Scent laying for the Cambridge University Drag Hounds

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've has such a busy December and start to the New Year, plus I spent most of it ill with this chesty cough that has been doing the rounds!
Erik and I have enjoyed me being off work as he's been being ridden loads and loads and we've been doing different rides or our normal rides backwards to liven things up and he's loved it!

He got dressed up for Christmas when Georgie, Frankie and I went out for a lovely hack Christmas even and obviously, any excuse to dress up your horse!
We've also has some jumping schooling at home which he's enjoyed. We carried on from our last lesson  and have been doing some 'gymnastics' in the school at home, namely in the form of raised trotting poles, a square grid at the end which you can use to come at in all different directions, doing jumps with no ground line with flower pots underneath and stacking cavaletti's.. It's all been going on! When i've been doing these are home Erik has been a little fresh and unfocused with him wanting to stare through the fence to see what Beanie is up to but some trotting pole grids and lot's of circles and turning soon got his mind focused and paying attention. Jumping has been going well and I am pleased.

Georgie and I having a quieter December meant we were keen to get out and do something, so when I had the idea of being the scent layers/draggers for the Cambridge University Drag Hounds we were keen to ask and were excited to be accepted. Trumpington Hall is somewhere where Georgie and I have been going for a long time, since Pony Club even, and with it being so close to home it's always a fun one to go to.

We plaited up that morning and spruced up the horses the night before we were all ready to go, so with my whizzing off in my car to the meet to walk the lines Georgie and Mum very kindly bought the horses along a little later. As we've not had rain in a good few days the ground was absolutely perfect! A nice combination of give in the ground but not too heavy at all, absolutely spot on. 
We obviously left the meet about 10 minutes early to make sure we weren't caught up by the hounds, huntsman Duncan or the field! Lucky we did because we got started and jumped a few fences when Erik thought this was all very exciting and tried to zoom off with me and after a brief wobble in confidence and a bracing pep talk from Georgie we were off again and going. I hadn't quite got the new to keep jumping as it's then that Erik get's really excited and tended to want to just go off as fast as possible! 

Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

Luckily I had Georgie and Beanie with me to drag the first line while I got myself in control and faught off my demons. Beanie really is amazing he just jumped anything Georgie put him at, while dragging the scent! 

 Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

 Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

 Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

We however steadily dragged the scent for the entire first line and it was nice to let our horses stand and have a breather while we watched the hounds and field make their way towards us! 
It was a rather surreal experience being the other side of the field and seeing everyone coming towards you rather than being in the field itself with everyone! 

 Waiting for the field 

Caught up by the field at the end of line 1

After a brief breather Georgie and I set off for line 2, along the bank of the River Cam and along the cross country course! Over the years we've cantered along here on various horses so it was nice to add another to that count and Georgie had fun popping over fences and waving to onlookers in Granchester Meadows! Erik was behaving himself well here and I was able to take the scent line from Georgie while she jumped along! He was very good considering he had never dragged before and he's got a line of bailer twine with a very smelly rag on the end dragging along behind him! 

 Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

 Thank you Steph for snapping this pic! 

We then made our way to the final part of line 2 which was in to the woods where the cross country course usually winds through! The last time I went through that woods was during a cross country trial when I was a child/teenager so that was a lovely blast from the past! 

We ended the line in the field we began in and again it was really fun to see everyone canter back in to the field with lot's of smiley faces. It looked like everyone had a lovely time and really enjoy themselves, as did the horses! 

With a lot of steam coming off the horses a breather was needed before line 3, which was lines 1 and 2 backwards and without hounds so a good half returned to do line 3 while the rest made their way back to the boxes to wash of their horses and have some refreshments. 

It was a good few miles and quick pace so they were well earned by horse and rider. Georgie and I decided for the later and to call the day the end there and finish on a good note. Both horses adrenalines were certainly still up while we untacked and we quickly dried them off and got them home to settle before having a thorough wash off and clean up! 

Back home Bean was dried off under the heat lamps and Erik snuggled up back in his bed, both of them with a big pile of hay and a hearty feed!

