busy weekend & loads of piccies...

but first something hilarious a bear stuck under a very high bridge...

anyway, the weekend began very early yesterday when I had to rescue a live mouse from the younger cat (I'd been woken by the noise being made as cat chased mouse round downstairs... as you are!)

Went to feedstore/saddlers to collect clean rugs, new headcollar for molly, feed for queenie, then to the yard.

The plan yesterday was long lining - in the bitless, as the other bridle is at home waiting to be cleaned and oiled! - and it shows how long it is since we did that, also that we hadn't been keeping up with our groundwork generally. Molly started giving me grief on right rein again. the good note to finish on was that I did get her going right, in walk at least, twice... with resolution for rope circling today.

Then home, changed, and off to Keswick for the night (partner's stayed there tonight, a walking weekend for her, and week for those who can get the week!). rented house at the very foot of Skiddaw, with Skiddaw behind us and looking from the terrace over Keswick to Cat Bells (actually, this pic is from slightly above the house, the ones I took from the house were a shade dark due to it being late and cloudy when I took them ... this was this morning at about 0900)
(couldn't see Grisedale Pike from the house due to a tree growing right in the line of sight). Good night had by all - and when we first arrived we went for a wander round Keswick and I found a Michael Peace/lesley Bayley book for £8 reduced from £20!). Apart from the amazing views, good food and company, the people who own the house have two small pigs from New Zealand; at first, one looked as though it might have been a Gloucester Old spot, but it was too small, and they weren't. They like carrots, apples, lettuce - she has no compost bin in consequence of having these two.Then came back this morning via Hartside Pass going to Allendale to see Queenie, drop the feed off etc. This is the view from Hartside looking back to Penrith & the Lakes:

Was pleased, as Queenie was in the stable so I could get a good look at her - groomed her as well! normally when I get there she's at the top of the field and either they won't come or it's wet, so was glad to get a close up view!


We think she'll do this winter, but rather think she won't do next. Position to be reviewed next summer. Compare with Molly, very little difference! it was quite funny, those of us who know both horses often call Molly Queenie, and today we found ourselves calling Queenie Molly! Oops.

Interesting chat about pelhams - the lass where Queenie is used to run the riding school up there, vastly experienced. She takes the same view as Heather Moffett on pelhams, agrees that they lighten and soften and thinks if I get it right it may well work for Molly. She suggested I try a ported pelham, so will go hunt. But will work on my hands/seat a bit more first, I think!

Then, to Throckley to visit Nicola & Ali G & Polo. Ali G is GORGEOUS. I did take a fair few pics - here's one, hope she doesn't mind, I've sent the rest to Nicola and no doubt she'll post some more!
Then back down to the yard, where molly & I went back to rope circling. She wasn't happy. But eventually did do it. It was interesting watching her thinking. I rather think she'd thought that I'd given up on this and that I'd decided to let her have her own way again. Not. So I was pleased with the work we did.

Finally got back home about 5 pm, and had a feed and some tea! dinner will be later....

and will edit later for photos.....

weeks like this

could do with an indoor.

i thought it would rain again tonight - and i was right, had i tacked up we would have got soaked fairly soon after starting any work!

There is an indoor on the estate, but it's at least a 15 minute hack! it has a yard attached, so if I REALLY wanted to i could see about moving up there, but I don't want to - it's very nice where I am, sheltered from teh worst of any gales, well off the main road, the stable is really good etc,.... so shall just moan instead!

still decemberish

and i was right in thinking it was going to rain again....

think molly's just debating how early she can come in......

any plans

I had for the night went out of the window with the decemberish weather - very cold, hard winter rain, euch. Molly's rugged up (she was amazingly dry!) having eaten her tea much quicker than normal (although it might be that I was busy sorting a cupboard out, rather than sitting watching her eat!)

a short ride

before it started raining again, which it looked as though it well might!

Didn't do as much as I'd have liked - someone else came into the school to lunge, and since she couldn't get her horse going (methinks it could do with someone like Max out....) whilst she wasn't getting in the way as such, it was a bit difficult to remain in one half of the arena as she was impinging on it! then someone else wanted to come in and do the same, and since I'd done 20 minutes by then i just left it there (bearing in mind it takes molly 1/2 hour to eat her tea!).

I'm concentrating on my hands being still, as I think I said the other day, and i think that's helping a lot. Not getting quite so much "set jaw"! in fact only one instance of it and that's probably because I wasn't thinking ahead of her enough.

I have, apparently, developed another bad habit according to my RI - looking TOO FAR round the bend when circling etc - I know why as well, because when Molly doesn't want to go the way I want, RI always said look the way you want to go (which sometimes ends up with me looking a long way round, if we're going totally the wrong way LOL). So also thinking about that.

My trot wasn't as good as recently, but not bad and I was able to get it back again without too much grief.

I think I also need to work on some mounted exercises for my legs to stretch my hips/thighs.

ground work tomorrow I think, and my bridle needs oiling (that's the new one). I didn't fully oil it when i bought it, bit of a mistook, just put the newly bought leather conditioner on and I really don't think that has the full desired effect!

AC's - anyone have a view on one who's been trained by distance learning?

autumn is here

with a vengeance - if you count the rain. although it was warm tonight. some of trh others were drying their horses off and rugging, but Molly was so warm, if i'd rugged she would have overheated.

i did the history last night as Caroline had asked a question and it occurred to me that a lot of Molly's history was scattered about, some of it on the previous blog which is probably now history (because i haven't kept it active at all, so it will have been deleted) so worth doing. probably would be useful if I could work out how to "pin" that ...

Anyway, jean, you had recommended an AC and my neighbour at the yard had had a local one out, and i had a chance to talk to her about it tonight uninterrupted by passing visitors (one advantage of a damp evening!!!!).

so I think I'll organise that, despite my scepticisim.... I think Kirstie's not one for having the wool pulled over her eyes, and I know you're not either jean, so i guess I won't lose anything except a few quid and might learn something!

bit of history

probably worth repeating since it's 3 years next Monday since I've had Molly.

I own her mother, Queen of Timber (Queenie), whom I bought in 1995 (October again!) when Molly's younger brother Fred was weaned. Bought from a friend, and of course I'd known Molly from when she was born, near enough.

Queenie was and is an uncomplicated mare - particularly impressive as she was ridden in a too narrow saddle from about 1986 until about 2001... good to do in all respects, not a nasty bone in her body. Her sire was Timber King, dam Maroyal. A chestnut mare, with a slight congenital asymmetry at the shoulder (I realised it was congenital when I found Molly had the same).

Molly is by Golden Lahab (a Blushing Groom stallion) who is also chestnut.

When Molly was 6 months, she was weaned - by being brought to the yard i was then on. Was turned out in field of strange horses, found staked that same afternoon, a few months box rest. then went home again to her owner. at 3 1/2 or so, she was in a wagon with another mare, turning into my RI's yard to be left to be backed. both mares went down (as I understand it now, the turn into the yard must have been taken a shade fast) and had really nasty leg injuries from the divider thingys also coming off and trapping them. Recovered from that and went back to owner, who backed her herself. said then owner/breeder had had loads of experience breeding/backing/bringing on so shouldn't have been a problem, but apparently there were always problems with 2 things - bitting, and right rein lunging....

Later, sent to owner's brother, who put his teenage child on and sent them out for a 10 mile ride - which came to an abrupt halt as Molly was said to have reared (I doubt that, she's not a rearer ... just does other things that could feel like that to an inexperienced youngster) and brother was apparently going to shoot her but instead sent her to another of breeder's friends. Said friend used to run riding school at Allendale, now works at Bardon Mill.

anyway, fast forwards to 2004. Queenie is 22, starting to show a bit of "sag" in the back, had had a nasty knee injury which happily didn't get infected the spring of that year, I was starting to think about retiring her.

So in the September called in at Bardon Mill (well known garden pot producer! seconds!) after a walk, got talking to Allison the friend, didn't know she worked there until that day! asked after Molly - she was trying to move her on, but worried about what to do given the history and couldn't sell her locally. Molly had by this time bred a very nice foal by a Connemara stallion. the foal, by the by, will now be 4 - was backed last year, did very well at her first few shows, will be a good working hunter pony we expect! no issues reported back by the people who backed her or the people who then bought her.

