Coming out….
So last time I wrote I was about to step away from the computer for fear of buying either a pony or a puppy. Oh dear…. I had better waste no time in introducing Ehren, the new addition! I have gone over to the dark side, stepped out of the closet, announced myself as ‘bi’ and we say hello to the first Warmblood in the family. Shock horror, she has been bought solely for circle trotting. I shall demand private use of the school in the afternoons and anyone wishing to share will have to polish my Konigs first! Martin is disgusted and the dogs have threatened to leave home….
Talking of dressage divas, Morgan got a short write up in Horse and Hound for her success at Bedgebury. My turn too…in an article about people that left careers to work with horses in Horse magazine I seem to have declared that I now don’t go to the pub so often, uhum. It’s been a while since Debbie has had a mention but fingers crossed she is now back in the saddle and started her 2012 season with a cracking win overall at Eaglesfield BD with 73.21% in the Elementary. Oh yeh baby!
What with the dreaded white stuff arriving we had to cancel our XC schooling at Munstead but we did get to run the February Bedgebury jumping clinic. It was rather surreal schooling with snow in the background but the staff at Bedgebury had done an amazing job at making a safe route from the carpark to the arenas. We also took Tinka, and she jumped like a star which was really pleasing as she has barely been out since September.
Lily is still off sick. There have been some subtle changes to her way of going but she is still is not right. A few other checks have been ticked off as we work down the list. She sees the osteo again in a week or so…
Coming up we are XC schooling at LMEQ, Martin and Tinka have a lesson with Kenneth Clawson, we have the March Bedgebury jumping clinic, Tinka is off to the pre-season combined training at Munstead, then her first proper outing of the year at Tweseldown. In between all this I have a new pony and I need to work out where the controls are! Right, I’m off to the pub….
Hold in the fart!
Well Happy New Year to everyone, I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas, it seems like ages ago now.
Going back to before Christmas Lily went to Bedgebury to school around the SJ course. She was starting to get a little keen but jumped very well and has certainly gained in confidence, which is really pleasing. On Christmas Day we had a lovely pub lunch in the George and Dragon in Ightham with Martin’s father. We probably didn’t need to eat again for a few days but on Boxing Day we saw the Old Surrey and West Kent Hunt off from Chiddingstone Castle, and it seemed only fair to follow it up with a few beers and another pub lunch with friends….
Bright and early on the Tuesday morning Lily went to Duckhurst to jump around the Clear Round. I am making an effort to keep getting her out and about. She is so quick and clever, just a little on the opinionated side sometimes! The more I can get her out the better I think, it’s just fitting it all in. Since then she has also been on a Regumate trial to see if we can tame the hormones, but so far not a huge success so we are wondering if there is also an underlying soreness somewhere given our year of one step forwards and one back in 2011…
The dressage divas were out in force at Bedgebury BD on the Wednesday between Christmas and New Year, and what a fab job they all did! Martin and Tinka made their debut in the two Prelims with a win and a second in their sections. Morgan and Smurf were also making their debut, winning their Prelim overall and being placed in their Novice with just under 70% in both tests. Then not to be outdone Bonnie came over from Essex and trashed everyone with 74% winning the first Novice overall and then got over 70% for a third in the second Novice. Wowee, 74% – you don’t see amateurs getting scores like that very often. With that Oliver is now out of Novice points so it’s Elementaries from now on. I am hoping they will be ready to contest a Medium later this year. What a fantastic day for me, three winners in the first three classes! Hoo-hah!! Not a bad way to end the year. We rushed home for Christmas dinner with those who must be obeyed (aka the biddies) and my brother and his family. I can’t tell you how many times my young nephews joked about the bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey. Seemed to be the cause of much hilarity!
By the Friday before New Year’s Eve I had a charming cold but found the energy to catch up with our friends Gail and Reg for more beer and food. I was starting to grow a squidgy lump over the waistband, not a good look….by New Year’s Eve I felt all partied out but lasted in the pub until about 12.30am when I almost ran the five yards home and crashed into bed! I must be getting old….
On New Year’s day we had (another) lunch with Tina and Laura Reeves, and popped in to see the wonderful Ivy. She looks amazing, you wouldn’t believe she is 21 this year. Still just as humorous as ever!
