Weekend plans ?

[milliepops]

Lots of busy weekends by the sound of things!

I ended up taking the long way round and took Darcy to arena hire. He was a bit of a wally and just never really quite got his brain on the job so it was a bit of a pointless trip Reminded me how much progress he's made lately in a funny way, we haven't had a bad day in ages and even this one was just him being a dork rather than doing anything bad. Onwards and upwards.

Kira was reasonably chipper in the school at home again so that is encouraging. I don't know whether this new attitude will last if we get something noisy coming down the lane behind the hedge again because that's what sent her into orbit for the last few months but all we can do is KOKO.

Was on way home when OH messaged to say they were baling tonight as the forecast had changed.... so diversion over to hayfield just in time to cast my expert *cough* eyes over the round baler that was playing up. The roll of net was loaded back to front... I wouldn't know one end of a baler from the other but I can read a diagram i think the boys may never live this down. 50 odd bales done, wrapped, stacked, got home about 1am. YAWN. Yield well down again reckon there were 80 bales on those fields last year.

 

[windand rain]

Well my weekend plans were scuppered Spent Friday and saturday mornings getting the field ready for a new livery. She arrived having had a go at wrecking the lorry, a favour OH did for here new to horse ownership owner. All the fencing working she settled like she had been here all her life. Plan on Sunday get the ponies done early and get on with rebuilding the garden. All going well new pony still in her field quite settled. Started the garden ran out of sand for the slabs. While OH away getting more frantic calls to say new pony in the hay field fences not working try to tell her how to fix it but pony has now decided it can walk through all the fencing trashing it as it goes. So much for quarantine So get up off the floor from putting together a pergola, no mean feat when you are as stiff and sore as I am. Off to the field to sort the fencing so thought well they are mixed up anyway so introduce her to the ones I would like her to live with she instantly crashed through the fence smashing the wooden post and wire fence. The herd ponies were no where near her. So the grass school was put together with new electric fencing and the power unit just on there so it has quite a kick Not been back yet this morning as to top it off the car has broken down

 

[Bernster]

I meant to include pics of our ride!

 

[Pippity]

Blue had steroid injections in her hocks today, so it's a weekend of box rest for us. (She also managed to thoroughly disgrace herself and attempt to kill our lovely vet, so it's into hospital for the next time she needs them. Horror. You'd think two lots of sedation, a twitch and a front foot held up would be enough to stop her kicking...)

I'm back to work today after two weeks off, and EXTREMELY grumpy about it.

Blue now has a week of normal routine sans riding, and is extremely happy about it. Field! Grass! Yay! Her hind end's already looking so much better. I'd been in a bit of denial about how weirdly she was standing until she suddenly started standing with both legs under her, rather than camped out. Counting the days to Friday when I'll be getting back on board for a wee walk hack. (I'm not entirely convinced she'll co-operate with the idea of staying in walk, but we'll try.)

 

[Dyllymoo]

Had such a good weekend horse wise.

Friday afternoon we hacked with our friend and went for 55 mins on a new route and went partly in the country park nearby. J loved it! Its so hilly around our way but he coped so well

Saturday we went in the school for a very short time. I go blank and there were 2 others in with us. They were being very patient with us but it can be daunting when they are practising their elementary tests and im just trying to get a good trot rhythm and a bit of bend around the corner! But after our friend took us around the horses fields for a walk. Ive got a worry about open fields and its a good way to build confidence. We walked over one of the show jumps and one of the xc logs. Walked past the mares (one was interested and keept coming over and bucking at us and cantering off. J didn't bat an eyelid). Super boy.

Sunday longer hack. Another new route through more of the country park where we encountered lots and lots of families, buggies, push bikes and much more im sure. J didn't care. He was loving being out and you could see how much he was loving it.

I am also now less worried about him walking downhill. He is much more coordinated and my friend said he has a wider stance going down now. We used to just kind of run down which was scary!

Anyway.....all in all a super weekend. Not sure my hat camera recorded anything and can't seem to upload any pics.

Must have more faith in J he really is a little star ?

 

[Xmasha]

Back from camp.

