Is it Thursday again already??? So how has this week been....well Ted had Mon and Tues off, which was planned as the weather was rubbish. Rode on Weds and put him in the WOW - jury is out as I don't think it fits well enough and is pressing on his shoulders. He had a couple of *way-hey* moments but was fine. I tried ever so hard to RIDE the whole way and push him up and forward, but I get side tracked with the pretty fields and chatter... Went round Henleys and took him cantering, he was great although we had a couple of semi-fly changes so went disunited and then back again - not sure if this was due to saddle/me/him/all of the above. I have realised though that I have to make him work every step of the way -he can downtime for the last 5 mins home, but otherwise he HAS to work, and I need to be serious about this.
Hacking out tomorrow (long hack) and then next week will start the 3 x schooling per week with no excuses. Mandy, George and Vix will be on hand on Monday to give him a bit of a bootcamp!
Am really looking forward to this weekend - Saturday Amanda is coming over with her children for a play/lunch date. Freds is excited as she is his Godmother and I am excited as I haven't seen her in so long. Sunday Mandy and Louis are coming to stay so we are all excited about that, and Fred has already decided where Louis can sit and rest his knee LOL! Then on Monday I turn 35 - ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH but this will be easier as I will have M & L and Vix, George, Sarah and poss Wayne and Sue to ease me into the fact that I am closer to 40 than 30.
The news from the insurance - we got ALL of our contents claim money *does a happy dance* It is such a relief to know that this part of the claim is almost over. Just the buildings money to come now, which shouldn't be a problem.
And even better news, Ben has agreed to come over and drill me on Ted, OK, that doesn't sound right, give me a good and honest lesson on Ted, so I hope to be VERY inspired and get us out and about soon!
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Sunday
Thinking up titles for these blog posts is a nightmare!
Anyway, back to the blog...
I wasn't going to ride, in fact Ted was in his field by nine, I mucked out and as I was finishing Jackie arrived. She mucked out too and it was such a nice day that even though I was feeling like poo I went and dragged a very confuddled horse out of his field and threw my tack on, remembering to change my boots, LOL!
We went out via the village and in the back of the farm, and Ted was stuffy and behind the leg on the road again. I am beginning to think that maybe he feels it is too slippy and is unsure of himself, as the traffic does not bother him one jot. I really got after him (poor boy) and made him work up and together which helped a little. As usual, as soon as we hit the tracks he was fine. We went where he hadn't been before and he was a star and LOVED going through the ford again :-D Went for extensive canters and he was 100% in the snaffle, so that is his bit now. He has really got the hang of cantering at a nice pace and within himself and is a lot more balanced - yay! So am really glad I made the effort to get him in.
Took the boys down to Swindon to try and get Freds some school shorts - non starter, nothing available over an age 9, so I bought him some blue shorts from Next and those will have to do even though they are absolutely non-uniform. I also bought a new Router and YAY I now have BB!!!!! Am so pleased as I don't have to balance about looking for signal for my dongle anymore.
Wayne is coming to pick Mum's stuff up tomorrow and then Tuesday we have the Insurance guy coming over - NOT looking forward to that. Weather looks dire tomorrow so I think Ted will get a day off.
Anyway, back to the blog...
I wasn't going to ride, in fact Ted was in his field by nine, I mucked out and as I was finishing Jackie arrived. She mucked out too and it was such a nice day that even though I was feeling like poo I went and dragged a very confuddled horse out of his field and threw my tack on, remembering to change my boots, LOL!
We went out via the village and in the back of the farm, and Ted was stuffy and behind the leg on the road again. I am beginning to think that maybe he feels it is too slippy and is unsure of himself, as the traffic does not bother him one jot. I really got after him (poor boy) and made him work up and together which helped a little. As usual, as soon as we hit the tracks he was fine. We went where he hadn't been before and he was a star and LOVED going through the ford again :-D Went for extensive canters and he was 100% in the snaffle, so that is his bit now. He has really got the hang of cantering at a nice pace and within himself and is a lot more balanced - yay! So am really glad I made the effort to get him in.
Took the boys down to Swindon to try and get Freds some school shorts - non starter, nothing available over an age 9, so I bought him some blue shorts from Next and those will have to do even though they are absolutely non-uniform. I also bought a new Router and YAY I now have BB!!!!! Am so pleased as I don't have to balance about looking for signal for my dongle anymore.
