30.06.2016- Circle Time

So yes, this is technically before the start of the 6 month plan, but today I went to the yard and did something with the fat boy and took pictures so here we go, here's a little blog. In case you didn't guess by the title, today we did lots of going round in circles on the lunge.

Jack was apparently really not feeling work today as he was flat out asleep when I went to fetch him in (in the muddiest part of the field I kid you not)- no photos as I left my phone by the stable! Anyway, after I'd persuaded him that now is not the time for napping and giving him a mammoth groom as he looked horrendous, we got the pessoa out and did some work.

I only gave him a quick 20 minutes, but he worked very hard and actually probably went the nicest I've seen him go on the pessoa, he was a lot more relaxed and focused then he usually is which is surprising because it's been about a month since we last gave it a try and he's not the biggest fan in general. I really need to get my backside into gear and try to pessoa him more often to get those muscles working as he's quite stiff on his worst rein and really struggles with any inside bend.

He is looking very shiny at the moment; just need to get rid of that huge pot belly!!

Beth & Jack x

The 6 Month Plan;The Start.

So the thing is, I doubt people will ever read this blog. Or, by some form of miracle, people actually do find this blog and read it, they'll be a handful at most. However, even if I am the only person to ever read this blog, it needs to be written and it’s here for a reason. Now that all sounds far more dramatic than it needed to, so let me explain..

 First of all, I need to introduce you to my delightful equine friend Favourite Worst Nightmare, aka Jack (much less of a mouthful for blogging purposes eh). He is 14.3hh-15hh on tippy toes- 7 years old, Welsh D X TB, a tad obese, the best thing since sliced bread and also the reason I shall probably go grey by the time I am 30. Together, we are about to embark on what I have, oh so wittingly, decided to name ‘The 6 Month Plan’. Think of it as a probation period as such for my horse.

 As things currently stand, our outlook on  life and our partnership together is looking a lot brighter than it did coming into this year when we were most definitely not friends with each other for a little while (Thanks for the constant back pain kiddo), however there is no doubt that we still have a long, long way to go and a lot of problems to overcome. So, in order to move forward and push ourselves to where I know we can be, I have decided we have six months to give it our best shot and knock our demons on the head and each month I will see what we’ve achieved and learnt in that month to see if we’re heading in the right direction. If at the end of six months, we’re still not happy campers, then maybe it’s time to have a rethink and we are not the right people for each other.

 So… what exactly do we need to work on!?

*Groundwork; more specifically, catching, worming, clipping, bathing

*Loading

*Hacking

*Schooling

I know this all seems a bit all over the place and with no real structure, but hang on in there… I have great plans for this little blog! Month 1 begins from the 1^st July, with our main goal for this month being improving our schooling and starting work on hacking, plus to loose some weight!

Beth & Jack x