Weekend Plans 4th weekend in July

[Accidental Eventer]

We are eventing! My first time in 2 years, and Coolies first time back out after 4 years. I am excited and nervous all at once! We had a bit of a gallop on Wednesday, then today we had a lesson, he'll most likely have tomorrow off because it's going to be very wet and then Sunday is the day!

Our lesson today went really well, he felt great, jumped well and remembered all his tricks. I've owned him 10 years this week and he's just been the best horse.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I am actually doing stuff this weekend! Tomorrow Dum Dum and Lardarse are going showing! Totally pointless in Dum Dum's case. It is a 2yo and Over Stallion & Colt class, no one shows 2yos in those classes against the older boys so he will be the exception to the rule. He looks really well just now which is why he is going. Lardy is also looking very well and needs to do something, she has hung around for 15years having done nothing but a handful of shows in that time for no real reason at all.

Sunday I am judging. I was asked to judge the affiliated Shetland classes. When they put the schedule out a couple of weeks ago I checked to see what classes they had only to find my name next to the ring for the entire day. So I have Concors, Shetlands, Heavy Horses, Hunters/Riding Horses, Arabs & Their Part Breds, Veterans and Irish Draughts! I don't mind judging all that but it would have been nice to have been given a heads up!

 

[J&S]

Sunday I am judging. I was asked to judge the affiliated Shetland classes. When they put the schedule out a couple of weeks ago I checked to see what classes they had only to find my name next to the ring for the entire day. So I have Concors, Shetlands, Heavy Horses, Hunters/Riding Horses, Arabs & Their Part Breds, Veterans and Irish Draughts! I don't mind judging all that but it would have been nice to have been given a heads up

Gosh I hope they give you a break and a nice lunch!

 

[blodwyn1]

For those who asked equestrian fun clubIs run once a month and consists of trail which is like indoor trec but not as serious then there is barrel racing and then mounted games. You can do as much as you want to. I only do the trail at walk on a lead rein and was made very welcome last month. Lovely bunch of people who just want to have some fun with their horses.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well that did not go to plan! I went to an Eventer Trial at 90 level. On paper, ideal: SJ then straight onto a shortened XC course in a low key atmosphere. Perfect to set us up for our first 90 at Kelsall next weekend. In theory.

Problems began when I walked the course and saw there was a large jump in the water with a yellow disc on it. From lay out and number it looked like that was on the 90 and marshal confirmed it. I have not yet jumped Lottie in water and I would not have chosen to start with a full up fence! I'd trot over a small house or something. I focus as much on horse confidence as on rider confidence and want to prepare my horses well for any new question to set them up for success. Anyway 2 entirely contradictory conversations started up in my head:

"Jump to 15 and just retire there. It's an unfair question and she has not been prepared for it. It's bad training." Versus
"She is bold and brave, she will be on her way home and flying. Just ride positively and she'll be fine."

I just did not know what to do and doubt/indecision is one of the key problems affecting my confidence. I literally could not figure out the better option and in the end just decided to see how she was going and choose what to do when I got there. Trouble with that is that I did not have a plan (I need a plan!!) Being indecisive means I was not focused on the job at hand, I was just stressed – my mind was still going back and forth between ‘run through or jump it’.