Had an awesome time. Loved my biomechanics session! Inviting her to our yard now to run a clinic. And will sign up for the equipilates stuff online.
Our old dressage trainer who - alas - has moved South was back to teach at camp. It was lovely to see her again and be reminded of how great she is. I am jealous of anyone who lives near Hartpury where she has gone.

Bioemechanics, dressage and XC were all fab. Strongly disliked the SJ trainer though. It's rare that someone just sets my teeth on edge like he did but noooooo. Still 3 out of 4 aint bad. Katie is doing a video edit so whoever complained about 'not enough pictures on this thread' will soon get LOTS!!

Glad you enjoyed Jo's lesson, she really is lovely isnt she. I cant wait for the next one . I have to do her online intro to the pilates this week, then will crack on with the classes too.

We had a fab weekend both Finn and Pip had days out in the new little van. Finn on saturday and Pip on sunday, both travelled superb. It was so nice to have a box that can go up hills in 4th gear. Dear old malc the merc would get up, but took his time. Plus i could actually hear the radio. Love driving it. Pip and i did Kelsall with some friends. Which was a new one for us, as weve only ever gone with my daughter and Finn. Pip was amazing, and we actually had complete controlt he whole way round .. even up the gallops ( added flash and slightly stronger bit ) Somerford for us next week.

MP - Hera is just gorgeous
Oldie - stunning mare
HP - your videos are fab, which i was as brave.
FF - love your fuzzy beats, he can really tuck those tootsies up
Lots of great reports this weekend, so lovely to read them all, makes a change from the passed few months. Fingers crossed it all continues

Edited to add token photo of Finn enjoying the new box ?

 

[HufflyPuffly]

HP - your videos are fab, which i was as brave.

I am not currently brave at all lol, I have a very good instructor who is doing wonders with me! We had a scare at Eland the other week, so we've been jumping small things to get our confidence back up and now we need to jump bigger so 80 doesn't seem so terrifying!

I said the blue roll top was too big, the green hedge thing too wide and the house was eye shuttingly much, much too big! I got told to go and jump them and Skylla would be fine!

Big:

Too big:

Definitely too wide:

Flipping nora, too big and wide , lost my reins on the first attempt as I was so surprised we jumped it :

By this point I'd stopped saying things were too big as was being ignored by my trainer and Skylla and mum was laughing at me :

Sometimes you just need to do as your told and take a leap of faith that 'you've got this', feel super ready to get balloted out of all my events I've entered now .

 

[Xmasha]

Bloody brilliant HP !

 

[Chippers1]

HP they are all very big! Well done!
Amber I am so envious of Katie's ability to not even glance at a jump she's approaching, I have never quite got the hang of it and have perfected the eyes down, head up, staring at the jump look

 

[Ample Prosecco]

HP they are all very big! Well done!
Amber I am so envious of Katie's ability to not even glance at a jump she's approaching, I have never quite got the hang of it and have perfected the eyes down, head up, staring at the jump look

That's the 2 brain problem!! Brain 1 = conscious brain telling you to look up, look ahead etc. Brain 2 is the survival brain that at the last moment goes 'nope need a peek!' Sadly brain 2 is stronger and faster than brain 1. You have to outsmart it not just overrule it! A work in progress for me too

 

[Chippers1]

That's the 2 brain problem!! Brain 1 = conscious brain telling you to look up, look ahead etc. Brain 2 is the survival brain that at the last moment goes 'nope need a peek!' Sadly brain 2 is stronger and faster than brain 1. You have to outsmart it not just overrule it! A work in progress for me too

Ah well clearly I go into survival mode when jumping

 

[Bernster]

Ooh those Pics are awesome HP, well done ! She’s looking great. I need a bit of that attitude (doing as you’re told) as I’m far too wussy.

And brain 2 needs to be put in its place!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Re training Brain 2 - it's easier to fix your eye on something in the distance than to just 'look up'. Choose a spot on the far side of rhe jump and focus on it all the way in. Practice over little ones first and you'll notice that you do know when you are about to take off because your peripheral vision can still see the fence even if you are looking directly at a tree!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

KEK I am trying to turn her into a a safe and steady hack as well as dressage diva. Work in progress!
AE, I'm not far from Hartpury, who is the dressage trainer, pm if you'd prefer
AE/HP Somerford looked like a complete nightmare with so many on the course at once. A real test of control and temperament, like a fun ride on steroids.

