Perfect

Is what I got told today :-) I think that was referring to a brief moment of one aspect of my equitation and not the whole lesson :-)

Right side is still an issue, on Blackberry using the ropes I can easily stay down my left side with or without a stirrup, right side not so much. Can improve it if I list my right toe WTF?

Onto Pooh did usual buckle work and then Sue wanted him picked up, am slightly *gulp* at how many layers SFO has to her equitation. So not only do I need to

look ahead

stretch my right side

sit straight

follow the contact

steer

maintain forward activity

have a front line

I also need to think about the horse! SFO asked if Pooh was moving evenly from behind (not as in lame) clearly I am learning something because rather than just saying ' no idea' I tried to think about it.

My right hip was being moved further forward than my left hip, so I could either retard my right hip or move the left more. This is something SFO learnt from Barbara Leach synchronising your movement to that of the horse.

Then on trot and canter when will I remember to stretch my right side? *bangs head*

Then lunge and work on contact using grab strap need to have feel of hands forward whilst body can do 'stuff' behind hands without hands becoming backward.

So hook little fingers under grab strap, need to keep grab strap taut in front and between hands.

Worked on point / soft which needs to come much more from my shoulders, well maybe it doesn't but if that is where I think it is coming from SFO says good :-)

Then onto canter, need to have more body in front of elbows and for now need to keep elbows at sides.

Then back free to get a FDO trot *fcuk* that was difficult, really difficult under the forensic gaze :-)

mentally shattered

Sat in the sunshine

Sat in the sun watching the pony that seems to have a self destruct button :/( his escapade on Saturday has set us back a month but at least we can carry on with the turn out plan.

Currently between a rock and a hard place, if he stays in he'll really suffer the effects of immobilisation, if he goes out he could further damage the left check.

So if we keep him in he won't come back, if we turn him out he might not come back. Great choice, so am sat in sun pony sitting.

Starting to really miss riding him and now it is a month further off just seems worse than it probably is.

Local centre are running Equipilates classes and getting an Anky free rider not really sure how they can do postural stuff on one?

Happy day

Today was a good day, chocolate is slimming OK that might be a lie given how much I like chocolate and how fat I am but for today I'll go with it :@)

Today Chorrie went out in his grass pen, the one we build on Saturday the day he nuggered up his left check again.

It is a roller coaster ride but today it was just wonderful to stand out with him and watch him graze and then have a groom with Fred.

Oh and Mad Men is back so it really is a red letter day.

This day will help sustain me for the rehab road that is ahead

Naughty pony

So we're up to twenty minutes twice a day in hand, physio on Monday 19th thought I'd be back on board end of April.

Saturday had husband on standby to come and build a turn out pen on grass as other turn out pen had gone to mush, threw in promise of lunch as a sweetener.

So went to yard Saturday am did chores and took boy in school, due possibly to actions of a thoughtless livery he spooked big time and got away from me. Did several laps of school in trot (sound) and then had a canter all fairly calm but not what he is supposed to be doing (!)

So long story short, left check up and right check up slightly. Felt sick to my stomach :-( as vet was booked to scan him today anyway I decided to box rest him and ice until we had the scan results.

So scan shows he has done damage to left not enough to go back onto box rest but sufficient that walking cut back to ten minutes twice a day. Good news is vet still wants to go ahead with getting him in the grass pen. She feels gentle walking around mooching for grass will be beneficial, however she wants him watched for a bit, so will be taking a book to yard.

Had decided that if he had to box rest for more than a month I was going to 'give up' and turn him out (controlled fashion) as I am desperate that he goes out and we get him back to some resemblance of normality.

Chatting to vet afterwards she thinks he has a good prognosis as right leg is healing well and no reason left leg shouldn’t follow suit, which was a different take home to the one I heard last visit.

So tomorrow three days later than planned he gets to try his new pen :-)

Fcuk

Chorrie got away from me in the school yesterday, he has damaged left check again, vet out tomorrow to scan so will see what damage is.

Really have to ask is the series of events that brought me here bad luck or bad planning?

Am I the problem? Do others have such a roller coaster ride?

Clipped Fred took three hours, every time I say I must do it more often then it won't be such a long job as the hair won't be as long and every time I put it off until we end up with him looking like a yakk his hair is so long.

Lovely to see the sun

One of the best things that ever happened to me

Five years ago today Chorister landed in a stable block near me :biggrin: he showed me I could love again. Sent his ex owner two dozen yellow roses so glad she sold him to me :biggrin:

Dearest Fred if you hadn't been there I'd have given up; my two bay boys you really do fill my heart with gladness each and every time I see your bay faces.

And in other news I'm going to Arrow with Pip will be balm for the soul.

