So I tried to bring Freddie back to work after the snow and ice last month, but after a few bucks and feeling that he wasn't quite himself, I decided to wait and get his back seen to.
The back lady came on Thursday and had a look at him. She said he was a 'good well built strong boy' lol, which is great. He had a few niggles needing ironing out, and he was particularly tight on one shoulder, which she said would causes him a little discomfort, so she did what she needed to do and said to lunge the next day and then get on the day after, which was today.
So yesterday evening I lunged and he was surprising chilled out, seeing as he's done absolutely nothing since mid January... So today I got on. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive as I thought he may be on his toes. But he was a superstar. He worked fantastically and really tried for me. Perhaps I should give him a month or so off work more often, lol. We even had a couple of lovely canters and I felt he was completely settled. I thoroughly enjoyed riding him today.
So a good start to take two of bringing him back to work this year. The hard work starts here though, if he's going to get the muscle and condition back that he had before Christmas, in time for the shows, we need to knuckle down. However, I do think I need to make sure I keep things varied for him this year, as I want him to continue to enjoy his work, like I felt he did today... so more jumping, hacking, lateral work, pole work, etc. all in the pipe line this year for Freddie.
So pleased to have him back under saddle and looking forward to what is to come.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Freddie On The Run - Only for a minute though!
He escaped!!!
He usually has a stable chain across his door but his royal itchiness has been scratching on everything in his reach lately and has broken his chain, lol... so the door was wide open.
I'd moved the wheelbarrow out of the door and was just laying the bed and sweeping back the mess... I could see him sniffing around the door out of the corner of my eye, but he's usually so good that I didn't worry. Next minute I know, he's off!!
So off he trots down the yard and I run after him with a headcollar... but he thinks it'll be fun to play a game and keeps letting me get about a metre from him and then trots off again, lol! Well, it's not funny really, but I can laugh now.
Luckily I got passed him and got to the feed room... got an empty bucket and the daft animal forgets he's on the run and gets distracted by the possibility of filling his greedy face, lol. So while he was taking a moment to realise I was only offering him an empty bucket, I slipped his headcollar on and caught him. Mwahaha! My horse really is to dumb and too angelic to be a bad boy.
Don't tell his friends though, I'm sure his story would be somewhat different!
In other news. I have suspisions that Freddie's back is not quite right, so he is, yet again, doing nothing. Which is a little depressing, but unavoidable at the minute. Hopefully, with work starting to look up, I will soon be able to afford to have him checked and even to buy myself a new saddle and we will be able to get back on track before the better weather arrives. Fingers crossed.
He usually has a stable chain across his door but his royal itchiness has been scratching on everything in his reach lately and has broken his chain, lol... so the door was wide open.
I'd moved the wheelbarrow out of the door and was just laying the bed and sweeping back the mess... I could see him sniffing around the door out of the corner of my eye, but he's usually so good that I didn't worry. Next minute I know, he's off!!
So off he trots down the yard and I run after him with a headcollar... but he thinks it'll be fun to play a game and keeps letting me get about a metre from him and then trots off again, lol! Well, it's not funny really, but I can laugh now.
Luckily I got passed him and got to the feed room... got an empty bucket and the daft animal forgets he's on the run and gets distracted by the possibility of filling his greedy face, lol. So while he was taking a moment to realise I was only offering him an empty bucket, I slipped his headcollar on and caught him. Mwahaha! My horse really is to dumb and too angelic to be a bad boy.
Don't tell his friends though, I'm sure his story would be somewhat different!
In other news. I have suspisions that Freddie's back is not quite right, so he is, yet again, doing nothing. Which is a little depressing, but unavoidable at the minute. Hopefully, with work starting to look up, I will soon be able to afford to have him checked and even to buy myself a new saddle and we will be able to get back on track before the better weather arrives. Fingers crossed.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Growing Again?!
Rode the beast today :) I rode him the other day too but for some reason I had a bit of a wobble and got off after I felt like he'd done a little bit. I didn't want to let him win but I was feeling a little nervous.
So I decided I needed to kick myself up the bum and give it another bash today. He really was rather full of himself. The first half of the ride seemed to be Ok, if a little on his toes. But he was responsive and his trot seemed lovely. But then I stopped to do my girth and when we set off again he seemed really wound up.
I decided to be brave and give him a canter as perhaps he wanted to let off some steam. We had a little buck but he seemed ok, yet it still hadn't settled him.
The only other time he's felt this fizzy was when he'd grown out of his saddle. Which worries me as he's definitely had a growth spurt again so now I'm concerned that he's out grown Sarah's saddle too. I really don't have the money for a new saddle just yet but if he's grown out of Sarah's then I'll have nothing to ride him in and the show season is getting nearer by the day. Hopefully I'll get the chance to ride again tomorrow and see how he feels. I'm hoping that riding today will take the edge off of his excitement and he will feel much more settled tomorrow.