Alison thought Molly needed restarting.

I thought about it, and said if she'd give Queenie a retirement home, I'd take Molly. So she said yes, and that's what happened. Queenie does a useful job playing granny to various youngsters and generally being a companion.

And it's taken me to now to get her going right, be reasonably happy with her bit, to stand still when mounted and we're now working on acceptance of contact (which should start going better after going to HM's demo....). But, she won't go out on her own.

She's not shown much sign of tanking off and generally isn't hyper. but very very stubborn, and clearly some confidence issues remaining in terms of going out. she just plants herself, and turns round, setting her jaw.

she's never been on her own (so I got a stable mirror, worked a treat!) and that will have something to do with it, i expect. She did, apparently, hack out with her brother Fred being led, but how much of that I believe I don't know (well, I do - none of it.)

There's probably something that I don't know in there, but I'll never find out what it is, I don't think - breeder hasn't spoken to self or Alison since finding out I have Molly.

Anyway, she was good tonight - i got on no bother, worked on walk/trot transitions again, and on my hands (must get out of the habit of moving ALL fingers, just the little one will do!). forgot my watch, though, so don't know how long I was on!!!!

baaad molly

plan was for a hack out with julie on suzie. round the 20 acre was fine, then molly was first through the gate and napping up the lane and would not, whatever we did, head to the ford. head shaking all over theplace, bouncing about.... so we thought up the side of the geldings field. that was even worse and felt as though she was about to explode. so i got off and led her up, which at least got her up there and me some exercise. of course, i couldn't get back on so led her back to the yard and 1/2 later when julie came back was still trying to get on. of course, she then stood like a lamb whilstl julie held her head. plan then was get on, ride into the arena, do somethign right in there and call it a day. unfortunately, person had put pony in arena for turnout (it's laminitic, apparently - not my friend's katie that is definitely so, but another smaller older one that is). so i had to get off on the hard, which never pleases me because of my foot, but at least i'd got back on eventually.

what a c**.

we did wonder if she's in season. but it was hopeless. normally she'll follow another horse, but no way this time.

hope we go better tomorrow, friend's fetching her horse up from yorkshire for a ride out..

damp horse

it had rained a lot today - whislt it had stopped by the time i got to the yard, she still wasn't dry. so fed and out again!

plan is to ride out in the morning

and then friend is planning on fetching her horse up sunday for a ride, but i must go see YM first to ensure it's ok and see if she really wants to charge her (friend used to be on yard anyway...)

yes....

results ....

not so clever on moving the inside seatbone forward, but by the end i was getting some really nice walk trot and even better trot walk transitions.

at first, molly didn't like the fact that I'd changed what i do wiht my fingers/hands, but by the finish it was good.

and of course, she let me on! Guess it must have been the wind on sunday.

so build on that.

the more difficult bit was that i was gettiing somewhere with the legs last week, but today felt as though i couldn't stretch enough. Now i wonder what caused that then?

we stopped when someone wanted to look at molly's feet; she's just taken his shoes off and wanted to see what molly's are like. she was struck by Molly's hoof walls, which of course are strong. piper's will have some way to go. but he's gone lame, and she thought it might be a foot issue.

lesson time again

did it earlier today, since i had the day off (eventually got up again at 11, to the smell of freshly cooked bread, having set the breadmaker off at 8...)

so went up for lesson.

got Spuddie tacked up and into the indoor and got on and we set away - and he was lame! he had, apparently, been hoolying around the field this morning, to clearly sprained something.

So got jack out, who i'd never sat on before. Carole lunged him first - I said, I'm not lunging on him! but ordinary ridden he was fine (she says her working pupil hasn't beendoing a proper job, and that'll be right - never seen one of Carole's bronc like that on the lunge before ever). fantastic trot, apparenly he's half warmblood so a big trot.

So I just rode him (note to self, next time take my own reins, can't be doing with thick rubber reins!) and we worked on my position. my legs hurt by the finish (not assisted by the pulled muscle as I got out of the shower this morning...).

But the saddle. it doesn't help. If i get a seatbone saver for nothing else, it'll be to help with that! the stirrup bars are too forward set, that is clear, so keeping the right position is not easy.

I said at one point, I need my thighs straighter. She said, in time .... got to get other thigns right first. To me, I need to have the thighs straighter AND that'll help me get everything else right (including keeping the leg in the right place!).

But it does make a huge difference being on a balanced schooled horse.

This one, if you don't hold him together and keep the leg on, then on a downward transition you just suddenly stop. and his walk is snail pace....

But anyway, progress. Didn't go ride Molly - legs needed a rest. Just groomed and fed.

Hope the weather's as good tomorrow as it was today, it was gorgeous. annoyed really, didn't hang laundry out as it kept raining this morning, but I should have done, it would have been dry!

cheshire demo

here's what i've written about it (rather than writing it all again!!!)

really please i went, as I said when I got home, but the brain was a bit more awake this morning than when I came in in the early hours.

course it's raining, so i won't be able to put any of it into practice on molly by the look of it today. But i do have a lunge lesson tonight!

german

blogger are on to it:

here is the relevant thread from the techies...

heather....

had a really good evening, was SO pleased I went - just got back at 01:15 EEEK. but ok. I shall be having more arguments with people about leg length (I was right, i don't want to be shorter); am clearer about seatbones and fingers....

looking forward to next year (holiday = course at heathers - but we were last night invited to West Cork for a wedding on 23rd may, so i guess i'll be having two holidays....)

rain

and cold - 9 degrees C !!!!

so fed and out again.. she's fine, but i was chilled, a day in a waarm office and then warm car!

tomorrow i'm goign to macclesfield to see heather moffett - a long way, but i missed sheffield (didn't twig it was on until it was too late to book the time off.) camcorder charging now.

report from aberdeen yesterday is good (apparently someone's put a good write up on new rider, must go read that!)

jane, waves hello! haven't dropped by on your blog for a while, sorry!

and in german

i keep getting this

Blog anzeigen (in einem neuen Fenster)

rather than

"open blog (In a new window)"

i didn't really care to know what the german for that was, but I guess I do now!

1 step forward - and 2 months back

i couldn't get on.

Four attempts at the moungint block, and she wasn't having it.

so I put the training halter on and did 20 minutes rope circling.

tried again - still couldn't get on.

ggrrhh.

either

1. it was the wind (it was windy, but not that bad down at the yard!) OR
2. i hadn't put the bridle on correctly OR
3. she was being a bollocks.

whatever, i wasn't overjoyed.

i hadn't planned on doing huge amounts of anything, it was windy and i was on my own (no one else was riding because it was windy..... the arena was ok, though, as it's sheltered from the prevailing wind).

ggrrhh

30 bales of haylage

hired a van and went and got that today. getting it off was interesting, but a lot easier than getting it on, glad i didn't have to do that bit! but time we'd done that, taken the van back (oh, and we took a sofa to the tip as well!) had a late brunch and i went back down and still had to sort out everything i'd moved to get the haylage in - molly got fed and turned out again. it was about 1830 by then, knackered....

and about 10 minutes ago had to ring the police & fire brigade - some kids had set a fire right next to the church next to us, you could only see it from our upstairs! right in the corner where you can't see from the road.... happily it went out before the fire brigade arrived, possibly because i went out and started to get people to move their cars in case the hedge went, and they heard me and stopped feeding it....

and as for the police/fire brigade - find us? we're on all the satnavs/maps as church street, but they were wandering round like lost souls..... so just as well it went out.

anyway, that was a bit of excitement.

the bad news, a new neighbour along the street (moved in in July) has been riding once a week at a local "approved" riding school. came off Wednesday night, in hospital, broke her ankle two places, needed two operations to put pins in (2nd one today) so that's not clever at all. will give her time to come round from operation then go visiting.....

to get out of the arena once in it

have the gate wide open and shake the reins at her. leg didn't do it at all (that just got set jaw/twist/whatever). shake reins, loose, worked. the third time she trotted out. first time i thought go through yard. after i'd persuaded her to move forward into the yard i got napped with back to the stable, damn, thought we'd got out of that. abit scary in case i get taken into stable ... but aimed her for next doors,which was shut.... and got her turned round and back, then the two more times in and out of the arena.

