Holding it together

The Showjumpingshire has now got a full retirement ahead of her.  The shoes are off the woolly mammoth look is in and she is looking nowhere near as sad as me about not being ridden!  It's been a tough year coming to terms with my horse of a lifetime having to stop work as I always thought we'd have time to enjoy riding out for a few more years before full retirement but at least she is still full of life and happy being a field pet (I dread to think of the next tough decision hopefully many years away).  I still wonder if she's having me on when I'm avoiding getting leapt on as she's showing her agility on the way in from the field (albeit less extravagent than her early days thank goodness).

Socks is progressing very nicely and becoming a super little competition horse (at times), we still have moments where she struggles to hold it together and explodes at inappropriate moments but they are getting less and less.  She had her first mention in horse and hound, well her name was in print in the results section but she still made it into the magazine :)

So far we have found out that Socks dislikes indoor schools that are dimly lit and dressage judges that are not behind glass!  Galleries, umbrellas and mirrors are no problem but monsters hiding in corners and judges that are not safely behind glass are very traumatic for a young Socks.  Even with some eventful outings where we struggled to get round the arena we have somehow managed to score well enough to achieve our three qualifying %'s for the Petplan area festivals.  I think this year we will be happy that we achieved this and not attempt to attend an area festival as Socks needs to gain a bit more arena practise and get better at containing her excitement so we continue to finish our tests without a disobedience - they are very costly!!! So on with the training and a winter of scary indoor schools :)

I'm loving it!

What better weather to be back in the saddle, yes I am absolutely loving being able to ride again!

Last week I rode Lara for the first time since my fall and it went so well I didn't want to get off.  Giovanni has done such a great job with her she feels totally different and much more grown up, a couple more rides on her there and it will be time to bring her home. Gulp! 

Socks is obviously feeling the pressure of Lara going so well that she has been on best behaviour, obviously feeling slightly threatened that she may get shown up when Lara comes home so she's out to prove herself!  I'm not complaining though as it's a joy to ride a co-operative horse that wants to work.  We went for our first outing to a friends to be able to hack out with some hill work and had a great time, such a good feeling to be back out in the lorry and getting out again.

Picnic is getting very excited that the two youngsters are coming on so well, it means more playtime for her if they are around to do the hardwork so she can just do the fun stuff and enjoy a little jump every now and then!  To be fair Picnic has left very big boots to fill for the others and deserves to be spoilt and allowed a bit of fun in her semi retirement.  

A mixed month

My search for a new horse has ended - with something that I set out not to buy!  I was looking for a young horse with a bit of experience that I could get going on to progress up the levels, unfortunately after trying various horses nothing was quite right as described in my previous post.  A chance phone call to a local stud to find out what they had for sale resulted in me viewing an unbroken 4 year old mare.  One vetting later she was mine to collect and bring home, so I now have a bigger challenge on my hands than originally planned but she is absolutely gorgeous with a super temperament ... Fingers crossed she stays that way when under saddle :)  it's been two weeks and the first week was just getting settled as she came more or less straight out of a herd in a field and needed time to adjust, we've now introduced a bridle, roller and rugs and so far so good.

Meet Lara:

I now have a theme though it seems, when I looked back at my horses in the field they are all bay mares with two white socks!

The girls seem to have settled together almost instantly and Picnic is still the herd leader with complete control.

Everything with Socks was going well and on track to organise our first competition but then her near hind seemed to be swelling up intermittently but not lame so bandaged at night and cold hosed.  her attitude in the school was deteriorating and she became stuffy and the leg appeared a little bigger I stopped working her for a few days but no improvement and called the vet.  Outcome of vet visit and scans is that she needs surgery for damage to her tendon sheath - absolutely gutted!  So it's now a trip to Newmarket for Socks to have surgery and she'll hopefully be booked in shortly so we can get on the road to recovery.  

A bit of sun a lot of rain and Picnics back jumping

We had a lovely albeit brief spell of sunshine which thankfully lasted long enough to make Badminton a great weekend, horses, shopping, picnics and wine - the perfect combination! I went on the Friday with some friends and covered all the above although had an eventful morning prior to getting there which involved nearly getting bronked off my 18 year old mare before 7am!

