I decided to start this page up to keep track of the things that Larry and I get up to.
Not quite ready for Burghley but Dween's and I went XC schooling for the first time.
I was a bit more nervous than I have been with SJ but once I got going I felt OK.
Mostly jumped some little jumps but did do a few bigger (75/80cm) but didn't get much video (I told Caz she didn't need to film but I'm glad she did, except she missed my biggest jumps 🤣😤🤣).
As well as my random take your own line during my lesson I took Larry out for a hack (with Caz and Annie) and went to an archery lesson.
Had a fab lesson this morning but also completely misunderstood what Conor meant at one point.
I did think it was a bit ambitious but me and my brave pants just did it anyway 🤣
His reaction 😂
I had tears running down my face!
Thank goodness for CCTV
Very pleased with how horsey life is going.
Larry is doing OK and enjoying hacking and archery.
Dwina is confused because semi-retirement seems to now involve jumping three times a week 🤣
Flix is enjoying life even though she's in the starvation paddock 😔 we've just been continuing with ground and in-hand work. A mixture of TREC, mounting practice, going sideways etc as well as in-hand trips up the driveway (have been avoiding the road just now with the additional farm machinery on it for safety). She's pretty chilled, happy to come in herself, be tied up, groomed etc so think that's all good.
She's hopefully going to go to school this year or beginning of next depending on a few things (💰💰💰) so will just have to see.
Why are all of my animals clowns 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just love Larry!
Only his 2nd go at archery and we tried canter.
OK, I missed but its not easy when you are moving and I wasn't that far off.
He picked up my "ready" signal for canter really quickly just happily cantered down the line 😃
So, just to prove it wasn't a fluke I had a jumping lesson today.
I think Conor was really pleased to see how confident I was and more importantly how much I enjoyed it! After each "rest" I'd usually be saying I don't want to do anymore but this time I just enjoyed the rest while looking forward to my next jump 😀
Stuck at a smaller height but tried to get a better canter (Dwina can be lazy and just puts in the smallest amount of effort required) and just concentrated on straightness and rhythm.
Really pleased with how it went and I swear I must have jumped a million fences!
Then I took Larry out for a wee solo hack which was really nice, I think he enjoyed it. We even did the world's shortest canter along a grass verge 😃
He's doing OK so just enjoying what we can do when we can do it ❤️
Thanks to Rider Eye keeping us safe and seen on the roads and Louise Hamilton Hypnotherapy finding us some brave pants 😆
Some photos from the weekend at the South of Scotland TREC competition.
Photos taken by TopGearPhotos ❤️
It's hard to find a video that can convey feeling but if you watch these two clips (with sound) I think it will show the difference between my feelings about jumping previously and now.
In the first clips I was terrified, my mouth was dry, I felt sick, I couldn't help being vocal. I felt out of control. Every fence I jumped I wanted to stop afterwards to quit while I was ahead before anything could go wrong.
In the 2nd clip I felt nothing like that, it's hard to describe how I felt but I just felt "normal" a bit indifferent? You want to put the jumps up, ok sounds good. Will I go again, OK doke 😀
None of the usual feelings at all, I'm keen to jump again. I'm looking forward to it, enjoying looking forward to it and knowing that I can do it.
Should have said in my previous post that distance is no object for Louise Hamilton Hypnotherapy as she can do remote sessions.
My first one was via zoom and my 2nd one in person, she also has a mobile therapy room (aka her horse box - done up really nicely, doesn't feel like a horse box) that she can use at events for quick 15 min sessions to reduce competition day nerves.
I hope Dweens is ready for this new me 😄
It is absolutely no secret how scary I find (used to find 😉) jumping even though I enjoyed it.
After having lost even more confidence with Larry I decided that I really needed to do something about it especially now that I'm riding a horse I have no reason to be scared on.
Last night I had my 2nd hypnotherapy session with Louise Hamilton Hypnotherapy and tonight I jumped 80 f-ing cm! Willingly and more than once 🤩
No one is more amazed than me!
It felt good, even when I got it wrong I didn't panic just dealt with it and carried on! The old me would never!
Given that I was too scared to jump a 60cm log on Saturday and the week prior to that I had serious heavy breathing jumping a wee cross its a miracle that I did this tonight.
