Hypnotherapy , foam rollers and Equgility

So on Wednesday I had my first hypnosis session.

We mainly chatted about my life - didn't realise we would have to go into the gory depths of my childhood which was quite uncomfortable! But it was to give her a better idea of what kind of screed to use. I'm actually doing a distance learning course in Hypnosis and psychotherapy so it was very interesting to see it properly in practise.

She performed a short hypnosis on me, a more general confidence building and relaxation one, and I do have to admit I've been pretty mellow since! Next week  I will have a more riding orientated one. I have to admit, despite studying it and knowing how relaxing it is, I'm still not 100% convinced that it can actually change thoughts and behaviours so well, but apparently it does so what have we got to lose?

My foam roller also arrived (a piece of the equipment for the fitness plan I have) and jesus I'm in love with it. If you turned up unannounced at my house you'd probably get a bit of a shock finding me contorted in some strange position with an expression of pure pain on my face but oh my god. I've had a back ache for the last few days and literally did less than 5 minutes work and its gone! Bit stiff this morning but I'll do some stretches and some more rolling before I start on my day.

I was busy backing a lovely young dressage horse on Wednesday, got back to my car to find 5 missed calls from my sponsor - Ruth Mawer from Equigility  who treats my horse's muscles. I'd forgotten they had a treatment! Both were in fantastic shape which is great news as Lexi was getting quite sore through her back, but Ruth felt she's getting much stronger.

Tomorrow we're off to Rackham horse trials to compete in the BE100; we're HC as Sunday when the open section is, I'm off with a friend to the New Forest for a sponsored ride to show the feral one some sights and sounds.

Back in business!

Hopefully going to get this blog going a bit more consistently now.

Quick low down of the last few months;

• Went to Munstead, had a disaster with several stops
• Went to Elmwood, great dressage, great SJ, two stops xc. Lexi also went and did a brilliant first event apart from an upset at the water
• Had his hocks treated with steroids and tildren; hello new horse!
• Went to Mattingly unaffiliated and jumped a great double clear to finish 7th

So, I've had a chat with my trainer and we have plans...big ones...Called Aldon 1*

I've decided to throw the book at it.

In the long term, I'm going to struggle to keep Squirrel BE eventing sound. The tildren is £900 a pop and by the end of the season he'll of had 3 treatments. Next year  Lexi will be doing more, and just the time and expense of two horses competing affiliated is difficult.

So this is the last year I'll be competing Squirrel BE. If he makes it to Aldon, he'll never outdo that. If he doesn't, then he never will. There's no point really in me competing him in BE100s as he has to do the opens so can't do qualifiers ect, I may as well save a bit of money and stress and play with him unaffiliated at a lower level where his hocks can cope without as much help.

So I'm giving it everything I've got.
I've changed his diet, put him on every supplement known to man kind, weekly lessons, extra physio and chiro. Magnet hock boots, daily massages from my equissage pad...

The buck doesn't stop with him though.
I'm having a few hypnosis sessions (first one today!) to help with my mental block regarding novice and sports psychotherapy. I'm focusing on my own health; clean eating, running so I don't end up dying after fence 4 cross country, lunge lessons, a special equestrian athlete training plan to make me stronger and more balanced, enough sleep, sports massage, chiro....everything

My theory being; if we don't make it, at least I tried as hard as I possibly can. And if I get the opportunity to ride this horse in top hat and tails, that will be a dream come true.


I think it will be very interesting to see the results of this so I'm going to blog carefully and consistently to observe what works and what doesn't make much difference.

My biggest obstacles are hours in the day but hey ho.


In other news, I now part own a once feral black welsh cob who is being produced for sale. We've had a few hiccups along the way, but he's now ticking along nicely.  I've also passed my HGV so the sky is the limit! Now I ought to stop chatting and get on with things..

He's still got it - Aston Le Walls 1

We had very civilised times for our first outing of the season - last to go with a 3.30pm dressage meant that despite the 1.5 hour trip, I didn't even start bathing until 9.30am!

We arrived in good time and I set off to walk the course. There were a few questions - I was surprised to see a double of corners at 5 (and promptly saw someone get eliminated there), we also had a step up, step down to a skinny and a couple of angled combinations. I was very excited!

Squirrel warmed up nicely for the dressage although it was only after I dropped my whip that he started swinging from behind like he has been at home. Unfortunately we lost the connection a little in the test and were marked down for having a slightly unsteady contact, and we also struck off on the wrong leg for one canter. We scored 34.5 which left us midway in the section. I need to do some work on our dressage as we used to be very strong in this phase and seem to have slipped in the last year. Mind you, we are in open sections now so perhaps that makes the difference?