Flynn has hopefully managed to find a new home and goes off on trial next week to a friend who is going to have him to play with over the summer as I have had virtually no interest from advertising him, it will be a lovely home for him and he'll be spoilt rotten!

The rain has made a return with a vengeance so out come the rugs again and back to soggy jods! Although the weather is miserable I however am not as I finally started jumping Picnic again on Sunday, it's funny with horses how one day jumping at Windsor is the best feeling in the world and the next it's jumping a cross pole at home, your goal posts just keep moving... So fingers crossed the cross pole will soon be in the warm up arena at our first show this year!

Back in 'real' work

Enjoying a bit of early morning sunshine

Staying positive when nothing goes to plan

This year is turning out to be a very slow starter, every time we are ready to get out and show off all our hard work and training over the winter something happens which prevents us and we start back at square one!  Some things are within our control and some things are not but either way you need to be able to quickly make a slight detour to take the 'scenic route' on your way to achieving your goals.

So with no competitions for the Showjumpingshire I have lots of extra time on my hands as nearly all my horses are out of work for one reason or another and I am using it as an opportunity to develop 'me'.  I have joined a gym, designed my own website and nearly completed my UKCC portfolio for submission.  I thought rather than turn into a green eyed monster as everyone else goes off in their lorries loaded with horses to competitions I would remain positive and focus on myself so I am fit and ready for action when my horses are.

First step was a website which I have kept meaning to do but never got round to it, I still have some small changes to make but this is the first draft www.ksequestrian.co.uk

Next step was to get fit and I am trying to get to the gym three times a week and include some classes and swimming, its going well so far noticing a big difference from the work on core strength although finding Bodypump a killer!

I am also using the extra time to study and create an action plan for completing my BHSII but still trying to work out financially if it is better to go straight in at UKCC3 show jumping specific, its a hard decision as it depends which would be a more recognised achievement, I am leaning towards the BHS route as I feel it covers all three disciplines but they are quite expensive so I need to be sure I've made the right decision.

Update on the Showjumping Shire... For the moment Picnic is just on walking exercise slowly building up her workload and praying she stays sound!  Unfortunately she went lame in front and was reluctant to go forwards freely so after some physio she now seems a lot happier in herself, she was very tight in her shoulder and neck but time will tell if its done the trick and she's got another session due in a few weeks if all is well otherwise it will be a vet visit... lets hope not!

ShowjumpingShire's first guest post! Guest article from Animalife on why we should use Equine Supplements

The ShowjumpingShire's first guest post!  Have a read of this article written by Claire from Animalife, leading manufacturers of equine supplements. 



Why Use Equine Supplements?

For many of us, taking vitamins or other dietary supplements are a normal part of our day-to-day lives. Vitamin C tablets, cod liver oil capsule and iron supplements can all help us feel that we are helping to keep our bodies balanced – which is especially good to know on those days where we might not be eating the best food, or taking care of our bodies as well as we should!

Just as we benefit from this extra bit of help, so too do our horses. Most horse owners and trainers these days recognise the benefits of adding supplements to horses’ normal feed to balance their overall diet and help with specific problem areas. Equine supplements are specially manufactured for the animals’ needs; human supplements are not appropriate because the size of horses means they need much higher doses than a person would.

Owning a horse is expensive and so some people may question whether they really need these specially-designed supplements; however, the old saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is something which is definitely worth bearing in mind. Horses are naturally athletic, but the type of work they do – particularly if they are used in competition – makes them prone to certain injuries and conditions. If these develop into something serious, then not only can your horse be left in a lot of pain, but treatment can be costly. It is therefore better for both you and your horse in the long term to incorporate supplements into their everyday feeding routine. There are many types of supplements on the market, and vary depending on form – i.e. whether they come as a liquid, as powder or as pellets – and purpose.

One example of supplements which you may find useful are those which help to support healthy joints. Joint conditions such as arthritis are common in older horses, though they can occur in horses of any age. Conditions such as these can cause your horse serious discomfort and pain, and in extreme cases can result in lameness.

In competing horses, the risk of developing joint issues is even higher as they are exercising much more regularly and with higher intensity. Event horses are at high risk of injuries to the stifle, dressage horses are more prone to fetlock injuries, and horses used in racing are likely to experience damage to the knee joints. While supplements won’t mean that your horse never injures their joints during these activities, they can help to protect the joints by maintaining healthy cartilage, making the joints as strong as possible.

