www.odenhills.co.nz blog

Solway HT - Tilly

2009-11-07T22:09:00.002+13:00

Tilly did a super dressage test, very calm and accurate. A nice free-walk too! She got lots of nice comments from the judge about how consistent she was.

Showjumping was my first time jumping Tilly in public! She overjumped a few fences, but did a very steady round and certainly wasn't spooky or fast or anything like that. I was really pleased with how easy she was.

I thought the XC might be a bit of a different story, especially as there were a few jumps that are just plain ugly. But once on-task Tilly is very mature, didn't spook or worry about any of the fences. Again there were a couple of bigger leaps when we didn't get the striding quite right. But she flew around easily.

More Tilly:

Another double clear for our team! And Tilly came home with 2nd overall! Very happy with that.. and will be doing up an advert on behalf of her owner shortly to hopefully find her a super new home! So couple that with the sunshine, and Swifty popped over to take photos (even though it was his birthday... who wants sunburn for their birthday?) - it was a real good weekend. And my truck is back in the shed - so that is just awesome.

Solway HT - Xev

2009-11-07T21:59:00.004+13:00

Xev has had a bit of time off recovering from an abscess which was a bit of a nightmare getting perfectly right in the wet conditions we have had lately. So I wanted a nice laid-back run for her. I thought about taking her H/C myself, but then thought it'd be more fun for Mum to ride her (and Xev can look after her nicely). They did a very nice dressage test together - very steady and rythmic and got some nice comments from the judge.

Showjumping was a bit hectic. Today was Mum's first time riding Xev, and she only got to pop over one crossrail before heading into her round. But they popped around nicely for a clear.

Cross country was great. Xev just sighted up the jumps and headed around the course like such a pro. It was a tight course (not set for a forward pace), but she came back nicely for the sharp turns too.

More pics:

So that was another clear for Mum & Xev, and their double-clear and nice dressage test put them in 3rd place at the end of the day! Stoked with that. Now Xev has to come do some real work again.

Solway HT - Gem

2009-11-07T21:50:00.004+13:00

Gem was having her second eventing start for her career. I was undecided if I should put her in the intro or the pretraining. The event was split over 2 days for the PT, so I decided it was far more sensible and economic to put her in the intro and come home tonight! Her dressage was good, but a little tense at times. She got a 9, which was nice - don't get heaps of those.

A lovely showjumping round from Gem, as always. She seems to really enjoy her showjumping now - so I need to get onto showhuntering her.

Then the XC! I changed saddles as I wasn't sure, but felt she wasn't 100% comfy in the other one, and she was a lot more relaxed through her back in her warmup. She hopped around everything easily, having a ball.

More XC piccies:

So that gave us a double-clear jumping on top of our dressage, and 5th place overall. I'm really happy with that. Next time she certainly needs to go PT and build on that.

Solway HT - Alfie

2009-11-07T21:42:00.002+13:00

Had Alfie, Gem, Xev & Tilly all entered in the intro class. Alfie hasn't been jumped in yonks. Mum was to ride him, and they did a lovely dressage test:

However as they hadn't had a chance to do any jumping at all this season he was very green over his fences. I took him for a quick jaunt H/C around the showjumping, but we decided he really needs to get some grids and practise outings into him again to remind him what it's all about.

It was good for him to have another outing though, and he was going very kindly. This weekend also gave Mum and I a chance to finally swap trucks over. That means that Mum will have an easier time getting Alfie out to a few different places on weeknights (somewhere dry to ride! and perhaps get a few jumps or trotting poles in). Alfie's next outing should be Belmont on Saturday for some flat classes.

Carterton A&P - Tilly

2009-11-01T20:58:00.003+13:00

This was my first outing on Tilly, though her owner has taken her out and about beforehand. As we arrived on Friday it meant there was lots of time for Tilly to settle in. That turned out quite well, as she didn't drink well the first night (had some, but not as much as I would have liked) - and by Sunday she was like the rest of the team - drinking whenever the bucket was offered to her. Always a weight off your mind once you know they'll drink well.

