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

New kid in the gang!

So quite a bit announcement but I've bought my own horse! 

It all happened rather quickly, with the space of a week in fact but now he is home with me I am excited to have him.
Our journey together is going to be a long one; he is very light at present and will need plenty of time in the field every day to fill up with grass and nice hay and feed morning and night and then with that I can start his rehab work to build up the muscle that has just pretty much completely gone.

What are the details I hear you ask, well... His name is Krugermac, who I have given the stable name of Freddie (like Freddie Kruger), he is 8 years old, an Irish thoroughbred, he was a National Hunt Hurdler and Chaser, he was in training with Gary Moore. He is approximately 17 hands and is dark bay. 

We went down to Gary's holding/R&R, pre-training etc yard on Sunday to view Freddie and see what he is like. He was quite excited to be having a trot up and a walk around but was overall a very responsive chap who listened to instruction so with a lot of discussion and talks of how we have to see the diamond in the rough we got him and he came home with me.
I was really surprised that considering he had never travelled in a trailer before he walked on first ask without any hesitation at all and travelled home as quiet as a lamb.
I unloaded him to which he very cleverly assessed the ramp first before ambling off and with my permission towards a nice bit of grass that he eagerly put his head down to eat.
It would seem he hasn't bee out on grass for some time so he's very grateful to be out in a field with lot's of lovely grass to feast on to make him nice and round.
And boy does he need it! He sadly is rather light on the weight and muscle front so for the next few weeks he will be solely put out to pasture every day, have a nicely snuggly bed with plenty of hay and good hard feed so he can round off before I start from scratch with the ground work in hand, some lunging and finally when he is muscled up enough then I can put a saddle on and get on but I will absolutely not be doing that before he is ready. 

It is going to take a very long time and is definitely a project as opposed to getting on him and getting out straight away. Once I can ride him then we have that saga to start with him having to understand a different way of moving and using his body. I don't think we'll be out competing at all in 2019 but I am totally ok with that. Slow and steady wins the race as they say and I think with bringing Freddie on the slow pace and making sure I do it properly will be what counts.

He has only been with us 2 days and is settling in to his routine nicely, will already stand tied up outside his stable while I put rugs on etc and is generally a very loving affectionate chap who just wants all the love and attention you'll give him.

I am very much looking forward to Friday afternoon when it's warm and sunny so that I can bath him, tidy up his overly long mane and give him a good scrub and trim. I know from grooming him already that he is going to love it!

Here are some photos from the last couple of days. I don't want to do a photo without rugs yet as I am aiming to do a 'when he arrived, X months later' in say 6 months time so we can really see the difference in his appearance.

So everyone, meet Freddie! 

 Winning The Geotech Soil Stabilisation National Hunt Maiden Hurdle in November 2015. Photo by Steven Cargill/Racing Fotos

 In the parade ring at Ascot. Photo by Mick Atkins

Ascot Hurdle win

Jamie Moore guiding Freddie to win at Ascot

Final Hurdle before winning at Ascot

Second day at the yard, with a new turn out rug ready to let down for a while

 Currently super loving the grass 

 Watching  and look at all that is going on when being let out 

The Gang <3

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

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

ROR - Historical Giant at Burghley for CUDH meet

All these amazing photos are taken by Sam Pawley Photography 

Pre-show season prep!

Georgie and Beanie walking back from competing at Burghley SEIB Horse of the Year Show Qualifier 2014

Well, I don't know about other riders but I'm enjoying this warming weather and sunshine and it's well and truly got me in the spirit of summer. So with that I'm pre show season prepping.
With a lot of the county shows they release their schedules nice and far in advance, but with that means having to get entries in early to secure a place.
Any day now Suffolk County Show should be releasing their equine and livestock schedule, so i'm poised to get it as soon as it comes out to get our entries in.

They have released the list of judges so it's been good to investigate who is judging which classes and see the judges previous experience in what they're used to judging.