We had such a lovely day together Sunday and we wanted to say thank you to the Cambridge University Drag Hounds for having us and providing such a lovely day out. 

If you'd like to go out with them yourself, their meet card can be found on their Facebook along with corresponding events pages. 

PS we'd highly recommend Burghley! 

Snuggled up! 

Little early Christmas present and Supercob fun!

Evening all, well I've had an eventful and rather muddy day today, but I couldn't be happier.

I know I've said it before but I am SO lucky to have friends at allow me to ride there horses, I'd be sat at home being lazy and grumpy if I didn't so I cannot thank them enough. 

I got to take the V8 super cob out again today and he was.. Fresh! Insisted on being with Sophie at the front of the pack and being as close to Monkey as possible that me and Sophie were clinging stirrup irons! 

I swear they're talk sweet nothings to each other through the stable walls at night when no-one is around!

The inseparable couple! 

As im sure anyone with Windows noticed, it rained a lot yesterday and was subsequently very muddy today.

So much so my jodphurs are currently soaking in vanish oxy action to get the mud stains out!

This photo does absolutely no justice!

But all the horses seemed to be on very good form for today's hound exercise and introduction to drag hunting day! 

Supercob decided that I am a spoil sport for not allow him to gallop full speed, and insisted on slower canter by putting a couple of small bucks in to show his disapproval!

He didn't stay this white for long 

But after a lovely jolly around the countryside the horses were flagging and it was slowly getting colder, we all headed home for a hot dog and tea!

I popped over to the lovely Somersby House tack shop across the road in Great Gidding to meet Katie, as I decided this week that my Christmas pressie was to be a navy wool hunt jacket and Somersby House had a great selection. I chose this gorgeous Shires one, 100 wool and absolutely gorgeous.

Even the bottoms have foxes faces engraved on them. 

They're currently on offer so go and get on now while it lasts!! 

This tack shop is my new favourite, only two weeks ago did I mention buying my new hat from there and now a new jacket. Treating myself!!

What do they say, all the gear no (idea)..horse! 

Unexpected Sunday - Whipping in

As I lay here in bed, absolutely exhausted and my muscles going more and more stiff I realise I literally do not care and that is because I'm in too much of a good mood!

Why is that some of you may ask, well unexpected awesome Sunday's that why.

So here's the scenario, I've drifted off back off to sleep after work - owners whatsapping me wanting info on there horses at 6.15am, when my phone rings.

A bit blurry eyed I scrabble for my phone.  It's field master Sophie Read! I press accept call and get asked, almost immediately, 3 questions 

"Are you coming to the meet today?" 

"Yes why?"

"Can you whip in"

"Um, yes I can try"

"Can you be there in an hour?" 

"Hell yes I can"

Panic descends for a moment when all manor of questions run through my head, such as 'oh god, can I even whip in?', 'what horse am I on?' 'Is all my kit clean?' 'If yes then where is it all!'

After realising that, indeed my kit was clean and all nicely hung up, I had to figure out a plan of action.

A quick bowl of cereal while wriggling into my jodphurs and, I'm out the door to meet Sophie and walk the lines.

After a brief whizz round in Sophie's  awesome Land Rover (seriously, speeding through massive puddles in a Land Rover defender is great fun and something I want to do again, so cool) we got back to the yard to people arriving.

Very kindly I found my horse all tacked up and ready to go. That horse being the pointer that doesn't like jumping. I can foresee many asking "but it's a pointer, it's supposed to jump" well more on that later!

After a brief unruly hound wanting to snack on the post hunt sausage rolls, we were off. I've never whipped in before so I'm pretty nervous and praying I don't forget the way! 

Just after the off we got to our first set of jumps, well I'd been instructed to try and get the pointer to jump so I'm setting up to a nice low jump and 3 strides out he seems keen, then last stride and brakes on and we're skidding towards it..

No jump for me today then it would seem. I'd be pretty horrified to fall off in front of an entire meet, especially as there's a tumblers club this year! 

Cantering on, on this giant 17 odd hand pointer felt pretty damn cool. I'd like to hope and think my riding has improved from riding 5 different horses in the last few weeks! 

