well that was a day and a half...

up at 0600 - before the alarm, and before you ask, Caroline, it was set for early anyway. I knew i had a long day ahead of me.

hung washing on line first!

down to yard for 8, rode out with Julie & Paul first thing. my last ride at harbour house/on the estate (unless I either pay for a day, which i won't do until molly will do it without any grief! or with some good company, or move back there ever...)

then set to to jet wash the rubber matting and other stuff .... that took a while, went for lunch (sandwich from sainsbury's! tea from supplies at yard) and transport arrived early! Many thanks to barry - i'd planned just the one trip with the horse & matting, he said, lets do two with all the stuff as well!

so my original thought of taking the month to move stuff didn't happen, it all went in the trailer and dumped in the new stable and molly was moved by 3!

i spent some time sorting stuff out, then gave her her tea and went back down to jet wash the old stable and collect anything i'd forgotten ...

Molly settled once she clocked the other horses. She also settled when she couldn't see me and shouted when she could! she's on 2 weeks quarantine (and a diet, as you see!). pics and video. the video is put together from various 10 second clips, and all pics & vid were taken on my mobile ... the one thing I forgot this morning was my camera!

still have to put up the hay bar, stable mirror, horslyx, rug rack and sort out my cupboards/chests and stable matting. I think a couple of cupboards will definitely be coming home for use in the garden! and will definitely be sorting out the old coal hole (it's needed doing for 5 years, now is the time) as there isn't the space for all my stuff, i don't think. i think i'll get away with one chest in the stable (it's a pretty big stable!)


this is the round pen.
this is the arena.
This is the arena again looking out over the place.
and this is the stable block from the arena.
There are lights for the arena, and there is a PROPER mounting block IN the arena.

and one of the livery owners lives in the bungalow next door.

then to sainsbury's again to buy a pizza and some other goodies & milk, home by about 6.15 pm - and i've just got out the shower. it's a mucky job moving ones horse and all the stuff...

i guess I'll sleep well tonight!

the plan is for groundwork for a week or so until i know she's settled. next weekend I'll sort stuff out ...

time passing...

i was motivated to find out when i'd moved to harbour house, as it was in my head it was two years. we actually moved to harbour house the 10th september 2005! i'd been thinking i'd only been there two winters, when in fact its three!

and interestingly, the start of the blog is still there on 20six - i didn't know if they'd delete it, they havent, will put link up! in many ways we've gone backwards (apparently i was once trotting!) but overall we've had some improvements over the time at harbour house.

hopefully, i get some more at the new place!

all organised!

we move tomorrow -well molly does, and her rubber matting, at least - the rest might wait and be moved through the month as i shall have to divest myself of a cupboard ( a keter waterproof one that can find a home in the front garden) and see whethere there will be space for the keter chest I use for rugs and spare stuff and the other small cupboard i have also with stuff in.

trailer from the yard after lunch tomorrow

most of the rest will fit in the car

and the plan includes riding about 0830, so alarm will have to be on again...

back of car now all flat to put stuff in..

must find drill to remove stuff from stable walls!

molly got fed, then i went to new yard to find out what where and decide which stable and stuff.

worm sample to have worm count and only worm if she needs it. she got wormed in April, so who knows? at the moment they're not poo picking, they're scarifying, but YO is going to see how it goes.

one of the people i met when i was at Union Hall when I first moved down this way. and one of the people (who hasn't yet moved) is at the yard I'm on now (don't know if anyone's told her I'm moving too! she's not moving until end of this month).

general consensus is that i am of course making the right decision to move molly now so she is settled before my holiday!

good lunging

on both reins - she's definitely becoming much more balanced and able to carry herself, even more noticeable right rein there was no rushing at all.

It also shows that my hands aren't right - she has a very steady head carriage on the lunge and doesn't mess about with the bit at all until i bring her back to walk, whereas ridden i struggle.

i think it's my contact ... a difficult balance between light and sufficient - and my hands not being as still as i think they are in walk (i know they're bad in trot, that's why i've put the martingale back on ....)

anyway, very pleased.

and on the way home called to pay the builder for the work in the front room, and was fed dinner! so that's two main meals I've had today, we were out at lunchtime for someone's leaving, the plan was not to cook tonight, so I've certainly managed that!

still waiting to know about transport for Saturday - can definitely move if i have the transport (although I might just walk her up - 4 miles in hand? most of it can be done through estate tracks, it's the hills when you're on foot and I've never done that way! certainly wouldn't do it without being able to use the estate tracks as part of the road is seriously nasty - narrow, bends, and drivers that take the michael out of it.

trot and hack

I actually got some vaguely sensible trot in the arena, i was impressed with both of us. better right rein than left, as is usual with her ridden trot, actually got the whole way round the arena. trying to keep my hands still is a pain, though. Also got some lateral as well (a bit of leg yield, by no means perfect but at least we moved sideways).

after about 1/2 hour she insisted turns on the forehand left were good rather than move forward, so i got off - and no, she didn't get to stop. she got to do two circles in hand.

then someone was going out late on her new pony (perfect family pony, mother rides, son is learning, grey connie, excellent mare!) so I got back on and went out with her round the 20 acre. by the time i'd done that my legs were really nice and my thighs were properly stretched so i had a much better position.

so pleased with that.

this, from google earth, is the field in which the new yard has been built.
unfortunately, google earth is a bit behind the times - we think these photos are about 2002 or 2003 (everything of this area is of that vintage) and the facilities weren't put in until 2006/2007.
so there is the field above the houses and the field behind the houses. And i think a bit of the next field up as well. the right hand side is bounded by disused railway, and the bottom by houses. the barn is next to the house that's top of the picture, but that slightly smaller area next to the road is down to grass; the arena is behind and to inside of the barn again. i need to be able to draw on it...

for hacking you have to leave the yard, go up the road (either to the village or not) and then a track to Rainton Meadows
which is really nice, various tracks and very few gates. and horse stiles which will be useful for mounting purposes if needed (which no doubt they will be).

my thought is that it is probably worth while to move sooner rather than later - original plan had been to see out my month where i am, but i think I'm better advised to pay the extra (i.e., the box rent at the new yard, on top of what I've paid for where i am) and ensure molly is settled before we go on holiday in july....

friend planning on coming Saturday - with her horsebox & horse, of course! - to ride out with me, so have rung her, and left message for new YO to see if that's possible. probably no reason why not!

and i could take the rest of the time to move the rest of my stuff slowly given that I'll then have two boxes paid for.

anyway, we'll see.

changes in the rain....

keeping the changes theme going - but mine aren't on horseback.

well, i've emailed YM, and she has confirmed receipt!

so, I've found a new DIY yard about 1 mile from my house. small yard, huge ginormous stables, in a barn but no straw beds allowed, quite happy re rubber matting, haybar, stable mirror; tack room we each get a lockable locker with saddlerack & shelf. separate feed room. 20 x 40 arena. hacking would be in rainton meadows, which i already know from when i was at the other side of the village -or, i think, the edges of fields as well. no gates there.... LOL.

worming - worm counts by westgate labs, so that'll be fine. probably worth my while worming before i go anyway! and i expect this will therefore be the only yard i'll have ever been on that poo picks...

