So yeah...

Things are pretty depressing here at Team One Eye.

Squirrel has been flying back and forth to the vets...he had a bone scan on Thursday which highlighted issues in both hocks and the sacroiliac. They x-rayed the hocks which showed old changes, so he's home now and going back on Tuesday for more nerve blocks...Just wish we would get to the bottom of it! It's so hard being in limbo.

Lexi is back in work. She's (mainly) being an angel although she did kick Jason the other day - oops! I went for a hack with someone on the yard, and apparently Lexi hates her gelding. She kicked him when she was first backed, and was pulling awful faces all the way round. What a mare! Luckily as a general rule she is very sweet to handle, but she will certainly get a red ribbon when we're competing!!

We're doing the photoshoot on Monday, that we won back at Hall-Place, although I dare say Squirrel will be the centre of attention.

We also went to look at a yard to rent today, although sadly I don't think it will work.

Pros are

- Lovely indoor stables, old brick ones so very cool in summer and very smart
- Lots of storeage
- Excellent turnout (4 acres, opportunity to use more if need to rest them) with p+r fencing, automatic water, field shelter - not a weed in sight!)
- Fantastic hacking
-  They do all the field maintenance and muck removal

Cons

- Have to hire a school a good 15min hack away. Hm. Need to speak to them properly about it, find out the cost but the lady said they might not want me there all the time. Which is a massive problem.
- No electric tape in fields - makes it harder to rest and restrict
- Field gate directly to road, can't tape a bit off
- Its all a bit...finicky, as in needs to be kept spotless ect. Which is fine, but I'm not sure whether I'll feel as if I'm tip toeing around all the time.

Any thoughts?

I love the grazing and the stables and the hacking. Big issues are concerns re resting fields and mainly the school. If there was a school on site it would be zero issue.


Ugh. So feel pretty pants about everything right now.

Things might not be too tragic just yet

Well Squirrel is home now. I'm so pleased, even though I was visiting him daily at the vets, it broke my heart leaving him there.

He is having a bone scan next Wednesday. They think its sacroiliac, probably arthritis. So I guess its a good thing as we haven't medicated this yet. However I'm struggling a little. I'm wondering if it's getting to the point now where I should say enough is enough, no more serious competing for us.

At one point I need to make that decision. At one point it won't be fair to keep pumping drugs into him to keep competing, but when do you know? I mean obviously he will be treated either way - I won't leave him in pain! But at one point I need to say, ok, lets just play a little at a lower level. Then at one point I need to say, ok lets just hack around a bit. Then at one point, I need to say, ok, you've done enough, lets retire you. And eventually I will have to make the decision to let him go. I don't know how I will cope when that day comes. I really don't.

Sorry, got a bit side tracked!

So how DO you know? Any thoughts? Apart from this issue, he seems really well. He looks absolutely fantastic, not a day over 8 (although obviously 15 isn't that old). His coat gleams, he's very bright. He's turning into a hooligan (seriously need to be stricter with him...) and certainly doesn't look like he is feeling past his peak. Nor does he feel it to be ridden.

But I don't want to compete him seriously for longer than I should in his best interests. He usually loves it, although lately obviously not, and he hasn't been too keen to load either which I suppose is either it hurts to go up the ramp or he knows wherever he will go, he'll hurt, or he's saying he's had enough. I guess I'll have to see.

I hope we get another season. It's too soon. I wish I got him 10 years ago; there will never be another horse like him.

One of my clients asked me what he was like the other day. She was very surprised when I said "Oh he's an angel!"

I mean, how many horses are really like him??

He can be ridden by a novice. He will do gymkhana games, beach rides, sponsored rides without getting silly (just a little strong). He is an absolute dope to handle. Generally unflappable. Would never dream of rearing or spinning or putting you on the floor. He is genuine, kind, honest. He's got a sense of humour and will give you cuddles all day long. Yet he will jump 1.30 courses, can make novice XC feel as easy as breathing. Taken me from barely getting round 2 foot 3 to novice BE in 2 years. Made so many dreams come true - competing BSJA, competing BE, competing Novice, winning at Cricklands championships, not only winning their big derby show but winning it in 6 inches of mud with a clear all the way. All with one eye too. He's shown me horses are fun again. He's led me to change my life completely. I was headed for university when he came into my life. It all changed because of him. He's my guardian angel.

