The have I missed a thread Halloween Weekend Thread

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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13 October 2017
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It is Saturday and I really have searched for one... sorry if I am starting one for no reason.

My weekend on Thursday started with fetching Myka and dropping off Mylo. And the rest of the weekend will be focused on starting to get to know her. Prepare for photo spam incoming!
Plus a birthday party on Sunday.


What's everyone up to?
 
I've got quite a lot on but not sure my head is in the right place - had a week of family issues including the sudden death of OH's uncle.

Just got my e-riders results through. Bit underwhelming but I filmed one in a flooded field and the other when I had a vomiting bug so I've given myself a pat on the back for getting them done. It's got us our scores for their winter champs which was my aim.

I need to have a think about bits. He goes brilliantly in his non BD elevator but the BD legal equivalent isn't working. I ride on the lower rings in the elevator and I think it puts it into a slightly different position in his mouth. I may need a bit fitter before I spend a fortune 🙄

Enjoy getting to know your new girl AE - lots of photos because they grow up quickly!
 
SEL said:
I've got quite a lot on but not sure my head is in the right place - had a week of family issues including the sudden death of OH's uncle.

Just got my e-riders results through. Bit underwhelming but I filmed one in a flooded field and the other when I had a vomiting bug so I've given myself a pat on the back for getting them done. It's got us our scores for their winter champs which was my aim.

I need to have a think about bits. He goes brilliantly in his non BD elevator but the BD legal equivalent isn't working. I ride on the lower rings in the elevator and I think it puts it into a slightly different position in his mouth. I may need a bit fitter before I spend a fortune 🙄

Enjoy getting to know your new girl AE - lots of photos because they grow up quickly!
Click to expand...

The lady that covers out area is brilliant. I really rate her as do others.
 
Had an early lesson this morning had a little go at walk to canter which she got in 2 tries but only with the left lead she's being so cute and game. I can only ride sat-mon now as it's too dark after work the rest of the week so I'm going to see if a friend can do some mid week ground work to keep her a bit looser. Plus it will be good for her to be handled a bit more by others as she's become a bit one person 😅
I didn't have lessons or school much at all last winter as I was a bit reluctant post colic and my instructor didn't do Sundays but now we're doing a bit more i think i need to try and keep her a bit more supple.
Off to see my sister in an am-dram musical tonight so she'll get tomorrow off probably as I really should see my husband at some point and then hack with the afore mentioned friend Monday.
 
Pics of training session one: getting her comfortable with the tools: flag and rope. Then flexions and hind end yields and walking in sync. She learns quickly. Wasn’t sure about the flag at first but soon totally fine with it. Kicked at it, but also willing to check it out and figure out it was fine.

She is remarkably chilled at the moment. A bit looky, calls a fair bit, when in the arena away from other horses, but for a horse who has never left the yard she was born on before, she’s very easy.

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Earlier this week, Big H went to a country park with a friend for some hacking. He was rather laid back! Hopefully he'll wake up some once he is properly clipped in 3 weeks.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7431675152255012128

Today, I seem to somehow have entered us in a stressless SJ competition. We did a little hunter trial a few weeks ago, but that wasn't a competition as we just did the clear round first class, where you could jump or not, anything goes. However, this is an actual competition - 2 actually.

Not sure they still count as it is a stressless day, so still anything goes, but I am creeping back towards our forst co mpetition since Mr Red died.
 
Managed to get a session in with reggie on Friday. He's coming on leaps and bounds after the visit from the NHT.

Then we've had a weekend of family gatherings so no time to do much for the rest of the weekend. Currently sat on the sofa feeling like I've just eaten Xmas Dinner. Podgy!!!
 
We did our show. It was my first show since my husband died, so I played it really safe and did two little classes, the 65 and the 75.

I think I played it too safe really!

Big H was ace. Totally mannerly. Did everything I asked of him. Won the first class with a double clear, then had one down with the fastest time in the second class.

Both rounds on the video. Forgive me as I am very rusty!!!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7433060588273667360
 
I had a dressage day of 2 halves with the Spanish Bean. She has been going great at home after having my trainer from Portugal over a few times to kick my butt and make me actually ride.

Went out locally for a low key dressage, she is getting very good at going out now, loads, travels and acts great!

My main issue is working out how much warming up she needs, it is a fine line because if she gets tired and finds it hard she can give up so I have to make sure not to over do it.

Unfortunately for my first test I very much under did it 🤣. Most of the test was leaping and snaky head 🙃. A very generous 58% scored and dead last.

Decided to stay on and make it all a bit boring with mooching around in walk. I then picked her up and actually worked her. Had entered for her very first prelim and she was really good! No leaping or being silly and did all of it (even both canter transitions). Scored a very respectable 64%. Still plenty to work on (contact) but getting there.

