placings and even an article in H&H! He's the kindest horse and lovely to be around. My riding has improved hugely, looking back at the PetPlans in October I can see a huge difference even in the last 7 months. I've been incredibly lucky to have him and can't thank his owner enough for loaning him to me!

Naturally I had to get an expensive framed photo from the Champs:
Annette Andresen 35x8 social media copy.jpg

And here's our freestyle test:
 
j1ffy said:
Well if you insist 🤣. I wasn't the only HHOer at the Champs so there may be some more to come.

We had automatically qualified for the PetPlan Areas Champs at Advanced Medium Bronze as we came 2nd in our Area Festival. Three weeks before the Champs I had a call from BD to say that I'd got a wildcard for Medium FSM Silver as well, we'd come 6th at Regionals in a big class and I had hoped we might be in with a chance. The Medium was on the Sunday morning and AM on Sunday afternoon so it meant we only had to do one drive there...the downside was that I knew it would take a bit out of Sammy as we'd stay overnight. He's outwardly very relaxed at competitions but there's a lot going on and it does take it out of his old-ish bones!

He's an old pro so I didn't bother with arena walks, in fact I quite like him a bit lit up. I had a session with the sports psychologist a couple of days earlier and set some goals - my big thing was to stay in balance (mentally and physically) with him, ride with precision, soften my hands and lengthen my legs. I was hoping for a top 10 finish in both classes (24 in the music and 34 in the AM I think so both big classes!).

Medium FSM I was really pleased with, I felt like I achieved my goals and I think it was the best test we've done together. Unfortunately I got way ahead of my music! The arena is firm and flat so I think the canter work was faster than usual even though it didn't feel it. I was a bit disappointed with 67.5% but there were some really smart combinations there and it was good enough for 10th 🥳

We had a few hours in between so I had coffee and flapjack and Sammy had some recovery mash and a snooze. He felt a bit quieter in the warm up but still felt great, our changes were on point although I was having to work a little harder to keep him active. I was really pleased with the trot work, we got 7s for our walk pirouettes and popped up into canter. I promptly forgot the medium canter 🙈. It fell apart a bit after that, we didn't get a single clean change even though we'd been doing them so well in training and in the warm up. I was so annoyed with myself as I forgot my goals and ended up chasing for the 'feel' of the morning class, it was our last ever test together and I didn't ride the horse under me. Grrr.

He's such a quality horse though that even with the error of course and the failed changes we got 65%! We stayed in 6th place for much of the class then the last 3 riders pipped us so we ended up in 10th again. At least we're consistent and I achieved my top 10 goal in both classes...just!

It's been an amazing journey with Sammy over the last 20 months - we've qualified for the PetPlan Champs from all five Area Festival classes that we've done, I've done my first freestyles and gone to the Winter Champs with that, had championship placings and even an article in H&H! He's the kindest horse and lovely to be around. My riding has improved hugely, looking back at the PetPlans in October I can see a huge difference even in the last 7 months. I've been incredibly lucky to have him and can't thank his owner enough for loaning him to me!

Naturally I had to get an expensive framed photo from the Champs:
View attachment 175343

And here's our freestyle test:
Click to expand...

Well done, great results. What an incredible journey you've been on together and he's a stunning horse.
 
smolmaus said:
Well someone cast herself last night and had to be rescued 💀 so lesson was investigatory, she's 90% fine, the 10% not fine only showing up when asked to canter so a bute in her tea and maybe a few days off. She had £100 worth of anti-inflammatories last night so I suppose if she was going to wreck herself for no reason she picked the best time! 🙃
Click to expand...

I tried to do some sedate, soundness-assessing walk poles last night but when I unclipped the lead rope to let her nibble grass while I set them out, she nibbled long enough for me to stop paying attention then took off and bucked and galloped and passaged her way round the arena like an absolute hooligan so she can hack today, she's fine
 
@j1ffy Thanks for the report and well done. It’s been lovely watching your journey with Sammy.

I hope the other HHOs post their reports too. It’s nice to live vicariously through you all.

Amber had a short schooling session followed by her first proper bath of the year. She’s now out dozing in the sunshine so I think it’s been her kind of day :)
 
Did 17k today. Our first outing on that distance since last year and using some trails horses find a bit weird because of tricky terrain/weird huts. She was fine. I'd like to be able to do that route completely solo, without the foot soldier, at some point this summer.

