13.09.2016- Good cop bad cop

Well this blog is very much over due! I've just started a new job so I'm stupidly busy at the minute and don't have a lot of time for myself so blogging is going to be a bit ropey this month I'm afraid. 
So, (two weekends ago now oops) we went and did our first dressage show! I'm not going to lie, I was very, very nervous but what a good boy he was. He was so well behaved, didn't have a tantrum at the dressage boards as I expected or freak out at the judges. We got 58% for Intro C and 63% for Intro A, getting mainly 5.5s and 6s and 7 for his free walk which I was really happy with. All the comments were just to say he needs to soften and come into an outline to do better which I already knew but his accuracy and rhythm etc is where it should be.

                         

                               

We also had a play at jumping; Emma did the 2ft class with him and came 2nd, she did SO well it was really nice to watch such a nice, confident round and she did her first jump off so I was super proud of them! :) Then I did the 2ft3 which honestly is the biggest I've jumped since about February time and he was wicked, hands down the smoothest round he's ever done, it's so obvious what a difference all the flatwork we've been doing has made a difference jumping wise. We came 3rd with a double clear. I honestly couldn't have faulted him at all that day, he loaded brilliantly, he behaved perfectly and was just a pleasure all day, even though he had to do a lot of standing around etc. To be honest, I couldn't quite believe it was my horse haha!

                                  

                                  

                                  

However he has slipped back into my bad books after being such a star that day after the clipping fiasco... It has come to that time of year when I need to get the clippers out and have a bald pony. I've done a lot of work desensitising him to them over the last month.... well, I can't say it made much of a difference, he is very certain still that he does not want to be clipped and is currently clipped one side and half clipped the other side, not ideal when we are off competing this weekend! Hopefully tomorrow I'll manage to get the rest of him done.. if not I shall just have to have a patchy pony! 
I'm finding it hard to find time to ride at the moment with working two jobs and being a bit all over the place but I managed to squeeze a short schooling session in after work yesterday. He was a bit tense and stiff but then he hasn't been ridden a lot recently and considering he's never been ridden in the dark with the floodlights on he was well behaved. I think he was just a bit stiff with not doing a lot the last week but I managed to get him to loosen up and some really nice, big, stretchy trot work.. and then the light meter went out, bugger!! So I think it would have been a bit more productive if I'd managed to do work with that trot had the lights not gone out! 

Beth & Jack x

Month Deux- 2/6

How have we ended up here so quickly!? I was expecting these monthly reviews to be humongous, marathon blogs but really, I can sum up how August went pretty quickly- he was super!! He's honestly been really well behaved and lovely this month bar the dentist situation, for once I don't really have a lot to say. 

Our goals for August were...

Crack the canter work

I'll be honest I actually ended up doing the unthinkable and focusing on our trot work instead, so canter work has taken a back seat. His canter is very balanced and wouldn't take a lot of tweaking whereas his trot work, I'll be honest was pretty dismal, to the point where he constantly felt like he'd bolt and was very, very tense in the trot. We have done sooo much work on improving the rhythm and quality of his trot and I honestly think it has come on SO much; so much so that we've actually entered in for our first ever dressage test tomorrow, eek! So this goal may not have have been achieved but we're still going in the right direction.                       

                                                                                                                                                      

More confidence and consistency hacking.

• Well I think this is definitely one goal we smashed! Getting off the drive is no longer an issue at all it's fair to say and we actually went on a good two hour hack the other day! He does still nap, however touch wood, it's to a much less extreme degree that what we had in the past. Plus, we even managed to get him to venture into the ford the other day. 

                                                        

What did we get up to? A fair bit of hacking, LOTS of schooling, starting jump work again, our first proper lesson together, lots of baths, introduction to clipper work 

How many times did he make me want to cry/scream/gouge my eyes out/write his advert/call up tescos/etc? Once... and ironically this was other the Vaseline incident not the Dentist incident; I think the different reaction on my part from these two events shows that I clearly need to (and have done!) paid attention to my goal of being more patient!

Best parts? The last schooling session we had... I really hope we can recreate that again one day! Oh and finally being able to cut his tufty ears. I'm easily pleased. 

Worst parts? The vaseline. It really wasn't that bad, I know. I'm dramatic. So is my horse. 

Now onto our goals for next month... this is a hard one this time and its taken me some thinking. Also, some of these are ongoing goals for the whole year but I thought I'd add them in just as a reminder for myself! With starting a new job, next months going to be ram packed so we may struggle to fit all these in but there's nothing wrong with being ambitious. 

• Improve our schooling 
• Hacking consistently
• Get him clipped- even if we just start with a bib clip, I want to try my hardest to get his irrational fear of the clippers sorted by exposing him to them as much as possible until he releases it's not as horrible as he thinks. 
• Attempt some dressage
• Ride bareback; I'm aware this is going to seem like a bit of an odd one but I cannot remember the last time I rode him bareback and I couldn't before because he was just so tense in his trot. 

