Major update...Mournful Milton Keynes, hock injections and horses horses horses!

I'm so sorry about lack of posting lately, I have been crazy busy. So first up, I took Squirel to Milton Keynes on Saturday 22nd. We stayed over again as we had

Rather early times, with dressage at 8.06am and no time to course walk in between.

He was a different horse this time! He had company and was as relaxed and chilled as could be. I was quite excited walking the course – it was far more technical than anything else we've tried. For example, fence 4 was a big upright rail to a step down, 2 strides to an angled log. Later on was a huge step up with a ditch infront, right hand turn to a skinny triple brush, and the water was a hefty skinny box fence, through the water then a massive corner coming out!

I felt it would really test us as a combination but I felt ready.

Saturday dawned rather miserable despite going to sleep with bright blue skies, but hey ho. Squirrel warmed up lovely for the dressage although I was struggling to maintain his straightness. I felt he did a nice test, took a while to get going in the first medium canter, and both my transitions to and from walk were shocking. However I felt the extended walk and canter transitions on the centre line were far better.

I was gutted to have a score of 38, in a fairly averagely marked section, but hey ho thats life! The comments on the sheet were very fair, although I felt calling all his mediums “Modest” was a little harsh.

On to the show jumping! Squirrel warmed up okay...but he wasn't really taking me into the fences. As I was third in I didn't have masses of time. Rode round to the first, and he wasn't taking me forwards so I did the worst thing and buried him. He stopped. I thought okay, fair enough, I keep doing that so had that coming.

I turned round and started really riding and he rewarded me by jumping very nicely round to number 6 which was the treble. He jumped in, went to put 2 strides in then stopped. At this point I retired.

I was very worried. His hock injections were up for renewal fairly soon, so I called the vet as soon as he was untacked. However being over paranoid, I was very concerned for whatever reason, he would need to be retired.

Thankfully, the vet came on Monday. Flexion tests showed he was sore behind, particularly on the right hock which was the worst orginally. So we decided to reinject with steroids and also Tildren this time to try and prevent needing the injections repeated every 3 months. This was done on Wednesday, so he is currently having a few days off, then a few days walking, but we'll be all set to go to our next event at Upton on the 10^th!

So hopefully that's sorted.

Tuesday was the morning of Alfie's revetting. I had convinced myself he would fail, so although I was nervous, I wasn't particularly upset when the vet called and told me he failed again. This time he was lame after both front flexions.

So the search was back on! I was feeling really very fed up by now. I just wanted a damn horse! I contacted Dawn from Sports Horses Continental, who told me she had just had a load of 4 year olds imported. They were pretty much unbacked, had been sat on a couple of times but still needed all the groundwork put in place really.

So it was time to set off on another hench 400 mile round journey! We arrived in the pouring rain, and she took us out to the fields. She suggested I picked the ones I liked the best, to see jump and move. I was like a kid in a sweetshop! They were all stunning, extremely high quality animals.

I picked a grey mare by Cachus and a bay mare. The grey came over as soon as she saw me and followed me around, and the bay just looked like a really nice stamp of a horse, and stood out to me.

I watched them move and it was soon all too clear who it would be. The grey mare just floated above the ground with serious power and extention. Jumping was incredible, so neat, scopey and tidy, both infront and behind. Just in a league of her own. Although she still seems a little shell-shocked from the massive change in her life and the 36 hour journey it took to bring her here, she was very inquistive and curious about me. Everytime I went to look at another horse she huffed and glared, clearly very offended!

So I am very excited to announce she passed the vet with flying colours and will be being delivered late on next week! She doesn't have a name yet – neither stable nor passported so thats up to me! At the moment I'm thinking Spellbound Lexicon, Lexi as the stable name, although I am open to suggestions.

I am very excited about her, she has absolutely all the talent I will ever need, and I really hope I can produce her well enough to do her justice.

