6 whole weeks!

Alright so I ran out of F related titles for the blog, boo! But in better news, Freddie has been with me a whole 6 weeks. Ah we've loved it and he's doing so well, feeling so well and just overall a happy chap!
It has however not been an uneventful week.. as Fred and I experienced my first 'unscheduled dismount', which I'll be honest, was sooner than I had wanted it to be!

What happened? Well Tuesday of last week Mum and I felt confidence that Fred was ready for his first solo hack without B and/or Ronnie and for Mum to come with me a short way before I peeled off and went the rest of a short loop by myself. I didn't think this would be a problem, he's done this ride a good couple of times with other horses and it's not a spooky ride so I felt excited and pretty confident.
I was walking with Fred, mounted, along a short section of road that I have to ride on to get to this ride when we had to pass a rather large van (for removals) that was parked, frustratingly, on the thinnest part of the road, with a quite vertical grass bank, before a corner. I was riding along with Mum on the bike no problems when it came time to walk past the van. Mum said to me 'Don't walk up the verge' when I quickly informed her I wasn't asked him to and that Fred was shying away from the van when he quite quickly leapt up the steep grass verge onto the side of a farmers field where he proceeded, in fright, to spin in pretty tight circles (think the western horses who spin at speed on the spot)..
While scary I was able to lean my legs forward into what I call the 'safety' position and quietly tell him woah and steady.. which he did.
As this all happened another van came round the corner and seeing this all happen, stopped and waited and no doubt watched in horror!
Mum, bless her, had dropped the bike in the road to come to my aid, but now needing to move it went back down the hill. I think this again spooked Fred and he span again, bucked and sadly I was unseated. Now we were in a farmers field that is very large and not fences in and I could not dare let go so I held onto the reins and was dragged a distance before poor Fred finally calmed down enough to stop.
Poor chap was very frightened by it all and rather than try and mount I walked him some way away from the van, back towards the yard so he could take a breath and calm down.

We made it back to the yard and after a few deep breathes I realised I had to get back on, not only to not end on a bad experience for Fred but for me and my confidence also. So we made our way back to the menage to get back on and Fred to feel safe again. Bless him, he was a good boy and after a quick lunge to get the adrenaline and urge to run out of his system I got back on. He was very good and walked around no problem and sighed and relaxed. With Mum and I happy that he was none the worse for wear and no longer frightened I got off and he was put to bed and given a nice tea as he always is.
The next day I tacked up Fred, but this time, for him and I (I was feeling sore by this point), I lead him out in hand and we had to walk passed the van. This time I better experience as I was able to walk in front of him and show him it was safe but he did walk somewhat up the verge bank again away from the van. Confirming what I had said to Mum the day before, it was a fright/flight response as opposed to being naughty or napping. The rest of that walk out went out without a hitch and since then all has been ok.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't achey and bruised so the following days I did our exercise in hand and come Friday afternoon Georgie kindly got on and schooled Fred in the menage and he was an angel! He worked beautifully for Georgie and accepted the bit and various aids with ease and showed real willingness to please. 
He looks lovely I am sure you will agree? 

Saturday Georgie, Frankie and I went for a hack and to regain some confidence and have a less hazardous ride Georgie lent me super star RoR Beanie and she rode Fred. Well I say less hazardous but B very much likes to always go first and lead but when Ronnie and Frankie whizzed off trotting B did throw his toys out the pram and canter passage sideways until he caught up, all the while yanking my arms out! Cheers Beebop!

B had a lovely splash in the water, he absolutely loves it!
Watch B have a splash in the ford!

The rest of the ride really was very fun and we all had a lovely time. It was nice to ride B again but I am looking forward to riding this week and getting back on Fred, hopefully incident free obviously!

I felt like I should write a blog post about what happened, social media nowadays is always so rose tinted where people only really share their ups and never mention the downs. Falling off last week sucked, I sprained the left wrist, which is the one I broke, but it's part of retraining a racehorse and getting to know each other. Falling off is kinda part of the course. 

