myfifthhorse

knee blocks, fingers and little toes....

2012-01-29T19:11:00.002Z

knee blocks - are now on the saddle. i had never used them as i was never at all clear about where the right place for them was to help me, so that's now sorted..

fingers - i had been doing too much with them!

little toe - weight slightly towards them to help keep the leg still and in the right place...

also, early on, my right leg below the knee was somewhat disconnected from my brain, developed a life of it's own, nagging, when my left leg didn't very odd.

anyway, i improved and he improved, which is all good..

Gaynor and Charlie also improved ... all i want now is Gaynor to come down earlier and video me! a fond hope...

ferrying mother about

2012-01-28T18:28:00.002Z

meant i ended up not seeing Monf at all today :-(.

she insisted i was to pick her up at 3 ..... .she was wrong, i had to sit for an hour! had i known....

lesson tomorrow, we'll work on my position (that was the plan when we left things in November!).

may 4th

2012-01-26T20:21:00.001Z

the plate comes out. as a day case.

as for the rest - he thought, since it seems to be settling, see how they go and we can review next time.

the wrists are of course aching after being poked about! (and doing a shade much on the lifting/carrying front at work, more files than i should have picked up at one time!)

first canter under saddle

2012-01-22T19:49:00.002Z

but not ridden by me, LOL, by Gaynor. I had to get someone else to put the saddle on him ... my shoulder started twinging whilst i was reading a book this morning, grrrhhhh - anyway, Gaynor offered to ride him, so i said yes please, and the last thing she did was canter. Considering it IS the first time he has been cantered under saddle since I got him, and in a relatively small arena, he did well.

bring in....

2012-01-21T18:59:00.002Z

slow introduction back to the yard... bringing in tonight! i had planned to see if i could manage mucking out today, but it was done this morning before I was even up, I gather! so will try tomorrow. Partner came to help with the bring in, which i was pleased about, Charlie behaved for her and i had to troop across the field for Monf, who looked a shade puzzled to see me, LOL.

Got some of the mud off; have mislaid a brush, which i've obviously put down somewhere and now i can't see it :-(

Doctor has arranged for an MRI scan of lumbar spine/hip, hurray! and appointment with wrist consultant a fortnight earlier than was otherwise planned, hurray!

and just to keep me entertained

2012-01-17T22:41:00.002Z

whilst the right arm is no longer screaming, and is even moving better..

the left wrist (the one with the plate in) is now swelling and has paraesthesia.....worst it's been since I smashed it! and probably because I've had to use it more with the right arm being b'd last night & today...

loud screaming from durham

2012-01-17T08:53:00.001Z

literally. by yesterday teatime i needed help to remove cardigan and put jacket on. did not improve. gp this morning - but at least i did stop screaming eventually

improving again...

2012-01-15T16:45:00.002Z

went to bed screaming last night, but it slowly improved through the night so i was able to get up without help in the morning..... stayed at home, still in pjs at this moment ... moving round, one seat, then another, then stand up for a bit, and so on, so don't get wholly stuck in one place

I'm sure M must think I'm abandoning him the way I keep vanishing every now and again, not good for the relationship, but, gaynor said "told you so" after i'd done too much yesterday, and she was right to say that, she had told me so....

partner got to do the shopping - normally, that's my job.....

it was -4 (c) this morning, and everything was white until about 2 pm with the frost, then thawed out .. so glad i wasn't out in it, in one way...

aaarrrggghhhh

2012-01-14T11:26:00.001Z

the back muscles have unspasmed - that was on the right - and now the left hip is killing, what's that about?

in other news, gaynor tells me that Monf got his haybar off the wall, it's totally down, and one screw is missing, so that's not good....

it's my hip, not my back....

2012-01-12T18:47:00.002Z

yesterday morning i started getting twinges in my back, felt muscular .. gradually got worse as the day went on, couldn't work out why..... time i got into the car to go to the yard it clearly wasn't good... back muscles seized up overnight to the extent that i could barely walk this morning .. the right leg proving difficult and the pain had been over the hip as well as the back when lying down (I'd ended up in the recliner, again!). so went to GP , and sat and waited until he could see me.... he could see the muscles all spasmed, but concluded after examination that it is more likely to be the hip that's the root of the problem than the back .. i could touch my toes and stuff, but straight leg raising on that side was very hard and limited, as was sideways movement of that leg, with pain in the hip area. so, stronger painkillers and waiting for Xray to send for me to get it xrayed.

this is the hip that had tronchanteric bursitis for years, and which i landed on when i had that smashing fall in august 2010......

and of course, ii sometimes then have to haul myself about and that puts consequential strain on the left shoulder ....

so hacked off, thought i was recovering from everything quite nicely!

so Gaynor had to sort Monf out for me today, and probably will have to tomorrow..

bitless!

