To a vets bill that is!
I'm away for a few days next week and need to leave it 'under control' for the duration.
Needless to say, vet was equally bemused. Took skin scrapings for culture to see if it grows anything exciting, and left me to wash 2x a day and dermisol. Plus 10 days antibiotics to see if we can knock it firmly on the head this time.
The plus side is that it doesn't bother him at all any more.
Rode out for the first time in, ooh nearly a week and he was very good but VERY up for gallopies.... shouting 'take it easy' in his ear doesn't wash with a Magic. Now which of my horse's is an ex-racer and which one used to struggle to canter for more than a few bronks???! Hmm.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I think I'm a perfectionist in denial....
Humph. Why I can't be pleased with our progress rather than wondering why I'm not perfect yet, goodness only knows.
I haven't practiced AT ALL except to school for events. Haven't been focusing on me, only on keeping him even in both hands. Well that has been a success, but when I went in for lesson today he was back to curling up and tense and horrid and trying to drop contact (yet still nearly in both hands).
It didn't take long to ascertain that its me (oooh, quelle surprise!) and that everytime he lifts his head its USUALLY because I've pulled slightly or dropped slightly the rein. Plus, when having 3 events back to back, I've definately fallen back into the trap of keep him round rather than ride him round.
God this connection thing is even harder than I thought!
Did some work on trot and canter both ways, then worked on position in trot. Which is better, stronger but not quite upright (it hasn't felt it in new saddle - I think because I don't HAVE to sit up to stay balanced..... it is definately more forgiving.)
But I am holding him back intermittently all the time - ie not deliberately slowing him down but kinda crunching him up. Don't get me wrong, looking back on the vids he looks fabby even when he felt horrid, but I wanna do it RIGHT!
Didn't have handlebar on saddle, which was a big issue as front of saddle so much lower I can't get hand still without it on something and I struggle to sit up AND put hand down on saddle...... reminds me - toddles off to put strap on for next time!
So then I had to ride 20m circle in trot with no contact and just concentrate on hands still. So of course the wind up merchant is all over the shop with his head, 'wassat?' and more 'wassat?' But in his defence he continued to trot in a lovely rhythm and was even more forward and free and balanced. Humph. Show off.
So I have a frustrated few mins of 'how can I stop him doing this then?' and get told patience....
Basically I need to sort me first, and just rise above what he's doing (should be easy really, he's given me years of practice!). Then once he is forward and starting to drop his head himself, THEN I can pick up outside rein SOFTLY as a guideline, and then after that I can increase inside flexion from inside elbow as long as he stays in outside hand (which actually means as long as I don't waggle it, drop it, pick it up or otherwise breath near it!).
Then spiralled circle down and then back out - but then I was in trouble because after actually USING inside hand (even if only to pick up even contact) I don't seem to be able to leave it alone again afterwards.
:bangsheadagainstbrickwall:
But it was a great session - proper lightbulb again that although I want him in an even contact it is currently the LAST thing we work on, not the first. Just get trot freely forward, get me sorted then see what he does with outside hand (which is to stay GLUED its so still).
It also seems that right rein is easier due to left hand being still - but I must watch that I keep my RIGHT hand still - I so think of my left as my naughty hand but actually my right one has a wobble on which is far more detrimental than the strength of my left.
Had to have my stirrups yet another hole longer too.....
All in all, lots to work on.
My mission now is to go find places to practice 20m circles and get me right then see if he'll come right too.....
Wish me luck!!
Oh, and the leg is worse again, now has fat cannon bone and a new tiny lump which looks like it wants to actually abscess. Will keep an eye but at this rate its going to be many much more antibiotics for a Magic. Grrr, so frustrating as I want to know what is causing it!
I haven't practiced AT ALL except to school for events. Haven't been focusing on me, only on keeping him even in both hands. Well that has been a success, but when I went in for lesson today he was back to curling up and tense and horrid and trying to drop contact (yet still nearly in both hands).