Then eventually Tuesday 3rd January arrived and the eating out and drinking stopped! Apart from anything Martin was moaning about the huge dent in his bank balance. Grumpy old man.
So starting the new year as we mean to go on we took Lily to the vets for a quick palpation and scan of the ovaries to make sure everything is normal, and it is. We decided to take her off the Regumate until she has seen an osteopath in the hope that he will see the full picture. However this meant that she was on a Regumate ‘come-down’ at Martin’s Coakham meet at Nurstead. Possibly not the best idea! She was fairly feisty at the meet, having not been out for two months, but jumped well on the first hunt. Then before the second hunt started Martin took her up a footpath to wait with one of the whips, and she must have thought that she was missing out because Little Miss Hothead lost the plot and when they did move off she dragged him round Camer Park with her head up his nose and had an epic tantrum in front of everyone after they stopped. Pigtails was well and truly in the house, and embarrassingly had flipped her lid in front of everyone. I then spent the whole of the third hunt worrying. As it turned out she hunted up the front and although strong, was much better behaved and jumped really well. Phew. Martin ended up with a grazed face, his chin is black and blue, and I have to admit he wasn’t very impressed! I too did not escape unscathed despite only being a spectator. Whilst washing her off she spooked at something, went several feet up and came down on my toes. Yeouch! The following day it became obvious that she had a very sore mouth, I know that plastic bits can cause friction but I have never seen anything like it. It looks quite nasty. So that explains the tantrum at least, out of proportion as usual but justified. Now about my foot….
Now I’ve been wondering what you think……During a recent flatwork lesson and after some discussion with the client, I heard myself say ‘sit up, brace your groin and hold in that fart’. I wonder if anyone reading has the faintest idea of what we were doing?! It worked a treat. Maybe I should copyright the fart technique…I could write an article and sell it to the BHS!
Coming up Lily sees the osteopath so I expect a quiet few weeks for her, and we have the next Bedgebury jumping clinic which is full again. The 2012 Carmen Court and Bedgebury clinic dates are all updated on this website, and I shall be organising February pre-season XC schooling soon….
Happy New Year!
Well I cannot tell a lie, I will be jolly pleased to see the back of 2011. We lost mum’s pony Truffles, our foal Lucy and my boy Harry. It is just as well everyone else has done so well!
On the dressage front we have seen some fantastic results – winners at every level from Prelim to Medium, Regional qualifications, several new entries to the 70% club and some great improvements in scores. Debbie has barely competed Jazz but qualified for the Regionals, won at Novice and Elementary and also won his unaffiliated debut at Medium. There is always something special about seeing a horse you have trained from scratch going so well. Janet won and qualified for the Regionals in the Novice Freestyle to Music in their first year at Novice. Jasmine made big improvements to Kevin’s scores, won at Novice and was placed at Elementary. With Reggie she was placed at the Area Festival, had several wins at Novice, joined the 70% club and made their debut with a third at Elementary. Oh yes! Louisa and Strider did their first BD Novices gaining 67% and winning last time out, hopefully we will try for Regional qualification next year. Bonnie too had a light year with Oliver but won at Elementary and got a magic 74% and win at Novice after his injury forced a break. You don’t see scores like that every day! Morgan made her BD debut with scores of just under 70% and a win at Prelim. Gail too won at Elementary, the first since 2007 (now I am in trouble!) However ‘Improver of the Year’ goes to an unaffiliated rider Sue Wheble. She improved her dressage scores by almost 9%. Wouldn’t we all like to do that?! What an amazing achievement!
From the Pony Clubbers there were C+ test passes from Ellie, Morgan, Sally and Elize, a B care pass for Lilly and a B riding pass for Sophie. Sophie qualified for the Novice SJ champs, Ruby qualified for the Open SJ champs, Sophie was placed in the Novice Horse Trial qualifier, and Sally was placed in the Intermediate Horse Trial qualifier. Wow! 2011 also saw Hannah start her first BE100s including some placings at Nurstead and Keysoe. Morgan bettered last year’s achievements by winning Junior Rider of the Year at the National Side Saddle Championships. I remember them on their little ponies!
