The trio have been keeping me busy these past few weeks: Freya has had a saddle fitting, Bob’s had a lesson and Autumn’s been out with a new friend exploring lanes not too far from our yard.
Freya’s saddle fitting went really well. The fitter was impressed with her condition and conformation. She was equal on all of her measurements, which was great, and the saddle I had been using to sit on her was the right size and shape. All that was needed was a small bit of flocking and a gullet change and we are now good to go. I had the first real test drive at the weekend with a bit more trot work and a quick trial at canter, as we hadn’t done any since she arrived. She did make me chuckle as during the first few attempts her legs were all over the place – my partner said it looked “interesting”! She did get it a short while later and managed a nice canter on each rein. I’m looking forward to more training with her.
Bob had his first lesson since his second fall. He did some lovely trot work and went nicely over poles, and to top it all off – not one nap! He even behaved and just stared when, out of nowhere, some National Grid men in fluorescent orange jackets popped up from behind a hedge on the other side of the river. I’m hoping to now get him back into proper training and start doing some things with him, as the time off seems to have helped us both reset and we are working with each other so much better.
Autumn’s been a bit stiff and sore with the boggy ground conditions. I had arranged with a lady local to the yard to pop to her farm and go for a hack, but in the week leading up to it I feared I was going to cancel. At the very start of the week, Autumn was really struggling with her arthritis and the wet conditions. Luckily, she perked up towards the end of the week, so on Sunday morning I got her out to brush her and she was happily standing in the sun. The minute I got the horsebox out, she was fidgety and pulling at her lead rope, trying to prance about. I had a feeling of dread, thinking she was anxious about the whole thing – well, she fooled me. I untied her and, the minute I did, she dragged me up to the horsebox and ran in, positioning herself perfectly for the partition to be closed! I was so pleased at how eager she was to go out again.
When we arrived at the farm, I tacked up and got aboard, only to realise I didn’t have my fluorescent vest on. My partner was holding her whilst I slipped it on, and it was like being on a bronco. She was raring to go! We both absolutely loved the hack, as it was great to have company, and the horses got on brilliantly. We are hoping to do it more regularly, and I may on occasion take Freya.
Having all three in work is going to keep me super busy, but I’m so excited by it and can’t wait to get them all out to a few shows and fun rides!
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.