Weekend plans?

[CanteringCarrot]

A nice hack today, and no plans for the weekend really. Thinking about some pole work.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I left with B Fuzzy yesterday morning and we've enjoyed a couple of lovely rides in the edge of the cotswolds and tomorrow we are in the 1st slot of a lovely farm ride.
Cannot thank enough the lovely HHOer who has put us up at her yard and let us camp here.
Proper pony holiday ?

 

[Cob Life]

Had a dressage lesson tonight with a new instructor who is fab and another lesson tomorrow with my regular instructor on her horse.

 

[smiggy]

Have dressage Sunday, recently my times have been horribly early, like 8.15, but of course it’s the hottest day of the year so it’s mid day this time ?
pick a pony time, too hot for the big black blob, too hot for mr coblet with a dodgy chest so it’s spooky mad pony who is so naughty at this venue that we have to get a lead in to the arena as she can’t walk over a drainage gully, and the last test there I actually apologised to the judge at the end as it was such a car wreck ??
just keep repeating its all good experience, it’s all good experience….

 

[scats]

Back on board Millie after a few days rest due to her having her arthramid on Monday. Vet said to commence quiet hacking for a couple of weeks and then see how we get on and crack on as and when I feel she is ready.
Expected a nice chilled hack but Millie had other ideas! She set off like a steam train once we got on the tracks, straight into trot and then buggered off with me in canter on one of the set aside fields. Could barely pull up for laughing! It was like Millie used to feel and I’d forgotten just how full of herself she used to be. Persuaded her to stop eventually and managed to get a walk for the rest of it. Vet said that arthramid usually takes 3 weeks and I’m fairly sure there can be no results showing yet, but if this is a little glimpse into what effect it might have, I will be a very happy scats!
Just got to try and keep her hi-jinx contained for a few weeks.
I love my pony, she is a legend

 

[Wishfilly]

Have the green light to ride again after a month for the pony with a possible muscle strain in his back. Just short walk hacks this week, but it's so nice to be back on board.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

Coolie and I had a great lesson on Thursday. Henry was supposed to be going but he fell over in the paddock Wednesday night so pony swap time! I needed a lesson wth Coolie anyway. He jumped fantastically, making everything feel really easy when the jumps were up at about 90. Then they got put up to 1m and I rode like a total numpty, I just panicked. We have done that height before but not for a few years! My coach talked me through it and I focussed on the process and not the jumps and boom, nailed it. I just need to remember to focus on the how and not the what!

Yesterday they had the farrier so a day off, then today dressage club. Henry has had time off and is sound so thought it would be ok for him to go. He felt good, and even after a few days off and an idiotic fall. He worked beautifully, had compliments from the coach, and we are working hard towards our first elementary test. I got some pointers to keep Henry more relaxed too so I am excited to go and practice.

Tomorrow we are supposed to be going to a training day but it's raining buckets and will make the footing horrible so will make a call in the morning.

 

[j1ffy]

We did this today - Chilli was fab! He hadn’t jumped a double before the clinic but we built up to a grid of four one-stride distances then this.

Admittedly they’re little bigger than raised poles but it was a lot of fun.

 

[Bernster]

Successful sj clinic this morning. Everything went smoothly. Wasn’t even very nervous (I used to have such bad nerves especially for jumping). It was a bit stop/start as 4 of us. But I was relieved that 1 other was an adult as the other two were about 9 years old cos of the teeny heights I jump ?. Bertie was much more with me, less rushing, listened, held, jumped nicely and in a rhythm for a lot of them. Not always spot on but lots better. We did have a cheeky run out at the third fence, lost my stirrups but stayed on, but it was good for me as I then kept my leg on and stayed secure for the rest of the lesson! Really need to keep up the momentum as we don’t jump regularly enough so am arranging some dates with this trainer. Assuming no xc for a while yet with the ground and hot weather, so sj it is. But not during a heatwave though!