It didn't take long to ascertain that its me (oooh, quelle surprise!) and that everytime he lifts his head its USUALLY because I've pulled slightly or dropped slightly the rein. Plus, when having 3 events back to back, I've definately fallen back into the trap of keep him round rather than ride him round.
God this connection thing is even harder than I thought!
Did some work on trot and canter both ways, then worked on position in trot. Which is better, stronger but not quite upright (it hasn't felt it in new saddle - I think because I don't HAVE to sit up to stay balanced..... it is definately more forgiving.)
But I am holding him back intermittently all the time - ie not deliberately slowing him down but kinda crunching him up. Don't get me wrong, looking back on the vids he looks fabby even when he felt horrid, but I wanna do it RIGHT!
Didn't have handlebar on saddle, which was a big issue as front of saddle so much lower I can't get hand still without it on something and I struggle to sit up AND put hand down on saddle...... reminds me - toddles off to put strap on for next time!
So then I had to ride 20m circle in trot with no contact and just concentrate on hands still. So of course the wind up merchant is all over the shop with his head, 'wassat?' and more 'wassat?' But in his defence he continued to trot in a lovely rhythm and was even more forward and free and balanced. Humph. Show off.
So I have a frustrated few mins of 'how can I stop him doing this then?' and get told patience....
Basically I need to sort me first, and just rise above what he's doing (should be easy really, he's given me years of practice!). Then once he is forward and starting to drop his head himself, THEN I can pick up outside rein SOFTLY as a guideline, and then after that I can increase inside flexion from inside elbow as long as he stays in outside hand (which actually means as long as I don't waggle it, drop it, pick it up or otherwise breath near it!).
Then spiralled circle down and then back out - but then I was in trouble because after actually USING inside hand (even if only to pick up even contact) I don't seem to be able to leave it alone again afterwards.
:bangsheadagainstbrickwall:
But it was a great session - proper lightbulb again that although I want him in an even contact it is currently the LAST thing we work on, not the first. Just get trot freely forward, get me sorted then see what he does with outside hand (which is to stay GLUED its so still).
It also seems that right rein is easier due to left hand being still - but I must watch that I keep my RIGHT hand still - I so think of my left as my naughty hand but actually my right one has a wobble on which is far more detrimental than the strength of my left.
Had to have my stirrups yet another hole longer too.....
All in all, lots to work on.
My mission now is to go find places to practice 20m circles and get me right then see if he'll come right too.....
Wish me luck!!
Oh, and the leg is worse again, now has fat cannon bone and a new tiny lump which looks like it wants to actually abscess. Will keep an eye but at this rate its going to be many much more antibiotics for a Magic. Grrr, so frustrating as I want to know what is causing it!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Eejit returns
He had three days off after Aston, then became too unbearable and so I led him on Thurs (big mistake, he had 'entertainment' hat on, sigh.... cue me getting ripped in two everytime he needed to stop for some reason).
Then Friday we proper hacked which involved and obligatory gallop up the set a side (it was going to be a quiet one??)
He had yesterday off and then today we DID finally have a quiet one.... but I worked out why.... he's currently having 'gatephobia' where he is terrified of the trees behind the gate between the two paddocks - initially on Saturday I thought he was just sulking that Dan had had an outing.... but today I actually had to go and catch him and lead him through the gateway, at which point he GALLIOPS down to the yard. But tonight everyone else was down so he was doing his own private party in the top paddock and screaming down the fenceline.....
Honestly he is such an eejit that boy.
Leg all looking good. Still some scabs, but they are healing well and don't look like they have anything nasty in them now.... and they are obviously not slowing him down anymore!
No pulse either, all is right in Magic land, if ONLY everyone else could see the lions hiding behind that there tree, then people would understand why he's so cautious.
He is a laugh a minute though!
:-))
Then Friday we proper hacked which involved and obligatory gallop up the set a side (it was going to be a quiet one??)