He needs to stop growing otherwise I will be riding him in horse classes next year, which will be a completely different ball game and one I don't know if I'd/he'd be ready for.
So I decided I needed to kick myself up the bum and give it another bash today. He really was rather full of himself. The first half of the ride seemed to be Ok, if a little on his toes. But he was responsive and his trot seemed lovely. But then I stopped to do my girth and when we set off again he seemed really wound up.
I decided to be brave and give him a canter as perhaps he wanted to let off some steam. We had a little buck but he seemed ok, yet it still hadn't settled him.
The only other time he's felt this fizzy was when he'd grown out of his saddle. Which worries me as he's definitely had a growth spurt again so now I'm concerned that he's out grown Sarah's saddle too. I really don't have the money for a new saddle just yet but if he's grown out of Sarah's then I'll have nothing to ride him in and the show season is getting nearer by the day. Hopefully I'll get the chance to ride again tomorrow and see how he feels. I'm hoping that riding today will take the edge off of his excitement and he will feel much more settled tomorrow.
He needs to stop growing otherwise I will be riding him in horse classes next year, which will be a completely different ball game and one I don't know if I'd/he'd be ready for.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Back To Work
Well I finally got my bum in gear today and Freddie did some work! It feels really good to have done something with him. He's not been ridden since the show and before that he wasn't ridden since before New Year... so he's had an awful lot of time off. We'll excuse it as 'thinking time'. But the harder work starts now as he needs to get back into shape. I don't know how many shows I will get to but I'm hoping to get him out whenever possible and if he isn't ready when one comes up, I know I'll kick myself.
So I procrastinated for a while, had a cup of tea and eventually decided I really should get on with something productive... so, much to Freddie's dismay we tacked up and went out into the school. I only lunged and aren't I glad I didn't opt for the suck-it-and-see option! For the first five minutes he seemed incapable of keeping all four feet on the floor for more than a stride. He bounced and leapt around like a fool, whilst I just did all I could to hang on to the other end of the line and stop him catching his feet on it, as his hooves went above head level and he twisted and threw himself into every shape he could manage. Arse!
Eventually he became bored of this game and decided that speed was much more fun than contortion... slow was apparently not an option and everything was much more spectacular at 100mph! I tried asking him to come down a gear but I was clearly not interesting enough to take much notice of! So in the end I let him run... then when he eventually decided he'd had enough of playing silly buggers, he tried to slow down. So I pushed him on. He bucked in protest, so I pushed him on again. Eventually the silly cob decided I was right and it would be in his interest to do as I asked.
Once we'd agreed on this he actually went quite sweetly and his trot looked rather impressive. I also noticed, when I got the chance to actually watch him and not hold on for dear life, that he definitely looks a lot chunkier than the last time I lunged him. I can't have lunged him since I very first went to Sarah's at the beginning of October, although she has a few times when she's done him for me, so I haven't seen him on the lunge since he's filled out. The winter seems to have done him good and hopefully he's finally growing into his legs and head. I was pleasantly surprised.
So anyway, the beast really did sweat and puff after all of the exertion, so it was worth the fight. I'll get on him tomorrow, which I'm slightly apprehensive about. I may even lunge him for a while before I get on... just incase we have the same argument all over again, although he isn't usually one to argue quite so defiantly. But I'd rather win our battles from the safety of the floor I think.
It's funny though, he really is such a pleasure. I tied him up outside whilst I mucked out and he cooled down and he's such an affectionate little horse. He just likes to be with you and it's hard to see the same horse that was just throwing his feet at your head in the school. I just adore every inch of him!
So I procrastinated for a while, had a cup of tea and eventually decided I really should get on with something productive... so, much to Freddie's dismay we tacked up and went out into the school. I only lunged and aren't I glad I didn't opt for the suck-it-and-see option! For the first five minutes he seemed incapable of keeping all four feet on the floor for more than a stride. He bounced and leapt around like a fool, whilst I just did all I could to hang on to the other end of the line and stop him catching his feet on it, as his hooves went above head level and he twisted and threw himself into every shape he could manage. Arse!
Eventually he became bored of this game and decided that speed was much more fun than contortion... slow was apparently not an option and everything was much more spectacular at 100mph! I tried asking him to come down a gear but I was clearly not interesting enough to take much notice of! So in the end I let him run... then when he eventually decided he'd had enough of playing silly buggers, he tried to slow down. So I pushed him on. He bucked in protest, so I pushed him on again. Eventually the silly cob decided I was right and it would be in his interest to do as I asked.
Once we'd agreed on this he actually went quite sweetly and his trot looked rather impressive. I also noticed, when I got the chance to actually watch him and not hold on for dear life, that he definitely looks a lot chunkier than the last time I lunged him. I can't have lunged him since I very first went to Sarah's at the beginning of October, although she has a few times when she's done him for me, so I haven't seen him on the lunge since he's filled out. The winter seems to have done him good and hopefully he's finally growing into his legs and head. I was pleasantly surprised.