I am really proud of Fred, he is trying really hard and in 6 weeks has come a really long way. We're trying to even out keeping his work varied and fun without over facing him! 
His personality and how he reacts to things is really starting to shine through, part of me is really sad about what happened last week because he doesn't care about running jogging by, or cyclists whizzing along by him or passed him, he's walked passed guineas fowl clucking and squawking without any care in the world so I'm saddened he got so scared by a van. I may never know what it is, but I think it was the confined space he would have to go through so it's something I am definitely conscious of now. 

Also he's slowly but surely building up and gaining weight and muscle and is a shadow of the horse he was 6 weeks ago. Makes me realise how poor he was! 

Taking each day and week by week and we'll decide more on plans as we go on! Nothing firm in place yet. I have a few little things in mind for him but I will not rush him and over face him, he deserves only the best.

Here's to a better week this week!

Sophie x

Freddie's Friends; 5 weeks

Wow, the weeks have been flying by and we're on 5 weeks of having Freddie with us! We're making real progress and he's look fabulous! 

With Friday afternoon being a early finish for me at work I whizzed down the yard from work to meet Georgie and Frankie to have our first ride out as a group! I will admit I was a little nervous, Fred has always been good albeit exuberant on the rides wanting to walk really quickly but generally sensible. We took it nice and easy as Fred and Ronnie had had their flu booster vaccinations the day before so we took it all very steady as they may have been a little groggy.

Fred was a very good boy and did indeed want to walk really quickly but was respectful when asked to walk slowly and when trotting coped well and didn't buck or fly off and do anything stupid. 
A rather sedate ride much to Frankie's disappointment because since Cheltenham festival has wanted to canter and trot all over the place.

I then walked Fred out in hand on Saturday night in the passoa but had to take it off half way round and it was rubbing on a cut Fred got from eating something in the brambles! Silly sausage!

Sunday saw a beautiful bright morning so Georgie and I tacked up early and went out while everyone was still asleep! Absolutely beautiful and the perfect time to ride as no-one was around! 
As he had got used to going out with other horses I decided to work more on his outline and asking for a contact on the bit rather than him walk out head all over the place. He coped well but did find it frustrating to be asked to work and did protest with a few head nods but nothing silly!
He has shown his sassy side when he doesn't like doing something but I think he's in that stage of feeling well and seeing what he can and cannot get away with. Rude awakening Fred, nothing, I am a strict Mumma!

So other than the odd leg stomp he was very good and even went in and out of the water ford with no hesitation! I am so glad the prep I did on the ground of allowing him to see it and look at it without making him go in has paid off and he's not frightened of it.

Onwards and upwards really, he's really thriving and getting lovely and round! 

Looking well for 5 weeks, compared to how he was! 

4 weeks of Fred!

Ah sorry I haven't done a post for a while, since getting Fred a lot of my free time is obviously spent with him! Every evening I exercise him in some way and that doesn't then leave a lot of time in the evenings for all my other chores and and any rest time I get I like to wind down and watch some TV so finding a moment to write this has been a struggle!

So as the title of this post suggests, Freddie has been with is 1 whole month and we've loved every minute of it. He's really coming out of his shell and more importantly the good food, grass and work is meaning he's gaining weight nicely and is also muscling up as well.

On Friday night Mum and Georgie felt it was time to get on; I've been walking Fred out in hand with his saddle and bridle on for 4 weeks now and he is well used to being girthed up, having the saddle on etc so we decided as Georgie is both lighter and more experienced than me she should get on. So with safety first she donned a back protector, hat, gloves etc and we started lunging him, wanting  to just settle him in beforehand. Plus it's been proven that lunging properly with a saddle on encourages horses to engage their back, stomach and bottom so I felt it beneficial to make sure he's using his muscles first before putting someone on board.

Well Fred was a dream, I legged Georgie up and we had no problems, slight back up but that is to be expected as he hasn't had anyone sit on him for about 6 months. He walked round beautifully and when Georgie felt confident he was ok she asked for trot, which he did beautifully, and actually worked on a contact. He has obviously been ridden by someone who has nice gentle hands and he has a nice soft mouth which is unusual in racing!
Plus he's a very smart horse who is quick to learn Georgie tells me so that's really promising.

