Weekend plans

Sounds like everyone had a good weekend
Not competition but I want to join in! I had 2 sensible hacks on my girl this weekend �� I know this sounds pretty unimpressive but we are on week 4 of walk hacking after ddft surgery and up until this weekend had only managed about 7 hacks and most of those were pretty hairy. Not sure if she has just got over herself or if the new calmer works, but long may it continue.
Also had a fab lesson on the stolen boy. Worked on trying to keep him together and being quicker after a fence. He is about 8" taller and longer than L so quite different to ride. Felt like we could possibly venture out in public soon so that could be fun.
 
Dexters first outing today- just a low key inhand agility thingy to get him off the yard. Fair to say he wasn't bothered one bit! Loaded and travelled well, was fine to do alone :)

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BSJA Cat 2 me this weekend. Managed to win a BN, pick up a placing in another and survive round Discovery just rolling one silly pole. And I had no nerves which is a major breakthrough
 
Had the most brilliant jumping lesson yesterday, I could honestly have cried. He was jumping so well and so confidently, we were flying over 90cm/1m oxers with gates/fillers at the end!

Today,80-85cm combined training with a BE90 dressage test. Short summary of the day: Henry was good but we got eliminated :D

Dressage was a bit average, he was quite distracted so not particularly consistent in the contact and just overall a bit tense and resistant. Annoying as he can do a much better test than that , but I was expecting worse considering it was indoors and previously hated that arena and would not go near the edges at any cost! I'd also managed to learn the test wrong so had one rider error, so ended on 61.5% and some fair and promising comments that agreed very much with what I was feeling.

SJ got us eliminated but actually I was very pleased with how he went. We had 3 stops and some poles, but the stops were only because we got the striding wrong and he's not quite confident or adjustable enough to sort it out yet, and he jumped all the scary fillers first time and ignored the banners on the fence (woohooo, finally!). Went back in to jump the same course as a clear round and he was a million miles better. Super confident and really taking me to the fences while still listening to me, had one stop where we had another striding misunderstanding but jumped it beautifully on a better stride the next time. So overall a successful outing I think, even if its not our best on paper. I think the striding will come with time, work and confidence (on both of our parts!).
 
Well Chilli was... Silly! But there were so many little wins like her loading, her waiting by the box quietly etc so all in all I'm just so happy with that. I think I'm going to make a post separately for yesterday. Can't wait for the photographer's pics I bought to arrive...

Well done to everyone else who has had a good weekend!
 
Sounds like lots of people had positive weekends! Snowfilly - what a naughty pony. I guess the problem with a RS comp is you don't know who has ridden the horse in lessons, and what hang-ups they may have picked up as a result...
CrazyMare - I hope your baby is ok. What was the surgery?

Well, Indio finally got to do his first Elementary! We tried in December and the comp was iced off, then we were supposed to go out last weekend but snow put paid to that. So I did a late entry to Sparsholt today, straight in at the deep-end with Elementary 59, and up against some very smart combinations doing their final practice before Regionals.

We were both ring rusty but lots of positives to take away, and hopefully easy things to work on. We had a spattering of 7s, including for the simple change and medium trot on centre line in the vid below. But also a few too many moments like the halt in the video! Overall score of 62.34%, which I was very pleased with for a first go, and a first qualifying score for Areas �� I need to do some work in walk as he was a bit rude, and definitely on our halts and rein-backs as that was hideous (5s). And I need to give myself a kick up the bum and remember that when it all feels 'nice' he's not through and connected enough. Can't wait for our next one!

Video here, hopefully it works as it's on FB: https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v...=9417563ddd72ba18bde3d5838f293e49&oe=5A6F269E

Lots of cuddles and polos for Indio afterwards!

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Pocholo’s turn next, with training at AM Dressage at the end of the week then dressage at Hartpury on Sunday. I'm half tempted to take Indio for a test too, but I'm not sure I could do three Elementaries!
 
Top lesson at the clinic yesterday! We've found about a million more gears once it was pointed out that I'm not really doing anything, well anything constructive :o, so with my ass well and truly kicked into action Topaz felt amazing! Not sure Topaz is as happy with the new found work ethic :lol:, came away feeling everything is just clicking into place and that 'thing' that I was missing but did know what it was has become clear :). Who knew what could happen when you actually use your legs ;).