I'm sorry. This week has really intensified how much he means to me. I'm a bit of a sap! He's a real once in a lifetime horse, and I would give ANYTHING to make our working lives longer. Obviously I will treasure and enjoy every moment regardless. I just want longer to fulfil my dreams with him.

I wanted to compete him internationally. I wanted to complete an intermediate. Still do. But where do I cap it? Do I try and do a season consistently at novice then say, right that's it, lets stop. Or if he gets as consistent at novice as he is at BE100 (which I fully believe could happen if he stays physically sound), do I have a stab at intermediate? He is generally VERY consistent. Once he gets it, that's it. Onwards from there.

I don't know.

But here's a few photos of times where I knew, not thought, but knew, that I'm the luckiest person alive to have him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many more..

 

Lacey has been doing well. I'm asking a bit more of her out hacking. She is very stiff to the right at the moment, so doing lots of leg yielding whilst we're out. Today I asked her to think about an outline when we were trotting. Unfortunately now we're back in a snaffle she is rather strong, but its important I don't hang on to her mouth so we have very little rhythm as I have to take a massive half halt, let her go and she speeds up very quickly, then another half halt ect. Only started that today so hopefully she'll catch onto the idea that its easier to just trot nicely quite soon lol...

Horsepital update

Squirrel is still in horsepital.

They've been nerve blocking him and have concluded he's not right on his right hind. Yesterday showed its NOT his hocks, and they're doing more tests today. They think it might be stifle related as he is worse after flexion and if it were higher up then the flexion probably wouldn't be affecting it.

I think this is probably a good thing, as the hocks have already been treated a couple of times which leaves us with less options than the stifle which is still insured and hasn't been treated yet.

But I just want him home.

Starting to beg the question though, is it far for me to try and get another season out of him? Or is it time to call it quits, just play around at some local level now?

He's too special to be ragged for my own selfish reasons.

Horrible feeling about today

After another bad run at Goring Heath, Squirrel is currently at the vets for a thorough work up.

And I don't think the answer is going to be a good one. I have such a horrible feeling the end for us is here.

I hope I'm over reacting but...my little wonder horse doesn't stop.

I bet its going to be something like navicular or worse and this is the end. Or something really bad which will lead to him being PTS or something.

I am a serial worrier and hopefully its nothing like that but god it feels like it will be. It really does.

And if it is, what will I do? Can I  carry on with horses if he's finished?

I don't know. If I don't I have nothing in my life but he is everything. He's more important to me than anything in the world, I cannot express it. The minute I see him my day lights up. I miss him right now purely because I overslept and didn't get to do the horses this morning (Jason did them as I had to rush to work).

I havn't bonded with Lexi, and I know its because of him. Because no horse will ever match up to my goofy, generous, kind Snozzle.

I suppose I would carry on, because he took me here. I owe him for everything my life is today. Absolutely everything.

Lesson and frustrated

So a lady on my yard who has lessons with the same person as me had a long chat yesterday.

We concluded Warren isn't for the novice rider or the sensitive minded person. I know what she means - as lessons sometimes leave you feeling a bit crap to be honest, but felt happy I hadn't experienced that for a while.

Until today.

I proudly showed Warren my SJ video from Firle, and although he could see improvements, it wasn't all quite as wonderful as I thought. I seem to of missed the point a bit, that its the warm up I need to focus on getting a nice snappy hind leg so that when we get in the ring, I can sit there, get a rhythm and balance. He said we were still jumping on a lengthening stride - I'm ending up basically doing this "Rhythm rhythm shorten shorten lengthen lengthen jump" instead of just keeping a balance. If I hadn't shortened, I wouldn't need to lengthen. Squirrel also doesn't respect the hand and just goes through it, so its hard to balance him and sit him on his hocks to jump the fence as the minute he feels the hand, you lose his back end, but as soon as you ride the back end, he comes out through the front.

