Getting going then ... whoops!

Throughout February everything was getting back in full swing, Socks got the all clear to return back to full work, Lara was in the process of being backed and Picnic had her sparkle back.

After surgery on her tendon sheath, Socks had made a text book recovery and all the hard work of in hand walking and sticking to the rehab programme paid off when her leg has almost returned to normal and you have to look really hard to notice where the injury had been, result!

Picnic is back in light work and definitely feeling looser and happier in herself as proved when she got very excited being allowed to trot over a pole and proceeded to leap and hump down the side of the arena with little working breaks (thankful for neck straps).  It is lovely to see her cheeky side back!

Exciting developments with Lara as she is happily walking and trotting under saddle and hacking out very boldly.

Everything was looking very promising for the start of 2014 and finally I had 3 horses soon to be in full work and the diary was on its way out to get planning some outings.  Then a little 'whoops' happened... 

It was a lovely quiet evening and I decided to give Lara a little session in the arena, little did I know that at the bottom end behind the hedge lurked about 50 sheep!  Unfortunately as we were walking down the long side of the arena the sheep decided to all run at once from behind said hedge and appear in full view dashing up the hill, obviously known for their horse hunting abilities Lara took quick action to launch out of danger.  I however didn't take such quick action and got unseated and stylishly (or not) fell straight down full face dive into the floor, not recommended! After an ambulance trip to A&E thankfully no broken bones but lots of bruising, concussion and a very pretty face means I am out of action for a few weeks.  The scan showed the bruising is causing pressure against my spine resulting in pins and needles and basically painful so until the swelling goes down I'm grounded :(

A month of '1st's (but not in the rosette sense!)

Wow its been a hectic few weeks and Socks has been one busy mare!  Picnic the Showjumpingshire on the other hand has been enjoying her leisurely strolls and schooling sessions but not so keen to see the lorry keep leaving the yard without her.  We are hopeful that now she is on a new joint supplement and her workload has changed that she will be able to go for an outing soon and I get the feeling there may be a 'sit tight' moment or two as she is feeling very well in herself.

Socks has suddenly grown up and progressing very well, coping with lots of new situations and in the space of 3 weeks it has been all systems go!  Socks has so far done her first fun ride, first cross country jump, first full course of show jumps, first warm up in the school with the door open and first run though of a prelim dressage test.  I am very proud of her and here is a quick summary of everything she has managed to do.

Fun ride - We went to Barbury Castle on the autumn fun ride organised by the Vine and Craven Hunt.  This was the first time Socks had seen so many horses in one place and the first time she had ever seen a cross country fence.  The first log was quite funny as she stopped with all four legs spread apart snorted took a minute to work out what i was asking her to do then lept it landed and shot off towards the next one with ears pricked, only problem being that she kept collecting her canter and showjumping them!  By the end of the ride she managed logs, tyres, rails and even a steeplechase fence when we were feeling brave although she still kept showjumping them all almost jumping me out the saddle each time!!!

Course of Showjumps - We hired Rectory Farm arena with a full course of BS show jumps, there was a course set up complete with fillers so we thought we would do a mock competition and just warm up over one fence then have a go at the course.  Socks was bursting with confidence and although a little wobbly into some of the scary fillers she took everything on and managed a course of 11 fences clear!  Good pony!

Schooling away from home - we have been out to 2 different venues for lessons, the first with Tessa Thorne in an indoor school on her own and the second at AM Dressage with Matt Frost in an indoor school sharing with one other horse.  The lesson with Tessa was great as there happened to be lots going on and horses being lunged next door so she had to cope and other than a few baby moments of calling out she coped very well.  We went to Matt for two days and had one lesson on each day, the second day we ran through a full test and managed a warm up with the door open and didn't disappear  out of it!  She worked beautifully and it really felt like we had a breakthrough in our training - the best feeling ever and probably equals a win out competing.  After working so hard I cannot stop smiling at the fact I now am starting to have a grown up horse that is beginning to enjoy her work and we are becoming a partnership (with the odd disagreement buck - she really does know best!)

Now we need a little rest before we are off to hire out the showjumps again then I think it may be time to try our first competition... watch this space!

Its great to be back out and about

Well its June and we have managed our first outing of the year, the lorry finally passed its plating, my saddle is fixed and even more importantly I have horses to ride!

At the beginning of June the Showjumpingshire had a super time at the Unicorn trust on the Senior Instructors Clinic, Picnic was however slightly confused on entering the indoor arena to find not one single jump in there!  Yes much to her disappointment she was away for two days to work on her flatwork, we managed to work on her suppleness and contact both of which cause her to lose concentration and become a little opinionated so we spent time setting the boundaries which took a little convincing but by the end she had much more power to her paces and also softer and easier to ride.  By day two I even got tanked off with in trot as Picnic found she could use her hind legs in a way she thought she couldn't and showed off how far underneath her she could get them!

After the first outing of the year we couldn't wait for another and so hunted around but I just wanted something quiet to attend and everywhere has qualifiers at the moment so decided instead to hire out the fabulous Rectory Farm Arena nearby to get some jump practise in.  We were working on popping round a course keeping our rhythm and power in the canter.  After warming up I was surprised to find Picnic a little spooky and sticky at the first few fillers, then I realised its been nearly 8 months since she's seen a full set of show jumps!  It didn't take long before she was back full of confidence and we were both thoroughly enjoying ourselves, she's definately back on form and made the bigger jumps and combinations effortless.  

Timing is everything...

The diary is back out and we are looking at planning some outings, Picnics fitness programme is going well although she is on a diet along with Socks due to the breakthrough of that Spring grass - I have threatened grazing muzzles if their waistlines don't decrease at the weekly weigh in.

Major achievement of the week goes to Socks for going out the yard for the first time all by herself, she walked down the drive like a pro and even made it past scary gateways and signs, brave pony!  Her flatwork is really progressing well in the school and she is much more workmanlike without losing her cheeky character after coming back from her winter break and has filled out nicely. 

Next week we have a two day senior instructors flatwork clinic to look forward to, I thought I'd take Picnic along to work on our canter as a little warm up before we get back out competing.  It's held at the fabulous
Unicorn Trust organised by the TTT, I attended last year with Socks and gained a lot from the two days away as well as the fabulous food!

Timing however is everything... so far events that have also happened this week include the lorry failing its plating - so fingers crossed the garage can fit a retest in before next week and my jumping saddle breaking - ummm yes thats right, while jumping at home I heard a big cracking sound on landing followed by Picnic bucking, turns out the front plate had broken clean in two pieces - good job I wasn't out at a competition!  It is now in being replaced and will hopefully be back in time too.  

I'm also on the lookout for a new horse to add to the team now I have found Flynn a super home.  The potential horses I have found so far the viewings have been unsuccessful and I don't seem to be able to find what I'm looking for just yet... another Shire x TB would be perfect!

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!

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

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

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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