Jumping lesson 19/06/2013

Yesterday I took Squirrel for a jumping lesson at Warren's. I was a little undecided what to do as neither my dressage or SJ went entirely to plan on Saturday, but decided to jump as I worked him hard on the flat on Tuesday and he was lovely. Besides, it was far to hot for me to be carting jumps around at home, and i really wanted to jump a treble to ensure all confidence was intact.
It proved to be incredibly interesting and a lot of puzzle pieces have clicked into place. Whilst warming up, Squirrel was typically behind my leg, so Warren had me doing trot, 1 stride of walk then canter transitions. BUT the trick was, I had to over emphasise having my shoulders back,to the point I was almost lying in his rump.
The point was that I like to do too much to get Squirrel forwards, which results in me tipping my shoulders forwards, and then he drops off behind me, whereas by keeping my shoulders back, he stays in front of me. The point of the over emphasise comes in in that Squirrel sets me up to do this by collapsing, which tips me forwards anyway. However by over emphasising this, he has no choice but to stay in front of me. Once he learns to do so, i can sit up more as he is less likely to drop me, therefore tipping me forwards. It also means if I get used to sitting like this, when I sit up more in balance, I will be in the correct position.
It really explains a lot to me - the reason that after 2 years, I still struggle to get him in front of my leg is me collapsing, not him being thick as I had privately concluded. Anyway, this progressed to me jumping a course like this. I also had to think about just standing right up in the stirrups instead of folding. We were only jumping 80-90cm and I tend to throw myself forwards - which fits into the above as I put far too much weight over his shoulders, making Squirrel's life far more difficult.
When I jumped the treble, it was very lackluster and pathetic, so Warren had me go through again and flick him with my schooling whip on landing to send him forwards to the next fence. The first time Squirrel was very unimpressed, basically crapper himself and went through the last part. But then when I jumped it again, he landed and took my forwards to the next fence.
I hope i did a decent job of explaining the point of me leaning back, it made a lot of sense to me but quite hard to explain! We finished and had a nice chat about him. I pointed out this explains why when i took a check xc i think had to work so hard to get over the fence, as he just dropped me. I said i had put this down to him not being the boldest horse, and Warren just looked at me in disbelief and sad "that horse is as bold as they come, it's an amazing experience learning to ride a horse like him as it sets you up for life. When it all comes together, there's nothing better than riding a horse like this" :D Then my mother waded in and asked him how far he thinks Squirrel will go. He said it really depends on the rider, then confirmed hew as 15. He reckons we should easily do a few intermediates at least, in the time we have.
He also added, if Squirrel were younger, and he was looking for an advanced horse, he's have no problem putting him on his truck :D he said he's got technique, plenty of scope, trainability and self preservation, and he can gallop, and if he were looking for a badminton horse, this is exactly the kind of horse he would pick! I commented that when i got him, he would never ever stop, would literally jump off any awful stride even if it were dangerous, but now he will stop if it's that bad; and he said he thinks he was scared. That someone took a stick to him and beat him when he stopped. This explains why he used to rush so much too! Horrible to think, that anyone would take such a genuine, kind horse and beat him. Its not like he often stops, only when he really really has to.
Anyway, all set for Milton Keynes on Saturday, then Alfie is being revetted on Tuesday eek!!

Vetting and Nunney International Novice 14/06/2013

 ARGH Alfie failed the vet! He was lame after a flexion test. I am GUTTED. However, we have decided to revet in a couple of weeks (25th) as flexion tests are notoriously unreliable IMO. We're also having x-rays done. Might be throwing away a lot of money but I'd hate to think I didn't buy him due to him twisting something in the field the day before...

Anyway. Nunney!

Things got off to a rough start as we stabled overnight. We do this quite often as my mum doesn't like driving 2 hours + there and back on the same day as she has a muscle problem which makes her get very stiff driving, and she stubbornly refuses to let me take my hgv and drive it for her so...Squirrel is usually very happy to stay away from home, luckily, settles really easily and is fine. Also I had a free course walk with Sam Griffiths at 6pm the night before so would of been silly to drive 3 hours in total yesterday and 4 today.

However where we stayed last night, there weren't any other horses within seeing or hearing distance and it upset him a bit. When I went to give him his evening net and change rug at 9pm, he was box walking and did 5 poos in the time I was there with him. In the morning, he didn't have any poo stains or straw in his tail so obviously hadn't led down, and his bed was a mess. He then proceeded to trample over me when I was trying to plait so didn't really get off to the best of starts.

We arrived and it started pouring with rain. It was showers, but heavy and extensive when they came! I got SOAKED getting ready for dressage. I walked him down there and he was being very resistant bending to the right. During my warm up he was generally not moving off my leg, kept dropping out of canter, resistant in transitions and just generally switched off and not listening. I tried really hard to get him to soften and co-operate but it just wasn't happening.

I have to say, he has days like that literially a maximum of two or three times a year at home, so when it happens I tend to give up and go for a hack so I don't really know how to work him through it - as its so rare it seems pointless to have a fight when I know the next day he'll be fine!