No fear
No sickness
No heavy breathing
No squeaking
No panicking
Dwina is amazing but so am I!
Highly highly recommend Louise, you all know what I was like previously and look at me fly!
Had a fabby weekend at the South of Scotland TREC with Jen R as my pairs partner.
Also excellent company from the NESTies, our camp set up was perfect 😃
We did get a bit lost on the POR but who didn't?! Enjoyed it anyway and always managed to find out where we were supposed to be and made it home safely 😊
PTV was fun though we didn't do any jumping much to Dwina's disgust and we were also a bit slow. Ground was a bit slippy for her so we walked most of it.
Jen did brilliantly and was the highest scorer in the PTV so we ended up finishing 3rd overall.
Very pleased 😁
Big thanks to my sponsor Orange Fox Eventing for the horse and lorry 🤣 much appreciated.
Best sponsor ever.
Aww 🥰
Dweens and I are away in Dalbeattie for the South of Scotland TREC summer (🙄🌧🌧) competition. First time corralling, first time in new lorry and first time without Caroline Mosley (😠 she had a better offer)!
She wasn't the only one with a better offer so I'm paired up with another friend and we are going to be the dream team! So 😋 to you Caz.
We survived the night though I did pop out around 0230 to check on her as it was peeing down. She was fine and was lying down snoozing 🥰 she glared at me for daring to disturb her 😆
Currently eating porridge and drinking coffee as we are not out on the POR (orienteering) until 1120 or some such civilised time.
Fun day with the girls today (left the boys in the field) practicing some TREC obstacles and playing around with a flagpole pretending it was a garrocha 😆
We clearly have no idea what we are doing but thankfully Dwina is resigned to the daft things I do and was totally fine with it.
Flixy did some in-hand TREC including low branches and was very good, she's pretty laidback.
Was a nice girls day 😊
Dwina and I love each other really 💕
And Flixy getting used to working when other horses leave and wearing her bit.
Such pretty, clever girls ❤️
Should have taken a picture of Larry trying to stare me out for taking Flix and not him!
My day 😊
Recently Alistair has been investigating different plants to see if anything might be useful for Larry and has been picking various things 😊
The other day he presented me with a bag of sticky w***y to give to Larry. I think we can say he liked it 😃
I feel very lucky that Alistair doesn't just tolerate my horses but actually really cares about them (well, he only loves Larry. He probably couldn't pick Dwina or Flix out of a line up). I just think it's lovely that he's been picking plants for Larry in the hope that he will like them and get some benefits from them.
Well done Patsy Mackenzie and Karen Campbell
You two were the closest with Flix's weight 👏
Please note, we will NOT be asking you to guess the weight of any of the humans on the yard 😅
Time to guess the weight of Flix (🙈)!
I don't think any of the other horses will fit on the scales as it is but Alistair will adapt it for us 😃
Obviously Larry is now allowed to do whatever he wants now.
That includes stopping for snacks on (vet recommended) hacks.
Dweens does not appreciate him swinging his snacks in her face 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I can't decide if Larry is the luckiest or unluckiest horse in the world.....
This has been a horrendous month after making the decision that Larry's mobility was becoming so badly affected by his stringhalt and shiver (plus his other issues) that the kindest thing would be for him to be put to sleep.
As you can imagine devastated doesn't even come close to how I was feeling (so thanks to everyone who kept me together 💛).
We even did some "last" trips which were wonderful even if heartbreaking.
In true Larry style he's suddenly realised that the reason I keep crying everytime I see him is because it was getting closer to being the last time and he's perked up 🙄
I know that this probably the start of a decline, and he is on bute, but I'm overjoyed that I get to spend some more time with this walking disaster that I love so much.
Orange Fox Eventing caught me talking absolute sh*te to Flix tonight. Just blabbing away 🤣
Flixy is the perfect height for cuddles and I've very glad she seems happy to put up with them.
Very grateful to have her ❤️
Think my little horse might have grown a bit!
Just a little bit more and she'll be ideal ❤️
Flix's new saddle arrived the other day and the lovely Performance Equine - WOW Saddles Sally Talbot-Smith came to fit it.
You'd never believe it but Larry can also wear Flix's saddle so I tried it out today on a little 10 min walk. Larry's not been 100% recently hence the trips to the treadmill and other things. He was looking a better in the field so tried a short walk.