I was pleased to see the show jumping demanded riding with several dog legs and related distances opposed to the usual figure of 8! This kind of course suits Squirrel better as he's less inclined to get too onward bound. He was pinging in the warm up so I headed over a little early. We got a nice canter and popped fence one. We had fence 2 down which, for once, I'm going to say was his pole as  I placed him well and he had a good canter. Very rare for him to touch a fence without me messing up so I shan't complain! Popped fence 3, were onward bound into fence 4 which he tapped but it stayed. Came round the corner to the oxer at 5 and we were a long way off so I gave him a kick, he responded by lengthening then ballooning over it. Pro photographer got an extremely funny photo which in hindsight, I wish I bought...we ahem galloped at fence 6, I managed to get him back for the double and the last two fences so finished on 4 faults.

Then FINALLY, after what feels like a lifetime of waiting, it was cross country time! I was a little concerned how the sun would effect him, as it was very low and in some directions it was right in your line of sight and rather blinding.

He stormed out the start box and ate up the first 4 fences in quick succession. I shortened him before the double of corners, kept my outside rein and elbow close to my side and my shoulders back, I felt him lock on and he knew what to do. Next couple of fences were a simple chair and a brush fence, then it was the step combo. I shortened him and got him bouncy, he bounded up, I took a half halt, popped down the drop, channelled him for the skinny but he read it and popped through straight as a die. Next was a hay wagon type table which was fine, then the water.

Decent size brush, couple of strides to splash in then up a ramp over a log and down again. He can be a little looky at water but not today, stayed in canter through the water, then quickly settled back into his rhythm. We jumped the next few fences out of a gallop, then came round a corner to two angled pheasant feeders on two strides. Despite being blinded by the sun, he listened and popped through happy as larry. Then another table, and the next combination was a table, two strides to a brush on an angle. Again we couldn't see a thing but he popped through anyway. Galloped to the last and finished! What a ride!  I barely put my leg on, he understood every question and delivered.

We had..ahem....13 too fast penalties. We weren't the only ones; several went too fast, but to be honest, I don't care. We weren't in the running for a placing anyway, and the fact he felt so keen and happy to do his job means the world to me.

On the way home we had a disaster where the alternator on the lorry broke and we suddenly had no lights! We managed to pull into a layby and awaited rescue. After much debating with the recovery man, we managed to nurse the lorry to a nearby services to avoid having to shut the A34 whilst Squirrel was loaded onto the horse transport. My dad stayed with the lorry which went straight to the garage, and I finally picked him up at almost midnight! What a day!

Hopefully that will be fixed in time for Munstead at the end of March, and then I'm putting him into the Novice at Bovington! If he isn't happy this time trying to step up, he will stay at BE100. He's too special to push, but for now, whilst he feels better than ever, we will give it a go!

And it's happening!

The event season has started!

Off to Aston Le Walls today for the BE100 open on Squirrel. He is going better than ever, doesn't think he's a day over 8 and feels incredible.

I WILL post a big update from the last 18 months or so as soon as I find the time - I could seriously do with 32 hours in the day!

A tribute to my greatest supporter

When I was 5 and I completed a course of swimming lessons, my parents made a fatal mistake of asking what hobby I would like to pursue next.

Horses. My dad wasn't keen. Too expensive, too dangerous, the riding school was too far away. But my mum agreed. She found a riding school which was cheaper; it wasn't accredited and after learning how to rise to the trot in a field, you were let loose out hacking, progressively put on ponies trickier and trickier.

I ended up spending seven happy years there. Saturdays became Riding School day where my sister and I were turfed out the car at 8am and picked up again at 5.30pm. We poo picked and mucked out and hayed and fed and rode ponies bareback down to the fields.

Then my sister bought a horse, and my mum decided to get me a pony; Willow, on loan. My mum was terrified of horses. She could just about (and not without shaking) hold the end of a leadrope whilst my gentle pony nibbled on some grass. The moment I set foot in the show ring I caught the bug, and instantly our lives transformed.

We started competing every weekend. If I hadn't arranged something, my mum would ask where we were going. I simply left entry forms on the kitchen table with a postcode, and each Sunday my mum would pack the car and off we went.

I had horrendous nerves. I used to stress, snap and bitch most of the time before entering the ring and if it went wrong; woe betide anyone who crossed my path. I grew up (in time!) with more patience and my mum learnt that if I bit her head off within 15 minutes of warming up not to take it personally.

When Willow went lame, she happily bought me another pony. When that pony had problems, she threw time and money into it, determined to find out what was wrong. When I planned to go to university, she was more devastated at the loss of competitions than at me moving five hours away.

