We had a quiet start to the week following Lexi's girth rub. Few days lunging and an extra visit from Ruth, my equine body worker and sponsor after I attempted and failed to get Lexi loading in a trailer - She was very good and went right in, then panicked and thrashed about. Several times.
I'm so paranoid about her event next week that the last thing I wanted was to not ride her for a few days due to the girth rub, get on and find her sore, then Ruth not be able to make it for a few days, then the days off needed after physio...meaning no event.
That and apparently I like spending money. So she came Wednesday and she was a tiny bit sore but nothing major.
Then we had the saddle fitter, Sarah Stevens, on Thursday. This was fun. I do not recommend her to anyone.
I don't doubt her capabilities as a saddle fitter BUT she proceeded to make me feel like a pile of crap that my saddles hadn't been checked for 2 years (Sorry but when my mother was on her deathbed, saddles were the last thing on my mind, then dealing with my ponies being put to sleep, finding somewhere to live, revamping my business to be able to afford two horses, starting studying, ect ect ect, getting a saddle fitter out when the horses were going beautifully was just not a priority).
She refused to put a saddle on Lexi as she came up to her, PRODDED her in the back, and when my COLD BACKED SENSITIVE mare flinched, proclaimed her to be terribly sore and in no way fit to be ridden. She then went onto another rant that Lexi needs to gain 40kg of fat in order to build top line (come again? Last time I checked, fat does not turn into muscle) and went on to make many more personal remarks about their condition, welfare, so on and so forth. I stupidly let her take my jump saddle for reflocking, then in the morning I decided I wanted nothing more to do with her. So I sacked her, and had to drive an hour yesterday to pick up my saddle. I have someone different coming next Friday as this one said my jump saddle wasn't great on Lexi (and I have no issues regarding her expertise regarding saddles - just the rudeness and total disregard to my opinion as the horse's owner).
She also had a truck full of jump saddles and refused to show me any, because she couldn't tell me 100% whether the saddle fits without me riding...which I totally understand BUT if she could rule out my Albion by popping it on her back for 2 seconds...we could of ruled out other saddles and narrowed it down, allowing me to do some research at home.
ANYWAY.
I schooled my terribly sore, crippled horse for 40 minutes on Friday and she was wonderful, really swinging from behind, it was delicious. Squirrel very enthusiastically did some canter work.
Saturday Lexi did canter work (felt fabulous) and I let my friend take Squirrel to a jumping clinic as her horse is a little poorly. She also came and jumped him in the 80cm today and he was lovely and really looked after her for 1 pole down.
Lexi? I could not fault her. She was a little buzzy when I got on but settled quickly and jumped beautiful double clears in both rounds. I couldn't be more pleased. I went round the houses in the 80cm jump off, as it was that or a very nasty turn to a double and I just didn't want to ask that of her, but she really took me into it, didn't hesitate or roll a pole.
The 90cm was very up to height but she just ate it up and I have a VERY cheesy photo of me grinning my head off.
I've got a photo and videos which I'll post when my phone is feeling a bit more co-operative.
I'm thrilled to bits with her and feel its really set us up for our first BE event next Sunday. PSYCHED!!!
I'm so proud of her, she's really grown up over the last year and its so exciting that after two and a half years of slowly waiting for her to mature, we can finally start doing what I bought her for. I'm so excited to see what the future brings for this little mare.
Sunday 28 February 2016
Saturday 20 February 2016
Cross country schooling and The Great Escape
The other day, my horses partook in what was clearly a pre-planned conspiracy to escape and create carnage around the yard.
Yes. That is their bottoms as they make a bid for freedom.
Squirrel has been confined to a small pen for 10 days after his hock injections. He wasn't able to go out a couple of times because it was frozen and the pen in the ground is pretty wet so it was a death trap. That day, I decided to drop him off in his pen on my way to put Lexi out.
I knew it was a bad idea but it seemed so simple, and my horses are relatively well behaved and well mannered, are they not? Apparently not.
I popped Squirrel in and just as I was shutting the gate, he galloped out, Lexi went with him, all ther way to the bottom of the turnout. I trek for 10 minutes and grab them, shove Squirrel back in his pen, shout at him for being so ignorant and not backing up so I could shut the pen, take off his headcollar.
He wanders up to the tape. He stops with his chest touching the tape. He looks at me, straight in the eye. Then sits back on his haunches and launches from 0-gallop, straight THROUGH the tape, snapping a wooden post and trailing tape everywhere. Lexi is going beserk on the spot so I decide to chuck her out then go retrieve Squirrel who was very much in the dog house at this stage.
Another 10 minute trek whilst being about half an hour late for work at this stage. As I approach him, he looks at me again in his obstinate way then plonked into a puddle and rolled. Got up, turned around, did it again. Bastard.
So he's been in his stable ever since. I tried to lead him out for a pick of grass today but that was Very Exciting and he squealed and almost beheaded me so. Nope. He can stay in until Monday.
In other news, I managed to borrow a lorry to take Lexi for a much needed XC schooling session at Tweseldown. What can I say? She was phenomenal!! She got a bit cross by the end, and I found her girth rub got quite sore (she's having a day off then a few days lunging now to let it heal properly) so she was even more honest and incredible than I first thought.