shame, before that we'd even had a nice turn on the forehand left. AND first time out i went down the track (you never know, she MIGHT have gone down the hill....) and had a nice trot back which was pleasing for me.

i really don't like our arena. better than not having one, i suppose, but now i'm getting straighter it's hard to keep that in the arena as i don't get a chance to get it established before i have to think about a turn. intend to measure it one of these days....

rotherham

is where I've been today, site visit for a case (watching engineering expert take vibration measurements of client doing a few jobs - me, defendant's solicitor, defendant's trainee, and two of defendant's management....)

just got back 19:44 ... so no work for molly tonight!

but I do love my new car! sticks at the speed I want (70, the limit); comes back to me (an odd phrase re a car, I know, but you know what I mean) when I want to slow down; mega good fuel consumption on that run and it's good on ordinary...

and called round at friends to drop stuff off and pick up some of mine (she'd forgot to leave it out so I didn't in fact pick it up ) and her ma filled me with tea and cake. oops. so no dinner for me, might have some toast for supper...

and my satnav (installed on palm) decided a fatal exception whilst it was meant to be navigating was good. has been doing that when it was in fact switched off altogether, if i hadn't exited the programme, but this is the first time it's done it whilst running. so I think it's probably time for a stand alone ... at least it didn't do it on a road i didn't know! and of course at least with a palm you can reset and start over rather than with pocket pc where you could crash altogether. but still, not clever.

never mind, it don't really owe me anything (ebay bargains)

tired...

that was me - so groundwork for molly, i knew i didn't have the energy for riding. last night - you've all had those nights when you go to the loo - and again - and again - for no reason? that was it. tiring.

Molly was putting up bits of resistance to what i wanted (backwards ok, left ok, guess what, right not quite!) but eventually did as i wanted.

come the winter she'll be doing a lot more of that and longlining ... currently the nights are drawing in, so it'll not be too long before we're confined to the arena after work!

rotherham for work tomorrow, but should be back early evening, so that's not too bad...

b****** flies

and as for the fishing gear .. tonight we were stopped by one of the fishermen telling me a long story about a man who's given him huge expensive quantities of Hardy's fishing equipment in thanks for something he did 3 years ago......

Actually, I think Molly's not too bothered about most things that spook others, just about useful things like going out on her own...

tnoight we went in the arena - no one about to ride out with anyway.... and i did some straighten me excercises and got some nice trot, was pleased.

the fisherman said (he'd been watching me walk round very straight!) that i looked like a mounted policewoman ... i suppose I was doing what i intended to then, but not sure i like the comparison.


After he'd told me his tale, i gathered Molly up again and we went in a really nice trot round a couple of times with a really nice trot walk transition and halt. granted she's not through behind, but in the scale of where we've been lately, a lot better

and the flies? swarms of midges, everywhere... eauch.

hack out...

as planned.

Molly was so good she even gave Piper a lead past a man in a white van putting on his fishing gear - Piper didn't want to know about that at all!

she also went through the ford (on piper's tail) but blotted her copybook slightly at a narrow gate. But that's par for her, she really doesn't like them and it was a difficult access.

and i think i've worked out what I've been doing wrong position wise - apart from the weight to the wrong side - the knees have been pressing in.

if I keep weight on the thighs with knees out, it's all a lot better.

thinking about what is actually happening certainly helps, but of course i can only do it when Molly's behaving.

finished up with some nice trot again, back on the track on my own.

and another bargain off ebay - a 4 1/2" myler combination for £44 inc. postage (that's very good).

some nice trot

I took my schooling stick in with me - didnt' need to use it though, she woke up substantially knowing i had it in my hand! to the extent that she was trotting when i didnt' really want her to. but hey, had the desired effect.

After that I put the stick down on top of a wall (for easy access, it's just the right height as you're sitting on the horse!)

and then went to working on jaw softening. by the end we had it, and i had some really nice trot right rein..... but then spoilt it by trying to do the same left rein.

i think partly i was trying too hard, never helps!

but she stayed soft in walk even if i couldn't get it in trot.

also, she seems to have her mother's ability to put you on the wrong diagonal - very tedious! until now i'd rather thought it was me, but today i realised it wasn't, it's her - it's exactly the same, as if she puts an extra half stride in or something!

when i got off, i looked at my boots - which i'd cleaned yesterday. guess i need more work on my leg position! the sweat marks show me up, of course.

oddly, i think it's easier to get that right when out than when in the arena - possibly, trying to hard in the arena, possibly more relaxed when out, don't know...

and this morning? went back and bought that jacket for myself - having googled it last night, the priced was a fantastic bargain for a really good jacket. happily they had one left my size!

new links

Matt & Falcon

I knew Matt from EE - has a nice coloured Shire/TB cross, Spirit.

Didn't know about his rescue horse, Falcon, which sounds like a major project!

well...

I'm not sure what to make of tonight.

She did one walk away from the mounting block, don't know what that was about as she hasn't done that for ages

Then we went into the arena and worked on halts - which actually were going ok, she wasn't setting her jaw.

A different story when we tried to LEAVE the arena - me, go out there? no way! set her jaw, twisted on, phooey.....got someone to open the gate wider and she went through. went roundthe 20 acre again but it gets her out, with jackie on piper. half way round she started setting herself again and trying to twist round to go back, but then decided, happily, to continue.

I left Jackie at the ford as she'd said she was going for a blast up holme hill (don't think we're ready for blasts up there yet!) and had some nice trot back along the lane.

Couldn't move for pheasants though (the estate is now all stocked up for the forthcoming shooting season) and we kept putting them up as we rode past. Actually the horses couldn't care about the pheasants, they're so used to them appearing from wherever on no notice, I think they startle us riders more!

This morning was trip to hairdressers with no breakfast (got up with about 3/4 hour to get there, it's a 1/2 hour drive!) so went ot have breakfast out afterwards but by that time people had stopped serving it! then to a tack/feed store as i'd discovered in the paper they were having a sale this weekend. Partner got a wonderful winter jacket at a really good price. They had one my size - but we don't like wearing the same colour so I couldn't have one. and i spotted them first, just didn't make my mind up .... might go back though. got a nice top, very smart, from the real bargain bin at £3!

and then went to a restored walled/terraced garden, also part of the heritage open days this weekend....photos will follow once i get them off the camera...

then cleaned the saddle, not before time!

and forgot my reading glasses when i went out to ride - fair enough, you might say, but i ended up in the supermarket afterwards to rather regretted not having them!

new specs

happily arrived today. I thought i woulndt be able to get them till tomorrow as the optician closes at 5 and i was at work as i thought till 5. but the afternoon appointments went quicker than they shoudl have done, the 3 pm cancelled, i got the 4 pm to come in early and the boss said yes i could go early and get them (he knew about the headaches!).

the driving/distance ones will probably be a success re lenses - but i picked the wrong frames, they're a bit "femma" - that is, feel as though they'll collapse in a heap!

the reading/computer ones make the screen look curved, it's really weird!

anyway, partner found out that english heritage had organised some open days at places we don't normally get access to. so we went to see Aykley Heads House, a grade 1 listed building (that is, mega preserved, everything has to be exactly as it was) in durham. i've been trying to find something about it on the web to link to, but there's not a lot out there. the best i could find was a mention in this page.

anyway, we were glad we went. the house started, as the page says, probably in the 12th century. the present house has its basis in two farm buildings (still part of the current buidling) from the late 17th century, then the present house was startedin the early 18th centruy and then gradually expanded and altered. it was sold to the county council in 1942, then had a nasty fire in the 90's i think it was, has been fully restored and is now occupied partly by what used to be call edht county youth/careers service and partly (in what used to be the kitchen) a posh bistro that we can't afford to eat in save as a treat for an occasion!

by the time we'd done that i was knackered so mollly only got fed and then we came home. mind, i'm usually knackered on friday night and molly usually does get that night off!

well.....

My lunge lesson was cancelled - instructor poorly! - so rode.