Also qualifiers! This year we have our aim firmly set on HOYS. Georgie was so close with just 2 places off qualifying last year in her first proper show season with B so keen to try again.

I love going to these events really. As i'm not usually competing I do get to see them from a different view to Georgie. As I usually groom being outside of the ring watching and ready to get in the ring to clean him up ready for his ride judge and then strip him for his conformation judging and trot up.

Plus this season we're aiming to go to shows we haven't attended before as well as attending our firm favourites.

Can't wait to see this handsome chap back in his summer coat and ready to hit the ring

Georgie and Beanie qualifying for Royal International Horse Show ROR Final at Hickstead. Wayland Show 2014

TARRA Champion at Great Gransden Show 2013 with TARRA founder and judge Michael Gunn 

I'm also really keen to try new products we haven't used before. E.g. coat shine, shampoos and conditioners, plating equipment etc. So if anyone has any recommendations then please let me know!!

Weekend Pony Fun in the Sun!

It's Monday morning, boo!

But I did have a absolutely lovely weekend. Lots of horsing around obviously.

Friday, on the way to the dentist, I got stuck behind a string of horses coming in from the gallops. Not that I mind...

Part of the reason I love living in Newmarket and I'm glad I live here

Saturday I went over to my parents and got to ride Beanie again! He's such a lovely sweet boy. We had the most beautiful steady canter up a hill, didn't even have to hold onto him. He was quite happy lolloping up the hill at a steady pace (I'll dig out the head cam next time). I took a little video.

It's just so peaceful.. Just the sound the sound of his breathing, his hooves in the mud and birds in the bushes.

If ever I'm stressed I should go out for a walk..

Then Sunday Georgie, Frankie and I took the horses for some road work to strengthen their tendons. Francesca rode Millie for the first time in couple of weeks. She was a little frisky but soon settled down. Myself and Georgie went different ways and Frabkie had a quick play in the park before heading home. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

Then after a quick lunch and a snooze (I was absolutely shattered. Think I'm getting another cold) we did our chores. 

The horses are clearly very happy and relaxed as after field mucking they came up to me in the field for cuddles and kisses 

I got a bit mobbed as you can see...

Here's to a quick week and ready looking forward to next weekend! 

The groom becomes the rider for the weekend

Well I'm sure you'll know from my post last weekend that I had a dressage test, so today was the day!

I got up at 6 to dress, and eat a quick breakfast and straight out to start grooming and plaiting.

Mum is great and had been out at 5 ish to let Beanie out to have his breakfast and go for a walk and stretch  before we got him in. So at 6.30 I went and got him in.. Well Beanie thought if he sticks his head in a bush and hides his face that I wouldn't see him.. 

Well sorry B, I can see you...your white socks give you away mate..!

We were first at Rosewood Stud, B was nice and chilled and was happy to walk about and have a quick munch of grass before getting tacked up.

I got dressed, and if I do say so myself, I'm looking alright for a rusty amateur! Plus I've lost a lot of weight since I wore that jacket last, so that's another plus!

Once tacked up I mounted up and went to warm up and let B see his sorroundings. He was a little spooky and eyes on stalks cause he's not been out much lately but he soon settled in and worked really well in the warm up arena

He was just such a good boy, he warmed up beautifully, and just was so sweet.

He was a bit jumpy in the test and a noise outside did make him spook but overall I'm pretty happy! 

For my first test in over 15 years I got 59.7% and got some really lovely comments from the judge.

And I came 6th!! Not bad really, could have been much worse!

I am so proud of B and how he tried for me! He made my return to stressage a positive one, and I even channeled my inner Dujardin and sat back and was not a sack of potatoes!

As soon as we got home and rugged Beanie up, it didn't take him long to undo all my hard sprucing this morning! Only a few steps into the field and he rolled and rolled! Covering himself in mud, but he deserves it so can't hold it against him!

I know I am going to be stiff in the morning, but no pain, no gain!!