is that you can't tell who DOES read it and by trying to keep it anonymous, it can also be misconstrued and you either get drawn into something unwittingly that isn't your battle OR someone else (unwittingly or otherwise) draws you into something.
Can't win can you?
Oh well.
Boring rambles continue.
Markers are done so 60m arena here I come, although due to various stuff I probably won't get chance to mark it out til the weekend :(
Haven't seen ponio tonight as H checked them for me and went straight swimming :) Need to get poo picking fix tomorrow night I think LOL
I am going to go to sleep tonight dreaming of orange balls and money. Will be interesting to see how people de-code that one. It'll only be a matter of time before I find out I guess LOL
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Monday, 25 May 2009
Cream Crackered
Helped H with spotty pony at show - they did very very good. He's such a dude, walked onto lorry, had a few whinnies there and a couple of bounces so he got dragged into the best turned out to keep him occupied. 4th :thumbs:
Then was his spotty class which he only went and won!! bless his cotton socks!!
THen home, trotted Squirt up who is still lame so mum is going to call vets tomorrow and get him booked in for a full workup.
Then went for a little tootle.
Then muck picked both fields. Again. I'm obsessed!!!
Swimming tomorrow.
Had I not eaten like a pig today I would be skinny but oh well.
Then was his spotty class which he only went and won!! bless his cotton socks!!
THen home, trotted Squirt up who is still lame so mum is going to call vets tomorrow and get him booked in for a full workup.
Then went for a little tootle.
Then muck picked both fields. Again. I'm obsessed!!!
Swimming tomorrow.
Had I not eaten like a pig today I would be skinny but oh well.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Back in action
Took T for a walk today. Accidently went up fields rather than round estate. Accidentally had a canter instead of a trot.
Happy pony. He really put a smile on my face today :)
Bathed Squirt and T. Gold star to the fat itchy one - just stood there while we jet hosed him, he loved it :)
Poo picked both fields (splodgy one is now in with Squirt and T is now in with the old 'un on lots of grass). Have two aliens rather than ponies though :lol:
Feeling a bit meep. Everyone has shows booked up and I was looking forward to my busy weeked (dressage Sat, fun ride Sun) but it looks now like I might not be able to do either as cousin's 18th party is now that weekend, in Wales. Am also in Wales with OH two weeks after that so think June will be a quiet month :(
Midland IDHS Show in July though so looking forward to that and if he does OK there (he did well last year but he was ill and we didn't set the ring alight because of him being ill) then may consider the National IDHS Show in Sept as it's at Weston Lawns. Further out of my normal area but close enough to not be able to justify not going!
Was very quiet at the yard today. Strange.
Happy pony. He really put a smile on my face today :)
Bathed Squirt and T. Gold star to the fat itchy one - just stood there while we jet hosed him, he loved it :)
Poo picked both fields (splodgy one is now in with Squirt and T is now in with the old 'un on lots of grass). Have two aliens rather than ponies though :lol:
Feeling a bit meep. Everyone has shows booked up and I was looking forward to my busy weeked (dressage Sat, fun ride Sun) but it looks now like I might not be able to do either as cousin's 18th party is now that weekend, in Wales. Am also in Wales with OH two weeks after that so think June will be a quiet month :(
Midland IDHS Show in July though so looking forward to that and if he does OK there (he did well last year but he was ill and we didn't set the ring alight because of him being ill) then may consider the National IDHS Show in Sept as it's at Weston Lawns. Further out of my normal area but close enough to not be able to justify not going!
Was very quiet at the yard today. Strange.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Interesting, but long, night
Helped with RC dressage show tonight. Don't think I did very much other than just tell people they were next in etc.
Seemed to run OK and made a couple of more friends etc.
Was talking to dressage team lady and really really wish the club wasn't in Area 20 - would love to do some RC stuff but it's all just way too far away :(
Cousin's 18th birthday party on the day of my next dressage and the night before the fun ride. Argh. Dunno what to do. Said party is in Wales.
Really want to ride :(
Seemed to run OK and made a couple of more friends etc.
Was talking to dressage team lady and really really wish the club wasn't in Area 20 - would love to do some RC stuff but it's all just way too far away :(
Cousin's 18th birthday party on the day of my next dressage and the night before the fun ride. Argh. Dunno what to do. Said party is in Wales.
Really want to ride :(
Monday, 18 May 2009
Good Pony
Got 2nd test sheet finally from last week. 66.6%, 4 points, 4th place - all with a bad back. Gotta love him!
IDHS schedule came today too. Only one thing I can do, Ridden ISH Class. Could do the inhand I guess. Hmmm.......
No dressage :(
Beffy .... fancy doing performance class on him? tis Showjumping and I'm not going to do it lol
*waves to Adele*
IDHS schedule came today too. Only one thing I can do, Ridden ISH Class. Could do the inhand I guess. Hmmm.......
No dressage :(
Beffy .... fancy doing performance class on him? tis Showjumping and I'm not going to do it lol
*waves to Adele*
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Smart pony
Many clipped, beard trimmed, legs trimmed, ears trimmed. Smart boy.