He had yesterday off and then today we DID finally have a quiet one.... but I worked out why.... he's currently having 'gatephobia' where he is terrified of the trees behind the gate between the two paddocks - initially on Saturday I thought he was just sulking that Dan had had an outing.... but today I actually had to go and catch him and lead him through the gateway, at which point he GALLIOPS down to the yard. But tonight everyone else was down so he was doing his own private party in the top paddock and screaming down the fenceline.....
Honestly he is such an eejit that boy.
Leg all looking good. Still some scabs, but they are healing well and don't look like they have anything nasty in them now.... and they are obviously not slowing him down anymore!
No pulse either, all is right in Magic land, if ONLY everyone else could see the lions hiding behind that there tree, then people would understand why he's so cautious.
He is a laugh a minute though!
:-))
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Curiouser and curiouser
Firstly, the leg looks better. Phew. Its not so sore and inflammed and I think the Malaseb has done the trick. I've not dared put any cream on it though, so although the skin looks better and the cracks are drying up, they are almost too dry and its making them crack more. May put cream on tonight when it won't fry on his already over heated skin.
Secondly, I forgot to mention my curious conversation at Aston. A lady randomly stopped me as I walked back from SJing, and said "who's his sire?". I had to admit that we have no idea, but we'd assumed welsh x warmblood due to where we got him from.
She said she thinks she knows! She has two horses at home that are sired by the same stallion and they have identical markings to Magic. She said Magic is obviously a lot heavier set but that she reckons his dam was chunky and the sire was Voltucky. Now Maximillion Voltucky.
So I googled him and he's dead posh!! :-) Course we have no way of knowing - the dealer we got all our horses from is long since departed, so unless he kept records (which I doubt!) I can't see me ever finding out.
Anyhow, here he is.... http://maximillionstud.com/voltucky.htm
It would be nice if he was!
Secondly, I forgot to mention my curious conversation at Aston. A lady randomly stopped me as I walked back from SJing, and said "who's his sire?". I had to admit that we have no idea, but we'd assumed welsh x warmblood due to where we got him from.
She said she thinks she knows! She has two horses at home that are sired by the same stallion and they have identical markings to Magic. She said Magic is obviously a lot heavier set but that she reckons his dam was chunky and the sire was Voltucky. Now Maximillion Voltucky.
So I googled him and he's dead posh!! :-) Course we have no way of knowing - the dealer we got all our horses from is long since departed, so unless he kept records (which I doubt!) I can't see me ever finding out.
Anyhow, here he is.... http://maximillionstud.com/voltucky.htm
It would be nice if he was!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Just like 'its not a splint' ....
Its not an abscess brewing that is skyrocketing the pulse. Its some sort of photosensitivity/mud fever type evil stuff in the back of his pastern. Its spreading like wildfire and is really sore.
I've removed him from buttercup pasture and am hitting it from all sides. Was just slapping mud fever cream on it but being the sensitive flower he is that was just burning his skin. (He's allergic to pretty much everything, especially once skin is compromised.)
So poor lad has everything possible in his feed and a malaseb wash on the cards.
Fingers crossed I catch it before it gets any worse.
I've removed him from buttercup pasture and am hitting it from all sides. Was just slapping mud fever cream on it but being the sensitive flower he is that was just burning his skin. (He's allergic to pretty much everything, especially once skin is compromised.)
So poor lad has everything possible in his feed and a malaseb wash on the cards.
Fingers crossed I catch it before it gets any worse.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Aston Photos
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Aston le Walls PN
Why oh why did they have to give me THREE and a half hours to contemplate my fate between dressage and SJing???
Big breath, start at the beginning!
Got there, had self sabotaged and left only just enough time once there, and had forgotten that dressage is always MILES. This year, it was on a surface! Bonus! Mad heap hurry in 27 degrees to get ready. Not helped by sir having a MASSIVE pulse in his off hind that was worrying me... Abscess on the boil methinks.
