An overdue report from Badminton. We had a good trip down on Monday, a swap at Gloucester services to leave Amy and Sarah in the lorry so me and Stevie could get down for the course walk. I got the time wrong so we walked it ourselves before heading back to walk it with Tom McEwan, possibly the best thing to happen as we knew what was coming and it was very beneficial. Boo came off the lorry and eat grass before Sarah and Amy put her to bed. That night we went for a wonder round the field to give Boo a leg stretch, she was feeling good.
Tuesday morning we got up and after Boo was sorted all of us went on another corse walk so everyone could see what we were coming too. We then had our dressage, Anne very kindly warmed me up and we were all pleased with the test, very possibly Boo's first test in a 20x60. She did a nice test for 35. Boo had some grass while we had lunch then we went on the Yogi Brisner course walk, again very interesting. I marched round the course again to get my minute markers which included the socks and shoes coming off so I could finally walk my line in the water. We had a long wait on Wednesday morning for my show jumping. She was a tad excited warming up and keen to her warm up fences, after the one before us left the arena via an alternative route we were in, she jumped round lovely, tapped the 8th but left it up then coming down hill to the last which was a double she backed off and felt like she was stopping, after a squeal from me on top she took off, fiddled 2 strides in the 1 stride double and popped out clear. How I don't know, I look forward to seeing the video back. Back to the lorry for a quick change of equipment and headed off to the cross country, again she was wild in the warm up, taking strides out and being strong on landing. I'd jumped a few and then spoke to Amy who had come with me, she asked if I was going to jump on the angle, something I normally avoid but decided I should, however Boo decided she wasn't turning when asked then was nearly too late, she tried to take off and put down but we got over it. Maybe the best thing she did as she then started listening to me properly. I saw the one 2 in front of me start and suddenly realised the one before me wouldn't be coming so got a bit flustered. Boo set off out the start box raring to go, popped round really nicely eating up all the combinations not a problem including the ditch which is what we've had problems with this year. I knew I wanted to go long at fence 13/14 (I think) and knew it was going to take a bit of time so typical us style we were up on the time, I didn't really want to back off riding her until after the water as the questions came quick and fast between my long route and the water. After the water we came home gently but still full of running, I did make sure I rode her into each fence after the water, I'd seriously kick myself for a stupid run out after the water. We met Sarah, Stevie and Amy after we'd finished, after Amy had cycled round the course behind me! Amy took Boo the long way home and me, Sarah and Stevie headed back to the lorry to get everything sorted for Boo coming back, she wasn't sweating by the time she got to us. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching BDWP for the results and were delighted to see that she'd finished 17th on her dressage score, we couldn't have asked more of her. She coped with everything so well. Wednesday night we had a few drinks and generally enjoying ourselves, the lorry next to us wasn't keen on our partying and by 10.30pm we had been told to shut up! It didn't stop us! Thursday we were all knackered from our busy few days and the night before. We wondered down to find some crepes in the morning before heading back to take Boo for a leg stretch which resulted in us nearly having a helicopter land on us, not that Boo minded too much. We headed to the pub for tea which was very nice. Friday morning I managed to find the hacking route and went for a lovely ride while the lorry was repositioned to act as a wind block. We then headed off to watch some more dressage, do some shopping and walk the 4* xc which really was big and on what looked like impossible angles and turns! Saturday morning we took Boo out for a wonder, which involved hacking down the field to meet Jo and then again to meet Kirsty. After we were all sorted we went off with plenty of time to watch the 4*. We managed to see pretty much someone over every fence except the first 3 and last 3, they really showed us how to do it and it was amazing to watch. We finished the day by having some photos of me and Boo and also with mum as well. They've come out really well. Sunday morning we got packed up and sorted, loaded Boo and after a little bit of stress with the lorry not wanting to start at the beginning and then saying there was low air pressure we got going and made the 8h trip home. After we got home we popped Boo in the field for a couple of hours which she was delighted with. There are so many people I have to thank for making all this possible! Obviously mum and dad for always supporting me and allowing me to carry on playing with my horses, and mum for owning Boo. Amy and Sarah for coming and being amazing while we were there, Stevie for taking some many wonderful photos and also for cooking and for very kindly sponsoring us this season. Susie from The Northumbrian Tweed Company for continuing to sponsor us this season. Richard for looking after the house and dogs and removing Coco from fields field one night after she went jumping. Tricia for taking the rugs off the ponies at home each morning and feeding them at night and re rugging them. Anne for all her help with Boo over the last few years and for waming us up at the dressage. Sarah Rodgers for all her help with our dressage. David Gatherer for our show jumping training. Charlotte Agnew for our cross country schooling earlier in the year. And to everyone who has supported us up to this point, wished us good luck or congratulated us! Boo is now having a few days rest and will have a quiet week when she's back into work.