To be fair to him, when I trotted down to do our test he woke up a bit, and he did the first bit nicely enough. Nice centre line, decent halt and a nice first medium trot (much better than last time). First transition to canter was rubbish, then came above the bit in medium canter, then did some nice work. Extended walk never happened, he just wouldn't walk out properly and when I tried to insist he broke into trot. Walk to trot transition was awful, as was next trot to canter. I struggle a little with the transitions into canter in this test as it is, but they've really improved at home this week so was feeling happier (its the test with the 2 loop seperentine then transition to canter at x), he broke out of canter early and did the rest okay.

Its not often I blame the horse so hope I'm not coming across as a spoilt brat right now, but I do blame him for the dressage as I worked very hard to soften him and get him to listen but it just didn't happen today. But then again, I completly put it down to the stressy night he had, he was all tucked up after the dressage

Only video stills as it was raining too much for the proper camera.

So I was very relieved to see I had a score of 34! To be fair it was a very kind section with plenty in the 20s and no one over 40 so kinda felt if you add 5 marks you may get a more truthful score, but hey ho at least it looks better on my record





medium trot


I almost considered W/D at this stage as was worried about having a confidence knock SJ when we're new to this level and not on the same page, but decided to warm up for it.

He warmed up lovely Completly perked up when we started jumping and did so beautifully. The course was causing a lot of problems, only 5 clears in my section (38 in it) in the end, mainly as it was gotten very wet and slippery with the heavy rain. Also the horses seemed to be finding the distance in the treble very long, although when I walked it, it seemed fine.

I went in and err promptly buried him to the first Pulled myself together and actually rode quite nicely, and he jumped beautifully. Really easily and enjoying himself.

We got round to the treble which was second to last and for some stupid reason I buried him into it, so landed very short, so I panicked and held for 2, which would of been ok had I kicked on for the oxer coming out, but I didn't and continued to hold so we had that down.

first part of treble


comedy photo of the last of the treble, he just clipped it, bless him he tried SO hard to save me


Then came round the corner to the last, had a nice shot, I remember sitting up and keeping my shoulders back so not to collapse...then bam, he went to take off, skidded and stopped. Looking at the video I can't see much as it was very close to the jump, but OH said he went to take off with his front legs then slipped and skidded into the bottom. Not sure why as he was studded but it was very cut up infront of it and another horse fell at it (by slipping) earlier.

the stop


bless him, I don't think he had a choice really. Initially I thought he slipped then stopped as he might of lost a bit of confidence through the treble as he doesn't really like running out of room, but OH said he had no choice.

Jumping it beautifully second time


AND you can just see, I lost a stud on the right front foot, normally have 2, so wonder if that had something to do with the slip.

I was worried afterwards, wasn't sure whether to go xc as I didn't want to go and have a stop as my nerves are quite fragile at this level after last year, but there was a big oxer up in the SJ warm up, so I jumped that and he did so beautifully so decided to go for it as confidence seemed intact.

When I took him over there, Squirrel got rather excited. After 2 and a half years of eventing, Pea-brain has finally worked out what its all about! He jumped beautifully in the warm up, and when I did my usual final walk-canter transitions before going over (he can be quite backwards and not off the leg) he promptly bogged off with me then cantered sideways to the start box. Which was quite nice as he felt very keen.

He bombed out the start box and had a great jump over number 1, number 2 was a little awkward - I was trying to put into place something Sam Griffiths said in the course walk, about taking a check into big simple fences a few strides out then riding forwards, but it doesn't really work for us. Squirrel can be a bit backwards thinking and taking that check just seems to take him off my leg if that makes sense...Or possibly taking that check makes me think too much about my stride whereas we seem to have a nicer, more flowing jump if I just keep coming.

So I quickly discarded that idea, flew over number 3. For some reason he wasn't keen on 4 so I got quite close and sticky, so I had to ride hard for 5 which was the first combination and very close after 4. It was small and in the BE100, but landed just on top of a very steep hill, with another fence at the bottom. He got a growl but actually jumped nicely, popped over the fence at the bottom and the next.


Then it was a similar fence, a log on top of the hill, then down the hill but a sharp left to the second part. We err trotted down the hill and popped over that. I then needed to generate some power as next was a step up with a LONG one stride to a little flower bench thingy. I made a real hash of that, he came up the step with no power and I'm not sure whether we had 2 strides in the end or 1 messy one but we got over it although it was untidy and I lost a stirrup.