Friend who weighs nothing rode him round the block, think he enjoyed that. He looked after her :)
Helped with spotty training and that was about it for me today!!
Rain is horrid. Love indoor school!!
Friend who weighs nothing rode him round the block, think he enjoyed that. He looked after her :)
Helped with spotty training and that was about it for me today!!
Rain is horrid. Love indoor school!!
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Secret Blog
Don't think anyone reads my blog any more since it's moved from SU. This is a good thing although funny how every Tom, Dick and Harry read it on there and reported it back to people who weren't on SU and then it all got twisted and lots of problems were caused!
I miss the input from a few people whose opinions I respect but on the whole it's far better to be here, out in the open than have my blog where only a few people can see it and then have paranoia and/or chinese whispers take over.
Not got much to report really. Squirt was good today for his re-freezemark. Although typically once it had a Grade 1 over it, it was only the bottom part of his E that wasn't great.
Fried field opposite stables, H has had three bloody good belts off it (it's connected to the mains. Ha) so hopefully he'll pack it in now, shoving his head over the fence.
Muck picked. Tidied old haylage out. Ummmm what else...
Oh found an alternative use for the t shirt the dogs chewed up .... Sam wore it as a dog coat today cos he was cold LOL. So J has gone to t shirt place to see how much the kids ones are and if there's any really small ones. If so, he can have a t shirt as a dog coat with the yard logo on lol.
Still want great-great-grandad's stationary engine company "logo" on a t shirt cos i'm very proud of what he achieved and i think it'd look great. The whole family can have one if they want one :)
Had some rain the last two days and Oh My Fucking God. Our grass. My two are in a small paddock (for us) and in the week I started to get worried as there was hardly any grass in there, starting to look mossy and could see the earth. Now we've had rain. Oh my god. It's growing like weeds!!!!! So am happy that we're not going to trash the field. It's gone a very lime green colour too so it'll go WHOOOOOSH this next week I reckon!
Plotted yard dressage thing today. Hopefully YO will say we can invite a few people to do it with us too :) Need to find someone who would judge it for us but have a couple of people in mind :)
That's about it really! Am bored having no horse to ride and said horse is also bored. May take him for a little road tootle tomorrow to alleviate said boredom. Am sure just walking for 10 mins would be OK.
Am contemplating equilibrium pad. I know they're not a replacement for a proper warm up but T-Jay really hates warm up arenas - people zipping left right and centre and they always always seem to get really close to him, trap him on the rails and he is absolutely terrified of it. I have no idea why but like last week, I couldn't warm up. I had to toss up between warming up but getting him tense and upset or leaving him standing relaxed but compete with no warm up. Am thinking if I at least had a massage pad thing it would HELP if I can't warm up properly?
He's also very good at being "not quite right" so am wondering if it would help with that too? Although I really wouldn't want to mask anything but might just mean we can go a bit longer between having his back done?
I miss the input from a few people whose opinions I respect but on the whole it's far better to be here, out in the open than have my blog where only a few people can see it and then have paranoia and/or chinese whispers take over.
Not got much to report really. Squirt was good today for his re-freezemark. Although typically once it had a Grade 1 over it, it was only the bottom part of his E that wasn't great.
Fried field opposite stables, H has had three bloody good belts off it (it's connected to the mains. Ha) so hopefully he'll pack it in now, shoving his head over the fence.
Muck picked. Tidied old haylage out. Ummmm what else...
Oh found an alternative use for the t shirt the dogs chewed up .... Sam wore it as a dog coat today cos he was cold LOL. So J has gone to t shirt place to see how much the kids ones are and if there's any really small ones. If so, he can have a t shirt as a dog coat with the yard logo on lol.
Still want great-great-grandad's stationary engine company "logo" on a t shirt cos i'm very proud of what he achieved and i think it'd look great. The whole family can have one if they want one :)
Had some rain the last two days and Oh My Fucking God. Our grass. My two are in a small paddock (for us) and in the week I started to get worried as there was hardly any grass in there, starting to look mossy and could see the earth. Now we've had rain. Oh my god. It's growing like weeds!!!!! So am happy that we're not going to trash the field. It's gone a very lime green colour too so it'll go WHOOOOOSH this next week I reckon!
Plotted yard dressage thing today. Hopefully YO will say we can invite a few people to do it with us too :) Need to find someone who would judge it for us but have a couple of people in mind :)
That's about it really! Am bored having no horse to ride and said horse is also bored. May take him for a little road tootle tomorrow to alleviate said boredom. Am sure just walking for 10 mins would be OK.
Am contemplating equilibrium pad. I know they're not a replacement for a proper warm up but T-Jay really hates warm up arenas - people zipping left right and centre and they always always seem to get really close to him, trap him on the rails and he is absolutely terrified of it. I have no idea why but like last week, I couldn't warm up. I had to toss up between warming up but getting him tense and upset or leaving him standing relaxed but compete with no warm up. Am thinking if I at least had a massage pad thing it would HELP if I can't warm up properly?
He's also very good at being "not quite right" so am wondering if it would help with that too? Although I really wouldn't want to mask anything but might just mean we can go a bit longer between having his back done?
