Weekend plans

nikkimariet said:
Busy weekend for me!

Friday I was out with work and my priority was not being too hungover to hack on the Saturday morning lol.

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Smashed it! Blew some cobwebs away. Rested up with takeaway and the gf Saturday night whilst I learned my tests for today.

Was a tiny bit nervous as hardest novice he’s done etc. But he rocked it! Had a baby mistake in n22 which just dropped us first place for 69.16% and second but then was a total star in n37 for 70.18% and first!

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Utterly thrilled with him. All felt so so so easy. That’s nearly all our regionals points in 3 tests! Revision for some work stuff tonight!
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Lovely photos!
 
milliepops said:
hahaha we didn't come last!! (well we did in the first test, the one with the 2 ;)) but he was mid table in the second test, hehe. wish I'd stayed for the sheet now but we were all a bit bored by then :p
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How are you getting on with him now? Are you getting more used to his ways?
 
mule said:
How are you getting on with him now? Are you getting more used to his ways?
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Yeah I feel like we've turned a corner in the last couple of weeks. This winter has been so, so hard - the weather, and the fact they only get a couple of hours in the field has made him a challenging ride anyway, but he is also doolally about the hedges surrounding out school so it's been hard to get enough work into him because he just spooks constantly. I've always enjoyed riding him at shows because he behaves better :p but it's just been a shame he has gone so green in the ring.

Anyway last couple of lessons have introduced a few new tools to deal with him - the short whip on the shoulder has been revolutionary because it just knocks him back to me when his brain goes walkabout. Not exactly Classical Dressage but it means he concentrates on the right things again and then he's quite nice to ride. Despite all the daft behaviour he is more supple, stronger, straighter and understands the contact and leg aids properly now so I do think I'm onto something, just have to keep on keeping on :)
 
milliepops said:
Yeah I feel like we've turned a corner in the last couple of weeks. This winter has been so, so hard - the weather, and the fact they only get a couple of hours in the field has made him a challenging ride anyway, but he is also doolally about the hedges surrounding out school so it's been hard to get enough work into him because he just spooks constantly. I've always enjoyed riding him at shows because he behaves better :p but it's just been a shame he has gone so green in the ring.

Anyway last couple of lessons have introduced a few new tools to deal with him - the short whip on the shoulder has been revolutionary because it just knocks him back to me when his brain goes walkabout. Not exactly Classical Dressage but it means he concentrates on the right things again and then he's quite nice to ride. Despite all the daft behaviour he is more supple, stronger, straighter and understands the contact and leg aids properly now so I do think I'm onto something, just have to keep on keeping on :)
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That's good news. He doesn't sound easy. It must be satisfying to have had a breakthrough. I remember you saying he's very different to Kira, it's nice that way because you get to learn so much.


Atm, because the beast is off work I've been going to group lesssons. I've been riding a young horse who is much more reactive than mine (The beast is hardly reactive so tbf that wouldn't be hard ?)

Anyway it's fun riding something so different because I'm learning new things. Although the young horse also has an impressive nap in him so it's like old times with the beast :p
 
milliepops said:
hahaha we didn't come last!! (well we did in the first test, the one with the 2 ;)) but he was mid table in the second test, hehe. wish I'd stayed for the sheet now but we were all a bit bored by then :p
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MP you are actually inspiring me to get my new ex-racer out. I get so caught up about having to go out and be competitive and trying to get it perfect rather than using competitions as part of training. I some times go to Summerhouse so the battle for last place may be on!
 
We braved the wind! Managed our 2nd win of the season- by less than 1 penalty! Dressage nicely relaxed for him, clear cones just a little slow (it’s exact second optimum time not a window) and fast accurate obs ? 1 event to go in a month before the league and championship qualifier is decided but I have a 6 point lead so playing it pretty safe should pay off!


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Squeak said:
MP you are actually inspiring me to get my new ex-racer out. I get so caught up about having to go out and be competitive and trying to get it perfect rather than using competitions as part of training. I some times go to Summerhouse so the battle for last place may be on!
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Its been so useful this winter because he had *such* a lot to learn, the way I looked at it was we could spend this time while kira is off, teaching him about the job while he's not established enough to do it well. and then hopefully by the time he's ready to do a novice we will hit the ground running.

I don't give a toss about coming last in an unaff prelim, every time he improves in some way whether that be travelling, atmosphere, spooking or whatever, I feel like we're the winners anyway ? it takes all the pressure off when you don't expect to do well and means you can really concentrate on the horse getting an educational day ;)
 
Wow rara that video is so cool!

Well done everyone who has managed to get out and about! Commiserations to those who were once again cancelled due to weather...

Picked up new boots yesterday. Couldn't fit into the M width DeNiros I'd ordered in, despite my other pair being a M but figure they must have stretched over the time I've had them and they're made of a softer more yielding leather anyhow. So as there were no Wide fits in the sale and the real price was out of budget I've ended up with some Mountain Horse boots. I think the two tone brown ones are absolutely minging, ugly boots! But the black are pretty smart so went for those. Then wore them practically all day to try break them in a bit for today. Commence blisters!

Onto today... Event at Osberton was cancelled so we rerouted to SJ, which was then also cancelled! So we opted for last minute arena hire instead. Chilli jumped round nicely, and looked very pretty in her new matchy pink courtesy of bf!
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Here she is over some smaller warm up fences...

Then over some slightly larger ones...