Saddle is so nice! I've never had a new saddle before and it's just beautiful and so comfortable. I'm slightly scared to use it 🤣
Larry had his 2nd visit to Scottish Equine Rehabilitation Centre tonight and it went really well.
With this new facility practically right on our doorstep I thought it might be good to have Larry assessed and see if there was anything that could help him with his various issues.
At our first visit he was assessed by Corin who thought that for a horse with a stringhalt and shiver he wasn't doing too badly 😃
Caroline and Corin thought that the treadmill was worth trying but he might not manage it.
His first session was a definite workout for him (mentally and physically!) and I wasn't sure that he'd gain anything from it.
This 2nd session he found much easier though his leg still caused him some problems (he can't stop on the treadmill!). Hoping the treadmill will help him use himself a bit better and just keep him functioning and mobile for as long as possible 🤞
After being a bit depressed on Thursday evening with two horses pulling (non-serious) sickies meaning we had to withdraw from TREC this weekend the amazing Jenny Sheen offered us not one but two horses to ride!
Initially we said no and offered to help instead but Jenny suggested we just see how we feel....
Our fine steeds (Alfie for me and Solly for Caz) were delivered to the venue on Saturday morning and we thought. Why not! You only live once and all that.
Warmed up and then straight out on the course! Very interesting doing obstacles on a horse you've never ridden and who is shouting his head off for his pal 🤣 enjoyed it and managed to get a few more points than I expected so that's always a bonus 👍 He made me smile and that's the main thing 😀
We weren't sure about riding on the orienteering as an old ankle issue that I'd forgotten about popped up again and it was quite sore after the PTV but decided to go to the map room anyway.
After drawing our map I decided, sod it, I rode for years with a sore ankle what's a few more hours 😀
Had a nice evening meal with everyone and then headed to bed to get some rest for the POR.
Today was fab, weather just right and not too hot for the horses (or riders!).
Caz and I did OK with our map reading with just one error (I think) and our times were not too far out. We were pleased and really enjoyed our borrowed ponies (would love to borrow them again if we were allowed...).
So much thanks to everyone who was at the event especially the volunteers who give up their time to allow us to compete. We really appreciate it ❤️
After yesterday's excitement with Flix I wanted to make sure everything was OK so she came in for a groom and then I put the saddle on.
She was completely happy with this so we headed to the arena and did a bit of wandering around. I don't think there was anything 'scary' in the corner but we spent time in that area anyway.
She was very chilled and relaxed so will just make sure she's happy again before moving on.
I always like to share honestly on my page as everything isn't always perfect and I'm just a normal (?!) average horse owner who sometimes gets things wrong. Today was one of those days!
Today Flixy reminded Orange Fox Eventing and I that she is in fact still a baby and we should always be aware of that!
We don't need anyone to tell us what could have been etc, we know!
I've had Flix since October last year and have taken everything super slowly so I think today was one of those things. I've watched the video over and over and can't see any trigger.
She's had a saddle on plenty of times so is used to a girth etc. She's been sat on ba****ck and with a racing saddle so I don't necessarily think anything was "wrong".
Very glad that this happened before I got on (I didn't get on her after either). Also, just a reminder to not say "Ach, I'm sure it will be fine" when your handler realises they've left their hat elsewhere because it was hot! And to remember gloves!
I was really pleased that after her mad moment she settled in the corner, let me catch her and was happy to walk round the arena again. We then went to the stable and she got a little feed with the saddle still on.
Over the next few days we will go back to wearing the saddle before moving on again!
She can certainly throw some shapes 😂
Thank goodness for CCTV in the arena!
Didn't ride at all this weekend but still had a lot of fun horsey times bring super groom for Orange Fox Eventing on Saturday at Cumbria Horse Trials. Though, to be honest I was a bit rubbish and she'd untacked and washed off by the time I sauntered back to the lorry after XC 🤣
Was great to see Caz's family too who always come to support at the events closest to them. Always nice to catch up.
Great result for Caz and Kenny with a nice 5th
Today we headed to Foresterseat Cross Country where we were a superb start box team along with Flora.
