Didn't use school - 2 horses have fallen over in it in the past week and B had a scary near miss when her horse went down to the hardcore yesterday :eek: so I rode around the yard and in the fields.
She was fab :clap: First "hack" alone for ages. Just kept it all very chilled. Had a lovely canter in the field and she pulled up easily (well as easily as madam ever does :lol:) and I told her how clever she was. She was very pleased with herself.
Bought rather a lot on ebay last night, a mediumweight turnout with neck, a heavyweight stablerug with neck, a fleece.....and a thermatex exercise sheet :blush: Black with poiple binding. Whoops! Poor! All needed though....
Had a lovely evening at Kat's being very rubbish at rockband. Another weekend gone, they zoom by too quickly!
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Update
Madam had physio on Thursday, Halina was really pleased with how much she has improved :banana: One of her main issues now is her tenseness in her poll so I have to massage it as often as possible. She was much happier after physio. Got to carry on riding/working her as I am, keep massage padding but alternate between back and neck and do some pole work. She is coming to watch me ride her in a month which will be really interesting.
So I just lunged her yesterday and she was incredibly relaxed, so much so I had to wave my coat round my head to get her to trot :lol:
Cleaned all my tack today, bathed pony and then went over to see Jo. Was so, so lovely to see her and SuperHarv and their new yard, and Jo's new house too. I am beyond jealous of their hacking :thud: miles and miles of fields. Hoping to get Flow over there for a weekend of hacking :banana:
Then back to the yard to ride Madam. Was a little odd as noone was around and usually there's lots of people so I lunged first to get the tickle out her toes. Was just leading her and she stood up behind me, the lunge whip had poked her in the nose. Poor Flow!
Rode and she was really good, asking for a bit more in terms of outline and not letting her dictate it to me. Got some nice canter both ways and called it a night. School was incredibly deep though, it really worries me :unsure:
Need to try to find someone to clip her and thin/chop her mane for me too really, she is starting to get a bit furry...
So I just lunged her yesterday and she was incredibly relaxed, so much so I had to wave my coat round my head to get her to trot :lol:
Cleaned all my tack today, bathed pony and then went over to see Jo. Was so, so lovely to see her and SuperHarv and their new yard, and Jo's new house too. I am beyond jealous of their hacking :thud: miles and miles of fields. Hoping to get Flow over there for a weekend of hacking :banana:
Then back to the yard to ride Madam. Was a little odd as noone was around and usually there's lots of people so I lunged first to get the tickle out her toes. Was just leading her and she stood up behind me, the lunge whip had poked her in the nose. Poor Flow!
Rode and she was really good, asking for a bit more in terms of outline and not letting her dictate it to me. Got some nice canter both ways and called it a night. School was incredibly deep though, it really worries me :unsure:
Need to try to find someone to clip her and thin/chop her mane for me too really, she is starting to get a bit furry...
Monday, 14 September 2009
Ken lesson 2
Had our second Ken lesson last night. H got some pictures so shall try to put them on here later.
Worked on LY in trot, shoulder in in walk and trot, outside flexion on a circle and really trying to keep the rhythm. Worked on the dreaded canter transitions again - pull her up if she runs. Went off on wrong leg so circled round that way which Ken said was the right thing to do. Need to give hands in canter and not go all stiff through my seat. Also worked on rein back which she is good at :clap:
Worked on me too - I really need to think of boobs and belly out as I go a bit armchairy and hunchbacked. Also legs back. When we go sideways, leg GENTLY to her side so we don't have overreaction.
Ken got on and madam told him off :lol: but settled down to look fab. He said she is taking the mickey a bit with me with her neck but we will give her the benefit of the doubt for now because of her previous issues.
He is really chuffed with the improvement we have made in 5 months :)
Last Ken lesson tonight, need to kidnap him!
ETA forgot that we worked on walk to canter too to try to help the tenseness - put canter aids on and even if we get a couple of strides of trot that's ok.
Worked on LY in trot, shoulder in in walk and trot, outside flexion on a circle and really trying to keep the rhythm. Worked on the dreaded canter transitions again - pull her up if she runs. Went off on wrong leg so circled round that way which Ken said was the right thing to do. Need to give hands in canter and not go all stiff through my seat. Also worked on rein back which she is good at :clap:
Worked on me too - I really need to think of boobs and belly out as I go a bit armchairy and hunchbacked. Also legs back. When we go sideways, leg GENTLY to her side so we don't have overreaction.
Ken got on and madam told him off :lol: but settled down to look fab. He said she is taking the mickey a bit with me with her neck but we will give her the benefit of the doubt for now because of her previous issues.
He is really chuffed with the improvement we have made in 5 months :)
Last Ken lesson tonight, need to kidnap him!
ETA forgot that we worked on walk to canter too to try to help the tenseness - put canter aids on and even if we get a couple of strides of trot that's ok.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Ken lesson 1
Madam was sore on Wednesday so had some massage and TLC from yard physio :hail: We hacked for the first time in weeks :banana: on Thursday - I say hacked, it was around the yard but she doesn't know that's not hacking! We went up the track, into fields (wimped out at pylon field, had a bad feeling about it) and Lorna was excellent company. Just kept my reins really loose and kept patting her (it really relaxes her if you do that). Was chuffed to bits - we negotiated two gates too, and we were chilled out :clap: Will keep hacking round yard until I feel confident to tackle roads again.