She's just...amazing cross country. She's so so brave and clever, she just figures it all out and delivers, no matter what I ask of her. My only issue is in between fences I struggle to get her back and have much steering so may need to think about a change of bit (she's in a straight bar happymouth snaffle at the moment!) Although I think its more a question of balance and needing to teach her quicker reactions, so that's our homework for now. I was brave enough to jump some BE100 fences and god she felt amazing. Also perfectly happy to go through the water, steps up, steps down, huge nasty ditches with water in the bottom...nothing was an issue.
I'm thrilled with her, she's feeling so grown up and just...wow cross country. She's so intelligent about it and so brave its the most incredible feeling.
Sadly doesn't look like we'll get to practise any more dressage before Aston-le-walls but lets hope (in vain I expect...) that we get the lorry back in time for SJ next Sunday.
Wednesday 17 February 2016
Canter work and jumping
Slightly manic few days..
I was up at 4.30am on Sunday to school Lexi before my uni day. We did a lot of work on our halts and its evident to me we need to do some serious work on our straightness in our downwards transitions. But the canter was better.
I lunged her Monday night after work, nothing exciting to say about that, then went on a lovely long hack to do canter work yesterday. She was superb and really enjoyed herself, and went twice up the big hill. Still had to take it fairly steady as was slippery and icy in places but we got the work done. However when I got back I was horrified to see my lovely Albion girth had rubbed a big bleeding hole in her.
Lots of sudacrem!
I had a jump today, managed to patch her up with a different girth and a fluffy guard and she was super. She was a little sticky at some of the fillers at first but with leg she popped over them regardless. I had told my friend who was helping to bully me and we ended up jumping a 90cm-1m course and she was perfect! Probably some of the biggest fences I've done on her and about time. It was no effort to her.
We need to work on our balance round turns but I got a bit of a feel of how to ride for a nice bouncy canter towards the end.
Missed the bit in the corner before the last fence where she threw an almighty buck!
Unfortunately the rub looked a bit sore afterwards so she's going to have a day lunging before hopefully going cross country.
I was up at 4.30am on Sunday to school Lexi before my uni day. We did a lot of work on our halts and its evident to me we need to do some serious work on our straightness in our downwards transitions. But the canter was better.
I lunged her Monday night after work, nothing exciting to say about that, then went on a lovely long hack to do canter work yesterday. She was superb and really enjoyed herself, and went twice up the big hill. Still had to take it fairly steady as was slippery and icy in places but we got the work done. However when I got back I was horrified to see my lovely Albion girth had rubbed a big bleeding hole in her.
Lots of sudacrem!
I had a jump today, managed to patch her up with a different girth and a fluffy guard and she was super. She was a little sticky at some of the fillers at first but with leg she popped over them regardless. I had told my friend who was helping to bully me and we ended up jumping a 90cm-1m course and she was perfect! Probably some of the biggest fences I've done on her and about time. It was no effort to her.
We need to work on our balance round turns but I got a bit of a feel of how to ride for a nice bouncy canter towards the end.
Missed the bit in the corner before the last fence where she threw an almighty buck!
Unfortunately the rub looked a bit sore afterwards so she's going to have a day lunging before hopefully going cross country.
Saturday 13 February 2016
Back in business!
So after her second treatment with Ruth, Lexi had a few days off before I popped back on yesterday.
I went for a lovely steady ride for about an hour and 15 minutes with a fair few hills and she was just lovely.
The real test to see how she was feeling today, when I schooled her. She was just delicious. Lovely and soft in walk and trot although falling in through her left shoulder than she has been recently. A few leg yields sorted that out, then I popped into canter.
At first it was a little downhill and reluctant and she humped her back a little, but as I worked her through it she must of realised it didn't hurt and sat more underneath herself. I did some long and low work which I've neglected with her and was pleased to see she was stretching down and out into the contact - she has the inclination to come up and behind the bit a little at times.
I didn't push her too hard today but got a lovely few moments of elevation in her trot although they only lasted for a stride or so. At times, before her time off, we were able to keep that trot for a little while and as she gets stronger I'm sure it'll come!
I finished off attempting counter canter which she did a lovely job of, and really got her up off the forehand. Right rein was better than left which surprised me as left is her better rein but she didn't do a bad job at all! Our canter transitions were smoother and rounder, and she was listening to my seat far better than she has so far, so I finished with a big smile!
I'll school her again tomorrow and focus a bit more on her lateral work and start to ask for some medium steps in trot - at the moment she thinks I mean canter but when I do get a step of medium...wow!
Squirrel went out in his pen and was stood shivering after a couple of hours so I decided to leave them in for the rest of the day. I've never been in the habit of keeping them in when its wet, but my fields are unbelievably waterlogged and there was a nasty cold sleety rain so I figured they'd be happier in.
22 days til Aston le walls and I cannot wait!!!!
I've also just signed up for an online assessment through the Active Rider programme. They will assess my posture/movement/riding and give me a personalised plan on what to work for. If that goes well, I might do their 12 week programme....if I want any chance of NOT falling off this mare over bigger courses, I need to seriously improve my stability.
I went for a lovely steady ride for about an hour and 15 minutes with a fair few hills and she was just lovely.
The real test to see how she was feeling today, when I schooled her. She was just delicious. Lovely and soft in walk and trot although falling in through her left shoulder than she has been recently. A few leg yields sorted that out, then I popped into canter.