The following day I got on and Mum and I took him for an amble down the road for a short while to see how he'd cope and he took it all in his stride, he walked with real speed and purpose and was looking at everything and taking it all in!

I also walked him last night and again he was a very good boy! I've continued to lead him out in hand with either the saddle on or the passoa and he's loving all of that, it's strengthening our bond on the ground which I feel is so important.

So where does that lean now then? Well I am going to continue to get on and hack him out short rides twice a week and the rest of the time I will be leading him out again in hand and continue lunging.
I am really happy with his progress thus far and he's really rounding up nicely and his back and bottom coming up too. 

2 weeks of Fred!

Ah where do I start! Freddie has been with me for 2 weeks now and we've actually done rather a lot in that time! 
Since my last post where Fred had settled in and also had his teeth checked and rasped, as well as being wormed, well he's now had a full set of shoes on, had a physio session and started his proper walk work regime! A lot huh!

Our wonderful farrier Chris has been out to firstly put a front set of shoes on and then a week later he was back at the yard so Mum and I decided to put back shoes on as we're doing quite a lot of road work.
Our wonderful physio Alex also came out on Tuesday to give Freddie a once over and sort any problems; turns out there were multiple..
Freddie had a misaligned sacroiliac joint which in turn was making his gluteal muscles to spasm which is why he was sensitive about having his bum brushed. After a quick realign Alex worked on his sore withers and also popped just about every major joint. About an hour later he was all popped out and feeling much more relaxed. He even didn't mind his bum being brushed anymore!
The morning after he was feeling a little stiff so I walked him out to loosen him off, I also did this Thursday and Friday mornings and he really started walking well.
I also got my saddle back from being fixed so I could finally use it! So last weekend I put the saddle on and walked him round the school and he didn't seem to care at all. 
I had been told that in training he got a bit cold backed and to walk him on the walker before working him but after his physio session I think he was just sore and in pain before, and now that he's not then we're having no problems!

I've now been upping our walk work and have been taking him out in hand for a good 2 or 3 miles depending on which way I go and he's been loving going out and seeing the surrounding areas to the yard. He just loves to look and take in everything that is going on! I can tell he's been really enjoying it cause he walks so exuberantly I have to power walk to keep up! Boy can't half walk let's just say that!
I've also started running in the evenings as and when I can and that's been really fun and rewarding actually. I am fitter than I thought so it's been really nice for Freddie and I to do our fitness regime together! #FitForFreddie!

As well as walking out in hand we also have walked him slowly on the lunge and he took that all in his stride, no bucking or silliness. He's just so chilled! He's responding well to vocal commands also such as woo-hoo to slow down and/or stop, Stand, Walk On etc which I feel it really important for retraining not only for lunging but also for when I do start riding. He definitely knows my voice, which I absolutely love.

Overall I am super impressed with his progress for far, he's already looking so much better! His body obviously feels better as his bottom is no longer as concave and is filling out and he's really pushing himself when he walks instead of dragging with his front end. That bum is also really swinging so his back feels nice and loose. 

So where now! This week we'll obviously just keep up his walk work in hand and maybe take longer ride routes so he can really get used to his new surroundings. And work is good work! 

 He knows he's cute!

 "Thank you for my rug Sophie M" - Freddie

 He may have a baby face but he's hardly small! I'm 5'11"

Bums! One gaining in size and one reducing! 

Freddie, Week 1

Wow, a week has gone so quickly; Freddie has officially been with me one whole 7 days!

So, what has happened this week then. First thing Monday we went and got him a wormer and gave it to him just in case. We were told by his trainer that he had been wormed within the last 4 months but we felt it better safe than sorry and wormed him again for safeties sake. It seems that he didn't have any worms or eggs which is really positive!

He is just so incredibly calm and relaxed, we cannot get over it! We think he’s enjoying the quiet less busy yard and also very much enjoying being turned out in the lovely grass. The first 2 days he was a bit excited to go out in the field and we had some gymnastics with legs in the air which is totally normal for a horse joining a new yard and being with new horses, they do find it exciting and rightly so! Come Wednesday he just sauntered off once put out in the field to go and graze. Perfect, that what I wanted him to be likely, settling into the routine of every day life. 