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Hyperventilating...
Very very very expensive time coming up eeeeeeek and busy!
Off out for tea tomorrow, yum yum yum. Really shouldn't as really should be on total food ban but....
Squirt is getting re-freezemarked on Saturday. That'll please him. Not.
Farrier on Monday to both of them. Almost died of shock tonight. Text farrier last night as is my usual habit then rang tonight (always text the day before so he knows why i'm ringing and so he can check his book) and he answered without it even ringing!!! Anyway, he's coming Monday morning wow.
Then also called the chiro and she's coming Friday. Have arranged for someone to trot them up for me too.
Called saddler and Squirt's saddle'll be another 3 weeks. PHEW! After the above little lot, I really need that time to get the pennies together!!!
Does mean though that assuming I have a dressage saddle off him and assuming I have it measured when Squirt's saddle comes, I'm looking at 9 weeks for my saddle. Then again, in hindsight, that's not too bad really....
T's having a make over this weekend. Beard trimmed. Ears trimmed. Mane clipped. Mane pulled. Tail trimmed and pulled. Most importantly, FEATHERS off!!! He's ISH, he's not supposed to have feathers to rival a shire!
Off out for tea tomorrow, yum yum yum. Really shouldn't as really should be on total food ban but....
Squirt is getting re-freezemarked on Saturday. That'll please him. Not.
Farrier on Monday to both of them. Almost died of shock tonight. Text farrier last night as is my usual habit then rang tonight (always text the day before so he knows why i'm ringing and so he can check his book) and he answered without it even ringing!!! Anyway, he's coming Monday morning wow.
Then also called the chiro and she's coming Friday. Have arranged for someone to trot them up for me too.
Called saddler and Squirt's saddle'll be another 3 weeks. PHEW! After the above little lot, I really need that time to get the pennies together!!!
Does mean though that assuming I have a dressage saddle off him and assuming I have it measured when Squirt's saddle comes, I'm looking at 9 weeks for my saddle. Then again, in hindsight, that's not too bad really....
T's having a make over this weekend. Beard trimmed. Ears trimmed. Mane clipped. Mane pulled. Tail trimmed and pulled. Most importantly, FEATHERS off!!! He's ISH, he's not supposed to have feathers to rival a shire!
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Poorly pony
Well when I was being paranoid on Sat, it turns out I wasn't. He's def not right.
He's OK out hacking but took him in the school tonight for a lesson. Instructor said we needed to work on medium trot as we got a 5 on Sat for medium trot which we haven't had for aaaaaaaaaages, I said he felt lame but not lame. Asked for trot and she agreed he's not right.
Feels like something weird with his shoulders. Chucked instructor up (well, she bravely/gamely volunteered to ride so I could watch - yeh yeh, is just so she could get up on him!) and was quite surprised at just how much he's not stretching his forelegs forward. No flick there at all.
Back end def not right either. Instructor said absolutely nothing there today, he was running on empty. Didn't want the contact, didn't want to go forward and def not comfortable.
Have rung the chiro already so fingers crossed can get him sorted soon :)
Interestingly enough, I noticed yesterday that his saddle had scuffed his back and made a mental note to get saddler to check it again when S's saddle is delivered but maybe it's cos he's so tight? Instructor also put stirrups to what she thought was level but once she got off, she could see they were about a hole out so mental note there for myself to not just assume it's the saddle, it can be the horse!
He also has a clanky hind shoe grrrrrr but will just tootle him out hacking and walking until ack lady comes so hopefully can get another week or two out of his shoe before it falls off.
Could really do without spending more money just at the moment!
Poor pony :( 63.6%, 3rd place and 3 more points when he has a sore "back" :(
Can't get on BD site to see if results are up for my 2nd test. Damn centres that don't put scores online and damn that BD website, have never known such an unreliable site!!!
He's OK out hacking but took him in the school tonight for a lesson. Instructor said we needed to work on medium trot as we got a 5 on Sat for medium trot which we haven't had for aaaaaaaaaages, I said he felt lame but not lame. Asked for trot and she agreed he's not right.
Feels like something weird with his shoulders. Chucked instructor up (well, she bravely/gamely volunteered to ride so I could watch - yeh yeh, is just so she could get up on him!) and was quite surprised at just how much he's not stretching his forelegs forward. No flick there at all.
Back end def not right either. Instructor said absolutely nothing there today, he was running on empty. Didn't want the contact, didn't want to go forward and def not comfortable.
Have rung the chiro already so fingers crossed can get him sorted soon :)
Interestingly enough, I noticed yesterday that his saddle had scuffed his back and made a mental note to get saddler to check it again when S's saddle is delivered but maybe it's cos he's so tight? Instructor also put stirrups to what she thought was level but once she got off, she could see they were about a hole out so mental note there for myself to not just assume it's the saddle, it can be the horse!
He also has a clanky hind shoe grrrrrr but will just tootle him out hacking and walking until ack lady comes so hopefully can get another week or two out of his shoe before it falls off.
Could really do without spending more money just at the moment!
