Third Weekend of March Plans

[SaddlePsych'D]

How are we all doing? Lovely to see the reports on different competitions and camps and hacks on last weekend's thread.

I wasn't sure which thread to put my plans in as I had my lesson on Wednesday this week. I wasn't sure I was going to ride after an incredibly full-on week with moving house but yet again it was another fab lesson. Really getting my confidence building now. Much more trot work, which is improving the walk work, and adding in some poles which is really fun. I'm managing to giggle a bit at myself when it's 'scary'.

Had a great conversation with my instructor about horse purchasing plans and have been offered a loan of one of the RS horses while I am looking. This horse did such a good job for the previous loaner's confidence, that they have just bought their first horse! It would be an excellent way to bridge the gap from weekly lesson to 'holy shi*t I have a horse!' and get my confidence up with more regular riding. It would also help me test out the 'commute'; the yard is 45 mins drive away but there are some serious benefits to it: my instructor who knows me, a yard I know is well run and friendly, wonderful hacking, and the all important year-round herd turnout.

Tomorrow I am heading to Barbury to write for Novice dressage. I love going to Barbury, it is such a beautiful venue!

 

[stangs]

As always, my weekend was in the middle of the week so I've now got two days of early starts to look forward to. But I've had a lovely horsey week: went on a hack on a friend's horse which meant lots long uphill canters in the sunshine; took my boy on a walk, and, though pheasants and gunshots did nothing to chill him out, I was very proud of how well he coped with and recovered from stressors; and then had a lesson on a little mare I adore. She was feeling very fresh and couldn't go down a long diagonal without doing an absolutely massive trot. I probably should have been more disciplined about not letting her run, but I had no stirrups and was laughing so hard at receiving such a big powerful trot from a little cob who most people call lazy that I just couldn't get it together.

Need to ask to ride something else next time because I'm starting to get a little too attached to her (she has the kindest eyes, a personality you can't help but love, and some serious potential on the flat - for a horse who's mostly stuck in beginner lessons and has never received much schooling, she is insanely nice to school) except there's no way they'd sell her and I can't have a second horse. Even though she would probably get along with my boy...

Oh well, I'm going to have to live my horse-buying daydreams through you SPD! It sounds like exactly the kind of set-up you'd want to keep a first horse at.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

As always, my weekend was in the middle of the week so I've now got two days of early starts to look forward to. But I've had a lovely horsey week: went on a hack on a friend's horse which meant lots long uphill canters in the sunshine; took my boy on a walk, and, though pheasants and gunshots did nothing to chill him out, I was very proud of how well he coped with and recovered from stressors; and then had a lesson on a little mare I adore. She was feeling very fresh and couldn't go down a long diagonal without doing an absolutely massive trot. I probably should have been more disciplined about not letting her run, but I had no stirrups and was laughing so hard at receiving such a big powerful trot from a little cob who most people call lazy that I just couldn't get it together.

Need to ask to ride something else next time because I'm starting to get a little too attached to her (she has the kindest eyes, a personality you can't help but love, and some serious potential on the flat - for a horse who's mostly stuck in beginner lessons and has never received much schooling, she is insanely nice to school) except there's no way they'd sell her and I can't have a second horse. Even though she would probably get along with my boy...

Oh well, I'm going to have to live my horse-buying daydreams through you SPD! It sounds like exactly the kind of set-up you'd want to keep a first horse at.

That does sound like a really lovely horsey week!

 

[blood_magik]

I have a new horse

He arrived on Wednesday and so far, he’s been super chilled so planning to get on board today - need to check the saddle I have on trial fits so two birds, one stone and all that … It looks pretty good girthed up so

Jack had a lesson yesterday and is really starting to get the hang of taking a bit more weight behind in the canter now. His simple changes and rein back are coming along nicely.

Cas is now 18 days post-op. Staples came out on Thursday and we’ve started walking in-hand Really pleased with how good his back is looking so soon after his op.

 

[nagblagger]

Photos @blood_magik , you can't say you have a new horse without photos.

 

[blood_magik]

Photos @blood_magik , you can't say you have a new horse without photos.

 

[Cloball]

He has a lovely eye.

 

[humblepie]

How are we all doing? Lovely to see the reports on different competitions and camps and hacks on last weekend's thread.

I wasn't sure which thread to put my plans in as I had my lesson on Wednesday this week. I wasn't sure I was going to ride after an incredibly full-on week with moving house but yet again it was another fab lesson. Really getting my confidence building now. Much more trot work, which is improving the walk work, and adding in some poles which is really fun. I'm managing to giggle a bit at myself when it's 'scary'.

Had a great conversation with my instructor about horse purchasing plans and have been offered a loan of one of the RS horses while I am looking. This horse did such a good job for the previous loaner's confidence, that they have just bought their first horse! It would be an excellent way to bridge the gap from weekly lesson to 'holy shi*t I have a horse!' and get my confidence up with more regular riding. It would also help me test out the 'commute'; the yard is 45 mins drive away but there are some serious benefits to it: my instructor who knows me, a yard I know is well run and friendly, wonderful hacking, and the all important year-round herd turnout.