I only warmed up then Warren rode the rest and he spent quite a bit on the flat then popped some little fences. He spent a while asking him to soften his jaw so he is less inclined to come up through the front which then relates to the jumping later.

Tomorrow I need to practise with a pole on the front - if I see a stride, I need to fit in 1 more. I need to collect him into it but if I feel him drop away with the back end I need to flick him with a schooling whip to keep it.

Its all feeling very complicated and I am seriously looking forward to my light bulb moment in a few months weeks time.

Ugh.

On the plus side, I didn't have time to ride Lacey so gave her a quick lunge. She is so fat its disgusting. I digress. I put some very loose side reins on her, as I want her to stretch down to seek the contact. She accepts a contact but only behind the vertical with her strung up like a drum and she has NEVER learnt to work long and low. She did it in walk from the off, and it took a good while of trot but she did it. However she spent very little time with her head right up running around like an idiot so I'm pleased, and she did stretch down and took the contact for a few strides in trot.

I expect I will spend a long time asking for this in walk and trot out hacking and on the lunge before I try and do anything in the school. I need this idea to be firmly in her head first as she is NOT a happy bunny in the school.

No blog for months then 3 come at once!

A quick note to say I am planning on attempting 1 last time to reschool Lacey. She has chilled out with the last 8 months in just light hacking so I am going to give it a go.

Plan is to spend another month hacking but more often and longer to get her fit and slightly less fat and concentrate on getting her long and low then very slowly introduce schooling maintaining the long and low business.

After that we'll see!

Wish I still have a decent phone though so I could show you how gross she is at the moment - hairy fat and sweaty! Yum!

Hall Place Open Show and Firle Place BE100

Again sorry for the lack of updates. I was so depressed for a while I couldn't face it and by then I had so much to write about it had built up so much that I had no time to write about everything I have to write about!

Last Monday I took Lexi to her second show at Hall Place. We entered the in hand sports horse and in hand riding horse.

This time she loaded like a dream. She was a bit tense when we arrived and took a huge dislike to the fly spray but generally was much more chilled. She didn't fidget in the ring and trotted up beautifully. I was disappointed to come 4th in the competition horse (below a welsh cob??) but won the riding horse. Not sure about the judging as the horse that won competition horse came second to us in riding horse but hey ho!

We won a lovely challenge trophy and a £100 voucher towards a photo shoot!

A face only a mother can love!!!

I would like to eat my trophy please!

 

We considered waiting for the championship but it was judged by the same judge and I couldn't be bothered to wait 4 hours to be judged by a strange judge so we went home! Which was lovely. She is now having a holiday - its only been a week and I'm desperate to get back on her! 3 weeks to go!

 

Now Firle Place. I lunged Squirrel in the pessoa the day before, which I think I may try again as he was lovely and soft in the dressage warm up.

 

We stayed at some lovely stabling and I took him for a little hack that evening on the south downs. Actually I feel a bit bitter as I took a wrong turn and spent 40 minutes going up and down a very very boring chalk track in a hedge, then decided to just follow the path the other way past the stabling for 10 minutes and ended up on the bloody south downs! By this point Squirrel was pretty tired and cranky (was lunged for half an hour and REALLY worked, plus 3 hours travelling and an hours hack!) so I took him back after a quite canter and a sneaky pop over a hunt fence.

 

It was a bit nostalgic as I actually rode the entire south downs way on Lacey on my own in aid of the Brooke charity which at 16 was an amazing experience! I arranged all the stop places, route, ect myself. I intended to follow this with a John O'Groats to Lands End trip but the pony failed her vet inspection a month prior to the kick off which was very disappointing.