Literally got a walk, trot canter on each rein then in. We couldn't ride around the arenas first, so cue spook at C when we entered. Honestly, you wouldn't believe he's nine and has done THOUSANDS of stressage tests. White boards were KILLERS today, so we gave them a very wide berth.
Still, I was pleased with the test as for the first time ever he was consistent in my hands, and also EVENLY in both. Now watch the vid (I'll upload it a bit later!) and see the speed of the trot - that's not me, that's what sir decided we were doing today.... do you get the impression one of us is definately in charge???? :-)))
So, came out over hot and gasping for air/drink/cool.... and himself?? Not even sweaty! Now which one of us is it that doesn't cope with the heat? Apparently not my horse!!!
Then the loooooong wait. Oh how tiresome, but more importantly, oh how scary. I watched some SJing, and everyone was having problems, loads of slipping and skidding into fences then stopping.... loads of poles down. Two eliminations and a rider carted off in an ambulance! Not what I needed for my first PN in years and my first on the balloon horse!
Kept calm, managed half a bacon sarnie, remembered how well he's been jumping and how he's been falling over the intro fences. (Didn't help but I tried!)
Then went off to walk the XC. Now bear in mind there was a table here 2 years ago at our first intro, that nearly gave me kittens. Last year it was in again and I laughed and thought it looked about right..... Now this year, and up a level, it was the smallest, narrowest fence on the course!!!
I laughed my head off when I came round the corner and saw it! Prepare to fall over it I thought.
OK, the course - straightforward, not much technical stuff but everything BIG and WIDE (ooh, my two favourite things, NOT). I walked as far as 7 thinking its big but its ok.... then I had kittens at 7 - a mock 'dray' - bloomin HEUGE. Just had to remind myself how much better he jumps when they are bigger. And avert my eyes and carry on walking. Two waters, trakhener, ditch, corner (second from last fence and due for a run out to the car park - cruel!). But didn't over face me apart from that one......
Got back and had a flake out in the shade - its ok for him, he got a bath then a snooze in his cool breezy trailer for 2 hours while I slogged round in the sun!
Got us ready and wondered over to SJing. Girl in next lorry had just come back and said ground is really hard and slippy and everyone slipping, having planks down, don't jump in warm up its horrendous. Not filling me with confidence! Even worse when she explained that she's got no back shoes on (so no studs) and her horse had skidded all the way into the planks and somehow got her legs out the way.... AARRRGGGHH!
I had to say, well I've got NONE!
He was good in the warm up, I jumped the cross once, then the upright (downhill at max height - 1.10m) then gritted my teeth and jumped the oxer - again already at 1.10m. Pony was just perfect!!! I love warming up now, went from hating it last season cos he was always trying to ping me off, to enjoying it this year!
Left it at that, then just jumped the upright again just before I went in.
Now Aston SJing is in a white fenced arena. He's ALWAYS been a jerk in it, and this time was no exception. We have to go round ALL corners on two wheels and facing the wrong way (in case we need to watch the fence jump out and bite us). But in his defence, he blooming JUMPED!
Lovely into 1, then fell over 2 cos it was tiny, so I shook him up a bit which meant we had poo stride for 3 (I need to remember my lesson that if I leave him alone the smug git is perfect to everything!). Then two wheels round every corner. But clear, and never felt like ground was REMOTELY slippy! So we hacked back like smug gits - after all the studded ones have slipped their way round and made it look really hard.
Then XC. Washed him off again and was going to give him a bit of a break (as I'd managed to SJ early) until the toerag started threatening to wave his feet above my head. Him, not tired then. Decided to stop being nice to him so off we set to the XC.
He absolutely ballooned no 1 - hasn't done that for ages! Then two was a really big brush hedge, and being the fairy that he is we got a short one so he could clear every last scrap. 90 degrees to the chair, then gallop back to the double - I'd strided it as three short strides to the skinny- but I somehow got four in (poor lad had SUCH a job to jump a decent hanging log out, whoops!).