2 weeks isolation in a paddock by herself, hope she copes with that, but she will be able to see the other horses.

there's even a round pen!

i can walk there if I'm pushed; i could even get fit and cycle! could walk molly to my house (did that with Queenie once, to have a bath! from the earlier yard).

so end of month. a month's notice where I am (hence email to YM; do hope she gets that before she reads this!)

not perfect planning as i move molly, she has a week, then i go on holiday for 2 1/2 weeks, but nothing i can do about that.

so i'm excited about that anyway. will spend the month moving stuff, cleaning, etc. will need to find a home for a now redundant cupboard, i expect, and i think i'll be cleanign out a cupboard at home - not quite the storage i have ATM for rugs and things! we'll have to see.

photos when the weather improves and we get there! it was raining tonight as forecast (which at least means i got some bread made, i love my breadmaker!)

a gate!

that we opened on our own! shame we couldn't close it again! but opening it was major progress.

anyway, no one to ride with, but one of the fishermen was just setting off down, so he opened the gate out of the yard. At the bottom of the hill, someone had failed to pay attention to the notice telling them to shut the gate through to the 20 acre, luckily the sheep hadn't noticed. so we went through and fisherman shut it behind us.

Molly walked on fine for a few strides, then blocked (i rather think she wanted man to come with her!). she was getting quite stressy about it, but i said, if you want to go back, we have to open this gate.

So second attempt, we opened the gate and went through without any disasters like knocked knees (mine) - but then of course i couldn't for hte life of me get her turned round so we could shut it again. set jaw? set jaw. no moving her. so we stood.

then fortunately soemone came the other way - had been going to go up the hill to our yard and use our arena, but kindly agreed to go round the 20 acre with me first.

so we did that. got some shoulder in along the lane back to the yard. good conversation about saddles (person had a decouvroux) and related matters

then strop time in the arena - after a nice trot, she decided that was more than enough and set her jaw again. and even wih another horse to follow if she wanted, she wouldn't.

and my schooling stick was missing from its usual place on top of the wall. hope it hasn't gone totally walkabout. it hasn't fallen off the wall the other side, i checked. and i'm 95% positive that is where I left it (it is where i usually leave it - the wall is the perfect height and i usually stop molly at that point and pick it up).

when i eventually got home, decided to mow the front lawn before it rains again (supposed to tip it down for 2 days now) with the result that we didn't have our tea until about 930! eek.

forgot my gloves.....

the rain stopped! well, went down to a fine mizzle - so decided to do some ground work rather than do nothing at all....

for once i didn't pick my gloves up - I rather regretted that, and in fact asked someone to get them for me.

on her toes? yes, definitely! again, probably, trying me out - but up! and canter (not asked for) and UP! - not full blown and not next to me, but still...

but she sharp gave that up when she realised I still had the better of her

the only injury to me is caused by my hitting myself right next to my eye (not in the eye) with the leather bits at the end of the 12 foot line.... ouchy

rain....

if i'd got up at about 530 and gone down i could have ridden then. in fact got up about 715, and it started raining shortly thereafter, and is set in for the day, apparently....so unless there's a major change, that's today's report!

canter & farrier

got up early to ride early - Julie was going out at 0730 and I had the farrier coming at 9, so that made sense.....

went through the bluebell wood (bluebells have died, and giant hogweed is starting to grow!) up the hill, then in the field we cantered - not far, but did, and I sat to it quite nicely i thought!

Then round that field, through gate - along side of drive at the top of the field, then into next field and down hill.

The plan here was to turn left through another gate, along and out and into the 20 acre to go back.

However, Molly had other ideas and was insisting on turning right (home) - to the point that it was going to get a bit dodgy. She wasn't even prepared to follow Julie's Susie. So i got off and led the rest of the way. I wasn't going to give in and have her go the way she wanted, so we went the way Julie & I wanted...

we probably shouldn't have made the plan that we did ... she had been really good up to that point (bar the travers/renvers down the hill to that point and even that was controlled, if unasked for!) and had done a route part of which she hadn't done before involving loads of gates.

but there we go.

and the farrier? was REALLY pleased. I'd been working on the picking feet up with clicker training, and it has so paid off! all four feet with no argument, not even the usual problem foot (near hind). YAY.

here she is investigating the farrier ....

She once took his chaps off for him ... they had a velcro waist, not a buckle

ducks - and otters and kingfishers

as i was turning Molly out after her tea, there were three ducks in the mare's field - one female, two male.

then I was talking to one of the anglers, and he says just below the 20 acre there are 2 otters, he thinks youngsters, that he sees the same time every night, and furhter a long a kingfisher has a favourite tree.

and he once saw a stag (roe deer one) looking at him through a bush...

so must spend some time sitting by the river one night, i think

the men hadn't come back to finish the job; we went out for tea!

sheep

are not in the 20 acre at all -they're in the area leading down to the 20 acre, and in the horses field next to that!

Went out for a ride round the 20 acre with Evelyn (who did the gate); molly was reasonably well behaved, only 2 blocks, one because of a fisherman at the bottom of the hill and the other some horses coming the other way, the second only really momentary.

she was a bit of a "klingon" with evelyn's horse, but I was pleased.

she didn't want to do anything afterwards though!

and then i got home and had to clean the kitchen before i could cook, so we've only just eaten - men in to sort the front room floor out, and they didn't shut the door....

the 20 acre .... gated

and full of sheep! they've put a gate across right at the yard, so to get even along between the fields to go down the hill towards the 20 acre, you have to be able to open the gate. and Molly doesn't really do gates (especially this one, which for brand new is a nightmare!). and the sheep can get right up to the yard.

the advantage was, of coruse, that Molly having done her usual of heading for the 20 acre (i didn't bother trying to prevent her and instituting some jaw setting!) was stopped in her tracks and a bit put out.

which meant that, once she turned round, she volunteered herself into the arena.

TBH i'm not over happy as the gates difficulty means that I can't think about getting out on my own unless someone will do the gate for me ... too many gates!

in the meantime, she did some reasonable work, we're getting better at circles.