Beth & Jack x

30.08.2016- In which the pony was very good

I have three days worth of blogging to get through so, well, grab a cuppa. 

On Friday I did something I haven't done for a very long time... we had a jumping session! He does a lot of hacking and schooling so I think it's nice to mix things up sometimes and you can still work on flatwork and the general basis of your schooling whilst jumping I think. For example, our aim for that day was to keep an even, consistent rhythm in the canter to and after a fence and around the turns. The last time I had a proper jumping session with him must be what, two months ago at least now. He's always been good to jump really, but a bit of a handful with him going sideways everywhere, napping to fences and just basically being a lunatic if I'm honest. He's never been able to canter around a course in a flow, it's always been very unbalanced and disjointed with flying changes every five strides. Well, what a bloody difference two months of pure flatwork and hacking has made, he was like a completely different horse- starting with the fact that he was soooo lazy. 
 Bar the fact that he was the laziest horse to ever exist, he was absolutely perfect, his canter is a million times better, at no point did he rush or feel unbalanced and we did a few little 2ft courses spot on, landing on the right leg, letting the fences come to him and taking his time but still going forward (However, I will not be jumping without a whip again any time soon, my poor legs!!). 
 Then Monday, Emma came up and we plaited him up ready for the weekend to see if he'd act any differently under saddle plaited up (Sparkie tenses up a bit because he doesn't like them pulling his hair. Pussy). We just had a general mooch around the school and didn't produce anything spectacular but he was a good boy none the less. Emma had a little play as well and then took him down to the end of the road and back to cool him off and, despite walking slower than an elderly snail, he was super duper. He then had his weekly bath after (you've got another coming Saturday mate!) so now he's all shiny and clean. And then and then... he went out in the big field for the first time in 3 months! And he came to call still when I shouted him today, yay pony!

                                  

                            

                                 

                                                        

And then we have todays ride. Now recently, with the exception of my tootle round the school Monday, I have tried to make more of an effort when I school but I have to admit I do cut corners and probably don't always take it as seriously as I should. Well today I was determined that we were going to take it serious from start to finish. We started off in the sand school because someone was having a lesson in the rubber where we just worked mainly on bending and flexing in walk. Once the rubber was free, we swapped to there because it's easier for schooling with it being smaller and there being less distractions. I tried to work on riding him the best I possibly could- I find horses are very clever at getting us to ride the way they want us to, for example, I find myself 'falling out' on his worse rein and trying to hold him to heavy in the inside hand. Instead I tried to put myself in a text book position, shoulders level and straight, heels down, holding him with the outside hand and pushing him into this hand with the inside leg and then giving and taking with the inside rein. Since our lesson I've noticed that he moves off my leg so, so much better, especially in the walk and on the left rein, if he starts to drift in and fall in on a circle, I just give him a tap with the inside leg and he practically leg yields to the outside track again, especially using the schooling whip as a back up to keep his body straight. I also tried to slow his trot down a hell of a lot but keep the timing and rhythm consistent which made a huge difference especially with transitions- he even let me do some work in sitting trot which he usually hates! 
 Now I'm not saying he was suddenly bang on in an outline, but he felt so much rounder in general, for the most part he had some kind of inside flexion, his lines were straight and he was forward but not rushing. I knew he must have been working hard because as soon as I asked him to work long and low in the trot, something that usually takes a bit of persuasion, his chin hit the floor. Then when he picked the reins back up, all of a sudden there we go, we were able to work in a semi consistent outline in trot! Honestly, that's the best feeling he's ever given me under saddle, never, ever did I think we'd have a breakthrough like that when it came to our trot work, if he goes like that Sunday I will most definitely be smiling (although he'll probably have forgotten all this come tomorrow). We did a couple of canters, again working long and low and then when I shortened the reins and came back to trot, bam, straight into a lovely round outline and a nice, slow trot. 
 To finish off we had a nice amble to the fishery and back; he honestly was a bloody star today, he really made me smile!! 

Beth & Jack x

24.08.2016- Hacking, schooling and the dentist drama...

Well we've had quite a busy week! On Monday we went for a hack (after a short 15 minute schooling session where he was a good boy) with the help of Emma. He was absolutely perfect the whole way and we saw some pretty challenging things such as bikes and a bus and a digger! He even went into the ford which I've never managed to persuade him to do before (he's a mahoosive pansy about water). He discovered that actually, you can drink water and it's quite funny to splash yourself with it so maybe it wasn't as awful as he thought all along. 


