Weekend plans!

[Chippers1]

They were running so far behind it was ridiculous! I know he needs more topline, he appears to be one of those that take a while to build it up which is annoying 😅
Thank you for being kind, it's making me feel a little better. I'm so paranoid about laminitis (horses on our yard seem to be particularly prone, must be the grass!), and I body condition scored him yesterday and he comes out a 3 out of 5 but it's just a bit disheartening to hear it twice in a row. I think I need to stick to eventing!

 

[Bernster]

Showing is too subjective for me so def don’t take it to heart! Even at very basic level there seemed to me to be people who were very proficient and had ‘show condition’ ie fat and round horses. And 4 hours is way too long. Go if you enjoy it but I would think, unless you really want to focus on it, don’t be disappointed if you don’t do well.

 

[Chippers1]

I used to enjoy it but both recent shows have been so rubbish (not us - just them being disorganised and taking forever) so I think I'm not going to go to any more and focus on what I actually want to do!

 

[JFTDWS]

I don't like showing because, quite frankly, I don't want to pay someone whose opinion I probably don't respect, to critique my horses. I pick horses I like - I know they're not perfect, but few things are in life, and actually, I like their imperfections. I particularly don't want to spend hours bathing horses and dressing up like an upper class twit of the year, to hang around for hours, and then have the loves of my life insulted.

Take what's useful, ignore the rest. Don't dwell on it.

 

[Chippers1]

That's exactly it!! Done with it now, he's perfect to me and no one can say any different 😅 he didn't actually tell me anything useful either 🙄
Thanks HHOers, you've made me feel much better 🙂

 

[milliepops]

Yeah periodically I have a little daydream about showing kira, usually just after watching the car crash ridden sec ds at my local show 🤣😳

I know it would be a pointless and frustrating experience so I keep deciding against it!
I might change my mind if she gets to the point where we do fewer dressage shows, because she's a horse that needs regular outings to stay reasonable in the arena so that could be a low impact way to maintain her exposure to competition environment. I quite enjoyed the veteran showing I did with millie, it seemed less bonkers. K is 15 next year so not far off!

 

[zaminda]

Another local show, another 4 hour wait for my class 🙄 I'm done now, not doing any more local shows, I can't be doing with the hanging around.
Judge again said Buzz didn't have enough condition so I'm now realising that I'm too s*it of a rider to get muscles built in the right place or anything. His neck is very weedy. Theres no hills around me so I'll have to box to some. Ive done a lot of fittening work in prep for upcoming hunter trials and events so he's not got much fat on him and he's just about to move into the huge lush summer field so he'll put some weight on soon.
Feeling really down and rubbish, like I can't do anything right by him. And we had a stop but the jump was particularly spooky so I'll let him off.
Here's some photos (the first jump was a hilarious leap)
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He looks very fit! I would rather see this personally and it is one of the reasons I don't really do showing!

 

[Chippers1]

@milliepops definitely take Kira out, give everyone a run for their money!
Thanks @zaminda 🙂 I'm going to avoid showing from now on ha ha

 

[zaminda]

Well my weekend didn't go quite as planned. Little Mindy trotted up lame on Friday so missed her outing. Slightly gutted as have been really looking forward to it plus terrified it's serious! Vet coming again Tuesday for X rays.
As an alternative outing and because the person I would have been escorting decided my other two wouldn't be ideal escorts I took them both jumping. I mistimed arriving and got there too late to compete! I did manage to school around the course though which was pretty good. In all fairness Winnie hadn't been ridden since her 65k last Sunday and was great. She jumped up to about 100cm so pleased with her. Plus she was a great deal more rideable. She switched off at one point and I didn't switch her on well enough for one of them but she flew after that. Onwards and upwards for her and variety is definitely key!
Tamba was not himself starting off very tense and really not liking the sharp turns on the course. We had a couple of green run outs which is very out of character. I'm hoping to get him out a fair bit more as I would like to take him to some BE this year. XC is definitely his thing although the rest is coming together slowly!

 

[BenvardenRach2]

Okay so we had our affiliated BD show on sunday...

We love the venue and as always it was so organised and professional!
However, it was like an arctic blast down there.. the wind was wild and the wind chill factor made it feel about -1! The wind upset my irish native ! Warm up wasn't the best he was riding against the wind and not settling.

First test N28, he was spooky at absolutely nothing, and not bending round my leg on the right rein.. butt out wouldn't settle enough to allow me to push for the medium trots came out feeling a bit disappointed.
Went to get my sheet as I had an hour wait before the next class and we WON?! 62.70% luckily the judge said he was a lovely horse so think he got off lightly!