Some pics of naughty Bean and Nice Bean 🤣

Screenshot_20241103_181438_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20241103_181516_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20241103_181457_Gallery.jpgVideoCapture_20241103-172550.jpgVideoCapture_20241103-172533.jpg
 
Red-1 said:
We did our show. It was my first show since my husband died, so I played it really safe and did two little classes, the 65 and the 75.

I think I played it too safe really!

Big H was ace. Totally mannerly. Did everything I asked of him. Won the first class with a double clear, then had one down with the fastest time in the second class.

Both rounds on the video. Forgive me as I am very rusty!!!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7433060588273667360
Click to expand...
Looking great, and isn't that arena stunning!
 
I went to a spook busting Halloween clinic today, I thought it would be a nice low key outing for Dex rather than needing to spook bust so to speak.

However, he didn't want to engage at all and has for some reason decided now he will not load, despite me driving super carefully, not asking too much when we go anywhere, trailer has been fully serviced last month, I have a horse camera so know he's not stressing while travelling... not sure what's going on
 
@shortstuff99 oh I know the pain of unplanned moves in dressage!! @Red-1 that looks great - and I've never seen an arena which looks like it's carved out of a cliff.

I was hopeful that with a clinic yesterday I'd have a slightly tired cob at Cholsey today. I didn't. He's pretty fit now so jogged his way round because his walk can't keep up with the big horses. We can absolutely keep up in trot and canter tho! Needed the blast - it's been a pretty awful week with my OH's family.
 
Pepsi is on a semi-break at the moment post event season. But pulled him out of the field today for a fun hack around with a friend, he’s not been sat on for a week but he was great (although very up for trying to have a race)

He’ll be in lighter work the next 4wks or so. A flatwork lesson, a hack and a groundwork/lunge session a week. Maybe 2 hacks if the weather is glorious (which I doubt 😂). Hoping to try and put a bit of weight on, he’s going into winter lighter than I’d like really. But looks noticeably better and stronger than last year, which a few people who know him have commented on
 
@Red-1 - that arena is amazing! Well done on getting back out there.

Super Sammy and I did our second competition. My nerves were a tad calmer (though I tensed up hugely as I headed into my first test, which isn’t ideal on a big moving horse…) and Sammy had a quiet run up and loads of recovery mash.

His owner came along and called the tests so no errors of course this time! We scored a very pleasing 68% in Medium 5 🥰.

His owner then admitted that she’d never done two tests with him so we weren’t sure how he’d react to going out again 😝. A timing mix up meant I was on sooner than planned so we hacked around the warm up, then a few mins of transitions and he was pinging along and felt like he was having a whale of a time. I wanted to let him have a nice time so I didn’t contain him much and let him enjoy the test, I had a big smile on my face too! As a result it was all a bit loose for 65% but a happy horse meant far more to me.

That’s our Areas qualification sorted so I’ll spend the next couple of months working on my riding (and loosening those hips!).

IMG_5458.jpeg
 
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Well done @Red-1 and @j1ffy !

I put my brave pants on and went for a proper hack! We had a great time, Finn loved it. I am scared of roads (more the dangerous drivers) in my mind the probability of accident is probably higher than it is. There is a small stretch of road that we can ride to then get on a bridleway where you don't have to see a road for a couple of hours. I haven't even been brave enough to do that little stretch until yesterday morning.
 

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A quiet one for us, just a couple of hacks out; however, as hacking has been the last string to add to Ambers's bow, I'm really pleased that it's solid now. Had a nice romp around the headlands just the two of us yesterday, and she'd come in hyped as they've moved to their winter paddocks,her mates had already come in to be worked, so she was last one and had obviously been up to field shenanigans.I had to locate both OR boots, and there were some impressive 11s across the field (sorry, YO). She'd also cut the inside of her LH again. She does this about 6 times a year. It's never too bad, and she's sound and happy still. But we've got our liberty clinic this week, and I'd have rather taken her without a cut. It's right where the top of a brushing boot would sit, so I can't put them on for protection, but will do once it's healed up enough
 
Went to look at a new yard on Thurs and have decided to move, now waiting until the end of Nov for our move date. Making the most of the hacking around current and this weekend as I will miss it when I go. Buzz is a fluff monster though and desperately needs a clip but between blood tests (for strangles - required for move, Buzz hates needles and vets) and worming (which he also hates but is due) I've decided to give it a few days before attempting clipping (which he also also hates 😅 ) He's a good boy really!
 
Lovely reading all about your weekends. It was a busy one for us!

Saturday I took my 4yo to a young horse groundwork clinic. She loaded and travelled perfectly, even when I went the wrong way and had to reverse down a single track 🤦‍♀️ She's gone bum high again so she's off on holiday now, but plenty of homework for us when she's back in!

Sunday I took the other mare out with the bloodhounds and had an absolute blast. It's so nice to take a horse and just know you're going to have loads of fun. Very grateful to have her ❤️

She got in quite deep to this hedge which sent my lower leg into a different county - so it's a shame I ruined a good pic!

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