Physio lunged her for me on Friday and she was a good girl. When there was a spare Ken space tonight I jumped at the chance to have it. Really enjoyed it, cheered me up as having an emo day. He was really pleased with how much more relaxed and stretchy she is. Said we have been working exactly right and to continue (:hail: Fran) and that she needs long and low to a contact like Fran teaches us rather than on the buckle which was good :thumbs: (Obviously some buckle work in rest bits)
Trot we did some leg yield - half circle back to 3 quarter line, sort of on the diagonal and ask for leg yield just as we go straight. Also did shoulder in and she was fab :clap: Inside leg on, outside hand on neck, look through her ears, inside shoulder back but hips the other way. Need to keep her relaxed in lateral work and ask more gently with the leg.
Did an exercise in walk, I think it was quarter pirouettes? :dunno: Half halt and move shoulders round 90 degrees and then forwards. Need to think of that for the canter. Ken proclaimed that she had a canter and a half :biggrin: I said it was why I bought her, I couldn't ride it but wanted to learn how to! I need to go with the movement and hula, not shovel, and also SIT UP!
Worked on canter transitions too - get her in a quiet, steady sitting trot and sit for a few strides and then ask - sit UP in transition and allow her to go forwards into it, keep it crisp and not running. Asked if we could work on canter for our next two lessons as I need to crack on with it now - there is a slight mental block still so anything to help is good!
Flow was very pleased with herself, and quite rightly so :wub:
Physio lunged her for me on Friday and she was a good girl. When there was a spare Ken space tonight I jumped at the chance to have it. Really enjoyed it, cheered me up as having an emo day. He was really pleased with how much more relaxed and stretchy she is. Said we have been working exactly right and to continue (:hail: Fran) and that she needs long and low to a contact like Fran teaches us rather than on the buckle which was good :thumbs: (Obviously some buckle work in rest bits)
Trot we did some leg yield - half circle back to 3 quarter line, sort of on the diagonal and ask for leg yield just as we go straight. Also did shoulder in and she was fab :clap: Inside leg on, outside hand on neck, look through her ears, inside shoulder back but hips the other way. Need to keep her relaxed in lateral work and ask more gently with the leg.
Did an exercise in walk, I think it was quarter pirouettes? :dunno: Half halt and move shoulders round 90 degrees and then forwards. Need to think of that for the canter. Ken proclaimed that she had a canter and a half :biggrin: I said it was why I bought her, I couldn't ride it but wanted to learn how to! I need to go with the movement and hula, not shovel, and also SIT UP!
Worked on canter transitions too - get her in a quiet, steady sitting trot and sit for a few strides and then ask - sit UP in transition and allow her to go forwards into it, keep it crisp and not running. Asked if we could work on canter for our next two lessons as I need to crack on with it now - there is a slight mental block still so anything to help is good!
Flow was very pleased with herself, and quite rightly so :wub:
Monday, 7 September 2009
Good schooling session
Am finding it hard that some people have been saying she is dangerous but am trying very hard not to take offence (I feel very protective of Flow and strongly feel that she is not dangerous) and I am sure people just don't want to see me get hurt. Anyway!
Lunged before getting on tonight and then had a good session, plenty of canter and sending her forwards in it and not letting her suck back and bounce. First time under the floodlights and she was a little star. Am thinking I may lunge tomorrow before getting on but then stop and just start getting on :dunno: as don't want her to be too mega super fit and get into a vicious circle where I have to lunge. But I think I'll lunge before competitions. Thoughts?
Watching Muse :wub: need to go and see them again!
Lunged before getting on tonight and then had a good session, plenty of canter and sending her forwards in it and not letting her suck back and bounce. First time under the floodlights and she was a little star. Am thinking I may lunge tomorrow before getting on but then stop and just start getting on :dunno: as don't want her to be too mega super fit and get into a vicious circle where I have to lunge. But I think I'll lunge before competitions. Thoughts?
Watching Muse :wub: need to go and see them again!
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Stressage in the true sense of the word
Horrible morning :(
Got up late so was in a rush, plaiting took loads longer than I'd thought too so foolishly only managed to get on with literally 3 or 4 minutes till my test :rolleyes: Stupid, stupid girl :banghead: Thought she would be fine as it was at home. Not the case. She isn't usually spooky but the fact I was rushing made her tense, and she clocked the landrover with the judge in and all the people watching. Got on and she was really tense, had to go pretty much straight into trot and nearly withdrew there and then as she felt like an unexploded bomb. Allebazi kindly led me round in walk to try to get her to settle and then I had a trot but she threw her toys and went up, not small either. Sent her forwards and she went up again so I leapt off in tears. Topgroom kindly came and got on, Madam Flow objected strongly, reared, went forwards into canter, was ok, bucked, reared then reared again and B came off, Flow nearly stood on her head :cold: luckily she was ok. Flow then proceeded to gallop round for 10 minutes, winding up Izzy and Mary who were in the field next to the school. Becky has waited so long for Izzy to come sound, I just felt awful.