Poor pony :( 63.6%, 3rd place and 3 more points when he has a sore "back" :(
Can't get on BD site to see if results are up for my 2nd test. Damn centres that don't put scores online and damn that BD website, have never known such an unreliable site!!!
Monday, 11 May 2009
More hackies
Managed to wangle the afternoon off work today so skipped off to the yard with the intention of raking school, sprinkling school and muck picking but instead got conned into riding but am very glad I did :)
Went down and whilst I was raking the school, C appeared. She was avoiding revision so helped me do the school so it was only fair I went out with her for a hack wasn't it????
Had a gorgeous long fast canter up the one field, there's crops in there but we rode in the tractor tracks so didn't destroy any and the ground was much better than the baked pathon the outside of the field.
Round the fields, few more canters, lovely :biggrin:
Then back, sprinkled school, cleaned water out, got pony in again (he went in pylon field, in to be ridden, out in pylon field then came back in for his tea) and left him in with S for mum to turn out.
Off I tootled to the physio and have the all clear to not need to go back unless I think I need to - whoooo!
Mum's there now, I'm home and about to get ready to go to OH's :)
I love the sun. I love my pony.
Lesson tomorrow then may give him Wed off but he'll have Thurs off as I'll be swimming so hmmmmm.......
Fatclub on Wed won't be good this week :(
Went down and whilst I was raking the school, C appeared. She was avoiding revision so helped me do the school so it was only fair I went out with her for a hack wasn't it????
Had a gorgeous long fast canter up the one field, there's crops in there but we rode in the tractor tracks so didn't destroy any and the ground was much better than the baked pathon the outside of the field.
Round the fields, few more canters, lovely :biggrin:
Then back, sprinkled school, cleaned water out, got pony in again (he went in pylon field, in to be ridden, out in pylon field then came back in for his tea) and left him in with S for mum to turn out.
Off I tootled to the physio and have the all clear to not need to go back unless I think I need to - whoooo!
Mum's there now, I'm home and about to get ready to go to OH's :)
I love the sun. I love my pony.
Lesson tomorrow then may give him Wed off but he'll have Thurs off as I'll be swimming so hmmmmm.......
Fatclub on Wed won't be good this week :(
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Hackety Hackety
Had a LOVELY hack today.
Friend has taken on a yard up the road so she came down and I showed her some of the gallops.
Had a REALLY nice ride. Ponio didn't even buck behind, all good :)
He had a shower when he got back and this year, hoo rah finally, he's not actually that bad to be hosed off at all :)
Did some muck picking, topped up water and chucked ponies out.
Can't wait for S's saddle to come, hope he's sound to try it out though!!
Organising a yard dressage thing ... is getting complicated already but am sure it'll be worth it!
Friend has taken on a yard up the road so she came down and I showed her some of the gallops.
Had a REALLY nice ride. Ponio didn't even buck behind, all good :)
He had a shower when he got back and this year, hoo rah finally, he's not actually that bad to be hosed off at all :)
Did some muck picking, topped up water and chucked ponies out.
Can't wait for S's saddle to come, hope he's sound to try it out though!!
Organising a yard dressage thing ... is getting complicated already but am sure it'll be worth it!
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Stressage it is not...
not sure it's entirely DREssage yet either but it's definitely not stressage.
Little worried this morning at 9am when I got to yard that I hadn't cleaned tack, plaited pony, sorted lorry, done stables or anything and I was due to leave at 10:30am BUT... all fell into place lovely.
I did haynets and waters and sorted lorry out ie filled water canister and unlocked all the doors (unless you unlock them from the outside, you can't get in, even if you unlock them inside lol).
Then I started to clean tack and H turned up so she did my bridle while I did saddle, boots, gaiters and stirrups. Piled all that into lorry. Fetched pony. Mum groomed him while I plaited.
All hail QuickBraid or whatever it is. Fab stuff. Got 10 plaits in his mane :thud: bearing in mind,when I first plaited him, I had 26 .... this is a great improvement and the Quickbraid meant I could get the plaits a bit chunkier without them springing out.
Lorry started first time. Pony loaded without hesitation. Minor worry when we couldn't remember the way there but just as we got to J6, H piped up that that was the right junction (we had been aiming for 7 lol)
Got there with 50 mins to spare (!) so had a sausage bap :fat: then pony unloaded cool as a cucumber, didn't move a muscle to have bum washed (cow pat like poo splatted on it tut) and even put his head down for H to put his bridle on.
Clambered on and almost died at the warm up, it was rammed. There were 11 people in there. Tried to warm up but it just didn't happen. They were running Medium and Adv Medium classes at the same time as my lowly novice classes so it was really busy and T-Jay just got upset by all the horses coming towards him, especially those going sideways so we stood outside and snoozed.
Went into N35 having not even had a canter in the warm up! Minor steering trouble in canter on one circle but otherwise he was nice. Didn't feel like he had much sparkle, felt quite asleep but turns out we got 64.61% and third place - whooo so more points and a rossie to go with it too.
However, the two things that I am most pleased about are the 8 we got again for FWLR and the 7 I got for my position & seat. I'm dead chuffed with those.