Oh Saturday I took her for a hack around the grounds and had a look at the ferris wheel and the showjumping. She never got fizzy or bouncy, and never spooked at anything. Then when the sun came out I sat with her for a few hours while she had a pick of good Wairarapa grass.

Today we were entered in the Pleasure Hacks. We did 3 classes and came home with 2 ribbons. So I was stoked with that. Our first class was the 'Best Combination'. As this was my first chance to ride Tilly amongst other horses in a cramped space I was glad to see she was good about it. She didn't put a foot wrong in the first class - but we didn't even get called in, so I was a bit gutted about that.

Our luck changed for our second class though. The Paced & Mannered. We were called in, and then did a short workout (figure-eight, at trot and canter) and took out the win for that class. Very pleased with that!

Tilly stood like a pro while she got her ribbon put on, but then tried to rub on the steward as she was taking out name - oops!

Our last class was the Rider class. I wasn't sure how this was going to go, seeing as we didn't get called in for Combination. But again we got called in, and then after the workout took another red ribbon. Yay Tilly. We even had to contend with squealing pigs during our workout, which was something a bit different.

Tilly lost focus a bit while looking at the squealing pigs being loaded on to the truck, but that was the only time she really stopped working the entire day. She is really willing, and very obedient (good halt to trot and trot to halt transitions too). Mum managed to come over to watch a couple of classes and said that Tilly looked very consistent, which is absolutely true. She's a really easy horse to ride.

After that we waited around for the Championship callback, but did not get called in for a wide ribbon. Can't complain though- what a fantastic outing for our first one together & Tilly's first for the season. Next for us is hopefully a jumping outing, and then Tilly will officially go on the market.

Carterton A&P - Alfie

2009-11-01T20:09:00.002+13:00

Finally, a show that wasn't cancelled for me! Though it didn't all go exactly to plan either. I headed up on Friday to do some classes on Xev, but she is still having some discomfort from an absess that has burst but still got some heat. I'd thought I could possibly get away with just doing the dressage - but it wasn't really a happening thing.

I'd also organised to pick up my truck on Friday and give Mum her one back... but there was a problem with it and I couldn't pick it up! Not to mention Friday was also terrible weather with mud up past my gumboots (I feel sorry for those who were competing). All up it was a pretty forgettable day. Without my truck I had nowhere to sleep, so ended up heading up to mum's and staying there. Came back with her truck on Sunday for flat classes on Tilly & Alfie.

Mum rode Alfie in the showhacks. It was his first outing of the season, and he was actually very well behaved (a lot more grown-up than he was last season), but he still had his eyes on stalks for a little bit when we arrived.

I took some photos of Alfie warming up, so apologies for the timing of the pics, I'm not very good at operating the camera myself! I normally have someone else doing the difficult jobs like that.

Once he was warmed up Mum headed over to the show rings (on the other side of the grounds to where I was). Luckily Swifty turned up just in time to head over with the camera and get some shots of Alfie competing.

No ribbons in the first few classes, but Mum said she was really happy with the way he went (I was busy getting Tilly saddled at this point, so never got to watch Alfie). He's got a tooth coming though which is giving him a bit of discomfort, and therefore his head carriage isn't always so steady - but he is working nicely and has really muscled up so much compared to last season.

Their last class (started at 9, and by this stage was after lunch!) was the District hack, which they came home with a placing for. Alfie looked very happy with his nice yellow ribbon as he came back to the truck.

Alfie's next outing will be this coming weekend at Solway - doing the intro eventing class, again with Mum riding.

Cancelled, again!

2009-10-19T19:57:00.002+13:00

Well - weekends haven't been too fortunate for us just lately. Everything I look at going to is cancelled. Sunday I even managed to drive most of the way to Clareville before finding out the Carterton Spring Carnival was cancelled. That is the 5th show in a row for me!! Stupid weather.

But the horses travelled nicely and probably enjoyed going for a Sunday drive. Took Neo, Gem & Tilly. Tilly loaded & travelled really well, which is good.