We decided that Caz would be best as the starter with me on radio and finish. Caz is great at talking (🤣) and I am far less likely to get distracted and miss finishers than she is! It worked perfectly 😊
Was a fun day and Flora and I enjoyed deciding what colours people were wearing (to write on the card in case people get mixed up). The most popular was definitely maroon, or was it burgundy? 🤔 and who knew how many different shades of blue there were?!
My favourite colours were on a wee girl wearing pink with turquoise love hearts.
Everyone did really well and lots of lovely horses and ponies for us to admire, really enjoyed being in the start box as we got to wish everyone good luck!
You walk a lot more at an event than being in the start box though!
Had a lovely day today starting with a flatwork lesson on Dweens (she's brilliant 🌟). Then a h*ck with Larry.
We set off trying out some different hoof boots but had to turn back as he hated them 🤣
Went back for the usual boots and he was much happier then we had a mini explora-h*ck.
He amuses me as he often decides to take his own route. Today he wanted to take the high road so just made a sharp right and scrambled up the hill 🤣
Where its safe to do so I let him chose his route. Dwina doesn't get to choose as I know she would just go straight home! Larry likes exploring though.
Hope you all had as good a day as me 🌞
It's Larry's 14th birthday today!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the bestest boy ever ❤️
I can't quite decide if she's respecting the fence or not....
She kind of is 🤣
Wonder what the horses are doing this morning....
Aww, cute. Everyone snoozing 😴
Hmm, where could Larry be?
Surprise surprise. He's standing where the field shelter used to be 🤣🤣 maybe he thinks he can bring it back with the power of positive thinking 😆😆
Orange Fox Eventing
Flixy and I went on a wee trip this weekend to participate in a training clinic with Joe Midgley Horsemanship
I've been working on some horsemanship stuff, mostly following Tristan Tucker (TRT Method) which, to my uneducated eyes, is quite similar.
I found the clinic useful, the 2nd day more than the first, and was (kind of) able to direct Flix on the ground to move front end or hind end, left or right using only body cues.
On day 2 we worked on sidepass (using me crossing my legs as the initial cue) and shoulder-in. We also did head and neck flexion, reinback and other bits and pieces.
It was a really good educational trip for her as she travelled to Kinross twice by herself, was stabled in a temporary stable, worked in an arena with other horses working/coming and going, spectators, sound system etc. I was very very pleased with her 😍
Please note, we are just learning and I am probably doing a lot wrong! I'm not sure if I can answer any questions but if you have any then ask.
I've got one fun aim, I'd like to teach her to come to the mounting block and turn sideways when I stand on the block and raise my arm 🙋♀️
Jumping fun this morning 😊
Dweens is fabulous (of course 💕)
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Good day yesterday. Lazy morning then took Larry for a ride and lead. Think he really enjoyed it! Just to the end of the road and back with a wee trot each way. I think he is looking good 😁 Orange Fox Eventing came along on her bike for traffic control and in case of any issues. Managed to adapt a lot our riding hi-vis for Larry so he can be seen on the road! Then a ride with Annie and Dweens. Not sure what was wrong with Dwina but I managed to open a couple of gates while mounted and she stood like an angel 😮 Finished the day with a fabby Sunday dinner at my parents with most of the family ❤️
Had a fun day today at Drumclog with Orange Fox Eventing having some SJ and XC with David Gatherer and Olivia Wilmot. Had a great time and a few things to work on but I'm slowly getting braver 😁 Slowly is maybe the important word there, I feel the canter could go up a notch for the XC and it might help 🤣 Very lucky to avoid the rain as well!
Orange Fox Eventing arrived home just in time to help me with Larry tonight so got some videos. He's been looking quite sound and his hoof crack is nearly grown out so that means he can start some walking but I thought riding and leading might be fun too. Got his trainers on and practiced going up and down the drive and turning. We even had a little trot. All going well Larry can do some little 5/10 min in-hand or riding and leading hacks 😁 Took Annie and Dwina a short hack afterwards 😊
This didn't post yesterday but I think Dwina and I reached an important milestone yesterday. I rode her just because I could, not because I had to prepare for a competition or because Caz was riding. Just because I wanted to 😊 Might sound odd because I do like riding her and I'm very lucky to have a horse of her experience but, she's not Larry, and he's the one I'd chose to ride everytime (unless I'm jumping 🤣🤣🤣). Anyway, thought I should document this important moment!