Off to my lesson at AM later this morning, hopefully rose will have a lie down and snooze before we leave!

I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was over the weekend! Perhaps I have become immune to the busyness. It is such a fantastic venue that people come from all over the country.

Missed this! It was busier than it has been as camps have started back up, think I picked the busiest time but needed a specific time slot to fit in with my trainer. I think Somerford are actually limiting numbers that can go on at one time, though with 80 acres you can fit a fair few groups on at once. Plus you can also see people on the farm ride in some of my shots, so they are actually using a different facility too, it actually quite easy to find a quiet corner to school in, everyone is further away than you think.

HP they are all very big! Well done!
Amber I am so envious of Katie's ability to not even glance at a jump she's approaching, I have never quite got the hang of it and have perfected the eyes down, head up, staring at the jump look

Thank you I think they are big too but it has helped as now I'm looking at fences and thinking they're small at 70/80 which is just what we needed!

I don't think I have a brain 2? Maybe I'm looking at the fences and not realising? Though putting a course together is good as you have to be looking for your next fence...

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Ooh those Pics are awesome HP, well done ! She’s looking great. I need a bit of that attitude (doing as you’re told) as I’m far too wussy.

And brain 2 needs to be put in its place!

Thank you, I am good at doing as I'm told even if my face on the inside is doing this .

 

[Alibear]

Slightly odd one for me this week as no lesson this weekend but I have a lesson Tue-Fri afternoons, 4 lessons! It might finish me off, they may not all be on Amber as don't want to overdo things but I need to get riding again so got them booked.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I don't think I have a brain 2? Maybe I'm looking at the fences and not realising? Though putting a course together is good as you have to be looking for your next fence...

'Brain 2' is your emotional breain that keeps you alive/safe. AKA the amygdala. This brain that overrides your thinking/reasoning brain (the neo cortex) when yu are scared. If you are not aware of it jumping that just means Brain 2 is happy to let Brain 1 stay in control. You have problems when Brain 1 (reason and logic) is saying 'look up' and Brain 2 does not agree with that plan. If there is a direct clash, Brain 2 wins! It's faster and stronger than Brain 1.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

'Brain 2' is your emotional breain that keeps you alive/safe. AKA the amygdala. This brain that overrides your thinking/reasoning brain (the neo cortex) when yu are scared. If you are not aware of it jumping that just means Brain 2 is happy to let Brain 1 stay in control. You have problems when Brain 1 (reason and logic) is saying 'look up' and Brain 2 does not agree with that plan. If there is a direct clash, Brain 2 wins! It's faster and stronger than Brain 1.

Ok, I definitely have that brain ? phew!

Mine tends to be override'd (not sure that's a word?) by my trainer rather than brain 1 , but it doesn't make me look at the fence it makes me panic and ride like a div (eg hold and fire or freeze and throw the reins at my poor horse).

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yep that's brain 2! It has peculiar ideas about what makes you safer jumping

 

[Roxylola]

Mine is adamant that I need to be bolt upright at all times ?

 

[GinaGeo]

Our lorry is back on the road so took the bay boys hacking to the forest. Since lockdown there's a whole host of new "lockdown" walkers, and cyclists, and dog walkers. But they were both jolly good and we managed to avoid the majority of people. Selfishly I'm hoping that with the advent of public places starting to re-open the Countryside will once again be empty for me to enjoy! There's a lot of places we would usually go that I have never been seen so busy!

Solo did some Side Saddle Jumping on Sunday. The saddle is new (to me!!) this year, and I've been playing with sorting out the shimming so I've got a bit more support under my left seat bone. He seems happy and I'm much happier now I'm sat square.