2012-01-08T22:22:00.002Z

Haven't ridden Monfils in the bitless before, so it was interesting to know what he'd do. He was a good lad! he was actually quite forward (think that was as a result of the work last weekend, and Gaynor's efforts lunging) but I DO find they feel VERY heavy in the hand with the BB on. Still, at least it means I can ride even when he has got a cut lip (which is healing very nicely).

it was quite funny - Gaynor came in later with Charlie, and she was trotting more than me ((I'd managed to forget a strategically important item of clothing, so trot was not at all comfortable) ... but anyway, Monfils really wanted to catch up = funny that, even in the arena if he thinks he's behind, he doesn't want to be. Yet, at the same time, quite happy to carry on in walk patterns whilst Charlie was cantering.

cut lip!

2012-01-07T22:28:00.002Z

Monfils, that is! lord knows how. it was relatively freshly done when i spotted it as we got them in ... happily not deep enough that we felt we needed the vet, but it got hosed off (he likes the hose to drink from, so that wasn't a problem!). will keep a close eye, though, just in case...

so, no bit for him until that heals. it's not wholly in the corner, but a bit close to it and i wouldn't be happy bitting him until its healed.

so, bitless bridle, and he was lunged - by Gaynor. i lunged Charlie, albeit not quite as hard as Gaynor would have (he knows her, of course!).

Shall i ride bitless, do I think? or shall i try the longlines tomorrow? mmmm

bouncing

2012-01-06T22:53:00.002Z

round the box, was monf tonight - don't know what that was about, save that the stable light had been left on, and i rather think someone had been hosing something off (using my hose, which they didn't put back properly :-( )

so i left him to that!

hopefully, the weather tomorrow is as the forecast suggests ... calm and dry (cold i can live with, LOL)

scary

2012-01-04T22:31:00.003Z

listening to the more howling gales outside - glad not out in it though, know monf is tucked in stable away from wind, but no doubt stuff getting blown about the yard....

and yet more howling gales!

2012-01-03T21:57:00.001Z

all day... dropped now, but will still be windy tomorrow. partner drove back from Scotland, forth road bridge closed so huge diversion, lots of power lines down so hard to find a petrol station open, she saw 2 wagons and a van blown over; chap in Kent killed when tree fell on his van, bus driver in Surrey hurt when tree fell on his bus, a Facebook/EE friend had lucky escape, tree fell narrowly missing outside office and house .....

aha!

2012-01-02T20:42:00.002Z

whatever we did Saturday and Sunday showed in a really good onward walk today, lots of circles, changes of diagonals and the like with barely a slowing, only one stop, the slowings and the stops quickly corrected - I DID remember my schooling whip this time, but he didn't need too much reinforcement of the leg with that.

overall pleased...

not so pleased on the saddle front, I was dubious about the saddlecloth I bought at YHL, and think I was right to be dubious.. back to the griffin (when i can prise it out from under Gaynor's saddle, she borrowed it and, rightly, likes it, LOL)

teamwork

2012-01-01T17:46:00.002Z

for the next few lunge sessions, Gaynor will lunge Monf, and I will lunge Charlie. Because Monf isn't listening to me at all and being a right stubborn g** and I can lunge Charlie no bother.....

Mind if you'd seen Monf's paces once he did decide to cooperate .. wow.

We'd decided not to ride and it had been raining on and off all day and it was unclear whether it would rain again, or not... lunging safer, easier to dash back to stable if necessary!

and my lightweight green check Fal rug is now leaking... I've had it a few years, so owes me nothing, but a shame, i might see if another reproofing will help but often if they've been proofed once, they don't proof well again.... and I've liked that rug, but can't replace it as it isn't made any more .. (plus, got it cheap in local factory shop, which also isn't there any more i don't think...)

hurray!

2011-12-31T17:05:00.002Z

actually rode! and actually got him to move!

that last ended up taking really getting after him, but since nothing else was working.......ended up having some nice trot, sometimes controlled and sometimes a shade not, a very marching walk (MUCH better than standing still, LOL) and cramp in my left calf, but hey.....