S managed to catch her and we took her in and put her on the walker but she was still pretty wired. D made me a cup of tea and everyone was lovely. Just felt like such a prat with all those people watching.
Apologised to judge who said the behaviour was dangerous and I should think about what I'm going to do with her. She's not going anywhere. I worship her, retard moments and all. Had a lovely lunch with Lorna :sloppy: and had a good think about what had gone wrong. I'm kicking myself for not giving us time to warm up. I am fairly certain if we'd had 25 or so minutes to walk and trot round and be chilled there wouldn't have been an issue but it was my own fault for rushing and getting her stressed and she totally loses it when she can't cope. Really angry with myself for spoiling what should have been a fun day for me and Flow and needlessly setting us back. But you live and learn.
S was really, really lovely tonight, I don't know her very well but isn't it nice when people surprise you with how helpful they are? She helped me lunge Flow - got her really tired, lots of canter to get the bucking and leaping out of her system and then gave me instructions from the ground when I got on which helped as I didn't have to think, just ride. We had a walk trot canter and she was fab - it's crazy, Midnight never did anything like this but I just feel differently about Flow, am happy to get back on. Am clearly deranged.
S also gave me a beautiful rosette for being brave :lol: :wub: the Netherwood. Feeling a bit meep but we have wine, chocolate and Twilight. And we're not afraid to use them.
Got up late so was in a rush, plaiting took loads longer than I'd thought too so foolishly only managed to get on with literally 3 or 4 minutes till my test :rolleyes: Stupid, stupid girl :banghead: Thought she would be fine as it was at home. Not the case. She isn't usually spooky but the fact I was rushing made her tense, and she clocked the landrover with the judge in and all the people watching. Got on and she was really tense, had to go pretty much straight into trot and nearly withdrew there and then as she felt like an unexploded bomb. Allebazi kindly led me round in walk to try to get her to settle and then I had a trot but she threw her toys and went up, not small either. Sent her forwards and she went up again so I leapt off in tears. Topgroom kindly came and got on, Madam Flow objected strongly, reared, went forwards into canter, was ok, bucked, reared then reared again and B came off, Flow nearly stood on her head :cold: luckily she was ok. Flow then proceeded to gallop round for 10 minutes, winding up Izzy and Mary who were in the field next to the school. Becky has waited so long for Izzy to come sound, I just felt awful.
S managed to catch her and we took her in and put her on the walker but she was still pretty wired. D made me a cup of tea and everyone was lovely. Just felt like such a prat with all those people watching.
Apologised to judge who said the behaviour was dangerous and I should think about what I'm going to do with her. She's not going anywhere. I worship her, retard moments and all. Had a lovely lunch with Lorna :sloppy: and had a good think about what had gone wrong. I'm kicking myself for not giving us time to warm up. I am fairly certain if we'd had 25 or so minutes to walk and trot round and be chilled there wouldn't have been an issue but it was my own fault for rushing and getting her stressed and she totally loses it when she can't cope. Really angry with myself for spoiling what should have been a fun day for me and Flow and needlessly setting us back. But you live and learn.
S was really, really lovely tonight, I don't know her very well but isn't it nice when people surprise you with how helpful they are? She helped me lunge Flow - got her really tired, lots of canter to get the bucking and leaping out of her system and then gave me instructions from the ground when I got on which helped as I didn't have to think, just ride. We had a walk trot canter and she was fab - it's crazy, Midnight never did anything like this but I just feel differently about Flow, am happy to get back on. Am clearly deranged.
S also gave me a beautiful rosette for being brave :lol: :wub: the Netherwood. Feeling a bit meep but we have wine, chocolate and Twilight. And we're not afraid to use them.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Flow swimming and life update
Well, it felt like swimming! Schooled in torrential rain tonight. Haven't ridden for a few days with one thing and another - Gemma lunged her for me on Saturday and Alice rode on Monday but need to crack on again.So pleased with how much she has come on in 5 months - I can now get on and walk trot canter. Yes she grunts and sometimes gets tense but tonight she was mostly in a lovely outline, aided by the rain Dressage at yard on Sunday, eeeek. Our first prelim! Canter is still a bit hairy but I can ride her so much more now, I know she won't kill me so I just carry on and she gives in. Had to pull her up once when she was being very rude, but after that she was fab
She was soaked through though, as was I! Poor girly. Hope she is ok out overnight, I was freezing when I got in.
Small (well large) personal update for those in the know. Went home. It was fine, normal, happy. So so so happy. Like you would not believe. After 3 years of absolute utter shit, I can start to live my life again and move forwards. A weight has been lifted. Life is too short to hold grudges and become bitter. I'm not that person, so we're moving on
New job starts on Monday similar but managing a team - also taking over the Peterborough team straight away. Was rather chuffed that they are delighted - they apparently think very highly of me so will be down in Peterborough once/twice a week for next 8 weeks before they get a new permanent boss.
Getting new car - mum and M are giving me M's car. An MG ZR Excited!
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