Weekend plans :D

We had a wonderful hour or so at the beach, M was on great form, really forward without trying to run off. We had a good gallop and did some schooling including some simple changes, medium canters and the beach is officially the best place to improve Ms medium trots. He enjoyed himself too but was tired and ready for home by the time we had finished. He's enjoying a few hours out in the field now

I love my connemara pony :D

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So sorry to read about Fig NMT, it’s been such a privilege following your journey with him on here and FB, it feels like we all know him so well.

We achieved our aim in our dressage by staying in the arena! The warm up was busier than the other two comps we’ve done, Danny was a bit anxious but did some lovely work and wasn’t distracted by another horse titting about. Into the main arena and he was very overwhelmed with so much to look at, I’m not sure he breathed once! But apart from a break in each canter he did well for a shade under 66%. I think I’ll crack on and affiliate as I don’t feel we’d embarrass ourselves.

I bought our first pro pics (for social media use!):
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Then had fun taking Pocholo for a gallop this morning, and we stayed dry! He’s the complete opposite of Danny!
 
Wheels said:
We had a wonderful hour or so at the beach, M was on great form, really forward without trying to run off. We had a good gallop and did some schooling including some simple changes, medium canters and the beach is officially the best place to improve Ms medium trots. He enjoyed himself too but was tired and ready for home by the time we had finished. He's enjoying a few hours out in the field now

I love my connemara pony :D

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Well what could possibly beat a bay Connie!!!!!! ?
 
I haven't commented on this thread in ages, because the weather has been awful and I've been hiding away and not doing anything of note really. I'm still not doing anything of note, but thought I would share a pic from hacking this morning anyway because I'm excited about the daffodils?. Hopefully I will be able to post something more interesting soon!
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Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend x
 
Having started the season off with Tamba last week it was the turn of Winnie today. We went to a lovely ride near Farnham that I started her off at last year. It was great to have her back out after damaging herself last August, and she had a lovely time cantering around some great going on mainly sandy tracks. We did 33k at 12.3 k an hour, and a finishing heart rate of 31 gave us a grade one. Frankly I would have been happy with just a pass, but it shows she is fitter than I thought, which my back lady said the other week.
Onward and upward but where next I just don't know!
 
Trip to water treadmill was super fun!

Got loaded up, stopped for brekkie en route (it was only 15 mins away), new horse travelled like a pro and came off the lorry super chilled.

Washed legs and feet beforehand, and they then walked him through the treadmill area a couple of times just to get him familiar with the space etc. 3rd time they then closed up the doors at either end and then very slowly started it up, then added the water.

He was absolutely fab, really took it all in his stride without any fuss at all. All in all I'd say he was on it for about 15 mins - at the first session, the focus is on just familiarising them with it and working with what is comfortable for the horse.

Came off the treadmill, washed and dried legs, then he just patiently waited for his pal to have her turn.

Really fun day out. We will definitely be back - nice alternative to conventional work and he seemed to quite enjoy his experience!
 

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Elf went hacking Saturday then day off today. Ted had 67.9% in prelim 19 on Saturday. Focused on improving his rideablity and keeping his attention. Less baby moments too. I'm secretly quite excited about him even if he is known as Ted the twat ? Not a brilliant day for my sister and Harry today. He didn't like something near the judges box so half the test was a write off apparently ?‍♀️ but she's realised he's not push button in a test she has to ride, so it was an educational trip and I'm still very proud of them both. Pic of Ted??
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Lovely photos !

Wasn’t expecting to ride as had family over this weekend but snuck in a nice hack before it started to get dark. Loving the (slightly) lighter evenings.

F seems more settled now and happy at the new yard. He’s got a bit porky though and I’m starting to plan for some comps so we both need to get back at it now!
 
Mine loves the treadmill, we went out showjumping then for a hack round the farm ride / but on arrival back think my gelding has tyed up ??? xx
 
We’ve been over in Wales for a pre season training event. Friday was just arena hire and he was good in the small ones but I literally couldn’t hold 1 side of him in the big outdoor they have at cricklands. Not had an easy week schooling wise with a few incidences of tactical use of the corner for halting so a bit of a concern. Nice draw for the dressage as 2nd after lunch so quiet warm up, by far in a way better in the big arena by now! Plaited up for the first time this year to find out he most certainly remembered me taking advantage of his dental sedation to pull mane! Went to get pre test lunch to come back to a sleeping horse...
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Drove a safe rather than attacking test as the earlier incidents still on my mind. Very pleased with 2nd in that with a PB under FEI judges of 55 pen (approx 65%- it’s a tough test!). Only real argument was over the medium walk where he really wanted FWLR, other bad bits were the first leg yield that was poor- I set up too long and he didn’t understand the question and poll low rein back which we need to reschool so can’t blame him.
The picture is from the first yield but the only one I have!
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Rugby next...4A4CA3FD-6F2F-4C90-B392-6EEBC63804E4.jpeg