 

Anyway. I had very late times on Sunday (not starting til 3pm!) and we were up and ready to go at 7.45am as our neighbour lost her car keys and we offered her a lift so she was able to do her 1* SJ. Her dad made it in the nick of time to give her the spare keys so we were no longer needed. However I was glad to be ready to go as the other horses stabling had left and Squirrel was getting a bit tensed up.

 

I spent a nice long time walking the Be100 and looking at the 1* XC. I was actually quite happy with the 1* xc and definitely feel it would be within our reach as soon as we crack some issues.

 

We spent some time doing activities with the dogs and having a bash at Archery before having a nap then FINALLY getting round to riding.

 

I wasn't particularly focused in my dressage warm up but pulled myself together for the test. As I was HC the focus was very much on schooling, and I was determine Squirrel would not switch off in the test. This meant after the free walk he had several big kicks, once he responded with a buck, but I felt very pleased with the test. I received a 33 which I was pleased with, as if I had sat and made it pretty we would of been sub 30 I'm sure. I was disappointed with the test sheet though as it was straight 6s and 7s, with no obvious difference between the active first half of the test and the less active/boot/buck half of the test. Infact I received the same mark for both canter transitions - 1 was IMO lovely, the other he didn't respond so I booted resulting in a buck and a gallop and cutting about 1/3 of the arena! But hey ho. If we were competitive we would of been left in an excellent position.

 

 

He still needs to come more off the forehand but slowly slowly...seems to have regressed a bit here but it will all slot together soon.

 

He warmed up like a star for the SJ. I was talking to myself the whole time "Keep the canter round the corner, balance balance ride the hind leg closer to the fence" and I could feel him starting to ping. We kept it together about 75% of the time in the ring which is great. We had a disagreement at 7 when I wanted another stride and he took one out and I errr galloped to the last double but hey ho we left it up and its starting to go the right way!

 

Possibly the funniest cross country I have ever done. Again he was pinging in the warm up so I was looking forward to it. Pinged fence one and fence two, then he decided the yellow sand filling some holes and covering stony bits was terrifying and he was leaping all over the place.

 

This ended up with a stop at fence 3 as he was so busy turning himself inside out to get away from the sand that he was sideways on to the jump so had to represent. That and the next fence were fine, then it was the first combination. A brush roll top, down and up some undulating ground to a skinny.

 

With Warren firmly in my head I trotted through the undulating ground, waited for him to lock on then rode the hind leg and he pinged. So on over a couple of easy fences, then a roll top to be jumped on an angle, 3 curving strides to a corner which I felt was a fair test at this level although it was very small. I thought if we would have a genuine stop then it would be here and he was straight as dice.

 

Next fence we hada violent spook at the dreaded sand but managed to jump the brush hedge from a standstill. Sailed over a decent hay wagon, then 2 houses, the second a skinny on more undulating ground so went back to trot to rebalance and it was lovely. Next was an easy fence that he took me to, then the water. Apparantly the log at the base of the step out was scary and he had a log but popped up and over the fence out easily enough. Next fence was simple and fine. Then it was a log and a very small step up to an angled skinny log. He promptly tripped up the step, shat himself at some sand and ran out. Looking back at the video I died over the step and did nothing so it was too easy for him to glance right. Finished the course with no problems.

 

So an educational day out! I'm pleased though and have decided (With Warren) to enter the novice at Moreton Morrell as feel we are getting the hang of things.

 

Hopefully onwards and upwards!

 

 

 

Long time no blog!

 

I am so sorry for my absence! I have been ridiculously busy with 2 horses in work and work that I've barely had time to eat or sleep for approximately 2 months. Not to mention that at the last minute every day 'off' has ended up with me working one way or another! FGS.

I don't even know where to start. When did my absence start?

I'll update Squirrel first, then Lexi.

We had a bit of a fun weekend where Squirrel got the chance to have a go at some gymkarna games. He enjoyed this as did I! And got quite strong haha but he was lovely.

We also took him to the beach and I was able to complete a little dream about getting a horse right into the sea. He was a little worried about the surf but once we were passed the white foam he was great. I did later read the story about a pony drowning in Cornwall so not sure I'd go this far in again but he was a star!

