Team Dior

04/12/2024

From being a horse who was very anxious and incredibly nappy hacking…to being able to go for a hack in the dark by headtorch 💜 A short one this morning, but when you work full time and have no facilities, it’s about keeping her ticking over at the moment. Anyone who remembers honey, will know that we started hacking in the dark with headtorch as I had to rehab her for PSD in the winter, and we carried on to keep her out of the school as much as possible. Even just a few months ago, I said I would never do it in Dior…and today just goes to show how far our relationship has come 💜Hacking at the moment seems to fill me with less anxiety than schooling does…I never thought that would be the case 🤣 It’s funny how an accident can change so many things, but this time actually for the better

01/12/2024

I can’t believe how quickly weekends go (and I currently have every Friday off until January to use up some annual leave!).

Another lovely weekend spent with my 2 labs and Dior 💜 2 lovely hacks, all on the road at the minute as the ground is now quite wet, but I’m riding and a few months ago that didn’t even seem possible! I had a goal…to be back in the saddle before Xmas…and we smashed that goal 😁 Yesterday, it occurred to me that there are so many times I could have given up riding, from being kicked in the face, to having my confidence beaten out of me by previous instructors (to the point where I was a shell of myself…as a person and a rider!) and then breaking my leg in August. I didn’t give up and i am glad I didn’t…but it has made me slow down a bit (literally as I can’t actually walk very fast, but also in many other ways) and just enjoy my horse. I believe horses (and animals and sometimes people) come into your life for a reason, and I truly believe Dior was meant for me. She came into my life when I had to say goodbye to my previous best friend, but anyone who knows our journey…knows how far we have come, and how difficult it has been!

There is so much I wish I could go back and change…but I can’t…so now to look forward…continue to rebuild my strength in the saddle (physically and mentally) and remember to look after me!

I am incredibly grateful to have Willow, Marley, Mitzi and Dior 💜 Dior also enjoyed her warm bath today, getting rid of all the mud…until she goes back in the field 🤣🤦‍♀️

29/11/2024

Dior has been back in work for around 4 weeks now, and hacking is rather interesting (we like to jog alot 🤣), so today we went down the road for a play in the school, for the first time since August. It’s a lovely school, but very spooky! I lunged Dior first, so she could let off some steam…what became apparent is that she is definitely listening to me much more now, even walking in hand (which is great as I can’t walk as fast as I used too 🫤). As she was calm, and I know her so well, I ‘jumped’ on and we did some work in walk only today, some transitions, circles and serpentines to get her bending and thinking…she actually did some nice work with a few spooks thrown in for good measure 🤣 Funnily enough, it was harder for me mentally to get on board in the school than it has been getting on and going for a back 🤷‍♀️ I never thought that would have been the case a few years ago. Dior is definitely loving life at the moment 💜Looking forward to restarting my sessions with Inspirider again soon! Lots of things coming up lately to work on 😊

23/11/2024

This is so true 💜

🍂 A Good Mare 🍂

“There’s something different about the way a good mare connects with her rider. It’s special. Like an unspoken agreement. Once a mare chooses you as her person, it’s like she has an instinct to protect you, to fight for you. It’s almost as if she takes ownership of you.

I believe the good mares have a deep sense of intuition. They can read your mind. They know what you’re thinking even before you do. The good mares I know breathe fire in the face of challenge and then somehow, miraculously, know to quiet themselves when a timid child is plopped on their back for a pony ride.

They are clever, cunning and calculated, which can be your greatest enemy or your saving grace. The good mares I know do not tolerate egotistical riding. They do not tolerate force. They demand tact, finesse and emotional control. But once you have won a mare’s heart, you have won all of her. In exchange for your best—and nothing less—she will give you everything.”

Written by: Lindsay Paulsen

22/11/2024

We are good to go! Dior had the saddle fitter earlier this week and a new, full set of shoes today followed by a hack (after 2 days off due to the frost and ice!). She was a tad spicy 🤣 We went to go the ‘usual’ way but something spooked her, and as I can’t just jump off at the moment, we went the other way through the village instead of just going home and giving up. Not a bad start for my 4 day weekend! Looking forward to my spa day on Monday…much needed 💜

17/11/2024

A fab Sunday in the sun! Another lovely hack around the village on Dior who is feeling very well and happy! Being back on board is the best feeling ever! Dior seems to be quite happy being back in work also. She still keeps me on my toes 💜

She then had a lovely bath (her tail was grim!) and is now in at night for the winter (which she seems quite pleased about!).

I still have to remind myself that 3 months isn’t really that long, so to be doing what I’m doing is huge progress 💜

16/11/2024

I am so proud of Dior today! After having 2 days off (I had physio and was in a lot of pain, still am but that’s normal at the moment 🤦‍♀️) we went for a hack around the village for the first time in 3 months!

Dior came in from the field fairly unsettled and on edge, so I just let her calm down and because I know her so well, I walked her around for a lap before getting on to see if she was calmer and she was 💜

A few spooks here and there, which is normal for her and some jogging (she is now on week 2 of walk work!) but no napping and she even led the way when we came across her friend, Seren who came home with us.

I have had to lengthen my stirrups a bit, because I don’t have full mobility when it comes to dorsi-flexion but it’s getting better. I am so pleased with Dior, not bad for a horse quite a few ‘professionals’ told me over the years just ‘wouldn’t hack!’ Or be enjoyable to hack.