Couldn't go in the arena as the lami pony had just been put in there (not quite sure why that coulnd't happen through the day ....?) so thought i'd try and get round the 20 acre on my own.

down the hill she was really keen, we went through the gate into the field, went a little way to the half way mark - perhaps a third - and she wouldn't go any further.

I managed to get her circled to face the right way once... then she seemed to work out what my plan was and really set her jaw. coulnd't get her soft and where i wanted at all, so went back up.

went through the yard - but in her least favourite place going out the other side, there was some noise people were talking and she couldn't see them...... that was where she had the horrid fright first time we went out but hasn't forgotten it.

so we went back. she wanted to go into the arena but of course couldn't.

i hung about for a while - just, lets just stand here! - then set off down the hill again. two or three circles got her to the top of it but she wasn't keen on going further. wouldn't even follow the fisherman down the hill

so went back up

loitered some more. someone was waiting for another rider coming through so when she turned up i tagged on behind

of course, Molly then went round very nicely. wasn't at all spooked by one of the other horses getting seriously hyper

i could have carried on with them once we got round the field, but - of course, i'd taken my jacket off as it was so hot when i first got on, by this time there was no sun and i was really cold, so headed back along the lane and had some nice trot.

my position is improving a lot as well, i can really feel the stretch down in my thighs and that they are getting to the right place to be where they should be ....

overall i was pleased. i was able to get round eventually where Molly didn't want to do it to start, and I'm making progress myself. the best bit i think was that I didn't have to stop without having done anything!

another trip round the 20 acre

this time with different company - George and Sheila. no problem and as I said to them, once I'd got her down the hill we'd be well in front, which we were.

And i was particularly pleased - when i was leading her round to the mounting block she could hear them talking to someone round the corner, they'd stopped to talk having already set off - and molly wanted to head that way, so i was expecting some not standing still at the mounting block. that was an unjustified thought, as she did, long enough for me to get on and seated. so that was pleased.

definitely a bit feely since the farrier has been....but that'll improve!

really good

apart, i think, from the small flies getting up her nose...

had to get ready in double quick time as i'd been made late by a traffic jam caused by a closed road. because the farrier had turned up this morning she was a tad footsore and didn't really want to move to the mounting block but when she got there she stood still again.

went out with July on suzie, went round teh 20 acre then through the ford and up round the next field.

on the way back down the hill to teh gate in that field, molly started arging about her head, but i decided it had to be the small flies - there was no breeze there and loads of flies...but she kept wanting to put her head right down (very scary going down hill!) and tossing it about.... settled, so it was deffo the flies (horrid tiny things get in everywhere....at head height!)

then back along the 20 acre home.... out much longer than julie had planned!!

and i can feel my hips opening and my leg lengthening...

groundwork

decided we hadn't done any for a while so did some; she was pretty good, considering we haven't done any for a while.

after a couple of aberrations i was able to keep her going for as long as I wanted. and i was able to move her back and forward. her ability to cross her hind legs was improved as well.

so that was good.

plan was to get done and make it to timpsons (they do watch straps etc) but i missed it; bought a really nice leather watch strap yesterday for £5 (handmade by the stallholder), the sort that keeps the back of the watch off your wrist, which is what i wanted as i'm allergic to the metal. got home, cut the straps off the watch - and found that the strap won't just thread through. so need a man who can get the strap holders off and back on again so i can put the watch on the strap.

riding tomorrow night.

kendal

mother wanted to go to Kendal to see a show which her great nephew (now 30) had something to do with.

I should have gone and seen molly before we set off; didn't get back till it was dark again!

never mind, had a good day.

the show was a bit odd, and I'm sorry to say I fell asleep - at least I had the genuine excuse of REALLY needing to rest my eyes! I wasn't the only one I don't think..... clearly soporific. it was quite dark (in a dome tent!) and the soundtrack (each member of the audience had to wear headphones!) quite soporific....

hopefully i can keep the eyes going through the week till my specs arrive, otherwise I'll end up on the sick....

nose to back

molly's nose to partner's back.... down the hill, round the 20 acre.

one half spook as we passed the stand of dogwood, there was a pheasant or something rattling round inside making a hell of a racket, but it was only half hearted.... back to following partner, until we turned down the last fence line towards the ford.

and i had some very nice trot on the lane back, i was very pleased with my position, and my rise which was very small.

so something's going right!!!

and partner cylced down to the yard - that's 5 miles!!!! bike is left there, she'll ride it back tomorrow night....

taking ma to kendal tomorrow...

the eyes

are very expensive.

I need two pairs of glasses. Not only do i need new reading glasses, optimised for use with the computer, but I ALSO need driving glasses... i half suspected that. so £200 later... and i have to wait 10 days, not sure i can bear the headaches.....

I think I'll be Ok with Vista .... the annoying thing is the man in the shop said it came with no software. he was wrong! Microsoft works, which has improved substantially since i first met it in Win 95; windows mail seems much better than outlook express used to be, there's a calendar and contacts that fits in with mail (won't be as functional as outlook, and you can no longer buy outlook as a standalone....)

i've actually been really posh and created recovery discs....there's a first time for everything, but i thought i'd better as the whole lot was pre-installed.

then thought, better do a reecovery disc for the pc - guess what, it won't let me. it wants me to put the data into a drive that is in fact a drive for a memory card or stick.... duh. and then says it wants a floppy for system data, when i don't have a floppy drive....

now what's that about?

the laptop has a lightscribe dvdetc drive, which is good (much easier than wrestling with paper, have one on the PC they're great!) and various other goodies....


might go back and tell the man in the shop he was wrong; after all, i bought a home/student version of office that i probably needn't have bothered with!

we're off to see the molly mare having wasted the best of the day's weather....

Vista

I'm wrestling with it.

Partner replaced the laptop, nice toshiba; Vista preloaded. yes i could have got one with XP online, but I don't know about you, I like to see what i'm buying.....

and I invested in office home & student as well (open office is all very well, but I don't really like it, probably because I need everything to work with the office system and i find it don't....) ..but i think i'll have to buy outlook. I'm using thunderbird at the moment, and much prefer outlook which I find easier to use

also have to wrestle with installing all my favourites....

the weather was windy and my head was killing me - I am SO looking forward to seeing the optician tomorrow - so we just fed Molly after we'd bought the laptop and then had dinner out, to save cooking ....

off balance

and trying too hard.

that's me, not the mare

She's being very good - she will now even take the one required step forward and stand still.

Think she's not objecting to the new bridle, not being nearly as resistant as she was. people i know think crank nosebands are generally horrid, but i think that's a lot because a lot of people tighten them too too much; i'm just tightening it enough. and the flash strap just enough.

but me.

we start off straight enough, but then it is the case that i am putting more weight right foot than left. that, i think, then puts me off kilter a bit and trying to straighten myself up results in the body getting a twist on.

so i need to work on that.

i guess over the last year i've been favouring the left foot more than i realised. so to be worked on.

but, having said that, i was doing better tonight than i have done recently.

i think i need to put the martingale neckstrap on. i find that the leather "handle" thingy (can't rememebr the correct word, leather strap that fits between d's at front of saddle) not in the right place for me to hold on to at the same time as the reins....

good night though. but we could do with a hack out now.

and finally got the farrier. he's coming tuesday first thing, hurray.

and the laptop? we don't have accidental damage cover for such things, counts as personal possessions and becuase laptops, cameras etc are normally taken about you need to buy extra cover.

so new laptop about to be bought by partner....i'm off to dabs.com and other places to see what's out there...

more good work

on the longlines. not a lot to say about it really, she went nicely (new bridle on, bit in) turns smooth, what can i say.

but - the farrier hasn't rung me still.

and my laptop is now history. claim on the home contents policy, i think (someone got up to quickly and knocked it off the table......)

so if anyone has emailed me recently i haven't got it as said someone had downloaded the emails to the laptop....

oops

you know when you dismantle a bridle and have to put it back together again? i think -in fact I know - i should have taken a photo before I started dismantling ... this is the bridle, very nice, plain black. I think i've cocked up the strapping on the noseband... and i think i need the noseband higher than i had it...