As stated, there are a wide variety of supplement products available on the market. Discuss with your vet or an equestrian nutritionist which products will be most appropriate for your horse.

"About Animalife^® 

Animalife is committed to the development of advanced technologies to assist the health, wellbeing and performance of your horse, utilising 100% natural ingredients with SOBF^® (Specially Optimised Bioavailable Formula) technologies. We have built trust in our products through robust science, efficacy and outstanding quality, providing specific proprietary formulations that support the body’s natural processes. Animalife products work with the body to help maintain health, vitality and are proven by clinical research. Animalife products are used professionally and are proudly recommended by leading Vets and International GB team riders."

<a href=”http://www.animalife.co.uk”>equine supplements</a>

You Can’t Teach an Old Horse New Tricks… or Can You? / Animalife News

Exciting news we've appeared as a guest blogger for Animalife, please have a read and share!

You Can’t Teach an Old Horse New Tricks… or Can You? / Animalife News

'Animalife specialise in producing cutting edge performance supplements for the equine and pet markets. Our brands include Vetrofen, Vetroflex, Oxyshot and more!, visit www.animalife.co.uk for more details 

The keys that nearly vanished

March has been an interesting month, competitions and training had been planned out starting with a lesson at Summerhouse in Gloucester to polish up on our course jumping followed by our first competitive outing, but in the true horse tradition nothing goes to plan!

Feeling super organised putting the lorry on charge overnight, I loaded it up, trimmed Picnics feathers, pulled her mane and generally got her looking respectable to go out in public.  Then for the first time ever (and I hope the last) I couldn't locate the lorry keys, now of course I have previously struggled to find them for about 10 minutes but never before actually 'lost' them.  I hunted everywhere, the tack room, the car, at home but they seemed to have vanished and there is not a spare set either, so after lots of cursing and feeling very stupid I made the phone call to cancel my lesson explaining the lorry would not start but did miss out the reason why because I had no key... I felt too embarrassed to actually admit this.  Realising what not having a spare set meant made me even more annoyed for losing them as I would need new locks all round plus arranging somehow to install a new ignition and didn't even want to think what it was going to cost!  I turned everywhere upside down hunting for the missing keys and it wasn't until I was tidying the tack room and putting the bin out I made a desperate last search attempt pulling on my rubber gloves and picking out every item from the bin piece by piece,  as I neared the bottom of the bag and still no sign I was about to admit defeat when I heard keys jangling as I picked up an empty coffee container and there they were, somehow they had fallen in the bin and inside the container, relief!  

Lambing time for the Ryeland Sheep

Having keys to the lorry meant we had wheels again but would now have to wait to get out and about as I had a busy week of training, lessons to teach and it is also lambing time with our Ryeland sheep so lots of late nights and early mornings but they are so cute its all worth it.  March has not been all bad with newborn lambs running around and I started Socks my 4 year old back in work after her winter break which she is finding very exciting but convinced she really should be doing much more than walking.    This has being helped greatly by winning Maxavita's 'try something new competition' where we won 3 months supply of Maxacalm and as you can see Socks couldn't wait to get in the first tub!  I also this month attended a training day with Charles de Kunffy on the principles of correct training which I thoroughly enjoyed and always love the opportunity to be able to take away different exercises and ideas to use both for my own horses and when teaching others.   

Socks with her competition prize of
3 months supply of Maxacalm

With every up there is a down?

Picnics training had been going very well and she was back on track to get out competing this weekend, her fitness had improved and she was consistently jumping out of a great rhythm.  However, as everyone knows with horses there are far more downs than ups but if we only wrote about the upside there would be a lot of blank pages!   