When  I decided to get a horse on loan that summer to compete before I moved, she was thrilled to once again take on the role of driver, supporter, biscuit feeder, cameraman and financer. When  I decided to not go to university and pursue horses instead, she couldn't of been happier for me.

When  I moved to work on a professional yard, she thought nothing of driving the lorry an hour to that yard the night before an event, treat us to a takeaway, camp in the lorry then get up at the crack of dawn to take me to an event.

An event 200 miles away?  No problem. A £500 entry for a three day I had no hope of winning? No problem. Camping in the lorry in sub zero temperatures the first weekend of March?  No problem. Twelve hours in the pouring rain and howling wind for a 3 minute cross country round? No problem. The horse needed physio/chiro/new saddle/vet treatment/more equipment (delete as applicable). No problem.

Nothing was too much effort or too expensive when it came to horses and my dreams. She spent hours preparing for events, helping me jump the horses, and gradually even plucked up the courage for the odd ride.

When I fell off, she kept her distance until I wasn't angry at myself anymore, then smiled and said nevermind and feed me cookies. When I won, she would embarrass me by cheering. If I wanted to buy a professional photo, she would get carried away and buy three.

It was a way of life for her, and one she wouldn't swap for the world.

In the middle of August 2014, she was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer. On the 21st October, my amazing mum passed away.

It's been a tough time. I had to have my two retired ponies put to sleep as financially and timewise I couldn't cope. We've picked up the pieces, and both horses are on great form, and Squirrel is entered for Aston-le-Walls on the 7th March.

I will update on our comings and goings soon, but this is a well deserved tribute to the most amazing groom, chauffer, financer, photographer and supporter any young rider could wish to have.


Thank you mum, thanks for everything.

My absence and two new faces

I apologise for neglecting my blog especially as although not eventing, plenty has been going on behind the scenes at Team One Eye.

Back in October, life as I knew it fell apart within a week. Firstly learning of Squirrel's ligament issue, and a week later, my fiancée left me. Heart broken and devastated doesn't cover it. I was broken. It took me a very long time to pull myself together. I've come back better for it, and life is looking very good for me now.

The other reason it's taken me so long to update is that I've had some serious trouble playing videos on my laptop but I think I've managed to fix that now.

So we'll start with the new faces.

I have a fantastic new client who is hopefully going to be a key part in the progression of my career as an event rider and producer. I've backed two horses for him and am currently riding them away. One may shortly be coming home with me to compete and sell on, the other is staying with him for now as a potential eventer.

So I'd firstly like to introduce Poppet.

 

Sorry for the shocking photo of what is actually a very pretty pony! Apparently I don't have any decent photos of her yet.

 

Poppet is a 14hh New Forest x Thoroughbred. She was home bred by my client but unfortunately popped out far too small for him. Throughout the backing process she has been utterly fantastic. She hasn't put a foot wrong and very quickly progressed to walk/trot/canter and hacking out alone/in company. She's very plucky and forward going but most importantly, very safe.

 

We're currently working on her accepting the contact better as she's a bit fidgety in it, and also just slowing her down as she has a tendency to rush. She's improving day by day though, and hopefully she'll be coming home with me in the next week or so for me to continue her education, get her out competing and then sell on.

 

Secondly, we have Flash.



Flash is a 15.2hh sports horse by Spirit Freedom who is by Jumbo, out of an eventing mare. Despite being a lovely, sweet boy, the backing process with him wasn't quite so easy. He was fantastic during ground work/long reining/introducing tack and me initially sitting on him. However the first time I sat on him and was led round, he panicked, reared and threw himself over backwards!

Luckily I leapt out the way in time, but we had to spend a good few weeks just being led around in walk as he was very tense and worried. Eventually he started to relax and now we're making strides. He's schooling nicely in walk, trot and canter and has lovely paces. He took a little longer to get his confidence hacking out alone but has never shown any inclination to rear again and is bombproof in traffic.

He has beautiful movement and is built like a little compact power house so it will be exciting to start jumping him! Dean, his owner, also bred him and is going to hold on to him for now to see whether he will event.

I'm feeling extremely fortunate to have this opportunity as Dean is a keen event horse owner - used to own a 3 star horse but sold it to fund building a house  - and wants to get back into owning, but keeping the horses at home. He doesn't like to jump and once he has built some more equestrian facilities, is keen to buy some young horses to produce through the rankings BE and sell on. I'm sitting tight and hoping I'll be offered the rides!

Squirrel is back!

Expect a mammoth post soon once I figure out how to get video stills off my camera on windows 8 because we are back in business, and Lexi is turning into a fantastic little horse.

I've got a lot to catch up on and will crack on with that soon!