At first it was a little downhill and reluctant and she humped her back a little, but as I worked her through it she must of realised it didn't hurt and sat more underneath herself. I did some long and low work which I've neglected with her and was pleased to see she was stretching down and out into the contact - she has the inclination to come up and behind the bit a little at times.
I didn't push her too hard today but got a lovely few moments of elevation in her trot although they only lasted for a stride or so. At times, before her time off, we were able to keep that trot for a little while and as she gets stronger I'm sure it'll come!
I finished off attempting counter canter which she did a lovely job of, and really got her up off the forehand. Right rein was better than left which surprised me as left is her better rein but she didn't do a bad job at all! Our canter transitions were smoother and rounder, and she was listening to my seat far better than she has so far, so I finished with a big smile!
I'll school her again tomorrow and focus a bit more on her lateral work and start to ask for some medium steps in trot - at the moment she thinks I mean canter but when I do get a step of medium...wow!
Squirrel went out in his pen and was stood shivering after a couple of hours so I decided to leave them in for the rest of the day. I've never been in the habit of keeping them in when its wet, but my fields are unbelievably waterlogged and there was a nasty cold sleety rain so I figured they'd be happier in.
22 days til Aston le walls and I cannot wait!!!!
I've also just signed up for an online assessment through the Active Rider programme. They will assess my posture/movement/riding and give me a personalised plan on what to work for. If that goes well, I might do their 12 week programme....if I want any chance of NOT falling off this mare over bigger courses, I need to seriously improve my stability.
Wednesday 10 February 2016
Arena eventing and life is against me
So last Friday I tested out boxing to a new place to go cantering. SUCCESS.
Even with all the rain we had, the going was still decent.
We did two 4 minute sets, then I called it a day as he felt a bit tired coming up the hill the last time. I want him SUPER fit so I hope to build this up to 3 5 minute sets. It will be easier when the ground is drier as I can use more of the hill - at the moment its a bit tricky as don't want to chew up the ground too much.
On the way back I decided to pop him onto the verge along side the track to have a little canter home. I heard a clink and my heart sank. I jumped off and yes...he'd pulled a shoe. And the other one was only on by half a nail. Despite being in over reach boots. His feet suck when it gets and stays this wet.
4pm on a Friday and we were due to leave for Arena eventing at 8am the next day. My farrier was away. Luckily I managed to get hold of someone who came and stuck his shoe back on and sorted the other. Thank god!
Saturday dawned wet and windy windy windy. It was crazy weather! We decided to take the back roads and still got there with plenty of time to spare.
My friend jumped a cracking round in the 70cm and nailed it, only 2 seconds off the optimum time! She went on to win which was a fantastic achievement, with her horse having only been to three shows in the last 3 years or so!!
I did the 80cm on Squirrel - I was meant to take Lexi but given back issues, I subbed him and I didn't want to wait for the later class. He was a little offended and went through two fences - the second part of a double and the second 'xc' fence. Once we went through the water and up the steps on the xc 'phase' he went Weeee! This is FUN! Zooooom.
It was great fun and we finished 3 seconds off the optimum time to come 4th.
Squirrel had his hock injections today so he's confined to 2 days box rest then 10 days in a small pen...He has an awful habit of jumping out of small pens so we will see how it goes.
I decided to move his first event back from Tweseldown to Swalcliffe as didn't realise he would need 12 days off...it also means I can run him and Lexi on the same day as the open is the same day as the 80 so saves me some fuel money...and gives me a day off the week before.
My AMAZING physio and sponsor, Ruth Mawer came out the day after returning from Iceland on a day off to treat Lexi after she still tried to put me on the floor. This time it was her shoulder/neck. Pleased its not the same thing recurring and just bad luck it all happened so close together. I'll be back on board on Friday then maybe..maybe...we can crack on. Its 25 days til Aston le Walls so we can't lose anymore time or I'll have to withdraw.
Speaking of which....My lorry (Susie) has been making a mysterious ticking noise when I've been accelerating lately. I arranged for a guy to come see her on Tuesday but he never turned up. I went to move her today so my friend could access her trailer and....she was dead. Sigh. I've arranged for someone to come see her tomorrow so hopefully we can get her fixed and on the road ASAP!!!!
The season ahead....
Over the winter I spend a long, long time musing about the problems Squirrel and I had regarding our attempts at Novice and my ambition to do a 1* on him.
I think there were 3 main factors involves.
Hocks.
Fitness.
My riding.
I'm not sure we got the right balance with his hocks. He was treated with tildren and steroids in April when he started stopping, then Tildren twice more throughout the year as a pre-emptive measure. I only noticed a difference after the first treatment.
I'd already decided I wasn't going to use Tildren this year. At £800 a pop (and his hocks have long not been insured) its frankly too expensive. We were all set to treat him using an ethanol treatment. Ethanol is injected into the joint and basically kills the nerve endings around the joint where he's arthritic. However, there's a slightly higher risk with this so when we realised we only did the steroids once, that's our plan of action.
Sometimes I feel guilty when I think about how much I'm medicating this horse to keep him going. But...he LOVES his work, he loves shows, he lights up when the lorry comes out and he comes alive in the ring. He doesn't look or feel a day over 8 so whilst he's happy to do his job, we'll keep going.
Fitness.