He’s getting nice and round, his pointy edges are slowly covering over and we’re pleased with his progress for just 7 days with us.

We had our vet out on Thursday to do all the horses teeth and Freddie’s weren’t bad at all, just a couple of sharper edges but nothing major and he didn’t mind at all. I am really pleased with how level headed he is and just seems to take everything in his stride.

He’s also taken very well to being tied outside his stable to be brushed, rugged etc and stands there completely relaxed with no thought of pulling back, what a good boy considering he’s probably never had that before and has always been ‘done’ in his stable. Some horses realise they can pull back and can run off round the yard but he's never once thought about that so I am impressed with how quickly he's picking up the new routine and our expectations for him. 

Friday afternoon I roped Georgie in to helping me thin up Freddie's mane and also take quite a lot of length off it as it's grown really long and thick. As you'll likely see from this blog page Georgie and I are brand ambassadors for Smart Grooming  so we used their humane mane comb to thin on the bulk of mane rather than pull it (as mane pulling does hurt horses I didn't want Freddie to associate mane combing with pain and that make him head shy). Georgie and I did a 'How To' video while we did this, which I will upload shortly! It really is helpful!

We got, what amounted to, half a bucket of mane out. It was just so thick it was splitting down the middle to form two manes! Ugh! 

Before - 

After -

After we had thinned it out we then took 2 inches off the length. Not only was it looking straggly it was also 'cutting' Freddie's neck in half and giving the illusion of this really thin neck, which we certainly didn't want because A) it looks gross, untidy and unkempt, but B) it also doesn't help when we're looking to monitor his muscle gain during the weeks/months of his retraining. Now he actually looks decent and more like his usual self! 

Super smart if I do say so myself!

Saturday was really sunny so I decided to give Fred a wash with some baby shampoo to get the excess grease out of his skin (that wouldn't shift with just brushing alone), get the dry skin off from weeks of not being brushed and also help get the shine in his coat. He really was looking a bit dejected! 

He was a very good boy to be bathed and enjoyed standing under the heat lamps to dry off. 

So with him near enough dry I put his bridle on and got him ready to go out for his first walk out in hand, down the road. He is in Erik's old showing bridle (the only bridle I actually own) so he looks a little silly in a very thick nose band but still so gorgeous at the same time. He was a little exuberant so I wasn't able to get any photos unfortunately. When I say exuberant I mean that he just wanted to walk quickly/jog slightly, and pretty much puff up and grow a couple of inches but nothing silly at all. He was just very much excited to see what his new surroundings were like and from his reaction of ears pricked and eyes looking at everything I think it's safe to say he liked it. 

As obviously we're just starting out and he doesn't have shoes on yet it was literally just a walk down the road and back but having done it on Saturday and again Sunday he is pretty clear on that he loves it. On Sunday I also went into the school and on a lead rope I just build our bond and also just see how responsive he is to being asked to stop and wait, and also to set the foundation of being allowed to walk off when I allow it. I am very big on horses having good manners and it all starts with ground work. 

I also put some walk poles down just to see if he'd seen any before and how he would react; he did have a look at the poles but absolutely no hesitation, he just walked straight over then and really picked his legs up high. What a cutie!

For his first week I am really excited with his progress. He's very affection and has proven himself safe and trustworthy round Georgie's two girls. Expecially loving Frankie, 6.5 yo, who he nuzzles and smells at any opportunity, she even led him back to the field on Sunday afternoon in just a head collar and he just sauntered along next to her. It's very reassuring to know he is safe with her. Fenella, nearing 2 years old, also loves being around him and he is very gentle with her also. 

This coming week he is having the physio come and just look at him, he does seem a little sore over his lower back so I am wanting to see what Alex feels about that, he is also having front shoes on on Tuesday also so that he won't get foot sore now that I am doing walk work on the roads. 

I will continue to work in hand with him, he will also be lunged and once built up muscle enough I will get on.