Martin no longer has time to help with Otto but his efforts were rewarded with Best Dressage and a 4th place in Otto’s first ODE, and Donna went on to achieve 5th in the Open Novice section at the BD Summer Regionals. This horse has truly been transformed and should give those struggling real hope.
Tinka joined us in January barely able to canter and was 2nd in her first ODE in April! She did a few BE90s, and was 8th at Brightling Park in appalling wet conditions when only a third jumped clear. She then finished the season with her first BE100 at South of England where she ended up 14th. This winter she made her BD debut at Prelim with a win and a second. A good year for Tinka!
With very few outings Harry qualified for the Hickstead Masters SemiFinal and was starting to see 70% scores more consistently in his novice dressage. His SJ technique had improved beyond all belief and he had a great winter as Martin’s hunt horse. It is always horrible to say goodbye to such a capable young horse but it is good to remember what we achieved. My prized possession is a sheet with three nines on it, unheard of!
Lily has started her XC schooling and has had a few days out hunting. She is now schooling round SJ courses indoors and won and was placed in her dressage outings. She has been a little uncomfortable and tetchy as some five year olds can be, but hopefully we are coming out the other side of that now…she is proving herself more than capable and is hopefully one for the future.
Ivy is still with the Reeves happily in semi-retirement. Rosie and her first colt Luke have moved to a private home down the road. Tiny is still doing a bit of everything with great success for Clare and her sharers. Lexie is happy at stud where we hope she will have a foal next year by Groomsbridge May I, father of Tinka and Lily.
The jumping clinics continue to be very popular. Seeing the change in some of the regulars is brilliant and makes it all very rewarding. We held our first adult camp at Bedgebury this Summer – what a ball! Not only did we all thoroughly enjoy ourselves but people went away saying ‘I can’t believe what I’ve achieved this weekend’. It really was great, although big thanks must go to Martin and Louisa. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Well done to everybody. I hope that 2012 can be every bit as successful!
Happy New Year!
Daddy’s little racehorse
I know it’s starting to get colder but we had the most amazing bright sunshine at the last Carmen Court jumping clinic. Lily and Jazz did some gridwork with me in the morning, both jumping really well. Jazz hasn’t been jumped since February and was surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Then a few groups in the afternoon. As usual it was a very relaxed day, everyone really seeming to benefit from coming out and schooling round a course or doing some exercises away from home. I can’t believe that’s another year over.
Martin took Lily to the Kent and Surrey Bloodhounds opening meet. There were nearly 50 out and she was a total star again. She took everything in her stride; jumping ditches, timber, water, and what Martin described as a ‘Junior Hedge’. Doesn’t look that ‘junior’ to me….very proud of my little girl! In our house she is now referred to as “Daddy’s little racehorse”.
While Lily was galloping around the countryside Morgan and Smurf swapped their jumping tack for dressage tack and went to Eaglesfield unaffiliated. Having seen their flatwork in the week I had suggested that maybe they were ready to take the plunge and affiliate him. To prove a point Smurf won the Prelim with 74% and the Novice with 71%…..ooh we do love a winner!
Winter must be approaching as the Eaglesfield BD series has also started. In the first one on Tuesday Debbie and Jasmine were both in the Elementary. Despite having barely ridden in two months due to a bad back Debbie posted a win, only narrowly pipping Jasmine who has only had two rides on Reggie at this level. So a first and a second for Team Lamy – Hoo-Hah! Maybe it was the threat of thumb screws….
Then on Thursday I went to Mount Mascal for a BHS course on how rider position and anatomy affects the horse’s way of going. These courses are always very interesting but I think the biggest thing I took away was probably about my own wonky body and how it affects my horses rather than anything to do with my clients!
Coming up we have a busy half term, the first Bedgebury winter jumping clinic, Harry’s third chiro session, and a possibility of a day out with Coakham for Lily and Martin. Fingers crossed I can actually go and watch this time!!
Only five more minutes
Harry has been to the the vets for his nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan). It confirmed the diagnosis of sacroiliac pain as well as hindleg proximal suspensory desmitis. As it is the sacroiliac pain causing the majority of his issues we are trying to treat that first. We are to return to the vets for another assessment after six weeks of lungeing and physio. It all looks rather bleak but we are going to do our best to see if we can get him back into work. I hope the Irish boy has a lucky clover hidden away somewhere.