Looking back, I did not do the canter work I wanted or needed. Life kept getting in the way. There were times I was on a ride where I intended to do canter work and it didn't happen due to a lost shoe or the pony I was out with playing up.
So this year, this is a priority. I've given a lot of thought to this. Whilst my hacking is okay, there aren't many places within a 2 hour ride to do proper canter work. A good long two hour fast ride is ideal BUT some weeks the time just isn't there - especially now I have two eventing. On Friday I tested boxing out to somewhere 5 minutes up the road. It was perfect - less than an hour start to finish I left the yard, did my canter work and got back. So if I bribe my girl to keep the other horse company, I could get them both done in an hour and a half or so. Perfect! Plus, an old school friend is riding Squirrel a few times a week which takes some pressure off, plus he may get worked twice those days. So he will be fit fit fit.
My riding...
Now partly, I still want to believe he will jump off any stride any time. News flash. He won't. Especially at novice, I need to be there 100% of the way. I also noticed I pull him in the mouth like mad XC so I need to improve my release. No wonder he stops if I yank him in the gob for 16 fences running....
I also intend to have a lesson or two with a different coach. My regular one is FANTASTIC and I love him on the flat and I LOVE him for Lexi - he suits her to the ground. However, we spent a long time trying to get Squirrel to jump slower and more from power than speed. However, the horse is 18. When we changed this, and I was unable to generate the power (or due to his hocks, he didn't have it), he lost confidence and stopped. Now he doesn't jump like a freight train, just prefers to go on a slightly longer spot and a little quick. When I had a lesson with someone else, we got him forward again and he instantly improved. So I need to follow that vein.
I am also going to run him less. 1 event every 3 weeks or so is fine. I think he gets a little stale. I also think I'll give him 1 or 2 months with no events maybe July/August as I think it will keep him fresh and keen. Maybe a couple of weeks off during that time.
So basically my plan for him this year is;
I'm not going to push him if he keeps on stopping. He's getting older and I'd rather enjoy him at a lower level. My only conundrum is I'm not sure whether I will still BE him if he won't do novice anymore. Its expensive and as he has points I can't do grassroots anyway so it may feel a bit aimless....We shall see.
Now for Lexi, my vague plan is..
As for my personal goals
I think there were 3 main factors involves.
Hocks.
Fitness.
My riding.
I'm not sure we got the right balance with his hocks. He was treated with tildren and steroids in April when he started stopping, then Tildren twice more throughout the year as a pre-emptive measure. I only noticed a difference after the first treatment.
I'd already decided I wasn't going to use Tildren this year. At £800 a pop (and his hocks have long not been insured) its frankly too expensive. We were all set to treat him using an ethanol treatment. Ethanol is injected into the joint and basically kills the nerve endings around the joint where he's arthritic. However, there's a slightly higher risk with this so when we realised we only did the steroids once, that's our plan of action.
Sometimes I feel guilty when I think about how much I'm medicating this horse to keep him going. But...he LOVES his work, he loves shows, he lights up when the lorry comes out and he comes alive in the ring. He doesn't look or feel a day over 8 so whilst he's happy to do his job, we'll keep going.
Fitness.
Looking back, I did not do the canter work I wanted or needed. Life kept getting in the way. There were times I was on a ride where I intended to do canter work and it didn't happen due to a lost shoe or the pony I was out with playing up.
So this year, this is a priority. I've given a lot of thought to this. Whilst my hacking is okay, there aren't many places within a 2 hour ride to do proper canter work. A good long two hour fast ride is ideal BUT some weeks the time just isn't there - especially now I have two eventing. On Friday I tested boxing out to somewhere 5 minutes up the road. It was perfect - less than an hour start to finish I left the yard, did my canter work and got back. So if I bribe my girl to keep the other horse company, I could get them both done in an hour and a half or so. Perfect! Plus, an old school friend is riding Squirrel a few times a week which takes some pressure off, plus he may get worked twice those days. So he will be fit fit fit.
My riding...
Now partly, I still want to believe he will jump off any stride any time. News flash. He won't. Especially at novice, I need to be there 100% of the way. I also noticed I pull him in the mouth like mad XC so I need to improve my release. No wonder he stops if I yank him in the gob for 16 fences running....
I also intend to have a lesson or two with a different coach. My regular one is FANTASTIC and I love him on the flat and I LOVE him for Lexi - he suits her to the ground. However, we spent a long time trying to get Squirrel to jump slower and more from power than speed. However, the horse is 18. When we changed this, and I was unable to generate the power (or due to his hocks, he didn't have it), he lost confidence and stopped. Now he doesn't jump like a freight train, just prefers to go on a slightly longer spot and a little quick. When I had a lesson with someone else, we got him forward again and he instantly improved. So I need to follow that vein.
I am also going to run him less. 1 event every 3 weeks or so is fine. I think he gets a little stale. I also think I'll give him 1 or 2 months with no events maybe July/August as I think it will keep him fresh and keen. Maybe a couple of weeks off during that time.
So basically my plan for him this year is;
- Run 2 BE100 opens, if going well, step up to novice
- If still stopping after 2 or 3 runs, call it a day at novice, then just enjoy him at a lower level/play about on him
- If all goes well - ONE STAR!!!
I'm not going to push him if he keeps on stopping. He's getting older and I'd rather enjoy him at a lower level. My only conundrum is I'm not sure whether I will still BE him if he won't do novice anymore. Its expensive and as he has points I can't do grassroots anyway so it may feel a bit aimless....We shall see.