We have a couple of small outings planned before Xmas, it will be nice to get her out again as she enjoys her outings 💜

10/11/2024

When I broke my tibia and ankle 3 months ago, I aimed to be back on board before Xmas. Well…after long reining Dior for a week, today was the day! Straight on, and she wasn’t phased at all 💜

We had help on the ground, more from my benefit as the last time I rode I ended up in hospital. We did the short route we have been doing all week to build us both up. It’s not a bad thing taking our time, especially as she needs a full set of shoes with road nails back on before we really start hacking.

I don’t give this girl all the credit she deserves. Dior hasn’t been easy, she likes a buck but today, there was no anxiety or tension from either of us. I’m so proud of how far she has come and really think the 3 months off has done her so much good!

I did practice some of the work I did with Inspirider before my accident, and looking forward to restarting the work again as we continue to build ourselves up and work towards our dressage goals for next year 💜

I’m very lucky to have a super little horse and it was great being back behind the best ears and my happy place.

07/11/2024

This morning I went back to hospital for my 3 month check up. It will be 3 months 9th Nov since I broke my ankle and tibia and 3 months on 11th November since I had surgery.

My x-rays are looking good, my ankle has fully healed (I fractured the actual joint) and tibia is continuing to heal well. I have been off crutches fully for 4 weeks now and have been given the all clear to start riding again…although I have to build it all up again, so starting slowly with short rides. I still have quite a bit of pain and discomfort, and have to rest it a lot but everything is heading in the right direction. These 3 months have been tough and challenging, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I may need to have the metal work out in the future, depending it I have issues or I have too much unbearable pain in the winter, but that won’t be for at least a year.

Another X-ray in 3 months and then I shall be discharged 😊

06/11/2024

Dior had her saddle on today for the first time in 3 months! She didn’t bat an eyelid. She has the saddle fitter booked for a couple of weeks. A long reining session through the village before work this morning, she’s had a sheltered life the last 3 months and apparently the cows were scary! She has seen them 100s of times before 🤦‍♀️ we are still on walk work, but Dior was very keen so I was on a mission behind her. I had forgotten how fast she walks…not easy when I’m still lame 🤣 I have my follow up and 12 week X-ray tomorrow so fingers crossed.

04/11/2024

Super long reining session before work this morning. Straight out of the barn, through the bank end of the village and home again. Dior was very relaxed, as she can be quite tense through built up areas (Friday we did the same route in hand and she was very on edge!). Now a rest day tomorrow for both of us as my leg definitely needs to recover!

03/11/2024

And Dior is back in work! First long reining session in a while, so we started off in an enclosed space (incase she decided to long rein herself 🤣). The branch was scary, so I popped her on a circle and went past it until it was boring, which didn’t take long and ended it with a walk down the drive and back to the barn.She was so good, started to listen to me and apart from a couple of silly spooks, she wasn’t as silly as I half expected her to be ⭐️ I am looking forward to restarting my sessions with Inspirider and working towards our dressage goals. Jumping is currently on hold for the foreseeable future.

01/11/2024

After 3 months off, and the ok from my physio yesterday, it is time for us to start getting fitter and losing weight, so Dior is coming back into work start with some walking in hand. I had forgotten how fast she walks!

31/10/2024

Well, I hope Dior has enjoyed her 3 months off! Luckily she has been able to live out for most of it, which is nice. After a good physio session this morning, it’s time to start bringing her back into work! After all, my physio said I’m better to get back in the saddle sooner, rather than later and I now feel like I’m ready to start building us both back up 💜

23/10/2024

Dior has had a bit of TLC lately. Last week, she had the farrier and we have kept front shoes on her instead of taking them off (I’m hoping to start bringing her back into work on a few weeks), then Monday she had physio with Hooves and Hounds and today she had her routine dental (second time without sedation and she was a star!). Willow supervised all treatments of course 💜

As it was warm, I did also give her a bath and she showed her appreciation by rolling in the mud 🤦‍♀️ she also decided to have a few bucks and a bit of fun with her friends. I think she is starting to get a bit bored now 🫤 I’m able to do her every evening (as she is still living out) but my leg is giving me quite a bit of pain and discomfort at the moment, so I need to take it easy for a little bit.

Dior has also had her WEC and Equisal tests done, both coming back clear. We use the westgate subscription service, which is fab. So as long as her counts are clear, we only have to worm for encysted in the winter.

11/10/2024

Dior enjoyed a very rare ‘naked’ day today! 😱 Due to her allergies, in the summer she has to be rugged and she is usually clipped by now, so also has to be rugged this time of year. As it was a cooler day and she is fluffy, I thought she would enjoy some vitamin D and a good roll (or several) without a rug.

She enjoyed a nice groom and scratch this afternoon. This is the first week since breaking my leg, I have been able to get down every afternoon to see her and do the jobs (With willow as well). It is lovely to see her everyday, but I’ve come to the realisation that I’m going to be in some sort of pain still for quite some time 🫤

06/10/2024

8 weeks since I have ridden (feels longer than that!) I’m missing it, but Dior is enjoying her holiday and came in for a tidy up. She’s had her tail trimmed, heels tidied a little bit (so it’s easier when the mud comes!) and her mane and forelock tidied. Willow supervised of course.

At least she is looking slightly less neglected and scruffy!