On a more positive note Janet Crumbie and Drummer won their debut BD Restricted Novice Freestyle to Music class at Oldencraig – top banana! Not to be outdone Jasmine was out last Tuesday at South of England BD and got the top spot with Reggie in her Novice class. Frankly I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had lifted her Timbertops hoody over her head and run through the car park whooping and waving her red rosette. Imagine her disappointment when it turned out to be dark blue!
At the recent Carmen Court jumping clinic I took the opportunity to pop Lily around the course, something I haven’t done for ages while her mouth has been so sensitive. Oh boy wasn’t it obvious – I think it’s time to get some lessons organised again. Not enough canter Janine (as if I don’t spend my life saying that, you’d think I would know better!) She was a little green having not done much all summer but jumped well despite her mother…
Talking of lessons Martin was balloted from Munstead and a last minute lesson with NZ Olympian Joe Meyer became available just down the road so we rerouted to that. He is a lovely guy and it was really interesting to watch. So often lessons concentrate on how the horse is going but this lesson was definitely about how Martin was riding. Joe has a lot of empathy with the horses and this session was all about keeping Tinka relaxed, riding her with less contact and keeping the canter energised (noticing the theme?!).
Then on the Sunday Martin took Otto and Tinka up to Bedgebury where Emma Whittington was attempting to set a World Record by riding continuously for 28 hours in aid of Cancer Research and Hospice in the Weald. Martin had decided to lend her Tinka and ride Otto alongside to keep her awake. He had the 9am shift and by then she had been in the saddle for 24 hours. The thought of riding in Martin’s saddle after 24 hours is quite hideous, it takes the skin off my backside after 5 minutes! Apparently she was rather tearful when he arrived (perhaps she had heard the rumours about his saddle) and when the Stinka and Ottoman flew off the lorry ramp snorting and boinging her mother nearly had a heart attack. However, ten minutes later Emma was hacking through the Bedgebury Forest with her feet out of the stirrups and the reins on the buckle (phew!). She did it, and raised a lot of money, but I think she must be bonkers!
On Tuesday last week the wonderful Nick Coles came to do the horses’ six monthly teeth check. Lily spent longer in the dentist’s chair than the others but she was a very good girl and we rewarded her with a sugar-free lolly pop and a smiley sticker….
Then on Saturday Tinka contested her first BE100 at South of England. It was a 4am alarm and the first time we have ever arrived at a horse trial in the dark. As I was reminded at regular intervals throughout the day, it was all my fault, I had asked for early times. I didn’t mean that early! She did her best dressage test so far for 36.5, had one rail down in the SJ and stormed the XC like an old campaigner to finish up 14th. We are absolutely delighted. To achieve this in nine months is really something. What a good girl!
Then on Sunday Lily went to Stilebridge for her first competition since the Spring. She was on her best behaviour and finished up 2nd in the prelim qualifying for their Championships. Unfortunately she got cast earlier in the week and has obviously tweaked something as she was skipping a bit in the canter. I hadn’t really picked it up before the warm-up and knowing how sensitive she is, the slightest discomfort can cause a meltdown so as I trotted down the centre line I was singing in my best judge can’t hear voice ‘there’s a good Lily, only five more minutes…’
So we have the chiropractor for Lily this week, and the chiropractor for Harry next week. Just myself to organise then!
Plan B
Well the weather goes from one extreme to the other. Martin and Tinka were at Brightling Park for the BE90 in the worst rain and mud I can ever remember being at a horse trial in. We were towed into the lorry park which is never a good start, but the rain that fell at lunchtime was something else. It came at you sideways! Tinka has never even cantered in mud, let alone jumped out of it, but was totally unfazed. In two wheel drive (she doesn’t even wear hind shoes!) she jumped a super clear round SJ (Horse and Hound reported only 27% jumped clear in the BE90) then went on to jump a really confident clear around the XC with only a few time faults leaving her 8th. Top banana!
On the Sunday I took Harry to Royal Leisure BS as he has been feeling on fine form. He was delirious to be out again, behaving more like a four year old! The plan was to test-drive him SJ, then XC school and if all OK get him entered for Smiths Lawn. However, with horses it’s always good to have a B plan….although he felt fine at Royal Leisure, he doesn’t really look his usual happy self in the pictures and now I am not sure he is quite right behind and so he has not been worked since. We shall investigate further….