                                    

                                    

                                                

Then Tuesday we had another go in the school. He honestly went really well, he's starting to become a lot more willing in the school and to try a lot harder, he's no where near perfect but I'm generally quite happy with his way of going. He might not be a dressage pony as of yet, but there's no obvious faults or areas of concern where his flatwork is concerned and he could probably go out and do a dressage test to the same level Sparkie did when I evented him (and he was somehow coming back with 35s!). I decided to try playing with the contact a bit, giving and retaking my reins to see whereabouts he was happiest and I actually got some really nice work out of him; not perfect, but he was flexed to the inside and soft through the contact. We then braved it out on a little hack to cool down and he was foot/hoof perfect the whole way. We didn't go far, just a 10 minute amble to cool down but he was super :)
 Today he was meant to have the dentist out... well. Long story short, she was unable to do his teeth or well, really get near him in general. Very frustrating, but I can't hold it against him or be cross with him as he was genuinely terrified there was no nastiness or naughtiness about the whole situation, I think it's just going to be a long process before we try again. We did go out for a hack after wards and actually managed the longest hack (by ourselves can I just say!) we've ever done and he was super boy. He had a few napping moments, but nothing serious, mainly just turning round to go towards home but he went forwards again as soon as I turned him back round, so nothing unmanageable. In fact, if he does that out hacking the rest of his life, I'd still take that and count it as success because I had a really lovely, relaxing time out exploring with him- so that's three very successful hacks this week!  

                            

                                     


Beth & Jack x 

20.08.2016- A very rainy ride in which Jack was perfect

Well today has been well and truly miserable weather wise! Still, I am a dedicated rider these days and a bit of rain is not going to stop me from having a productive day. 
 It was both of the ponies turn to work today (side note; not sure if I've ever mentioned my other pony Sparkie on here, but he is on loan at the moment and for the foreseeable future due to finance and time issues. He's also probably THE best thing since sliced bread. Seriously he's awesome.), as Emma rode Sparkie and I rode Jack. I had no idea what he was going to be like as I haven't ridden him with another horse for a very long time, especially Sparkie who is his best friend in the whole world/field. Usually riding the two together means he finds completely impossible to concentrate on anything he's doing himself and we have at least one crazy napping, rearing session. But no, he was perfect! I am so surprised and so happy with him, he was so well behaved and sensible today; more so than Sparkie which is something I never ever thought I'd be saying!

                                                       

We just did a little bit of schooling, with a bit of work on bending- he did loads better than in our lesson the other day, so we'll just keep working on it until it finally clicks, but he was definitely a lot more willing today. We even did a bit of jumping (how brave of me!) and he looked after a very nervous me very well, he's so much calmer jumping now, he's like a different horse. I'm still not overly fussed about jumping still, but I'm starting to actual enjoy it now again and see the fun it which is good. I probably won't jump him again for a while now, until after his second physio appointment but it was still good fun and he jumped really nice :) We also practiced our dressage test, which, in my head was a complete disaster as I convinced myself he was lame and stressed myself back... actually watching it back, it was probably one of the best run throughs we've had and just a little bit of work on bending has made a difference in how it flows, I'm just super paranoid! I think it's because I've spent a long time getting things right I'm just really paranoid and worried his shoulder is going to flare up again but I need to relax a bit, he's really fine! 

                                    

                                   

                                 

We also had another session with the clippers and he was really good again! I got them onto him a lot quicker than last time and I'd almost feel confident enough to try a clip now... however we're going to keep up the good work we're doing for a few more weeks before we risk it. Very, very happy with my boy today, he was a very good pony :) 

Beth & Jack x

17.08.2016- We dared to brave a lesson...

Yes, you did read that correctly. For the first time in 4 years (and our second ever lesson together!) I went and booked a lesson. I'm finally happy enough with the way he's going that I didn't think we'd make a complete embarrassment of ourselves. I also think we'd got to the point where, don't get me wrong we're still progressing and I'm happy with him, but I kind of went into the school and ambled around on each rein and then called it a day so I needed someone to stand on the ground and give me a few new ideas. 

                                 

  For anyone who's read my last blog (why am I writing this when no one reads these?????), you may remember (again why???) I mentioned that I need to sort my washing line reins out... well this is one of the first things she picked up on! She told me to shorten my reins; and then shorten them again. I thought that I was doing the right thing by having him on the buckle end and asking him to move forward but turns out by not having a good, consistent contact and having shorter reins, I was just allowing any energy generated by his back end just trickle out the front end which is why I felt like I was kicking and kicking and going no where. When I shortened my reins I found that I didn't need to have him racing around at 100 miles an hour to feel forward. What I was doing was having a really long rein in the hope that he'd eventually start to stretch his neck but actually, when riding with a shorter rein, he's more likely to use his muscles so then when I did lengthen the rein he stretched so much better because he actually needed it!