So the upside was that all the hard work with schooling, interval training and gridwork had paid off and Picnic was feeling great and jumping well.  Friday our Chiropractor was out for the horses routine visit and Picnic needed just a few minor adjustments to ensure she was at her best and good to go, she enjoyed a lovely hack in the sunshine at the weekend which was a welcomed change in the weather conditions and felt almost 'Spring' like.  Now for the downside...  On Monday morning I arrived at the yard to find a dishevelled Picnic stood at the back of her stable, her rugs were hanging round her neck with broken straps and the bed looked like a war zone.  On closer inspection I could see the back wall had chunks out of it and the top blocks had been pushed out but thankfully it had withstood the evenings activities!  Picnic had never been cast in her stable before and they are big stables fully rubber matted with a good bed of shavings so it was just one of those things.  Leading Picnic outside to check her over she seemed very sore and stiff and her front hooves were marked with white paint.  I reorganised her rugs then removed her magnetic wraps that she wears every night, one of the front boots had a tear in it but had not gone all the way through to her leg underneath, not only did her magnetic wraps help with her circulation they also protected her legs from being scraped down the wall!  Her legs were a little puffy but no obvious injuries I walked her round the yard cold hosed them off then put her back to bed after finishing morning stables.

On return to the yard in the afternoon after finishing work I decided that Picnic could do with a stroll in the sunshine to walk off any stiffness, I got the other horses all exercised first so we could take our time and have a relaxing wander.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon with a clear blue sky and very still, we set off and I was a little concerned as she was very dull and reluctant to walk out which is not Picnic like at all, we even past a chainsaw cutting trees down but still no interest from Picnic.  I pushed her into trot just to see how she felt and thankfully she felt sound but still stiff so kept her walking to the end of the lane.  As we were approaching the main road I was just thinking of turning round as she had had a leg stretch and was still feeling sorry for herself when out of nowhere she launched Lipizzaner style into the air followed by a buck then continued along the road humping for a few strides, apparently she took offence at a car towing a boat!  Laughing at her while regaining control I notice there are now two coaches, a cement lorry and a skip lorry coming towards us and by now its too late to turn round we have to keep going!  Heels down, sticky bum jods and bridged reins all helped in us staying together as the vehicles passed, bless her at 18 I really don't think she is ever going to grow up!  As I said before there is always an upside - this was it Picnic was feeling better, panic over, although she tried to deposit me in the road (downside).  We made it home in one piece but I wouldn't say it was a relaxed wander and I didn't share Picnic's enthusiasm at all times!

Picnic posing - butter wouldn't melt!

The next day she started off stiff again and there was a small amount of heat in her legs but walked it off so we will continue light work for a few days and hope she hasn't done any permanent damage after getting cast.  Unfortunately there will be no competing this weekend for the Showjumping Shire but at least she is in one piece and hopefully this is just a minor setback.               

The half clipped horse

Now the weather has calmed down (I realise as I write this I'm tempting fate) I decided to do the horses final clip of the winter. All my horses are very good to clip but there are limits as I found out yesterday!

Picnic was first in the queue and being half shire means her coat grows very quickly as do the feathers! The sun was shining with not even a breeze, perfect clipping conditions ... Or so I thought.

Happily clipping away having nearly finished I hear Ranger, our dog, barking and look up but as normal he's barking at nothing so I carry on, next thing Picnic is acting like a 2 year old launching in all directions, I persist as only have her quarters left to do and that at 17 she really ought to know better. What I didn't realise as she progressively got worse and I couldn't hear over the noise of the clippers was something I forgot about... the hunt was out and currently right outside our drive :). Standing back to admire my 3/4 clipped horse looking like a devil possessed and wondering how I'm going to finish, I admit defeat. The hunt now in full view and the followers arriving Picnic was trying her best to join them as we made our way back to the safety of her stable, a few near misses but we made it, then luckily I notice Ranger in time as he's about to run after a pack of hounds in the next field, phew, disaster avoided!!! 

 

Just in case you're wondering the designer clip has been made more traditional after all the excitement was over we were able to finish - but not until about 5pm!  Lets hope for less drama with the next horse in the queue for clipping.  



Picnic - The completed clip

 

Ranger - The Yard Supervisor



Perfect timing to buy a new horse???

It feels like its been a long winter so far with rain, snow, frozen pipes and show cancellations - roll on Spring! 

