First Dressage Test

Sunday, was me and Millie's first dressage test for both of us. I've never done one in my life, never even been to one so I didn't have a clue about it. Only entered 1 comp as I didn't know that instructor, T, had the British Dressage tests and only entered the DI prelim one, which I was told was really hard.
It was on in Clonshire, which isn't that far. Gave Millie a good groom on Saturday evening, and I washed her mane and tail, plaited up half her mane, hands got tired and was starving so decided to get up early Sunday morning and finish them off and bun them and plait her tail. So made her a lovely huge comfy bed of straw with her supper and loads of hayledge. Went down Sunday morning, hoping to see a happy clean and shiny horse, but no. She had two massive stains on her side, thinking now she would have probably been cleaner if I left her out in the field. Her tail was no where near the colour white it should be. Tried my best to scrub out all stains at 7am, not used to getting up this early, no alone washing out a tail in cold water at this hour. Scrubbed her down, threw in more haylege to keep her quiet while I was doing her mane, which turned out ok, but plaits got very close together as I went up her neck but she looked cute. Took me an hour to do her mane, as she doesn't exactly agree with someone pulling out of her mane for more than 4 minutes. But we got there, then done her tail, which turned out surprisingly nice, and quick had it done in about 5 or 10 minutes. Left her forelock until we got out. Got a very urgent phone call from Claire at 9am to say she hadn't Jess plaited or anything. So ran home, threw on jods, shirt, old hoodie and pants over jods and flew up to hers, do do Jess's mane, which turned out harder than planned. We were pulled around the place a bit. Got 4 buns done, and decided to plait it and bun it when we got out there. Parents then decided to run late so we thought we would have no time, but we had 2 horses loaded up at 10.30 and on the road. Millie was ready except forelock so when we got there, we got Jess out and I bunned her plaits quickly. Claire's test was 11.48 and mine was 12.00 and we were there about 11.10 so we had a good bit of time. Got them tacked up and headed to the warm up.
T was there with her horses and gave us some advice. Claire went in and done a great test on Jess. Then I went in. She was very good, apart from me taking off in canter in the wrong place twice but I had so much fun. She was such a good girl for me and I was so proud of her. She done such a good test, we had one incident of her taking off on the wrong leg which I swiftly corrected but I was so pleased with her. Will definitely be getting into dressage more. The comp wasn't over until 2.45pm and we knew we weren't anywhere close to winning so we went home at 2, after looking at some fab photo's that the photographer took, he's a friend of mine. Got a phonecall to say that we got a 59% and a 57%, don't know which was which but I was so happy with that score for my first ever test. I couldn't believe it, I was aiming at about 40% highest and I would have been over the moon with that, so that result was better than any rosette to me. I'm such a proud mammy right now :) I can't wait for the next one, will be entering the two the next day so we will have more to do, but it was such a calm and relaxing day and will definitely be doing more in the future. I will finish with the test I done today. I went wrong on my first circle on the right rein was supposed to be trot/walk/trot circle then a canter circle but I did canter then remembered I was wrong. But I had great fun and thats all that matters.