Not convinced by the bit. or is it me? or is it her continuing bitting issues? this is still the myler hanging cheek i bought.

anyway, even with no contact, she chunters away at the bit .....

and i mean no contact -

or should i take more contact? i've enough that she feels my fingers move!

lunging and lawnmowing!

as is so often the case, everyone had been and gone time i got to the yard. and it was forecast to rain. so i decided on just basic lunging, as the sky got darker and the clouds built up. that went well, NO arguments about going right, and she even did canter right - not because of anything I did particularly, I've always had great difficulty working out how to get canter on the lunge! but I was pleased. she was really moving and it was good to be able to stand back and look at her legs & her back muscles!

then came home and decided to attack the front lawn before the forecast rain arrived - it had been a bit neglected what with one thing and another, and now looks a whole heap better...

20 minutes

to get on, but I knew that would be the case after just over a week off - so went into the arena prepared for 20 minutes ground work, which was what it took.

after that worked on just a nice walk, and circles - eventually got a right circle - it is, unfortunately, hard work that! but easier than before I went away. eventually also got some sideways, which was good! and a shoulder in (or at least, a few strides thereof) which is also good!

too windy altogether to be too long after that, I guess i rode for 20 minutes as well. and too windy to think about trying to go out (I hate wind!). but it was a good drying day, so i have lots of clean dry laundry!

Molly

Was, I think, pleased to see me!

I was totally tired so didn't ride, just did some groundwork (given she hasn't been ridden for a week! seemed like a good idea!) after being groomed and having her mane solo combed.

Hopefully will have some energy tomorrow, and it won't rain, and I'll get some riding done

I've put all the holiday stuff up onto a new blog:

http://clairesholidayblog.blogspot.com/

but just for an introduction, here's a JRT we saw in Bantry

i'm back!

will post holiday report & pics later - but only one horse, and then it's back view seen from an irish jaunting car in the rain! we've just woken up, got in at 5 and been asleep until now...

a moderate success!

which I then ruined.....

anyway, went down with a view to riding at 9, which is the time people go out on a sunday - julie had gone out at 7, i met her leaving, and evelyn & rhona went at 8 - ..... umm.

so, anyway, thought we'd try again (on the principle that if i keep trying that's something!).

after 10 minutes blockage at the top of the hill down to the 20 acre, (after she'd tripped over something, probably her own feet despite being awake) during which molly proved that she CAN step backwards under saddle (will have to try and remember what i did, it involved flexions....) I eventually managed to ride her 3/4 way round the 20 acre - after 3 other blocks which I'd got her out of, AND managed to circle back to the direction i wanted to face without grief.

that last corner, though, wasn't a block, it was "there's a horse eating something in the wood or somewhere and whilst I can just about restrain myself from tanking off it's all getting a bit much for me without another horse" seriously tense under me (which she isn't when she blocks normally), very up on her toes, any pressure at that point would not have been the right move, so I got off and led the rest of the way. The trouble with that is, of course, there's nowhere to try and get back on.

so how did i spoil it? i tried to get back on back at the yard, and she wasn't co-operating....

still a moderate success for a last ride for a week, so pleased anyway.

will take laptop, you never know i might find a wifi spot, and will try and work out how to blog from phone ....edited to add, can't do that latter, apparently..

circles and balance - & glasses

we'll ignore the pratting about refusing to either through the bluebell wood or the 20 acre, and blame it on the plethora of fishermen. went back into the arena.

We got some nice-ish circles (well, they were fairly circulare and without any grief!) by placing my inside hand on the martingale loop attachment and raising the outside hand slightly and of course against the neck, and lots of appropriate leg aid, and ensuring my weight was correctly weighted.

then, following the debate about balance and reading racinet, we stood, we flexed, i could FEEL her withers lift, i could feel her coming more balanced under me, i could feel it coming right, and the move off to walk was hugely better and it was all a lot better.

so i shall continue my reading of racinet.

not sure i'm totally right, of course - and not sure the bit is totally right either (but also I think the leather has stretched slighly on the bridle pieces! they're gaping again, which of course means it needs to be up a hole at least!)

and spectacles? my visit to the optician showed that i was right, and i'm to have a pair that does everything, with transitions - ouchy expensive, though!

and we had our hair done. and some new sandals whilst waiting for it to be time for the opticians appointment .

and yes, holiday... will take laptop with me, don't know if i'll be able to get a connection.. and any burglars reading this should be aware the house is guarded and watched anyway

friday night tired

of course - and we now don't have to go back to work for 10 days, yay.

molly got an undeserved night off, but as usual, friday is tired end of week night..

see what we can do over the weekend and will definitely put the breastplate on ...after i've cleaned it!

b*********s

tried to go out again, then realised she had bit ring in mouth, oopsy. had to get off, put it right, and go back to the yard.

she then was happy to go into the arena but painful on right circle again. TBF it was a bit better than last night, but not hugely. got jackie to watch me, she said she couldn't see that i was doing anything wrong - reckoned it was molly, so that's reassuring in a way, if it's molly being a c*w rather than me getting it wrong.

then decided to try going out again. we ended up doing a lot of walk on the bit up and down the fenceline, but stressing at either end! at one point i also had a really nice trot going working really hard to keep it going - stopped at the small gate napped to it!

lots of long stick didn't really help in unblocking her, moving her head side to side did.

then the police helicopter decided it was a really good idea to circle over the fields and yard. heavens only knows why, place is only crawling with horses, and fishermen (i think i was the only rider...)

gave up.

but some progress, i suppose, in some respects.

a debate on EE about balance before movement, balance through movement (arising out of readings of racinet and comparisons with the german school and whether there is that much difference) got me thinking, having just finished racinet explains baucher.

i can see the point of relaxing teh jaw and getting balance inthe halt (there is a clear difference between balanced and unbalanced halt, and the move off one gets after that).

relaxed jaw results, in mollys case, in a horse on the bit working softly.

ah well, we'll get it together at some point

also, molly is bored in the school, fair enough, but isn't getting confident enough to go out herself.

mmm...


and another thought - think i'll put the breastplate of hte martingale back on, hands much stiller when attached to that which means steadier contact which means better trot (when we get trot) - my arms go pear shaped in trot, where they're find in walk....

phooey

well - soemone had shut the small gate through to the 20 acre so the plan to try that agin went a bit pear shaped. i tried and tried to get her close enough to it to let me open it (including using my stick) but she wasn't having it and getting more stressed. by that time I needed to go to the loo.....so went back up the hill (in canter) then she blocked and i had to wave the stick at her to get her going. then she set off in trot (good) but then started napping to the small gate to the field (not good). so got off nad led, put her in stable whilst i went to loo, went and got on in arena & had gate shut behind me and forced her to do circles.

now that's interesting. left circles not too bad. right circles - jaw set, trot, anything but do a circle. TBF the circles do get a bit tight .... and i think i do turn my body sometimes when i only intend to move my seatbone - but my goodness.

had to unblock her a couple of times but we did get some circles both reins. finished with a walk on long rein.

phoeey, though.

ah well, we will get there eventually...

lunging

this time with a bit (the last few times i've lunged with the BB); she went pretty well, all things considered. right rein wasn't the argument I'd expected at all, considering the struggles we've been having with circles ridden. so that'll be me trying too hard then! which isn't to say she didn't protest, but the protest was a slightly more minor key than it has been and overcome relatively easily. and didn't pull against it going right as she normally does (well, not as hard, I could stay upright!) and is more balanced/less rushed.