So with Lodge Farm booked for XC schooling I decided to take Lily instead. Unfortunately with Harry off games and Martin away there was no lead horse or companion. She coped with that pretty well, jumping like a star until the only other horse at Lodge Farm left the course, loaded and went home. This did prompt a little ‘Pigtails Moment’ but in fairness we would not usually school a young horse on its own and Lily rarely even hacks on her own so not entirely unexpected. She got over it! Lots more schooling planned in August and with Harry off I reckon I know who Martin has his eyes on for this season’s hunt horse!
We had a great jumping clinic at Bedgebury. I somehow managed to persuade Louisa to take Strider. In recent times her feet have been firmly planted on the floor, in fact she hasn’t jumped a course of fences in over 12 years. Strider on the other hand, has never jumped a course of fences in his life and yes, you guessed it – they jumped a little course – Woo Hoo! I was so chuffed!
The dressage winners have been out in force again. Emma Pearce and Kathryn Nichols were first and second in the Chelsfield Prelim Championships – go girls! Tiny and Clare won their arena at the RC qualifier and are off to Lincoln for the National Championships. Janet Crumbie and Drummer have only recently started competing at Novice but won their test at Speedgate. Zalena who we restarted and sold to Claire Carter won her Novice test at Stilebridge. Jazz and Debbie won their first attempt at Medium – now that’s just showing off! On top of that our North West Kent Pony Club girls Sophie Etheridge and Ruby Fryer qualified for the Novice and Open PC Showjumping Champs. What a few weeks!
I was also delighted to see that the August edition of Local Rider has a double page spread of our Bedgebury camp pictures. It looks amazing and is fantastic advertising. My only problem is how to accommodate the number of people already showing in interest in camp 2012!
Lily, NO!
“Maybe someone needed a granny” turned out to be rather prophetic . On Sunday 26th June we made the horrible decision to have Lucy put to sleep. There was nothing else that could be done, she had fought hard for her short three weeks of life and it was time to call it a day. To be honest this year has been pretty rubbish so far and I can only hope that the second half is an improvement on the first.
Who’d have thought it? Martin being mentioned in the Dressage pages of Horse and Hound! Written up as a bit of a Guru in ‘Against the Odds’ last week, it says “Martin doesn’t get into confrontations; he just quietly sits out the tantrums.” This is very true and probably why Lily so gently placed him on the floor before laying on him. Respect!
I have now discharged myself and the horses from the chiropractors for a while. We are taking very gentle steps between the three of us but I feel like we are making progress. Lily is improved but it is still rather fragile and I think there are also bitting issues that I need to resolve. Harry on the other hand feels like a totally different horse. He is having very few angry moments and is generally much looser than before. I jumped him this week and he felt amazing, really up for it and stretching his head and neck. Quite bizarrely he has also enjoyed being groomed for the first time ever, pulling nice faces and saying ‘ooh yes, just there’. Totally unreal, we’ve been fighting with him for three years! But then the third time I saw my chiropractor I was so wiped out that I could barely put one foot in front of the other for two days. Half an hour of gentle tapping and tweaking and I felt like I had the flu – I don’t really understand it so I’m starting a rumour that they cut up frogs for the cauldron….
Jasmine and Kevin continue to improve their scores with a 64 and 66% at Step by Step BD last week. They had been stuck in the 58-60% doldrums when I started helping in November last year and I am really pleased that we are starting to see the benefit of our work. Her other ride Reggie has also pulled out all the stops and recently produced a personal best for Jasmine of 68% – happy faces at last!
Tinka and Martin went to Eridge last Saturday for the BE90. She was a little excited about the dressage but it was improved on the last test, jumped a fantastic clear SJ and was going great guns on the XC when she lost a shoe and missed the turn to the second last fence. Bless her, she didn’t even realise she was supposed to be turning let alone jumping. To add insult to injury she would have been third! So although a little disappointing we are really pleased with how she is coming on. She seems well up for the job and is really smart!
Louisa was at the Stilebridge dressage championships last Sunday and despite it only being their fourth Novice test, they came 3rd with 67% Top effort, he is really starting to look the business!