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She did also get called fat again :o, I am trying to get the weight down but she is being very resistant to loosing the tum :o...

Skylla went hacking and was silly :rolleyes3: but she did go solo so still a positive... I think :lol:.

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Jiffy, super well done on the Ele debut!!!
 
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AlexHyde said:
Top lesson at the clinic yesterday! We've found about a million more gears once it was pointed out that I'm not really doing anything, well anything constructive :o, so with my ass well and truly kicked into action Topaz felt amazing! Not sure Topaz is as happy with the new found work ethic :lol:, came away feeling everything is just clicking into place and that 'thing' that I was missing but did know what it was has become clear :). Who knew what could happen when you actually use your legs ;).

She did also get called fat again :o, I am trying to get the weight down but she is being very resistant to loosing the tum :o...

Jiffy, super well done on the Ele debut!!!
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Thank you! And I sympathise on the weight fight - Pocholo is still very 'well-covered' despite being on a diet for two months now. He's on soaked hay, barely any grass, some hi-fi chaff and a handful of oats. He works hard yet just doesn't lose the belly! We'll be building up our long hacks again from next month in preparation for our next long distance ride so hopefully that'll help to shift it...
 
I know how you feel, she did so well last winter on just hay, but I couldn't source any locally so have had to put her on haylage :( which clearly she just does too well on...
 
Sounds like most people had good weekends and weather was far kinder than last week !!

Rather late update for me. managed very quick schooling sessions on Thursday and Friday evening as not able to ride on Saturday, it was last day of our shooting season, had a super day, my young springer girl is really starting figure out what picking up is all about, so very pleased!
Followed by our traditional end of season shoot dinner ( really good fun evening at our local pub, nice food and slightly booze filled with lots of loud singing to accompany one of our irish guns on his guitar :-) and the obligatory hangover next morning !!!
Sunday Morning , I had a lesson booked with my trainer and the sun was shining -yaay. I was feeling a little fragile at first but had the most brilliant lesson, actually had some lovely moments of softness and he was really starting to listen to me. I have a really bad habit of doing far to much and also wobbling and pulling on my inside rein, rather than using outside aids, so we were working on keeping me stiller with a consistent contact and letting him carry himself.
picture below that trainer took of us, which is huge improvement although still work in progress- note slight head tilting and me not sitting down enough :-)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8.-2207520000.1517227336.&type=3&size=960,762
 
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Can't see your picture monte1 :( Sounds like a nice weekend all round though.

j1ffy said:
Thank you! And I sympathise on the weight fight - Pocholo is still very 'well-covered' despite being on a diet for two months now. He's on soaked hay, barely any grass, some hi-fi chaff and a handful of oats. He works hard yet just doesn't lose the belly! We'll be building up our long hacks again from next month in preparation for our next long distance ride so hopefully that'll help to shift it...
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I have the opposite problem with Kira, she drops off SOOO fast when her hormones start flowing, and she is decidedly lean at the moment. She's eating as much haylage as I can fit into her, plus her normal feed plus oats, will have to up the linseed again :o Salty has the ribcage of an old broodmare so while she's getting fitter I doubt she will ever get that welsh whippet look ;)

Had a super ride yesterday at home culminating in seven 2 tempis into the mirror, all straight and correct, whoop! And then a good lesson today (just missing you again jiffy!) everything coming along steadily. Just got to get regionals out of the way and then we can crack on :)
 
milliepops said:
Can't see your picture monte1 :( Sounds like a nice weekend all round though.

I have the opposite problem with Kira, she drops off SOOO fast when her hormones start flowing, and she is decidedly lean at the moment. She's eating as much haylage as I can fit into her, plus her normal feed plus oats, will have to up the linseed again :o Salty has the ribcage of an old broodmare so while she's getting fitter I doubt she will ever get that welsh whippet look ;)

Had a super ride yesterday at home culminating in seven 2 tempis into the mirror, all straight and correct, whoop! And then a good lesson today (just missing you again jiffy!) everything coming along steadily. Just got to get regionals out of the way and then we can crack on :)
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Have you tried her on copra? Indio loves it and it's good for weight. Pocholo also loved it once he got used to it (took a few days) but had to take him off it again for obvious reasons ;)

Glad you had a good lesson! I can't wait to head there on Thursday :D
 
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