So anyway, the beast really did sweat and puff after all of the exertion, so it was worth the fight. I'll get on him tomorrow, which I'm slightly apprehensive about. I may even lunge him for a while before I get on... just incase we have the same argument all over again, although he isn't usually one to argue quite so defiantly. But I'd rather win our battles from the safety of the floor I think.
It's funny though, he really is such a pleasure. I tied him up outside whilst I mucked out and he cooled down and he's such an affectionate little horse. He just likes to be with you and it's hard to see the same horse that was just throwing his feet at your head in the school. I just adore every inch of him!
Sunday, 10 January 2010
I Do Love My Little Horse
Not a lot to report really. I ventured out in the snow on my own today, and as is true of most things we worry about, it was absolutely fine and, once I'd made it out of our drive, which I'm sure has turned into a snow magnet, the roads were clear as a bell.
It was absolutely freezing cold though and my toes and ears really did suffer. I didn't do anything other than muck him out and stand around chatting about genetics and breeding for half an hour or so and then I swiftly make my way home to the warm... but I just have to say that I do really really love that little horse. He's such a lovely person and so stunning, even in his scruffy rug, with his muddy knees and unkempt hairdo. I adore his little face and just can't help kissing his nose, which he finds highly embaressing I'm sure.
I have nothing more to say, but I felt I needed to say just this. Nothing more, nothing less.
It was absolutely freezing cold though and my toes and ears really did suffer. I didn't do anything other than muck him out and stand around chatting about genetics and breeding for half an hour or so and then I swiftly make my way home to the warm... but I just have to say that I do really really love that little horse. He's such a lovely person and so stunning, even in his scruffy rug, with his muddy knees and unkempt hairdo. I adore his little face and just can't help kissing his nose, which he finds highly embaressing I'm sure.
I have nothing more to say, but I felt I needed to say just this. Nothing more, nothing less.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
The Snow Is Outstaying It's Welcome!
The snow has well and truly lost it's appeal now!
The first time around, just before Christmas, it was fun for the first few hours. We took lovely snow pony photographs and the boys made a snow man... By the end of the day it was beginning to seem a little inconvenient, and then when it stayed around for a few days I really got quite bored with it.
Now, this is the second lot of big snow we've had, with more forecast over the weekend, and it's just a complete pain in the arse! I haven't seen my horse since Monday and can't seem to get anything done because nobody is at work!
I can't WAIT for summer!
This is all I have to say today... nothing remotely exciting has happened so I have very little to write about.
The first time around, just before Christmas, it was fun for the first few hours. We took lovely snow pony photographs and the boys made a snow man... By the end of the day it was beginning to seem a little inconvenient, and then when it stayed around for a few days I really got quite bored with it.
Now, this is the second lot of big snow we've had, with more forecast over the weekend, and it's just a complete pain in the arse! I haven't seen my horse since Monday and can't seem to get anything done because nobody is at work!
I can't WAIT for summer!
This is all I have to say today... nothing remotely exciting has happened so I have very little to write about.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Great Chart Show
So we went to the show yesterday!!
It was a qualifier for CHAPS, Equifest and PUK. Freddie did two classes, a CHAPS Winter Champs qualifier and an Equifest qualifier...
And qualified for both!!!!!!!! I was immensely proud
(The fact there were hardly any people there is compleeeetely irrelevant! lol)
He was an absolute star!!! He grew about two inches when he went in the ring and was more flashy than I've ever seen him move, yet behaved impeccably. I am SO proud!
I'd wanted Sarah to ride him for me so I could see how he'd go, not expecting him to qualify for anything, lol... and also I have no stuff (sold my jacket, have no black boots, etc.) so didn't really have a choice. And I have to say I'm gutted because I'd have loved to have ridden him in his second class, but never mind... I have CHAPS Champs in March, Equifest in August and a whole lot more throughout summer hopefully, to look forward to! Oh goodness, the hard work really starts now!
I'm a very proud mummy!
It was a qualifier for CHAPS, Equifest and PUK. Freddie did two classes, a CHAPS Winter Champs qualifier and an Equifest qualifier...
And qualified for both!!!!!!!! I was immensely proud
(The fact there were hardly any people there is compleeeetely irrelevant! lol)
He was an absolute star!!! He grew about two inches when he went in the ring and was more flashy than I've ever seen him move, yet behaved impeccably. I am SO proud!
I'd wanted Sarah to ride him for me so I could see how he'd go, not expecting him to qualify for anything, lol... and also I have no stuff (sold my jacket, have no black boots, etc.) so didn't really have a choice. And I have to say I'm gutted because I'd have loved to have ridden him in his second class, but never mind... I have CHAPS Champs in March, Equifest in August and a whole lot more throughout summer hopefully, to look forward to! Oh goodness, the hard work really starts now!
I'm a very proud mummy!
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