 

 

 

 Wilton Horse trials loomed on a hot day. In hindsight I wasn't feeling my best. I had been on the go 5am-8pm without as much as a lunch break all week and even if I wasn't acknowledging the effects, I sure was feeling them. Squirrel was feeling very lethargic.

My original warm up for the dressage didn't go to plan. We're changing the rules at home and it's taking a while for things to come together. Just before it was time to go in, I decided to ride him my more usual way and he went beautifully. Unfortunately as I trotted over to my ring he switched off. I tried to get him back with w-c transitions ect but nothing. The whole test felt stiff, resistant, lacklustre ect and I was a bit pissed off when I came out, quite frankly!

Fortunately the judge didn't think it was all too bad and gave me a 34, leaving me around halfway. I was pleased as genuinely felt we ought to get 40+.

 

Show jumping warm up was testing. Squirrel was just SO lazy and just not sharpening off my leg. The steward didn't help as they kept changing how people went into the ring. 1 minute it was numbers on the board, the next it was times, the next it was when people turned up. Then they forgot me despite me stood waiting to go in. By the time we got in, Squirrel was completely over cooked.

Luckily he woke up a little in the ring. I rode the first four terribly but then pulled myself together and finished with just 1 down.

 

I was exhausted after show jumping, and the xc was a testing track. We had skinny to a corner, 2 steps on a turn with a skinny at the bottom, a big double directly into water ect. I promptly sat and held and held into the first warm up fence WHY DO I DO THIS and he stopped.  That woke me up and I started riding a little.

First few fences on course were uneventful although Squirrel felt a little nappy on the gallop bits.
The first combination was a little hairy - 2 skinny houses with 3 strides on a tight curve, as he turned his entire head to the right, looking at something. With no left eye this is hairy! I got his attention in time and popped them nicely. Next was an enormous table which he flew. Next few fences were fine, then it was the skinny to the corner. Jumped through here straight as a die.

Nice gallop to a palisade then steady for the downwards steps. He tripped down the second - on reflection I don't think he saw it as it was a left turn. He was very very honest at the wide skinny at the bottom, I had no reins and he got SO deep with no impulsion but scrambled over it. He hit it hard and it upset him. He backed off the next few single fences a lot but got over them. Then it was the water.

Off a left handed turn and he never locked on. Stopped at the first part of the double. Hit it, then stopped at the second. I jumped the alternative and he cautiously trotted through the water. At this point I should of retired but 3 fences from home...Next was a jump into woods, he ran out and I carried on alone.

 

So that was that. I was pretty depressed given the amount of people there I knew. My old boss, my instructor, Squirrel's old owner were all there...

Anyway after a long chat with my instructor, we decided to keep him in the novice for west wilts as the xc there is normally quite nice.

About 10 days later I took him SJ and again had a pants day. He just was NOT infront of my leg. Even in the ring he didn't wake up as he usually does. We had a silly run out and a pole down but otherwise clear in the 1.10m. I took him home after as I was worried about him.

I had a vet out who took bloods (came back clear) and gave him a check over and he was very happy with him. So I took him xc schooling. For the most part he was very good, but did stop a few times at some skinnies, but jumped it all second time.

At this point I was wavering between determination that we WERE going to get through this, and also deep depths of depression.

Luckily my instructor was at West Wilts and was able to help me warm up. I was pleased with Squirrel's dressage. I didn't get a medium trot - he suddenly started breaking into canter instead, but to be honest I was fairly pleased he was moving off my leg even if it was into canter opposed to medium trot so hey ho. I got a 35 which I was very pleased with as I cantered 3 times in the medium trot and my canter trot canter transition, plus my final centre line were abmisal. In my opinion the overall test was far better so I was pleased.