Second test N27, medium trot in the warm up was better but he was still tense.
The test went much better than the first but no where near as good as he usually is!
Got our sheet hoping for around the 64% mark... we got 68.75%!!! Our best Affiliated score yet I was absolutely beaming
We got two 8's one for our first center line! and the second for one of the medium trots - chuffed because we have really been working on them!

Think I am going to invest in some acoustic ears as the wind really did upset him, little wimp hes from flipping NI and lives on the side of a mountain

 

[Bernster]

Ooh that’s awesome, well done. Obv looked better than it felt!

 

[BenvardenRach2]

Ooh that’s awesome, well done. Obv looked better than it felt!

Thank you Bernster, yes it seems it was I also am so hard on myself so it obviously wasn't that rubbish.. x

 

[Fiona]

Fabulous BV2 Well done..... Where abouts in NI is he from?? That medium trot pic is stunning.

My connie was born in the wilds of Co Leitrim, and still hates the wind lol....

FIona

 

[BenvardenRach2]

Fabulous BV2 Well done..... Where abouts in NI is he from?? That medium trot pic is stunning.

My connie was born in the wilds of Co Leitrim, and still hates the wind lol....

FIona

Thank you so much ! He is from Craigavon, County Armagh - no idea where that is in relation to you!

It is funny isn't it! Rocky lives on the side of a Welsh mountain where it is ALWAYS windy but he is still a little sensitive one bless!! x

 

[Fiona]

Thank you so much ! He is from Craigavon, County Armagh - no idea where that is in relation to you!

It is funny isn't it! Rocky lives on the side of a Welsh mountain where it is ALWAYS windy but he is still a little sensitive one bless!! x

Really quite close in the grand scheme of things, also close to sportsmanB and only_me

Fiona

 

[DressageCob]

No videos from me, but just a bit of a gushing post.

We went combined training at a local venue. I was originally just going to take the big cob but I had room in the lorry and had a little confidence boost after camp last weekend so I decided to take the little cob as well, for a P7/50cm class.

The little guy was first. We had some issues working in, but we got through it. The only real issue we've had since eye-gate is a sudden aversion to the surface of arenas. I thought maybe it was shadows or light and shade, but the surface was a brand new Andrews Bowen with no shadows in the offending area. I wonder whether it is a depth perception issue or something. He occasionally reacts at home too, and invariably does so at "foreign" arenas. He just stares at the floor and leaps to the side. Anyway, he got over it!

We went into the arena for the dressage. For reasons best known to the powers that be, they had plonked a massive shipping container inches from E, which was a bit scary apparently. We passed it with it on the left first, no issue because he couldn't see it. We turned around and a giant fire breathing monster popped out of it and threatened to eat my pony. Unfortunately, the bell rang at that moment so we had to just do a 10m loop past it!

Thankfully, the good little boy that he is, Albert listened to me throughout the test and got over his fear. He was a little speedy past it, but not too much so. It felt like a lovely test, albeit a little tense at times.

We went in for the show jumping after a couple of practice jumps. He was surprised to be jumping so stopped at the first practice fence before hopping over it a leg at a time. In the ring he was a little superstar. He gave everything at least 2 feet of spare air just in case. We had a stop at the third fence because it was only 2 strides off the corner and he just didn't see it in time. I could have pushed but I wanted him to feel confident and secure so we just calmly approached it again.

After swapping the horses around I went to see the scores, to find out the little cob had only gone and won it! 71% I was amazed. Both me and my groom for the day were a tad emotional. We went with no expectations and he just knocked my socks off. I'm so lucky.

Then it was the big cob's turn. He was very excitable working in because there were jumps in the arena and he thought they looked way better than the bendy things I was making him do. He settled eventually and did a lovely novice 34 test. The medium trots didn't really come off because I played it safe. it was still a nice test for 67.8%.

We went in to jump and it was not good. Don't get me wrong, big cob tries his heart out and always jumps. But I was shockingly nervous. The additional 5cm from our last outing made a difference to me and the spreads seemed wider. And my leg came off. So on the fences we hit well he flew over like a dream. On the ones with a duff stride if I had put my leg on he would have gone off a long one, but because I didn't he tried to chip a short one in but just couldn't get his enormous feet and legs out of the way. He never can so I should stop putting him in that position. I wish I was just more confident! he doesn't deserve my nerves as he never does anything wrong. He jumps enthusiastically but I don't think my nerves are due to that. I will keep working on them, especially now I realise that it is my leg that's the issue rather than anything else.