 

[blood_magik]

Alarm set for 3am tomorrow ? Hope it’s worth it… ?

 

[teapot]

Had two lessons today - one flat/pole work group on my fave schoolmaster pony brain. Great exercises but first time I’d had him in a group where he resorted to every rs trick in the book, so spent most of it actually trying to remind him he knew both what a half halt and outline were. Had an anxiety filled week too and had been stewing over last rides so was an hour I’ll just write off methinks! There were good bits but.

Then found myself on a completely new to me lovely big bay mare. Went from saying to coach I thought I’d gone a bit backwards in my riding, not sure about this, let’s stay in walk forever mentality, to riding my first ever changes in the space of the lesson.?? I have never ridden a horse of such quality, plus super direct transitions (now understand the meaning of the definition ?) or with such an adjustable canter and what a joy she was!

 

[southerncomfort]

Looking forward to everyone's updates this evening.

I've had a wonderful weekend with my pony.

Lesson was brilliant, he was just so 'with me' and rideable in a way he hasn't been before. I actually didn't ride like a muppet and for once the body did what the brain told it to!

Early hack in the morning sunshine today. Just very chilled, relaxed and enjoyable.

He's had a wash and is now in his stable with the back window open. He's delighted as it looks out over a valley and he can see for miles, plus it let's a nice breeze in.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.

 

[Red-1]

Nice arena hire. It was hot so we just did a warm up, trotted some of the course then cantered the whole course. It was only tiny as fillers are still quite suspicious!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

One of my yard pals is away on hols this week so I’ve got her little mare to look after which is good fun! Had a spin this morning, she was in great form - nice and forward, quick off the leg and generally very pleasant to ride. She’s totally different to the big guy, where he’s a big leggy 17hh she’s about 15.3hh and more compact.

Big horse is recovering well from surgery, he ripped OH’s hoody today and reared while he was bringing him back to his stable after mucking out… kn*b

Bandage change again today, then vet out on weds to remove stitches.

 

[Peglo]

Something odd happened. The sun came out! Feels like the first time in weeks!
Tali was really good for the dentist this morning but seemed disappointed when I put her back out so took her a hack to the beach this afternoon. It’s pretty breezy today so she was a bit high (she’s bound to get used to wind eventually??) ideally I would’ve met up with friends but no luck today. It was a nice wee hack and I really enjoyed being back on her. I had a constant smile on my face. There was lots of people on the beach which was nice too.

 

[Lexi_]

Three days fence judging at the notoriously unshady Barbury, so I guess both ?

Update: had an excellent time. Managed not to fry in the sun, with the exception of one patch on my leg which I appear to have just not bothered putting suncream on for some reason? What a dope!

We had the arena water again today and it is a horrible gappy fence. V pleased to see Mollie Summerland clear over it and win the 4* star though, esp after her problems at Badminton!

 

[rara007]

Sorry don’t know why some the pictures are sideways!



Great day, horse really on form, great fun.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Cracking photos rara!

Had a lovely chilled pootle out 1st thing this morning and back in yard before 8, enough to stretch legs after the 3 days of holiday riding lol.
Am feeling slightly relieved, RC have cancelled the stressage comp on Weds evening due to heat concerns. I had actually entered it!
Sj show also now cancelled for next weekend due to heat plus also ground will be too hard (v rare for them to cancel there).
Looks like pre 6am riding for the next fortnight.

 

[scats]

Spent the afternoon at my honorary Nans house out in the garden drinking tea. Then went out on a hack this evening with Millie and my friend on her cob. We did a longer route and negotiated the main road. There are still some idiotic drivers out there though! Back to the yard for a coffee afterwards. Lovely evening.

 

[Michen]

Update: had an excellent time. Managed not to fry in the sun, with the exception of one patch on my leg which I appear to have just not bothered putting suncream on for some reason? What a dope!