Schooling Around

So even though it was bucketing down with rain again yesterday (Sunday), myself and Claire decided to go schooling anyway. When I got to the yard with Millie, it was raining heavy enough. Threw her in the stable and got the tack out of the jeep. We waited to see if the rain would lighten a bit but it didn't. Dad went up to collect Claire and Jess anyway and by the time they were back, I was already out on Millie warming up and doing some dressage like Tara showed me. The rain shower lightened and then cleared when Claire came into the arena so we were good to go. Millie was very good. She did everything she was asked but trot is really hard for her. She won't put down her head in trot, don't know if its habit, confusion or just being bold but in walk and canter she is fine, so I don't think its boldness. I don't know. But the other problem with her is, when I put on my inside leg for her to move away from it in trot, she speeds up too. So its very hard for me to do the aid with my hands when I am trying to slow her down too. Its such a bad habit she has and I don't know how I am going to break it. She only speeds up in trot and canter and not in walk. She moves off my leg fine in walk, and will leg yield in walk and trot, so its not like she doesn't know what she is doing. Anyway, it will all take time and effort and some days it wont be as easy as others but you got to take the good with the bad and move on with it. In my experience, its always one step forwards and three backwards with horses, but when you finally get there, the feeling is unreal. But I am super excited about our new goals and I can't wait to have something new to work on. Anyway, so we done our warm up, failing a bit in trot, especially on our bad rein, the left one.
So there was a grid already set up in the arena with three bounce fences, and then two strides to another fence. Dad adjusted the distances a little for horses and we gave it a go. It was such a good exercise for them. They really had to concentrate on what they were doing because it was all new and it was also a variety for them too, instead of constant jumping courses all the time. Got two really good books, 101 jumping exercises and 101 schooling exercises so going to give them a good read. Anyway we jumped our grid a good few times and got some videos. Then we done a horse swap.
I rode Jess (shockingly bad) and Claire on Millie. To my complete and utter shock, Claire had her in an outline in two minutes (vid at end). She was so so good for her I couldn't believe it, although she used a different method of getting her head down that T thought me in lesson, not sure if this will confuse her or not so will stick to trying method learned, but it was unbelievable. It was so weird seeing her behave so well for someone else. But I was mega proud of her. We had a jump around on them and then I tried to replicate what Claire was doing on Millie myself. Didn't get on too great but its a start and everyone has got to start somewhere. I think its myself as a rider has to learn to ride and feel her in an outline. Where I learned to ride, we weren't thought about that, it was all about jumping and you just sat on a school horse and jumped what was in front of you. I think its myself and my riding that I need to improve. Maybe Millie was capable of this the whole time but I just haven't been capable to tell her the right thing to do in the right way. Hopefully my dressage lessons will be able to fix this problem, because I need to badly. Going to organize another one this week and I think Claire is going to come too and get one on Jess aswell.
Ok this is after getting seriously long winded for a little update post. So thanks for reading if you got this far and if you have watched the video's, another huge thank you :) If you have any feedback/advice/critisizm about my riding in these video's please don't be afraid to tell me as they are things I can work on and improve to help both of us. Thanks again :)

Going in trot

Another jump added to grid

Bigger jump at the end

Gettimg it right

Horse Swap with Millie in the perfect outline

Me trying to replicate Millie in an outline, not doing too well

Update and lesson report

Ok so I have two bits of news today really. One is that bob is going home :( unfortunately we don't think he is going to work out as well as we thought. He is getting a bit strong and stroppy when he doesn't get his own way and I am spending less time on Millie and I don't want that to happen. Millie isn't jumping as well these days and I think I owe her my attention as seen as she is competing for me.
Secondly, I had my first dressage lesson on Millie today. I am so delighted with her. T sat up on her for the first 5 or 10 mins to get a feel for her. Within two minutes, she had her on the bit. T is on Irish dressage team and is a total guru when it comes to dressage. I was in total shock, looking at her she looked like a total different horse. She rode her in walk and trot for about 10 mins to see how she was. She said that Millie is very sensitive to the leg, a little bit too sensitive, as in when you put inside leg on to help her bend round the leg on a circle, she runs on and speeds up, which she needs to learn that she can't do that. But she was so good, T couldn't get over how well she was. Our plan was to do some work in walk and trot on both reins to get her on the bit and doing some leg yeilding on both reins too. We ended up doing some canter because she was so pleased with her. I was such a proud Mammy because of her good behaviour. I am so shocked at how much I really love dressage and I am definitely going to keep it up. I booked another lesson for next week again. My goal is to get some dressage tests done by the end of this year so fingers crossed we will be able to. I can't stop smiling since the lesson, I am so happy. It was really well worth it, and I would say it will be worth the time and work too. T has set out a regime where I do 2 days of flatwork, 2 jumping and one hack a week and then my show at the weekend. I couldn't get any photo's or video's because I had no one until the end of the lesson as YO and dad spent the hour to catch Bob and failed and ended up leaving him there until tomorrow night. lol. Anyway I have to try and repeat our work today on Millie at home tomorrow so I will try get OH to take a video of me on her, IF I can manage to get her to do it again. Knowing my luck I wont be able now but I am willing to work and stick with it. Hopefully I will be able to add some pic's tomorrow. I have quiet a few video's from the last show I was at so I will add those in the next few days. Finally have my own laptop back so will get them up then, I know its going to be jumbled but I don't want to loose them and keep them up to date. Anyway, thanks for reading if you got this far, or even if you read any of it :) sorry if this got stupidly long :)