                                   

I told her our main problems we needed to work on were getting him more forward off the leg and working on bending- he's like a cardboard box to turn. Well the whole issues with forwardness were sorted just by shortening my reins so then it was time to work on bending. Well, this is definitely a work in progress and we didn't necessarily achieve it in this lesson (without her taking over control of the reins anyway haha!) but I learnt that it's not impossible for him and that I need to be more persistent with him and start asking him for a bit more because he's ready to start learning. She agrees with me that it might be a long road to head but that we will get a dressage pony out of him yet and to still go and give it a try because she said he's got one of the best free walks she's seen from such a small horse and you get a double score for that! 

                               

All in all, I think I really benefited from it and it was a massive confidence boost that my riding isn't as terrible as I believed and I'm really looking forward to the next one :) 

Oh and my new clippers arrived the day before! I know it's going to be a very long process to get him clippable but we had our first session the other day. I only intended to run them over him turned off and perhaps turn them on next to him at the end but we got a lot further than that; we had them turned on, all over his back end and even up by his neck by the end, which is a massive achievement! Good pony that day all round :)

Beth & Jack x

14.08.2016- Feet above ground (just about)

After a day off yesterday where he just had a groom and a chill out time in his stable, it was back to work for the fat boy today. I was originally going to attempt a hack but with work I didn't really have the time (or the motivation!) to try and deal with the effort of that today. I still fancied doing something a bit different to mix things up a bit so we did a bit of pole work. 

                              
                       Someone actually came and asked what show he was going to.. no, I just like                                                          hoof oil and oil spray that's all.

                                                 
                                                              not helpful

I only set up a simple exercise of three trot and canter poles (not easy when he parked himself right in the middle of where I wanted to set them up) because we both haven't done any pole work for a really long time. I mainly just wanted to work on keeping a constant rhythm approaching, going over and leaving the poles, getting a good turn into the poles and keeping a nice straight line. He was very good, especially cantering over them, if perhaps a bit lazy at times but once he realised we were in the jumping arena he perked up a bit! I don't really want to do a lot of jumping with him until he has his follow up physio but he does love it (even if I don't anymore!) so I let him jump a little cross pole to finish on, again working on the same principles we had with the poles. He used to rush and get quite strong jumping, but he stayed very calm and balanced still, he might have got a little bit more forward but before it was cantering on the spot, bucking and rearing kind of forward, today it was just a bit of 'yay!' and that's in a snaffle, so he was very well behaved. Maybe one day in the very distant future when I'm happy with our flatwork I might be brave enough to start jumping again but I'm happy enough playing schooling ponies for now. He's getting a lot happier and relaxed in his trot every time and we even had some nice stretchy trot work after popping the jump a few times, something that would never, ever have happened with a jump in the school before and the most he's stretched since swapping back to the snaffle. My goal for myself riding wise now is to work on keeping a more consistent contact and not being afraid of letting him know I'm at the end of the reins; no more washing line reins! 

                          

Beth & Jack x

12.08.2016- A frustrating few days (or not?) ft the Vaseline saga

This blog is a very good reminder of exactly why I decided to start this project because if I hadn't wrote this I'd probably still be in one of my 'I hate my horse, I want to sell him' moods, however after having a bit of a think and reflecting on it, actually, he wasn't half that bad. 

 We'll start with Thursdays ride- he had a day off Wednesday, when he did stay in the stable all by himself for a good hour or so and behaved perfect- so it was back to work Thursday. Well for whatever reason he was in a horrible mood from the moment I brought him in, he was just being very impatient and doing little mini half rears in his stable half tacked up. So, I decided that enough was enough and sprayed a bit of his calmer on (which he was completely fine about!? Okay.). I chucked him out the stable so he just sulked out there until I'd got myself sorted and then off we headed for our ride. 

 Since he had the physio recently, the quality of his trot has come on SO much, obviously the issue with his shoulder has been ongoing for much longer than I released and I feel awful for not doing something earlier because the difference is so obvious. For the last couple of years even, his trot has been so rushed and tense all the time but I just put it down to him being un balanced but he's now reverted back to 5yo Jack who does not feel the need to rush anywhere. I forgot just how lazy he actually is, especially when you're used to riding a 13.2hh pocket rocket. Now, add to this the fact that I'd drowned him in calmer and you have a horse that trots slower than a snail (A slug perhaps. No. A deceased slug). So whilst he behaved perfectly and did some, stretchy trot work (not as well as he goes in his kimblewick, but I'm determined to keep him in a snaffle and get him to actually work properly, not just give the illusion of working nice because of the pressure from a curb chain) he was soooo slow and so dead to my leg! I think perhaps I need to purchase some spurs!