Now for Lexi, my vague plan is..
- 2 or 3 BE80s - I just want it easy for her. I want her to take in the atmosphere, the sights, the sounds, before we add in technicality to the mix.
- Then establish her at BE90, and aim to qualify for regionals and then GRASSROOTS FINALS
- HOPEFULLY do 1 or 2 BE100s before the end of the year
- TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING.
- Figure out what to feed her to finally get some damn muscle on her (any thoughts? She's a good doer and very sharp but despite working correctly, the muscle is taking a loooooong time to come. I mean she only stopped looking like a foal last November, she's a slow developer hence why she's 7 this year and yet to go BE)
As for my personal goals
- Personal fitness - 1 or 2 runs a week and pilates?
- Keep a balance - I normally run myself into the ground and start dying halfway through the season from being on the go 5am-8pm. I NEED, mentally and physically, to spend some time sitting down.
Sunday 7 February 2016
Final Lexi update
Soooo we got to the new year.
We had some lessons and Warren tried to convince me to sell her to the Americans as they're looking for young horses for the team. And very seriously.
I declined and he simply said "Well, that's the best horse you'll ever have."
He ADORES her. He's suggested buying her more than once.
He almost made me cry once when he said "You want to do grand prix dressage? That'll do it. You want to jump 1.60s? That'll do it. You want to go 4*? That'll do it."
And Warren doesn't exactly do compliments. Generally when he sees me ride, he sighs. A lot. And looks constipated. I mean, maybe he is, but I think my riding just hurts his eyes.
I decided to take her for some show jumping in the rain. Absolutely pouring rain. As in, my phone drowned from the inside pocket of my coat rain. But I really wanted to go and I figured it was good for her to jump in rain.
The classes were tiny so I missed my first class so went straight into the 85cm. She jumped the most lovely double clear and won it!! Then I decided to pop her into the 95cm as weren't many people there. I've only jumped her about 2 single fences that size so I wasn't sure how she'd be.
She took it in her stride, I held her a bit into the double and she exploded over the first and stopped at the second. The distance was short and she just didn't have space to jump out. She figured it out and popped through lovely the second time anyway and finished the course clear to come second.
Good pony!
We had some lessons and Warren tried to convince me to sell her to the Americans as they're looking for young horses for the team. And very seriously.
I declined and he simply said "Well, that's the best horse you'll ever have."
He ADORES her. He's suggested buying her more than once.
He almost made me cry once when he said "You want to do grand prix dressage? That'll do it. You want to jump 1.60s? That'll do it. You want to go 4*? That'll do it."
And Warren doesn't exactly do compliments. Generally when he sees me ride, he sighs. A lot. And looks constipated. I mean, maybe he is, but I think my riding just hurts his eyes.
I decided to take her for some show jumping in the rain. Absolutely pouring rain. As in, my phone drowned from the inside pocket of my coat rain. But I really wanted to go and I figured it was good for her to jump in rain.
The classes were tiny so I missed my first class so went straight into the 85cm. She jumped the most lovely double clear and won it!! Then I decided to pop her into the 95cm as weren't many people there. I've only jumped her about 2 single fences that size so I wasn't sure how she'd be.
She took it in her stride, I held her a bit into the double and she exploded over the first and stopped at the second. The distance was short and she just didn't have space to jump out. She figured it out and popped through lovely the second time anyway and finished the course clear to come second.
Good pony!
she was so cross with me though. This was her expression all day. I HATE YOU STUPID HUMAN
Then we went and did some dressage. In my first test she was silly and spooky but still managed to get 72% and 4th (kind judge!)
I worked her until she was on her KNEES after that. When she gets tense and spooky she won't bend and its just horrible. So I worked her and worked her and worked her and the second test was far better. Still a little spooky but hey she needs miles. Plus I've found she's WAY better with ears on and it was indoor dressage so I couldn't use them.
We scored 65% and won!
We also did some bigger jumping at home....
Oh she is so lovely. And so talented yum yum.
Unfortunately then she broke. I got on for some schooling and she was not a happy pony. Just felt odd. Then started bucking. Then started bucking bigger. So I jumped off and called my physio. Unfortunately she couldn't make it for about 10 day so Lexi had a little holiday. When she came, we found she was mega sore, poor pony.
So a couple more days off then back to work. So I thought. She pinned her ears back when I girthed her up which surprised me. My micklem also arrived so I spent ages fitting it.
What are you doing Stupid Human?
Unfortunately she HATES it. I tried it on Saturday in the pouring rain and she was just yuck. Leaning, heavy, not bending at all. Grim. It was pouring with rain so I gave up.
Tried again today and she was still gross. Also sticking her tongue out again which is an old habit which had disappeared. Then I went into canter and she threw the most enormous buck. Hmmm.
I jumped off and popped her back in the grackle. Vola! Walk and trot were lovely. Light, on the contact, bendy, more impulsion. Lovely. Went back into canter.
Buck buck buck. Sigh. Physio needs to come back. She did say when she treated her to see how she went as she was very sore and may need a follow up. And this mare lets me know when she's not comfy!
So we're sitting tight, waiting for an appointment. Bit frustrating, she's entered for her first BE event and I have a lot of prep work to do so hopefully Ruth can come soon and fix her.