Hung around for an hour, managed to get into the warm up arena before N38 but he just did everything as I asked and was fine so let him go back to sleep to be honest, he literally had his chin resting on the fence!!!
Pleased with N38 but don't know how we did as we came away before my scores went up and I was in the upper half of the class so we'd have had to have waited hours for sheet.
Trundled up the ramp with no problems to come home and travelled, as always, like a dream.
Am very pleased with him today. He's a superstar :)
oh oh oh AND I wore my "dressage oss" t shirt, looked fab :D
Little worried this morning at 9am when I got to yard that I hadn't cleaned tack, plaited pony, sorted lorry, done stables or anything and I was due to leave at 10:30am BUT... all fell into place lovely.
I did haynets and waters and sorted lorry out ie filled water canister and unlocked all the doors (unless you unlock them from the outside, you can't get in, even if you unlock them inside lol).
Then I started to clean tack and H turned up so she did my bridle while I did saddle, boots, gaiters and stirrups. Piled all that into lorry. Fetched pony. Mum groomed him while I plaited.
All hail QuickBraid or whatever it is. Fab stuff. Got 10 plaits in his mane :thud: bearing in mind,when I first plaited him, I had 26 .... this is a great improvement and the Quickbraid meant I could get the plaits a bit chunkier without them springing out.
Lorry started first time. Pony loaded without hesitation. Minor worry when we couldn't remember the way there but just as we got to J6, H piped up that that was the right junction (we had been aiming for 7 lol)
Got there with 50 mins to spare (!) so had a sausage bap :fat: then pony unloaded cool as a cucumber, didn't move a muscle to have bum washed (cow pat like poo splatted on it tut) and even put his head down for H to put his bridle on.
Clambered on and almost died at the warm up, it was rammed. There were 11 people in there. Tried to warm up but it just didn't happen. They were running Medium and Adv Medium classes at the same time as my lowly novice classes so it was really busy and T-Jay just got upset by all the horses coming towards him, especially those going sideways so we stood outside and snoozed.
Went into N35 having not even had a canter in the warm up! Minor steering trouble in canter on one circle but otherwise he was nice. Didn't feel like he had much sparkle, felt quite asleep but turns out we got 64.61% and third place - whooo so more points and a rossie to go with it too.
However, the two things that I am most pleased about are the 8 we got again for FWLR and the 7 I got for my position & seat. I'm dead chuffed with those.
Hung around for an hour, managed to get into the warm up arena before N38 but he just did everything as I asked and was fine so let him go back to sleep to be honest, he literally had his chin resting on the fence!!!
Pleased with N38 but don't know how we did as we came away before my scores went up and I was in the upper half of the class so we'd have had to have waited hours for sheet.
Trundled up the ramp with no problems to come home and travelled, as always, like a dream.
Am very pleased with him today. He's a superstar :)
oh oh oh AND I wore my "dressage oss" t shirt, looked fab :D
Friday, 8 May 2009
Pooped
Am all shopped out. Badminton was lovely on a Fri, although def not as many bargains as on a Sunday so think will revert back to Sunday next year. Major plus point about a Fri is that the toilets were reasonably clean, no queues and there was toilet paper in them so there were some big benefits to going on a Fri too.
Got there nice and easy, first stall and caught up with an old Uni friend. Was actually REALLY nice to see her as haven't seen her in real life since we left Uni.
Had no coat, doh so the first thing I bought was a coat. £56 down to £35. Ariat, lovely. I really really tried to get the £110 and £120 (down to £20!!!) to look nice on me but the £35 one just won hands down every time so I bought that and didn't actually take it off all day!
Also bought QuickBraid spray, or something like that, tack cleaning stuff, 3 x dog beds (they chew them, they die!) and some VERY expensive bloody spur straps from Classic Dressage, WHY did I want brown boots and brown straps to go with them?! Think that was actually it other than food!
Cleaning tack tomorrow and am seriously regretting booking in for dressage tomorrow. Feel totally and compeltely and utterly unprepared!!
Got there nice and easy, first stall and caught up with an old Uni friend. Was actually REALLY nice to see her as haven't seen her in real life since we left Uni.
Had no coat, doh so the first thing I bought was a coat. £56 down to £35. Ariat, lovely. I really really tried to get the £110 and £120 (down to £20!!!) to look nice on me but the £35 one just won hands down every time so I bought that and didn't actually take it off all day!
Also bought QuickBraid spray, or something like that, tack cleaning stuff, 3 x dog beds (they chew them, they die!) and some VERY expensive bloody spur straps from Classic Dressage, WHY did I want brown boots and brown straps to go with them?! Think that was actually it other than food!
Cleaning tack tomorrow and am seriously regretting booking in for dressage tomorrow. Feel totally and compeltely and utterly unprepared!!
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Schooling Ponderings
Last night went into school, very dusty *cough, cough* think it needs it's first sprinkle!
Anyway, all good. Did pretty much what I asked, when I asked. Did most of it with no stirrups cue legs SCREAMING!
Have noticed that putting stirrups down is definitely making me put foot properly in stirrup and in turn making me sit up taller, as does consciously thinking about bringing my knee away from the saddle.