Pleased, it's weeks since i did ride what with the odd upper body problem (me) and weather issues (generally) and i was a tad nervous.. Got someone to help with the mounting, not worth getting us both wound up if that proved problematic...

had hoped to ride yesterday, but no sooner started getting ready to go to the yard than the heavens opened - we all got soaked, and when i got to the swimming pool later i was peeling wet breeches off, and had to leave them on a radiator to dry whilst i swam.....

hoping the weather stays reasonable for tomorrow and monday (back to work tuesday)

more gales!

2011-12-29T17:23:00.002Z

but the yard itself was sheltered enough to be calm, as was the arena, so i took him in there again to practice going round on the end of a lungeline again...

he gets soo distracted by the mares, its unreal. but improves every time. i suppose one day he will lunge. I would like him to

debating whether to try longlining .....haven't done that since the summer when max was out, since it all went pearshaped again after that, plus was riding, didn't try it again, but perhaps we may get somewhere....

calm and gales....

2011-12-28T22:09:00.001Z

so which way round given that partner wanted a day out before going back to work this morning?

that's right, the calm was yesterday, the gales was today....

ah well....

more howling gales!

2011-12-26T22:35:00.002Z

we decided too iffy to ride - there were some who did, but they made sure they stayed in the arena, where there is a wall to provide some shelter from the prevailing wind - so monfils got a good groom and 10 minutes in the arena on the lunge line ( i WILL get that one cracked eventually, no matter how long it takes!).

The only advantage was that it was a good drying wind

ML - a sarnie is a sandwich.....

a lovely walk

2011-12-26T00:04:00.002Z

but not on the horse, partner's idea of christmas is a walk on foot, LOL. It was a nice day, went to Castle Eden Dene, about 4 hours including a stop for sarnies. I did both horses so Gaynor could have the day with the family uninterrupted...had been going to suggest we take Monfils out for a walk, but that wasn't going to happen!

hope you all had a good day and got some nice pressies...

ready for christmas?

2011-12-23T18:37:00.003Z

hope so. weather looking to be reasonable, so might even get something done with Monf, you never know!

the mud is drying up slowly, the weather is a lot warmer, but really better not tempt fate, and we've had the shortest day so it'll not be too long before turnout can be done in daylight, not dark!

muddy me....

2011-12-21T19:52:00.002Z

taking the horses out this morning - one at a time, 2nd being Monf..... i slipped in the slippy mud by the field gate, landed on my bum; he was only interested in seeing where charlie and dylan were in the field, thank goodness, and standing still ... and when i did get up and get the gate open, he was so keen to be off i was struggling to keep hold of him (and the gate to keep myself up!) to get the headcollar off.... nightmare. the coat that was clean this morning is now in the washer on a rinse to get the mud off ... at least i had that coat on it kept my bum cleanish so i didn't have to go home for a 2nd shower!

baaad monf

2011-12-19T22:29:00.001Z

was seen ripping the neck off charlie's rug, and has also been seen trying the same with Sep (and Sep is the horse that kicked him in the leg in August..)

lack of grass and boredom is the issue, i think; we're not allowed to hay in the field. hopefully, won't be so bad tomorrow as there has been a thaw

another anniversary

2011-12-18T10:16:00.002Z

a year ago to the date (18th december), i went down to north yorkshire met monfil and bought him....

at the least the weather is no where near as bad this year as it was last!

haven't had as many highlights of the first year as i would have expected, but i rode him a fair few times, went out for some nice hacks if not as many as i could have done, and made a small start on work......

next year won't be wonderful as we already know i'm going to lose some of the summer to my left wrist, but hey.....

surprise! i rode!

2011-12-17T22:00:00.002Z

and it's interesting how my confidence went backwards again after these last couple of months of orthopaedic issues!

only did 10 minutes in the arena in walk - everywhere an ice rink, so going out was never going to be a clever plan! - and that was enough.

slowly improving

2011-12-13T22:25:00.002Z

the wrist, that is = which is more than can be said for the weather....more howling gales, not good. gaynor had the horses in for 4.15 today, where yesterday it was nearer 5 - (no gale, no cloud = lighter)

not fit to ride....