She is inclined to make herself sore quite easily - she's a little long in the back, has this insane lovely movement but is taking FOREVER to build muscle so doesn't have much to support it.
Sigh. Horses!
Friday 5 February 2016
A baby horse becomes a grown up horse edition 2
So I went in to unload her at Ascott under Wychwood. I led her down the ramp like any other time. The next thing I knew, I was on my arse and she was grazing.
The ramp had literally completely severed itself from my lorry. We called our recovery then got on with our day.
I warmed her up for a loooooooong time but never really managed to get her relaxed. She did a decent but tense test for 35. We managed to skip a long queue for SJ (and xc) due to needing to be finished in time for the recovery people, and picked up 8 faults in the SJ. One down and a stop.
Unfortunately a while back, she put her back out twice in quick succession which I realised when she point blank refused to jump. Both times she was fixed right away by my wonderful sponsor, Ruth Mawer from Equigility, but for a while it left a mark and she would throw the odd stop in.
Then cross country time....She bounced down to the warm up (which alarmed me slightly as I had my second fall off her the week previous - a loose pony galloping in a field fried her brain and she exploded for the first time. I always knew she had it in her. I always knew I didn't want to experience it. I was right. I don't know if we went left, right, forwards, back, up, down. All I knew was I had no hope of staying on and started to bail. Unfortunately I bailed as she threw a huge buck so I ended up on my back....watching her galloping home. She was intelligent enough to head home. The pony she was with did not. We ended up getting my car stuck in the woods searching for him. But that's another story...pony ended up home safe and sound)
Anyway, we skipped the queue again (yay) and set off.
I've never had a car posh enough to put it on autopilot. But apparently now I have a horse with that mode. She cruised round. I didn't do a thing. I pointed, kept my leg there, she looked for the flags, maintained a rhythm even through the woods and just was insanely perfect. Never ridden a round like it xc, even on my wonderful Squirrel. I kept my leg on for the water but it wasn't a problem. What a wonderful horse
The ramp had literally completely severed itself from my lorry. We called our recovery then got on with our day.
I warmed her up for a loooooooong time but never really managed to get her relaxed. She did a decent but tense test for 35. We managed to skip a long queue for SJ (and xc) due to needing to be finished in time for the recovery people, and picked up 8 faults in the SJ. One down and a stop.
Unfortunately a while back, she put her back out twice in quick succession which I realised when she point blank refused to jump. Both times she was fixed right away by my wonderful sponsor, Ruth Mawer from Equigility, but for a while it left a mark and she would throw the odd stop in.
Then cross country time....She bounced down to the warm up (which alarmed me slightly as I had my second fall off her the week previous - a loose pony galloping in a field fried her brain and she exploded for the first time. I always knew she had it in her. I always knew I didn't want to experience it. I was right. I don't know if we went left, right, forwards, back, up, down. All I knew was I had no hope of staying on and started to bail. Unfortunately I bailed as she threw a huge buck so I ended up on my back....watching her galloping home. She was intelligent enough to head home. The pony she was with did not. We ended up getting my car stuck in the woods searching for him. But that's another story...pony ended up home safe and sound)
Anyway, we skipped the queue again (yay) and set off.
I've never had a car posh enough to put it on autopilot. But apparently now I have a horse with that mode. She cruised round. I didn't do a thing. I pointed, kept my leg there, she looked for the flags, maintained a rhythm even through the woods and just was insanely perfect. Never ridden a round like it xc, even on my wonderful Squirrel. I kept my leg on for the water but it wasn't a problem. What a wonderful horse
We were rescued and all was well.
That summer we also did a little showing and dressage show. We were late, I couldn't warm up for my dressage and she surpassed herself by performing a lovely relaxed test to break the 70% barrier for the first time and to finish second.
The showing went very well until it came to her 'gallop'. I'd never asked her to do it before but apparently this is Very Exciting and we went bronk bronk bronk. Hmm. Yeah.
We were entered for two more unaffiliated events. Unfortunately in the week leading to the first of those she felt odd. I'm very tuned in to how this horse feels and she wasn't herself. I had Ruth out who suspected she'd done a slight tear in her shoulder muscle which the vet later confirmed. She was prescribed 2 weeks off.
I decided to end her season there and give her 6 weeks. She's too good, too special to risk bringing back into work too soon and causing damage to herself.
The time off did her the world of good. She FINALLY FINALLY filled out and now resembles a horse, not a 2 year old.
To be continued....
Thursday 4 February 2016
A baby horse becomes a grown up horse - revamped
The last thing I wrote about Lexi was "She's been doing big girl hacks on her own and in company; going in puddles, seeing lots of traffic, alpacas, sheep, cows ect without batting an eyelid! She's having front shoes on Tuesday - I can't wait as her feet are wearing down chronically, especially on her boxy foot so might need to reign in the riding for a few days."
We're now two YEARS into the future and damn I wish I'd kept better records.
She was a shy, scaredy cat little mare with little handling when I got her. She didn't know how to pick up her feet, she was so filthy my hand was black after I stroked her, didn't understand haynets...or anything really.
I slowly backed her
She was insanely good. She didn't bat an eyelid. I remember when I was first led around on her she was so incredibly wobbly, and kept plunging her nose down to touch the surface of the school (despite I'd been working her in it on the ground for weeks!).
