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.
As angry as a bag of wasps
Sorry I am a bit late with this blog, computer induced stress!
Harry has been practising his Irish Dancing at Bedgebury BD. Not to be outdone he clickety click clicked his way through the first Novice and scored 71% and won. He wasn’t quite so on-side in the second test as he had a three hour wait, but we still managed a yellow ribbon. The boy was on fine form!
Then we had the first Carmen Court jumping clinic of the year. It was really lovely to see ev
eryone again,the sun shone and we had a great day. Best of all, the horses all jumped really well which is a perfect way to start the year. It was like we’d never been away…
Then on the Sunday Lily had her first XC school. What a clever little ginger thing! We really were delighted with her, she took everything onboard without any fuss and was very brave. Martin rode her and I lead the way on Harry who was a fantastic lead, really giving Lily confidence. She seemed to say ‘if he can do it, I can do it’. Then she worked on her own while Harry napped and spun and made a huge fuss about not being with his 
woman. What a plonker! The only thing she didn’t jump was a ditch because they have filled in the dry ditch at Bonfleur and we didn’t think her first ditch needed water running through it! Onwards and upwards for Lily-head!
Sally lessons for both came next. Lily jumped around a course on grass for the first time, and went really well. It’s all about new experiences for her at this stage. Then I told Sally that I wanted to work on straightness and corners with Harry, and boy what a grilling I got! Needless to say I now understand exactly how my wonky position affects my horse and have learnt a thing or two about holding a line on Harry to a narrow fence. U-hum. I will hasten to add that this is very much work in progress. I almost had a teenage moment in the middle, having run past the same fence about eight times in a row…I gave myself a good talking to and said through gritted teeth ‘I’m finding this a little frustrating’. Much deep breathing and we got there in the end!
We had a lovely day out at Badminton on Sunday. We have some friends over from Australia who we haven’t seen in years and have been busy catching up while they are here.
Then Lily, Otto and Tinka went XC schooling to Coombelands on Monday. Lily was a star, jumped her first ditch without even blinking, and took everything on for her mother. She really felt at ease, and had a great ‘bring it on’ attitude. I was dead chuffed with the girl. You never know how they are going to take to XC, and she seems well up for it! Unfortunately Martin fell off Otto but otherwise he went well and is looking much improved. Despite a very sore knee Martin then schooled Tinka who was also fab, and looking very comfortable with the job. Unfortunately a check up at hospital shows that Martin has sprained the collateral ligament around his knee and he is very lame indeed. Poor old crock!
Talking of old crocks, Ivy has been out doing some novice dressage with Laura gaining a very respectable 66.8% and a 2nd place. Hard to imagine we were all in floods of tears last Summer at the prospect of saying goodbye. Funny little dumpling.
Coming up Harry has Nurstead BE100 on Sunday. I am now dreading this as he was totally beside himself with anger tonight and eventually I got off before I was thrown off, only to find that one of the girth straps had broken during his thrashing about! Me thinks the branch Chief Instructor really should practise what she preaches regarding checking her tack – will put that one down as a ‘near miss’. Lily has some more clear round jumping at Felbridge, both horses have another Sally lesson, Harry has Step by Step BD, and we have the next Carmen Court jumping clinic…bring it on!
Hoo-hah!
We have been away, a few days with the dogs in the New Forest….impossible as it would be for everything to go to plan, it started with Martin having food poisoning…I think sometimes we are not meant to have holidays! We had a lovely relaxed time though and the weather was very kind to us. My horses had a week off and Tinka had two off so let’s hope we can all return to work suitably refreshed with hayfever tablets at the ready!
Before going away Lily went to Bedgebury to school around the clear round, which she did in fine form (which is just as well as we had the yard Christmas meal the night before and rather than sticking to the plan of going easy because I needed to be up early I guzzled rather a lot of vino blanco….!). Then yesterday she jumped around the clear round at Felbridge. I really struggle to get her concentration for the first fence but after that she was a star. Lots more going out, standing around, on and off the lorry etc planned.
