We have had a busy couple of weekends, and the time has just flown by!
We finally go out competing hurrah! But unfortunately it was on 2 of the hottest days in a long while ☹ so both myself, my partner and the neddies did get a bit hot and sweaty!
Nevertheless we went out for a couple of classes before the temperatures rose too high. First up on the Sunday was Bob – we went back to the Equestrian centre where previously we parted company mid round. This time however was a bit different… the dummy managed to somehow pull a shoe off in the car park enroute to the arena - What are the chances?? I had walked the course and was preparing to get aboard, whilst doing my finally checks and then I noticed it – ARGH!
I checked him over and trotted him up and there was no discomfort, so I went with a few suggestions of take him in and see how he goes. I tried him in the warm up arena to check he was ok first and he behaved well so we decided to try just one class.
Well he was definitely up for it – a shaky start as he was tense and I was nervy from last time but fence 1 & 2 cleared nicely – number 3 however- he used my leg as a ram to knock the wing out – and it was only an oxer (you can see the mess he left in the background of the picture)! The poor pole pickers – the whole fence went down.
We continued on and the middle of the round was very nice, a slight unluckily clip on the penultimate plank, and then heading for the last – which lead to the arena exit…… well he thought heyho we are out and it seems he forgot the fence was there until the last minute!! Luckily only one pole fell but still a messy end.
I did get a well done and was told ‘that round was well ridden’ so hopefully it felt worse to me than it actually looked lol! Not shockingly we didn’t get placed, so off we trundled home before the temps got up with me sending a begging message to my farrier for a new shoe.
It was beginning to get quite warm by the time the next class started so I didn’t jump her anymore in the warm up, we went in for the next round but I think the heat got to her as by fence 3 she just stopped and refused the fence, so we called it a day and took her home to avoid any heat related issues as at her age I do worry! She had a few days off afterwards, but we enjoyed a lovely hack one early cool morning that was just perfect – so peaceful and tranquil.
I dragged my OH out to a couple of equine bootsales at the weekend too – I had a set idea of what I needed and came away with completely different things – this happens to all of us right?!! I then decided to do one of the equine bootsales myself the following day – managed to sell a few items, but then came home with a few more items too! Ha! Although in my defence they were items I needed..!
Now to plan for the Autumn season…and dare I say it – get fully prepped for winter argh! Any mucking out hints and tips to save time in the dark winter months will be greatly received 😊
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Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.