Then yesterday we had a Carmen Court jumping clinic. I took the opportunity to jump Harry and Lily, mostly as an assessment of how they are feeling after two months off. Harry, although as fat as a house after the break, felt well up for it and was really keen which is very unusual for him at home. I needed to stay behind him and allow him his head more. I admit to being a little rusty! Lily seemed pretty relaxed, perfectly confident and although she had lost a little technique I know this will come back and was really pleased with her. However I was reminded of how quickly she reacts and how I need to think ahead (they are so different!). We had a breakdown in communications on turning to one fence, she saw it at the last minute and skipped past it, then had a red-headed angry with mother moment “How dare you put me in that situation?!” There was much bucking and leaping and boy it came up thick and fast. At one point I swear I could have touched the sand with my tongue I was that close, eventually I found myself sitting on her neck holding onto the throatlash with both hands! Fortunately she didn’t like that very much and flipped her head back, boinged again and hey presto I was back in the saddle. I had no idea which way was up, no stirrups and was manically grabbing at bits of leather in the hope of finding some reins when she saw what she thought was the next fence….”Lily, NO!”
While we were jumping at Carmen Court four of our North West Kent Pony Clubbers (Ellie, Morgan, Sally and Elize) all passed their C+ tests – well done girls!
Lucy, born 5th June
Crikey, where to start..
Lily seems a good place. She has continued to be a bit challenging so I put Martin up to see if I could see what was causing it from the floor. Oops! After much dummy spitting Lily lost her balance and slipped over sideways with him onboard. By the following morning he couldn’t stand so it was off to A&E we went. Well actually….I have to admit that he was being such a bad patient that I dropped him in the carpark, left him to hop, went to do a lesson and went back later to see if he was still in the queue! When I got back he was his usual cheerful self, couldn’t see any reason why he needed a wheelchair, moaned about my driving (OK so I hit the odd door-frame, a couple of chairs and an elderly patient as I pushed him the short distance back from X-ray…), didn’t think he needed crutches, etc etc. Enough! So when we got home I left him with strict instructions to do the ironing and I went out again to play ponies.
The following day he could take some weight on it so he decided to try riding (you think I‘m joking), and on Monday he came and walked the XC course at Hurstwood Farm with me. If anyone asks, he’s ‘fine’…
I was supposed to be with Louisa and Strider at the Hickstead SouthEast Unaffiliated Dressage Champs, not at Darenth Valley! However, she did a brilliant job without me and was 7th in her class. On the same day Sue Wheble took Morgan to Speedgate for her second outing since starting with me seven or so months ago. Superb effort, by all accounts she really rode him well and scored 68% in both prelims. Fantastic!
A trip to the Orthopaedic specialist for Martin and they think he has torn the meniscus cartilage in the knee and may need an operation to sort it out, so we wait for an appointment for an MRI. In the meantime Tinka has her first BE90 in a week….and nothing is stopping him from riding her there.
I carried on working Lily on long-lines for the next week so that I could watch what is happening and work through it from the safety of the ground. She still wasn’t a happy girl so in order to tick off all possible problems the dentist took a look and she went to see a chiropractor on the Saturday.
It’s not just Lily on the naughty step, Harry has been foul too. But for about two months. I decided to give him two weeks of hacking to see if it made a difference and I can report it has, but not one I wanted. He was pretty fit and two weeks of doing very little has turned him into a giant snorting loon! Suddenly he is scared of everything and I am often seen reversing up the lanes because he wont go past something. He had a blood test to make sure all was OK, went down the Gastro route to see if he had pain in the stomach, and finally he went off to see the chiropractor too.
So I took out a mortgage, loaded the lorry with fuel and ponies and headed off to see Jose Gomez-Garcia down near Pulborough. Lily had a back like a snake, “no wonder she doesn’t want to turn right” and was generally tight through her back, very sore in her withers (possible cause of rearing), and very stiff in the neck. We were discussing what a mess she was, and why (maybe a fall in the field in the winter) when it was Harry’s turn. “Oh this poor boy”…..”he is very sore, been in pain for very long time, I think for years”. Oh great. Call the RSPCA now why don’t you, they do have their backs checked regularly, honest! Harry had a twisted pelvis which meant he was sore just about everywhere. So…..I am slowly bringing both horses back into work, they go back in a week or two for a check-up and I will let you know how things progress. Doing carrot stretches with Harry is rather like dangling raw meat in front of a lion, not a very safe practise!