One thing I was always hopeless at getting lunging, with any of the three horses I've lunged, is canter - and really with a less than 15metre circle to work in, it's probably as well at the moment!

so did about 20 minutes, twice each direction, shortening side reins as I went (started with them toooo long, and they still are a shade). was pleased with her.

on the riding with crop thing - hitting the boot doesn't have the desired effect, i shall need to connect with her. sometimes, waving the stick gets her attention and gets movement (same way a jockey does - forwards/backwards alongside face!). will ride tomorrow, see how we go.

late meeting again

but only 2 of us turned up. got some useful work done though! too late to work molly though.

caroline, you might be right, and it might also be that i'm frightened of potential reaction. and in a way that was proved when i did use the stick to get her into the arena. so i must try harder as well as getting her to.

regression

to stresshead mode; she was happy enough to set off, and to take the route we did yesterday, but then blocked herself. First block before we went through to the 20 acre; second block after we went through; several more half way to the gap in the fenceline; ended up unable to decide which way to go and whichever way i turned her she blocked. so got off, went back, got back on - and she blocked at the top of the hill.

got off, went back, got back on - decided to go into the arena, she didn't want to (she wanted to go out, where she would have blocked again ....) and did 20 minutes work there.

all in all, about an hour on her.

i can't bring myself to get after her with the stick too much though, as given that she's stressing anyway, i don't think that would help. she needs to work out for herself that she can go out and she'll enjoy it - i think she probably does know that, but can't quite bring herself to believe it, if you see what i mean?

and another photo (still not of a horse, though ... the sorted out back yard, what was all allotment that we couldn't keep on top of, from the upstairs window).

breakthrough? and before & after pics

We got on. she set off (really keen), down to the 20 acre.

Now, bear in mind the usual track, well worn, is to the right hand side, with the River Wear on your right again and the field off to your left.

We got a little way along but she didn't like this. Set her jaw and turned round. But then stopped again. I turned her right (so i'm going at right angles to the normal track, towards a fenceline with woods on the other side).

We then turned right - so we are now parallel to the normal track but going away from the yard.

We carried on. There is a gap through to the 2nd half of the 20 acre. she looked at it but carried on walking through. We turned left up the fenceline. At this point, you get to the corner of the field and if you turn right you are then heading for the normal exit to the 20 acre, with a stream (that has come down from the ford) on your left, and both our thoughts were to do that.

But we both clocked people on foot - estate owner & wife - and their two dogs. Molly thought, no don't fancy the people - she wasn't sure - So there's also a gap to my left and I can see there is then a track which I "know" (not that i've done it before, it used to be closed off) up to the hardcore track that leads from yard to ford.

So through the gap, and Molly at first wanted to go across the field. BUT - i turned her to go up the track I'd spotted (pleased I could see other hoof prints ahead!) and up there we went, even got a small amount of trot.

At one point half way up there there is, on your right, a large (huge) whiteish slab of stone over a rivulet - that was a "stare" and lets move away from this, but she agreed to carry on and we trotted some more (me ducking for low branches) and out onto the hardcore as I thought.

and left along that, down past the main house and back into the yard.

really pleased. Course, she did blot her copybook slightly - i always go into the arena to get off, to save the foot, but Jackie was mucking out her trailer, so that was scary.

but I was SO PLEASED. I really think we are making a breakthrough now. it might just be she;s bored schooling (fair enough, so am I for now!) but there has to be some confidence there as well.

Now, the before and after pictures. you all think these will be the horse. wrong.

We had the carpet fitters in today! Hurray! this is Coir, herringbone pattern.

spectacles

my long sight is going ... had to get driving specs last year, and now have to wear them riding/walking around.. back to the opticians, appointment week tomorrow - guess there'll be more money going on specs.....

friday night, molly got a night off ....and i made pie (home made pastry ...)

a hack out!

with Julie on Suzie. round the 20 acre, an argument about turning right over the ford rather than left to home (Molly ALWAYS does that there ... very tedious! but this time i didn't have to give in...) over the ford, right along a track, through gate (stood nicely) u turn through another gate (stood nicely again) back along field parallel to track - was going to see if she'd do the gate, but another horse was coming through so that person did it), through ford (i.e., through thewater following suzie this time!) back round the 20 acre, and finished up with a canter up the hill, and had passed 2 fishermen with no worries about them

so a successful night.

Went to Killingholme today for work, and Molly's breeder now lives near there, on my way back, so called (rang, of course); least said soonest mended, but i was only in the house a minute and shan't be going back...

not so good tonight - with canter!

she actually wanted to go up that steep hill again, i think, but i wanted to go the way I wanted to go (20 acre) - which we eventually got into, and i htought we were going ok - i was relaxed, she was relaxed - then she stopped, and I really don't know why. so turned round, and nearly back to the gate when fisherman with rod popped up from bank side in to path in front of us! she didn't spook or anything, but did stop. then couldn't work out which way she wanted to go! she turned round (but not spookily) and faced the other way (which was the way i originally wanted to go, of course) but then decided that wasn't the way to home or anywhere else. so turned round again and we walked nicely back through the gate.

she still, i think, wanted to go up the steep hill ....maybe i shoudl have done that, but didn't, by that time, want to end up walking!

BUT cantered back up the track towards the yard, YIPPEE first canter since June 2006!!!!!!!

then back into the arena - some nice paces, and did eventually work out how to do a circle again!

need some lunging to remind her she can go right!

tomorrow, apparently, a hack out if i get back from hull - which i should! and maybe i should let her do that steep hill again! hopign she don't stop at the log!

a positive adventure

on my own! We marched off headed to the 20 acre, and she didn't "block" when she saw two people walking towards her. Dwon the hill she did what she did the other week - turned right, to the wood and steep hill, not left to the 20 acre. (bear in mind one can't have an argument on these hills, they're a bit steep). After 2 false starts, she consented to GO UP the steep hill beside the geldings field next to the yard (that is, on the opposite side of that field from the one we'd just gone down) in trot of course as it is very steep (probably 1 in 3!). There was a log looming at the top round the corner we hadn't known about, so she blocked (don't like logs that look at thought they're blocking the way). So i got off and led her in hand the rest of that route - which we hadn't done before in that direction at all, ever (we once came down that hill with gaynor, something I am never doing again it is scary steep!).