The only photo OH took was of the beer stop.

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Parents are visiting for the next two months. They did a walk with us the other day, and when I trotted off, my mother's comment was, "Oh, that horse actually runs." Uh, well, yes. But most of the photos I post on social media are of the horse standing still or walking, because it's easier. As I am sure you all know, to get decent photos of a horse running, you have to set it up and think about where you are, where the photographer is, etc. Whereas it's a piece of pi$$ to snap a photo of a horse walking or standing. Needless to say, we don't bother on most hacks. OH either jogs behind us or watches us disappear. And when I am hacking solo, well, who's going to take the photos?

Dunno...was a wee bit offended. But mom can be like that.

As proof that the horse "actually runs," here's a couple photos from last weekend. OH was on a wee hill above the trail, and I had to canter past him a couple times.

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I very rarely post here but as is the way with horses, I've been making changes with Alw and I'm just heading out for day 3 of a Sofia Valenca clinic. So far it's been fantastically useful to watch such a variety of horses and riders and to have the 1-1 with Sofia. There has been forensic attention to detail but with fun and a real spirit of collaboration in supporting our horses. Sofia has been incredibly generous with her time, no matter the level or how the horse is on the day. It's been really inspiring so far - probably easier on the horses than the riders who have to do the work to ride straighter, better, with more clarity. Not easy at all and Sofia notices everything!

We are just back in work after injury and time off so have been working in walk and trot (balance is not currently there to make canter work useful) but improvement has been so heartening, easy to understand and hopefully to really take forwards. In the past, trouble with training has come from not being able to take any learning away to consolidate at home or the horse developing too much tension, but this approach; methodical and rider focussed, is really paying dividends. I'm so chuffed and loving the clinic as a big 'boost' to my usual training with a Valenca trained trainer. Alw has loved it too, bless her 🤩🤩.
 
smolmaus said:
Relatable as hell 😂

I said to mine that Sadie got cast but was FINE and you'd think I'd tipped her upside down myself.

YES @palo1 !!! Well done you and Alw, that sounds amazing!
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Thank you! I'm so chuffed to have got back to a point where I feel confident to take up lovely training opportunities.
 
Me and my sister took her little welshie out showing today, just locally. Our first time competing in over 10 years, we got placed In all 4 classes, and came away with a ESUK qualifier in the veteran. Think I've got the showing bug back, but my legs might be thinking differently in the morning! Spring is treating us well, with the weather.
 
And that is a wrap! I am sunburnt, knackered, and my brain is whirring. The the focus of the 4 days was: get to the mind - slight variation on Buck Brannaman’s ‘get to the feet’.

Report incoming! There was so much to absorb so this will be long….

We had a fascinating mix of personalities this year:
  • Two 12.2hh "pocket rocket" cobs. Bought for kids, but ridden by mums because they had mastered the art of leaning on the bit and sodding off at high speed! The mums then discovered how much fun they were and have kept them.
  • An OTTB who hasn’t been sat on in two years and a Warmblood backed just weeks ago.
  • A stunning blue roan who didn't quite realise his own power, leaving his owner feeling a bit "dragged along for the ride."
  • And of course, Myka & Remy.
Day 1 was for arriving, settling horses into their corrals, hacking and arena familiarisation.

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Myka decided the new arena was terrifying. Cue: snorting and general "wild horse" vibes. Joe’s approach is never about forcing a horse into a space, but rather helping them find peace in it. We spent 45 minutes on groundwork before I even thought about mounting. By the time we did a short ridden set, she was exhaling and relaxed. Lesson reinforced yet again: Take the time it takes, so it takes less time. (and I don;t get ejected - always a bonus).

Day 2 kicked us off with talks on mindset, balance, and timing and bit fit.

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We then started on the ground with four main goals:

  1. Posture through correct movement.
  2. Connection with the horse’s brain.
  3. Communication via body language, matching energy and "soft feel."
  4. Looseness through flexions.
Step one – leading. Can the horse match your steps. Slow walk = horse walks slow, fast walk, horse matches. Stop suddenly and horse stops too.

Then flexions: Lateral with softness both sides. Then vertical. This requires a soft neck, floppy sterno-mandibular. But you also want the horse’s mind not the muscles. They need to turn loose and flex softly with no brace with their eye coming too. Not flexing then snatching back because they are doing it mechanically while still focused on something over that way.