Both horses had flatwork lessons with Char on the Friday before Munstead. Check out the photo of Lily – “bend zee knees!” Harry also had a flatwork top-up before Munstead which obviously did the trick because he scored a much improved 30 (good enough to keep our place in the 70% club!). I rode a much better test after our practise effort a few weeks before and he really tried his best. He also jumped a super round and left all the coloured sticks up. Go Harry! Lying in 6th position we set off onto the XC where (cue some background music) his mother let the side down. Should have been in a lower gear on turning to the corner, unbalanced poor Harold, had hold of his mouth (u-oh) so he argued and ran past it. Oh pants. Big boys pants. Sorry Harry. Bit rusty. I generally feel I need to set him up more in front of his fences, particularly the more straightforward ones so I will take this thought forward to Nurstead.
He was a superstar all day, totally relaxed and easy to have around. Just one little incident (isn’t there always?!) when he managed to get one of the rather large and heavy lorry back gates off its hinges with his head (don’t ask). Not sure who wet their knickers the most, us watching (these things always seem to happen in slow motion don’t they?) or him but once he had thrown it to the floor he set off around the lorry park for a celebratory gallop. It seemed to work very well as a pre-dressage warm-up but I don’t think we’ll try it again….
We were delighted to see Sally and Tom Forster get the recognition they deserve in the Horse and Hound article “Groomsbridge Stud. Attention to detail”. They do a fantastic job and the Groomsbridge Girls chez Carmen Court are very proud!
Tinka and Martin headed off to Lucy’s on Friday for a jumping lesson. Lucy couldn’t believe how much she had changed since she last saw her, both physically and also in her confidence. Tinka was pretty ‘Bring it on!’ and jumped like a star.
But yesterday was the highlight of the year for me so far. Hannah Bartholomew jumped around her first BE100 aged thirteen – top effort Hannah, I am very impressed! Back at Felbridge some dressage was also running. A lady on our yard Sue has been struggling with her dressage, in particular reaching the much wanted 60%. I have been helping for around six months, had put a ban on competing, taken things back to basics, changed the way of riding him, changed the way we even think about him, and basically asked her to put a whole load of trust in me. This is a really difficult thing to do and the process often takes a long time so there is nearly always a moment when the rider will doubt my sanity. After years of aiming for 60% Sue rode brilliantly to get an amazing test out of her horse for 65.81%, a second rosette and a place in their championships. You couldn’t take the smile off my face if you tried. Hoo-hah!
Coming up, Harry goes to Bedgebury BD, Lily has more show-jumping practise, we have the first Carmen Court clinic of the year, a debut ginger trip out XC schooling, and both of mine have Sally lessons.
In the club
So, what have we been up to? Well two Saturdays ago I had a small group XC schooling at Littleton Manor. The going was great, everyone went really well and we even managed to persuade Otto to get his feet wet for the first time, almost wiping out one of Lucy Thompson’s clients in the process!
Sunday we were up at 4am to take all three to Munstead for the pre-season combined training. As I loaded Harry I could only apologise for wedging him between the Groomsbridge Girls. We knew that this was a big day for Lily and Tinka, their first experience of a big lorry park, working on grass, those little white boards and a busy warm-up….but actually needn’t have worried. Lily went on to win her dressage with 68.5% and Tinka, bless her, wobbled her way through her dressage test and also jumped very greenly around the 80cm course a couple of times – she takes it all on! Laura Powell stopped worrying that she didn’t yet have stud holes when Martin told her that his horse doesn’t yet have shoes! Harry meanwhile was yelling his head off back at the lorry….and when I got on him it took a good ten minutes to get him out of the lorry park. Much spinning, rearing and calling to his ‘bitches’. We survived the dressage (it takes riding a test on grass to remind me HOW to ride a test on grass!) and jumped a super clear in the showjumping. What a good boy.