Complete Video and Photo Overload

Finally got a laptop off the shop until I get my own one back so I think I can attempt to put up some photo's and video's now hopefully. I said pretty much everything up to date in my last post so just going to add loads and loads of video's now in this one to make up for a lack of it. The only think I have to add is I went SJ in Doora yesterday, got a DC in the 80s and I think 8 faults in the 90s. Had a really bad round, Millie wasn't herself all day, she was pure dead in herself didn't want to move at all. So I guess I was happy that we didn't have more faults to be honest. Anyway here is all the videos and 
photo's I have missed out on. All video's and photo's got messed up and I don't know how to fix them. Anyway you get the gist. Have loads more I need to upload but will do a Millie update soon. Thanks for reading. :)

Bob all ready to go

Rain :(

                                               

Waiting to go

Laura on Millie

Millie's Birthday cake 

Munching 

Happy Birthday Millie

Okay so haven't been on this in ages which is really annoyed about. Cannot see/add video's because I still haven't got my laptop back after 3 weeks now. Totally ridiculous and going totally mad over it. Have loads of video's to put up but I can't because I can't see them and it takes close on about 2 hours to upload one on this old laptop that I am using. 
Anyway, rant over. As it has been non-stop rain down here, haven't been able to do much riding. Took Millie to the Tenner League in Clonshire last Sunday (3rd June). Wasn't a great day, all the mirrors and all really wasn't good for Millie and she stopped at 1st fence in the 80cm. After a slap and a chat she realised I was boss and she was meant to jump it. We got around, with another stop at no. 8 which is very unlike her. Had a clear second round and a clear 1st round in the 90cm. They changed the course in the 90cm and it was horrible. In the second round, got a total wrong line into the double off no. 3 and stopped, but I was happy that she didn't attempt to jump it because we would have got hurt if she did. Didn't have a great day but sure, we all have bad day's and it was just an off day, so what can you do. Couldn't go to Ruan show Sunday gone  (10th June) because of the really bad weather and wasn't going to jump and slide around on Mud. Next leg of Tenner League is on this Sunday (17th June) in Askeaton but again its on grass so if this weather keeps up, more than likely will head to local indoor arena for a school around and do some jumping as seen as I haven't rode Millie in nearly two weeks because the field is literally mulch. Its her birthday tomorrow and she is the big 8 years old, will post pics :)
On Bob news, didn't get out on his much the week before last, as it pi***d rain all week, but YO got him out between showers. Text me on last Sunday to say he was much better this week and no coldback. So went up Monday (11th) and rode him. Got on very well, did our usual routine. My saddle fit him too which saved me a few hundred euro thankfully. A lot of schooling and some trotting poles and little crosspoles were added in. Have some lovely video's of last night (Wednesday 13th) of jumping cross poles. Didn't get out on him today and probably wont tomorrow either because we are supposed to have 33mm of rain today and tomorrow and it hasn't stopped all day. Hopefully will be able to ride him on Saturday. Have been doing a bit of thinking and hopefully might do some ODE's on him instead of just showjumping. He is a lovely mover and hopefully will get some dressage lessons in a few weeks off 2nd YO, as she is on Irish international team for dressage and get some XC schooling at the end of the year. Might do schooling and go some dressage tests the end of this year. I have loads of video's and pictures to add on to this, but will add as soon as I get my own laptop back and it won't take as long to upload them onto here. 
Thanks for reading, sorry it got long again, but I have so much more to add but really annoyed cannot add my video's and pictures. Will update again soon. Thanks again for reading if you got this far. :)

