I'm a film star!

Just received this cool video from Meadow Productions. They put it on the internet already so I don't have to do battle with our broadband to show you all! They include a video of the training as well to watch back. This is really useful to pick up on any comments missed and replay bits to see what Mark was picking up on. Always interesting to watch yourself on camera, close up and better quality then we usually manage so can really see what is going right or wrong.

Arena Eventing Training

Sunday was an interesting day, first I learnt how to take the new partition bar out of the shelter, got into Isla's side, cornered and kicked her until she got let out and I got left in on my own so I learnt how to take the slip rails off and escape....mother was not impressed! When she finally managed to catch me again from the far end of the field she gave me a quick clean up and put me on the horsebox.

Paige had bought us a lesson with Mark Cramb at Eland Lodge for Christmas. Mum spent the warm up trying to rev me up and find my big canter but once I was in the main arena I was on fire and she quickly lost the spurs. We started with a big cross pole which isn't my favourite type of fence as I'm not really sure what to do with me legs. Mum rode it pretty strongly in case I backed off so we promptly got told off for being a bit over enthusiastic. 

We very quickly moved on to tricky turns, angled fences and awkward lines but the only thing that really phased me was leaving the arena and going between the trees. Apparently the lines would be a bit easier if I didn't land 2 feet to the right of where I take off, mum's threatening more poles in the grids at home to try to discourage this. We got up to 1m and it was easy peasy!

When we got home Paige had a quick play with Isla and looks like they're starting to get their mojo back as well. All in all going hacking again on Monday was totally boring, we're arena eventing superstars don't ya know!

Overworked pony

Well silly me thought I might get away with some time off whilst the van is at the horsebox hospital, how wrong could I be! Freya turned up bright and early on Tuesday morning and off we went on our own for a ride round the countryside. I'm not quite sure what happens when Freya rides me but somehow I find another gear and I managed to keep trotting most of the way round the long circuit. It's been a bit warm this week and I'm a bit fluffy again so got very sweaty. At least when I'm hairy I'm properly orange.

Managed to wrangle a couple of days off before mum crept upon me on Friday and made me jump grids at home. The bounce grid from last week was still up and quite fun but then mum changed it to 3 bigger jumps with canter poles in the middle, I was sure the first pole was going to eat me so just jumped the first part bigger and bigger to try and make it run away. The pole didn't get scared but mum sure did, she said I was a very good boy in between the swearing. Shame there's no video, think I was jumping the height of the wings by the time we finished!

Saturday we went for an early morning ride with Paige and Isla, we went a different way to normal which was a bit scary, especially when we got chased by a collie who tried to bite Isla. Isla doesn't kick dogs so me and mum had to chase it off then we sped off up the hill to get away from it....which set the cows off so we had a little race. We went across the short canter field towards home, I accelerated so fast I made mum scream which was funny because she still had her mouth open when she turned me in a circle behind Isla (to avoid running a walker down) and got a mouthful of mud. Isla and I decided not to jump the hedge we got turned at from gallop and returned to a bouncy jog for the rest of the "walk" home, not quite sure why all the cars we saw after that pulled over and turned their engines off?

https://www.facebook.com/566840920183051/videos/590920937775049/

Then yesterday Freya came again, mum said for once neither of us needed hacking so we had a bit of a play in the school. I was much happier about the size of the jumps so did some happy bouncing and bucking. Mum had set up an evil double of angled skinnies which was very confusing but I worked it out eventually, unlike Isla who kept jumping the wrong bit, hee hee, sometimes looking before you leap gives you time to think Isla!

https://www.facebook.com/566840920183051/videos/590921007775042/

Apparently I should be hacking again today but it's raining and mum has a big day at work tonight so she's retreated to the sofa. I meanwhile am working my way through my own body-weight in hay, apparently dressage horses are allowed to be a bit chubby and I'm not sure endurance or show-jumping are my thing after this week.

Four Shires Netherton Hall

Isla's been out playing with the Four Shires Bloodhounds again. Thanks to various people for the photos on facebook.

I spy HOUNDS!

off we go

 Quick breather to look at the view.

Give me my head mum I want to go faster!

that's better

 oh, we've finished, but I'm not tired mum! 

So apparently Isla is going onto reduced oats rations and a new set of brakes is being investigated, on the plus side Derbyshire's walls survived intact this time which is significant progress.