The next problem was that as I entered the ring for the SJ I was called back out for a hat tag. So there was a faffy get off/ tag hat/ get on then straight back in as everyone was waiting for me. I was listening for the bell as I was desperate to just get on with it. And the bell never came. I cantered forever then slowed to a walk went over to the marshal to ask if there was a bell. She shouted "It's gone". I panicked thinking I must be near to being eliminated and galloped to the first then the bloody bell went. I thought it was the elimination bell so pulled out and headed for the exit and was told again "go! That was the bell." Arggh my head was wrecked. I spun again headed back to the first, could not find it, rode a terrible line and clattered it hard. Timing was off for the next few. I was getting deep, then taking flyers, riding rubbish lines and eventually my luck and Lottie's generosity and patience ran out. We came to the final double and Lottie crashed through the first element. 4 faults for the round but I deserved 20. Worse than the faults was the fact that Lottie was now rattled too. We headed straight out on XC and she refused the first straightforward log which is very uncharacteristic and suggestive of her rapidly diminishing enthusiasm for being out there. Re-presented and she jumped nicely but backed right off the 2nd. I stuck my hand up to retire then thought sod it I’ll school round the 80. But she was hesitant at 3 on the 80 and hit it hard so I dropped to the 70 and she began to feel more positive and was taking the fences on a bit better. Went back up to 80 from fence 8 and schooled home over those, ignoring the water. So a big fat E. A stressed horse. A mentally all over the place rider! Oh dear.

In a class of 24 there was 6 SJ clears, 9 XC clears and 13 E’s or withdrawals! To me that is a poorly designed course. I don’t know that the optimum balance of faults to clears should be but not that!

Lessons learnt: 1) Don't ride unaffiliated events unless I know them. I personally dislike the habit unaff events have of putting in fences not permitted at that level on BE tracks. I train for what I might find on a BE. I don’t believe in chucking horses in at the deep end and hoping for the best. I mean you don’t chuck a random flying change into a novice dressage test. You may have a horse that happens to have learnt them. Or you may have a horse who flukes one on the day. But I believe in preparing my horses for questions they may be asked. I may see fences I don’t like the look of (definitely will in fact!) But I always tell myself that the horse has been well prepared so am confident to attack. 2) Get better at adapting to uncontrollables. I need to accept that weird shit happens sometimes and not get so thrown by it. When the bell (eventually) went I could have cantered a circle, sighted the fence, and started the round calmly. I still had 45 seconds. No need at all to charge blindly at it. 3) Most importantly: just DECIDE. Indecision was the biggest issue here. I should and could have simply decided to run through the water and get myself psyched for the chance of DC over a testing 90 track even if it was E on paper. Then ridden with purpose and focus. Oh well, a chance to redeem myself and restore some confidence next weekend at Kelsall. I'm dropping back to 80 though. She needs a confidence giving run. And so do I!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Oh cripes AE, I feel for you! Good decision to run 80 next time tho x

 

[Ample Prosecco]

That sounds lovely! What sort of payload do you get with that much living in? Considering upgrading mine.

Just under 1000kg. I only ever have Lottie onboard so I can splash out on the living. Plus the vans are 3.9T but downrated for the UK. So I will always feel very safe with the weight.

 

[Michen]

Just a chilled one after lots of hacking in exmoor! Vet check Monday to ensure his hocks are all good before asking him to step up to 100 And run yearly bloods. He feels amazing but I like to make sure I’m not missing anything and he’s working hard at the moment.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Gorgeous picture Michen!

 

[Michen]

Gorgeous picture Michen!

I actually cried a little as we left! If I make old bones I am 100% retiring there.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Well today was not a day to remember showing thats for sure! Dum Dum was 3rd of 3 in his class and Lardy was 13th of 14 in hers ?? On the plus side Dum Dum learnt that rearing up over the bar in the trailer despite having an over and an under rope does not get you out of the box and you just get chucked back into position, your under rope shortened and told to suck it up and eat your hay ?

My boots are still going strong! 17 years old this year! Toes are a bit scuffed but they are still waterproof and have never needed to be re-heeled. Though I may need to get a cobbler to look at the stitching on the sole of one of them this winter.

The dartmoor ridden pic is from 2005 - the boots first season in the ring!

 

[blodwyn1]

I had a good time at fun club my pony remembered from last month and even when my foot caught the polar bear and it chased us she was brilliant!

 

[RachelFerd]

What a day!! Just got back into the house after a very long but thoroughly worthwhile day at Warwick Hall.

Simon was just a superstar finishing 2nd in the novice - a slightly annoying pole costing him the win. But 2nd at Novice is still just miles ahead of where we were last year or the year before - best result I've ever had out eventing.