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It has been a busy few months, my 3 girls are all back in work and feeling very well.
Boo got her shoes on at the start of December and we have taken it slowly to make sure she has the best start for the up coming eventing season. She has started to do more cantering work to make sure we get her fit in time and on Tuesday she got her first trip away in the lorry since her last event, much to her disappointment we went to a flat work lesson with Sarah Rodger, it was her 1st proper flat work session since coming back in this year and she worked very hard, Sarah and Anne were both impressed with how she has come out this year. There is still plenty to work on but we are at a good starting point. Last week she had her first jump as well, she jumped alright but I wasn't all together happy with it, Thankfully Hazel were able to squeeze us in on Friday and give her a nice massage. After jumping her yesterday I am pleased with how she was feeling. Coco got her shoes at the start of January after her box rest, she is feeling very well after having had 5 weeks of, I think it was just what she was needing! I was a bit worried about our 1st canter in the field but it turned out she was very good, we had a couple of canters in the arena and along the old railway. Her flat work has been quite nice, she also went to see Sarah on Tuesday, there is plenty to work on for her Championships but we have a few months to concentrate on that and will hopefully get to plenty of team training to help with that. She has had 2 jumping sessions too and is very pleased to be out jumping, her latest jump was a lot more controlled than her first one. I feel she is one that will benefit from being ridden 3-4 times a week. Daisy has been concentrating on her flat work and it is slowly improving most days we are in there. We had a lesson with Jade Struthers in the middle of January and that has really helped us, I feel she is becoming a lot more secure in my hands. She has been jumping to, and I am very pleased with her, she is now getting in closer and taking a short stride instead of taking a stride out which is very nice, yesterday she popped round 90cm making it feel very easy! I have been busy going to other yards to ride for them which has been nice to ride some other horses on some other yards. Its been nice to see how they have come on in between times when I haven't been there and nice to bring some others back into work after some time off, they have all been well behaved. We have had our first visitor in for some work, Elsie is being lovely and after playing around with some bits I feel I am now getting there with what she's liking. She had her first jump yesterday, even though they were only small she was getting the idea of what to do. Now it has stopped snowing I better have some lunch and go and ride some more ponies. Hope you are all staying cosy! Hello all.
My horses have had a quiet couple of weeks due to me bring injured. I took a horse over to Glasgow to get over scooped for my uncle he decided he didn't want the scope in and I was in the wrong place which resulted in getting knocked over and stood on. Initially it was the inside of my calf that hurt the most due to being stood on. I then drove to the vet school and then home where the adrenaline wore off and my leg got quite sore. Turned out I did some ligament damage in my ankle, a very tight muscle in my calf and a nice haematoma on the inside of my calf. I have been living in a pair of walking boots which is giving my ankle a lot of support! Boo now has her shoes on and I am able to do her walking exercise! Daisy was going to have a holiday but isn't just yet, I schooled her today and although it was just a short session she was very good and mu ankle and leg stood up to a bit more pressure! Coco is on box rest, she decided to try and jump over the wall out the field. I have a feeling she hadn't realised there was a drop and put her back legs down by which point it was too late, she hit the scare wire and took a fairly decent chunk of skin with her which resulted in her having to get it stitched up. It's not as bad as first thought and it was looking alright when it got redressed earlier this week. Hopefully that's me and the horses done with injuries for a while!! I seem to have been pretty busy the last few weeks, and that’s not with my horses. Poor Daisy has missed a few days recently but I have been able to keep Coco going and have her ready for our Riding Club Winter Area Novice Show Jumping.
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