Then open ditch which we nearly skidded to a halt at, up and over the bank, then onto my nemesis. He had a look and backed off and put an extra stride in, but he did that a lot and I think he was being careful cos he'd noticed that the fences were beefier than he's used to. Next fence much better then he took me by surprise by never even taking a look at the log into water then fence out. Over the little table, then a double of houses up a bank, then off and to a log pile then trakener. I gave him a smack a stride out from the trakehener and he absolutely FLEW it - in shock I think! Then a plain sheep feeder, double of logs then house into the water and plain fence out.
Then onto the corner..... now he's batting along and if I'm honest I don't have much control - but then I don't need it anymore, he's much better at trusting my instinctive cues for direction etc. But I knew I needed him focused for the corner, and so late on the course his mind would be elsewhere.
So I had a jolly battle to get him to come back a BIT, then about 5 strides out he stuck his head up but felt like, 'ok am hearing you', then JUST before he locked on, he spotted the fence judge's car RIGHT next to the corner 'WASSAT???' he says.... 'SH*T!! FENCE!!!!' says I - he just WASN'T looking..... two strides out and he somehow looked quick, thought quick and got us over in one swift movement.... and it wasn't a LITTLE corner either!
Then a flyer at the hedge at the last.
Cue one very relieved and happy Jane. It wasn't as copybook as the last intros, but then we have stepped up a level, and no one else seemed to notice there was the odd little blip.
The best thing is he made the time easy and I wasn't pushing on, just letting him bowl on and balancing him (or attempting to!) as and when necessary.
We came home before the results were up but we finished on our stressage of 36.something and so I am MIGHTY chuffed with the boy wonder!!
ETA - we were 8th!!! Wow. Knock me down with a feather! :-))
Big breath, start at the beginning!
Got there, had self sabotaged and left only just enough time once there, and had forgotten that dressage is always MILES. This year, it was on a surface! Bonus! Mad heap hurry in 27 degrees to get ready. Not helped by sir having a MASSIVE pulse in his off hind that was worrying me... Abscess on the boil methinks.
Literally got a walk, trot canter on each rein then in. We couldn't ride around the arenas first, so cue spook at C when we entered. Honestly, you wouldn't believe he's nine and has done THOUSANDS of stressage tests. White boards were KILLERS today, so we gave them a very wide berth.
Still, I was pleased with the test as for the first time ever he was consistent in my hands, and also EVENLY in both. Now watch the vid (I'll upload it a bit later!) and see the speed of the trot - that's not me, that's what sir decided we were doing today.... do you get the impression one of us is definately in charge???? :-)))
So, came out over hot and gasping for air/drink/cool.... and himself?? Not even sweaty! Now which one of us is it that doesn't cope with the heat? Apparently not my horse!!!
Then the loooooong wait. Oh how tiresome, but more importantly, oh how scary. I watched some SJing, and everyone was having problems, loads of slipping and skidding into fences then stopping.... loads of poles down. Two eliminations and a rider carted off in an ambulance! Not what I needed for my first PN in years and my first on the balloon horse!
Kept calm, managed half a bacon sarnie, remembered how well he's been jumping and how he's been falling over the intro fences. (Didn't help but I tried!)
Then went off to walk the XC. Now bear in mind there was a table here 2 years ago at our first intro, that nearly gave me kittens. Last year it was in again and I laughed and thought it looked about right..... Now this year, and up a level, it was the smallest, narrowest fence on the course!!!
I laughed my head off when I came round the corner and saw it! Prepare to fall over it I thought.
OK, the course - straightforward, not much technical stuff but everything BIG and WIDE (ooh, my two favourite things, NOT). I walked as far as 7 thinking its big but its ok.... then I had kittens at 7 - a mock 'dray' - bloomin HEUGE. Just had to remind myself how much better he jumps when they are bigger. And avert my eyes and carry on walking. Two waters, trakhener, ditch, corner (second from last fence and due for a run out to the car park - cruel!). But didn't over face me apart from that one......