 

 

Warren helped me warm up for my SJ and was SO helpful. He thinks the problems are due to a transition phase where I'm learning to ride with power rather than speed over fences. Sometimes Squirrel comes to a fence with no power and no speed, so of course he stops. Especially cross country where he is less likely to personally lock on to a fence and move towards it. The round was very messy, but effective, and we were clear. I was delighted as it was causing trouble.

 

 

Unfortunately that is where the good luck ended. Cross country set off ok although he certainly felt nappy, and completely distracted into fence 4- a big wide table, he stopped. Jumped it second time and the next fence, then ran out at each part of a very skinny log double. So that was that.

 

At this point I just wanted to give up. I feel I try so hard, harder than most people I know, yet I still can't get my perfectly capable horse around a novice track!

I spent a few days sulking. Later in the week I took Squirrel to a cross country ride - nothing much over 2 foot 6 but had a bit of a blast and enjoyed ourselves. I put him behind a friend's horse so he became very keen and strong. Much more like my boy! We had a relaxed week with a lot of hacking as I just wasn't feeling it, then gave him a pop at home. He was quite strong and enjoying himself, although I knew really we were back to using speed not power. Sigh!

I then took him to Boomerang the next day. Warren was going to school him xc for me, but I ended up having a lesson instead (almost left my hat at home!)

It was INCREDIBLY useful and interesting. We spent a lot of time trotting into little fences then really over riding the last couple of strides to sharpen him off my leg and use himself over the fence. After doing this for a bit he started really taking me into the fences. When we started jumping some bigger fences, he occasionally ducked out to the right. In a way it was positive that we had a few run outs as I was able to see the warning signs and what to do to correct it.

I understand everything Warren was saying I just hope I can put it into practise. He is very convinced that soon this will all click. He said there is nothing wrong with the horse, he is perfectly scopey and capable enough, and despite his age, full of running. I just need to get these pieces to click into place and hopefully it'll be onwards and upwards from there. I just hope I can put it into practise when it comes to a competition. I need to discuss my future competition plans with Warren. I really want to make this work and complete a novice before the end of the season, but we'll see.



Now Lexi. This little mare is made out of gold dust I swear. She is so pretty and sweet and lovely! She is backed and being ridden and has been a delight. She is hacking out alone and in company, remarkably unspookily. We've seen cars, vans, bikes, cows. The last two warranted a prance and a snort but that's all. I have done some very light schooling in w-t-c and she is so bouncy! Her canter is enormous.

We have had 1 small issue with the canter. The first time, she picked up the correct lead on both reins. When I next schooled her, she didn't on the left rein and unfortunately I became somewhat focused on this and kept asking for the canter. I confused her and where she doesn't fully understand the aid for canter, I gave her some big kicks and of course she bucked. So for the rest of the session we had a nice buck going into canter. Humph.

I tried again the next day and the first 50% of attempts had a buck involved, the second lot didn't. I now just do sitting trot, squeeze and ask vocally and she goes almost right away.

 

 

I took her to a show last week. Just in-hand, I did a riding horse/hunter/hack/sports horse class. She was very good. Took about 15 minutes to load on the way there but was an angel at the show. She grew about a hand and was a little fidgety but bribery with some treats worked. She did a beautiful trot up (although stopping was hard) and won her class! We got a lovely sash too.

 

However it took TWO HOURS to get her back on the lorry. We tried everything and eventually had to blind fold her and push her up the ramp.

Two days later, we got a IH guy called Mike from Equine Unity out. He helped us reschool Lacey and is excellent. It took him half an hour to get her on, and by the time he was finished, she was loading herself - you just had to aim. We've been practising and she is now as good as gold.

I'm sure we would of sorted it ourselves eventually,  but it would of taken a lot longer and I dare say the issue wouldn't be quite so 'fixed'. Perhaps a sledgehammer to crack a nut but it was worth it!

She is going to another show tomorrow, then she is having a month off. I'm very excited about her, she is going to be very special I think.

I'm running him HC in the be100 at Firle Place. Feels a bit depressing as that's where I was aiming for my 1* but that's life, then the be100 open at Goring. I'm not sure about our plans after that.