Week 1

Riding Club Arena Eventing at Keysoe

Sorry it's taken me such a long time to write a post! Last weekend Georgie and I went to Keysoe for the Riding Club Arena Eventing competition and all was well. Then Sunday I woke up feeling unwell, I (stupidly) still attended my RoR Club Night in Norfolk and turns out I felt super ill cause I had the flu! 
I then spent all of last week confined to my home with a fever, aches and pains and generally feeling like I was dying a little bit!

Anyway, I am now well enough to be back at work and writing! So... back to arena eventing!

Georgie and I started the day pretty early as the class was due to start at 9am but got moved back an hour for the temperatures to warm up to 10am but wanted to still leave in plenty of time not to have to rush. We were the first to arrive but parked out the way in order for Georgie to figure out where everything was while B and I wondered round for him to see everything and take it all in. He settles much better when he's had a good nose around! 

I stood minding B while he snacked on grass while Georgie when and walked the course. It turned out to be really quite twisty and turnie but the course was well up to height and looked like it would be an interesting course.
While Georgie walked the course she realised, much to her dismay, that she had forgotten her back protector and it wasn't like we were close to home! That'll teach me not to do a role call before we leave like I always do!
Luckily our wonderful friend Rachel had hers with her and being the same size as Georgie, luckily it fit! Phew, crisis averted.

It didn't take too long for Georgie to warm up and be ready in the collecting ring for her number to be called. I got in position with my camera and hoped I wouldn't be too rusty and I got some nice photos. 
B was on fine form and in a much better space than he was the weekend before for the show jumping, there was no tense atmosphere just a nice friendly fun vibe!
They made their way in to the ring and off they went. B flew over the show jumping fences which came first, they were by all means up to height but he had a big spring in his step! Wasn't long before a twist and they were at the cross country fences, again really nice jumps and well up to height (and turns out they're made by our brand ambassador company's son, small world hey!). 
B was absolutely flying, and it came to jumping the penultimate fence, a smart 90 degree turn back on yourself and over the 110cm joker show jump fence to finish. Really frustratingly B had it down; darn it!

It wasn't about the result though and Georgie and B finished really happy to have got round and that he had jumped out of his skin. We finished the day with a bacon roll while sitting in the trailer out of the cold! It really was very cold after having snow all week! 

I am really pleased with how my photos came out, it's always lovely to have the sun come out as the camera can pick up some really nice natural effects! 

Cross Country Colours by GGGear, Storm Chase Gloves, Rose Gold Spurs from Eclat Equestrian.

After a busy couple of weekends I am not quite sure what competitions Georgie has lined up for herself and I am on the hunt for my own horse so I am sure there won't be a dull moment!
Oh and we're very excited, Georgie and I, as we have been picked up continue to represent Smart Grooming as brand Ambassdor's for 2019 making that 4 years on the trot! We absolutely love Smart Grooming, so do click on the link to see what lovely products they do!

What have you all been up to?

Sophie x

Semer Team Chase with the RoR Beasts from the East!

Poor Erik, he has been a little neglected this week, what with me doing the hospitality for Juddmonte Monday to Wednesday for the Horses in Training Tattersalls Sales and then with the dark evenings he hasn't been as busy of late but he did get some lovely long rides out Friday evening (half in the dusk light and was such a good boy considering I haven't ridden him in such low light before) and Saturday and Sunday where he got some fast work to keep his fitness up. We will look at some competitions and training over the winter, I promise Erik!

The mighty Bean has been on flying form of late coming 2nd in the Horseheath Unaffiliated 3ft open a couple of weeks ago  as well as winning the 3 ft 2" eventer trial at Keysoe a couple of weeks before that  so with this weekend being the Essex & Suffolk Team Chase at Semer the Retraining of Racehorses East Anglian team consisted of Georgie Shepherd, Hetty Keyes, Pip Davis and Ginny Fellows and as coordinator for the region I provided the RoR kit. 
An early set off time of 7.15am meant all hands on deck and speedy shoes on to get all rugged up, out in their field, mucked out and ready to go but we managed it with time for me to feed a friends dogs and have a tupperware of cereal at the yard before leaving. We took a different route to where we've gone before which was much less twisty and turny so we got to the event just after we expected to and met up with team mates to go and walk the course while I babysat B who gets so excited we cannot tie him to the trailer. 
Lot's of walking from both and me G later the course had been walked and horses were tacked up and ready to go and jockeys dressed and safe in their back protectors. The team really did look so smart in their kit! 