Perfect time to buy a new horse.... hmmmmm perhaps not when the big freeze hits.  I have been looking for a little while for a new addition to the team and a week before the severe weather made its appearance I found Flynn.  He is an 8 year old 16.3hh Irish Sport Horse, lovely gent with a super jump and hopefully my next showjumper after a bit of schooling and fittening work, we managed nearly a week of training and he was taking it all in his stride, settled in quickly and it was all systems go.... or so I thought until the great British weather had other ideas.  Hopefully it won't be long until we can get out and test ride him round a few courses :)




The new boy - Flynn




Along with probably the rest of the country we got a good covering of snow making it near on impossible to keep horses in training without the use of an indoor arena, this meant that even if competitions were not cancelled my horses were not prepared due to the wintry conditions so the showjumping shire has had to stay at home and unplanned holidays all round!  Picnic and I did go for a stroll out in the snow but that was about as exciting as it got, apart from a sneaky canter, I couldn't resist being a big kid! 



Picnic dreaming of an
 indoor school

At one point I got so fed up of not being able to get my horses back in work that I went out in the lunge pen and dug a track (I think this was slightly more of a workout for me than the horses) I was very pleased with my efforts and surprisingly I think the horses did too as they worked beautifully without any high jinx at all and even more shocking is that they stuck to the track, I think it's the way forward to assist horses staying even on both reins without falling in or out, but I don't fancy digging through snow every day to achieve this result :)

The thaw has begun so lets get the flooding out the way then fingers crossed for a dry cold end to winter.

A new rug, coaching assessments and early mornings

 

Picnic has been treated to a new rug as she was getting fed up of wearing an old waffle at shows that had a few too many extra air holes in it, she looks rather smart in it and it couldn't have come at a better time after all the bad weather we've had she drys off nicely in her new coolex after a hard workout in the rain.  Rain is the main theme of the week ... or year!!!  but it has its advantages as Picnic has been able to enjoy hydrotherapy sessions right outside the front gate where what used to be the lane once was.  The school has had no chance of keeping up with the amount of water as it is flowing in from the fields and the drainage pipe is submerged under water, thankfully the surface has not floated away but as you can see we have our own water complex that my 4 year old Socks was investigating, but once the water level goes down it drains very quickly so schooling can resume!

This week was assessment time for my UKCC2 and after it beng such a long time since I did my BHSAI or any exams for that matter I was a little nervous to be in front of an examiner again!  After a very early start of half four in the morning my horses were all shocked to see me and even more so when I threw them out in the field when they were tucked up warm in their stables quite happily.  I made my way down to Dorset and had a successful day, I actually enjoyed the assessment lesson and the two riders I had were lovely.  I had excellent feedback from both the assessor and riders which is a real confidence boost for my next step to my BHS Intermediate teaching and UKCC3 which I hope to take early in 2013, now all I have to do is find lots of guinea pigs to practise on over the winter to perfect my lunge lessons :)      

Showjumping Shire jumps well at Hartpury

Arrived at Hartpury along with the rest of the country judging by how many people were there!  I'm not sure if nothing else was on this weekend or events had been cancelled but it was the busiest I'd seen and the first class didn't finish until after midday!!!  (Thankfully Picnic does not mind standing on the lorry as long as she has food she is very happy).  Eventually walked the course got Picnic ready then made our way over to the warm up which thankfully had quietened down as I put us down towards the end of the class.  After out lesson yesterday working on more control of the quarters in canter and changes Picnic felt incredibly loose and elastic right from the work go - I felt like I was sat on a pocket rocket!  Feeling very pleased with the way we were jumping I decided to stop while the going was good and wait until we went down to the main arena warm up before popping over a final couple of jumps.  When we were called down she felt equally as good except she got a little over excited at the tunnel to the arena refusing to go in so we had to make a speedy entrance then get back under control and reset before starting the course.  Aiming for a steady double clear and trying to put into practise everything from our lesson yesterday we set off after the bell, I enjoyed every minute and although at times I knew we could have picked up the pace a little and cut inside some jumps I did have at the back of my mind - if I let her cover the ground and go on between the fences I couldn't guarantee I'd get her back again as she was feeling very 'bubbly' - so I was very happy with a clean and consistent round.  Due to the time it was taking to get through the classes and I still had Socks to exercise on return home sadly we only managed the one class which was a shame as Picnic was feeling so well but we'll be out again next week for the Blue Chip Power qualifier so fingers crossed for a repeat performance!