Nowt much to report about last night (3.5lb off at fat club so am off the starters blocks at least!)
Tonight it was such a nice night that we went into the winter fields again. Definite downwards slope in there but he definitely takes the piss with it. On the left rein he's fine, absolutely lovely but on the right it's showing up weakness on my part.
I am trying very hard to not take a hold of him, to let him find his own balance and to steady him using my own position rather than hands but he really does start to take the pee on the right rein and it took me a good 120m to get him to turn right. Once I properly put my left leg on to block that shoulder he did turn but also accelerated.
Took me 10 mins or so to get a proper circle on that rein so did two then called it a day.
Definitely need a lesson in there next time. Thinking knees away from saddle is also causing me to sit up straight, arse in saddle and everything is starting to fall into place. I've almost got the same canter WITH stirrups as without.
Would have liked to have ridden no stirrups in the field today but on the right rein, even in trot, he really does start to tank so think we need to ride in there more before I do.
Competing Sat, not learnt tests. At Badminton tomorrow but guessing I'll be home in time to clean tack and learn tests.... I hope anyway!!!!
Anyway, all good. Did pretty much what I asked, when I asked. Did most of it with no stirrups cue legs SCREAMING!
Have noticed that putting stirrups down is definitely making me put foot properly in stirrup and in turn making me sit up taller, as does consciously thinking about bringing my knee away from the saddle.
Nowt much to report about last night (3.5lb off at fat club so am off the starters blocks at least!)
Tonight it was such a nice night that we went into the winter fields again. Definite downwards slope in there but he definitely takes the piss with it. On the left rein he's fine, absolutely lovely but on the right it's showing up weakness on my part.
I am trying very hard to not take a hold of him, to let him find his own balance and to steady him using my own position rather than hands but he really does start to take the pee on the right rein and it took me a good 120m to get him to turn right. Once I properly put my left leg on to block that shoulder he did turn but also accelerated.
Took me 10 mins or so to get a proper circle on that rein so did two then called it a day.
Definitely need a lesson in there next time. Thinking knees away from saddle is also causing me to sit up straight, arse in saddle and everything is starting to fall into place. I've almost got the same canter WITH stirrups as without.
Would have liked to have ridden no stirrups in the field today but on the right rein, even in trot, he really does start to tank so think we need to ride in there more before I do.
Competing Sat, not learnt tests. At Badminton tomorrow but guessing I'll be home in time to clean tack and learn tests.... I hope anyway!!!!
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Not a good week
Dog has been ill so have been disinfecting lots.
T has turned into a pony eating monster and hurt another horse in the field :( Naughty naughty pony. It's SO unlike him that I hope it won't ever be repeated but until I'm brave enough to put him in with other horses, he's stuck with R.
Am all muck picked out as did about 7 barrows yesterday but my field is clear and I did some in what was T-Jay's day field to cover his poo and for the friend who drove the lorry on Sunday (cos she had planned to muck pick in that time)
Accident near work which meant I had to do a 10 mile detour to avoid getting stuck in masses of traffic, however it did work as I was only 15 mins late rather than the 2hours the radio was saying I would be. Still meant I missed physio appointment though and was really looking forward to physio as my elow got jolted around a it on Sunday and has been a bit sore since :(
Went swimming though and did extra lengths.
Fat club tomorrow, first weigh in and I'm terrified I won't have lost any weight. I don't see how I could possibly lose weight with what I've been eating this week!
Can't get hold of where I'm competing on Sat for dressage times. They say to call between 4pm and 7pm, I called constantly from 6.45pm onwards but no answer. Have left a message. Hope they don't give my times away!!!
Need to ride the naughty pony. Maybe time off has gone to his head? Have lost habit of riding lots last couple of weeks due to twisted shoe but no excuse now.
Am plotting stuff at yard. I am determined to get my 60m arena to practise in and it's actually going to be a reality, albeit a grass arena rather than a proper one but I'm not moaning - indoor school to stuffy anyhow in the summer :)
Am also planning next yard event - *sneaky grin*
T has turned into a pony eating monster and hurt another horse in the field :( Naughty naughty pony. It's SO unlike him that I hope it won't ever be repeated but until I'm brave enough to put him in with other horses, he's stuck with R.
Am all muck picked out as did about 7 barrows yesterday but my field is clear and I did some in what was T-Jay's day field to cover his poo and for the friend who drove the lorry on Sunday (cos she had planned to muck pick in that time)
Accident near work which meant I had to do a 10 mile detour to avoid getting stuck in masses of traffic, however it did work as I was only 15 mins late rather than the 2hours the radio was saying I would be. Still meant I missed physio appointment though and was really looking forward to physio as my elow got jolted around a it on Sunday and has been a bit sore since :(
Went swimming though and did extra lengths.
Fat club tomorrow, first weigh in and I'm terrified I won't have lost any weight. I don't see how I could possibly lose weight with what I've been eating this week!
Can't get hold of where I'm competing on Sat for dressage times. They say to call between 4pm and 7pm, I called constantly from 6.45pm onwards but no answer. Have left a message. Hope they don't give my times away!!!