Molly let me get on no bother, which pleased me no end after 10 days off.

i was working on keeping myself upright and straigh. when i had it right, it was clear from her way of going, and when i had it wrong that was equally clear. i think i concentrated too much on keeping the weightin each leg even and don't think i managed it....

did i say, i think it's odd as normally i keep my weight off my right leg such that it's forever coming upwards....

anyway,didn't get that feeling so much tonight, so i suppose that's a good sign....

and finished before the rain - when we got home the heavens opened!

back home

one cat looks pregnant (he's male, he can't be....) the other hasn't been seen. worrying. mind, he never does do regular hours, so we'll have to see...

molly was so pleased to see me she cantered up to the gate. then wolfed her tea down. didn't get there until 8pm..... and left money for farrier in the morning, hope he does her (hasn't returned any calls, but know he's coming for other horse....) so left money and have sent text message to other horse owner (who knows of plan.....). hope he hasn't forgotten he's meant to be turning up (the farrier, that is....)

will try new bridle tomorrow night...

scone palace

Scone is where we went today. first started in the 13th century as an abbey, apparently, and where all the kings of scotland were crowned - you'll have heard of the stone of scone, this is where it was originally. it was very interesting, and still lived in - by the earls of mansfield, a scottish family with an english earldom (2 earldoms, in fact....)

it was a good day, interesting

blair

horse trials.

we had a good day - the friends hadn't been before, but enjoyed the shopping, the children enjoyed the play area - I enjoyed the shopping, molly has a new bridle! she doesn't have a new bit or a mattes correction pad, but hey ....

didn't see many horses; my ankles had given up by then! watched some showjumping (that was a CCI* as well...), there was a disabled rider demonstrating dressage to music - the RDA was the charity this year.

the UK version of Ansur were there jean - total saddle solutions it is now over here... and i went into one leather/saddle place, earwigged a bit of conversation and said "how do I know you're talking about treeless?"!!!! they were of course, so had a bit of a chat - the saddler not convinced!

the car? i've done 300 miles on 1/2 a tank, which is about £25, so that's really good, very pleased. handles well, lots of oomph when needed! and it's got much better lights than my previous one, and the heating/air con/etc is automatic, you just set the temperature you want and it does it all for you.

very impressed.

that lesson

was so needed. we've decided i'll go do that once a fortnight for a while.

i need to straighten myself up.

it was an interesting start. .... baby squirrel in the arena, spuddie hadn't seen it before (fair enough, carole hadn't either!!) and i sat the resultant major spook!!!

it's clear that i've lost a lot with all the time off. It's also clear that the reason i feel as though i'm in a chair seat is because i am.... mind, that is difficult to really tell, as the fhoenix is much more likely to put me in a straight hip heel line that spuddie's saddle, but in the scale of treed saddles it was in fact pretty comfy.

my rising trot it much more the thing on a balanced schooled horse - but, i twist and tip, and am very stiff to the left.

We think I need to insist on a new xray on the foot; i physically couldn't do the excercise stand u in stirrups due to the consequential pain. you could tell when i got off how much weight i put in the right stirrup by the way the saddle had slipped that way. this was on the lunge, you'd expect more weight on the inside and thus to balance out over the total ride, but it hadn't happened....

the saddle did slip during the spook and we probably should have got off and put it right properly, which didn't help/

so i spent a lot of the lesson trying to get the bottom of my leg below the knee to stay back and on.. by the finish we had my left hand on the left shoulder for a while and it was obvious how that helped me loosen and straighten (and that'll probably account for the pain in that shoulder if i lie on it? a thought!) i could feel the difference.

i don't think i'll ever get it totally right; the left foot, apart from last year's fracture, had had a previous fracture (or was that the right foot? ) but definitely a load of sprains - and no physio after any of them....

but if i get myself a lot straighter it'll be a major advantage!

so a lot to think about and i'll go back a fortnight tonight. and i made better time getting there than i thought.

don't think the cars have heated ignition, it's a hdi, different from the engine on a tractor/old style landrover (which had one).

the cat's got gingivitis and if he doesn't recover might have to have a load of teeth out! but we were half expecting something a lot more serious...

10 days off

is what molly will have had off by the time i can get back to some work with her.

yesterday i went to look at new cars - mine has 110,000 on the clock, so needs replacing. found one, 2 1/2 years old, only 17880 on the clock (done nothing) diesel so more economical. bank said yes, so i spent lunchtime sorting that out and knew i had to empty the car tonight, due to the lunge lesson tomorrow. plus, the man clearing our garden wnated the shed emptied, which is fair enough cos it's dead (the coal man backed into it more times than was good for it over many years...) so then that had to be done. didn't finished until it was getting dark.

so by the time i've had my lesson tomorrow it'll be too late then....

and we're out saturday, blair horse trials sunday, what can i say?

hope she remembers what she learnt...

weather?

it rained on saturday, sunday, yesterday (plus that headache) and today. I suppose to be honest I COULD have tacked up today - other people did and rode out - but it was mizzling, had teemed down whilst i was driving home and seriously looked as though it was going to again. so i didn't do anything. and Molly didn't want all her feed. this is probably because i've got some new feed, she's had it before but not for a while, and i wonder if they've changed the formulation? mmm.

reading glasses

were left at home this morning and i didn't realise till i got there, so didn't come back home as it's a 50 mile round trip.... but oh the headache!

anyway, it motivated me finally to ring the optician for eye test - was due to go in June and didn't, and I know i need a new prescription!

so in consequence molly only got fed and turned out again.....

very damp...

had it stopped raining at all, i might have ridden. as it was, it was raining this morning and it's raining now, and there haven't been any dry spells in between to speak of....

hospital

is where i'll have to go in the morning. i thought it was just a cut, but i think it's gone into the joint (knuckle at base of 1st finger left hand) as it's seizing up and hurting....

jetwashing

the stable and the rubber mats - and inside the haybar - in consequence of which i'm filthy .... but looks a lot better. i should really paint, but doubt that i will - maybe next year! earlier in the year.

and went up to see instructor - decided i need a lunge lesson, and wasn't sure if she still had a horse to do that with. Old Spuddy (home bred by her OH, must be hitting 20 now -spuddy, that is - so called as he was born in the potato shed!) will do the job and I'm going up Thursday after work. note to self - put hat in car! Makes much more sense to work on myself whilst NOT on molly!

Don't think I'll do any work with molly today though ... totally knackered, and still have to go back with the Stanley knife to trim the rubber matting, it's amazing how it spreads over a winter!

edited to add - nearly cut my finger off with the Stanley knife....well, not quite, but I've bled a lot!

and it rained a lot as well...

I need to find out

if the saddle agent has recovered from her broken leg .... really need her to come look at the saddle set up.

but apart form that we got some nice slow trot today, and my rise wasn't too bad.

started off with the feet out of the stirrups to get my legs stretched down a bit. think i should do that occasionally throughout each session - give her a break and stretch my legs down ... and then think also perhaps i need the stirrups a hole longer?

made the mistake of trying to taker her down to the 20 acre. she wouldn't even go to the top of the hill. possibly doing that after some time in the arena was a mistake, but anyway we struggled to get back right after that. on the other hand, at least she left the arena ...

longlining with the bit

for the first time since our accident on the 26th may - was a "bit" worried about what she might do, but thought it would be ok as i've been working on her acceptance of the bit, and we've got the strap shutting her mouth. and she worked well, as well - if not better - than on the bitless.

our changes of direction are getting really smooth, i've got to be really careful where i make that change as the arena is so small, did it right both ends.....

she wasn't on the bit until near the end, partly down to me as i didnt' want to push the issue too much in the circumstances, but when she came back to walk she was looking good so i tried to push it a little bit in trot.

and the halt was a lot better.

i wished i'd had someone videoing it.... but there we go.

oh, and we only had one walk off when i was putting the longlines on...

working on trot

in the dry, happily!

she moves better in the arena, you're right Jean, because it's better going (if a bit deep!) so i worked on keeping my position right, keeping my rise low and keeping her going where i wanted to (after I'd got off, adjusted the saddle and got back on again ... sometimes I don't put it on quite centrally, not assisted by her slight asymmetry, and it was really obvious tonight!). I was a bit better, I think and we got some nice circles. I'd forgot to put my sunglasses back on which made left rein difficult (straight into the evening sun up the long side, painful!).