                              

So now onto yesterdays ride. Yesterday started as one of those days that I really strongly disliked my horse, however on my long walk home I kind of had a bit of think to myself and actually, I think I was the problem in this situation, not Jack. Because he's got a new bit, it's pinched him just a little bit round his mouth as he has a very sensitive, tiny little mouth so I just wanted to put some vaseline on to soften the corners of his mouth a bit. Well, I have known this horse for 5 years, I know him like the back of my hand, I am fully aware that he makes everything into a big deal and that you have to take things very slowly... so I went and did the complete opposite. Obviously this resulted in a whole tantrum occurring with a broken lead rope and lots of swearing. I realise now that I should have just taken things slowly (he was much better today!) and just seen how far I could have got and then left it on a good note. So, whilst, yes, he was being an arsehole, I definitely did not help and I am on the one more at fault here, so we're going to move on from that little fall out. I think I want things to be perfect straight away and because he's gotten so much better recently I've kind of forgotten what he can be like. So remember how I decided to scrap the get more confidence jumping goal? For the rest of the month learn to be more patient shall replace that! I am the first to admit that I need to slow down and not try to a 100 things at once, that's just my personality unfortunately. 

                                

After we'd made friends again, I took him down for a bit of fitness training in the field. All we've done is go in the school recently and I think he just needed a bit of variation to make him slightly more forward thinking. It definitely worked and he seemed to really enjoy himself- I even got a good few gallops out of him! He's definitely not the fastest of horses bless him, but he does cover the ground as he has a really long gallop stride. He's my favourite horse to ride in the field because he's quite happy to move up a gear when you ask him to but he will do as much or as little as you ask of him, he can go from a gallop to trotting round on the buckle end. So in the end we actually had a very enjoyable ride :) 

Beth & Jack x

09.08.2016- Lots of schooling

Well we've been super busy over the last couple of days getting our schooling cap on! I schooled him Saturday and he was fantastic, he wasn't stiff or sore in his shoulder at any point and was just super duper, nice and stretchy and willing to work. He then had a bath... minus a hay net or any calmer and actually fell asleep! He was so chilled out and so perfectly behaved! 
 He had a quick lunge on the pessoa last night, again was very well behaved, if a bit lazy but 100 times better than how he lunged before the physio- he'd started bucking and refusing to move but clearly now I know he was just trying to say he was feeling a bit sore! 

                                   

Then today I schooled him not once, but twice! He was a very good boy for both and we're now back down to a snaffle again instead of the kimblewick! His trot work since having the physio is so, so much better, even my dad commented saying he was like a different horse. I really feel like we're starting to work a bit better as a team on the flat now and I've gone and booked my first riding lesson in four years for next week eeeeek. I think I just need an extra pair of eyes and outside mind to come and tell me how I need to be riding him and where to go to next in order for us to progress but I'm quite excited to see what a difference a few lessons will make! 

 I've decided to take 'improve my confidence jumping' off my goals list for this month, because jumping just isn't my priority anymore, I'm just not interested about it and I don't particularly miss it. Instead I'm just going to focus on getting a few lessons and cracking down on our schooling :)

Beth & Jack x

05.08.2016- Hacking, schooling and a guest appearance

First of all I'm going to rewind back two days to Wednesday as Jack had the physio out. I've been meaning to get him done since forever but recently he's been very stiff and uncomfortable through his left shoulder after having a kick in the field so it was kind of the kick up the arse I needed to try and organise something. He was a very good boy (after deciding she was terrifying for the first five minutes) and he's been given some stretches to do to loosen up his shoulder before she comes back to reassess it in four weeks time. 

 Fast forward to today again; I'm going to start today's blog off with a bit of a shock... it's about a pony other than Jack! Today I went to ride a friend's pony called Freddie who is super cute (despite having grumpy small man syndrome) and who's life I once saved (just saying, could be a vet me). I went for a hack with Emma & Sunny and they were both very good, chilled out boys and then I had a play schooling him in the field for a bit. Considering I rode like a sack of potatoes- and wasn't wearing any shoes may I add- he went very nicely and did some lovely trot work for me. I hadn't realise just how much confidence I've lost just around horses in general, so it was nice for me to ride a different pony for a change and realise that horses aren't that scary. I was pretty nervous (of a 13hh pony, woe is me) so my riding wasn't the best but it was a nice reminder that I can actually school ponies when they give me something to work with. I want to try and ride different ponies to improve my confidence, but, having no friends, this could be difficult. Still, keep your eyes peeled for more guest pony appearances!

                                

                         
                         
                         

Then it was Jacks turn to play at schooling. Like I mentioned earlier, he's been really tight and stiff in his shoulder which has meant that when schooling him his trot work has been very tense and hard to work with recently. For the first five minutes or so he was incredibly uptight and bit like 'ouch' through his shoulder but I think it's more out of habit because it's clearly been niggling him for a while and it's been playing on my mind for well over a month now; but I thought it was just me being paranoid. I was a bit nervous as well because there were a lot of people on the yard and someone else in the other school and well, I guess I am just a bit silly nerves wise at the moment. Once he warmed up though his trot felt so, so much better, it was nice to be about to work the trot for a change. He actually started to relax through his neck and use his whole body moving forwards nicely. It was nice to watch the videos back and see such a huge difference, however working on my riding is a must! I gave him a shower off after and he was perfect which I was so pleased with because it's been a week or so since I tried... have we cracked bathing?