Need to ride the naughty pony. Maybe time off has gone to his head? Have lost habit of riding lots last couple of weeks due to twisted shoe but no excuse now.
Am plotting stuff at yard. I am determined to get my 60m arena to practise in and it's actually going to be a reality, albeit a grass arena rather than a proper one but I'm not moaning - indoor school to stuffy anyhow in the summer :)
Am also planning next yard event - *sneaky grin*
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Show Day
No, not mine .... Friends.
H with spotty and A with G. Spotty's first show, A's first show, G's first show and H's first for a long time.
All went really well, very proud of all 4 of them.
It got a bit much for spotty on one instance but 99% of the time he was a sweetheart and he redeemed himself greatly in his class :nod:
My two got a day in the field, even got fed in the field which confused them greatly. Poo picking tomorrow but minus dogs because one of them is very sick, presumably after eating too much horse poo yesterday. Ugh.
H with spotty and A with G. Spotty's first show, A's first show, G's first show and H's first for a long time.
All went really well, very proud of all 4 of them.
It got a bit much for spotty on one instance but 99% of the time he was a sweetheart and he redeemed himself greatly in his class :nod:
My two got a day in the field, even got fed in the field which confused them greatly. Poo picking tomorrow but minus dogs because one of them is very sick, presumably after eating too much horse poo yesterday. Ugh.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Successful Day
although am covered in blisters :rollseyes:
Up at sparrows fart (or it felt like it) and took dogs for a walk. Always a good start to the morning, I love watching them hoon around the fields, even if Sam has started to bite me when I put Gertie & Keira's leads on *frowns*
Then home, showered and dyed hair. Only very subtle but is enough to cover the blond streaks which were poking through. Again. Had blonde streaks back in SEPTEMBER and it's been dyed at least 3 times since then but nope, they keep poking through!
Then off to t shirt place to pick up friend's yard t shirt, order my yard t shirt, take my brown t shirt up for dressage oss logo to be printed on ANDDDDDD buy a Wench t shirt.
Loving my wench one. Tis black with WENCH in a mock-Velocette logo on the front. Love it.
Yard t shirt and dressage oss t shirt will be ready for Thurs which means on Fri at Badders we can all walk round looking like clones with our yard t shirts on, jeans and Ariats lol
Talking of which, have worn mine for 4 hours today and thought I'd be finding blood in them when I took them off. Ouch. They WILL give for Badminton! They will , they will!!! (so first lot of blisters there...)
Then helped bathed spotty pony who promptly dug up wet straw in his stable, rolled in that and who is now muckier than when we started. Gotta love 'im!
Then muck picked hence more blisters.
Rode in the winter fields. Wasn't the most successful but was OK. He walks that way EVERY SINGLE DAY but under saddle, we spooked and star jumped the whole way tut.
Once in the back field, he wasn't toooooo bad but the swingy, relaxed trot never really came. However, we've not schooled in there for about 2, maybe even 3 years?? He was a bit nappy but cured that with a canter up the hill.
"Want to go to gate"
"no"
"shall"
"shan't"
"well i won't move then"
"ooooh look T-Jay, we could canter up the huuuuuuuuuuuge field"
"ooooh yes, let's mum!"
Ha. Sucker.
So then we did some cantering. I really wanted to work on the medium canter and on the transitions to/from but instead we ended up working on circles because he was very nappy on the right rein, after being fab on the left. As we went past the gap in the fence to get back to the gate, he'd chuck in a flying change and aim that way. Decided to take advantage of them because they were realy really nice flying changes and we can't do them yet so made him continue and canter another half a circle on that rein.
However, decided to get after him a bit more and actually USE my left leg and whaddya know? We can canter a circle on the right rein. Did a couple of circles and called it a day as had "won" a battle so only did about 20 mins but because he had been working very hard to not do things my way, he got up a bit of a sweat!
Have put my stirrups down another hole in the Ariats and have found that unless I have them on the ball of my feet (which I hate) then I lose them so think that's good. Instructor on Thurs certainly said they were fine lengthways so think it's only where I have the stirrups (under toes rather than ball of foot) which made me lose it occasionally.
Squirt's rug has survived, although his mask sort of didn't. He got it off about 11am. I just presumed he'd have trashed the mask and the neck of his rug but he hasn't. The velcro straps have done their thing and both are completely intact. The rug fits him an absolute treat but I'm not so sure on the mask so have left that off for now and will get him a normal mesh one maybe from Badminton.
All in all, me + dogs were at the yard for 5 hours so they're cream crackered and I doubt we'll see them til the morning now LOL.
Up at sparrows fart (or it felt like it) and took dogs for a walk. Always a good start to the morning, I love watching them hoon around the fields, even if Sam has started to bite me when I put Gertie & Keira's leads on *frowns*
Then home, showered and dyed hair. Only very subtle but is enough to cover the blond streaks which were poking through. Again. Had blonde streaks back in SEPTEMBER and it's been dyed at least 3 times since then but nope, they keep poking through!