Crossing fingers to get to the ESNZ showjumping this coming weekend over in the Wairarapa, and the forecast is looking a bit better too. Also supposed to be finally swapping trucks back so I'll have my big blue one back (yay!).

Tilly Arrives

2009-10-17T14:42:00.003+13:00

Had a new horse arrive yesterday. 'Tilly' has come to get some experience and exposure out and about (she's already done a bit - including wides in A&P pleasure) - and then she will be looking for a new home. She came off the transporter a bit shell-shocked, but was great for me to have a quick ride on bareback and behaved beautifully while I rugged her up and put her in the paddock.

Today I did my first proper ride on her, through the creek (quite deep today as well). She seems pretty laid back, so should be a fun one to take out to the shows.

This weekend I'd been going to Te Marua today to practise XC (but it got cancelled due to ground conditions), then Waikanae ODT tomorrow (also cancelled due to ground conditions!). So at this stage I'm looking at making the hike up to Clareville for the Carterton Spring Carnival. Probably just take Neo & Gem... and looking at Tilly's mane I might need to pop her on the truck so Mum can pull the mane for me :)

Spring Weather

2009-10-12T08:38:00.003+13:00

Well hasn't it just been some crazy weather lately. Had 2 shows lined up this weekend just gone - and both were cancelled due to ground conditions! Felt at a bit of a loose end, to be honest. A bit like I haven't been out to any shows in absolutely ages. But I have 2 over in Masterton/Wairarapa at the end of the month which should be good - maybe we'll stike it lucky and get some nice weather for them! The sun is out today, so it's possible (fingers crossed).

I'm also looking at putting Zak & Pippa out on some turnout grazing to free up a bit more space, and shuffling around some of the other horses to make room for some more to come in. Watch this space.

Rainy Days

2009-10-12T08:35:00.000+13:00

Kit has gone home, but I will still be popping out there every now & then for a while to check that he is on track. I went out to his place and rode him around the roads and it was windy and rainy and yucky. Certainly made for an interesting ride (rubbish day too - so blown over rubbish bins around the place!).

It's also lamb season, so lots of cute little lambs to watch as well.

Waikanae Spring Show

2009-09-21T09:42:00.006+12:00

After a bit of a late start we got on the road up to Waikanae yesterday. I had Xev entered in flat classes (saddle hunters) and had done the most awful quick plaits the day before - poor horse with golfballs on her neck. Swifty came along to take some pics. There were heaps of horses over in the hack ring, glad I wasn't a part of that as they seemed really packed in with not much room to actually ride foward. Where we had a huge space for hunters and even got in a few gallops for our workouts.

Xev went nicely - though a bit unsteady in the head at times (allergies? teeth? must look into both). She got placed in each class I entered: Maiden, Lightweight, Paced & Mannered.

It was super weather - and is the first time this season I have ridden on the new surface at Waikanae. It was certainly nicer than last time I rode on it. Good for flat. I wouldn't really want to jump on it though. Also in the pic below I am grinning like a fool - because that prizemoney is gonna buy me an icecream!!

After the flat classes I rushed back to the truck to get Gem as I had both Xev and her entered in the working hunters. I probably shouldn't have bothered as they weren't warmed up for the small cross-country course they had us do, so both overjumping a bit. I even managed to tumble off the front of Xev when she dipped on landing off the drop. Was a bit uneventful, as I hopped back on and completed the corner and then the gallop without any problems.. but I must say I am nursing a bruise or two today.

Kit did the 90cm SJ in Ring1 and he went lovely. He had a few naughty moments in the warmup, but he is stopping as soon as I growl at him which is fantastic progress. He did fab in the class as well. It was a 2phase and both pictures below are over the same jump (first round & then jumpoff round). He did some lovely controlled corners and I was pleased with that.

After the showjumping his owners were standing with a shoe he tossed during the round! So instead of waiting around for the 1m SJ I put him over to the showhunters instead. It was the tightest showhunter course I've ever seen - a real tricky riders course, with a long strided double off a sharp turn (the best you could do was to get 2 straight strides into it, and that was if you went right up against the railings). It was really intersting to watch how each rider tackled it.