So i guess we were out about 3/4 hour. I did try and find somewhere to use as a mounting block, but was pleased I failed (we had another block, despite being led, once we got out into the open again from the tracks as she clocked a pheasant on the ground on the other side of the field (well i assume it was a pheasant, but it might have been a fox? the distance ...). Then that takes us to half way down the drive and out next to a new cattle grid, and we are forced to go down the side of the other gelding's field which was a bit of a chew as they all were following her down from their side of the fence. happily she stayed with me.

she much prefers tarmac drive, but we can't do that any more due to the cattle grid and fencing, burgers.

the arena is 14.5 metres by 22 metres.....so no wonder it's all hard work, we can't even do a 15 metre circle!

OK, now, video.

this is with the new bit in - i.e., at the end of the session. I still can't get the other one short enough, will have to do some more editing on the bits i chose with the myler combi in, so that will come tomorrow/by the end of the week (tis' very time consuming!)

legs

I realised today that i'd been concentrating so much on getting Molly settled in her mouth, i hadn't been using my legs as much as I should ... oops!

anyway, had a really busy day so I am well behind on sorting video out, sorry folks ... getting there!

went out at about 10.30 to go up to pay for queenie's keep and buy her feed and etc; Allison was at work so had to go there, rather than to allendale to see the horse as well..

then back home via the garden centre @ ebchester for plug vegetables (lettuce lollo rosso, leeks, a rose, an astilbe ....)

then to sainsbury's for shopping

finally got to the yard for about 3 30 and got molly in - then ate lunch! shopping went in fridge ...

rode

out round the 20 acre, with gaynor & jackie, Molly charged off in a really fast walk down the hill and on, and had to be slowed down as no one could keep up! she kept that up until about 3/4 the way round, and this was with the new bit in - she was softening and then not - couple of attempts to turn round and go back! that was funny, as jackie had just finished asking why molly was so confidently in front, when she stopped being! for no reason. then after that molly was good whilst waiting for gates to be opened, normally at those two particular gates she has a strop, but was in fact very calm about them today, very pleased.

then back to the yard and i went in the arena for about 20 minutes or so (we were after all warmed up by now!) and this was when i realised i'd forgotten the use of my legs! oopsy. so started to use them again.

stephanie said yesterday what i'll have to work on now is just how much of any particular aid to use, now i'm on the way to working them out....that is true!

but molly did some really nice walk/halt/walk transitions. circles? no way, she said, so we've forgotten how to do turns and circles i'll have to remind both of us about....

then home for about 5 30 and planted most of the plants i'd bought, finally came in to start cooking tea at 8! we realised later i should have put the tea on to develop when i first came in.... but there we go, i didn't.

and whilst i was cooking i also made a video to upload to photobucket, definitely less than 5 minutes - but it's more than 100 mb and it won't have it, drat! will try again tomorrow, might hve to do some more editing...

pictures

renvers

for two strides! i was so gobsmacked I lost it of course. that was when we were going really well, right at the end, finally relaxed (we'd had a lot of stress and tenseness for about an hour, for assorted reasons good and bad) and changed the bit to a new (bought this morning, reduced as previously tried) myler hangning cheek dressage legal mouthpiece.

that latter was as a result of a lot of thought about bits and the way the combi works, what she likes about thinner bits, the way she goes, de dah, and concluded worth a try; assisted by shop saying that they had one the right side, that had previously been tried that i could have for £40 and take back if no good.

it was really good, and once i have the video edited i will upload it so you can see...

in the meantime, we were trying to video a session and were handicapped by

1. napping away from the arena with a set jaw before we started, resulting in me tensing


2. starting to relax a shade from that when jackie turned up to move her trailer which is backed up to the arena fence.. that was SCARY.....

3. when that was done, new livery owner turned up with friend and child to get pony in from field.... which since it immediately followed the trailer being moved and much calling for new pony (normally not a problem) was scary.

noneo fhte scariness involved spooking etc, but did involve tense, jaw set ... listening a bit but all over - and then the vicious circle of tenseness and stress.

the trot was awful - did improve somewhat with less contact - but no room!

with new bit in we both relaxed (especially when we got the cheekpieces short enough, it was slighly difficult to tell at first!) and got some WONDERFUL walk with, as I said before, 2 steps or so of renvers.

that came about because of the lightbulb moment yesterday re moving the body t get SI etc.....was trying that (the SI didn't work, BTB) but that did ....

so despite the general disasters of teh day, we ended on a really good note!

and then we gave her an hour off and did some more (with the moulded panels, not the suberpanel) just to see what woud happen.

i'll continue with teh suberpanel, is what.

I'm still reflecting on the clinic yesterday....

but really lots more walk for me, and that's one of the things i got out of it - how much you can do in walk (which i think i'd pretty much got anyway but seeing it in practice, and consequential improvements, is another thing!)

and must move to somewhere with a larger and better surfaced arena, really ...

anja beran

was a really good day.

no photography/video's allowed, of course.

lots of food for thought.

some interesting work

some lightbulb moments ...

steph & I are going to work molly tomorrow.....

busy weekend coming up

company coming tomorrow night for tw0 nights so had to come home clean the bathroom etc as you do...

then we're going to Huddersfield Saturday for the Anja Beran clinic, really looking forward to that - partner's staying at home... so that'll be a good report Saturday night.

then on Sunday we're videoing me riding and hopefully going to see Nicola all being well....

so poor molly will work on Sunday having done nothing since Tuesday... but I'm sure that'll be good!

and then should find time to go see queenie....

back to wet mud

after last night's successes. ah well, i was knackered anyway! woke up wondering what the noise of the alarm was and a steaming headache... whilst the day did improve, thank goodness, i was in a way quite pleased that she was covered in wet mud as i don't think the motivation was there!

very late night

out with Molly.

natasha rang this morning and said they were going up to holmeside (about 5 miles north of me) showjumping and did i want to come watch - we decided to put Molly in the wagon since there was a space on the grounds that it would be good for her. There were 8 other horses, all for a jumping lesson with an eventer based at yorkshire riding centre, and me along for the ride.

So whilst it wasn't a competition, it was Molly's first time away from home at that sort of venue. Huge indoor, show jumps set up one end, collecting ring/flatwork space the other, big wall between with a "cross country fence" forming a viewing place between the two. so she could hear horses thundering about the other side of this wall, but not see them.

She didn't put a foot wrong. When we first went in i took her in in hand, with the pressure halter and line, in case - then i had the tools to get her back to me if necessary.

Oh, and the instructor they had ajusted the bit - apparently i had it too low in her mouth.
then got on and essentially jsut walked about for 40 minutes. didn't get the nice work i've been getting at home, but then i woldn't have expected to, the object was just to get her used to that type of experience and not have any riots.

and we didn't have any.

she decided enough was enough after about 40 minutes - and then after everyone had done we went to the pub, horses stood in wagon whilst we ate.

so good night had by all and I was very pleased indeed with her for behaving to well.