Then off to t shirt place to pick up friend's yard t shirt, order my yard t shirt, take my brown t shirt up for dressage oss logo to be printed on ANDDDDDD buy a Wench t shirt.
Loving my wench one. Tis black with WENCH in a mock-Velocette logo on the front. Love it.
Yard t shirt and dressage oss t shirt will be ready for Thurs which means on Fri at Badders we can all walk round looking like clones with our yard t shirts on, jeans and Ariats lol
Talking of which, have worn mine for 4 hours today and thought I'd be finding blood in them when I took them off. Ouch. They WILL give for Badminton! They will , they will!!! (so first lot of blisters there...)
Then helped bathed spotty pony who promptly dug up wet straw in his stable, rolled in that and who is now muckier than when we started. Gotta love 'im!
Then muck picked hence more blisters.
Rode in the winter fields. Wasn't the most successful but was OK. He walks that way EVERY SINGLE DAY but under saddle, we spooked and star jumped the whole way tut.
Once in the back field, he wasn't toooooo bad but the swingy, relaxed trot never really came. However, we've not schooled in there for about 2, maybe even 3 years?? He was a bit nappy but cured that with a canter up the hill.
"Want to go to gate"
"no"
"shall"
"shan't"
"well i won't move then"
"ooooh look T-Jay, we could canter up the huuuuuuuuuuuge field"
"ooooh yes, let's mum!"
Ha. Sucker.
So then we did some cantering. I really wanted to work on the medium canter and on the transitions to/from but instead we ended up working on circles because he was very nappy on the right rein, after being fab on the left. As we went past the gap in the fence to get back to the gate, he'd chuck in a flying change and aim that way. Decided to take advantage of them because they were realy really nice flying changes and we can't do them yet so made him continue and canter another half a circle on that rein.
However, decided to get after him a bit more and actually USE my left leg and whaddya know? We can canter a circle on the right rein. Did a couple of circles and called it a day as had "won" a battle so only did about 20 mins but because he had been working very hard to not do things my way, he got up a bit of a sweat!
Have put my stirrups down another hole in the Ariats and have found that unless I have them on the ball of my feet (which I hate) then I lose them so think that's good. Instructor on Thurs certainly said they were fine lengthways so think it's only where I have the stirrups (under toes rather than ball of foot) which made me lose it occasionally.
Squirt's rug has survived, although his mask sort of didn't. He got it off about 11am. I just presumed he'd have trashed the mask and the neck of his rug but he hasn't. The velcro straps have done their thing and both are completely intact. The rug fits him an absolute treat but I'm not so sure on the mask so have left that off for now and will get him a normal mesh one maybe from Badminton.
All in all, me + dogs were at the yard for 5 hours so they're cream crackered and I doubt we'll see them til the morning now LOL.
Friday, 1 May 2009
Poor Squirt....
Sweet itch rug has come.
Seems to fit OK and is good quality. Good quality fastenings too. I have two little concerns at the moment - that I've not done the belly thing up tight enough and wee will splash into it. Chances of it happening = not very likely. The other one is that the face mask will slide down and cover his eyes. Chances of it happening = more likely than the above.
Fingers crossed though!
Relatively simple to get it ON although needs two people to do the belly flap so mum may end up putting a stitch in it. Absolutely no idea where to start with getting it off.
I'm not a worrier with rugs but this is my first ever "proper" sweet itch rug and I'm worrying slightly that he'll get his legs stuck, he'll cover his head etc etc etc. I know the chances he won't but still.......
T had a night off as dogs were on their own for most of the day today so had to zoom home. Have done housework *faints*
Mushroom chow mein for me tonight - yum yum . Lowest pointed thing in fatfighter eat out booklet!
My boots came last night, Ariats - whooo! Get me. Loving them apart from them crippling me! Need to pop to Tesco tomorrow - skinny jeans to wear with them and plasters for the blisters LOL. Need to break them in before Badders!!!
Need to ride tomorrow and help friend bath spotty pony. Hmmmm.... busy day!!
Seems to fit OK and is good quality. Good quality fastenings too. I have two little concerns at the moment - that I've not done the belly thing up tight enough and wee will splash into it. Chances of it happening = not very likely. The other one is that the face mask will slide down and cover his eyes. Chances of it happening = more likely than the above.
Fingers crossed though!
Relatively simple to get it ON although needs two people to do the belly flap so mum may end up putting a stitch in it. Absolutely no idea where to start with getting it off.
I'm not a worrier with rugs but this is my first ever "proper" sweet itch rug and I'm worrying slightly that he'll get his legs stuck, he'll cover his head etc etc etc. I know the chances he won't but still.......
T had a night off as dogs were on their own for most of the day today so had to zoom home. Have done housework *faints*
Mushroom chow mein for me tonight - yum yum . Lowest pointed thing in fatfighter eat out booklet!
My boots came last night, Ariats - whooo! Get me. Loving them apart from them crippling me! Need to pop to Tesco tomorrow - skinny jeans to wear with them and plasters for the blisters LOL. Need to break them in before Badders!!!
Need to ride tomorrow and help friend bath spotty pony. Hmmmm.... busy day!!
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