her walk is improving and she's not arguing with the bit so much in that.

rain again

i suppose we can't complain too much, but it would have been nicer if it had rained whilst we were all at work.

so i went to the shoe shop and got some crocs..... thought they might be comfy, they are.... would like some flip flops (the one's i got in france have been overused, not had them off my feet for a month!!) but they didn't have the right size, and as for the colours ... well, not for the office, that's al i can say...

yes, the kerrits fit excellently well - i think it was the xl you got me (in the car, and too wet to go out and check!)

i need

a lesson onthe lunge, never mind molly!

i'm fine in walk. but seem to have lost trot altogether, even with the stirrups up a hole....it's as if i can't sink into it properly when out, but can in the arena, i don't understand at al....

felt most of today's ride as though i was perched - didn't feel as though i was sitting really deep at all. .....i could think i'm still getting getting used to the saddle, given the little riding i've done this year one way and another, but still and all...

molly was very good. stood still, when i asked her for one step forward so i could get on she did that and didn't move any further.

so i reckon we've really cracked that one (she says, touching wood!).

We went through the ford again going out following suzie, but she's not yet confident enough to take the lead through it, and to be fair it seemed a bit stronger today after yesterday's rain...but overall a nice ride, and we came back through the 20 acre and she was striding on ahead nicely and didn't even come to a halt at the site of the gate (open) in front of her (it's a narrow one..)

the Ford

Molly went through it - with barely even a hesitation, let alone an argument - on the way back from a nice slowish hack out with Jackie on piper. I was really pleased, as by that time she'd got totally fed up with my telling her to keep her jaw soft! but there we were, through it. Really good, so now she's no excuse for not doing that one!!!!!

I must have a lesson, and must try and see if I can get the agent to see horse & saddle yet. I'm even more sure i've not got it set up right/i'm not right, and i'm not sure which is first..... can't get the trot right when i'm out at all, and found myself bashing back on the cantle whilst trying not to. not clever, and accounts for the sewing machine (who can blame her).

On the other hand, my sitting trot is getting better, assisted by the sit tights.....it's as if i'm sitting better and feeling better, so that's better, but have lost the ability to rise to the trot altogether....ah well, in the scale of things, that's not such a huge problem and no doubt i'll get it right again soon. all this not riding over the last 3 years hasn't helped!

but - we got a few canter strides as well, up a hill on a track, thought i'd go for it as i haven't cantered since i fell off last June (06, that is....)

partner and her friend spent today making this:
Mr I Hulk.

for a "find the scarecrow" game as part of the village fair next weekend. To be put up in our garden Saturday morning.. and in the meantime to frighten us all in the dark!!!!

this is worth a read

http://geehawpaul.blogspot.com/

if sadly now over before we found it....

walk to halt

since she didn't want to go out on her own (if i'd got down there an hour earlier, could have gone out with a group from the barn...)

anyway, walk to halt and lots of work just keeping my fingers going when needed to keep her jaw soft. combined with circles, half voltes and serpentines.

stopped when I got halt with the jaw remaining soft

her habit is to set her jaw and bring her head up when i ask for halt, so that's to be got out of.

i was pleased with what we did. she was starting to get the idea by the end clearly....

and of course that helps me as well in terms of my position, so all good.

she wasn't happy

in fact, gave me a bit of a fight over the right rein thing.

we were doing groundwork..

going right, she kept stopping and turning in before i wanted her to.

then at one point she really took off, pulled away from me, bucked and kicked and pulled the rope out of my hand, and took off in canter round the arena. was so pleased I'd shut the gate!!! stopped herself once by standing on the rope, then set off again, but eventually calmed down and stopped and i was able to pick the rope up again...

dear dear

so i made her go right a few times more, but was struggling to keep her out ... possibly didn't keep at it as long as i should have done, but it is friday night and i was starving (still am, come to that.... tea currently a work in progress...)

we'll get there though.

she also tries to come in when i haven't asked her to, and if i send her back, she doesn't go straight she does it on a circle so she ends up with her left side to me.... mmmmm.

back to work for molly

longlining.

She did very nicely, no argument at all. and I didn't rope circle first.

Lots of trot both reins, we strictly need more space than we have in our arena, but we're doing really well. Halt is a bit difficult; but i'm still longlining in the bitless, until i'm totally confident about what I'm doing..

at the end she was standing square so i thought i'd try flapping one rein against her side to see if she'd go sideways; she didn't get that and didn't really appreciate it! but hey, we'll learn.

and the garden man? seemed to be going ok until he got to talking about rotovating. we have bindweed, and if there's one thing you don't do, it's rotovate bindweed. I started discussing this, and he had a tantrum said he didn't want the job and buggered off sharpish. My view, if the man won't debate something as basic as that, i don't want him ...

ebay

james, they can't do that save in limited circumstances, and certainly not on a buy it now AFTER the item has been paid for.... go check it out.

molly has had her tea and gone out again; i'm waiting for this garden design person that partner has organised to arrive.....and for said ebay vendor to provide an explanation....

the cat

was vetted by my horse vet .. who was slumming it at a different practice. well that's not quite right, he's reduced his time at the horse practice and is doing reduced days and is no longer in the partnership there, so was locuming (is there such a word) at the small animal practice the cats get taken to...

he's got a gum infection, for which he got a jab of antibiotics, but there's some concern about other infection/whatever and if the excess salivation don't clear up in a couple of days, take him back for tests.

that's depressing, he's not young and broke his hip earlier this year....

as for molly - she was pleased to see me when i finally got there.

now, here's a thing. last night i found a myler combination, the right size, new on ebay, very good buy it now price, so i bought it. today, my money was refunded, "due to urgent unforeseen circumstances" it was withdrawn ... after i'd bought it?.... duh.

and again!!!

and much better - she didn't move around at all, I was on dead quick!

and then had a nice ride out with Julie, round the fields, up the hill, trot, walk, trot, walk... now, the sewing machine trot when out?

and I'd put the sit tights in the wash, and forgot to put the furry cover on the saddle... like glass. now why didn't i get a suede seat? you tell me, must have been a moment of madness...

But I was very pleased with the molly mare tonight again...

partner has arranged for me to take HER cat to the vet tomorrow night after work, and for a man to come and discuss hard landscaping our back garden the next night after work.... i have complained, but the arrangements were made by then!!!

and again...

but it took a bit longer today, and I did have to get off at one point and lead her back round (it was better to do that than have the tantrum that was incipient...)

she then marched happily down the hill to the 20 acre.... into it ... then promptly decided she was frightened of smething in there, the mare that happily marched on ahead of suzie all the way round last week!

then we went up to the gelding's field with gaynor, and back. she's pretty much given up napping ot the stable.

then of course, since she refused to go anywhere on her own, she ended up in the arena.

I've just bought a new book - schooling exercises for dressage riders - so set to with some of those, one of the trot ones in walk, then walk/trot/walk/trot, and some flexions to try and get her to soften to the bit instead of setting herself. she gets that for a bit, then loses it. partly me, partly her.

at one point we had a lateral movement across the arena; the trouble was I hadn't asked for it deliberately but I know what the problem is, my right hip/seatbone.

then back through the yard to the willow (preventing her from napping to the stable quite smartly!!! it's scary when she starts that as its hard concrete with rocks on top (small rocks, but sharp ones!) and next to a stone wall) and back to the arena to get off.

I still suffer with that foot i broke last year if I land on hard, so do have to get off in the arena. anyway, don't want her to get used to me getting off in the yard, as that would be an excuse for more napping back to the stable. the stable is NOT where we stop work!

success

got on at th emounting block by myself with no help

took three goes - but she wasn't moving her bum away from me, she was moving forward. and I didn't get off, just kept turning her back to me .. at one point i thought i'd try getting on the wrong side, but she moved forward again... YAY.

then went in the arena (had thought I might go out, but that would have been pushing it!!) and did some work, my rising trot was better but I wasn't really trying for anything exciting since the success of the day had already been achieved.

i suppose arguably i should have got off again and then got back on.....

foot & mouth

again.

let's hope they get it under control this time, and we don't have a repeat of 2001.

where i keep Molly they have cattle & sheep - it's an organic farm supplying at least one major supermarket chain.....so i guess there'll be restrictions on our movements as well!!!

last time was a total nightmare for everyone who did anything in the country....

will it or won't it?

rain, that is. looks like it's going to, damp grey clouds...