Cones this morning back in the dressage carriage- not done cones in that since about July but we stuck to plan and kept in trot to get just 2.? time penalties but clear. Not quite enough to maintain 2nd so down to 3rd. First ‘big’ course for him in a jointed bit since our first outdoor event last year and he listened so that’s encouraging. We just need to do medium trot to canter transitions between cones until it becomes boring now... He shakes with adrenaline putting too even so it is quite an ask! Also tried ‘acoustic’ ears for first time and that definitely helped in the warm up. Didn’t hit anything to see if it takes the edge off of that spook but can try that one at home!
Into the XC in 3rd but tight, but with outdoor scoring over only 4 obstacles was going to be hard to make ground. 4x ‘hand canter’ (as the Americans would say!) hazards later and we won the marathon for 2nd overall to last years national champion by less than 3 pens.
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Really busy 6 weeks coming up- the final indoor league event, hopefully the national indoor championships then over to Holland for our first fei 3 day of the year. The cotton wool is out!
 
Our weekend of dressage was a success, although it was two very long days! Dressage club was so much fun, i am so excited about it. i had two very helpful and insightful lessons and everyone was so friendly. I am looking forward to the next rally and I can see myself attending for years to come.

Then yesterdays competition was super, Henry was relaxed and will fro the second he got off the float. He was a bit tense in his first test although there was nothing really terrible about it just not as on the aides as needed. It scored 63% and had some useful comments.

Our second test was awesome, it had a couple of moments where things just clicked into gear and it felt easy and truly special to ride. The judge agreed and we scored three 8s. So proud and we had a vastly improved score of 70%

No placings to speak of, we were mid field against the fancy dressage bred warmbloods but what a good place to start the season!
 
Well done all and Rara007 what a lovely photo in the dressage phase. We ventured out for the first time since mid November - were supposed to be a showing clinic which was cancelled so did a late BD entry at a place where horse struggled a bit last time after a bad experience there. It is within hacking distance so we hacked there and didn't do any warm up so first canter was actually in the test. Anyway, managed two solid 65% scores ranging from a 2 when he just wanted to show off his re-found medium trot instead of canter (bad rider aids) to several 8s. For the first time ever I didn't plait for BD which much as I love plaiting for the show ring, I find it a pain for dressage - it wasn't being lazy though just trying to protect the mane this time of year. Bonus was we went early in our second test rather than hang around and managed to hack back to yard just before it hammered down with rain.
 
Failed at persuading Skylla dressage is exciting...

She was super disappointed at the lack of jumps, the judge took a dim view of the knees up, neck up look, I went wrong, so overall I was surprised we even got over 60% in either test ?.

However, she was beautifully behaved, I never worry taking her out myself and she’s pretty ??‍♀️.

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We hacked early Saturday morning with my lovely OH on foot. Went the route that had caused spins and worries (even with his friend Star). He was a super boy. Walked through the overflowing pond puddle, was a bit worried at times but such a good boy. We went into a field at the end and I said to my OH to wait at the top, and if he felt chilled we would canter up.

he was spooky and joggy and going sideways down the field (mainly due to a pheasant that had spooked him!), unfortunately at the end of the field I have turn around to come back up but I did a big circle first and made him stand. He was much more chilled as we started walking back up and around half way up I thought "Yep, why not..." so off we went.

He was a bit strong at first, head up my nose but he settled and I let him go a bit and he really enjoyed it. He came back to trot when asked and then walk and stood for a stroke from OH. I did trot a fair bit of the way home as he was on his toes, but again he seemed to enjoy it.

He has a back lady coming today so will be interesting to see if she finds anything (I don't think he is sore anywhere)

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We had a productive weekend. Hacked out in company on Saturday and it was warm enough to go sans exercise sheet for the first time this year (pony has PSSM). Had a great gallop up the hill - and nice squishy bum muscles upon returning to the yard which is pleasing.
Yesterday we had a saddle fitting appointment so between the numerous vet visits so far this year, monthly massage, and teeth done on Thursday my poor bank balance is suffering. Next Sunday we have our first dressage test post diagnosis, I'm actually quite looking forward to it!
 
Sorry to read about poorly ponies and lorries, but good to see some fun updates too!

Rode on Saturday and I'm still on Cloud Nine. He's got a way to go, and we have certainly agreed that he isn't the most straightforward in the brain, but he was a million times easier and I even managed to just 'get on and ride it' which sounds SO silly but for the first time in a long time I didn't panic and shut him down when he started to move forward so it was really enjoyable for both of us. If this progress keeps up he's not going anywhere!
 
Battled out for an arena hire with Kira today. Battle because it was blimming windy and all the flaming roads are closed around us (poor scheduling between 2 adjacent counties doing roadworks without talking to each other :rolleyes:)

anyway, we ran through our PSG freestyle floorplan and it feels so much easier than before she was off :cool: Off to pay my dues to BD and hopefully we will be back to Dressage Parties as of this weekend ;)

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