Managed to regain my knitting to jump a table, then another table which apparantly used to be fence 3 in the intermediate at longleat.

Next was a HUGE trakhner. I rode this quite strongly as he was a bit spooky at the one at Borde Hill, and this one had a far bigger ditch. I needn't of worried, he isn't normally ditchy and jumped it lovely.

Then there was a house, again on top of a steep hill. He jumped that huge and I had to quickly gather us together as up a hill, round a sharp corner to a corner which I kinda aimed at the middle of and he was super. Next was a big bullfinch which he looked at but jumped nicely.

I rode strongly at the water as lots of people had trouble there last year if I remember correctly, but he jumped lovely in, trotted through the water (I need to work on that) and jumped the duck in the water nicely enough.

Galloped up a big hill to a table which I let him jump out of his stride lovely

he looks untidy in that photo but think it was taken a split second too late.

Next was an upright, again right at the top of a steep hill. Approached it fine, then he saw another horse coming the other way (course passed itself very closely), I lost ALL his attention and he started getting slower and slower as he was fixated on this other horse.

I errr gave some vocal encouragement of "What are you doing?! Don't look at him!!" and smacked him on the shoulder and got over the fence.


Slithered down the hill which was turning into mud at this point and err booted him at the Not so skinny Skinny on top of the hill as I still didn't have his full attention. But he jumped it nicely. Had a lovely jump at a rather large table which was the same size as the intermiediate fence next to it (which Sam Griffiths said was a useful fence to see what kind of scope your horse has for the bigger levels).

It was bigger than it looks in that photo! Obviously lol..

Second to last was a angled double of palisades, Squirrel was feeling tired and put 3 in instead of 2 but jumped it nicely enough, and then a fairly big brush oxer to finish.

I was thrilled and exhausted when we were done. It was certainly sticky but I was delighted to be finished clear given we weren't really on the same page most of the day. I was even more thrilled to find I only had 5.2 time penalties. I thought I would have at least 10 as he felt quite tired towards the end (not sure why as he is fit and loves deep going), and only 6 in my section went inside the time. I know exactly where we can speed up - not sure why he tired at the end, it was a fairly long, hilly course but he is certainly fit enough, so I'm putting it down to stress from the stabling as he normally kips for ages at home, he's always sleeping, although going to keep a careful eye on him the next couple of days to make sure he hasn't picked up a virus or anything. He seems fine in himself anyway.

We came 15th in the end, and tbh I am pleased. I kind of feel, if this is a bad day compared to what I know we can do, its pretty impressive. And err we also halved our score from Nunney last year and I didn't even get to the xc that time!

We're at Milton Keynes next week so I hope he picks up quickly with a good night's sleep tonight and a day off tomorrow. Don't like eventing so close together but struggling to find novices at weekends within driving distance, but then we have 2 and a half weeks until our next run.

Alfie's vetting today!

I am an absolute bundle of nerves!

Alfie is FINALLY being vetted at 9am today and I am terrified.

I have only had a horse vetted once in my life, and he failed.

I had had Squirrel on loan for a year when his owner asked us if we wanted to buy him. So we organised a 5 stage vetting. Firstly the vet almost failed him for having 1 eye as the purpose was to event (wonderful, to pay for a vetting to be told he is going to fail for having 1 eye, like we didn't know, ha!) but as we obviously knew this he carried on.

We only got as far as the flexion tests when he failed. We decided to have x-rays done to find out what was going on, and discovered the warning signs of arthritus.

I have never been so devastated. It was just when the slow version of Wherever you will go was released, which is my absolute favourate song anyway, let alone in a slow version! I almost drove my car off the road several times in the weeks that followed as I would go into hysterical sobs.

Was I going to lose my wonder horse?

We had had so many problems with horses, and finally it was going right, but could I risk buying a horse that we knew wasn't 100%? After a lot of soul searching, we bought him. We decided, arthrtitus at 14 in a horse who had led a very busy life was not unusual, and there are ways and means to manage it.

It did come to a head this time last year. Exactly this time last year. We were entered for our first Novice, and things went terribly wrong. It was a combination of bad preparation, nerves and pain. I couldn't ride for the week leading up to Nunney (and Nunney was not my first choice of first Novice, the first 3 I entered were cancelled!) as Squirrel fell over and I had to wait for physio, I hadn't jumped over 1m for months and I was terrified.

I finally rode him the day before, put the jumps huge to get my eye in, rode terribly and Squirrel stopped twice. He never ever stops. On the day, I fell off at the first fence SJ, had 3 down and another stop later. That was the end of our novice dreams.