We had the arena water again today and it is a horrible gappy fence. V pleased to see Mollie Summerland clear over it and win the 4* star though, esp after her problems at Badminton!

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that’s good to hear! I was really saddened by her riding in the XC at Badminton when it went wrong so hopefully just a blip!

 

[McFluff]

It’s not particularly spooky as a venue. The only real downside is it’s a fair old trek up a pretty steep hill to the toilets ?

My horse begs to differ. We’ve been there loads (maybe it’s worse for us as local?). Recently we had been starting to get a more sensible and less spooky test from him. But not today. Apparently three judges boxes (all with doors open as the poor souls were cooking inside) was two too many. He felt the need to protect me. The trouble with three judges is that you get three sheets with 3s and 4s on them. Oh well, hopefully his cheery face and handsome looks brightened up the judges day.
I also learnt that you shouldn’t warm up in your jacket if the car is telling you it’s 31 degrees. Which is unheard of here, so i may never need to put this learning into practice.
Beatrice and Blood Magic - hope the spooking demons were kinder to you both today.
The hills were brutal in that heat.

Hope everyone’s competitions and plans went better than mine

 

[teapot]

that’s good to hear! I was really saddened by her riding in the XC at Badminton when it went wrong so hopefully just a blip!

I follow her on Instagram and there have been many many posts about confidence, pressure, and learning to enjoy the sport again xc...

 

[Lexi_]

I was a bit nervous for her, given that her Badminton problems were at a similar type of fence, but she rode him really nicely at both our fences. Positive but not aggressive, and lots of “good boy!” which was nice to hear. Looked very smooth round the rest of the course too.

 

[Michen]

I follow her on Instagram and there have been many many posts about confidence, pressure, and learning to enjoy the sport again xc...

Tbh I unfollowed her after Badders as didn't ever see a post that seemed to suggest she didn't do right by her horse. But sounds like they are back on the right track and hopefully no repeat of it!

 

[Michen]

I was a bit nervous for her, given that her Badminton problems were at a similar type of fence, but she rode him really nicely at both our fences. Positive but not aggressive, and lots of “good boy!” which was nice to hear. Looked very smooth round the rest of the course too.

Great to hear!

 

[stangs]

I was a bit nervous for her,

Nervous for her and not the horse that got smacked?

All I'm seeing on her Instagram is too tight flashes [second picture's textbook] and absolutely nothing on the fact that having a confidence issue doesn't mean you can start smacking your horse. Dear Lord does this sport forgive people quickly.

 

[Michen]

Nervous for her and not the horse that got smacked?

All I'm seeing on her Instagram is too tight flashes [second picture's textbook] and absolutely nothing on the fact that having a confidence issue doesn't mean you can start smacking your horse. Dear Lord does this sport forgive people quickly.

I think yes we have to be able to forgive when an improvement/learning is shown. She's young, the pressure would have been immense and we can all make mistakes and it sounds like she's gone out and rectified hers.

 

[teapot]

I think yes we have to be able to forgive when an improvement/learning is shown. She's young, the pressure would have been immense and we can all make mistakes and it sounds like she's gone out and rectified hers.

Yes, that's what I thought. Though like you too, did expect a post Badminton post of some kind, but perhaps the yellow card was enough of a wake up call?

 

[Roxylola]

Had Charlie at a clinic at Somerford this afternoon, we were pretty sensible bearing in mind the weather but he is loving his job just at the moment

 

[Lexi_]

Nervous for her and not the horse that got smacked?

All I'm seeing on her Instagram is too tight flashes [second picture's textbook] and absolutely nothing on the fact that having a confidence issue doesn't mean you can start smacking your horse. Dear Lord does this sport forgive people quickly.

For both of them, although I appreciate that’s not exactly what I wrote. I always want every combo to jump round safely and smoothly.

Don’t follow her on Insta so can’t comment on her general attitude etc. I’m just saying what I saw today, which was positive.