Weekday Plans - w/c 8th Dec

Season’s Bleatings

Season’s Bleatings

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Well well well, how are we all?
Anything exciting planned?

Gym tonight so no riding, time doesn’t permit! Hopefully get both lads out tomorrow, but we do have another weather warning so let’s see 😅 Thursday is another gym day hence day off, might see if OH will ride after he finishes work though so they might get out doing something.

Lesson at the end of the week, for both lads, so that’ll be fun 😀

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kicked off our monday morning with the water treadmill for lily! she’s been having the water at mid-cannon bone level for ages so we put it up today, still on an incline, and you could tell she was having to work harder bless her. the woman who runs it was impressed with the step on her though, she said it’s not very many natives that really step up and over, they tend to “shuffle” thorough it instead, so that was good! she’s also lost another 10kg in 2 weeks, and last time she’d lost the same, so very glad we’re still seeing that progress. she’s also had a bath so i can clip her again tomorrow.

tuesday - Divas turn at the water treadmill and also bathing her whilst im there, clipping lily and hacking out, though that may turn into a schooling session if the weather is horrific.

wednesday - lunge for lily

thursday & friday - day off as im working

saturday - hacking

sunday - xmas photoshoot with them both! will try and sneak a hack in at some point too
 
Today we played with Xmas obstacles

Both the tinsel covered rope (well lunge line) gate and the Xmas tablecloth tarpaulin were met with mild interest. The sledge I had to distract him from before he destroyed it (see below). He was less enamoured with it when I started dragging it around. (Not sure I’ll get him to the stage of being totally happy dragging it like Fuzzball was to the point I’d be happy to sit in it as he’s a bit more handy with his back legs but we shall see)

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I was planning a hack first thing but the house over the road is having work done & loads of lorries put me off. So we did some canter work in my summer field (ground is great) then some jumping.
He's come on so, so far with his jumping this year. Taking me into the fences now and I'm not bracing for the bucks on landing because he's focusing on me and what's next
Still spooky and not a fan of fillers but we can work on that!
 
Boulty said:
Today we played with Xmas obstacles

Both the tinsel covered rope (well lunge line) gate and the Xmas tablecloth tarpaulin were met with mild interest. The sledge I had to distract him from before he destroyed it (see below). He was less enamoured with it when I started dragging it around. (Not sure I’ll get him to the stage of being totally happy dragging it like Fuzzball was to the point I’d be happy to sit in it as he’s a bit more handy with his back legs but we shall see)

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I 😍 him. If he is ever in need of a new home, do let me know ...

A 45 minute hack this morning. It wasn't sunny but it was dry for the first time in a long time.

I'm trying not to make too many firm plans for this week as I'm struggling a bit with Christmas busy-ness and general winter SAD-ness.

But I did groom, pig oil legs and apply mane and tail spray tonight so he is clean* so hoping to ride tomorrow before a day off on Wednesday.

*Clean enough to lob tack on, at least.
 
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Managed a what I call continous training session*, this morning. Dark, wet with a stiff breeze but we did it 🥳

*It's basically a variation of interval training that doesn't involve a beeper going off every 2-3 minutes and less brain power 🤣 Just pick how many laps of walk, trot and canter to ride continously before you have a few minutes of active recovery.

Our warm up was 3 x walk laps on both reins, 5 x trot reins on both reins then 1 x canter on both reins.

Then 20 laps of trot, walk to change rein, another 20 laps of trot, walk to change rein, then 5 x canter laps walk to change rein and another 5 canter laps.

Job done 💪
 
Weather was utter rubbish today & car decided to act the maggot so riding plans were shelved! Horses were in all day and it was still very poor out this evening, so the best I could offer was a bit of free ranging while I got the stables done.
Hopefully tomorrow is more productive!

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Ignore the front of Charmer’s rug. He is a destructive thug 😂 any damages on Ace’s rug are also his work 😅
 
Mr AC/DC and I had mega fun tonight - went totally off piste and had the best craic 😂

Had a mad notion to try riding without reins. Now, I haven’t done this in a long time. Ace hadn’t been ridden since last week. It is quite breezy and he can be a bit spooky. So why not!

Tacked up, put on neck stap (lead rope clipped back on itself) and off we went. Hooked reins around saddle cloth D ring straps and off we went, thought I’d try a bit of walk and see how we go.

Surprised myself with a bit of walk, trot and canter on both reins, no rein contact whatsoever 😂 steering was better than expected and brakes weren’t too bad either (he’s quite good with voice commands). Tbf he’s been a good xc horse in the past so I think that has maybe contributed to his voice commands.

It was a great experience and gave me stacks of insight into how my body influences him and actually how receptive he is to other aids. Mega fun!

I did get a short video but it is blurry and rubbish, so here’s the main man after we had finished 😀

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Look at that handsome clever man!!! 😍😍 now I want to try it. I have a bratty little mare, and not a sweet and kindly BBG tho so we shall see if I make it 😂

Good vibes continue this evening tho, we had a very nice ride. The little mantra this evening was 🎵"I carry myself! and you carry your self!"🎵 as a little sing song and everybody stayed on task. My position was better than usual, pony was more balanced than usual. A delight! And she took herself to bed after while I turned the arena lights off which is irresponsible and unsafe and I can't let the kids see me do it but it's very cute!

 
smolmaus said:
Look at that handsome clever man!!! 😍😍 now I want to try it. I have a bratty little mare, and not a sweet and kindly BBG tho so we shall see if I make it 😂

Good vibes continue this evening tho, we had a very nice ride. The little mantra this evening was 🎵"I carry myself! and you carry your self!"🎵 as a little sing song and everybody stayed on task. My position was better than usual, pony was more balanced than usual. A delight! And she took herself to bed after while I turned the arena lights off which is irresponsible and unsafe and I can't let the kids see me do it but it's very cute!