Tinka went off to Little Downham where she was a little feisty and distracted in her dressage test, had two poles in the SJ and was clear inside the time XC. What a star, she has only been in proper work for five months – she is going to be fab! We were delighted with her. She is now pretty much ready for sale so we must get my camp out of the way and get her advertised for her Owners…
That night Lexie gave birth to a lovely natured bay filly ‘Lucy’. Unfortunately she had carried Lucy too high and her front legs weren’t in the correct place and she was born with no tension in her tendons and her fetlocks and pasterns on the floor. Only time will tell whether this will resolve itself but as I write this it is not looking particularly hopeful….Lexie is being the perfect mother, really relaxed and looking after her. Everything is crossed for a little miracle.
Savege, or savage? It’s all in the name….
As I write this several ponies are still on the naughty step, and not all of them are mine. What on earth is going to happen if it rains and we get a flush of grass?!
We had a lovely Carmen Court jumping clinic. We were blessed with sun again, and it was great to see some new faces, some returning faces, and of course my regulars. We worked through exercises on riding accurate lines, although I think the emphasis for some seemed to be staying on! There is definitely something in the air at the moment!
While we were jumping at Carmen Court, Martin took Otto for a last minute XC school to Lodge Farm and then both Otto and Tinka headed off to their first unaffiliated ODE at Nurstead on the Sunday. They both contested the 90cm class, and did Martin proud. Otto got best dressage in his arena and finished 4th. Tinka belied her experience, took everything in her stride and finished up 2nd – top effort, she looked so smart!
Returning to Carmen Court Tinka and Lily were kicked out full-time for a week while the concrete outside our three stables was replaced. Harry moved onto the main yard, was put behind bars and a notice went up ‘Please stay away‘. First morning and a huge hole in the wall had appeared. You can imagine how much trouble I am in! In his defence I think he may have got cast and put both front feet through the wall but he seems to prefer the Bad Boy version of events. The Ginga Ninga and her mate were a total utter hysterical pair of drama queens, suddenly welded at the hip. Eventually they settled, and now are out at night for the summer so that some of Louisa’s paddocks can be rested and I can save money on fuel. I’m also hoping that Lily will get over her Spring Madness more quickly, so far so good but it’s very early days!
Harry was off to Tweseldown BE100 yesterday. Unfortunately he seems to be feeling the ground and although he got an amazing score for his dressage he wasn’t happy show-jumping and I decided not to run him XC. He has been a total pain in the neck at home and I also wonder if in all his bucking and thrashing about he has hurt his back. So a few things to check out and some rain needed before we run again. Back to his dressage, maybe I should frame the sheet – he got 22.5 (77.5%), best dressage in his arena, loads of 8s and three 9s. Bless him, he really tried his best. If you saw what he was like at home you wouldn’t think it possible. I rode him in sitting trot for the first time and found I could balance him through the test much better.
The quote from Gail Le Milliere’s daughter on Saturday “you haven’t had one of those in ages mummy”…and what was she talking about? A red rosette! After years, literally, of struggling with a very tense horse, Gail won her Elementary at Speedgate BD. Hurrah! This is a story of perseverance, and yes there have been times when giving up seemed sensible….Hettie now has a different feed regime, a different warm-up routine and a different bridle. And it worked!
On Sunday I did a jumping clinic at Chelsfield Equestrian Centre before heading off to Bedgebury for the afternoon. One of those joining in was Caroline Savege. All I can say is that I will be keeping my distance in future. I rushed to her rescue by grabbing her mount as she found herself sitting on her neck. What did I get for my trouble? She swiped me across my eye at full pelt with her jumping whip! Yeouch, did that smart – I was only trying to help! Half blind I limped off to Bedgebury for a fantastic clinic, indoors due to the hard ground, and just as well because it turned out to be windy and wet. Quite a lot of new faces, and everyone did a grand job. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
While I was there I had a call from Kate Lawson, back from travelling around New Zealand and Australia on Monday, new horse purchased Sunday. I do love a new baby to play with….