She wasn't really interested in her tea when we got back - just wanted to be back out in the field, so most of her tea went in the bin! she wasn't objecting to that, fine put me out she said!

and i'm being really decadent - writing this in bed on the laptop!

wet mud

she must have done a rain dance .... it would have taken maybe an hour to dry enough to brush it off (it was right where the saddle would go), so of course, had i waited that long i would have not got home after doing anything until about 9 ....so she got fed and put out again. i always say rugs are for keeping them clean!

a mixed day

some things went really well. feet picking up - it's like a different horse, all four feet, not one protest!

mounting, not a problem - she's even moving up to the mounting block much easier, not setting her jaw about it...

down to the 20 acre (she volunteered) but instead of turning left to go to the 20 acre, she wanted to turn right. I wasn't going to stop her.

In the past when we've done that in company, it's been in the summer; in the summer you can then go straight on through a wood, but it's closed in the winter as it turns to a bog. still closed today.

if you go right, you go up a very very steep hill - the sort that's a pig to come back down (did it once, horrid!)

she stood at the bottom of the hill but didn't fancy it; i turned her round, did a circle, she really wanted to go straight through the wood and stood for a few minutes facing the close gate and the track through the wood.

you can see the bluebells starting to come through there...

so after a while we turned round to face the 20 acre; went through the gate into it but she really didn't fancy it on her own - paying attention, i could see her looking for another horse behind her ... had there been one, we'd have been fine.

so back to teh arena.

walk was fine.

BUT i had the kerrits on. I love them for hacking ... but TOO sticky for schooling, they just stick me a shade too much to the saddle and if i get a twist on (which I felt as though I had today) i can't seem to sort it out. very odd.

So i gave up before it rained (as it was threatening again - rained all morning!) as it seemed pointless winding each other up! I don't suppose anyone rode this morning, it was pretty wet!

what a good girl!

Was very pleased with Molly. As i'd hoped, I did go ride this morning with the others. She was impatient to be off whilst Julie mounted, but settled; led the way down to the 20 acre no problem and was about 500 yards ahead of the others till more than 1/2 way round that, which was really good - normally, even in company, she stops at the half way point as there's a log and a (not very) narrower gap - when she did stop, once the others caught up, she was happy to walk on again (i should say Molly has a really good striding out walk! on all previous horses I'd be always trotting to catch up! it might be riding as well though..)

anyway, paul at this point said he really doesn't understand why i can't get out on my own when she's miles ahead in company - julie & I both reckon its still a confidence thing...

when we got to the end of the 20 acre i nearly lost my knee on the (narrow) gate and then of course she did think about giving battle on the left or right decision - left is home. but didn't - i insisted right was the way and she thought oh, go on then, follow the others.

Normally then she'll have a bit of an argument as we go through the gate, but she stayed chilled.

then right round 2 huge fiels - you go along the bottom, through an always open gate, to the next one, then left up the fence/wood line, then left at the top, through a narrow gate (this time we got lined up for it properly!) and then left down the hill to where we first came in

good as gold, save for one stop along the bottom, one stop going up and one stop going down. The stop along the bottom was caused by her clocking two horses coming the other way, she hadn't realised they were there i don't think and it certainly looked like we'd meet at the gateless gap. I think the stop going up was caused by the echo of my voice off the wood in front of us (it's quite dense) and don't know about the one going down.

after the ford/bridge again (she wasn't doing the ford today, she said) i carried on along the track whilst the others went for a canter

Do you know, I haven't cantered since June 2006, when i broke my foot?

really need to do that again, it's as if we've forgotten how - and TBH I'm not totally sure of my balance and thus am scared to do it again in case...

Think I need to do it out, not in the arena. As I've said, that arena is too small..Also, think i need to do that with only one other horse out with me, to avoid the possibility of races...

But I was very very pleased with her. she didn't get her stress head on once.

We were in the Myler combi of course.

and then i got really posh and cleaned her saddle whilst she was eating...

friday headache

but i reckon it's the paint in the house - partner's repainting some woodwork upstairs.

will try and ride in the morning, hope i'm ok to do so - forecast to rain tomorrow!

lunging

with the myler 01 in. got right and left; but last time i lunged it wasn't nearly such hard work going right...can't remember which bit i used, will have to find that post and check.

I have:

1. mullen mouth snaffle
2. Myler combi short shank
3. myler 01 on loan (going back, she doesn't settle in it)
4. bitless (Dr Cook's)
5. Pelham (she tried to buck from stationery, but that might have been me - i think not)

currently she goes best in the myler combi, reins on the bottom ring of course, which is interesting.

Also, of course, the mylers are thinner, which is good for a horse with a small mouth (4 1/2") and large tongue.

so something thin, and not single jointed (HATES single jointed!) might be the thing.

i did think about the magic bit i hear about and might well try that. it's thin and ported ....

natasha thinks I should try a KK ultra lozenge..

Her issues with bits go back to her youth, so whatever the issue is it's too late to know what started it.

as for the going right - well, at least she goes. But whether long lined or lunged, she's really pulling me over almost have to work hard to stay put! left is fine.

But, on the other hand, she isnt' rushing as she used to so the balance is a lot better

and, when I put the roller and polypad on tonight (use polypad under roller) it was more symmetric side to side than it has been - normally (her mother's the same) you put in on and it's square one side, you go round the other side and everything's well off . Wasn't NEARLY so off today, so whatever i'm doing, it's working in squaring her up, which has to be good!

longling bitless

is as bad as longlining with a bit. right is not good.

so, i think i won't try that again for a while, lunging/rope circling when I'm not riding..and sort out a dressage legal bit that she don't object to!

another success

for four...


went round the 20 acre with Evelyn on scarlet (she shares him with her husband) - this time last year there was no way she would even hack out, she's come so far, and there she was volunteering to come round the 20 acre with Molly & I. I was so impressed with her getting her confidence back like that!

and Molly did protest a bit the first half after we got into the field proper, but i was able to keep her going so that was good too.

I'd put the mullen mouth snaffle in (hadn't anticipated going out) and I think she's gone off it - no beginnings of any lightness at all. but hey, we kept control and got where we wanted to go.

jean of course i was pleased with last night, compared with previous - what you said, really!

and finally, thoughts are with Erin in the states on the loss of her parents. Hope she's got loads of help from all round and keeps strong.

you're both right, of course

but on the other hand - there is something else as well.

You'd think she'd be bored with the arena and be more willing to go out, at least on a route she's been before.

