Weekend Fun in The Sun - The Thurlow Ride

As mentioned in my last post, I was planning to go to the Thurlow Ride, and was very kindly lent the lovely Misty (Thank you so much Ali) around the Vesteys Thurlow Estate.

She needed to do some exercise work before Saturday, so I took a ‘rain check’ Monday night due to the forecast rain, but I was pleased to see that on Tuesday it was supposed to rain free. I got down to Hare Park after work and tacked up Misty ready for a nice dry hack. Wrong! I’d been in the saddle for all of 5 minutes before a heavy rustling in the opposite wood stopped Misty in her tracks to listen more closely, the rustling turned out to be the most almighty wall of rain approaching. I’m not going to lie, an audible swear word cause be heard subconsciously leaving my mouth as I realised I was about to get wet. And boy did I get soaked!

I’m usually a bit of a fair weather rider, but “never mind” I thought, I can dry off and change afterwards and maybe it’s just a shower. Much to my disappointment it was not just a brief shower but an absolute deluge that lasted around 20 minutes.

Once the rain had passed over I spotted this rather impressive funnel cloud slowly making its way towards earth, it was very cool to see it actually swirling visibly. I was a little worried that it would touch down near Newmarket but it swirled itself out getting longer and thinner until it disintegrated. Looked rather cool to see though (sorry my photos don’t do it justice)

Despite now being soaked, Misty and I had a ball! She was on really good form and was really happy to be out and about being ridden. Her ears were pricked the whole time and she was eager to trot and have a couple of small canters! Nothing too strenuous as she wasn’t too fit

I must say It was lovely to be alone with no-one else around. Peacefully, I watched the horses steam as the water evaporated off their rugs and spotted a rather large bird of prey stalk a hare, laying as quietly and inconspicuously as possible, only to be seen off by a rather annoyed Crow who didn’t want it around.

After around 45 minutes I called it a day and made my way for home, eager to finish off and change out of my very wet jeans and jacket. Misty was pleased to have dried off and snuggle up in her rug and tuck into her tea. 

Sadly after our rather wet ride on Tuesday I came down with a hell of a cold. I dragged myself out of bed on Thursday night to ride, only to be initiated into the Misty tumbler club after an 'absolutely terrifying' puddle causes Misty to slam on the brakes and drop her shoulder to which I fell in rather slow motion into the ground.

The view was rather lovely though!

Saturday morning, now with a sore wrist and nursing a horrific head cold I dragged myself out of bed to load up and head to the Thurlow to ride around the middle of nowhere for 12 miles.

A group of 8 of us from Suffolk Polo Club set off, Misty was on very good form and jogged the first half mile or so, very much enjoying the sun and new surroundings.

The rain early in the week had meant the ground was absolutely perfect. Not too soft with just enough give in it. Although saying that there were parts in the woods which we very deep, so care was taken to avoid those and any lost shoes!

I popped a couple of logs early on while Misty enjoyed the the pace and she was such a good girl. Luckily my little jump on Beanie the weekend before had got the rust off and I didn't fall off again!
Ironic really, I can stay on Beanie's huge leaps but fall off during a slow canter. I hang my head in shame! 

Riding around the beautiful surroundings in the sun was a perfect way to clear my very stuffy lungs, and feel less sorry for myself!

It took around 3 hours to complete but it meant everyone got to have a good catch up chat and have some fun, whether jumping or not. 

All of us bought a refreshment break, where you got a bottle of water and a chocolate bar.

I quickly ate mine and shared my water with Misty, washing off her shoulders and cooling her off. She carried me all that way and was no trouble what so ever! 

Towards the end she was slowing down and I let her walk off and chill, It was nice to actually catch my breath and really enjoy where we were because the views around Thurlow are absolutely beautiful.
With all 8 of us home safe, the ponies were pleased to be home and showered off, and given a hay net to chill in the field. 

With the end of season dinner organised for later that evening everyone rushed home to get showered and out of our jodhpurs to try and look half respectable for dinner!

Talk about a whirl wind day but it was so needed. The day was topped off by having beautiful sunny weather, and the good company and surroundings made it all the more enjoyable!

Now to prepare myself for next weekends fun! Hopefully I will have regained the full movement in all my limbs by then!

Sophie xo

Horseheath Cross Country - Lovely day in the sun!

Well Georgie and I have had a lovely weekend in the sun. First thing Saturday we came over to our Parents house to lunge and exercise B. He was a very good boy schooling and listening to Georgies vocal aids while is a real positive, seeing as he used to play silly buggers bucking and squeeling.

The passoa really helps him to engage his behind and use his back and neck. 

Then off we went to go and walk the 3 ft+ cross country course at Horseheath. The course was lovely and well put together. Nice gallops with combinations, hedges and skinnies. 

1- Nice palisade for the first.