Kit went kindly around, and wasn't too distracted by the spectators who all line up at the shed with prams and dogs and various other things. Did a bit more riding around the warmup areas and Kit was good. I'm really pleased with him.

Gem was entered for the showhunter as well, but I decided against it with all those sharp turns - I just felt she was a bit green to do it well enough to do justice to herself. So we skipped that and went straight to our 90cm class. She jumped super even with me flopping around on top - my lower leg was so unsteady!

We came back for the 1m class - and looking at these pictures I will be taking the stirrups off all of my saddles for a week! Such bad leg position! The 1m was big & technical, and caused a lot of problems. I did the first half, which Gem jumped lovely, then retired after we got in wrong to an oxer. I didn't want to dent her confidence, so just went and did some practise fences to get the striding right again and then put her away. She really is doing fantastic for a horse who has had such a late start to her jumping career.

Poor Neo had, like usual, been tied to the truck all day and was just getting dragged out for the last classes. The 1.05m TableC was built very kindly, so I hopped on while the coursebuilder was putting the jumps up and did a few practise fences, then took Neo in first to go so we wouldn't have to wait around. He came 4th.

By the time they started the 1.10 it was getting very dark - I've lightened these photos so you can actually see him! I'm not sure why, but I was a bit nervous. We came into the first (a tripplebar) and stood off a bit, but Neo reached over it and saved my butt.

He is jumping so well at this height right now. He improves every season and is just such an honest wee man around the course. I'm looking forward to finding a few more 1.15 starts for him to see if we can get him competitive enough to justify paying for the ESNZ rego!

Loaded up in the half-light, and it was pitch black by the time I got home. Poor Swifty had missed his dinner, and Nick came down from the house with a torch to help put the horses away. I'm hoping to have a very lazy Monday!

Another Lesson

2009-09-14T20:16:00.002+12:00

Had another jumping lesson with Andrew on Sunday - I took Gem along this time, as I was interested to see if we could fix a problem I have with landing too far forward on her (ie: on her neck!). That got fixed within the first half dozen crossrails, so it was totally worth it!

We then went on to do some grids and a course. Gem has been competing to 1m, and on Sunday we were doing up to 1.20 which was a good change of pace for us. Gem jumped great, I just need to ride her a bit more forward (same issue I have on Xev too). We had a bit of a stuff up at the very last fence we were doing, so had to re-do that a bunch of times to get back in the zone.. but really it was a great lesson and I am so pleased with Gem!

RUC Increase

2009-09-11T10:27:00.002+12:00

Next month LTNZ is increasing the road user changes / distance licenses for diesel vehicles. So I've gone through and updated my spreadsheets for the new figures and it is actually pretty scary. Per kilometer travelled the RUC are far more expensive than the diesel used.

I am still using Mum's truck at the moment, and loaded it up and went out to a weigh bridge so I could ensure we are running it on the correct weight sticker. Thankfully we are. I would really urge people to do this - our local rubbish dump charges just $10 to weigh a vehicle, and it's good to know beforehand what weight you are - than to be facing a huge fine when you get pulled over at a weigh station by the police.

The newest RUC figures mean that my truck will be charged around $300 per unit (1000kms). That means the places I go regularly (Tielcey Park in Palmy, and Solway in Masterton) will each cost more than $100 just in RUC & diesel. That is pretty scary. Each time I go down the road to the local arena where I school, it's $10! I think I will be planning my outings this season very carefully - and never leaving home without a full truck!

Waikanae XC Practise: Kit

2009-09-06T20:54:00.003+12:00

Today was my first away-from-home ride on Kit since he's been here (though I have taken him XC several months ago). I wanted to get him out amongst all the other horses and just socialise him a bit, and then decide if we were going to jump.

He warmed up really well - a few spooks but nothing major. So I decided to start him off with some showjumps just to get myself accustomed to his style. He did the SJ course fine, got in deep to a few, but by the end of the course we had each other pretty well sorted.