Got back and had a flake out in the shade - its ok for him, he got a bath then a snooze in his cool breezy trailer for 2 hours while I slogged round in the sun!
Got us ready and wondered over to SJing. Girl in next lorry had just come back and said ground is really hard and slippy and everyone slipping, having planks down, don't jump in warm up its horrendous. Not filling me with confidence! Even worse when she explained that she's got no back shoes on (so no studs) and her horse had skidded all the way into the planks and somehow got her legs out the way.... AARRRGGGHH!
I had to say, well I've got NONE!
He was good in the warm up, I jumped the cross once, then the upright (downhill at max height - 1.10m) then gritted my teeth and jumped the oxer - again already at 1.10m. Pony was just perfect!!! I love warming up now, went from hating it last season cos he was always trying to ping me off, to enjoying it this year!
Left it at that, then just jumped the upright again just before I went in.
Now Aston SJing is in a white fenced arena. He's ALWAYS been a jerk in it, and this time was no exception. We have to go round ALL corners on two wheels and facing the wrong way (in case we need to watch the fence jump out and bite us). But in his defence, he blooming JUMPED!
Lovely into 1, then fell over 2 cos it was tiny, so I shook him up a bit which meant we had poo stride for 3 (I need to remember my lesson that if I leave him alone the smug git is perfect to everything!). Then two wheels round every corner. But clear, and never felt like ground was REMOTELY slippy! So we hacked back like smug gits - after all the studded ones have slipped their way round and made it look really hard.
Then XC. Washed him off again and was going to give him a bit of a break (as I'd managed to SJ early) until the toerag started threatening to wave his feet above my head. Him, not tired then. Decided to stop being nice to him so off we set to the XC.
He absolutely ballooned no 1 - hasn't done that for ages! Then two was a really big brush hedge, and being the fairy that he is we got a short one so he could clear every last scrap. 90 degrees to the chair, then gallop back to the double - I'd strided it as three short strides to the skinny- but I somehow got four in (poor lad had SUCH a job to jump a decent hanging log out, whoops!).
Then open ditch which we nearly skidded to a halt at, up and over the bank, then onto my nemesis. He had a look and backed off and put an extra stride in, but he did that a lot and I think he was being careful cos he'd noticed that the fences were beefier than he's used to. Next fence much better then he took me by surprise by never even taking a look at the log into water then fence out. Over the little table, then a double of houses up a bank, then off and to a log pile then trakener. I gave him a smack a stride out from the trakehener and he absolutely FLEW it - in shock I think! Then a plain sheep feeder, double of logs then house into the water and plain fence out.
Then onto the corner..... now he's batting along and if I'm honest I don't have much control - but then I don't need it anymore, he's much better at trusting my instinctive cues for direction etc. But I knew I needed him focused for the corner, and so late on the course his mind would be elsewhere.
So I had a jolly battle to get him to come back a BIT, then about 5 strides out he stuck his head up but felt like, 'ok am hearing you', then JUST before he locked on, he spotted the fence judge's car RIGHT next to the corner 'WASSAT???' he says.... 'SH*T!! FENCE!!!!' says I - he just WASN'T looking..... two strides out and he somehow looked quick, thought quick and got us over in one swift movement.... and it wasn't a LITTLE corner either!
Then a flyer at the hedge at the last.
Cue one very relieved and happy Jane. It wasn't as copybook as the last intros, but then we have stepped up a level, and no one else seemed to notice there was the odd little blip.
The best thing is he made the time easy and I wasn't pushing on, just letting him bowl on and balancing him (or attempting to!) as and when necessary.
We came home before the results were up but we finished on our stressage of 36.something and so I am MIGHTY chuffed with the boy wonder!!
ETA - we were 8th!!! Wow. Knock me down with a feather! :-))
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Bowen
We went for a leg stretch yesterday morning before his Bowen treatment. I sooooo nearly fell off when he whipped round left (unheard of to go left!) when some walkers popped out from behind a hedge.