Just give me the beer and nobody gets hurt!
OK, so let’s start with the girth straps on my dressage saddle. It turned out to be a very lucky near miss indeed. When we took the saddle back to the UK distributor she tore the remaining three straps off the saddle with her hands! The webbing that holds the straps to the saddle was totally rotten through – ah, the power of Harry sweat! Seriously, I am not impressed. What if?!
Sophie Etheridge said goodbye to Solomon last week. They had spent two years trying to get him sound with no success so it was time to let him go to a pain-free place. Such a shame, a young horse with lots of promise but knowing Solomon he’ll be looking down laughing ‘I’m alright jack, no flatwork up here!’
Last Sunday we were all up early with Harry for Nurstead BE100. We were first to go, so a 4am alarm. Harry took advantage of us being a bit bleary eyed and started the day by cantering loose around the lorry park (yawn, very funny Harry!), but performed a pretty good dressage test for 30 (phewee, still in the 70% club!). I was absolutely delighted with the improvement in his show-jumping. The course at Nurstead is all on a hill and a year ago it would have been a car-crash jumping him there. He jumped a super round having only one pole down when the jockey was hassling him. He really is trying to leave them up now (always a bonus!) The XC was better than Munstead but still, if I let him out I am not getting him back together enough for the next fence. So, groan, we had another run out, two from home. Argh. Only thing that cheered me up was to hear Hannah finished 8th in her section. I am so proud of her, she’s doing a fantastic job. Onto Tweseldown next where I will be trying a different bit, and we will be practising skinnies and holding a line every time we jump between now and then!
Then we took Lily, Otto and Tinka to jump the Clear Round at Felbridge. Otto didn’t put a hoof wrong all day, Tinka only worried slightly when the Ginger Minger was yelling her head off from the lorry park, and both of them jumped two super rounds. No doubt by the description of said orange pony you will be guessing that Lily was less than well behaved. Lily, who doesn’t even like Tinka, was totally obsessed by her whereabouts. Much napping in the arena (although we technically jumped clear), followed by a fine display of hideously bad manners back at the lorry park. Mummy got squashed against the lorry, Daddy got run down, then we had threats of kicking the living daylights out of anyone that tried to catch the loose mongrel. Charming. Lily will not be going anywhere with Tinka again. Life is too short!
So off to Sally’s next for jumping lessons with Harry and Lily. Quite bizarrely Lily can travel with Harry and it’s no stress. What is it with her and Tinka? Anyway….Lily told me almost as soon as I got on that her mouth hurt. We checked as much as we could with the bit in, couldn’t find anything and ignored it (oh isn‘t hindsight a marvellous thing?!) She was very distracted but after Felbridge we thought best to keep trying to get her to settle. Looking back there were a few “ouch” moments. Then we moved into a different arena and they turned to “not going over there”……”no mummy, not going over there”…..”mummy, I said NO”….then Pigtails lost it, rolling around in the supermarket aisle screaming her head off and slamming the floor with her fists. Very nearly me saying ’ouch’ after that…..should learn to listen to my pony. Further investigation shows a tiny sore on the inside of her mouth. Giant reaction of ridiculous proportions, but that’s my girl. For her efforts she has earned the right to stay out at night and have chaff spiked with downers for breakfast, dinner and lunch.
So how did Harry go you ask? Well he came off the lorry with a big fat swollen ankle. So straight back on the lorry, home for cold hosing and ice packs. Not one of my best days out.
Today Harry and Strider were supposed to be at Step by Step BD. Harry obviously already had his sick note. Up early again and as I am driving to the yard Louisa texts me to say her staff aren’t coming in as they are unwell. The most positive thing I have to say about the last two weeks is that I have had two hours free today to catch up on sleep. I don’t feel refreshed, I am still grumpy.
Oh, I nearly forgot. Rose has given birth to a bay colt with big white blaze and two white socks. The stud have described her as a text book mother (well at least she has read one book in the library). On the down side (yes, it‘s that kind of month), they are overstocked and wondered if I’d like her back…or actually what they asked was if I would like her and her foal back….please go and visit her, bring me back photos. Stud UK Euro open day is on Saturday May 28th and Rose is looking for a new home.
Urf.
-
Recent
-
Links