He's such a lovely easy horse to ride - I saw horse after horse in the SJ wipe out the upright at 6, which was a short 4 strides from a fairly open distance double. He just lets me shorten him up and pops away. No fuss, no drama! But the pesky water tray tricked us instead. And he was Mr schoolmaster all the way around the XC - easy peasy. That's us set up now for Gatcombe in a fortnight.

And then the 5yo went and jumped a nice DC around the BE90 to finish on his 34 dressage and come 6th in a big section. He started dressage warm-up wildly fresh, then settled, but I slightly overdid it and he was a bit over overcooked by the actual test - I'd done about 5 minutes too much work. Need to nail that better, as he has a much smarter test in him!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Wow what a phenomenal season you’re having!! X

 

[RachelFerd]

Wow what a phenomenal season you’re having!! X

Almost too good - he's up to 17 BE points now and nearly out of novice

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Nice problem to have ?

 

[scats]

Survived the wedding! I finished my last dog at 12pm and was at the church by 12.40pm, which I thought was pretty impressive (given that the church is 10 minutes away!). It was nice to catch up with all my old teacher friends and one of my best mates who I don’t see as much as I used to, but my opinion of weddings hasn’t changed. They are long and a lot of it is very boring. The bride had a lovely time, though she was a bit worse for wear when I left at 11.30pm, but she’s text this morning to wish me happy birthday so she can’t be too bad.
It was a rare evening away from the horses and the yard cat, which throws me all out of sync. They drive me mad but it’s like having a limb removed when I don’t see them.
Birthday today

 

[Bernster]

I had a lovely, quiet yard day yesterday. Got a little snip happy doing Bertie’s mane but I’ve assured him it will grow out soon enough ?.

Hacked to the common with Finn and a friend on her horse. We don’t have good hacking and the common is the only bit of off road we have but I haven’t been for ages, so that was nice. And always good to be on Finn when things like teenage boys setting off bangers or something happens. He did a little shuffle spook, jogged a few seconds then snorted and we were back to normal!

Came back and did some poles and a couple of wee x poles on Bertie and he went really well. Lots better, hardly any rushing and got him back and balanced more quickly. I’m not bracing and tensing nearly so much. Then pottered round the field on our own on the buckle, which is also something I don’t do often but all went well.

Always nice when things go to plan and the horses are feeling good!

 

[Bernster]

Lovely video RF, Simon is a cracker!

 

[nagblagger]

Happy birthday Scats

 

[Red-1]

Not been on here as I have been sooo busy!

School finished on Friday, but we had a party on Friday night, all staff, which was really nice.

Yesterday I did a triathlon, so Baby Horse was not ridden.

Today he did his first dress-up show (as in not stressless). We just did the clear round so not exactly a competition.

Managed to get warmed up while it was quiet, where he was a pro. Then he was a bit overawed in the main ring: the jumps were bigger; the café had people in it; fillers were at the side of the fences and there were back rails.
All he did was become a bit shy and slow to trot to check it out, went clear (despite me nearly taking the wrong course AND a big thunder clap after no 10.

Good boy. I am happy as it was a calm time where he can pick up mileage and experience with no dramas.

A couple of rubbish pictures lifted from the video.

It was only his 3rd jumping show. First stressless was 45cm, 2nd stressless was 55cm and this was 65cm. Slowly, slowly.

 

[southerncomfort]

Well I don't think we'll be going to TREC today.

Although it's only a 10 minute journey it's gusting over 30mph here today. Bo's only young and still learning to load and travel confidently.

Not worth potentially giving him a fright. Their will be plenty of other parties to go to.

 

[J_sarahd]

We had a bit fitting tomorrow morning and we’ve swapped from a loose ring lozenge to a single jointed D ring. I knew the loose ring wasn’t right for a baby (hence why I got someone out to help) and we were just using it for lunging/long reining. It was also an inch too big! The 13.2 cob has a mouth a whole inch bigger than the Thoroughbred!!

