Weekend Plans

My mum is visiting this weekend because I’m working Christmas. So hoping to school tomorrow and get some updated videos. Then Sunday I’ve got an RC arena eventing clinic with the legend that is Ros Canter! Very excited despite the early start (we’re in the first group at 8am). Luckily her yard is 10mins down the road so we don’t have a long drive to contend with!
 
Took B to the stressage comp. Friend (half my age) was going to ride but had v bad reaction to booster and got worse yesterday. To save losing the outing, the organisers allowed me to step in to ride last night, so off we went.
Met chaps89 there who at the last hour had kindly agreed to call the test, B generally pretty good and scooped up several 7.5s and an 8. Only one blooper in a trot circle, just as I was giving the reins to get the required 'stretch' a young teen rider and their teen helper both came sprinting towards our arena! B reacted into a giraffe on stalks mode, then they realised they should be in the adjacent arena and swerved across. Damage done tho, but recalibrated ourselves and finished with decent marks, inc tge 8 for the final turn and square halt ?
Waited for about 25 mins to get sheet and was gobsmacked not to be last, but placed 6th!
Was v chilly waiting tho, brr!

Hope everyone's weekend is going ok x
 
Had the saddler out yesterday, hacked out this morning and will hack again tomorrow.
I have Monday off so will have a schooling session in the daylight for a change.
Last weekend I planned out my comps for the next few months. We’ve not been out since September so this morning I started pulling T’s very overgrown mane.
 
Went for a hack around the block, trying to practice correct position— without stirrups for part of it as trying to stretch out my hips in prep for the next fancy dressage lesson , dropped stirrups a hole, felt frustrated as my default in trot is to stand on balls of feet and lift heels ☹️

Having lesson on mr H (usual instructor) tomorrow, poles/cavaletti (first lesson in over a month as been without saddle )

2nd lesson with the fancy dressage instructor on Monday on the schoolmaster .

Have a good weekend everyone.
 
I took Blue out for her first decent-length hack since tying up, complete with some trot, and she was a star. She was more of a star when allowed to trot, rather than being cruelly forced to walk, but still a star! Worryingly, I do seem to have forgotten how to trot and spent a lot of downwards transitions collapsing onto the pommel. Definitely something to work on!

And then I moved her to a new stable. We were in a block of two, far from the other horses, so when a stable opened up in the main block, I asked to move into that one. It's a lot busier than our old spot, which I think she'll really enjoy - she's a right nosey parker and always has to keep an eye on everything that's happening! It's bigger than our old one, too.
 
I didn't really have any plans, have a cold, blah.

But then, yesterday Baby Horse and I went on our longest ride yet, he was exhausted even though it was only an hour. Today we did a bit of jump schooling, just a X pole exercise to consolidate canter work, and he was ace. Then Rigs and I toured the village looking at Xmas decs.

So a nice weekend after all!
 
He’s a rising 4yo KWPN gelding. Bought unseen from a breeder in the Netherlands ?

He’s been broken and ridden away but not seen or done much so we’ll be starting right at the beginning. Really looking forwards to getting going with him.

He doesn’t have a stable name yet so any suggestions welcome. Passport name is Nashville M - a friend had suggested NV (pronounced ‘envy’)
 
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blood_magik said:
He’s a rising 4yo KWPN gelding. Bought unseen from a breeder in the Netherlands ?

He’s been broken and ridden away but not seen or done much so we’ll be starting right at the beginning. Really looking forwards to getting going with him.

He doesn’t have a stable name yet so any suggestions welcome. Passport name is Nashville M - a friend had suggested NV (pronounced ‘envy’)
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He's lovely! I'd probably just call him Nash and be done with it, but I am not very creative ?
 
Clinic today was a success! Though my heart sunk a little when she said we’d be working on skinnies and tight turns, they’re probably our weakest areas. But actually was a very productive lesson! We did have a few issues (expected given what he was being asked) but actually I think that was better, as has given me tips for when things don’t quite go to plan.

I really like the way Ros teaches, you have to be prepared to be pushed though! She said all the raw ingredients are there for him to be a lovely horse, but we need to work on him accepting the contact and me being confident putting my leg on. My mum was there to video as well, so I’m hoping I’ve got the instructions and exercises recorded to play back in case I forget ?