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Fab! Oh she is just gorgeous, what a pretty girl. Sounds like a great session 🙌
 
Pony had day off yesterday as I was in the office & a Christmas event in the evening.

I lunged over poles this morning, as although I think I'm finally over my cold ... I woke up with terrible period pains 😥 FFS.

I love Sadie's bridle @smolmaus ❤️ We have a very similiar type and breastplate, just in a different, but equally bright, colour 🤣
 
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MuddyMonster said:
Pony had day off yesterday as I was in the office & a Christmas event in the evening.

I lunged over poles this morning, as although I think I'm finally over my cold ... I woke up with terrible period pains 😥 FFS.

I love Sadie's bridle @smolmaus ❤️ We ave a very similiar type and breastplate, just in a different, but equally bright, colour 🤣
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It makes me giggle to dress her up in an endurance bridle when she thinks endurance is a 5k walk with only 2 snack breaks 😂

Periods should take a break in December, we have enough to cope with! 😭 Mine is looking set to ruin new year.
 
Schooled again this evening and bit of a victim of our own success situation going on as it wasn't as nice as last night! But she still tried, think my head wasn't in it tbh.

Did attempt no reins a la @sheep and er.. yeah we just went where she wanted 😂 to be fair that is usually 100% allowed when I drop my reins completely. Time to have a sniffari of the arena and see if any blades of grass are poking up.
 
I am struggling to navigate the Christmas chaos at the moment 😭

Managed a flat lesson Monday and water treadmill on Wednesday. Was hoping to school last night but an accident on the motorway meant it took me 2 hours to get home from work then I had to run around swapping cars and sorting trailers to go and collect some round bales this morning so didn't finish up until 9pm. :rolleyes:

Working until 5pm today and we are out for a meal with friends at 7pm so by the time I have walked the dog and sorted out the retired ones today will be a no-go as well. Hoping to ride both days over the weekend.

Please tell me I am not alone! I am feeling terribly guilty at the moment!
 
KikiDee said:
I am struggling to navigate the Christmas chaos at the moment 😭

Managed a flat lesson Monday and water treadmill on Wednesday. Was hoping to school last night but an accident on the motorway meant it took me 2 hours to get home from work then I had to run around swapping cars and sorting trailers to go and collect some round bales this morning so didn't finish up until 9pm. :rolleyes:

Working until 5pm today and we are out for a meal with friends at 7pm so by the time I have walked the dog and sorted out the retired ones today will be a no-go as well. Hoping to ride both days over the weekend.

Please tell me I am not alone! I am feeling terribly guilty at the moment!
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You are absolutely not alone! I think we all have to remember that “our best” is entirely relative and we give our best every day. Some days that might just be a quick pat and the essentials, other days it could be spending the entire day at the yard. Especially at this time of year - so much to contend with outside of horses, let alone bringing weather etc into the mix as well.

You’ve done very well this week 🙌
 
This mornings planned hack turned into quick lunge/in hand work as I dropped my travel mug of hot chocolate in the hall as I was about to leave; and then for some unknown reason drove straight past the turning for the yard.
I'm still calling it a win as I was tempted to give up all together.
 
sheep said:
You are absolutely not alone! I think we all have to remember that “our best” is entirely relative and we give our best every day. Some days that might just be a quick pat and the essentials, other days it could be spending the entire day at the yard. Especially at this time of year - so much to contend with outside of horses, let alone bringing weather etc into the mix as well.

You’ve done very well this week 🙌
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Thank you so much 🙏

I am normally a very structured and goal-driven person so I seem to end every week at the moment looking at my fat and fluffy horse rapidly losing fitness and feeling like I've 'failed' again - I wish I could be one of those relaxed people who just shrugs and says "oh well I'll ride next week" 😄

I am telling myself once I get the run-up to Christmas out of the way everything will calm down a bit and I have the Christmas break to re-focus and crack on in the New Year and we have 3 months until Spring to get going again!

I'm very fortunate that K gets 8-9 hours reliable turnout every day with his friends so I know he is 'fine' and not in the least bothered we aren't practicing our canter leads but I feel bad I am not spending more quality time with him.
 
Getting ANYTHING done is a win at this time of year! Pat on the back for just going outside when everyone else with normal hobbies is snuggled on the couch.

Alibear said:
This mornings planned hack turned into quick lunge/in hand work as I dropped my travel mug of hot chocolate in the hall as I was about to leave; and then for some unknown reason drove straight past the turning for the yard.
I'm still calling it a win as I was tempted to give up all together.
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Ah, the brain short circuit 😂 I've done this and gone to the wrong yard, like almost a whole year after moving. What can you do except laugh at yourself

I am again posting about a weather warning. Rain on Sunday! 😭
 
smolmaus said:
Getting ANYTHING done is a win at this time of year! Pat on the back for just going outside when everyone else with normal hobbies is snuggled on the couch.


Ah, the brain short circuit 😂 I've done this and gone to the wrong yard, like almost a whole year after moving. What can you do except laugh at yourself

I am again posting about a weather warning. Rain on Sunday! 😭
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This winter feels relentless doesn't it! Last night I decided I needed to move the water tubs because it's getting too muddy where they are and I don't like making them trudge through the mud (thankfully 80% of the field is still dry as on a hill) but OF COURSE the hose doesn't reach that far so now ferrying water through the mud in buckets which is another time-consuming job on the list every day :rolleyes:
 
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