The RoR Beasts from the East were listed as the last to go in their section and it seems the course had been proving a little difficult with it being very twisty and turnie but when the group set off they had two front members to lead and with Georgie starting, Pip taking over for a short while before G and B took the leading position they all flew round in a nice safe clear and speedy it seems too!
The optimum time being 5 minutes 52 seconds and the Beasts completing the course in 5 minutes and 32 they were too fast but for their first event to get round with everyone safe and clear is awesome. Plus if they did the speed class they'd have come 3rd so maybe the class to do next year? These ex racehorses really do cover the ground quicker than you think!

Georgie was able to wear her GoPro and capture the footage, so have a watch to feel like you were right there with her! P.S sorry about the clicking it's Georgie's back protector zip tapping the GoPro, we'll make sure it doesn't happen again

I was on course taking pictures and despite the low light they came out quite well! Not too shabby for an amateur photographer!

It seems B and his team really do have wings! I am so proud of Georgie and how her and B have been getting on, he really is a testiment to ex racehorses and how they can thrive after being retrained! 
Erik and I will soon be jumping once I get my saddle back from being fixed. I did some dressage writing at Horseheath British Eventing one day event last weekend and earned myself a schooling voucher for the course which I plan to use in the spring once I've got some more confidence back and got to know E's jumping style more. 
Erik's owner Grayznor is coming to give me a flat work lesson this Sunday so I am looking forward to having Erik strut his stuff and me learn some more. Blog etc to follow with how we got on.

Over and Out,

Sophie x

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

Wayland Show - A Case of The 2nds

After not showing for weeks Georgie and I spending Saturday afternoon bathing, trimming and overall making Beanie look like a shiny fluff-ball.

Legs being whitened with Smart Grooming Leg and Body Whitener

We hadn't been showing since Hickstead and that weekend of Hickstead was so disastrous it didn't even warrant a blog post. First Beanie banged his hip mysteriously in the field and took a lump of hair off, then got there to find our ring was has hard as concrete and rutty as a field that it was thoroughly under whelming (well it was to be anyway, not sure how Georgie felt).

So 7 am came, and after plaiting up and packing the car, we headed off to Wayland Show in Norfolk. We'd been last year and really enjoyed it and found it to be a nice atmosphered country show.
We arrived to Beanie being very on his toes, perhaps he thought he'd become a happy hacker after doing not very much for the last 3 weeks but he was full of energy!
Lisa and I went off to the show secretary to get Georgie's number and find out an estimated start time for the ROR Challenge class. Well thinking it would start about 10 am couldn't have been more wrong as there was only 1 entry in the working hunter pony so all hands on deck to get B and Georgie ready in time.

He must have picked up on the rushed vibes because even after Georgie had got on he was very spritely! 
Now, when Beanie get excited from jumping he bucks on landing, and after a couple of jumps did an almighty buck and unseated Georgie just before she was about to go into the ring!
"Wonderful" I thought sarcastically, this is setting the tone for the day!

Upon entering the ring he was both on his toes and had his eyes on stalks, all of us having no idea how he'd get on. The vast majority of horses had been stopping at fence 2 that we prayed he wouldn't follow suit. It wasn't a particularly horrible fence in itself but the landing was basically dead into a corner and you had to turn on a 90 degree angle and a stride later was fence 3. 
He got in there and after a big jump over fence 1 I thought "maybe he'd be so exuberant he wouldn't even look at the fence or landed and just fly over it", but I was wrong.
He stopped and oggled it thoroughly digging in his heels but Georgie kicked on and refused to be defeated and got him over it. 
Now over what I thought was the 'bogie' fence I thought she'd be fine, although not being very focused and looking all over the place he was jumping ok. Georgie has finished the course and made her way to the first of two bonus fences when, at the very last moment, Beanie put in a naughty run out. Georgie turned and represented but he was having absolutely none of it. After presenting him at it a final time and riding positively he stopped a third time and was subsequently eliminated.