I forgot to pack the martingale (whoops!). She was really strong and I get left behind sometimes but we are making progress. My confidence with showjumping is improving slowly and we will crack it! The one we had down in dramatic fashion was totally my fault, should have sat the canter back and made her a bit bouncier so we didn't run into the bottom of it but I ran out of time. That turn and line was a lot worse than it looked on video.

Overall though a good trip :p
 
Cob Life said:
Jumping Saturday (trying him in a snaffle jumping after he was a bit crazy today, wish me luck!) and then a flatwork session on Sunday working on his trot work
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After a non horse related injury on Friday I have been sore all weekend so he's had the weekend off :(
Back on for a light schooling session tomorrow
 
Survived camp - actually did camp, in a tent and everything. Did not surface test at any point, although there were a few close calls. Supercob spent a moderate amount of time and energy dedicated to bucking, bronking, napping and standing on his back legs - far more than any normal cob would think worthwhile.
However having had that out of his system hd also put some super work in today over a nice easy course of show jumps and then an hour round some arena xc fences later on.
We also had a Franklin balls session which I found really good and helpful - may investigate further in to that
 
Our weekend was epic. I had two lessons on Saturday, and got my butt kicked. It was amazing haha. It was excellent because I tend to freeze in a competition and thats what I did in my flatwork lesson. So to be talked through it was useful and I know what to do next time.

it was also very beneficial to have fresh eyes on us and we got a realistic perspective on where we are at competition wise.

Jumping was equally useful, he tried his heart out and we jumped a good course. The jumps were all at 80-95 and it felt easy and they looked small so that was a good confidence boost. We really got drilled for accuracy in our lines but also to insist on how the horses were travelling and good transitions etc.

both were really useful sessions and I got a heap out of them, plus they didn't cost me anything!

Sunday I went XC training with a friend. I knew I wanted to work on courses and thats exactly what I did. Plus we jumped some decent sized fences and it felt super easy. He was pretty tired and it was hot so we kept it short but I am just super happy with him. He feels confident and brave, I now need to work on riding forward to fences better but that will come as we start to jump bigger.
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Overall a very productive and exhausting weekend for us. So thrilled with my boy, as always!
 

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Rara, that video is epic, Rosieowner, yours too.

We maddest to a jumping lesson today. I was very stressed with life this morning, but as soon as I was riding that went into the background.

Last Sunday we did 2 tiny fences, the first jumps since September. Today we did 12 fences, 6 as tiny as last time, 6 at double the size. Finn was kind, rhythmic, completely on-side.

Indoor arena was great too!
 
Caved in to peer pressure and entered L in next weeks jumping comp! Just small rounds, will be a good outing for her. Weather looks good and the grounds should be nice and springy now we've had some rain and green grass. She loves jumping so will be a nice treat for her.
 
B2 is now lunging in full tack!!!!

B1 is disgusted to be coming out of retirement! Raised poles were only to be tolerated at walk otherwise mother was dragged across the riding area.

Has a really nice weekend all in all, as we had dry afternoons both days I got lots of 'spring cleaning' done at the horses. Everything is looking tidy again ready for the next storm to blow it all over the place again.

Can't wait to get out to some clinics and fun stuff in the coming months. These threads really are motivating.
 
My ride was cancelled on Sunday due to the expected high winds in the morning, which was annoying but to be expected!
I managed to get out after work on Saturday, Tamba had a quick one as I was still planning on the ride for Sunday, Winnie then did a fairly quick 11k and Maisy had her first ride since June! She was fab and Winnie felt amazing so some positive things at least.
Sunday I did manage one trip to the gallops with Tamba who was hugely fresh and could really have done with 20k!! Nice that he is feeling and looking so well though, as he looked a bit scrawny this time last year.
I was planning on taking Winnie to the gallops today, but I aborted. I'm really hoping it dries up soon!
 
First day in ages I've got home from work in the light so I quickly get changed and out to ride :)

As soon as I brought M out of the stable the blizzard started and it didnt stop until I was finished my session. Fire breathing pony alert!! Spooking at pretty much anything... it was good fun and we got some great canter work :D
 
We had snow as well, which put the kybosh on my plan to box over to trainer's place, cos if it settled I'd have had a crap trip home.
School out of action for the last couple of days as the hedges are being trimmed ? hopefully back to normal service tomorrow.

In the meantime I made kira do hacking ? she's not a fan, I usually take her out in hand ;) 20200225_171516_compress68.jpg
 
JFTDWS said:
Ha, MP, lifestyle swap! I made mine school ;) In a field, not an arena, obvs, but it was dry enough to trot circles, so we did. Not very flat, but pony was sweet enough.

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She's not actually in rollkur, she's eyeing up the grass :rolleyes: But look at that mane :eek:
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Your field is dry enough to ride in? Wow, I wish! - my arena is barely dry enough the field is more like a bog lol
 
milliepops said:
Are you going to let it grow out or is she just overdue a buzz cut? ?
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We have a routine now. I hog it at the end of summer when it's long, ratty and a bit rubbed, because she's a scratcher and because I hate pulling. Then it grows back over winter, eventually flops over and we have nice mane, then feral mane, then disgraceful mane, and then I'm back to hogging ;)
 
Thanks Wheels, I'm going to have to have a word with myself - he jumps everything like it's a metre anyway so I may as well stop messing about over little fences :p
 
Bernster - it really was not too bad at all, my little tent stood up to 40mph winds and heavy rain but I was snug and dry inside.

If I had a tenner for every time I heard "that cob is smart" or "that cob moves well" I'd have paid for camp twice over! I think people underestimate him because he's a big solid lump but he's actually really athletic
 
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