Finally have Millie in an outline

Was away most of this week so first time I rode Millie this week since last Sunday was Wednesday. Done a little bit of flat-work walking and trotting but not much as there wasn't much give or improvement in our outline situation. So went on to do some jumping. All fine. 
Remembered on Thursday that Claire had told me her nose-band had to be taken up because it was down too low, so I thought, no time like the present and went and got the punch. Took it up about an inch or so and tacked up. Started riding as I normally would, sponging inside rein, working on bending on circles, figure of 8's and serpentine's. All of a sudden, I don't know what it was, but something clicked. She completely changed, relaxed her back way more, and put her head down, now it was nothing special and people would probably think I was crazy if the saw her but to me it was such a huge difference. Said here goes, we'll give it a go in trot. At first she had her head up but with some persuasion, she dropped her head little by little. I was so please with my little girl. I could sit into her trot now instead of bouncing around like a headless chicken on her back. As I said it was nothing special but it was a big difference to me because she normally holds her head so high. Parents couldn't get over how much more elegant she looked, even in that bit of a outline. I couldn't get any pictures because working an iPhone to them is like learning Chinese. Will try to get OH to get some snaps or a video if I get riding her tomorrow. Will give her a good scrub tomorrow because of the lovely weather, and she got a brand new fly sheet today so that will go on her, to keep her clean and keep away nasty flies, kill two birds with the one stone. She got her early birthday present. Hopefully she will like her new sheet, it will be grand to keep her clean in this hot weather without having to put a rug on her. 
Not much news on the Bob situation. YO has been taking him out and seen a huge improvement in the last week. So he said I should start pottering away with him myself. I'm able to use his bridle as waiting for a new one for him in the post, but have to wait until Monday to take over my saddle to see will it fit him or not. He has a rather deep back with high withers but he is not as broad as Millie, so YO said there is a good chance it will fit. Once I know if that fits, I will have loads more posts with news from him. Sorry for extra long post, but I'm delirious with her new outline. Thanks for reading if you got this far :) Will try get some photo's up tomorrow. 

Two In One

Haven't been able to post recently as the laptop is gone into be fixed. So will have to put the last week into one post :/ I'll give it a go. 
Had a lesson with instructor C on Thursday gone (24th) with Claire at her house. We really focused on our canter technique and how to get the right pace for SJ, and to stick with it the whole way round the SJ course. I have this awful sense that I am always going so fast, and then when I look back at the video's I look like I am going to slow. She also told me to loosen my reins and to stop pulling coming into fences, a terrible habit I have gotten into that I need to get out of. It was gorgeous weather and even though we didn't start until 8pm, it was still so warm. After about 45 minutes, the horses and riders were completely shattered, and eaten my midges, Claire more so than me, but the horses were covered. We both jumped really well in the lesson and ended on a great note ahead on Tenner League Sunday. Was really happy with the lesson, despite one mishap we had half way through, where there was a misunderstanding of the correct taking off point between myself and Millie, clearly I stated my point clearly as seen as we ended up not being able to jump the second part, which was a whopping 1.10m spread, doing it Millie's way, so from then on we both agreed I knew the best place to take off and to stop any more of these mishaps we would do it my way from then on. 
Then we headed off to Banner Eq. Centre today (Sunday) for the first round of the Tenner League. As the schedule had down, there is an amateurs class in between the 90cm and 1m, which is a total balls because you'd be waiting around all day after jumping the 90s. So we made an executive decision this morning, because it was still so hot out, I would jump the 80cm and 90cm with Claire so that the horses wouldn't have to stand up in the box for hours waiting for the second comp. When we got there Millie and Jess were sweating already. The 80cm was already on and we arriving so got them out and tacked up, quick sponge down and up to the warm up. Didn't do a huge warm up, bit of walk trot and canter on either rein and a couple of jumps, didn't want to take the full blown p**s and do a proper warm up. Then went into have a quick look around the course before I jumped, when I say look I mean looking at the numbers and trying to remember it, which proved more difficult because it was a confusing course to learn. Anyway set off, got a bit confused in the double no. 3 the first time and got two mini strides in, jumped most of the rest lovely. Didn't get a chance to show her the jumps because they were waiting on horses to jump, so she had a bit of a luck at no. 1 but with a kick before we were over it but I was so delighted she didn't look at any of the other colours. Took a break for Claire to jump her 1st round, guided her around the course too, unluckily she had one down, but brilliant round. Then I set off for round 2, was a lot better, found our canter a lot easier and faster and had a lovely clear second round too. Claire had a lovely clear second round as well. Then went to give horsies a drink and a sponge down to keep them cool, and went to get in early in the 90cm and get home. Went 3rd and 4th. Again, found our canter much better in 1st round of 90cm, had a great round met them all right. Second round we were a bit tired and came a bit slower to some but none the less got another clear :D Claire had unlucky 1st pole down in 1st round but a clear 2nd round. Gave them a huge drink, wash down and treats, loaded up and got home. All in all it was a great day and well worth heading out in the scorching heat :) have video's of my rounds at the end. Fair play if you have got down this far and thanks for reading :D 