Snow, floods and training at home

The lovely British weather strikes again and what a long winter ahead is in store when its snowing before we are hardly into November!  I have had a week of getting soaked while trying to do anything be it teaching, riding or just emptying the wheelbarrow however I have used the miserable weather as an excuse to swot up and experiment on some new schooling exercises to keep my horses enthusiastic and build up their strength ready for the winter season competing. 

 

An exercise I'd like to share is one I have found very useful to improve the canter and get horses sitting with more weight behind, waiting for the fences and producing a better jump - it is also great if like me you are working your horses on your own with no ground help it enables you to practise jumping without having to keep getting off to change fences around - for safety keep them small as more cavaletti style if you are on your own, or at a height you are comfortable.  The exercise is simple jumping off a 20m circle, but has a little twist in that the jump is set at an angle on the circle a couple of strides before 'X' one fence as a cross pole at each end of the arena so you have 2 circles and able to swap reins without moving anything - work at one end of the school on one rein then change rein and go to the other end approaching each jump on the curve rather than straight.  Put your horse in shoulder-in on the circle and remain so on approach to the fence and do not adjust the stride sit and wait encouraging the hind legs to step under at all times allowing the horse to get right underneath the jump remaining on the circle line on landing and carrying on, putting the horse back in shoulder-in and approach the jump again, this exercise can be done in trot before moving on to canter.  I then also added a fence on the long side by 'B' so I could straighen the horse out and see if I still had the same feeling on a straight line into the fence of a much more connected canter with the horse up in front without placing the horse just allowing the stride to remain consistent and balanced to the fence.  It really makes both of you work hard and ensures you are working on a powerful canter pushing forward as you have to keep the impulsion and flexion to remain in shoulder-in.  You can vary this exercise to suit your horse, I found by adding in smaller circles, perhaps every other time you approach the fence miss it out by turning inside on a circle to encourage a lazy horse to use its hind leg and overemphasize the 'skip' as its hind leg comes under, maybe try changing to traver on the circle or approaching from the other direction to ensure you have the horse between hand and leg as the angle is such the opportunist may run out, I will try to get some photos or videos of my horses training at home but as I work on my own a lot with the horses I can't promise it will be soon!  I have a lesson this week before I am out competing at Hartpury Saturday so I should have some pictures and videos to share of us out and about.     

 

 

Going back to the bad weather last week, yesterday (Sunday) was by far the worst for a while, unfortunately the lane to our yard floods which means without a 4x4 its always quite nervewracking driving through it in my Ford Focus when you cannot see the road and a bow wave runs alongside as you make your way through (photos below show just how bad the lane can get - and yes the mighty Ford Focus battles on through).  After finally making it to the yard the fields resemble lakes and the sheep looked like drowned rats so I felt so sorry for our ram that I offered him an umbrella for a while - they do have lots of hedges and trees to get under but for some reason animals never use the shelter available and would much rather be out in the open getting soaked!  The horses spennt the day in and were very content munching away tucked up warm in their stables looking out at the flooded fields and watching the snow become increasingly heavier.  Thankfully by the afternoon it all stopped and I was able to ride without getting wet - result!!!

 

 



The training begins ...

A quiet weekend training at home for Picnic and she is looking and feeling great at the moment, the extra time meant we could spend time on some gymnastic work which is invaluable to keep her supple. Socks also was put through her paces down the grid and seems to be getting stronger behind starting to really sit and push but gets tired very quickly so keeping sessions short so she stays keen!

Picnic feeling well and looking good

Earlier this week I visited the TTT in Surrey to watch Herwig Radnetter teach who is one of the most senior riders at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.  There was a good selection of horses and riders of all standards and Herwig makes the training sessions very informative and progressive.  I now have lots of inspiration to try out some of his methods on my clients so watch out!  My horses have already been subjected to being guinea pigs and I have to say Picnic was almost enjoying her flatwork and turning into a dressage shire showing off half pass and changes.  Including this work in my training sessions is really helping loosen her back and the canter is benefitting becoming much more powerful and connected - we will be out jumping Puissance classes at this rate!  (But we'll settle for consistent double clears).

Socks posing!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)

As promised here are some pictures from Socks' weekend away training at Stockland Lovell earlier in October.  She slept for two days afterwards - being a well behaved model 4 year old takes a lot apparently!


Thats the way to do it!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)