Getting Back to Normal

I see I haven't blogged for ages again. Now that summer is just about over things are now getting back to their normal routine. I was only able to ride once or twice a week after our holiday, but the last couple of weeks I've managed to ride more often.

I've dispensed with the Pelham now. Santana was starting to get used to it and was beginning to resist, especially on the right rein, so i've gone back to my Wilson snaffle but using a Market Harborough with it. Some days he's been great, other days he pulls my arms out, particularly my right arm. Doing right handed circles at canter I have to brace against his neck with my left hand in order to get him round the circle. Not good!!! Left handed he's perfect - he canters really collected.

So, new plan of action - right handed circles only. Trotting only. Zig zagging across the track with small right handed circles or figures of eight mixed in. I've got the Market Harborough tighter on the right hand side than the left.

I've been doing this for a couple of days now and he actually seems to be responding and bending into the turns which makes a nice change! We'll keep doing this for a while until I think he's really caught on.

Hoping to get Jasmine to take some new video for me soon.

Disaster Struck

About eight weeks ago I broke my wrist - what a disaster! It was horse related of course. It was a Sunday morning so instead of spending a pleasant Sunday morning riding, I ended up in A&E being x-rayed and plastered. I chose a purple cast which I discovered later was a mistake because I don't have enough clothes that go with purple to last until the cast was removed!

No riding for a minimum of six weeks.

Jasmine managed to ride Santana for me a couple of times during the six weeks and in the meantime he's been getting fat!

At last I have had the cast taken off but I wasn't prepared for how painful it was still going to be. I have to have physio to improve the amount of movement in my wrist.

I have ridden a few times using a wrist support with a splint, but have not done anything too energetic yet. Santana has behaved himself very well although I have used a Pelham in order not to have him weighing too heavily on my hands.

Anyway, I'm off to Cornwall tomorrow for two weeks, so hopefully by the time I return I will be able to get back to riding properly. I'll need to get both him and me back to fitness again.

First Show Ever

Oh my God, I haven't blogged for AGES! I didn't realise it had been so long.

Well since last time, I've been doing a mixture of schooling and hacking and a bit of jumping now and then just to keep his interest. We've been working on cantering on the right leg - he favours the left leg so a lot of work is needed here, but he's getting better.

On Sunday 10 May I took him to his first ever show. Its just a little show in Tingrith - perfect for his first time. We did the 2 foot class first and he clearly found it all a bit scary but he was really brave and didn't refuse anything. He had second and third thoughts about going over a really bright white jump but after a bit of encouragement he jumped it, but knocked it down.

As he'd done so well I decided to take him in the next class - 2'3" -2'6". Having already seen the jumps the first time around he was a little braver this time and cantered on a bit better. He had another one down but that was fine, I was just pleased he had done so well and we got round pretty uneventfully.

Jasmine took Scoobydoo (aka Crazy!) and he got crazier with each jump, but Jas managed him really well. She also took Hazel, a lovely chestnut tb who she's been jump training over the last couple of weeks. She's done so well with her Tom said she could take her to the show. She did the 2'3" - 2'6" class and the 2'9" class as well. She got fifth in the 2'3" and had a pole down in the next class, but Hazel jumped really well.

It was a gorgeous day too. The sun shone but it wasn't too hot. A fandabydozy day was had by all!

When I get time I'll upload the photos and videos to Youtube.