80cm Round 1

80cm Round 2

90cm Round 1

90cm Round 2

First time sitting up on Bob and flatwork lesson

Sat up on Bob for the first time on Thursday. It was an experience. It was only his second day being ridden, so just lunged, walk and trot. He was totally different to Millie, huge long neck and just so much bigger. Took a bit of getting used to but getting there. So after YO took him for a little run, my turn. Sat up and walked for ages, just to get used to him and the feel of him. Then we did some trot for a while. 

He was so good, couldn't have asked for anything more obedient out of him. He done everything he was asked, walk, trot, slow to walk again. No pulling, no fighting, just done it and I was mega impressed. Didn't do much with him just a bit and left him because he is only coming back and don't want to do too much, plenty of time all summer. 

Got the dentist to him on Friday, again was so quiet. Was a bit shocked at the injection but didn't really kick up a fuss, just took a step back as if to say 'What in the name of God is that mum?' and then he was fine. Just stood up while they were done. Dentist told me that his teeth were very sharp and was a good job we got them done as he could have developed some bad habits if they were hurting, so glad that is done for another year. YO was riding him until next week for me so won't have any reports until then about him. He is coming on so well socially though, a lot easier to catch in the field, even makes his way down now, so I'm really pleased with him. Have a video and photo of me on him

Me on Bob

Also had a flatwork lesson with cousin Claire Saturday on Millie. She brought her famous book '101 Jumping Exercises' but she was helping us a lot. Got us to lengthen and shorten trot and canter with trotting poles and canter poles, worked on turning with my body and legs rather than just my hands, balance and done some grids, with cones in the middle, and a final spread of about 1m  - 1.05m which was great to end on a good note. I know we were supposed to do a flatwork lesson but with us we always end up doing some sort of jumping, can't help it, lol. But she was very good for most of it, she tears off a bit in canter but she really concentrated during trot and started to listen, and even lengthened her trot stride with out exactly getting faster. So at the moment, very happy with both of them, and their progress. Also have a nice video of Millie and a photo of her efforts. 

Jumping our grid:

Quick Snap

All spruced up

Finished off the grooming process today with himself. Once again he was super quiet so I was impressed. He wasn't ridden today because YO was gone to Goredbridge, but he will be ridden tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to get some video's or pictures. Will be getting back in the saddle myself tomorrow with Millie, although no show this weekend as big soccer final for dad, but the week after is the Limerick/Clare Tenner League and want to be on tip top form for that. 
This is going to be a short post because I've nothing more to say really, going to finish up with a few pics of newly groomed Bob. :) Still so impressed with how good he has been. In photo's he looks starved but that is just his make, you could feed him all day, and he left a bit of his food this evening because he was so full but he still needs to put on a bit of condition but we are getting there slowly but surely :) 

In the field before he was brought in

Side view

Half way through his mane, forgot to get a shot of before so got one half way through