Overall very pleased, given he’s never been asked anything as technical as that, and would definitely not have managed them a few months ago!
 
I went to London International Horse Show yesterday to watch the Jumping World Cup! I always go every year to watch this class but was umming and ahing about going but I decided to as I don't really have family so we don't go anywhere for Christmas. This means if we have to self isolate wouldn't make a difference ?.

Found the drive to Excel really easy only took about an hour fifteen from north of Cambridge, loads of parking. Shops were all easy to get to and my row in the arena was empty and so was the row behind me so I was at least 2m from anyone, probably as good as it could get.

Really good class and had loads of fun :)
 
Slight change of plans, We went on a lorry adventure to Thetford forest with another livery and had a lovely ride out and a few nice long canters. You wouldn't have thought we were both on 5-year-olds having their second-ever trip to the forest. They were both really well behaved, no spooks or worries and happy to go or stop as asked. Pull up from a canter they were both instantly really chill and happy to mooch along on a long rein. I think we've got some good horses :)
Sunday the new route plan had to be scrapped due to heavy fog as at the start is a good mile or so on quite a busy road and I wasn't happy visibility was good enough. So we went around the usual 1-hour hack instead and they were both good as gold.
Ambers had a busy time with 3 big new hacks including 2 trips out in the last 7 days so if things have to step back bit over Xmas I won't feel guilty.
 
So...we went on a quiet walk hack on Friday (friend's horse rehabbing), did some basic and relaxed schooling on Saturday, then walked with the dog and OH yesterday.

Then today he has a swollen lower hind leg. He's slightly lame and careful about how he loads his weight on it, but generally walks normal. I'm thinking it's possibly a soft tissue injury ? vet comes out tomorrow morning for further investigations. So we couldn't do our indoor cross country school. Was really looking forward to introducing him to that.

So, a lovely Christmas present for me, and this is exactly why I don't participate in those "horse plans in the new year" type threads! I don't dare make such plans or have such aspirations with horses. ?‍♀️
 
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Ok kick up the arse needed. Dropped the boys off on Sunday at their holiday home for a month as I’m heading to Africa tomorrow. With an instructor who I know.

I don’t need to do an hour and a half round trip to visit them and check they are ok before I fly…? ? Bog hasn’t lived out 24/7 since he was a youngster in Ireland- he probably hates me! Is rugged up to the eyeballs though as he drops weight so quickly.

Loads of grass but they are getting a round bale in tomorrow.

I am not a bad mother for turfing them out in this weather.. right? ?? D2D8E008-4112-4B3C-B144-08DB1C219B2B.jpeg
 
SEL said:
Oh yes .... Christmas has brought me a vet bill for the last 5 years. I've asked all the fluffies to please behave this year because I'm skint.
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arrived at yard this morning to find Darcy sporting a massive swollen eye full of shavings. Nice one mate. Cheers. Thanks.
I spent 20 mins flushing out what i could and said i would be back later to see if he had cleared it himself. Thank god he had! i don't think i can take another bill right now!
 
I’ve been lacking motivation recently. What work being busy, house buying stress and then getting shut in on isolation with Covid when I’d booked time off to ride.

But I’ve got two weeks off now and have decided to take the bull by horns and get some plans in place and get back to being competitive.

I’ve found a new dressage instructor. Conveniently located in my village - which will mean I can go regularly, instead of the sporadic lessons I’ve been having. Which will be great from a motivation front.

I’ve only had one lesson so far. But she really got us and worked us out quickly. Didn’t ask me to ride in a way I’m not comfortable with, and she has a plan for us. I’m feeling excited and inspired to get on again and work on it.

Pod has done two days proper hacking. He’s turning into a horse I can really enjoy. Mega polite but not dull. Enjoyed some lovely long open canters today.

Pod has a jump lesson tomorrow and I’m taking my Connemara and his sharer as well for their first lesson. I’m loving see their partnership develop.

So in short I need to work out how to go to part time so I can enjoy the horses in daylight. And also earn more so I can have more lessons. In the meantime I guess I’ll keep riding in the dark and living on baked beans ??
 
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