Anyway, we got down to the bottom of the hill and through the gate into the 20 acre (which is always left open) but a few strides further on she stopped. she didn't try and turn round in usual style, unless i asked her to walk on ... eventually we saw george and sheila coming back, way over the far corner, and we weren't going to go forward then.

ended up back in the arena, and did get one really nice circuit of trot, with her soft!

but i keep saying, the arena's too small - can't get balanced... not enough room, so if you lose balance on a long side you haven't time to get it back before the corner...

at last

was able to do something with Molly today. Actually was able to get on without any ground work (just a Polo) - 3 times, which is impressive.

First time - she wasn't listening to me and wanted to go to the track down to the 20 acre, but she was seriously on her toes and didn't mean that she wanted to do that (I can tell, by now....). anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to do, so we didnt' do it.

Led her back to the mounting block got back on and she did go where I wanted, which was into the arena so see what if anything we'd remembered.

she was doing quite well. came soft a lot quicker and i decided to see about trot, which I haven't done (deliberately) for a good while.

I had a habit of preventing the transition by tensing, so the object was just to get trot, whether sitting or rising (the latter for preference) on the correct diagonal and not rushing, which we managed a few times, also a circle - I'm doing something a bit wrong circling, as if I push her round with my outside leg we end up rushing, which isn't wanted.

We're not assisted by the fact that the arena needs harrowing - sides higher than they should be which is unbalancing...

a few times over the poles i'd set out (in walk...)

anyway, then decided to try to go through the yard. She didn't want to do that. i though, back to the arena to get her settled - she didn't want to do that either.

so we got off and back on again....

Paul volunteered to walk in front and see if she'd follow, but she ended up with her stress head on when I got under the willow. eventually got off and led her up the track a bit to where there's some rocks and stuff been left that can be used to mount. got back on, but she wasn't having any.

Now explain this to me - at this point, I can - if I'm pointing the direction I don't want to go - get her jaw soft, she comes soft and round and you'd think she was listening - but as soon as i try to turn, everything tenses up, jaw, neck, body - head tossing, de da...

ah well. At least I got on 4 times!

Oh, and I tried flexing the bit a little before i got on.... the first time.

then came home and planted potatoes... probably too late in the day but it needed doing or there was no point in buying them.

Experiment - some just in holes (hole per potato) some in a trench to cover over as they grow, and some in a trench covered over now...

When it all warms up i've got onion sets to go in, garlic cloves to plant, pea seeds, and want to get some lollo rosso plugs (easier to grow stuff from plugs than from seed...)

nothing doing

last night was friday and whilst it had dried up momentarily, there was a howling north/east wind (i reckon here its a northeasterly, caroline!); today, i was thinking of doing something this afternoon, but we have just realised that our tickets for the Sage Gateshead are for today! this afternoon! next door neighbour (who was trained as an opera singer and has a fantastic voice, you'd love her Jean) is singing. We've been listening to her practice for months (well, we listen to her sing all the time!) and so bought tickets. so Molly Moo will get another day off....

rain? winter? spring?

what is it?

someone on the radio yesterday said it was just a late spring such as we used to have... i dunno about that...

anyway, raining tonight. odd - molly keen to come in for tea, but quite happy to go back out again to join portia over by the exposed fence...

amazon.co.uk

meant to post this on yesterday's (written this morning) but forgot...

driving into swansea, ginormous warehouse on my right, amazon.co.uk; at the same time on my left, two riders, all hi viz, riding the dunes (well, what looked liek the grass area between the road and the sea, some sort of park)

then leaving swansea tonight local radio report that that was a brand new amazon warehouse just opened today.

Gorgeous weather - we were able to have lunch outside in the sun! - all 6 of us (2 lawyers for each party, we put the legal world to rights!)

and we won the case, YAY. even better as one defendant made an offer very late last night which we decided wasn't good enough.... more YAY.

got home, was in the last 5 miles - and it was snowing! only a shower, but crikey.

the difference between there and here is about 360 miles, left just before 4 and got back here 2140 - one stop ... good run up!

swansea

was a good drive down and happily dry once i got here. glad i have hands free on my phone as people kept wanting to talk to me about the case (a good sign).

the bad bits? restaurant where i had dinner seemed to think that lasagne was improved by heinz tomato soup - NOT. which made it an overpriced meal, to say the least - but i got some more of Racinet read whilst i was eating. and despite having paid for internet access when i booked the room, i couldn't get online last night at all and this morning it wouldn't accept the fact that i had already paid... pah. oh, and the satnav or some reason couldn't find a fix for the best part of 100 miles - dunno what that was about, but happily i was still on home territory, so to speak, then..

partner ill

spent the day in bed, got out of it long enough to ring me with an order for more medicine! and came out tonight to see Molly and buy tea (and go to the cash machine - i bought her a new car battery yesterday!)

but she'll have to look after herself the next two days.

Molly was of course quite happy to only get fed and not do anything for it!

and i still haven't packed....

cold - but flies are out?

so it's not as cold as you'd think - but only when the sun's out.

had to do a bit of groundwork to get on, but only a couple of minutes ....

but she doesn't, i don't think, like the bit i have on loan from natasha....

some soft nice steps with her back round under me and everything doing well, but others - nightmare of jigging head, pulling reins from me, de dah...

ah well.

she'll not do a lot this week, I have to go to Wales for a trial!

successful morning

Went out for a ride with Paul & Julie - just up to the riding school and then back round the way we'd come but we were all quite pleased with Molly.

didn't have time for any hoo hah with mounting so Julie held her head.

When we set off Molly was fine going out towards the drive, which she normally doesn't like, and for a wonder walked under the bogey willow with no problem at all, almost as if it wasn't there. so that was good.

Had a couple of stops along the track, then over the bridge at the ford no problem. she got a stress head on after that for a few strides - i think because Paul with scarlet wanted to go up the field, (2 gates) and i'd specifically said no gates this morning (wanted to avoid them).

When we came out onto the rode there were some builders bags on the left, which she avoided like the plague - will be fine with them next time I expect - and put an odd stop in before we turned left.

I think we all wished we had gone the road not the field at the left turn up to the riding school - scarlet & molly both ended up in the plough trying to avoid the mud!

then through the riding school yard, down the copse and out onto southill drive - for all of this Molly was ahead (she walks faster than everything else and then seems to get stressed when she thinks they've vanished!).

bit of a stressy moment as we came out onto the southill drive beyond hte riding school, but settled again - listning to me a lot more, i think - and then walk back along the road to the track and back to the yard.

This is probably about 40 minutes in walk only.