We had both been dozing along in the sun and BOY did that wake us up in a hurry. To say the air was blue as I tried desperately to scramble back aboard is an understatement. Think said walkers were a bit shocked!!!
That'll learn me for teaching the little blighter to go faster!!
Had a nice big trot along the air strip then a totally uncontrolled gallop up the setaside..... yes, that's a Magic leg stretch these days!
Then Bowen. He was a smidge tight in his left hip, and still had some tightness behind the poll, but it was much better.
So he gets today off (that's 3 days off out of 4!) so am not looking forward to our 'gentle' hack tomorrow!
Blooming leg is up, and he has a new 'not a splint' above the original one, which has now decided to grow again. Trouble is the new on is practically on his knee.... it juts out as the knee just in so he now has no cannon bone til halfway down... it goes knee - new 'not a splint' - old 'not a splint' then cannon bone. Sigh.
Good job he's not a show horse. Don't know why they have decided to come up again now, you'd think they'd have been up after Sat if they were going to..... Just to give me something to think about I reckon.
Hey ho, back to the ice tight, hosing and magnets.
We had both been dozing along in the sun and BOY did that wake us up in a hurry. To say the air was blue as I tried desperately to scramble back aboard is an understatement. Think said walkers were a bit shocked!!!
That'll learn me for teaching the little blighter to go faster!!
Had a nice big trot along the air strip then a totally uncontrolled gallop up the setaside..... yes, that's a Magic leg stretch these days!
Then Bowen. He was a smidge tight in his left hip, and still had some tightness behind the poll, but it was much better.
So he gets today off (that's 3 days off out of 4!) so am not looking forward to our 'gentle' hack tomorrow!
Blooming leg is up, and he has a new 'not a splint' above the original one, which has now decided to grow again. Trouble is the new on is practically on his knee.... it juts out as the knee just in so he now has no cannon bone til halfway down... it goes knee - new 'not a splint' - old 'not a splint' then cannon bone. Sigh.
Good job he's not a show horse. Don't know why they have decided to come up again now, you'd think they'd have been up after Sat if they were going to..... Just to give me something to think about I reckon.
Hey ho, back to the ice tight, hosing and magnets.
Broadway pix
http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cotswoldphotography/equestrian.html
Saturday Broadway XC
page 9, row 14, 3rd along then next 3 on following row.
Same page, all of bottom row.
page 17, all of row 12 and next 2 on next row.
Saturday Broadway SJ - pg 3, row 13, first 2 on row.
Saturday Broadway XC
page 9, row 14, 3rd along then next 3 on following row.
Same page, all of bottom row.
page 17, all of row 12 and next 2 on next row.
Saturday Broadway SJ - pg 3, row 13, first 2 on row.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
So near and yet so far!
Broadway Intro Regional Final.
Rode in the new stressage saddle..... wasn't convinced warming up.... trot was fabby much better, but canter he was really resistant in my hand, although he got better....
Got into test, boggy the judges end of arena, sigh.
He did what he was told, but it felt rushed and unbalanced and wading-through-boggish.
So I came out on a downer.
Told us both we could go and have fun now.... would you believe I was actually looking FORWARD to the SJing?? Its a bit scary when it becomes the easiest bit!
The course was causing loads of problems, especially the statue of a polo pony in the middle.... cough.
He warmed up nicely (just jumped three) thinking long reins and let him stay in rhythm himself.
Went it, fell over number 1 again (why does he STILL think I'll hold him up?!) then proceeded to jump round like a total pro. Relaxed, rhymical, not too fast and not at all strong!!! Amazing what long reins and lightening the contact does, no need for either of us to fight!!
He was the most perfect :-))
Then the XC - also causing problems - especially a skinny flower bed......
Nope, he stormed round!! We went fast up hill and to easy fences, then slower down hill and to tricksy combinations, and it just flowed! He was spot on to all and I only had to actually use the reins to pull up once, after the wall and running down hill to a short double. He was the consumate pro!!
