Welcome to my blog about horsey life in the North East - the good bits, bad bits, endless coffees and plenty of mud!

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Rodney gem


We managed plenty of riding last week but the snow and the cold have slowed things down this week. Hey ho, that's the way it goes and I'm sure there'll be some nice weather along soon. For now let's wrap up warm and keep our horses well fed and well rugged-up!

Happy horsing everyone :)








Thursday 21 March 2013

Why?


Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well and managing during the cold snap. It's a long shot but I have a question...

99 per cent of my page hits are currently coming from Russia which is a giant swing, literally overnight!

Could anyone from Russia who's clicked on in the last few days tell me why?

I'm delighted you're viewing my blog and if there's something you've particularly liked, I'll aim to deliver more of the same : )

Happy horsing x

Gratuitous horsey pic of Cady in her head brace, sorry De Gogue.

Monday 18 March 2013

Lifting the next weight


On Saturday I had my first lesson on Rodders with dressage trainer and rider Samantha Brown. It was great.

I was so excited to have a lesson after ages of skintness that I got up early to wash Rodney's socks and tail.

All the hack from the past six months took a while to shift but he did look rather spiffy, if not slightly irritated by my spurt of enthusiasm and shampoo.



Look at that tummy! Shouldn't horses slim down in the winter?


He was very good in his lesson and tried extremely hard, even though we were both a bit knackered. My thigh muscles afterwards felt like they'd been filled with concrete!
The key things to work on are:

1. Consistent, proper transitions. Rodney needs to move off the leg and I need to maintain a contact and ride through the transition.

2. Not zooming down the longside. Self explanatory really!

3. I need to tilt my pelvis back in canter and glue my bum to the saddle.

4. We need to stay forward in the walk.

5. Building stamina. Rodney thinks cantering more than two 20m circles is excessive and I need to get fit enough to persuade him otherwise. Sam referred to this as 'lifting the next weight' which I really liked. Lying on the sofa eating sweets is now banned.

It was a great lesson and I felt really motivated by it so there will be lots of practicing going on before our next one in a fortnight's time.

Happy horsing everyone, I hope your spring training is going well x

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Back to school


Despite funds being tight (nothing new there!) I've decided it's high time I invested in some lessons.
On Saturday Rodney and I will be under the tutellage of Sam Brown, from Leamside Equestrian. My friend had a lesson with her and really enjoyed it so I am very excited and hopefully my horsey pals are coming to watch and heckle a bit - it's nice to have support!

I had hoped to do some swotting in the saddle this week but due to the Arctic conditions I've spent more time reading up than riding - mainly about the classical seat.

I don't know what my seat is but it's much more 'novelty' than 'classic'.

But everyone has to start somewhere, don't they? 

I liked this from Roger and Eleanor Taylor's website.

"If your horse is comfortable and can move with freedom and ease and you, the rider, is comfortable and can move with freedom and ease, then you have cracked the problem. You are in the correct position."

To read more, click the link

Classical dressage

I also found this from our undisputed dressage queen, Sylvia Loch.

“For me there is only one way to achieve perfect balance...,” says Sylvia, ...”and that is to find the centre! You would be amazed how few people ever do this in their riding. Most dressage riders today are behind the movement.”

I hope I can find the centre, and I hope if I do, that I am able to stay there.

I shall keep you posted in my self improvement endevours.

Hope you're all keeping warm and safe in this weather! Brrr! Happy horsing x

Monday 4 March 2013