Later on we took the ponies for a little evening hack in the sunset after I'd finished work, me on Jack, Emma on Sparkie. Well, we've still got the hang of leaving the drive and he started out in the lead then decided that actually, it would be rude not to let Sparkie have a turn. They were both pretty faultless though really, I think hacking with another pony or a walker we're pretty much okay with. Took them for a nice canter over the meadows and the stubble field which Jack took at his usual backwards pace... I honestly think his life would have to be under threat to make him ever break into a gallop. Overall a very good first two rides of the month :)

Beth & Jack x

Month Uno; 1/6

Please bare with me on this post, my one of hopefully many, monthly review posts as it might be a bit ropey to began with before I decide on how I want to work it! 

So, in order to see how we're progressing and to keep moving forwards, I need to keep a track of how things are going and so each month I intend to do one of these posts to see whereabouts we're at and what we need to work on. Reviewing our goals from last month seems a good place to start, so here we go... 

Our goals for July were...

Improve our schooling

• I feel we had a bit of a set back with this with him having just over a week off due to being lame but I have to admit the quality of his walk and canter work seems to have come on a hell of a lot and we even very occasionally have a glimpse of some hope in trot! No, he doesn't work in a consistent outline, but now when asked to he will in both walk and canter, I just don't particularly go out of my way to ask him to at the minute as I'm trying to work more on my position than him. But, yes, this goal is going in the direction I want it to and I'm going to keep it on as an underlying goal for the rest of the year, however at the moment it's not a huge red area!

                           

                             

                                                            (June last year)

                           

                                                           (July this year)

Start work on hacking

• And when I say start work, I mean be able to walk to the end of the drive and possibly off it, so we well and truly smashed this goal. I don't think we're quite ready to go off on a 10 mile trek just yet, but we can actually leave the drive now and do a hack of some form. It's going to take a hell off a lot of work to turn him into a happy hacker so again this is going to be an ongoing goal but I never thought I'd manage a half an hour hack at any point last month!! 

To loose some weight

• Well I think some comparison pictures will explain this better... he looks incredible at the moment; so that's a 3/3 on the goal front. 

                        

                                                          (21st June)

                       

                                               (27th July, ooooooooh pony)

I'm pretty happy with how all of the above have gone down, so here is the part of the blog where we just do a quick overview because, let's be honest, writing about the whole month would take way too long and would bore people to death. 

What did we get up to? 4 hacks, XC schooling, Greenacres 

How many times did he make me want to cry/scream/gouge my eyes out/write his advert/call up tescos/etc? Surprisingly just the once!

Best parts? Evening hack to Derrington, Greenacres; he actually made me happy cry that weekend!

Worst parts? Kicking me 

And finally, time for Augusts goals... 

• Crack the canter work! Carrying on with improving our schooling, I'm going to focus on one pace at a time and as canter is his strongest pace and the easiest to work with, this seems like a good place to start.
• More confidence and consistency hacking.
• Be more patient;this one's for me!

Beth & Jack x 

31.07.2016- Back to basics

I would apologise for the fact that I'm about to do a spam of blogs but I only have one follower, so, well, I won't. 

 I will apologise for the fact that there will be no pictures for any of these as my phone has decided that after three short weeks of life, it no longer wants to be on this planet :(

So after our disastrous Wednesday, I went up after work last Sunday with my personal trainer (otherwise known as 'Dad'). He suggested I take things right back to basics again just so we can establish who is in charge as who as such and to keep things nice and simple, so I spent the first half an hour just doing walk and halt transitions. Now he can be a bit of a fidget arse when it comes to standing but I found that if I kept myself perfectly still, central and balanced he was much straighter and quieter when coming down to a stand. His walk is one of his better paces so I was happy with what we did. We finished off with a bit of canter schooling and some pole work, mainly working on my position and trying to keep myself straight and balanced; how can I ask my horse to go straight if I'm not!? His canter work is so close to how I want it to be, I think a few more pessoa sessions and we might crack it. 

 Overall he worked very well and we had a good session, much more positive :) 

Beth & Jack x

27.07.2016- One step forward and three steps back

Firstly I don't really have a lot of relevant photos to stick on here from Wednesday so I'm going to add in the photos from Sunday that I never got to post because, well, you know #content and all that. 
 Well, I made this blog for a reason, to review our progress which means writing about the bad days, not just the good and Wednesday was definitely one of those. I could have written about it on the day, but coming back a few days later without a few of the additional stressers I had going on in my non equine life I feel like I'm able to reflect on things a little better and write a blog that will actually be helpful not just an angry post in the heat of the moment. 