Wayne is coming to pick Mum's stuff up tomorrow and then Tuesday we have the Insurance guy coming over - NOT looking forward to that. Weather looks dire tomorrow so I think Ted will get a day off.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Sick
This virus is disgusting, I have never felt so utterly useless in my life. I went to bed at 9pm last night, and dragged myself out of it at 7.30am so I could get the boys ready for the County Rugby Festival. That done (no mean feat) I was picked up by Jackie at 8.15am and went to the yard. Even tacking up was hard and I forgot to change my bit from a loose ring snaffle - got on and was halfway up the drive when I realised that I hadn't changed my boots or picked up a whip, so no spurs, no whip, baggy, saggy Dubarries, and no energy...it did not bode well.
Hacked up to the school and literally was booting the bugger to walk out, which he steadfastly refused not to do, but we got there eventually and he didn't freeze completely once. Hacked around the farm and Jackie and I were not sure whether we were going to make it, the 2 of them were so behind our leg and not going forward, it was exhausting. Got to the ford and Emma was there standing Stella for her feet, so we chatted to her and I thought it was a good time to introduce Ted to the water.
Snort, Snort
Paw
Splash
*Ohhhhh this is FUN*
Wades through, springs through back soaking everyone
*Look at me, I am so cool and clever*
Trots through, turns, trots back
*I am the biggest dude in the world*
Bronks on the spot to show his elation
I was in hysterics! And he certainly was more awake on the way home, which was nice as my legs were falling off by this point!
Boys both came home with medals which was great. Benjy certainly will NOT be playing for Witney next season - demoted to C team, but then one of the coaches actually bothered to watch him play and said* My, isn't Benjy playing well* - well yes you spoon head, he is a great player, but as the team organiser doesn't like him, and you guys haven't bothered doing anything with anyone but the A team (incidentally ALL related to the coaches/organisers *smirk*) you have no idea how the rest of the bloody members play. It is WAY to dangerous for this to happen when it goes to contact next season, someone is going to get very hurt if the coaching isn't good enough.
Spoke to mum, she got drunk last night and threw up - nice. She sounded happy though, so thank the Lord the guilt trip is over.
Hacked up to the school and literally was booting the bugger to walk out, which he steadfastly refused not to do, but we got there eventually and he didn't freeze completely once. Hacked around the farm and Jackie and I were not sure whether we were going to make it, the 2 of them were so behind our leg and not going forward, it was exhausting. Got to the ford and Emma was there standing Stella for her feet, so we chatted to her and I thought it was a good time to introduce Ted to the water.
Snort, Snort
Paw
Splash
*Ohhhhh this is FUN*
Wades through, springs through back soaking everyone
*Look at me, I am so cool and clever*
Trots through, turns, trots back
*I am the biggest dude in the world*
Bronks on the spot to show his elation
I was in hysterics! And he certainly was more awake on the way home, which was nice as my legs were falling off by this point!
Boys both came home with medals which was great. Benjy certainly will NOT be playing for Witney next season - demoted to C team, but then one of the coaches actually bothered to watch him play and said* My, isn't Benjy playing well* - well yes you spoon head, he is a great player, but as the team organiser doesn't like him, and you guys haven't bothered doing anything with anyone but the A team (incidentally ALL related to the coaches/organisers *smirk*) you have no idea how the rest of the bloody members play. It is WAY to dangerous for this to happen when it goes to contact next season, someone is going to get very hurt if the coaching isn't good enough.
Spoke to mum, she got drunk last night and threw up - nice. She sounded happy though, so thank the Lord the guilt trip is over.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Musings
It has been a very busy week. I am going to try and be good and write about it all, but I am sooooo tired and sick that it will be a struggle to make my brain work.
Big changes have happened this week - my mother has gone, and my sister has moved back to Spain. It is really odd but wonderful to have the house back to ourselves. I love my mother dearly, but we need to get back to being a unit of 4 again and settle ourselves back home. I felt bloody guilty about it all, something that my mother didn't make easier, but she has chosen where she wants to live (the flat above her best friend), and I know she will at least have a social life now.
Zoe came to visit on her way to the ferry. Whether she is doing the right/wrong thing is her business, but I cannot help but feel that they should have stayed over here - I understand her reasons for going and yes, she needs to sort her property out, but still, Ollie looked really worried and uncomfortable when they left, so I hope he will settle back into Spanish school OK - it is difficult for the wee ones.