For my two bay boys:-

Oh the morning sun in all its glory

Greets the day with hope and comfort too

And you fill my life with laughter

You can make it better

Ease my troubles that's what you do

There's a love that's divine

And it's yours and it's mine

Like the sun

At the end of the day

We should give thanks and pray to the One

Have I told you lately that I love you

Have I told you there's no one above you

Fill my heart with gladness

Take away my sadness

Ease my troubles, that's what you do

There's a love that's divine

And it's yours and it's mine

And it shines like the sun

At the end of the day we will give thanks

And pray to the One

Have I told you lately that I love you

Have I told you there's no one above you

Fill my heart with gladness

Take away my sadness

Ease my troubles, that's what you do

Take away my sadness

Fill my life with gladness

Ease my troubles that's what you do

Fill my life with gladness

Take away my sadness

Ease my troubles that's what you do

Sophie aka Princess Sophie

So Sophie back for second B12 injection, Amanda has no explanation for the sudden increase and as sudden back to normal wrt water consumption.

Took urine no signs of UTI, kidney function still normal, no glucose in urine so ???

Started vaccinations now she is no longer pot bellied and has put on weight and has settled into her new home.

Back next two Saturdays for more B12 jabs and then see Amanda for second vacc.

Mothering Sunday

was a unique day :@) in the morning I was Peppa Pig for a friend's little girl's third birthday party.

The head was *huge* and I couldn't see anything!

This afternoon made a bigger pen for Fred and next weekend will make one for Chorrie on the grass Fred has eaten down.

Good day.

Back to Arrow

So last time I was at Arrow was middle of January and Millie was still alive but it was that weekend she went downhill and we then lost her :-(

So two months since I last rode and TEN months since I last rode Chorrie :-(

Blackberry

Started off on Blackberry and had lost my rise so worked on that, right pillar also missing - need to feel sat on right as almost a diagonal feel.

Revisited canter aids.

My right neck is a constant low level ache at the moment am seeing physio on 22nd and then SFO again on 31st will be interesting to see if pillar follows neck as my default is to tip head right (subconscious effort to relieve pain?)

Pooh

Started off on the buckle, then up into trot really struggled to have a right pillar.

Didn't get any comments about clambering up the reins but did get told to shorten reins so have I finally resolved the issue of trying to ride neck too short?

Had some issues in walk with Pooh going 1/4s in as we passed SFO, on one occasion had to really ask to get him to move 1/4s back.

Had some good moments in trot and in canter.

Overall chuffed as not ridden for two months and didn't have a confidence nightgown :-)

Pony in pen

Fred went out in the field pen yesterday (Monday 12th March) and was out again today.

Hopefully (praise the relevant deities) that is box rest over for him and he can field rest.

30th December -> 12th March

Now need to get the drama llama going out in the other pen without having a nightgown (meltdown SU joke!) then he can go out in a field pen come Easter

Lovely day

Over to ponies C kept a lid on it whilst being hand walked. So warm was in a polo shirt and it is early March!

Off to see Clare for coffee, lovely to see Clare and the girls it has been too long!

Back home for quick shower then picnic lunch in Christ Church meadow followed by playing at being a tourist :@)

Back to yard threw C on walker, and have made a field pen for Fred ...

Chilli con carne for supper :fat: :@)

Fred and the farrier

So today had boy wonder farrier out, Fred was up first so quick chat pointed out how Fred was standing i.e. still compensating for check ligament and then I got on with mucking out.

Box rest hasn't been good for his feet nor has shifting weight off injured leg.

Any ways am mucking out when farrier pops head around door and asks about putting frog support pads on Fred to try and help his feet.

Farrier thinks feet problems are age related (Cushings) :-( rather than down to box rest.

I feel really :-( as hate the moment when it hits me that Fred is elderly and ...

I love that pony and whatever the future holds am grateful I am owned by him, he makes me laugh he is cheeky beyond cheeky but sometimes I can't breathe for loving him.

The other day I was mucking out around him and he came over and pressed his cheek against mine I'll never forget that moment. Of course five minutes later he was trying to tip over the wheelie!

I need a bloody drink

This afternoon was one of those afternoons when drowning in a nice white Burgundy seems very appealing.

Had appointment in town at 11:00 which went tits up, got home let dogs out in garden whilst I put kettle on and heard someone talking to dogs which is odd as we have an enclosed garden and you can only get in by going past kitchen door.

So go outside and neighbours garden wall has collapsed and nice chap is being mugged by my dogs :*) as he tries to remove collapsed brick work from our flower bed (well it was a flower bed before Oliver Beagle helped with the digging.

Good to know I own two guard dogs!

So off to yard in the sunshine :-)

Pop Fred out in pen once vet had been and gone pop Chorrie out with him.

BAD POSH JOB decides that both barrels at Fred is good entertainment, luckily he didn't mean it but I seriously don't this this Chorister Presland!

Haul in bad pony and finish off stable and pulsed mag.

Hand walk the bad pony who live up to his new name!

Home for a large glass of white!

Have decided to book a spa day, pedicure, manicure, hot stone massage and facial !

Two ponies in a pen

Today the sun shone the birds were singing and the two bay boys went out in the pen together.

Chorrie happy to indulge in a mutual grooming session with Fred but otherwise a bit of a grump moving Fred over still it did mean they moved about a bit rather than play statues!

So more progress now need to sort out if I am going to attempt to long rein him or not ...

Coaching

So today went to meet with Rich to discuss contracting for my coaching.

Am looking to be coached on how to build a team and how to play to my strengths and minimise my weaknesses and basically be of value to the organisation in this role

Left feeling absolutely wrung out, seems like a mammoth task ahead.