Larry had a nice visit the other night from V&T Equine services for some acupuncture. I think he enjoyed it... Unsurprisingly points identified for treatment included hocks, hip, poll etc. Had his feet looked at too and while they are not perfect they are OK and improving.
Little update on Larry. He's been living in the arena/yard with some field turnout between hay bales and I think he's OK. Hard to tell, he seemed a bit uncomfortable today so I had the massage pad on him while he had his breakfast. I think he enjoyed it. Since we were in the field I didn't attach it, I just held onto it instead! He seems happy enough in general though he's obviously sore on the yard, his stringhalt is very noticeable! In the arena he is more comfortable so aiming for him to stay there as long as is practical. I've had the grass and hay analysed (wish I'd done it sooner but never mind, it's done now) and some specific supplements are on the way. So hoping they help. It's going to be a while before I see improvement in his feet but I'll just have to be patient. All I want is for him to be comfortable and happy. He makes an excellent, if gigantic, companion/yard pony so as long as he is able he has a job here ❤ Trying not to think about the future too much but at the same time trying to prepare myself in case none of this works and its not possible to keep him comfortable. Video has some clips of his time in the arena as well as some of him walking later in the video. Please note, he spends the majority of his time on soft ground or choosing his route himself. Occasionally he does have to cross the yard and I hate seeing him like that but hoping that in the coming months I'll have an improvement video to share.
Our midweek show jumping trip to ELJ Equestrian did not go as planned! Orange Fox Eventing
Some people have a little yard pony. We have a Larry 😆 I think he's loving his new companion pony role! He gets lots of attention as he gets cuddles everytime we go up 🥰 Hoping he feels more comfortable with his shoeless feet soon but the best track type system I can do at the moment is yard, all weather turnout, arena with hay and grass verges/edges. He seems to be doing OK a little footsore and stringhalt behind worse as it was barefoot before but let's see 🤞
Mucking out the arena is easier than a stable or poo picking a field! Sometimes I have two little shadows but today they were a bit excited by the wind!
Took Dwina to The Scottish National Equestrian Centre last night for the 60cm show jumping. I entered the 60 twice just to give me that wee extra shot. Arrived super early despite accidentally almost driving over the Queensferry crossing (most of our journeys take us that way and we were too busy talking 😆) so we had a cup of tea while we waited. So nervous even though I know Dwina will look after me but first round was OK though I did get lost (hadn't walked the course as despite being super early the tea and chat distracted us and I missed the course walk 🙈) for the last two fences! Slightly scared I would accidentally point at one of the spare big fences on the course and end up jumping it by mistake! I thought I was going to need assistance from the paramedic I was trying to stay calm and relaxed so I was doing a lot of deep breathing 🤣 thankfully I don't think you can hear it on the video. I survived and for my HC round I felt a bit calmer and less scared but still did some deep breathing. Gareth the paramedic said my body looked confident but my face looked terrified, I'm going to try a manic smile next time 😬 Took Dweens back to the lorry with lots of pats and kisses (well, she wasn't up for the kisses though). Turns out I should have hung around as I was actually placed! Yay, go Dweens! We got 4th place despite my scenic route to fences 11 & 12 🏅 When I watch the video back I wonder why I was so scared, it looks good! Will stick to 60 for the moment I think but definitely planning to try the 70 one day in the future 🙂 Video is of my 2nd (hc) round to save you the boredom of watching me get lost!
Gave Larry a groom in the field this morning (he hated it 😆) then went an adventure hack with Orange Fox Eventing We explored some routes at ladyurd they were fun but not easy! We started with a scramble up a steep track then a not quite so steep downhill followed by a trot up the "out and back" route with a little explore at the end. Planning some more adventures with a packed lunch to see what where we can go. Think we'd maybe do better with some mules for some of the tracks but the WB and TB did well 😁 Checklist for ladyurd explora-hacks: Sure-footed horse (cob or mule ideally 🤣) ✅️ Well fitting saddle with breastplate ✅️ Labrador guides ✅️ Good balance ✅️ Map reading ability ✅️ No fear (or spare pants) ✅️ Good sense of humor ✅️ More routes planned but doubt we'll ever be lucky enough to find anywhere we can go faster than a walk!
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