I began hacking her within a couple of days - on her own. I didn't want her to become reliant on other horses and it worked. She has never been fussed about going out alone, napping has never crossed her mind. She has become a wonderful hack infact, bar nervy in large traffic (partly my fault as I'm terrified of it).
She did some in-hand showing
Loading her on the way back was interesting. It took about 3 hours (about 3 minutes at home). Eventually we had to blindfold her which was not a pleasant experience. A couple of visits from Uncle Mike, a behaviourist who did some work with an old pony of mine sorted that out....I did feel I would be able to cure it in time myself, but given my intentions for her, I NEEDED her to be a reliable loader so decided getting a pro in was the best course of action. It worked - she now trots up the ramp with her ears pricked.
She did some schooling
She quickly proved to be exceptionally sharp, sensitive and responsive. I took my first fall when a fright with a truck caused her to leap off the ground Spanish riding horse style, I got slightly off balance, then she started bucking. Then I was on the floor and she was snorting her head off saying "WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE?!"
She did some very babyish dressage
She turned 5
eventually she even did a tiny bit of SJ
the jumps weren't a problem - but the loudspeaker was!
She maimed herself
I competed her very very lightly. Up until last autumn she was all legs and just took forever to develop.
I did two events on her.
At Elmwood she did the loveliest dressage, well that she was capable of the time, scoring 30, had a couple down SJ and went beautifully cross country until we hit the water. I decided to go slowly at it and let her get a good look which proved to be a mistake. Hesitant due to my hesitancy she stopped to sniff. And reversed. Unfortunately this very quickly happened three times and we were eliminated.
Several schooling trips later and I took her to Ascott under Wychwood unaffiliated. When we arrived, I unloaded and the ramp promptly fell off the lorry.
To be continued...
Wow no posty long time - A Squirrel update
Okay I'm bringing this blog back.
Good and proper.
Long term.
Lexi is about to start her first season as a proper event horse and I want every moment immobilised. Blogging fell back down the wayside last year.
Last year with Squirrel was a year of personal progress. We did not achieve the 1* I hoped for. Our record looks more than slightly appalling but the Es do not tell the full story.
Following Rackham I decided it was a now or never attempt to step back up to Novice. I enlisted everything from Hypnosis to Lunge lessons to try and achieve my aim of completing a 1*.
We went to Upton House for our first come back at Novice. To say it was a success would be a downright lie. To say I was pleased would be pushing it. We managed a dismal 38 in the dressage (not helped by Squirrel finding the only hole in the arena and falling over, then helpfully changing legs in the counter canter), I single handily destroyed the SJ course and made it xc by the skin of my teeth. We successfully got as far as fence 5.
Well now, that sounds just awful doesn't it? Well yes. However, I was slightly pleased. This step back to novice came with a whole horde of problems. I had lost all confidence in myself at this level, I was emotionally and physically out of shape due to some personal problems and I was trying to make Squirrel jump in a way he just wasn't happy.
Wilton was our next attempt. A better dressage with 34.5 and 8 faults show jumping put me in a better mood for cross country. But you know...Wilton...That's a pretty big cross country course.
We jumped the first few fences well. Then at the first question - an off set double of skinnies, we shied left, we shied right, then ground to a halt. Que light bulb moment. No matter how much I love the teeth off this animal, he is never EVER going to carry me cross country. He needs me.
So I came back to it and from that moment I rode. As cliché as it sounds, I gave him all my heart and he responded. I yelled, hollered, kicked, screamed praise at him and he bounded over corners and tables you could live under and skinnies and hedges and everything. Then came my next nemesis. A fence to two steps down to a skinny which you just couldn't get straight to. He got close but he jumped it. I literally rode away with tears coming down my face.
Unfortunately we kind of lost steam and had a stop at the next two fences. I wasn't too sure I wanted to jump that enormous corner so I decided to hang on to his mouth and basically told him to stop, and being lovely and obedient, he did. But I was delighted that we made it halfway and over some tricky fences.
But we got some nice photos.
Next up was West Wilts. I'd had some show jumping lessons with a different trainer and my horse was jumping out of his skin. Note to self - if you try and totally change an older horse's jumping style to a way he dislikes and his current way is working....he will lose confidence and stop.
Our dressage was again better at 33.8. We had a great time out there in the show jumping! It went great, he was jumping out of his skin. Unfortunately last up was the treble and I sat and I held and I held and I held so he stopped. Then jumped it second time which was great.
Cross country...we made it almost all the way round! We had a stop about halfway at a very skinny but huge log to a corner
We continued like nothing had happened. Including a tricky step up, down a steep hill to a skinny triple brush (my most HATED fence). Then we ground to a stop infront of the water. Twice.
Okay well we made it 3/4 round right?! and it hadn't been an easy course, everything is progressing nicely.
Unfortunately that ended up being the end of my season. A few minor injuries - a mystery swollen knee here, a cut and infected hock there, a random day lame in front which led me to panic and send him in for a work up (nothing wrong to be found!) in quick succession led to him having over 3 weeks off. Then when Lexi helpfully decided to tear a muscle in her shoulder I decided we had lost too much time to get fit enough to do anything decent the rest of the year and I chucked them out to become feral for 6 weeks.
They got fat. I got fat. I mused.
Then I brought them back into work.
Yee-ha one fresh Squirrel!!