Then I figured it would be silly to not have a go at the XC. He'd had some troubles before on this course, so I specifically wanted to re-create that situation for him so that I could work out how to fix it and what was going wrong. We lined up (see pic below - Kit is in there!) and headed on our way. He jumped fence 1 great, and didn't play up before fence 2.. then popped over the stream crossing fine. Then a loose horse came flying past us which he thought gave him an excuse to have a little panic. I got him settled (then of course pony flew past us again a few times just to keep me on my toes!). Eventually the pony hooned back to it's truck and so I continued on my way. A few little sideways steps from Kit after the fences, but nothing major at all. Even popped over the trakhener really nicely first pop:

Down to the corner - which he jumped great. Then as I was waiting to do it again, another horse (this time with rider) cantered past and Kit got himself all worked up. I got him to focus on me again and then he was fine. It seems once you make him forget about whatever distracted/scared him, he's absolutely perfect again. Hopped over the palisade nicely too.

The little bank, and trotting through the water (apologies for my absolutely awful position - pinched knees and tipped forward! I deserved to land in that water! glad I didn't!). Kit didn't have any issue at all with the water.

So I came and did the training level combination which he did really kindly as well.

Starting to work out what his triggers are (at least in this type of situation) that make him upset. So have some good things to work on. He was really lovely to handle throughout the day - even letting Swifty (who isn't particularly horsey) take off his rear jumping boots and little things like that.

Got home in the daylight! Very awesome. Then had pizza for dinner - even more awesome! Only had 3 to jump today, but still worked up a hunger.

Waikanae XC Practise: Coco

2009-09-06T20:41:00.003+12:00

Coco hasn't been doing heaps lately, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity for her to have a jump around at Waikanae. Their intro XC course is all enclosed and has a cute variety of jumps. It was already quite busy by the time I got her out on course, but more good experience for her to be immersed amongst screaming and screaching young ponyclub girls on XC.

I started with this super awesome little log - and she popped over happily. Did it a few more times to get her into a bit more of a rhythm. Then headed up to do the rails:

We did the corner (yes, I am going to call this a corner, even though really there is just one rail with offset ground rails), and the ditch which although it's tiny she still tried at one stage to walk through instead of jump over! Think I need to introduce her to the idea of a trakhener to ensure she is jumping over the ditches properly!

Some more rails (a little double) and the palisade:

Then the water - she was an absolute superstar and went straight in even though it was very deep for a little Coco pony! Not a lot of impulsion left to get out of the water afterwards - but she managed to hop up without incident.

After her super XC I decided to pop her around some showjumps. It was very busy by this stage, and she was starting to get upset.. but once she got in the ring she was really good. If she has something to focus on she seems a lot better than if she is just standing around.

We went back to the truck and she very quickly settled again. She improves with every outing - so I can't wait to get my truck back on the road to ensure she comes along to everything just to get that exposure. She is an absolute darling while tied to the truck (especially at Waikanae which is right by the road). I can leave her tied up and know she'll be there when I get back, which makes life easy.

Waikanae XC Practise: Xev

2009-09-06T20:27:00.003+12:00

Headed up to Waikanae today for their XC practise day. They only go up to Training height XC - but do have a few ditches and water, which is always good to get in some practise sessions with. I didn't get to showjump Xev as there were huge lines and the jumps only about 1m so not really worth sticking around waiting for them to get put up bigger.

The cross-country was set as a course, and the organisers wanted everyone to ride it as a course rather than practise specific jumps (of course it didn't happen that way! everyone just gathered at the trakhener & water). But I figured I might as well do the first half-dozen as a course. Xev popped over the first 2 really sweetly, through the creek and up over the skyline fence.

Then it was time to wait in line for the trakhener. We did the little one first which she jumped beautifully, and then the larger one which she did a catleap over. Then down to the corners (yes, the second pic below is actually a corner!).

The palisade under the trees, and the small bank that takes you back into the starting paddock:

The chevron double - small & larger options:

The rolltop, and a stride or two into the water (which was really deep!). Xev just trotted through, but she didn't hesitate at all which was great.