Looks like a new horsie, nice new coat, mane and tail (cant see)

Happy Bob :)

Introduction and new addition

Well since the new arrival, Bob, has come into our lives, I decided to start blogging about our new journey with him, and couldn't leave out the already well established Millie, and both of their progresses. 
For those of you who don't know Bob, my uncle has given him to me for the year, to work with him and get him back to work properly. He is a whopping 17hh and is a bay gelding. He is by no means 'pretty', has a huge head and ears, but he loves his job and that's all that matters. He is out of a Clover Hill mare (hence the big head), and his sire is our own stallion that is out of Knockboy. He was in Young Irelander Loose Lunging in Millstreet when he was 3 and did very well. He was broken professionally as a 4 year old by a man in Carlow and ridden in training competitions at 1.10m and 1.20m level. He was brought home and left off in the field. When brought back in, he got very sick, was on a drip/anti-biotics for a while but recovered well. He hadn't been ridden in about a year and a half or two years. So we decided that is was a waste to leave him in the field, and as seen as I am finished school and off college for the summer I could work with him and jump him etc. Talked to uncle who owns him and agreed to give him to me for a year or how ever long I want him really. So we worked him at home for the last two/three months, just light work, walk, trot and a bit of canter and small bit of jumping. He loved it and we actually have to stand in front of fences to stop him, because he keeps going around on his own. Bless him. 
So today (Tuesday) is Bob’s second day in the yard. We brought him over yesterday (Monday) and popped him in Millie’s stable. Got him a bucket of food and a barrow of hay and settled him in. He was very calm and relaxed there. Yard Owner rode him lightly today and said he was a total gentleman, was so well behaved. Also said that he didn’t really like the narrow bit he used, but didn’t misbehave or fight. I suggested he get his teeth done yesterday so will get dentist out to him this week too. Also needs to get new shoes on. I brought Millie in for a good groom down and tied over her mane for it to be pulled, can’t ride her because she got her injection yesterday, so she got a little pampering session for being so good on Sunday. :) and put her back out with her buddies. Then brought in Bob out of the field for a groom, he was super calm but still a little nervous and head shy. He has a friend in the field with him, which clearly didn’t want him to leave as friend would not let me pass when I had head collar and lead rope on. Got passed his friend and he got a little scare when the wire blew but nothing major, could have run away with me but he didn’t. Brought him in and put him in the stable. He was a bit restless for a couple of minutes after being away from his friend but soon settled down. I threw him in some hay and me and dad got grooming. I didn’t want to start poking at him yesterday so just let him settle in with a quick brush down. Dad did his tail, which I must say turned out gorgeous, wish I got a before and after shot. I was on mane pulling duty, well if you call it that. I could not get over how thin his mane is compared to Millie’s, so it was more shortening that pulling, but only done half because I didn’t want him to get annoyed/sore and wouldn’t do the whole mane in one day anyway. Will finish off tomorrow. He is still pretty dusty from rolling and doesn’t have a lot of condition yet but he is coming on, even in the last week. Will update again tomorrow and add some photo’s of the new looking, groomed bob. :) Couldn’t believe how quiet he was and just stood there. 
Also working on his social behaviour, he is very shy, due to lack of handling, and poor sod didn’t know what to do with a treat and a polo mint, only had a go at chewing today after several attempts today and yesterday. He is coming on a good bit already but just gets a bit nervy when a hand suddenly comes at his face, he either puts his head down or to the side, but it all takes time and patience, both of which I have a lot of now I’m done for the summer. So we will take things nice and slow and hopefully fingers crossed he will work out okay. 
Can't complain about Millie this year, she is doing so well and jumping very good. Really trying her heart out for me this year. I know I'm going to have so much fun this year with her, but still have a lot of things to work on with her so will be a busy bee this summer, but really looking forward to it. :)
Thanks for reading all of that waffle, sorry it was such a long introductory post, I will try to keep them short from now on. :) I hope to update this regularly with posts/photo's/video's, thanks again for reading :D