So that was my Tues/Weds really.
Last Sunday I took Ted round the long road block - almost 2 hours. He was very good, a little hesitant at times and had 3 breakdowns, but on the whole he was a dude. Lou and Sarah were very impressed with him. When I got to the yard on Monday he was still asleep...
He eventually decided that he could get up so he had a day off, bless him. Tuesday and Weds were hacks out, very well behaved as always, Thurs we went off to jump in the school....Hacked out of the yard and started going up the lane, a little tentative but OK. Then he saw a lady in a garden and stopped to have a look, which is his usual behaviour, except this time he wouldn't walk on. He was up on the verge with an electric fence at his bum and tarmac at his nose, and wouldn't budge. So I tried my spurs, nothing, except stepping backwards, which was worrying as I didn't want to be sat on 17hh of exploding horse when he got tickled with electric! Then he kept trying to step back onto the tarmac but just couldn't bring himself to do it. So I sat there, talking to him, he stood stock still, not trying to spin or anything, and we had a convo. Jackie came and she started to lead him and he walked on fine, then she stopped and he stopped and wouldn't budge again. So I jumped off and led him up - his heart was going like the billy-o, he wasn't breathing, he was just incredibly worried about it all. So I sang him up the lane and he looked at everything and we got to the school where I jumped on and chilled him out - happy days.
Did some very unpressurised schooling and then jumped 8 fences and called it a day as I wanted him to be chilled and happy and not associate the school with stress. This is something to work on, but if I have to lead him to the school it isn't the be all and end all of anything, it is just a quirk. I don't think he will ever be a happy lone hacking horse, but again, this is OK, no big deal. He jumped really nicely and I was happy - sadly no photos of that as I had to prop the camera up and it was impossible to do to get the fences in :-(
Ted IS lazy in the school, which doesn't bode well for me as I am lazy too, so I need to get my act together to ensure that I work and he works - on the plus side we are as happy as each other just pootling about, but that does not acheive anything! I need to get Lee out to give him a massage and I also need the saddler out as he is deffo getting more antsy to saddle, so I don't think he is happy with the fit of my saddle, although I cannot see much wrong with it. I need to get my Wow fitted to him so I can use that, or sell it and buy a lighter CC saddle, we will see.
Right, there you go, brief news of the week. I have probably missed loads out, and I have much to discuss but I am dropping. A quick word about HHO should be in here I suppose, but I don't think I have the energy. I have had some really disparaging remarks thrown my way and I will not be dragged into this crap willingly. I tried to do a good thing, for the good of horses, and now have been labelled by others as a troll and someone with no feelings or who knows the difference between good and bad - HA HA HA. So yes, I am done with HHO on a basic level and this year's party will no doubt be the last I host for open invitation. Times change, people move on and change too. It leaves me more time for my RL activities which cannot be a bad thing, my house has never been cleaner!!!
Big changes have happened this week - my mother has gone, and my sister has moved back to Spain. It is really odd but wonderful to have the house back to ourselves. I love my mother dearly, but we need to get back to being a unit of 4 again and settle ourselves back home. I felt bloody guilty about it all, something that my mother didn't make easier, but she has chosen where she wants to live (the flat above her best friend), and I know she will at least have a social life now.
Zoe came to visit on her way to the ferry. Whether she is doing the right/wrong thing is her business, but I cannot help but feel that they should have stayed over here - I understand her reasons for going and yes, she needs to sort her property out, but still, Ollie looked really worried and uncomfortable when they left, so I hope he will settle back into Spanish school OK - it is difficult for the wee ones.
So that was my Tues/Weds really.
Last Sunday I took Ted round the long road block - almost 2 hours. He was very good, a little hesitant at times and had 3 breakdowns, but on the whole he was a dude. Lou and Sarah were very impressed with him. When I got to the yard on Monday he was still asleep...