2 - Barrels leading into number 3, an open gate in the woods 

4 - Rails packed with foliage

5- Skinny log in the woods

6- Hedge out back into the open field 

7 - Onto a larger hedge

8 - Barrels downhill into a drop at A and B

8 C - a big 3'3" skinny barrels out 

9 A, B and C big tiger trap, to ditch, onto another tiger trap

B - Ditch leading into another tiger trap at  C

10 - A big table top

11 - An open gate

12 - A big zig zag palisade. (Sorry my phone ran out of battery) 

13 A and B - Upright with a brush top onto a Skinny roll top 

14 A,B and C. Two big step ups then onto a skinny flower bed fence 

C - Arrowhead skinny flower bed

15 - 3'6" hedge with a rail and ditch in front 

16 - Corner 

17 A, B and C. 3 chairs. A and B had 1 stride between and between B and C had 2 strides.

18 - Big roll top skinny

19 - Hay trough (Dogs are convenient size comparison)

20 - Brush into the water, splash through and another brush out 

21 - Tiger trap to finish 

The dogs liked walking the course too https://instagram.com/p/1aSLwYQJLn/

Well now you've seen the course. I think it flows well, some big questions and complex triples but B loved it.

We arrived with quite a lot of time to spare, so B and I just chilled while he grazed and Georgie went off to get her number and hat check.
After a quick studding up, Georgie got ready and we tacked Beanie up. 
Safe to say he was very chilled... Ahem, fast asleep. 

But he soon knew his job once Georgie was on. 

It was a busy class with the packed warm up arena. Unfortunately there was an accident on course which did delay the course for quite some time. Georgie jumped off B to take the weight off him and keep him walking to keep his muscles warm.

Once the poor girl has been looked after my paramedics the class commenced again and with just 4 people in front of her Georgie and B got their game faces on!
It's been super windy today so G didn't hear the starter, thinking she had 2 minutes left, but was in fact ready to go! They set off and B was very frisky, annoyingly going a bit side ways but G soon straightened him off and he popped over fence 1 no problem! Off to a good rhythm they popped every single fence, even scary ditches! 
Completing the course in about 4 minutes 15 seconds or so which is a good time, seeing as the ground wasn't as forgiving in places as it should have been.

Sadly we had to leave so still no word on how they did, but fingers crossed as it was a strong clear.

I've had an absolutely lovely weekend outside in the sun doing various horsey activities. More weekends like this please!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Sophie x

Tattersalls Thurlow Meet

Evening everyone,

Well as I sit here on the cold wet evening I thought i'd write about my very horsey weekend.

Early start Saturday for The Thurlow meet at Tattersalls. (Tattersalls being Newmarkets Horse Auction House) where the Thurlow hosts its Newmarket meet.

The horses were absolutely filthy when we got them in so all systems go to get Millie look more like a Shetland Pony and less like a hippopotamus!

We plaited both horses and get them looking good and loaded up.

Quick drive up the A11 to Newmarket. The meet was absolutely awesome! I've never actually been at Tattersalls for anything so to see it full of beautifully turned out horses was awesome!

The weather was sunny but warm (which it totally better than rain) so there was a lot of people! Saw some old friends and made some new ones!

We took Millie for Francesca to ride, although she's a little young for a drag hunt yet!

And boy did she get lot's of new fans. Georgie has bought a gorgeous navy jacket from Sandon Saddlery before it closed down and Frankie borrowed my new velvet hat cover and she looked just a like a mini Georgie! 

Beanie loved it and was really wel behaved. We met up with Jo and Katy on the ponies Tadpole and Thistle!

After a quick glass of port (well not me, can't drink and lead rein haha) and a sausage role and mini mars bar or two at 12 noon the Masters blew their horn and the pack and followers set off!

Up the high street, onto the gallops and away!

Me and MIllie trotted up the hill but to avoid Millie getting too excited and strong we elected to keep at the back of the pack and only go a short way!

Millie and Frankie were so wel behaved and absolutely no trouble what so ever.

A lovely lady from Tattersalls ran after us to tell Frankie and I that were the 1 hundredth rider! How cool is that!

With the feidl rounding off at 105! What a great turn out!

Georgie had her headcam on so look out for the edited footage when I get hold of the raw files from G later this week!

So with the pack gone we walked back to the box and loaded Millie in the trailer for the short drive down to Six Mile Bottom to meet up with the pack later.

Francesca was absolutely bubbling over to get back on so we unloaded and got straight back out there! 

We walked up a huge hill to watch the huge pack on the horizon. And slowly but surely everyone made their way up the hill to where we were to go into the woods and jump a big post and rails out! What a cool experience that was watching so many lovely horses leap out from a gorgeous wood!

We finally we were all back together and walked back down the hill to the boxes to draw the end to a really cool day!

I had an absolutely amazing time and really enjoyed ourselves!