I manned up and rode and led. I discovered Squirrel finds it amusing to swish his tail. All the time. And hit Lexi with it and watch her freak out. Then get excited about her freaking out. So I got my own back and bandaged his tail up like a pony HA..
We did some hunting and he behaved terribly.
Good and proper.
Long term.
Lexi is about to start her first season as a proper event horse and I want every moment immobilised. Blogging fell back down the wayside last year.
Last year with Squirrel was a year of personal progress. We did not achieve the 1* I hoped for. Our record looks more than slightly appalling but the Es do not tell the full story.
Following Rackham I decided it was a now or never attempt to step back up to Novice. I enlisted everything from Hypnosis to Lunge lessons to try and achieve my aim of completing a 1*.
We went to Upton House for our first come back at Novice. To say it was a success would be a downright lie. To say I was pleased would be pushing it. We managed a dismal 38 in the dressage (not helped by Squirrel finding the only hole in the arena and falling over, then helpfully changing legs in the counter canter), I single handily destroyed the SJ course and made it xc by the skin of my teeth. We successfully got as far as fence 5.
Well now, that sounds just awful doesn't it? Well yes. However, I was slightly pleased. This step back to novice came with a whole horde of problems. I had lost all confidence in myself at this level, I was emotionally and physically out of shape due to some personal problems and I was trying to make Squirrel jump in a way he just wasn't happy.
Wilton was our next attempt. A better dressage with 34.5 and 8 faults show jumping put me in a better mood for cross country. But you know...Wilton...That's a pretty big cross country course.
We jumped the first few fences well. Then at the first question - an off set double of skinnies, we shied left, we shied right, then ground to a halt. Que light bulb moment. No matter how much I love the teeth off this animal, he is never EVER going to carry me cross country. He needs me.
So I came back to it and from that moment I rode. As cliché as it sounds, I gave him all my heart and he responded. I yelled, hollered, kicked, screamed praise at him and he bounded over corners and tables you could live under and skinnies and hedges and everything. Then came my next nemesis. A fence to two steps down to a skinny which you just couldn't get straight to. He got close but he jumped it. I literally rode away with tears coming down my face.
Unfortunately we kind of lost steam and had a stop at the next two fences. I wasn't too sure I wanted to jump that enormous corner so I decided to hang on to his mouth and basically told him to stop, and being lovely and obedient, he did. But I was delighted that we made it halfway and over some tricky fences.
But we got some nice photos.
Next up was West Wilts. I'd had some show jumping lessons with a different trainer and my horse was jumping out of his skin. Note to self - if you try and totally change an older horse's jumping style to a way he dislikes and his current way is working....he will lose confidence and stop.
Our dressage was again better at 33.8. We had a great time out there in the show jumping! It went great, he was jumping out of his skin. Unfortunately last up was the treble and I sat and I held and I held and I held so he stopped. Then jumped it second time which was great.
Cross country...we made it almost all the way round! We had a stop about halfway at a very skinny but huge log to a corner
We continued like nothing had happened. Including a tricky step up, down a steep hill to a skinny triple brush (my most HATED fence). Then we ground to a stop infront of the water. Twice.
Okay well we made it 3/4 round right?! and it hadn't been an easy course, everything is progressing nicely.
Unfortunately that ended up being the end of my season. A few minor injuries - a mystery swollen knee here, a cut and infected hock there, a random day lame in front which led me to panic and send him in for a work up (nothing wrong to be found!) in quick succession led to him having over 3 weeks off. Then when Lexi helpfully decided to tear a muscle in her shoulder I decided we had lost too much time to get fit enough to do anything decent the rest of the year and I chucked them out to become feral for 6 weeks.
They got fat. I got fat. I mused.
Then I brought them back into work.
Yee-ha one fresh Squirrel!!
I manned up and rode and led. I discovered Squirrel finds it amusing to swish his tail. All the time. And hit Lexi with it and watch her freak out. Then get excited about her freaking out. So I got my own back and bandaged his tail up like a pony HA..
We did some hunting and he behaved terribly.
The first hunt I thought he successfully dislocated all my fingers. So I changed his bit to a Cheltenham Waterford gag. This worked better on the brakes. Instead he decided to terrify small children by charging at them sideways, hole-gaping-cyclops-side first, froth everywhere, drool pink from blood dripping from his mouth. And fidgeting. And just generally being a pain. He did, however, prove to be an excellent stopping device for my friend and the infamous Basil (pictured), and also excellent at 'ponying' him (aka me grabbing hold of the reins as Basil made yet another bid to overtake the fieldmaster). Ahem.
Then we did some show jumping with reasonable success. I almost died waiting for 6 hours to ride, having arrived early for my friend to do her class and with over 70 per class...I decided to forgo the bigger classes and jump the 85cm and the 90cm.
The 85cm saw some terrible riding. AKA I dropped my reins over the first fence, and basically rode like a chinchilla on speed and we had one down. He jumped a beautiful double clear in the 90cm to earn his cricklands Q and then we went home. Arrived back at the yard at 6.45pm having left 11 hours previously! And I was first to go in that class...Crazy.
I also did my first bit of canter work which was lovely, but the old sod decided to gallop off when I was half in the saddle, having gotten off to do the gate. Oh he also successfully broke 2 of my fingers shying at a pole. Schoolmaster?!
But its okay - he's anyone's ride.
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