A brief rest later we carried on, but the hounds couldn't seem to find the scent. It didn't help that when the runner set off it was foggy and wet and every minute that ticked by it got warmer and warmer and the fog lifting therefore taking the scent with it.

I'm also being absolutely terrible at whipping in, I keep getting my left and right confused and driving Tony crazy! Sorry Tony, not my finest moments! 

Who's that? Oh that's me hiding my shame at how terribly I am a whipping in!

We took an extra loop round the jumps again, I'm absolutely determined to get this bleeding horse over a few jumps, which I can say I did, I'm pretty proud of that! 

Once back at the yard everyone untacked and boxed up, ready for refreshments. 

Sandwiches, sausage rolls, cake, chocolate! Absolutely great and candles for Sophie as it was her birthday!

With the day now drawn to a close I headed off to my sisters house for a roast dinner. I feel very spoilt today, tacked up horse and dinner cooked for me, how lucky I am!

Hope everyone enjoyed the opening meet and we'll see you all again soon?

S x

Sunday fun day, Hound exercise 2 of 2!

Where to start, it's been such a whirl wind day. Well, much like last weekend it was a beautiful sunny day, if not slightly cooler but I am not complaining - It was very warm last weekend.

I was running late this morning after an unexpected turn of events that I won't go into, but I arrived to find Monkey already tacked up for me. So without wasting time I got myself ready and jumped on ready to go.

With the field a bit smaller this week we were all ready to set off, so at a brisk trot a pack of about 7, including me, set off up the hill in Great Gidding.

With a lot less road work this time we soon got on to beautiful set aside and into the most breath taking scenery. It's absolutely beautiful over in sticks. Sadly I couldn't take my phone out for a photo but think rolling hills, beautiful trees in all shades of orange and birds tweeting all around

Lots of trotting through, what felt like Jane Austin country, both horses and hounds were warmed up so we braced ourselves and had a canter. Monkey was an absolute angel and didn't try and tank off with me which is nice, we strided away to enjoy it. He really is such a good boy! 

Not long after we encountered a small ditch. Very much in Monkey style he jumped more into the the bottom of it than over it but it's not about style, it's how you get over it, right?

After about an hour we made our way back to the Fox & Hounds to put the horses away and wash them off. Monkey felt he wasn't done though, as the adrenalin was still running by the looks of his quivering flanks. He loves his job a little too much It would seem!?

Back in his bed he had a lovely roll and snuggle up. Erm, got a bit of straw on your face there mate.. 

A lovely sausage sarnie and drinks were awaiting us in the garden, once all that tack and equipment was put away of course. So generous of Henry! I'd happily do this every weekend.

I now have to give Monkey back to Sophie, I hope I've looked after him well?! 

He is a truely lovely lad and has given me a lovely couple of weekends.

Thank you to Tara, Sam and Ginny for tacking him up and looking after me. The Cambridge University Drag Hounds, what a lovely group of people, I'd highly recommend you go out with them if you can! 

Sophie x

Hound Exercise 1 of 2 with the Cambridge University Drag Hounds

After last weeks 12 mile ride, I've finally been able to regain full mobility in all of my limbs. I'd be lying to say I wasn't waddling around the office like John Wayne on Monday, cause I absolutely was and for a couple of days too. Stiff as a board I was, but finally I can ride again and will no doubt be just as stiff again come Monday.

At the moment I've been so very kindly lent quite a few horses to ride. One of these is Monkey, so I must say a big thank you to Sophie and Henry from the Cambridge University Drag Hounds who very kindly lent me Monkey for today's Hound  exercise.

Sophie messaged me about a week and a half ago and asked me if I'd like to ride Monkey for the first hound exercise of the season, and of course I jumped at the chance. 

Sophie has been so very supportive in my quest to borrow or hire horses for previous meets so lending me her beast that is the large bay gelding, Monkey.

Monkey by name, monkey by nature. I mean just look at that cheeky face!

I spent Saturday doing a whole lot of nothing, but did muster enough motivation to polish my boots and get my shir and jacket in a bag ready to be up early Sunday morning.