Tomorrow I am heading to Barbury to write for Novice dressage. I love going to Barbury, it is such a beautiful venue!

I should have read this earlier then could have come and said hello at Barbary. Hope you’ve had of having a good day. Not competing but it’s very local.

 

[Red-1]

@SaddlePsych'D that sounds like a perfect set-up.

Our weekend started on Thursday, both boys strolled to a pub, me on H, boyfriend took Riggers, who adores him.

Friday, we had a trot and canter up the trail. This time I had Rigs as I am lighter and Rigs is a little old man. Both horses were mannerly and had fun.

Today. H went to an indoor XC clinic. It isn't anything we haven't done before, but H is really getting his confidence together and seemed to enjoy himself.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7484637171442388246

 

[Cloball]

new matchy didn't notice the burs until I took the pic it's a never ending battle. She's looking so untidy moulting went for a nice splash in the ford though sweaty Betty. Just hacking this weekend as work has been insane and I don't have the brain space for more. Considering a sharer again as she loves going out and I'm finding it hard to be consistent with new job. I'm hoping it'll get better when I get better at new workflow. I'm a bit of a control freak and she's a funny one so I'd probably come across as a right weirdo

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I should have read this earlier then could have come and said hello at Barbary. Hope you’ve had of having a good day. Not competing but it’s very local.

Aw it would have been lovely to meet another HHOer! It was a good morning of writing then a bit of lunch while watching some XC and SJ. It's such a great venue to watch it all going on.

View attachment 156945new matchy didn't notice the burs until I took the pic it's a never ending battle. She's looking so untidy moulting went for a nice splash in the ford though sweaty Betty. Just hacking this weekend as work has been insane and I don't have the brain space for more. Considering a sharer again as she loves going out and I'm finding it hard to be consistent with new job. I'm hoping it'll get better when I get better at new workflow. I'm a bit of a control freak and she's a funny one so I'd probably come across as a right weirdo

So good to take the pressure off when life is getting full on. Splashing in the ford sounds fun!

I think/hope most sharers get that owners want things done in a particular way with their horse. I think I'd be more weirded out by someone who didn't care.

 

[SEL]

I am going to a new location for dressage tomorrow. Its part of my plan to show the hooligan different locations so he stops getting overwhelmed in new places - or if its a total nightmare of a set up then avoid going forward.

He was clean but we have had a whopper of a thunderstorm with torrential rain. All 3 were doing laps of the field and when I thought I'd better lob a fibre block at them to calm them down I got a good look at 4 no-longer-white stockings and a rug plastered in mud. I suppose I should be grateful I rugged him but I dread to think what his belly looks like.

Zero time in the morning to get him clean so I'm going to have to blag it and apologise profusely I think.

Recorded our e-riders prelim today. Spent 20 mins trying to get left canter (right being our nemesis last year) warming up. I've just watched the video and he looks 100% sound in the trot work so I think its me. I've triggered my nasty old shoulder injury (entrapped first rib according to the chiro) and I think I'm throwing my weight oddly. Trot to canter transitions still hollowing - and the downward ones - but he is finally learning to sit back on his hocks for a 20m circle rather than me having to really hold him up. My OH (chief videographer) has just reminded me that last Dec we couldn't canter round the school on the right rein and its only March so onward and upward!!

 

[MuddyMonster]

View attachment 156945new matchy didn't notice the burs until I took the pic it's a never ending battle. She's looking so untidy moulting went for a nice splash in the ford though sweaty Betty. Just hacking this weekend as work has been insane and I don't have the brain space for more. Considering a sharer again as she loves going out and I'm finding it hard to be consistent with new job. I'm hoping it'll get better when I get better at new workflow. I'm a bit of a control freak and she's a funny one so I'd probably come across as a right weirdo

Love the matchy matchy!
I think you have the mare version of my native (complete with coloured tack and the long, burr filled mane ). I've been very tempted to find sharers before, but he's a 'funny one' too and decide I'll suck it up!

Today we hacked 18 (and a bit) km. Spring is definitely springing, is all I'll say!

Hoping to get out hacking again tomorrow before his physio session in the afternoon.

The loan sounds a great opportunity @SaddlePsych'D . When does it start?

Hope all goes well with new horse Blood Magik!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Love the matchy matchy!
I think you have the mare version of my native (complete with coloured tack and the long, burr filled mane ). I've been very tempted to find sharers before, but he's a 'funny one' too and decide I'll suck it up!

Today we hacked 18 (and a bit) km. Spring is definitely springing, is all I'll say!

Hoping to get out hacking again tomorrow before his physio session in the afternoon.

The loan sounds a great opportunity @SaddlePsych'D . When does it start?

Hope all goes well with new horse Blood Magik!

Next month if we're going ahead. Going to have a lesson on this horse next week as been a while since I have ridden him and check in about it then

Eta - the drive is long but I did the scenic route yesterday morning and the route is so beautiful it's almost a bit overwhelming. Perhaps I won't mind the drive so much! My new job will be wfh too so it's not as if I have a real commute to do, it would just be a horse commute. Which is more fun

 

[nikkimariet]

Last weekend Rooni had a ‘proper’ hack round Thetford, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!