He eventually decided that he could get up so he had a day off, bless him. Tuesday and Weds were hacks out, very well behaved as always, Thurs we went off to jump in the school....Hacked out of the yard and started going up the lane, a little tentative but OK. Then he saw a lady in a garden and stopped to have a look, which is his usual behaviour, except this time he wouldn't walk on. He was up on the verge with an electric fence at his bum and tarmac at his nose, and wouldn't budge. So I tried my spurs, nothing, except stepping backwards, which was worrying as I didn't want to be sat on 17hh of exploding horse when he got tickled with electric! Then he kept trying to step back onto the tarmac but just couldn't bring himself to do it. So I sat there, talking to him, he stood stock still, not trying to spin or anything, and we had a convo. Jackie came and she started to lead him and he walked on fine, then she stopped and he stopped and wouldn't budge again. So I jumped off and led him up - his heart was going like the billy-o, he wasn't breathing, he was just incredibly worried about it all. So I sang him up the lane and he looked at everything and we got to the school where I jumped on and chilled him out - happy days.Did some very unpressurised schooling and then jumped 8 fences and called it a day as I wanted him to be chilled and happy and not associate the school with stress. This is something to work on, but if I have to lead him to the school it isn't the be all and end all of anything, it is just a quirk. I don't think he will ever be a happy lone hacking horse, but again, this is OK, no big deal. He jumped really nicely and I was happy - sadly no photos of that as I had to prop the camera up and it was impossible to do to get the fences in :-(
Ted IS lazy in the school, which doesn't bode well for me as I am lazy too, so I need to get my act together to ensure that I work and he works - on the plus side we are as happy as each other just pootling about, but that does not acheive anything! I need to get Lee out to give him a massage and I also need the saddler out as he is deffo getting more antsy to saddle, so I don't think he is happy with the fit of my saddle, although I cannot see much wrong with it. I need to get my Wow fitted to him so I can use that, or sell it and buy a lighter CC saddle, we will see.
Right, there you go, brief news of the week. I have probably missed loads out, and I have much to discuss but I am dropping. A quick word about HHO should be in here I suppose, but I don't think I have the energy. I have had some really disparaging remarks thrown my way and I will not be dragged into this crap willingly. I tried to do a good thing, for the good of horses, and now have been labelled by others as a troll and someone with no feelings or who knows the difference between good and bad - HA HA HA. So yes, I am done with HHO on a basic level and this year's party will no doubt be the last I host for open invitation. Times change, people move on and change too. It leaves me more time for my RL activities which cannot be a bad thing, my house has never been cleaner!!!
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Pics I have been meaning to post
Ted enjoyed the sunshine and went out naked on Monday after a lovely ride...
Looking quite Spanish IMO...
I had to run up the fence line to try and get an action shot, sadly this is rubbish as he looks short necked and flat backed!!!
And Dani came to visit on Monday too - some random photos of us, and Dani's special football...
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Be gone anxiety!
Dani bear came to stay yesterday. We had a lovely and lazy day in the park in the sun, I have photos of Dani playing her special kind of footie, LOL, but need to upload later. We talked and talked but Dani darling, remember what I said, you need to discover you for you, and that WILL come in time, promise!
Earlier in the day I hacked Ted up to Weald, so on the roads and he was very good - lazy as sin going out, but once we hit the grass he was a dude. I do adore him.
Today I have been in a high state of anxiety all day as it was Ted's vetting. Amy kindly agreed to ride him though so that was one less thing to worry about. He showed himself up and was a lazy toad in the trot ups. Things to discuss, but that is horses for you. Am having a glass of wine as medicine.
I hate being so anxious all of the time, it is very debhilitating.
Have booked a SJ clinic for Saturday - must remember to send forms off tomorrow! Also have a lesson with my instructor on Thurs...am going to ache on Sunday!
Earlier in the day I hacked Ted up to Weald, so on the roads and he was very good - lazy as sin going out, but once we hit the grass he was a dude. I do adore him.
Today I have been in a high state of anxiety all day as it was Ted's vetting. Amy kindly agreed to ride him though so that was one less thing to worry about. He showed himself up and was a lazy toad in the trot ups. Things to discuss, but that is horses for you. Am having a glass of wine as medicine.
I hate being so anxious all of the time, it is very debhilitating.
Have booked a SJ clinic for Saturday - must remember to send forms off tomorrow! Also have a lesson with my instructor on Thurs...am going to ache on Sunday!
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Our Easter Table
Stuffed and happy :-)
Will look so much better when my cool chairs arrive! The tulips were a moving pressie from Sally and Jules and look amazingly good in the kitchen!
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