Overall it was a good first XC jumping for the season. But Xev was spooky (even around the truck & to handle) which is unusual. I will try to increase her equilibrium blue, and if I don't see a change inside the week I might look at getting some bloods run - because she's not normally this spooky. I mean, they're all a bit silly on the spring grass at the moment of course - so I am hoping the equilibrium will be enough to just help her be more settled like she normally is.

Bye, Orin!

2009-09-03T19:18:00.002+12:00

Orin headed off to his new home yesterday. He has gone to a very experienced local family - so it will be great to see him out and about through the season with them.

Today I got a new one, Kit, arrive for some schooling. Good to be busy! Just need my truck back now and then the season will really be rocking along.

Final Tielcey Park CT

2009-08-31T11:28:00.005+12:00

Yesterday was the final of the 5-part combined training series at Tielcey Park. I was just heading up for the showjumping, no dressage for me this time. I had entered each of the horses for their biggest rounds yet (what better way to start a season?) -and got there to find it was a Chris Chugg designed course, with all lines related and tight! Very much a thinking course, and actually pretty enjoyable to ride because of that. Swifty came up and took some photos, and we somehow managed to stay there till 5pm and not get rained on! Fantastic!

Orin: 80cm & 90cm

Orin was heaps better in the collecting area this time. Previously I've had to walk him otherwise he gets a little fidgety, but this time he stood really nicely. So I was happy with that. His 80cm was a super double clear for 5th place (just couldn't compete with some of the speedier times, but our corners were lovely and tight).

Our 90cm round was not quite as tidy - a bit of drift around some of the corners, which set us up a little wrong for the distances - so came in a bit deep a few times. But he jumped everything really well, just tapped a rail. I was really pleased with that for his first course at that height, and he certainly didn't have a problem with it.

Gem: 90cm & 1m

Gem's jumping is just getting better and better! She loves it too. Last time we did the 90cm and she took a couple rails - just getting too tired. Today she blitzed around the 90 with a lovely double clear and speedy tight jumpoff for 3rd place.

Gem took the first rail in the 1m (which a lot of people were taking as it was right by the gate & had a sharp approach), but did the rest of the course really kindly. It wasn't as tidy as our 90cm - but if she keeps improving at this rate she'll be doing decent tracks in no time! She absolutely has the scope for it.

Xev: 1m & 1.10m

My first class on Xev I didn't even get into the jumpoff - we were arguing with each other a bit (I think I was trying too hard - wanting to put into practise the things I'd been working on with Andrew). I was a bit disappointed and wasn't sure if I should do the 1.10 class - but figured I could retire at any point, so I might as well. And hell - she attacked it!

Xev did a stunner of a double-clear with a great jumpoff time for 2nd place. I was stoked! She was on fire too - jumping everything great (I got left behind a few times (see piccy above!!) and jumped out the tack a few times!) - but I'm just so impressed for her first show of the season.

Neo: 1.05m & 1.15m

Neo was sporting new hardware - a rubber mullen mouth dutch gag on the snaffle ring. He's been a bit of a tart with the spring grass, and I've never bitted him up like this before, but I was at my wits end to get him to listen. And wow - it worked! He was going forward enough to get all the distances perfect, but not arguing with me and tossing his head. We were too slow for a ribbon in the 1.05 though.

The 1.15 he set out great for the first half, and then we kinda fell to bits a little just at the end. I'm not too disheartened - as often this is the case when I move him up a height. He just takes a while to adjust - but he can certainly do the heights and the distances no worries. He still got a 3rd place ribbon, but only because there were 3 of us in it! Next outing for him I will drop him back to 1.10 - but then he should be good to go for a few more 1.15 and perhaps 1.20 tracks during the season. Go Neo!

So each horse came home with a ribbon - they all did great and are my little team of superstars. I did not get rained on, and the gale force winds didn't hit until I'd just literally got in the gate at home. What a fantastic day.

Lesson Pics

2009-08-29T18:43:00.003+12:00

Nick came out today to take some photos of a lesson I was having on Xev. The trainer was Andrew Scott, who I think does a super job of helping me understand things. Even back when I was on ponies. I didn't have anything specific I wanted to work on, just overall getting a starting point for the season with Xev.