We worked on backing up without halter pressure. Joe explained that Pressure = Tension. A tense neck is like a faulty phone signal; the horse might be moving back mechanically, but the "call" isn't getting through to their brain and the connection is faulty. We want them to want to move with us, not just react to a pull.

The out on a circle taking hinds and fronts. Four things to focus on when moving with the hinds: Bending the neck, moving the shoulder up and away, yielding the hinds and doing it all with energy. This means they are turning with neck bend and rib bend – again very good for once you are riding. Finally the draw to the mounting block for the horse to pick you up.

Session 2 was either ridden or ground as people wished. The 2 youngsters stayed on the ground to prepare for riding the following day with more mounting block work and leaning over. The pocket rockets had a session under saddle where everything they were doing on the ground suddenly made loads of sense because both of them had a tendency to lean heavily on the bit and sod off at speed.

So all the ground exercises were repeated – lateral and vertical flexions, then hinds and fronts leafing into serpentines with a real focus on rib bend through the changes of turn. Once the ponies were soft in the turns they could go straight again and slowly the serpentines turned into figure 8s and then more straight line work.

Throughout the rest of camp these cute mini-menaces were utterly transformed! They both tended to shoot off as soon as trot was asked for. Joe had their riders move them into serpentines the moment they felt that brace. By focusing on rib bend and yielding the hindquarters, the ponies couldn't just lock their necks and run. By the end of camp these two were transformed into elegant show cobs, trotting with soft necks. 🥰

We also did a loading demo – a cheeky add on because about 3 weeks ago I loaded her and she turned and saw her friends go past her to the field. So she unloaded herself. After that the walk in- turn round- walk off routine became something she was quite keen on! Easily solved by someone loading with me and shutting the partition on her as she went in. But I want to be able to load alone and in a calm way. Since I knew we had this clinic coming up and Joe would teach her to self load in about 30 seconds I just waited. She was a star! Clip for cuteness! ‘Yay it’s a trailer. Where are we going!!’


Remy finished with a demo showing where all this leads: the fancy, advanced moves are just the "basics" performed with more energy and refinement.

I’m headed for a long bath and a nap, so day 3 & 4 writes ups will come tomorrow…..
 
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Busy weekend for me - not helped by the cat deciding it needed feeding at 3am on Sunday morning :rolleyes:

Friday at home doing some jumping practice with a grid up. He's always had a slightly shorter canter stride which means I avoid gridwork clinics as it is just too hard for the instructor to be constantly changing the striding. I think we're OK up to about 60cm, but above that he lands short so just can't make the distance. Does mean I could probably book onto a smaller clinic.

Saturday was some e-riders dressage recording. He won his March class (which was in their 'elite' category so I was pleased about that - means you are riding Prelim up against anyone who has ridden up to Novice). Don't think Saturday's tests were the same quality as March - not least because I kept over shooting the centre line - but lots to like when I watched them back on video. Left canter transition is awesome from walk but he sort of launches into it from trot so needs some attention. Might be me as I'm massively overdue physio.

Yesterday out with the local Endurance club although I stuck to the 9 mile ride as we are desperately in need of rain in the Chilterns and the ground was like concrete. Very impressed by the number of ladies in their 70s doing the 25km ride on their super fit ponies. I know they have times to meet but I STILL wouldn't have spent all the time trotting on that ground, but then I ride and train for longevity I suppose rather than today's result. I think spending the past 5 years on biomechanics and physiology of the horse has been eye opening and it can't help but change the way I train for the better. Bluebells were stunning and we did manage some lovely long trots and one super canter on ground that was mud only 4 weeks ago. Halo firmly installed on the Turbo cob's head which was a relief as I didn't know anyone. Fun ride season is now starting which he will be very pleased about, but I am hoping we have some slightly wetter weather soon.
 
Had a good day at Quest yesterday winning both. I am physically paying for it today. Amazing how much muscle you lose in 2.5 months and I have no nerve sensation in right buttock or lower back. Difficult to ensure I am equal on seat bones. I was quite tense too. Lots to work on. Horse is a star 🌟
 

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Home yesterday after 4 days at the BRC Champs.

Had a great time. No placings in the dressage classes, but could not have been more delighted with my little pony. She tried her heart out in every class. Melted a little in the heat at times.

Then the best of fun in the Quadrille. Thanks to @Flowerofthefen for all her amazing help over the 2 days, really could not have done it without you!
 
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