So imagine my surpise that my stressage ws actually 37!!
But given that it was an IRF, everyone got good stressage scores and even on 37 I think I've ended up 12th or so, so we JUST missed qualifying for the Intro Champs. Bum.
Still PN next weekend, and today proved that I still don't cope very well with pressure, especially on the stressage front... . so onwards and upwards.... I can have one more shot at an IRF but I'll do Aston PN then decide....
Rode in the new stressage saddle..... wasn't convinced warming up.... trot was fabby much better, but canter he was really resistant in my hand, although he got better....
Got into test, boggy the judges end of arena, sigh.
He did what he was told, but it felt rushed and unbalanced and wading-through-boggish.
So I came out on a downer.
Told us both we could go and have fun now.... would you believe I was actually looking FORWARD to the SJing?? Its a bit scary when it becomes the easiest bit!
The course was causing loads of problems, especially the statue of a polo pony in the middle.... cough.
He warmed up nicely (just jumped three) thinking long reins and let him stay in rhythm himself.
Went it, fell over number 1 again (why does he STILL think I'll hold him up?!) then proceeded to jump round like a total pro. Relaxed, rhymical, not too fast and not at all strong!!! Amazing what long reins and lightening the contact does, no need for either of us to fight!!
He was the most perfect :-))
Then the XC - also causing problems - especially a skinny flower bed......
Nope, he stormed round!! We went fast up hill and to easy fences, then slower down hill and to tricksy combinations, and it just flowed! He was spot on to all and I only had to actually use the reins to pull up once, after the wall and running down hill to a short double. He was the consumate pro!!
So imagine my surpise that my stressage ws actually 37!!
But given that it was an IRF, everyone got good stressage scores and even on 37 I think I've ended up 12th or so, so we JUST missed qualifying for the Intro Champs. Bum.
Still PN next weekend, and today proved that I still don't cope very well with pressure, especially on the stressage front... . so onwards and upwards.... I can have one more shot at an IRF but I'll do Aston PN then decide....
Friday, May 02, 2008
Moreton Morrell
Least said the better really.
Dressage - perfectly behaved but appallingly wet ground. Did a perfectly good test for a stingy 39.5
SJ - one slight build up to rear in the warm up (when a horse has the warm up fence down or he gets hemmed in) but otherwise golden. Went in to jump concentrating on long reins and DOWN hands..... didn't succeed totally, but the photos show that actually he is jumping much better off a longer rein. The laugh was he was sooooo expecting me to pick up the reins and ride him stronger that he nearly fell over the first fence waiting for me to get in the way..... and I didn't! Poor boy was terribly confused but held it together well!
XC- appallingly slippy going. Took a flyer at 1, jumped 2 on the angle, then muggins here totally blew the approach to three. After which he went like a dream and although I took it slow, he was foot perfect, except for the smaller fences which we nearly fell over - cue PN.... wibble.
So Broadway tomorrow, our regional final, fingers crossed a better dressage!!
Dressage - perfectly behaved but appallingly wet ground. Did a perfectly good test for a stingy 39.5
SJ - one slight build up to rear in the warm up (when a horse has the warm up fence down or he gets hemmed in) but otherwise golden. Went in to jump concentrating on long reins and DOWN hands..... didn't succeed totally, but the photos show that actually he is jumping much better off a longer rein. The laugh was he was sooooo expecting me to pick up the reins and ride him stronger that he nearly fell over the first fence waiting for me to get in the way..... and I didn't! Poor boy was terribly confused but held it together well!
XC- appallingly slippy going. Took a flyer at 1, jumped 2 on the angle, then muggins here totally blew the approach to three. After which he went like a dream and although I took it slow, he was foot perfect, except for the smaller fences which we nearly fell over - cue PN.... wibble.
So Broadway tomorrow, our regional final, fingers crossed a better dressage!!
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