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