The stopping didn't go - it was only one or two stops per session. My mum and my boss told me to man up when I broke down in floods of tears, but I knew something was wrong. Squirrel just does not stop. He's stopped twice this year. Once when we were only just jumping again and I dropped him into a cross pole (still a lose of confidence back then perhaps?) and once when I was jumping angles at home - I tried to jump a very difficult combination, coming in from his blind side and I couldn't see a stride and dropped him. The second time when I rode him, he was fine.

So Squirrel stopping at 2 foot 6 fences on a good stride with my leg on - something was wrong. So I quickly had x-rays done, and he was treated for arthritus in his hocks. The vets told me this was to be expected, and it was rare for a 15yo schoolmaster NOT to need a bit of help.

It took a few months to get things back together. We dropped back to BE100, and in the end started this season at BE90 as my confidence was pits. But we are back as a team now. We've never been so in tune.

When I questioned buying him after the failed vetting, someone said to me "If this horse could give me the best few years of my life, I'd grab both our hearts and run away with them. Vetting Smetting." Never a truer word spoken.


HOWEVER it is a different cup of tea buying a 14yo with a touch of arthritus who had already proved himself time again over to be the most geniune, kind, lovely horse, and a 3 year old.

If Alfie fails, he won't be coming home. So I am rather scared!

Show jumping at Summerhouse 11/05/2013

Ok so my jumping position is making my eyes bleed. Its a bit unfortunate, I had a lesson last Thurs and Warren complimented me and said I was staying much more open over my fences opposed to over folding but apparantly that went out the window today. Stirrups also look really long in the jumping photos but looked fine in the video so :s


Anyway. As I had 2 down at Borde Hill a couple of weeks ago I decided to go do some BSJA to get my eye in. Both were rider error, plus as we've only just made the step up (and I had 28 faults SJ last time I went to nunney including a fall...) I thought a confidence boost wouldn't go amiss.

They had both a newcomers and a 1.10m open so decided to enter both as felt there was no point doing the 1.05m but 1.15m might be a bit soon. I did kind of feel though, as I worked 4 hours before we left, if I did arrive a bit late and HAVE to jump the 1.15m it would be a shame.

However they were just starting the 1.05m when we arrived so it was the 2 1.10ms we did. It was a bit weird as it was table A7 and they ran the classes consectively with both first rounds first and both jump offs after, but we were allowed to enter both classes.


Anyhow. The warm up was a NIGHTMARE, so busy, I got cut up up almost every time I went to jump, 3 times on my approach people raised/lowered it despite my shouting :rollseyes: AND just before I went in and Jason went off to position for videoing, I knocked one down and the girl standing next to it, looked at it then turned her back which really annoyed me - I mean obviously I don't expect people to be trailing round after me picking up fences, but she was standing right there?? instead I had to leap off, drag my poor horse over, put it up, jump back on, gallop over it and go in the ring...lol.

Sorry rant over!



Anyhow. Squirrel was a bit upset when we got into the ring as I was finding it very hard to establish my canter in the warm up so he was firing a little at the fences but jumping nicely enough. So off we set.






Unfortunately my instructor would be a little upset as the round got a bit quick and standing off the fences instead of getting nice deep spots like we're working on at home BUT we went clear and it felt easy. He did save me at number 4 and 5, where I saw a long shot, then it was 3 strides to a short double and we struggle with doubles a little as it is as he makes up too much distance BUT he left them up!


So we had a little rest until it was time to jump the first round in the open. Luckily the warm up was quieter now so had a nice pop over the practise fence then went in. I behaved a little better this time and managed to keep it a bit slower (Although Squirrel had other ideas) and managed to get a better shot over 4 and 5. And we went clear again





Then it was jump off time. 13 in the NC which had 35 in it orginally, and 3 in the open which had 12 in it orginally. I was second to jump in both.

I was tempted to do turns and have some fun, but with Nunney 4 days away I decided to play it a bit safer. I didn't hang about and did 1 fairly tight turn (but it was a LONG way round if I didn't do it). I lost my momentum a bit round that turn as we had the wrong leg and Squirrel apparantly didn't want to do a flying change until the last minute, but we made it, then I got my canter back and he jumped the rest beautifully.






We went into the lead (he really covers the ground) but the next in promptly beat us lol, but we stayed in second yay!