Not going to lie, I was really hacked off. I'm not a morning person as it is so for Beanie to a completely birk in his first class of the day wasn't exactly the best of a 5am day start.
We got back to the box for Georgie to exclaim "im entering him in his riding horse class, he can be punished by poncing!". 
Beanie is a very good all-rounder and enjoys his jumping, so Georgie competes him in the challenge classes so he doesn't get bored of showing. So for him to misbehave in a class that was supposed to be some fun for him, she was one unimpressed owner!
Fortunately the class wasn't too long away so we could have some refreshments and change his bridle and saddle over. He was re-turned out beautifully (if I do say so myself) and off we went to the ring.

He's a quirky one that horse cause after a break he was in a totally different mindset.
he was chilled, responsive and happy. Shortly after the call for competitors we're asked to make their way into the ring for the class to start.
It was like watching a totally different horse. He was floating around the ring, being responsive to Georgies aids and carrying himself beautifully and light in Georgie's hands.
He really did look a picture.

All of us were watching on longingly and were pleased to be pulled into seconds place for the judging.
To be fair to B he gave the judge a beautiful ride, but just as she was riding him the motorcross display started. I actually love motorcross but the sound of a 4 stroke scrambler just as the judge was riding was the last thing I wanted to hear.
Sadly just as the judge asked for canter a bike revved while doing a huge flip and he jumped but other than that the judges ride was spotless.
The display got louder and louder with the commentator practically shouting something inaudible over the commentary system he was so excited and more and more bikes took to the air for very cool tricks, but frustratingly Beanie could hear it but not see it.
He did trot up smoothly for the conformation judge, if not a bit on his toes.
We were all pleased to see Beanie had held his place in second and come away with a rosette and some prize money.
That's better than being disqualified! Our minds were now focused on the Retraining of Racehorses and Tattersalls Open Show horse class after lunch.

In much better spirits than before we had a lunch sitting in the sun chatting, while Beanie munched away at his hay net while sunning his back.
He was really very shiny! Perhaps he thought he was done for the day?

Everyone feeling much better after some food and drink we tacked B up for a third time and prayed he hadn't had enough for the day. It was getting increasingly hot as the sun beamed down so just prayed it stayed cool. I don't think any horse likes showing in boiling hot weather!

The ROR class was big, with approximately 18 horses in it and they all looking spectacularly turned out. This would be a tough class!
At the last minute there was a judge change which through some people but the original judge was replaced with a charming older gentleman who, as we found out, was a kind gentle rider which just what we like.
After a nice go around, to which B didn't disappoint, he was pulled into third place.

Photo by Diss Event Photography

Much like before, Beanie gave the judge a lovely round, and with no displays this time he was faultless - He really did go lovely. He had beautiful self carriage and nice even paces, lengthening nicely when the judge asked for a bit more in the canter as well as bringing him back beautifully in working canter. Georgie and I grinned, feeling so proud of this big ginger horse who was bit of a silly sausage earlier in the day. Honestly, It was like watching a different horse!

Watching on anxiously after the conformation judging we were really pleased to be pulled into second and qualifying for next years ROR final at Hickstead! It was like a repeat of last years class at Wayland where Georgie was second too!
B had redeemed himself then and was no longer in Georgie's bad books!

          Photo by Diss Event Photography
 
After the riding horse class Georgie was approached by a well known producer and asked to ride one of his horses in the ridden championship. They had 2 horses qualify and only one rider! Obviously this is a big compliment to be asked to ride, to which she accepted, so a quick rush outside the ring, jumped on and rode having never sat on it before.
She evidently gave it a nice ride as it was pulled in reserve ridden champion!
It was a lovely horse!

It was now 5 oclock in the evening, so after packing up quick sharpe we head off home in the car with lots of chat about the day and how it all went!
After a really crappy start it ended really well! See you in June Hickstead!
We currently aren't sure what our next show is as Mum and Dad move house, Beanie and Millie move to a new yard and Georgie goes on holiday!
Fingers crossed it Gransden!

Sophie x