Molly and I did some groundwork again, rope circling. she went the directions I told her at the pace I wanted, which is progress. didn't do much (thought it was going to rain, and it did start to try to, and it IS friday night!). little issue on goingback and coming forward to work on. she goes back. all I have to do is turn her in and drop the rope to the ground and she goes back, which actually she's not suppose to. coming forward she comes to far, and she comes when she hasn't been asked sometimes.

But i got what i wanted for the night...

maybe

we've cracked the problem with mounting from a proper mounting block straight on in the yard, but not the stool in the arena?

whatever, got on again tonight - TBF, Julie was at her head again, but she showed no signs of moving away AND let me do her girth whilst mounted, which is always a disconcerting task with dressage girths!

and we had a nice ride round the 20acre in walk, we knew where the brakes were when waiting for Julie on Suzie, and she didn't try and trot back to the yard from the ford as she was wont to do.

so well done her.

the only fly in the ointment was when I went through to the arena to get off (still have problems wtih that foot i broke! plus i don't want her to get back to the habit of napping to the stable) and lo and behold she took serious exception to a piece of farm machinery that has been tied up next to the arena entrance for months and months. nice sideways leap that i sat to, and got her in ....

here's a picture i saved from google earth:
the black line is the River Wear, and the 20 acre is the second field above the buildings in the middle next to the river....

last night and tonight...

last night we had a bit of a battle re whether she'd long rein or not, which i won.

and then she was going very nicely!

tonight, decided not to bother with the ground work. the YO had moved the mounting block from where it was (where you had to go round the corner to get up onto it, thus giving the horse an immediate excuse to turn quarters away) to another place next to the muck heap where it is straight edges. so thought we'd see how she went, and I'd go out with Julie who's still on walking exercise with Suzie.

so led molly up to the mounting block, julie stood in front of her with a polo, and she showed no inclination whatsoever to move away or into me.

very pleased. and since it's the first time on her since 5th June (and that wasn't a success due to my leg ... last time i actualy rode her in earnest was April, I think!!!) i was even more pleased...

ggrrhh......

still can't get on.

can do pretty much everything else.

think i possibly need MORE time .... but on an evening when one has been to work and has the law to mow before it turns into a hayfield......

together with sarcasm from someone because i forgot to take the stool back saturday - i said, at least i didn't leave it where it could be run over.... (wasn't in the mood for sarcasm at all by that stage!)

kristofferson

was so worth seeing/hearing. Excellent. all he did was sing. his only mistake was saying "hello newcastle" - he was in gateshead (it's called Sage Gateshead...) but that's what happens when two cities market themselves together, people get confused.

the house got cleared.

Molly got fed.

the madam

wouldn't stand still at the stool for me to get on.

did some rope circling - left, right, stand, back, forward

did some longlining - she stood stock still whilst I attached the long lines, and whilst I took them off.

Then she followed me to the fenceline where I'd left the reins (next time I'll have them wrapped round me - I also wanted to get the longlines out of the way rather than leave them all over the arena...)

so when she wouldn't stand still, we went back to the circling etc., then tried again; and again; and again; and eventually I looked at the time, we'd been at it over an hour and I had to think abot stopping as I knew I'd have to pick partner up at the local railway station..... so we finished on her going right in trot.

the stool is at a height where if she steps into it she gets my legs and I HAVE to go back off it. she knows this, I think .... depressing.

So we'll keep trying.

Possibly not tomorrow though; have to finish clearing partner's parent's house so it's empty for the buyers.

and - we've got tickets for Kris Kristofferson at the Sage Gateshead tomorrow night! really didn't expect there to be any, but there we are, sorted!

flat tyre

came out of our redcar office late - lengthy meeting with client - to find the off rear was flat. tried to undo the spare - it was seized up. happily, staff members husband assisted (in fac did the entire job) and i had to drive back slowly with teh spare on (it's one of those thin ones that you can only use as a spare).. so first job in the morning is get tyre sorted. the cause of the problem? a house screw.... some builder not clearing up!

and Molly? got her in and straight into the arena without so much as showing her a grooming brush. we got trot right rein AND i managed to keep it going.

So only 5 minutes, but a good 5 minutes.

mounting block? ask, was how to get one made. asked my mate if her partner would, and she said yes (course, what he says when she tells him.... apparently, his mounting blocks are now in demand, so second string occupation if he gets sick of being a horse vet, unlikely but hey).

i shouldn't have used the "R" word

rain, that is.

it teemed down all afternoon. stopped as i left work, but Molly was still wet, too wet to groom, and was clearly going to rain again (as I left, it started).

so i swept the junk out of the stable instead, i hadn't done that for a while given that she's out ....

I'm thinking about asking my friend to ask her partner to make a mounting block, he's made a wonderful one for them...alternatively, IKEA do a nice stool for about £10 but too low for my liking, and I found one on Robinsons website last night for £28.

and better

much better right. by the finish she was consenting to keep trotting (or i'd got better at asking for turn in before she decided to walk, which should end up with the same result....)

it's amazing how hard she works and thinks when in fact it's not nearly as intensive as e.g.a full on lunging session. which i won't be doing for ages if at all.

think i'll try the longlining tomorrow if it don't rain. I'm concerned that our arena is really too small to do that effectively in.. will have to see.

and I MUST buy a new mounting block, some plonker having broken my stool (I think someone took it out of the arena to use to mount, and then someone else drove over it, it's the only explanation and I'm annoyed...)

this is so working....

Molly is really paying attention. still prefers left to right, but will now stand where i put her, go back, come forward, de dah. still an issue on right rein though that I will have to work through - turning in for herself instead of when i tell her. on the other hand, she is going right when i tell her without too much of a battle, and thinking whilst doing it. hopefully she's not thinking of new ways to avoid it...

good work...

sorted out the training halter, I finished up with it right last night and checked with pictures when i got home; Molly was working better tonight, thinking about it all more. A bit of a challenge right rein, but doing it without the huge strops. a bit of a challenge going to her right from a standstill, but that will come. A bit of a challenge getting her to turn in straight to face me when she's been going left (she wants to stand so i am on her left slightly) but easily sorted by moving myself slightly and pushing her back using the visual cue of the snaky rope. And an oddity - stand her facing me, and she moves backwards; does she think that's what I want her to do? not sure. Clearly what I want is for her to stand where I put her. and on right rein - took a lot longer to get her to a place where she would keep a trot going, so stopped after I'd got that.

Onlooker commented that it looked good.

Jean, the event i missed would have been dancing horses AND dancing people (probably together on occasion... saw something part of the same thing when we went to see Appassionata last year). Very disappointed not to have got there....

the skin condition improved substantially to the extent that the hands were just about clear by this morning and the feet were able to wear socks all day yesterday and today.

By the close of business tonight, though, I can see the hands starting to give up again, so that leads me back to the contact dermatitis to something at work.

the legs are a lot better but not perfect and there's other bits still not right, but a substantial improvement on where i was even on the day I set off for the holiday.

more photos

the Bilbao guggenheim



the moon and venus, believe it or not; I was surprised this worked, and it is faint, but that is what it is...
the view from the terrace of the house...

photos from france

This is sunset over the Atlantic, very late on Saturday 14th July, I'm very pleased with this.

These are some saddles and stuff in a display at the Château in Saumur; vintage western, and vintage French army that are, you have to say, very like modern Portuguese/Spanish.


And this is the house in which we were staying for the week at St Jean de Luz. Between 5 couples, it wasn't bad at all...

back to work

Molly was pleased to see me, even after my two week absence she came over to the gate!