Another little rest then the open J/O. I was second in, managed a better turn this time but got rather quick into number 4, KNEW I didn't have enough space in the related, he managed to jump the first part but had the second part down, bless him...see comedy shot. So then just lolloped round to the last, pure rider error. So we came 3rd in that but didn't get a rossie as low entries BUT I don't care as he was AWESOME.




comedy shot - shoot the rider, poor horse!



cuddles with pretty pony


Also...its almost 2 years to the day I did my first ever affiliated competition. It was an 80cm open and I was TERRIFIED. Here's a photo, just for laughs.


Between now and then, this horse has tried his heart out. I have never known a horse so geniune, kind, willing and consistent. He just doesn't have off days. It only goes wrong when I get it wrong. I love him so much, sometimes I think I must of been Ghandi in a previous life to deserve him

Fantastic lesson - very up myself report!

Wow. My head almost didn't fit into the lorry on the way back from my lesson.

Its been a couple of months since my last lesson with Warren, between my busy April, holiday and then the knee issue.

He was thrilled with Squirrel and I! I had a jumping lesson as my flatwork is going pretty well...well the jumping is going well too but I felt it was time for a jump.

We continued to work on getting Squirrel to a deeper spot, so he uses himself rather than just speed. Overall it felt fantastic, Squirrel felt very neat, in a lovely rhythm ect. I also had a wonderful moment on the flat when he went into real, pure self carriage. It was amazing, he was so uphill and soft and sweet and forwards, I almost fell off. Ha.

Anyway, I learnt that the reason I want him on a deeper spot for SJ is basically as the jumps get bigger, he can't keep relying on speed obviously. Warren explained that SJ horses are taught to jump the wide spreads by getting deep and basically getting higher in the air over them, which is what we wanted to achieve.

I'm /starting/ to find it easier to see a slightly deeper spot, and Squirrel is starting to get more comfortable jumping that way. Warren praised me a lot on that I've improved in that I'm staying more open in my position and not collapsing, making me secure. He said Squirrel is really starting to use himself - he enthused about how he was starting to kick his back legs up over the oxers, and said "Its AMAZING sitting on a horse that does that."

He said we looked like a real partnership, very comfortable and confident. He also told us to go out and buy a top hat and tails as we will be more than ready for BOTH a CIC* and a CCI* towards the end of the year! He hasn't decided if he's going to Weston or Osberton yet, but if we go to the same one he'll help me on the day. Ahh!

Very excited. And twiddling my thumbs waiting for Alfie's vetting next week!

Not so busy week and a hopeful new addition

Well its still a busy week for me but not so much for Squirrel.

We ditched the SJ on Tuesday to go look at a horse in Suffolk (180 miles away...)

He is a 3/4 Thoroughbred, by Painter's Row, and his dam Sire is Nordic Brave. They have both bred lots of eventers, including several at 4* abroad, and an 8 year old who came 4th in the 7 year old championships last year who had recently done his first advanced.

His name is Street Artist or Alfie, lovely temperment - currently wants to chew everything -, lovely floaty movement and despite being 2 inches bum high, very uphill! 3 years old and STUNNING.

He is being vetted next Thursday and all being well, he will be my future eventer! Very exciting.

I'm off for a lesson this afternoon with Squirrel and rerouting my SJ intentions to next Tuesday instead, as prep for Nunney on the 15th! (if we have some rain..)


And a picture of the (hopefully) new boy!

Abusy week ahead

Well lots has been going on behind the scenes at Team One Eye this week.

I have upped Squirrel's workload after the appearance of a bit of a grass belly (and double netted his hay, teehee) which involved a hard 2 hour hack today with a lot of canter work, including 4 laps of a huge sheep field on the side of a massive hill. I also have it in mind that Nunney International (our next Novice event) is deceptively hilly and I want to try to make the time this time.

Also, between showing Lacey's sharer new routes and my friend arriving back from 10 months in New Zealand who is a keen hacking buddy, Squirrel has had several days this week where he's done 30-40 minutes schooling or jumping followed by an hours hack so he is going to be fit!

Now I'm very happy and prepped with jumping the height at novice (well after a couple of months of jumping 1.20-1.30 courses at home I should be!) I'm stepping away from courses a bit and working on technique. Now Squirrel is a careful horse. I only tend to have fences down when I make a mistake, but he does like to use speed rather than power over fences, so doing lots of gridwork using poles and wide spreads to encourage him to use his backside more. He's also more inclined to have fences behind than infront (very rarely infront) so if anyone has any tips on how to improve this, I would be very grateful.