For a lot of the time Molly was pretty light in the hand. I was concentrating on sitting square - i.e., weight in left foot/left seatbone, since that's the side i favour and I need to stop doing that!) and i think that helped.

overall very pleased.

and this is Simba, having helped me make the bed this afternoon, just because it's a cute pose....

rain

which is much less troublesome than Caroline's snow - the pennine divide strikes again!

so wet horse - but warm horse, interestingly being rugless and out. and she didn't really want her tea, she wanted to be out again, so out again she went of course. She and Portia are quite happy.

mind they were full of grass - some horse had knocked down the electric fencing, which was clealry suffering from a flat battery/lack of power anyway, so they'd got into the bit that the YO had fenced off since last summer to regrass itself....

which also had the advantage that we didn't have to go plodge in the mud at the small gate! how long that lasts is another matter.

i haven't looked at the forecast, hope it's ok, but they are forecasting more rain...

late meeting

so nothing done with molly at all, julie did the honours with the feed!

the 20 acre

on foot. I decided she needed to see the rest of the field again before I ride her round it, so walked her out in hand. she had two stops to look at whatever it was she was looking at - something she could hear, perhaps, in the river - and 2 stops to try and eat some grass

and she's out for the night now.

Portia was out (portia had managed to kill a stable by kicking the wall so badly it is going to have to be rebuilt) so she was out as there was no choice. So Molly's out as there's enough grass IMHO for them to be ok and it's about time. and the forecast is to improve, so i'm happy she'll be fine. and portia was glad of the company, and i'll be glad of the minor lie in!

light on the longlines!

you may remember i said that Molly is always heavy on the long lines. She wasn't tonight. I remembered what you said, jean, about half halts on longlines so that worked fine when walking round the outside of the school, both directions. and i also thought i'd try working on turning her using the outside rein, as i've been learning to do riding, and that seemed to work as well. This was all in walk.

prior to that i'd done 10 minutes ground work to establish boundaries (like, you will stand still whilst i put the longlines on!) and then trot circles on the long lines (essentially two rein lunging...)

I might go back to the BB for that; that was what she had on when we first did it with Max back in June, and I find that she is ok left but not right (there's a surprise) and fights it. the bit, that is. my thought is that with the BB we avoid that argument and get the work into her, and then go back to trying it with the bit later.....

in the meantime, a new series of CSI ..Vegas, i can't be doing with Miami but won't miss NY

april?

and not having the luxury of an indoor, no work was done with molly ....

supposed to improve as the week goes on, do hope so.

plan for sunday had included planting veg - put off for yet another week!

snow - click on the pics to get full size effect

pictures... the top ones out of our front bedroom over the churchyard - spot the pigeon in the maple!, the bottom one from the back office window over the gardens looking down the street
and hope this video works...

and a repeat of the robin from last week, as it was indeed hard to see...

winter

I so agree with caroline about the weather. We had cold (but not freezing) and showers, very heavy ones of rain/hail, interspersed with sunny spells when it was warm. I ahdn't put molly's rug back on (it's been off a week already) so when iwent to get her in to ride, she was warm, but damp and muddy and of course it would take forever for her to dry...

but i was feeling huge amounts better, i have to say! possibly because there was nowt left...:-)!


more snow tomorrow....but apparently only over lunch time so should be dry when i go to ride....

ryvita

which I like, no longer likes me. you'll remember a couple of weeks ago i wasn't well; that wasn't a patch on today, i had to come home early from work. the only thing that's been different is eating ryvita for lunch in place of baguettes/bread/like that. No more. Had to ring Julie to ask her to do Molly, there was no way i was up for that at that point of evening - glad I like doing my jobs in the morning then if anything does go wrong the worst of it is out of the way! that all started at about 12 noon, and finally started to settle after 6 (assisted, i think, by a bath for its muscle relaxant properties) ...

so no news.

in the meantime, here's a robin i photographed when we went to harlow carr week past tuesday:

more good news

That was AFTER i'd had to re-establish the boundaries at the mounting block

Put the combi on as the plan was to see whether i could get down the hill to the 20 acre (even if we didn't get all the way round it).

so Molly's first idea was, turn the bum away! HAH. got the pressure halter, into the arena, 5 minutes ground work, back round, she stood.

I took my short stick.

she didn't set her jaw, and actually wanted to go into the arena but walked calmly along the track and a few steps down the hill, but turned - but DIDN'T set herself.

so back to the yard area in front of the arena where we stood for a couple of minutes, then I turned her round and back down - and she went all the way down, through the gate, and half way round the first half of the 20 acre when it all got too much for her - I rather think she heard a fisherman casting - we can't see them, can only hear them. so turned round, but again without setting. I think she would have "set" had I argued, but I was well pleased with the distance we'd got, considering she hasn't willingly gone anywhere on her own for months and months ....

and we had a nice, balanced trot along the track back to the yard as well, which was good, so something's going well on the getting balanced front!

Then we went back in the arena and some work ...then decided to follow a couple of other horses out the other way - which might have worked, but george & sheila were coming back in and it all went a bit pear shaped ... so she got taken back into the arena. But again, half good - i was really balanced, didn't tense myself, Molly didn't set her jaw and we finished up getting something nice and soft on left rein.

grass?

Molly thinks there's grass....she left hay last night and wasn't lacing into the haynet when she was brought in tonight.

But we can't get them out yet - snow forecast for sunday, which is mad considering how warm it is!

So we had another good evening. did about 10 minutes ground work and then got on - had to do one more bit to emphasise what i wanted, then she stood

then i did about 40 minutes schooling. Would have liked to go out, but no one about riding when i started (someone did turn up later but then i was committed to what i was doing....) and I was glad i didn't follow the people from another yard who set off down the 20 acre - they were cantering along it, as I could see from my vantage point in the school!

still weren't doing wonderfully well - more of a struggle to soften on left rein than right, and I do wonder if it's to do with me - given that left foot! i need to do work with no stirrups, i'm sure that would help balance me out some more and get the hips opened up....

but we'll get there.

and i did think i'd have to stop sooner than i did, until i realised george and sheila were going out, which meant i could stay on the horse until they came back!

so altogether pleased....


hopefully we can start going out in company soonn, then try again with the going out on our own. for that, it'll be back to the combi (currently using natasha's myler 01, which you will recall i have on loan) but i think the combi's better for preventing jaw setting...

and christened the new breeches i got sunday - nicely sticky! recommend caldene sticky bums!

i wondered

who reads my blog. I am told that everyone on the yard does ... whether that means "everyone" i don't know, but certainly a fair few! so i was rung up and asked if i am moving....which i'm not... but i can see why people might think i am, bearing in mind what I said about the yard i visited saturday.

anyway, it was blowing a real howling gale tonight, so much that they closed the Tyne Bridge again, i walked round to see whether the arena was getting the benefit of shelter or not, and tonight it wasn't, so I made an executive decision not to do anything. i never could bear a gale! they upset me, and if i'm upset, so's the horse.

Blake got moved so Molly's new neighbour is moved in - not a problem, total sweetie....shame kirstie had to take an unexpected day off work for the purpose (some problem with the people moving out...)