Anyway, 5 jumps down but his dressage meant we still came fourth. And qualified for trailblazers finals. He's a dude <3

 

[Alibear]

We had fun despite some snow and hail on Saturday which meant we had to all abandon the field and head to the indoor school , although though the gate photo is blurry I'm really please with how well she is stood under herself.

 

[nikicb]

Well our weekend wasn't exactly as planned! Well done to everyone out and about. Those archery pictures look great JFTD - my roan pony did some archery a few years back and loved it. So.... we didn't make the dog show. Husband bought a load of sugartastic snacks for GCSE child (hmmm, you might get that little hint that if he provided 'proper' food that would be better, but after 25 years of marriage, you pick your fights.....) and the dogs ate 7-8 packets of raisins between them. So a midnight visit to the vets for throwing up jabs and they were picked up today. Husband paid the £1k bill. I have been amazingly not outspoken about this. Believe me, I am absolutely livid. But the bill hit the wallet in the desired place. Anyway, moving on..... Cassie and I went out competing on Sunday. She was fab, we rode great tests, the judge didn't like ponies. I really want to forget this weekend and move on. See you next week!!!!

 

[Fiona]

OMG nikkicb Did he leave the raisins in the dogs reach ??? Stress

I'm a bit annoyed and frustrated too today. Got a call a week ago asking if child would join a PC team for SJ this Friday as they were short of numbers, and I agreed as although it was a long distance away I thought we would show willing, and was also happy that PC had noticed how well he was going recently.

However got the list last night to see that he's instead down as an individual (1 team and 2 individuals) so I've withdrawn as its far too far to drive for 2 rounds of SJ at 50cm

Now I need to find something else to do on Friday

Fiona

 

[nikicb]

OMG nikkicb Did he leave the raisins in the dogs reach ??? Stress

I'm a bit annoyed and frustrated too today. Got a call a week ago asking if child would join a PC team for SJ this Friday as they were short of numbers, and I agreed as although it was a long distance away I thought we would show willing, and was also happy that PC had noticed how well he was going recently.

However got the list last night to see that he's instead down as an individual (1 team and 2 individuals) so I've withdrawn as its far too far to drive for 2 rounds of SJ at 50cm

Now I need to find something else to do on Friday

Fiona

Yes - he's not very animal aware, and just didn't think about the risks of leaving a shopping bag filled to the brim on the floor in the dining room. Hopefully he's learnt his lesson.

I hope you find something else to do Friday! x

 

[Fiona]

Yes - he's not very animal aware, and just didn't think about the risks of leaving a shopping bag filled to the brim on the floor in the dining room. Hopefully he's learnt his lesson.

I hope you find something else to do Friday! x

THanks, I'm thinking of booking some xc schooling so we can both ride, if not there is kids easter SJ in the evening.....

FIona

 

[Hallo2012]

well done BV2!!! my welsh hates the wind and rain too lol! forgotten their tough roots clearly!

 

[BenvardenRach2]

well done BV2!!! my welsh hates the wind and rain too lol! forgotten their tough roots clearly!

Thank you Hallo I'm super chuffed with the 68% considering he didn't go half as well as he usually does at that venue hopefully no wind next time for the little princess!!!

 

[milliepops]

I also have a native that thinks she's a princess. She's OK in the wind but fears that she will dissolve in the rain!

Just back from a show in the sunshine bit of a low scoring day but we won our section and were top of the PSGs in the PYO class I was pleased with her efforts given I am on the snotty end of a cold and not exactly on form! Just a little mistake after the half passes when she snuck the change in a stride before i wanted it so it was late behind. Feel like the piris are coming together and the tempis were definitely neater .

Nice warm afternoon to go out to play with no clothes on

 

[Chippers1]

Had to buy this from the photographer on Sunday, what a special boy 😅 this was the first jump!

 

[milliepops]

Wheeeeeee! 😁

 

[Fiona]

Had to buy this from the photographer on Sunday, what a special boy 😅 this was the first jump!
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Super pic...

 

[Mule]

Can't resist sharing this. Sorry I post too many pictures of Amber! But I am so happy we jumped something so big and I feel like I am more in balance than I was through the winter. I'd never have dared if I had to place her myself but the grid did that for me! One day I will do this height without being set up for it first by a grid....

Ooh 1.15 is pretty impressive! Well done.