With my car loaded and sat nav set I made my way to the Fox and Hounds in Great Gidding, just outside of Huntingdon. 

I arrived with plenty of time to spare, so I brushed Monkey, tacked up and got myself ready.

The weather was rather foggy and chilly when I left so I decided on a long sleeve with a shirt over the top and my jacket.

Well just after we set off I started to regret the long sleeve tshirt underneith, I was boiling.

As the sun was out and it was lovely and warm, with it draw out a really large crowd! Lots of people in the car park ready to set off. So nice to see a good turn out and everyone looking so smartly turned out!

With the hounds now ready to go we set off at a fast trot up the road. Not wanting to upset Monkey I slotted him up front where he usually is, last thing I wanted was to fall off cause I made him wait!

But he was a gentleman, trotting beautifully along, no trouble at all.

I have a soft spot for him anyway as he's such a character but today I fell in love with him even more. He's such a quirky lad! He was a gentleman to get ready and tack up. 

I'd say we probably covered a good few miles, 10 or so I'd estimate, but we were in the middle of nowhere and I having no bearing on where we were so god knows really. 

Maybe next time I'll put my app on to track our route.

The quiet of the countryside was so nice, amplifying the sound of hooves on the pavement.

2 hours of intense trotting later we finally made our way back into Great Gidding.

I could have drunk a gallon of water I was so thirsty but very kindly had Monkey taken off me to untack and cool off so I could finally get my jacket off and cool down!

With a refreshing couple of glasses of water later I finally felt a bit more human, if not a little bit of jelly legs!

Ever the kind hosts I headed across the road to the beautiful garden for a well earned bacon butty and a glass of ice cold Coke to sit in the sun.

Finally after a few while later and some calories later I regained the feeling of being human again, and with my legs worked properly again I packed up my car of boots, whip, jacket, shirt, hat and tie to head off home for a well earned rest!

I can't wait for next weekend now! Looking forward to it.. 

Sophie xo

ROR - Historical Giant at Burghley for CUDH meet

All these amazing photos are taken by Sam Pawley Photography 

Cambridge University Drag Hounds, Semar November 2014

So while I'm on here blogging about horses and what not, and as mentioned below, G does enjoying going out on a good old fashion drag hunt.

That way, you know where you're going so hopefully no boggy heavy ground, and you have an idea of what hedges you'll be jumping!

So above is my video that I recorded at the Semer meet with the Cambridge University Drag Hounds back in November 2014.

I do love  the sound of all those hooves on the road!

Beaglers! My new one and some advice if looking to buy one

My new Beagler. Temporary Aspinal bag so it doesn't get ruined. My favourite gloves ever, the Chester Jeffreys roper and my show cane made by my lovely Dad back when I showed as a child!

Late year when I knew i'd have to be entering the ring a lot to groom and strip Beanie for the judges I bought a beagler. Rushed as I hadn't had a riding hat on for years, but measuring my head came out as 59cm or in riding hat sizes a 7 1/4.

I had a look round and found the Charles Owen Beagler and the Beagler Classic. But without having £155 odd quid to fork out I kept looking and stumbled upon the gatehouse Beagler.
Yes, Gatehouse do one too!

We I purchased one and soon dawned on me that despite me measuring my head I did in fact need a 7 1/8 but just did not have time to get a different one so padded it up and got on with it.
Old faithful did me well but decided that I needed to sell it to someone it would actually fit and not near slip off my head in the ring. God, how embarrassing would that have been!

So I went on a fact finding mission and with the help of a few purchase reviews on the internet and the help of the Equifest group users i've decided that I needed a Beagler, not a Beagler classic.

I put some feelers out in a few groups asking if anyone had a used but in good condition navy 7 1/8 Beagler and much to my surprise almost immediately I got reply from a lady down the road saying she had her old showing one that she used a handful of times and she'd like to sell it to me.
So I paid my money and it arrived and my god I love it! It is perfect! It fits perfectly and is no way going to fall off my head. Georgie is the same size so can borrow it for in-hand showing, win win!