Very muddy so got a good scrub up, and then to do some groundwork. I think I've forgot how the halter goes, will have to review the vids to remind myself. I think the only think max forgot was that he'd put the halter on molly when I wasnt' actually there watching ... and I'm sure i manage to upend it somehow in transit, it fell off it's hook when i was driving home.

but we'd remembered most of what we needed to remember!

I bought Molly one of those crocheted fly head pieces in France, rather nice, and here she is with it on - I'm rather pleased with it, it's much nicer than any i've seen over here...

I was very tempted in the same saddler by a leather lunging roller with turrets and black girth, euros 99 - actually would have been a really good buy and i will wish that I had, but decided I already had a roller and didn't need another no matter how good. I was wrong - I haven't got on with turrets and a matching girth in leather, but there we go! I was pleased at myself for NOT buying it, since as we all know it's very easy to go mad in a saddler, especially when there's bargains of that sort to be had....

holiday notes - photos later

Well if I'd had my brain in gear I could have typed up the events of each day and then uploaded the whole lot all at once.... I had my Palm and its keyboard with me (the palm has satnav....) but I didn't even think of that until this morning.

The satnav anyway didn't work in France; I think the full map of France was all too much for it, so whilst I had mapping, I had to work out direction myself. Useful nonetheless, especially when mislaid in a town and having to wrestle with the one way system as well.

Anyway, the highlights and adventures of our holiday.

Drove down to Folkstone late Monday for an 0530 am train; in fact got the 0337 train, so were there even earlier then planned, probably just as well. But I really mustn't do that again, much more sensible to drive down the day before and book a night in a travelodge! Straight to belgium (about ½ hour) on arrival for cheap baccy, then a couple of hours shuteye in a laybye.

Took us most of the day to drive to Saumur, which isn't really that far but kept having to stop and sleep! Eventually got there about 11pm, mad, and overslept for breakfast the next day.

Saumur is very nice, lots to see. Spotted that the Cadre Noir did a demo show every Thursday – but, this was the only week it was cancelled! They'd gone away somewhere for the week to do a demo elsewhere.... Freebie tour of the place instead. That was Thursday morning, having spent Wednesday looking at the town and the château, which had an interesting display of old saddles etc... very reminiscent, and probably in fact exactly the same as, modern Portuguese/Spanish styles.

Thursday drove down to near Bergerac, Friday was the christening to which we'd been invited, lovely day had in good weather. Then Saturday down to St Jean de Luz in Convoy .... 5 cars, us, 3 American couples and the American/French couple whose 4^th child was the one being Christened. Massive villa booked – and there was a room for us, which they'd thought there wouldn't be but there was. So that made it cheaper all round and saved us finding a campsite.

Sunday spent some time on the beach; Monday – went to Bilbao to the Guggenheim. Realised shortly after arriving that it was no distance at all to Bilbao, so off we went, so pleased we did. Mind the art it contained didn't do HUGE amounts for me, but the building is fantastic.

Tuesday partner joined some others (essentially, one person per couple) on wine hunting trip whilst the rest of us stayed home and minded the kids (of whom there were 10, not including the non walking baby....).

I'd got a flyer for a dressage/flamenco show that night, but no one wanted to go with me and when I set off I realised I was out of petrol – and i already knew that the local supermarket, which had the only 24 hour petrol station, didn't like my card as I'd had to pay cash for the shopping. So I didn't go, which was a disappointment.

Then Wednesday we went into Biarritz and Bayonne, which were interesting, and Thursday to ST Jean town in the afternoon and then the adults went to Hendaye just on the French side of the border for dinner, there having been a babysitter found for the kids.... early start Friday morning and drove up to Calais in one go ... not too bad, if lengthy, and a 2 hour lunch break in Poitiers.

Found a hotel with a room in Folkestone Friday night, then Saturday morning went to Hastings to see my uncle (rang the home he was in to say was it ok to come, to be told he was in hospital....really glad I went!). Got home 9 last night.....

home at last

after a rather good holiday!

drove from St jean de luz to calais yesterday, won't be doing that again! found a hotel at folkestone then went to see uncle in hastings - in hospital!!!! was glad i'd gone, may well be the last time i see him .....

catch up tomorrow, it's too late at night and we've still to unpack the car!!

a dry day!

with sunshine for most of the day, amazing. lots of laundry done. was able to get molly in without getting soaked! she was dry so she got groomed & flysprayed!!!!

my feet are feeling vaguely better; shame the hands are still struggling, but they're easier to deal with in some ways, being more accessible!!!

hopefully by the time i come back from my hols i'll be able to put socks and boots on comfortably..

not packed yet, but at least we've got clean clothes!!!!

and a tent..... eek..

durham

city ... that was where i wanted to go for my birthday, only 2 1/2 miles down the road, so that's where we went.

there was various musical bands playing at various points around the town, including one from Rajasthan in India, the Jaipur Kawa Brass band, very good, a New Orleans style jazz band, and some others.

bought myself an expensive handbag, the cheap ones keep collapsing (straps snap) - i like the back pack style of bag which are not easy to find at all.

also a book or two (a new Jonathan Kellerman) and some new summer shirts... shorts didn't suit me, even though i needed some it's very hard to get them to fit.

we're going to go see molly soon and then go to the pub for dinner..

favourite blogs

do you think i should re-organise that list? it's getting very long, and i think it might help to put the horse people ones together.....

will it ever stop raining?

doesn't look like it at the moment... although they say we'll have a dry day sunday!

blogging in the horseworld is becoming even more popular....as you'll see from my links...another added...

Molly is doing well, waiting for me every night - whether she would if she knew she'd have to work for her supper is another matter! I do hope the anticipated southern french sun sorts my skin out! put my boots and socks on tonight because of hte mud, and rather regretted having to.. not comfortable yet!

teeth

Tonight molly had her teeth done; the person is a young lady called Ruth, so I have her in my diary/contacts as "ruth the Tooth" - happily, she's ok with that, quite liked it!

Molly was very good, much better than last year when she really had to be held down and we had to give up a wee bit before we wanted to ...

this year, yes she had a bit of headshaking, but in the scale of things no problem, and we were all done in good order.

the only problem was, the heavens opened as I got to the yard, so we all got wet afterwards....

two people came back off their hols - they'd been where we're going, apparently it rained all the way down and all the way back and was grey cloudy all the time they were there bar one day.... pah! hope it improves for next week....

winnats pass

a photo of the pass i drove through yesterday on the way back...


I drove through here yesterday; fantastic, and the sun was shining. goes down to Castleton and then you cut down to Sheffield via Ladybower reservoir...

photo from http://www.rural-roads.co.uk/winnats/winnats1.shtml; don't know whose the copyright is but credit to them....

.

june & the 4th of july

June was apparently the wettest june since records began.... july isn't going to be much better at this rate.

4th of July - american independence day - this is for jean & james and any other american readers. I live not too far from Washington - the original washington, site of washington Old Hall where George Washington's family originated. They have a friendship arrangement thing with Washington DC, and today there was lots of Independence Day celebrations. They even have the John F Kennedy primary school (that's for children under about 7 ....). so that made the local news.

and here's a picture of Molly's leg....
it's looking vast amounts better, i'm really pleased with it.

west bromwich

is one hell of a drive & back..... just made it back to our local petrol station on fresh air and was shaking with tiredness and hunger I hadn't felt till i stopped as I put petrol in... just chucked some chunks of cheese down my throat and cup of tea to hand....

and i called at caroline's on spec but they weren't in as we know....will leave C to post the photo I took!

trip was worth it though, and came the slow way home and found some interesting places for us to go see...

dry!

apparently it did rain momentarily, but I missed that, it didn't where i work. so Molly got groomed, being as how she wasn't soaking wet, and also sprayed with fly spray....

i hold with my decision not to start work with her again until after my holiday, there is little point for the sake of a week now and anticipating improvement in my skin over the period as well!

if only my feet would stop overheating as well!

i'm still fairly sure my hands are something at work, but will have to wait for hospital appointment and tests.... as for the rest, who knows!

got to go to west bromwich tomorrow; 4 hours each way! hope it don't rain and the roads are ok...

bazzyboy

you MUST check this out - again, found by someone on EE, superbly funny...

http://www.bazzyboy.net/index.html

and the makings of a good book, i should think!!!!