                                                     

Originally he was meant to be having the phsyio at 12 but this got moved a week back again, so I headed up the yard nice and early with the (probably in hindsight far too ambitious) plans to head off on a nice morning hack. He was ever so good to tack up and groom, I just let him loose in the stable and we were fly sprayed and everything without any fuss! This is a major achievement considering a couple of years ago I couldn't even hold him whilst having a spray bottle in my hand. He stood lovely to be mounted and then off we went. To be honest, the first, what 20 minutes he was perfect, he left the yard without any arguments which is still a big improvement from this time last week and hacked half way to the local village as quiet as can be despite it being quite windy and wet on the roads. However he then decided that he'd done quite enough for one day and the tantrums began, bucking, rearing, spinning and trying to bolt the lot. So, I got off and rather than admitting defeat like I usually have to do, I frog marched him to the field 10 minutes down the road. 

                            

I got back on once we were in the field, where he could spit his dummy out to his hearts content without getting in the way of traffic. He tried it on again when asking him to go past a certain point so I decided that we were going to have to learn things the hard way. I made him canter round (in all fairness he did some lovely canter work I'll give him that) for a good 15/20 minutes until he was knackered and strangely enough he hacked the rest of the way home as quiet as a lamb so I think it did the trick. I did have to get off him at one other point but in all fairness to him he was genuinely scared that time of a large lorry but that I don't mind; with him not doing a lot of hacking, things like that are going to happen until he gets out and about and sees more. He did let me get straight back on after though and wasn't stressed out so I guess in hindsight it could have gone a lot worse. Yes it wasn't the best hack I've ever had but we've definitely done worse and it's definitely an improvement over our attempts from last month. 

                                           

I then came a cropper in the stable when some scissors offended him and unfortunately I was on the firing end of some very upset hooves; cheers for all the bruises and the swollen knee Jack! I rode him again in the afternoon, which, again, started off really well, I worked on getting him to settle down and canter nicely around jumps as he gets quite excited and worked up and he was really starting to school nicely... until my dad popped down to the school to say hello and then went back up to the yard. Cue 5 minutes of rearing vertical and being just a general arsehole. I got off him, walked him away from the offending gate and then literally just sat on him for 5 minutes before taking him back to the stables because it had just got to the point when he'd pressed far too many of my buttons and I was too worked up and, I'll admit, a bit nervous to do any more so I decided that we would make friends and then call it a day. 

                           

All in all, Wednesday was really not our finest hour, but then again, somehow not our worst. 

Beth & Jack x

24.07.2016- Show time!

Just FYI, riding my horse twice in one day does not make him tired as he was still very much full of beans today ("He's fiesty isn't he?" "He really loves his jumping doesn't he?"). Also sorry for the lack of photos, hopefully there's some nice professional ones I can stick on here later! 

 Today was show time which usually means panic time, 20 minutes trying to haul my horse onto the trailer and running a good 10 minutes late. However, today went relatively smooth as far as shows go, we had everything packed and the horse on the trailer within, what 15 minutes (of which loading was only the last five can I add!). We got there in plenty of time, he stood lovely and quiet whilst he was groomed and tacked up, was fly sprayed all over not a problem. I wish I'd got a photo because he looked sooooo shiny and nice after his bath yesterday but my mum stole my phone booo! 

 We only did the one class as my confidence is in absolute tatters, I did the smallest class, 60cm and I felt like I was going in to jump at the Olympics. The first round was probably a complete mess to watch as I was so, so nervous but he looked after me and took me round clear- it's a good job one of us had our head screwed on! By the time it came to the jump off I was feeling a little bit better and actually decided to sit up and ride and he went a lot better, we were a lot more in sync as a team, it was a really lovely round! And not too slow at 36 seconds either, I didn't push him as the ground was very greasy on top and a lot of horses were slipping but he did some nice little jump off turns to finish 2nd out of about 7 or 8 horses! We decided to leave it at the one class to end on a confident note with a smile on my face and next time I should feel okay to do the 70cm. Tiny little baby steps for a horse that can jump 1m20, but we're on the right track. 

                                                   

He was super chilled and well behaved the whole time he was there even though there was a lot of standing around and loading really well coming home too, so happy days all round this weekend! Think he's deserved a day off tomorrow :)

Beth & Jack x

23.07.2016- The most productive day of all!

Well today I was off work and I think I definitely earned my bed tonight... This morning I walked up the yard to have a quick ride before it got to warm as it was crazy hot yet again (after doing 3 barrows of poo picking may I add!!). We're off to a show tomorrow so I thought it was best to have a little last minute jump practice as XC was the last time I jumped and I'm still very nervous about jumping. He was a very good boy despite the heat, he was actually surprisingly calm as he can get a bit hot headed when it comes to jumping but he was very laid back and jumped everything I pointed him at no problem. I forgot to put my body protector on so I was a bit more nervous than I should have been but he looked after me and we had a good session :) I only did about 20 minutes as I didn't want to push him in the heat. 