My advice for anyone looking to buy a hat, beagler style or not, always try it on first!
I'd read reviews online and asked owners if theirs came up small or large or were an odd shape! It's always good to do some investigation before forking out for a new hat. Don't do what I did and get one that doesn't fit and you don't have time to get a replacement!
The Charles Owen Beagler Classic does fit in a completely different way to a Beagler so if you've read this and are thinking of getting one, try and ask your local saddlery if they can get a couple in for you to try or ask around and see if any of your friends at the yard etc have one you can try on!

Introductions

Alright so it's January 2015, I haven't had a blog since I was about 22 or something so I figured rather than forever spamming my news feed on facebook with horsey related outings, i'd write about some of them here.
Who am I kidding, i'm totally going to continue to update facebook with lots of horsey photos, but I can so do what I want..

Anyway, as my little blurb about me writes, I am an amateur groom. I don't have my own horse right now as buying your first home by myself doesn't leave all that much money to invest in a horse. But i'm patient and I know i'll either get my own horse and a shared one soon enough, when the time is right..

I live in Newmarket, and basically every weekend i'm out doing some sort of outdoor activity. It's great and it stops me being a lazy so and so and laying in bed all weekend. I am notoriously sluggish as I just love sleep. But I mean who doesn't aye?!

Little intro for Georgie. Georgie aka G is my older sister by 2 years. Me and Georgie have ridden since we were little dots. I've been quite lucky really, Georgie used to get a pony with a quirk and then it would get handed down to me a couple of years later and presto, perfect (or near enough) pony! I lost interest in Horses from about 15 - 23 so we didn't do all that much together, but now we're very close, we do quite a lot of stuff together horse and non horse related and we're firm friends. Georgie works at a very well known equine hospital in Newmarket and leaving in the middle of nowhere down the road from me!

At our parents Georgie keeps both her horse and her daughters pony. I'll do them little introductions cause they're little people too.

First is Beanie, aka B or his official racing name of Historical Giant.

Beanie is by Coolmore's famous multiple Group 1 winning stallion Giants Causeway.
Beanie has shown to do rather well in showing as he is rather handsome (if I do say so myself), last year we really focused on seeing what Beanie could do in the ring. He'd proved himself successful when he won the TARRA classes at Great Gransden Show in 2013 and took overall TARRA Champion. Michael Gunn was judging and gave Georgie some really good feedback on him and encouraged us to take him to more events in 2014 as he was in his words 'A lovely horse'. So we did, and Georgie and Beanie has gone from strength to strength in the 2014 show season. They entered and were picked by ROR to compete at the Burghley SEIB Race Horse to Riding Horse HOYS qualifier. We've attended multiple shows and Georgie and B were always in the ribbons, and in August 2014 G and B qualified for Hickstead 2015 in the ROR Tattersalls Show Series at Wayland show. Lot's of late evenings and early mornings prepping but I do love grooming and I am competitive so seeing Georgie and helping her reach her goals is wonderful.
But Beanie is not a one trick pony..
He also has a very scopey jump and absolutely loves to do it. Whether it be cross country or show jumping!
So stay tuned for more Beanie related showing and other events posts in the future. There will be plenty..

Now on to G's other pony, little Millie! Millie is a Shetland cross, well at least we think she is. We don't really know. All I know is is that she is small enough to be a Shetland but looks a bit welshy at times. Maybe a little welsh in there? We don't know who her Mum or Dad is unless I can find a Sherlock, I don't really know!
We first got Millie to be a companion for Beanie back in 2013, but when Georgie had her first daughter Francesca it soon became clear early on that Frankie was very much a horsey girl.
Before Francesca started riding I took Millie to a couple of little amateur shows and she really does scrub up well! She even on her first outing qualified for Equifest!
But as Frankie has become better and better at riding and more confident myself and Georgie have decided that this year we're going to do some lead rein showing. Nothing too fancy but something for Frankie and I to do together.
So that's grooming and getting Beanie ready, as well as Millie!

So now you've met the horses and got a bit of background about me and Georgie feel free to follow our adventures on here!