Had a great mid week lesson with Sonny on Thurs, which was great prep for yesterdays competition. Super behaviour and two really solid tests - just under 69% in both PSG (1st out of 3) and Inter 1 (only us in it). Feeling ready for nationals in April!



We are both having a short holiday now

 

[Curly_Feather]

I love these threads. You guys all rock.

We had a show. 3-1 (Medium, for the Brits). Did not go great, so I'm a bit disheartened.
If there were prizes for "all 4 feet super close together" or "levitation", we would be nailing it...

 

[Tiddlypom]

After zero riding due to a human medical drama with OH from he is now thankfully convalescing at home, I am now back at the Racewood simulator with the Jen the physio. It’s only 20mins up the road so I currently feel much better able to pop there than to venture to Cannock which is a half day out nearly 50 miles away, leaving OH home alone.

This is wonky me . I requested help with bowling along in canter on the open trails. I’d have said that my hands were fairly good, until I saw this.

I’m holding a broom handle . So helpful having this instant feedback - she shows me the footage just after she’s taken it and I go wtf?

https://fb.watch/ywQNU0Z_4j

 

[Chippers1]

I didn't have any solid horsey plans but I had the best hack around the yard's hacking tracks on Saturday, just reminded me how much fun my little pony is and felt very grateful that I get to enjoy it with him
He looks like such a woolly mammoth at the moment a handsome one though!

 

[SEL]

Super, duper coblet yesterday - so proud of him.

New [stunning] venue. Came off the lorry quietly, tied up nicely, went into the luscious warm arena without a wobble, dealt with me having a wobble because it was like an infinity pool at the C end and I have vertigo (!), warmed up like a pro even with a small child on her saint of a pony wobbling into him, cantered nicely on both reins without too much leg throwing, dealt with pot plants and an audience in the main area like a total pro.

Its our first time out competitively this year and I have no need of another 1st for Intro C in my rosette box, but this one felt well deserved for the behaviour if not the potato shaped 10m circles! Generously marked by the judge but comments were spot on and now I know he can knuckle down and work properly he can do the prelim and I'll hope we're over the leg throwing acrobatics. He's 7 in a few weeks so fingers crossed the Kevins are done and dusted.

I always said when we got the canter sorted he'd be away his trot work is so good, so let's hope that's the case.

For now though more hacking and less trotting in circles.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Super, duper coblet yesterday - so proud of him.

New [stunning] venue. Came off the lorry quietly, tied up nicely, went into the luscious warm arena without a wobble, dealt with me having a wobble because it was like an infinity pool at the C end and I have vertigo (!), warmed up like a pro even with a small child on her saint of a pony wobbling into him, cantered nicely on both reins without too much leg throwing, dealt with pot plants and an audience in the main area like a total pro.

Its our first time out competitively this year and I have no need of another 1st for Intro C in my rosette box, but this one felt well deserved for the behaviour if not the potato shaped 10m circles! Generously marked by the judge but comments were spot on and now I know he can knuckle down and work properly he can do the prelim and I'll hope we're over the leg throwing acrobatics. He's 7 in a few weeks so fingers crossed the Kevins are done and dusted.

I always said when we got the canter sorted he'd be away his trot work is so good, so let's hope that's the case.

For now though more hacking and less trotting in circles.

What a lovely report SEL. Well done coblet, I hope he had been polishing his halo

 

[SEL]

What a lovely report SEL. Well done coblet, I hope he had been polishing his halo

Thank you! I'm hoping he can plonk the halo on a few more times this year. I'm getting too old for acrobatics!!

 

[dorsetladette]

I had a great weekend with the ponies. Reggie met the freelancer who going to be helping break him to ride. She got him working lovely and I probably spent about 20/30 mins in the saddle on him. I'm really excited for the coming months with him.

Robin is a menace to society but you can't help but love him - he's off to his first local show of the year next weekend so I need to make him look a little less hobo. Really just a test outing to make sure I'm happy driving the lorry alone with pony onboard.

 

[Alibear]

Clinic and show weekend for us; in the morning session, Amber wowed everyone by doing beautiful flying changes from right to left at the required point in the pattern and doing a lovely soft but precise run. In the afternoon, it was left to right changes, and they were err bouncy. She also came into season and seemed to have an upset tummy, so I gave her pro-biotics, and she seemed better in the morning. On show day, she did some really stunning, lovely work but she kicked out in the lope, which is a big no, and picks up big penalties, so I scratched our later class. She then wasn't keen to load to come home, so I've got the vet coming out to check her tomorrow. First season of the year often causes her some issues so it might be that but she also might be sore somewhere so going to get her checked over. We're supposed to have our first affiliated show of the year the weekend after this but we'll see what tomorrow brings.
She was very happy when she got home, jogged down the ramp and spotted that her buddies had already moved to the spring fields and was squeaking whilst I got her ready to join them. She was very jolly to turn out but managed to remain polite and the grass was so good no antics once she was let go. So I don't think there's anything too bad going on. Oddly canter/lope on a circle or bend was fine, it's the straights where she gets a bit humpy and kicked out