We started trotting a crossrail, then into canter and the single fence was put a bit higher while we got our eyes in (it was a semi-private lesson, so with one other girl). After that it was down the grid. Andrew was really impressed with Xev's technique behind, but wanted her to tighten up in front, and the grid was paced slightly short to help with that.

The second half of today's lesson was a few variations on a short course. The 2 pics below were a related bending line which I think Xev jumped beautifully (she is really good at listening to your cues and focusing on the jump you are guiding her to - rather than just going full steam for what is in front of her).

Some pics over the oxer in the little mock course: (and apologies for the dude's bum hanging out his jeans! lol - I think he was videoing or something? I have no idea really). And apologies to Xev for my leg position in the second one!! It's awful!

We were both a bit puffed after the 30 minutes! But I was pleased with how Xev went today. Mostly I need to focus on not interfering with her canter- I have a tendancy to niggle at her to try and get the right stride, when really it's all about meeting the fence at a quality canter (then it doesn't matter if you're a shade too long or too deep). I know all this stuff in theory, but it's pretty easy to forget when a lot of my jumping time is without eyes on the ground.

Tielcey Park tomorrow! Still haven't decided which classes to enter! I'm hopeless. Still semi-deciding which horses to take...

Molly

2009-08-22T15:46:00.004+12:00

This morning I headed down to the arena to ride a friend's mare. Her usual rider came along too, and I got some shots of her riding. It was a bit frosty, but I really am loving this weather. Took a bit of effort to get her warmed in, but then she was working quite nicely.

Her canter work is becoming a lot more balanced too.

And I popped over a couple of fences, as she is having a jumping lesson tomorrow - so just wanted to give her a quick reminder of what it's all about.

Then Rebecca hopped on, poor Mol was a bit tired by this stage, but they did some good flatwork.

More piccies:

And then popped over a few crossbar fences to call it a day.

Then I came home to ride my mob, and found Xev sitting on the large square baleage.. I guess it's warm? Silly horse. She moved before I could snap a photo, sadly.

Bling Bling Alfie

2009-08-19T20:37:00.002+12:00

Mum had quite a few good outings on Alfie (Banoffee Pops) last season, including some wides and trophies - but one of the trophies they won was reported as missing. Well, turns out they found it! Mum flicked through this pic of it today - impressive trophy (Zara Phillips apparently won it a few years back too... fancy Alfie).

I'm jealous. Neo needs to win a big flash trophy for me!

Colic?

2009-08-19T19:29:00.004+12:00

Well, Gem is finally starting to feel a bit better. At this stage we are thinking it was most likely a mild colic / tummy ache from me switching their hay from meadow to rich clover. I didn't ride Gem on Monday, and on Tuesday she was ok... but seemed a bit depressed? Standing with her head almost on the ground. Much perkier today, still a little 'off' to ride - but at least on the road to recovery. She's lost a bit of weight through it - so going to get her some more of the meadow baleage that she likes, plus a wormer and keep a good eye on her. Don't want our little Gemmy getting sick! Today I also popped her over a few fences and she seemed comfortable enough doing that (though a little surprised that they weren't crossbars!).

Neo got to have a play in the sunshine too. I did some grids on him - he goes through them so nicely, it really is fun to just sit there while he does all the work.

He was a bit more forward when we started jumping some related lines though. Who has been feeding my horse the speedy-juice? Because Neo does not need any more speed - he has plenty enough thanks. He is jumping really nicely at the moment - hopefully this means I can start to move him up in height this season!

Xev's tail is getting whiter! My scrubbing and washing and more washing and rinsing and scrubbing as not been in vain. A lot more of it to come yet though.

Didn't do anything special on the flat with Xev today - she was feeling a little stiff after yesterday's workout, so I just wanted to get her moving along happily.

We popped over a few crossbars, and then went for a walk to make sure she was cooled down well and gave her muscles a good chance to stretch out. She really enjoyed just unwinding like that from her ride, so I think I will make more of an effort to give her a short hack (perhaps even on the road) after I do arena sessions on her.