 Then it was bath time! With it being show day tomorrow I decided he needed a right good scrub. He was absolutely perfect, he just stood munching his hay half asleep the whole time, even when I hosed his mane, neck and his face which he's usually super sensitive about- and I didn't even use calmer this time! He was honestly so well mannered and well behaved. Then, because the shower room was a bit of a mess, I tied him up on the yard while I cleaned out and left him tied up by himself for a good 15 minutes and he didn't fret or do anything stupid, so another brownie point to the fat boy there.

                               

Then after nipping home for some lunch, it was back up to the yard again! I've been waiting for a stable on the other side of the yard to come free for a while now as he just won't settle in his current stable, every time I put him he's a complete nightmare, digging up all his bed, throwing himself on the floor, trying to climb the door and just basically giving me a weak heart at the age of 20 shall we say. Well today, one of the other girls moved her horse and so I spent a couple of hours shifting all my stuff round to the other stable and arranging my tack room all neat and tidy. 

                                                    

Well he was like a different horse going into that stable! He walked straight in, no questions asked and just went and stood quietly at the back eating his hay while I sorted the last few bits and bobs out. 

                               

Much to my poor horses horror, it was time for ride number 2 of the day. Yes, I am a horrible person and in an attempt to get him more fit and resembling more of a Fatboy Slim than just Fatboy I've decided that on my weekends off I intend to school him in the morning and attempt (attempt being a key word) a quiet hack in the evening when the traffic has died down. Deciding to attempt a hack is always a brave mood and I was well prepared for a bit of a fight, I just wanted a little evening mooch to the bottom of the road and back in the sunset and I'd take that. Well clearly I must have brought the wrong horse out of the field because he tootled to the end of the drive, straight off the drive and then proceeded to go on a good 20 minute hack to the next village and back at the buckle end as if this was something he always decided to do. We even went for a little canter round the edge of the field and he was as good as gold, even when we ended up following a tractor pulling 50 bales on a massive trailer (why, why, why when I am riding the worst horse to hack ever!?). I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to end such a busy day and I don't think it's quite sunk in yet that we managed to achieve that. He could go out and win every single class tomorrow and I don't think I'd be as proud of him as I was for that hack tonight. I am sure this is probably a fluke, but I will take it!!! Super, super boy today, he has been nothing but impeccably polite and 10/10 normal all day.

                                                  


Beth & Jack x

21.07.2016- The shortest hack of all time

The weather has been crazy warm this week so I've mainly been letting Jack just have some down time in the field because it wouldn't be fair to work him in this heat. I had a day off yesterday, so I waited until it cooled down later on to go have a little ride. We did about 25 minutes schooling which he went well for the most part, just working on canter work really as with the weather being so muggy I didn't want to push him with anything challenging and his canter is his best pace. Then afterwards, for some mad reason, I decided to try heading off the yard. This was all well and good until we got to the bottom of the drive. Now he's had much worse tantrums in the past I must admit and we didn't have rearing, he just kept turning back round to go home but after a few minutes of me just turning him back around, he finally decided that it was clearly more effort than it was worth and off we went. We only went to the end of the road and back so not even five minutes, but for us this is miracle! Usually we don't ever make it past the drive without me having to get off and lead him! I then gave him a quick shower down after and he was perfect, he stood still the whole time, even when I hosed his mane and his face, so I was really pleased with him for that :)

                                              

Today however was not quite so successful... with the weather being nice again and after the success of yesterday, I thought maybe we'd try another little hack. I'll give him the fact that he walked off down the drive the best he ever has (a few weeks ago, he'd rear and nap as soon as I got on off the mounting block and asked him to leave the stable block!) so that's an improvement, however as soon as we got to the bottom of the drive NUPE, no way, no thankyou. I think all it would have needed was for me to get off, lead him a little bit of the way and then ride, but luckily my timing was spot on and another livery was just getting back from hacking her horse, so she gave us a lead off the yard and then just took us out for a short 10 minute hack, down a different route to yesterday. Once we'd got over the whole drive fiasco, he hacked out like a Blackpool beach donkey and even gave Apple the other horse a lead past some scary road markings. Not quite how I'd wanted things to go, but I think in a way it actually did my confidence some good as I realised that actually, once the dramas are out of the way, he is actually quite good to hack and with another horse he'd go for miles so maybe that little mishap and good timing was what I needed. I want to try and hack him out with other horses a few more times to try and get my confidence back up so I can start trying to crack on and sort our issues again. On the plus side, I hosed him off again and he was perfect again; dare I say I'm actually not dreading bathing him this weekend!???

                                   


Beth & Jack x