We were delighted with all three but I was particularly impressed with Lily who I had expected to be slightly hysterical about the whole experience. Bearing in mind I had fallen off three days previously I thought it best to ride in my jumping saddle, but there was no need. That’s our Lily….bumbles along being a good girl then has these rare (and often painful!) blips. Possibly should have noted that her mother is called ‘Misdemeanour’….think perhaps that was my clue. Lamy being slow on the uptake again!
That Friday Louisa and I were off to Stilebridge BD with Harry and Strider. Louisa is now a proud member of the 70% Club with a win in the Prelim – hurrah! Harry was a good boy, still struggling with softness but consistently getting 65% in both Novices to pick up two 3rds. Oh, and I had better admit to forgetting to halt at the start of the second test. Doh, let’s not tell Char! You can see how impressed the parents were with my efforts (see pic!).
Then last Sunday we had two big groups at Bonfleur XC schooling. A great day was had by all. Both Facebook and the Tack Room Frolics forum have been flooded with pictures and video links. I think it would be fair to say that everyone really enjoyed themselves, even Stacey who got a swimming lesson, much to the hilarity of her friends!
On Monday all three said ‘Ahhh’ to their Uncle Nick (Coles). It’s a perfect time of year for the dentist, now we can start the season knowing all is well. I wouldn’t be very helpful if I had sharp teeth! And then yesterday I took Lily to Bedgebury to use their school and pop a few fences…
Coming up we have the Carmen Court Christmas meal (!), clear round SJ for Lily, lessons with Char, and then Harry has his first day out of the season at Munstead BE100. After that we have a bit of a break as Marge goes into Horsebox Hospital for two weeks…catch up with you all in April!
Pigtails and freckles
On Saturday last week we had the final winter jumping clinic at Bedgebury Park. First up were the Groomsbridge Girls (travelling with a big gap between them!). I was delighted with Lily – she travelled well, was quiet to tack and untack, jumped what she was pointed at and overall much more grown up about everything. Tinka’s attitude to fillers and a course of showjumps was amazing. Totally unfazed. She really is a cocky whatsit! There were three other groups, which included some new faces which is always really nice. I also jumped Jazz who was beside himself having not jumped since October. You certainly wouldn’t have thought he was a dressage horse, and I am only thankful that Sharon Hunt wasn’t about while I was hooning around the arena jumping Jazz who was part helicopter part stag – not a good look!!
Then on Sunday Harry and Martin had their last Coakham meet of the year at Brookers Farm. Harry was rather bright but totally in his element and jumped like a star over some very impressive hedges. He has thoroughly enjoyed his hunting, the boys have had a party!
On the Tuesday Louisa and Debbie were both at Eaglesfield BD, picking up a 2nd in the Prelim, a win in the Novice, and another 2nd in the Elementary. My dressage clients are getting fantastic results but I am starting to feel a little under pressure. Maybe when I take Harry out I’ll head off a long way away and in secret?!
Talking of dressage divas, Martin and Tinka had their first dressage outing on Saturday. You all know how much I love doing the babies and this is no exception, although she is Martin’s project. Seven weeks before this outing she arrived unwilling to accept any contact and didn’t understand canter at all. On Saturday she tried her very best, was easy to have out and came home with a second rosette and 68% in a Prelim. I am SO chuffed with her progress. Big Lamy grin!
Tuesday both Harry and Lily went to Sally’s for a lesson. I was rather apprehensive as it’s the first time I’ve taken them together and my trusted help was at her accounting course that day, but needn’t have worried as they were immaculately behaved. I was really chuffed with how relaxed Lily was. Sally said that both of them were like different horses this year. Lily is both physically and mentally more mature, so we are able to crack on with asking more from her. Harry too got the thumbs up, now looking better balanced and more athletic. Hunting has done him the world of good. She also admitted to thinking “and what exactly are we supposed to do with this” the first time she saw him – poor Harry! The rider on the other hand was in front of the movement on Harry, behind the movement on Lily, twisted, not looking where she was going and didn’t even have her foot in the stirrup right. Ahem….plenty of homework then!