Then Baby Pod came to have a little play. His hives flared up again up a couple of weeks ago, and I realised I'd come to the bottom of the Feedbin and that there was the remnants of some of the Agrobs Muesli mixed in with his Grass Nuts. He's obviously incredibly sensitive, and trace amounts seem to be sufficient to trigger off another episode - lesson learned. As a result he's had a week or so off. But has come back feeling even bigger and stronger for it. He doesn't cope with being told to do anything, but let him figure stuff out himself and he's incredibly bold. He jumped fillers and water trays quite happily. He's a typical the more you give him to think about the better he is. Let him get bored and he'll make all of his own fun!

 

[Roxylola]

Yep that's brain 2! It has peculiar ideas about what makes you safer jumping

In all fairness, my inner chimp did me a solid here

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well sat!! Yup most people would have been off over the head. Good one Chimp. x

 

[Barlow]

Bloody hell, Wheels, that's not a tow car it's a lifestyle statement!
Barlow, I am at AM on Monday having a lesson with Justine Sole, she's great. I don't think Adam teaches on a Monday, Matt sometimes does. If you are there on Monday, I have the purple lorry, would love to say hello.

I’m so sorry I’ve only just seen this! I was on the grey just after your lesson and my lorry was next to yours! I’m sorry mine was on his toes to start with, we haven’t been out all year..! Your horse is gorgeous - she was working in nicely and although I didn’t see any of your lesson as I was tacking up!
It’s about 2 hours for me so I try to get there once twice or thrice a year with lessons from Justine and whenever there is a space with Adam on their more local clinics. They are amazing people and transformed my riding.

 

[JFTDWS]

I spent the first half of the weekend schooling Fergs and Skye in the "big" field before one of the herds moved into it and made it inaccessible for riding. I spent the rest of it out hacking, but thought it would be entertaining to do some shooting in the field now that I have poles, bales and everything together in the same field for once

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=578772072790801

 

[Dyllymoo]

Can i have a little boasting post. Took J for our first solo hack at our new yard last night. Only a 20 min route but we have only done it twice before and not at all recently.

He was hoof perfect. We had a tiny sticky moment where he didn't want to go forward but I just sat calmly and squeezed for forward. As soon as he took a step I stopped and gave him a pat. After a very short time (a minute or two) we set off again. His little ears make me giggle, constantly flicking backward to me.

Honestly grinning a whole 15 hours later!

(And my hat cam actually worked for the first time in ages.... some stills from it below, I wont post a video as I literally chat the whole way through!)

 

[oldie48]

I’m so sorry I’ve only just seen this! I was on the grey just after your lesson and my lorry was next to yours! I’m sorry mine was on his toes to start with, we haven’t been out all year..! Your horse is gorgeous - she was working in nicely and although I didn’t see any of your lesson as I was tacking up!
It’s about 2 hours for me so I try to get there once twice or thrice a year with lessons from Justine and whenever there is a space with Adam on their more local clinics. They are amazing people and transformed my riding.

Hi I did wonder if it was you. Sorry not to have said hello. Your grey is lovely. Spanish/Portugese? tbh I thought your horse looked very relaxed so you were obviously doing a great job.

 

[Barlow]

Hi I did wonder if it was you. Sorry not to have said hello. Your grey is lovely. Spanish/Portugese? tbh I thought your horse looked very relaxed so you were obviously doing a great job.

You should have said hello - always nice to meet fellow HHOs Thank you for your kind comments - good spot! He’s a Lusitano although normally we get comments along the lines of “nice Connemara”! You must have missed the meltdown at the mounting block before I got on..! We have a lesson with Matt today and Adam tomorrow although he’s shattered already so not sure how much we will be able to do!

 

[j1ffy]

You should have said hello - always nice to meet fellow HHOs Thank you for your kind comments - good spot! He’s a Lusitano although normally we get comments along the lines of “nice Connemara”! You must have missed the meltdown at the mounting block before I got on..! We have a lesson with Matt today and Adam tomorrow although he’s shattered already so not sure how much we will be able to do!

I have AMD envy!! My loan horse is just about at the stage when a trip there would be beneficial. How's it working without catering? Are you still able to use the kitchen to make your own / heat stuff up or do you have to stay in your lorry?

 

[milliepops]

Lol *I * have AMD envy and I'm going on Thursday basically all the time I'm not there I want to be there!