Now I am stuck at home with covid. Absolutely gutted to be away from her for a few days.

 

[SEL]

Happy birthday Scats!

Baby cob did his first big boy solo ride up the road on Friday. Every single driver was amazing - I must have had some kind of aura around me because usually there's at least one who is too close / too fast.

Microcob trotted up sound (well - as much as she gets) so we went for a exploration. She was happy to be out. Very brave little pathfinder and it's nice to have one you can relax on knowing not much flusters her (apart from cows)

 

[Chippers1]

Went to an SJ clinic this morning, Buzz was great when I actually rode properly but we had a few stops and I'm just feeling really disheartened. I'm better than that and I just keep letting him down with my riding. I had all these ambitions when I bought him but still haven't stepped up as I get nervous doing tiny heights and we have silly stops. When we work well we fly over anything but sometimes it just doesn't click.
Ah well, need to think about what I really want to do with him and whether competitions and things are really what I want to keep doing.

 

[RachelFerd]

Lovely video RF, Simon is a cracker!

Thank you... He is such a star - one of a kind. Like a big Labrador to deal with, adores being with people. But if you rode him at home you'd be totally uninspired - he's very much a horse of hidden abilities ?

 

[nikkimariet]

A hot week but pretty much business as normal for me. I ride first thing anyway so two days he just came in a bit earlier.

Went to bury on sat - he was super well behaved. I’m ever so pleased with how grown up he is now. 67 and 68 which I thought steep but doesn’t detract from how chuffed I am with him and when I watched my videos back



All qualified at AM and AM music for winter regionals 2023 now.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'm back from a great camp, had super dressage, sj and xc sessions, a friend rode B in the polework. No huge fences jumped by anyone xc as the ground was more hard by the over 80 jumps, but instead we all worked on accuracy, paces etc which suited me.
Got back to drifting smoke at yard and my town area, turns out it's from a monstrous common fire 13 miles away!
Absolutely shattered now, v glad I booked tomorrow off!

 

[Peglo]

Camp yesterday was a lot of fun. Tali was amazing. We had XC in the morning and her first few jumps were good although a bit high but after a few warm up jumps she figured out what she was doing and she flew over everything. She was quite fast after the jump but I didn’t help. I have a terrible habit of leaning forwards so I’m basically telling her to go but by the end of the lesson I was realising I was doing it and correcting myself. There was a few things I passed on like a step up with a dip in front of it. It wasn’t big but when I looked at it I didn’t really know what I should do and I can’t expect Tali to just figure it out (although she probably would’ve) so that’s one for another day. We also had to canter downhill to a jump at the bottom but we aren’t balanced enough for that so we did a circle at the bottom and popped the jump lovely from the flat. She was so up for it. It was a lot of fun.
The instructor actually owned Flo before she was sold to someone up here so that was quite cool.

second lesson was good and I learnt a lot. The instructor was so good so I hope she comes up again as I would love another lesson. Tali was a bit tired from the start so when the instructor asked if I needed a stick to get her going I knew it was time to call it a day. She was telling me she was shattered as that’s not her way of napping so I got her to do one last thing since I’d started and then jumped off and we watched the rest of the lesson.

I’m just so chuffed with her. She was so good and really tried. She just puts the biggest smile on my face, even just watching her eat her haynet. It was really great getting to watch other lessons too and get to chat with lots of people.

hope you all had a good weekend.

crap quality as taken off a video.

 

[scats]

Been very, very spoilt as usual. Had a quiet morning at home with a sort of half hang-over (just tired mainly), then went to honorary nans to see the family and had my first birthday cake of the day. Then to the farm this evening for presents and a birthday coffee with my friend, then home to a birthday tea and another birthday cake. Bless my mum, she asked me if I wanted her to bake a chocolate or coffee cake and I couldn’t decide so she made both.
So I’m now old and full of cake