Then it happened yesterday, and not the way round I had been expecting….I fell off! Before my dismount I had nearly been knocked out, had done something most horrid to my thumb and had a bloody nose. And no, it was not Harry. It was his sister having a ginger pigtails and freckles moment.
Then today, Char came up to give the horses a flatwork session. I was delighted with them both. Harry is nearly back to his former Totilas self, and Lily is making big steps forward. Yesterday (thankfully) seems to have been forgotten….
Tomorrow I have a group XC schooling at Littleton Manor and Sunday is our pre-season Combined Training outing for Harry at Munstead. In our infinite wisdom we decided to fill the lorry and take the Groomsbridge Girls too, so we may have our hands full! Harry has more dressage planned at Stilebridge BD (oops, now I’ve told you!) and we also have another XC school planned to see if I can get back into the swing of riding across country before Munstead BE100 at the end of the month….phewee!
Zebedee
I am delighted to say that we have summer clinic dates for jumping around a grass arena sorted at Bedgebury. The dates are:
– Sunday May 22nd
– Saturday July 23rd
– Saturday August 13th
Even more exciting is that we have finalised the dates for our Adult Camp, also at Bedgebury from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th June. This will include a little bit of everything, is sure to be great fun and I am really looking forward to it!
Martin and I have been really struck by how much like Ivy Tinka is. The other day she was spotted on her knees with her bum in the air trying to get the longer grass from under the fence – it’s like having a naughty pony to stay! Martin is thoroughly enjoying playing with her. She has picked things up really quickly, is now jumping fences from canter and is almost ready for her first dressage test. They went off to Lucy Thompson’s for a lesson last Friday, her first trip out and the end of her fourth week. She loaded, travelled well, did everything that was asked of her in a howling gale and came home as if to say ‘yeh, and?’ Lucy was very complimentary about her technique over a fence and commented on what a lovely bold horse she is. She also got very excited about what super foals she would produce…no, no, no, no, no!
On Saturday I headed off to Patchetts early in the morning to support Debbie at the Regionals. When I say early, I mean it was still dark when Debbie got on to warm up! And do you think the cafe was open?! Harrumph. It’s always the same at the Regionals, stress-heads everywhere! I include Jazz on this list, but they ended up a creditable 12th. Not bad at all.
I had four dressage divas at Eaglesfield BD on Tuesday. All girls did me proud. Debbie led the Novice with an amazing 73%, he really did try his heart out. Normally Natalie would be a bit cheesed off coming second with 69% but now the qualifying rules have changed it doesn’t matter so much. They also notched up a second, third and fourth in the Elementary between them. Smiles all round!
On Friday my two had flatwork lessons with Char. Harry’s flatwork is a bit remedial since he started hunting but we are doing our best to keep him supple until we have time to get more done in the school. Only one more meet! Lily got absolutely soaked through in the rain. We are working on getting her to accept more leg and relax her body more. Canter in particular is a little tense. A more rideable Lily would be good!
As if Thursday and Friday wasn’t wet enough, we cross country schooled at Munstead yesterday in the most hideous weather conditions you could imagine. It hammered down with rain all day, it came at us sideways and it was also very cold – what a bunch of raving lunatics we must be. Tinka proved to be a very brave little cookie, not even looking at the water or drop fences. What an attitude, and only after five weeks work. Harry was a bit of a handful bouncing about like Zebedee, but jumped like a star. Having not hunted at all this winter his mother was a little rusty and will need another trip out before our first event in order not to let the side down. And I am more convinced than ever that I’m going to get bucked off soon! 
We have the last Bedgebury jumping clinic of the winter Saturday, both Tinka and Lily will be in attendance – whether having the Terrible Two out together proves to be a sensible idea is another matter. I will let you know!
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