Rode Coco at home and she is being so good at the moment! Not sure what her next outing is though - while I'm using Mum's truck I am limited to 4 for shows, so she draws short straw. I took Orin to the arena (and he got quite a workout, with heaps of canter!), but no piccies as someone else was riding him. Pippa is looking like she needs to start back into some serious work soon, but I don't want to rush it, so may just start back with some more groundwork with a view to getting her loading which will be very handy.

XC Schooling

2009-08-16T20:29:00.003+12:00

Headed out to QEP again today, and has a really average day actually. I must admit the fact that I didn't get rained on at all is fantastic though! Gem was really upset about something, hope it is just a temporary thing due to a diet change - because she was like a different horse (and not in the good way). Did manage to settle her after a while, but she was still unhappy.

Neo hooned around and popped over the bank, ditch & water. He was really forward today and great to ride. No pics though, as poor Swifty was on duty leading Gem around for me so I could swap horses.

Orin was being ridden by someone else today - and they went for a good hack out around the fences and just generally being around the atmosphere. I didn't jump him today.

Xev has just come back into work this month, and yesterday was her first canter this season. She was sweaty after just a circle! Luckily today she lasted more than a circle. She wasn't phased at all by being out and about again and was so well behaved.

I didn't want to jump her - so just did a bit of flatwork mostly.

But I was keen to pop her through the waterjump just as a reminder for her of what it's all about. She was so good - but has big hooves that splash heaps! I got soaked up to my hips just from her cantering through the water. She did a really weird leap out of the water the first time, but then remembered what it's all about.

She had a bit of a jig-jog back to the truck, but did pretty much everything today on a loose rein and I was really pleased with her. So not a total writeoff of a day, just a bit worried about Miss Gem, so hopefully I can get to the root of that over the coming week. Fingers crossed it's something simple.

Still Sunny

2009-08-14T09:15:00.003+12:00

Can you even believe this weather? It has been so lovely for quite a while now. Even had rain forecast for yesterday & today and it was still fab. A few farms around needing some rain by now for the grass to grow (how amazing to be saying that at this time of year). Swifty came out to the arena yesterday where I was doing a bit of schooling on a few and snapped some pics.

Gem was really soft to ride yesterday. I tried a different bit on her on Wednesday and she didn't like it at all, pulled quite a bit - so she must have been really happy to go back into her usual one!

We popped over a few tiny x-rails at the end of our ride, just because I haven't jumped her for a while. She is so much more confident with her fences now - and as a rider you just sit & steer, which is nice.

I was trying to get Neo working on moving forward today. Almost all just at a trot, and switching between a slow trot and a more forward trot. He was actually pretty tired at the end of it! I normally just let him do whatever he wants on the flat, so he wasn't sure what to make of this 'working' stuff.

Nothing special that I wanted to do with Orin today - just a ride for fitness, so I could have worked him at home... however the last 4 times he's been to the arena I've jumped him. So I thought it would be nice for him to go to the arena and not jump anything so he doesn't start to think of it as "the jumping place".

Coco & Xev have just been doing hill & paddock work at the moment. New shoes for Xev today though - so then I can get her out and about a bit more.

Season almost underway!

2009-08-12T16:34:00.003+12:00

The season is almost upon us! I can't believe how many schedules are out already. Even though I have been riding all through winter, I feel a bit under-prepared for the season. I have been enjoying this run of great weather though.

I see all of my friends doing their start of the season rituals, like the 'spring clean' of horsetrucks, clipping and sending off registration forms. I have managed to break my truck (temporarily borrowing Mum's) - but I have got most of the horses clipped and myself registered. Need to sort out which horses to register this season. And measuring! There is a measuring day this weekend, which clashes with an XC schooling day that I'm going to. So will have to look for another measuring day as I want to get all of mine done (I swear Neo has grown, and need to check that Coco is a pony!).

No real news here though - so I'll just leave you with some pics of the gang today having snacktime: