Luckily my friend filmed us even though I didn't know it at the time. The quality is a bit grainy but hope you can see something. Enjoy! ;)
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Jumping. Wheee!
We had our first proper jumping lesson this morning and I am very pleased with my horse again. I just need to learn to stay in the saddle and trust her to do the right thing! When I don't meddle with the front too much and just keep the leg on, we fly over the fences like nothing. When I try to hold back too much, we wobble, Rainbow makes a leap and I don't stay on.
Luckily my friend filmed us even though I didn't know it at the time. The quality is a bit grainy but hope you can see something. Enjoy! ;)
Luckily my friend filmed us even though I didn't know it at the time. The quality is a bit grainy but hope you can see something. Enjoy! ;)
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Feeling complete again
... as I'm allowed to ride!
Started riding again yesterday and also test drove the new saddle. Well, you do get what you pay for... From the first moment I sat in the saddle – let's bear in mind, also after nearly a month out of the saddle! – I felt so secure and comfortable in it straight away. I wasn't 'looking for' the stirrups, or feeling really forward and unbalanced, like I remember I had been feeling in my last saddle when I sat in it first few times. I also remember thinking – when I started to use my previous saddle – that all saddles take time to get used to and I am just being awkward. However, I can now honestly say that what a load of... A saddle should feel comfortable from the get-go, for both horse and the rider. You shouldn't have to feel like you're losing the stirrups every time you raise trot (unless the stirrup leathers are too long of course!), and you shouldn't have to feel really 'light' in your seat, hence making you feel more unbalanced and not making you feel very confident...
But enough about saddles. Although, I have to say, I made my friend, Becca, sit in the saddle – when we returned from a hack this afternoon – as she's ridden Rainbow and knows the old saddle, before I untacked Rainbow. Becca agreed – apparently it felt comfortable straight away, she was amazed too. :) Happy days.
I rode yesterday a little 30 min private lesson with our instructor. I wanted someone with me, even though R has been a good girl. I figured having someone shout instructions and feedback to me would help me get back into it, without me having to think about things to do with R. It was a very basic lesson of mainly walking, trotting and cantering in circles of various sizes. Rainbow played ball and was listening to me, and going quite nicely too. Fair amount on the bit and managed to keep my leg on too. However, my flagging fitness after the break meant that we had to walk a bit more than I would have liked to, as I had to catch my breath.
Today I had agreed to go out for a hack with Becca. Her loan horse is currently out of action, so Becca took another mare out with us. Rainbow has been in the paddock with this other mare, so they knew each other, however we were told she wasn't a good lead horse, but very docile if she followed another one. So, on our first hack out, Rainbow and I had to act as the leaders.
I had this glimmer in my head that wanted to my favourite route around 'churn', which Becca was a bit surprised about when I expressed my enthusiasm for a 'proper hack', as she had expected us to poodle around a very gentle hack around some villages. But no worries, we decided to go through the village and see how it goes, and if the girls behaved, we'd take them up the road where I had suggested.
All went well and Rainbow was a really good lead horse. The only challenging bit came, when we were on the road towards the churn, and there was an empty beer cardboard box, ominously showing its white underbelly in the bushes. Rainbow is always a bit head up at this point of the route, as sometimes there are sheep in the adjoining field. Rainbow doesn't like sheep. No sheep this time, but R figured that the scary box must have been 'part of the scary sheep gang', and 'it was not supposed to be lurking in the bushes the way it was lurking!', so she stopped, took two steps to the side and turned around, kind of ready to flee. I whipped her quickly back around the full 360 degrees, as I wasn't up for running away with her towards the main road, thank you very much. I sat in the saddle as quietly as I could and kicked R on. Becca and I exchanged glances without saying word, which roughly went like this..
Me: "My horse is scared, she doesn't want to go past the box. Can you help and lead?"
Becca: "This horse is not a lead horse, you have to lead us past the scary box...Sorry!"
So I did. Rainbow's neck arched and eye nearly bulging out of its socket, staring at the box, as she tentatively marched past the box and blew air out of her nostrils. Me sitting heavy, keeping leg on and giving her praise. Gooood girrrl...
We continued up the road with no problems, did a bit of trotting and walking. The [loose] plan was to do a little controlled canter on a specific grass verge, if both horses behaved. I explained to Becca, as we were approaching the canter spot that I usually just raise a gentle trot, make sure R is listening and then almost accidentally slide into a controlled canter. Becca was up for this, but as we began trotting on the verge, R was listening but Becca's mare was getting a bit heated up by this and even though Becca managed to control her, they were virtually doing a canter on the spot as the mare was rearing to go. I admire Becca's coolness and collectedness as I turned to speak to her, asking if she was Ok, she was serenely sitting on this horse that was ready to explode into a full canter, and just said "I am not sure if cantering is a good idea today."
We walked past some houses and bushes, after which there was another expanse of grass. Becca suggested we'd trot on the road and then slide back onto the grass verge, so she could make her horse listen to her and to not always associate grass with cantering. So we did, and we all trotted up really nicely on the verge without anyone trying to explode.
The road back home was a lot less scary than on the way up. The scary beer box only aroused a glance from Rainbow, but nothing else. We got back to the yard and I turned Rainbow out to our paddock where Zara was already waiting for us. Zara greeted us with an enthusiastic neigh and both girls proceeded to grazing in their fly masks (the flies still haven't given up here!).
Tomorrow we have a jumping lesson. Looking forward to that!
Started riding again yesterday and also test drove the new saddle. Well, you do get what you pay for... From the first moment I sat in the saddle – let's bear in mind, also after nearly a month out of the saddle! – I felt so secure and comfortable in it straight away. I wasn't 'looking for' the stirrups, or feeling really forward and unbalanced, like I remember I had been feeling in my last saddle when I sat in it first few times. I also remember thinking – when I started to use my previous saddle – that all saddles take time to get used to and I am just being awkward. However, I can now honestly say that what a load of... A saddle should feel comfortable from the get-go, for both horse and the rider. You shouldn't have to feel like you're losing the stirrups every time you raise trot (unless the stirrup leathers are too long of course!), and you shouldn't have to feel really 'light' in your seat, hence making you feel more unbalanced and not making you feel very confident...
But enough about saddles. Although, I have to say, I made my friend, Becca, sit in the saddle – when we returned from a hack this afternoon – as she's ridden Rainbow and knows the old saddle, before I untacked Rainbow. Becca agreed – apparently it felt comfortable straight away, she was amazed too. :) Happy days.
I rode yesterday a little 30 min private lesson with our instructor. I wanted someone with me, even though R has been a good girl. I figured having someone shout instructions and feedback to me would help me get back into it, without me having to think about things to do with R. It was a very basic lesson of mainly walking, trotting and cantering in circles of various sizes. Rainbow played ball and was listening to me, and going quite nicely too. Fair amount on the bit and managed to keep my leg on too. However, my flagging fitness after the break meant that we had to walk a bit more than I would have liked to, as I had to catch my breath.
Today I had agreed to go out for a hack with Becca. Her loan horse is currently out of action, so Becca took another mare out with us. Rainbow has been in the paddock with this other mare, so they knew each other, however we were told she wasn't a good lead horse, but very docile if she followed another one. So, on our first hack out, Rainbow and I had to act as the leaders.
I had this glimmer in my head that wanted to my favourite route around 'churn', which Becca was a bit surprised about when I expressed my enthusiasm for a 'proper hack', as she had expected us to poodle around a very gentle hack around some villages. But no worries, we decided to go through the village and see how it goes, and if the girls behaved, we'd take them up the road where I had suggested.
All went well and Rainbow was a really good lead horse. The only challenging bit came, when we were on the road towards the churn, and there was an empty beer cardboard box, ominously showing its white underbelly in the bushes. Rainbow is always a bit head up at this point of the route, as sometimes there are sheep in the adjoining field. Rainbow doesn't like sheep. No sheep this time, but R figured that the scary box must have been 'part of the scary sheep gang', and 'it was not supposed to be lurking in the bushes the way it was lurking!', so she stopped, took two steps to the side and turned around, kind of ready to flee. I whipped her quickly back around the full 360 degrees, as I wasn't up for running away with her towards the main road, thank you very much. I sat in the saddle as quietly as I could and kicked R on. Becca and I exchanged glances without saying word, which roughly went like this..
Me: "My horse is scared, she doesn't want to go past the box. Can you help and lead?"
Becca: "This horse is not a lead horse, you have to lead us past the scary box...Sorry!"
So I did. Rainbow's neck arched and eye nearly bulging out of its socket, staring at the box, as she tentatively marched past the box and blew air out of her nostrils. Me sitting heavy, keeping leg on and giving her praise. Gooood girrrl...
We continued up the road with no problems, did a bit of trotting and walking. The [loose] plan was to do a little controlled canter on a specific grass verge, if both horses behaved. I explained to Becca, as we were approaching the canter spot that I usually just raise a gentle trot, make sure R is listening and then almost accidentally slide into a controlled canter. Becca was up for this, but as we began trotting on the verge, R was listening but Becca's mare was getting a bit heated up by this and even though Becca managed to control her, they were virtually doing a canter on the spot as the mare was rearing to go. I admire Becca's coolness and collectedness as I turned to speak to her, asking if she was Ok, she was serenely sitting on this horse that was ready to explode into a full canter, and just said "I am not sure if cantering is a good idea today."
We walked past some houses and bushes, after which there was another expanse of grass. Becca suggested we'd trot on the road and then slide back onto the grass verge, so she could make her horse listen to her and to not always associate grass with cantering. So we did, and we all trotted up really nicely on the verge without anyone trying to explode.
The road back home was a lot less scary than on the way up. The scary beer box only aroused a glance from Rainbow, but nothing else. We got back to the yard and I turned Rainbow out to our paddock where Zara was already waiting for us. Zara greeted us with an enthusiastic neigh and both girls proceeded to grazing in their fly masks (the flies still haven't given up here!).
Tomorrow we have a jumping lesson. Looking forward to that!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Back in the saddle, as of tomorrow
It's been a busy week but a good one. I've lunged Rainbow but left it to others to ride her - until tomorrow that is. She's been a really good girl and I watched my friend, Becca, ride her on Tuesday's evening lesson. The lesson was jumping lesson, so I went to watch a bit and took a few videos for Becca too. I couldn't help but feel a little ping of jealousy when Becca took Rainbow around a small course of jumps. But it was also fab to see how positive and forward my horse is. Becca really likes Rainbow and said she's ideal; happy to always give a go at most things and safe to ride. I watched as Rainbow approached the jump, ears forward, and flew over the jumps effortlessly.
I don't know what's gone into me but I'm actually considering partaking in a show jumping competition next weekend...! Not sure if it's too soon, but will have a couple of jumping lessons this week and next, and will see how it goes. It's tempting as we've never had a "very novicey" class at our yard's competitions before, which means jumps are around 40-50cm and there won't be any fillers. So I'm thinking I should be able to get over them... Given that Rainbow jumps 80-90cm nowadays... Hmmm, food for thought...
I don't know what's gone into me but I'm actually considering partaking in a show jumping competition next weekend...! Not sure if it's too soon, but will have a couple of jumping lessons this week and next, and will see how it goes. It's tempting as we've never had a "very novicey" class at our yard's competitions before, which means jumps are around 40-50cm and there won't be any fillers. So I'm thinking I should be able to get over them... Given that Rainbow jumps 80-90cm nowadays... Hmmm, food for thought...
The new saddle has arrived!
The saddler texted me yesterday to say he was waiting for Albion to deliver the saddle. It due to arrive on UPS, so as soon as he'd have it, he'd let me know. Just as I was leaving the yard, after lunging Rainbow - which went well btw (I love that horse!), the saddler texted me to say he'd be at the yard 7ish. So I went home for a couple of hours and returned later.
When I got to the yard again, I witnessed something I have not yet witnessed and it melted me: I saw Rainbow dozing in her stable lying down! Managed to snap a picture of it...
When I got to the yard again, I witnessed something I have not yet witnessed and it melted me: I saw Rainbow dozing in her stable lying down! Managed to snap a picture of it...
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| Bambi... :) |
Dutifully Rainbow got up when she heard me, although, I tried to sneak away after taking the picture, went to chat to a friend still mucking out...
Once the saddler arrived, we had a little fitting to make sure it fitted OK. Looked fine to me but proof of the pudding will, of course, be in using it. I do have a friend riding R today again, but I might save this saddle for myself until Fri, as I think I deserve to sit in it before anyone else does.
Apologies for the fuzzy quality photo... There was too much excitement about for me to take a steady picture :)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Counting down the days...
I am probably officially OK to start riding again on Wed, as then it'll be exactly three weeks since my operation. That's what the surgeon said: give it at least three weeks. But, just to be on the safe side, I have decided not to get on until Fri the earliest. I am feeling good within myself and I am practically back to normal – well, maybe not able to/don't want to stretch my right arm quite far back as left (the pacemaker is under my right pec muscle), but this will come in time. The ban on riding and handling is not so much the action itself, if everything goes to plan, but in case of falling off/sudden movements. Need to give things time to settle internally.
I have been mucking out and leading Rainbow, and she's started work again last week. She's looking really fat at the moment, so I am looking to reduce the amount of ad-hoc hay she gets and only give her a tiny evening feed to give her all vits and mins. But other than that, the three-week holiday hasn't really affected her stamina or fitness. So, I am also hopeful the paunch will disappear with regular exercise and nippy nights trying to keep warm.
I asked her to be lunged on Monday and she'd behaved impeccably. Then my friend Becca rode her on an hour's lesson on Tuesday and Rainbow was well behaved and forward going. Wednesday she got a little break and Thursday A took her out for a hack. Apparently she'd been really good, but looked at some dog walker in the fields, in the far distance, but hadn't batted an eyelid when confronted by a tractor doing the muck heap at the yard. So tiny little walkers in the distance: suspicious. Roaring farm machinery: 'whatevs'. :)
Friday, our old friend Claire Deuten came to teach at the yard and I'd arranged for Rainbow to be ridden by her. This is how it looks when someone who knows how to 'play' my horse and finds all the buttons which to press all at once:
I won't get disheartened. I understand that Claire is a professional rider who rides several horses a DAY. I only ride Rainbow, maybe once a day. I'll think of it this way; my horse knows what to do when you ask her in the right way. So it's all in there, I just need to develop my skills.
Claire said she has a tendency to lean on the right rein, when in right rein, and that seems her weaker rein. She says I need to ride R more with legs (less hand) and keep the inside rein (when in right rein) quite loose and push with the right leg into the outside rein to stop her from falling in, etc. It's good to let a pro occasionally to get on your horse and 'reset the settings'.
Rainbow was totally knackered after Claire's session. Quite sweaty too – poor sausage! The weather's been lovely this week, not particularly sunny but balmy, so, despite her being quite tired after Claire's session, I turned her out in the field with others until Sunday.
I wasn't meant to do anything horse-related on Saturday, but I suddenly decided – a kind of a now-or-never realisation – that if I didn't do that long-overdue washing of the stable this weekend, perhaps, I would not be able to do it all winter when the days get colder. The stable has never been cleaned in the time R's been in it and the yard don't clean or disinfect stables when they change horses around (not exactly textbook, I know). So, as far as I know, R's stable probably has an accumulation of muck in it since the day it was built... So I roped in T to help me and we went down there complete with a new pressure washer bought that morning and a can of Jeys Fluid. All I can say that you get s*it on head when you pressure wash a stable. I now know how it feels to be in the vicinity of s*it hitting the fan. Had enough of poo-related puns yet? I have one more: despite cleaning the stable thoroughly, and it doesn't smell stable-y anymore, so must be OK, we still had to agree that one can't polish a turd..! *ba-dam!*
Sunday my friend Becca took Rainbow for a little walk and trot. They even went through a stud farm and Becca opened gates while sitting on Rainbow. I wasn't sure how she'd react as I've never had to open gates while sitting on her, but it was fine apparently. So there IS a practical use for learning all those tricks like turning on the forehand and leg yielding.
We messed around afterwards with some photography. Turned out OK even though Rainbow wasn't up for posing with ears forward!
I have been mucking out and leading Rainbow, and she's started work again last week. She's looking really fat at the moment, so I am looking to reduce the amount of ad-hoc hay she gets and only give her a tiny evening feed to give her all vits and mins. But other than that, the three-week holiday hasn't really affected her stamina or fitness. So, I am also hopeful the paunch will disappear with regular exercise and nippy nights trying to keep warm.
I asked her to be lunged on Monday and she'd behaved impeccably. Then my friend Becca rode her on an hour's lesson on Tuesday and Rainbow was well behaved and forward going. Wednesday she got a little break and Thursday A took her out for a hack. Apparently she'd been really good, but looked at some dog walker in the fields, in the far distance, but hadn't batted an eyelid when confronted by a tractor doing the muck heap at the yard. So tiny little walkers in the distance: suspicious. Roaring farm machinery: 'whatevs'. :)
Friday, our old friend Claire Deuten came to teach at the yard and I'd arranged for Rainbow to be ridden by her. This is how it looks when someone who knows how to 'play' my horse and finds all the buttons which to press all at once:
I won't get disheartened. I understand that Claire is a professional rider who rides several horses a DAY. I only ride Rainbow, maybe once a day. I'll think of it this way; my horse knows what to do when you ask her in the right way. So it's all in there, I just need to develop my skills.
Claire said she has a tendency to lean on the right rein, when in right rein, and that seems her weaker rein. She says I need to ride R more with legs (less hand) and keep the inside rein (when in right rein) quite loose and push with the right leg into the outside rein to stop her from falling in, etc. It's good to let a pro occasionally to get on your horse and 'reset the settings'.
Rainbow was totally knackered after Claire's session. Quite sweaty too – poor sausage! The weather's been lovely this week, not particularly sunny but balmy, so, despite her being quite tired after Claire's session, I turned her out in the field with others until Sunday.
I wasn't meant to do anything horse-related on Saturday, but I suddenly decided – a kind of a now-or-never realisation – that if I didn't do that long-overdue washing of the stable this weekend, perhaps, I would not be able to do it all winter when the days get colder. The stable has never been cleaned in the time R's been in it and the yard don't clean or disinfect stables when they change horses around (not exactly textbook, I know). So, as far as I know, R's stable probably has an accumulation of muck in it since the day it was built... So I roped in T to help me and we went down there complete with a new pressure washer bought that morning and a can of Jeys Fluid. All I can say that you get s*it on head when you pressure wash a stable. I now know how it feels to be in the vicinity of s*it hitting the fan. Had enough of poo-related puns yet? I have one more: despite cleaning the stable thoroughly, and it doesn't smell stable-y anymore, so must be OK, we still had to agree that one can't polish a turd..! *ba-dam!*
Sunday my friend Becca took Rainbow for a little walk and trot. They even went through a stud farm and Becca opened gates while sitting on Rainbow. I wasn't sure how she'd react as I've never had to open gates while sitting on her, but it was fine apparently. So there IS a practical use for learning all those tricks like turning on the forehand and leg yielding.
We messed around afterwards with some photography. Turned out OK even though Rainbow wasn't up for posing with ears forward!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Blenheim International Horse Trials
Went to see some cross-country action at Blenheim (results here) on Saturday. Managed to avoid major temptations in the shopping village, but mum did find boots for herself and she also bought me an Ariat blouson jacket, as it was quite a chilly day and I wasn't prepared in my gilet... But the jacket is great for winter riding – was definitely missing one last winter when remember wearing about six layers on one hack, and still freezing. Also managed to see world-class riders such as Pippa Funnell, Mark Todd and William Fox-Pitt ride, to name but a few...
Without further ado, here some pictures from the day. I thoroughly recommend going there, a really good event!
Without further ado, here some pictures from the day. I thoroughly recommend going there, a really good event!
This is also worth a look for those interested in seeing the whole track: http://youtu.be/AmU7x9CsOYE
Friday, September 13, 2013
Still alive and kicking!
Back from Finland where I had my operation. Have been convalescing for about a week now and actually starting to feel better, and not waking up in the night when changing position, which has helped with feeling less tired. The operation went well, but it always takes a bit of time to get over the bruised feeling and being able to move in a normal way.
I am not allowed to ride for about 2–3 weeks after the operation. So, in the grand scheme of things, not a very long time at all. Now it's already over a week since the operation, so only about 2 weeks left! Yay!
When I got back I wanted to go and see Rainbow straightaway. She looked good, if not a little rotund, but I guess the 24/7 eating and holiday is to blame. No, but she looks happy and chilled out, so I am fairly confident bringing her back into work won't be too dramatic. As I am not allowed to ride and not willing to lunge yet, in case she does happen to tank around, etc., I will be using others to bring her back to work – and to take her out for little hacks too... So when I am fit and ready to mount again, at the end of this month, she's definitely chilled out and sensible. And we're still waiting for the new saddle to arrive, so not in a hurry for that reason either.
First off for Wed morning I had booked Rainbow a tooth appointment... Not sure how pleased she was that Mummy was back... :)
My mum flew back to the UK with me for a little break and is staying with us until Monday. She's been helping with the mucking out every day as I am not allowed to lift heavy things. So she's learned the 'art' of cleaning a stable.
My mum is not a 'horsey person', she likes animals but has never e.g. sat on a horse (the only animal she's sat on was a camel, on some holiday in Turkey...) – until today! Yesterday mum asked if I thought it'd be silly of her trying it out and I thought, 'great!' so I booked her a little private lesson and she rode a whole 30 mins. Trotting and everything. The basics, of course, but it was great. Mum said she really enjoyed sitting on the horse and it felt really nice walking along and sitting up there. And she said that riding makes you feel really good afterwards. Well, she is preaching to the converted! :)
Tomorrow mum and I are off to Blenheim Horse Trials, to spectate some eventing and show jumping... And there's a huge shopping village... Will need to bring a credit card, me thinks...
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| Popped in at our summerhouse near Ruovesi while recuperating in Finland. |
When I got back I wanted to go and see Rainbow straightaway. She looked good, if not a little rotund, but I guess the 24/7 eating and holiday is to blame. No, but she looks happy and chilled out, so I am fairly confident bringing her back into work won't be too dramatic. As I am not allowed to ride and not willing to lunge yet, in case she does happen to tank around, etc., I will be using others to bring her back to work – and to take her out for little hacks too... So when I am fit and ready to mount again, at the end of this month, she's definitely chilled out and sensible. And we're still waiting for the new saddle to arrive, so not in a hurry for that reason either.
First off for Wed morning I had booked Rainbow a tooth appointment... Not sure how pleased she was that Mummy was back... :)
My mum is not a 'horsey person', she likes animals but has never e.g. sat on a horse (the only animal she's sat on was a camel, on some holiday in Turkey...) – until today! Yesterday mum asked if I thought it'd be silly of her trying it out and I thought, 'great!' so I booked her a little private lesson and she rode a whole 30 mins. Trotting and everything. The basics, of course, but it was great. Mum said she really enjoyed sitting on the horse and it felt really nice walking along and sitting up there. And she said that riding makes you feel really good afterwards. Well, she is preaching to the converted! :)
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| Stable hand - AKA Mum. :) |
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| Mum having her first ever riding lesson - first time riding too. I think she's being explained how to do rising trot. |
Tomorrow mum and I are off to Blenheim Horse Trials, to spectate some eventing and show jumping... And there's a huge shopping village... Will need to bring a credit card, me thinks...
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