2011-12-11T21:56:00.003Z

well, i possibly COULD have, but since my fingers aren't working properly right hand, wouldn't have been a good idea, and don't think i could have tacked up either....as it is, struggle to groom! did lunging practice instead, and kept distracting myself watching gaynor ....

interestingly, i managed mucking out better than i thought i would... no finger movements required!

this morning i couldn't slice a loaf of bread, but that improved as the day went on - so got ahead of tomorrow's game by making tomorrows sandwiches tonight.

hopefully i'll be able to manage both horses in the morning... and hopefully they have a good night, monfy has a new neighbour, a grey mare about 14hh

mud monster

2011-12-09T23:34:00.002Z

i could not believe how much mud he'd found today....unreal.. it's still on him, as i'd spent the afternoon moving stuff to the end of the tack room, a better space, person who was there has left the yard and i wanted to bag that corner. I am so going to regret that.. the right wrist is not happy! 100% certain it is in fact carpal tunnel syndrome, rather than the after effects of the 20 year old fracture....anyway, didn't think adding grooming to the mix would help at all!

the plate to come out

2011-12-09T11:31:00.002Z

of my left wrist.

Saw consultant yesterday afternoon; he agrees that the screws are impinging on the tendons (it shouldn't hurt me when pressed!) so needs to be out. easier to do that that reconstruct tendons, of course.

so that will be planned for late spring, i hope (after horses allowed out 24/7 for the summer).

in the meantime, the right wrist decided yesterday evening to start hurting again! subsiding now, thank goodness, but not good.....that's to be kept an eye on...

and we've been wrestling with horrendous howling gales, happily not as bad here as scotland - there's even been the odd house blown down, which is very unusual ...

new clippers

2011-12-06T21:45:00.003Z

after last friday's disaster, bought some new clippers - liveryman harmony - bought over the internet saturday morning, arrived today, now charged up. can be used with battery pack (which clips to waistband) or plugged into mains, three different blades, two speed settings. hope we don't have the grief with these that we have had with the previous ones! Gaynor says, try the new ones on Monf before we get the vet out to sedate Charlie! Gaynor is improving, and wants to see if she can muck out for herself tomorrow - I'm not sure she should, but her choice, and i can always skip Charlie out after work if necessary!

was impressed by the speed of delivery - and impressed by the price! could have bought them at a shop 7 miles from here, but for £60 more..... no contest!
it's still all dark at the yard after work, with no one sticking about, so i really don't think a lot of anything will get done before the light nights reappear - and since we haven't had the shortest day yet .....

and it's cooooooold.......

finally

2011-12-04T17:58:00.001Z

did a bit of work with Monf.....all these injuries haven't done a lot for getting anything done.

on the other hand, they do say that letting a horse think about something before doing it again can have benefits, and i rather think that was shown today.

trying the lunging (had no company to ride and it's such a while since i've been on....) and he was just about foot perfect .. only in walk, but none of the usual grief. the only thing that caused a problem was the mares kicking off about something, who knows what, so he stopped to see what that was and grew 2 hands, but then was cool to carry on again....

so i was pleased with that.

in the meantime, campaign to get G to go to hospital .... she hasn't, and she should....

hugs for gaynor

2011-12-02T22:11:00.002Z

half way through clipping charlie, who was sedated, the clippers died. shortly thereafter, someone else turned up who had some - but charlie came round, and kicked gaynor in the arm. so he's got the worst clip on the planet (left side only!) and she has a badly bruised arm, she says - she's sure it's not broken. and i get to return the workload i gave her last week! and to buy new clippers - the ones that died are ones we bought a few years ago between three of us, and they have given up for no apparent reason before.

hey ho, to december...

2011-12-01T21:28:00.002Z

which i hope is better than November was!

physio was good on Tuesday.

Monfils was muddy; got groomed; first course of action Wednesday morning was roll .. same this morning!

what is interesting is how he feels a lot warmer to the touch since he was clipped, than he did before. very strange, that!

howling gales

2011-11-28T21:34:00.003Z

put paid to yesterday

and today i wrenched my left shoulder again, falling UP the stairs? only me..... happily, it's subsided i think, but not what i needed!

physio tomorrow ... that'll be fun!

i probably did too much

2011-11-26T21:38:00.003Z

but painkillers when I got home put me ahead of the game, I hope....

mucked out. bedded up. hay (did that in two nets). barrow new bag of feed into feed room. there's feed still in the car, and will stay there (local stockist stocking what i wanted, at last, and honouring manufacturer's 1/2 price to end of November deal!).

morning turnout Allison helped with; might be more interesting tomorrow if this wind keeps up!

oh, clipped as well ... now WHY did i wear a fleece when i knew i would be clipping more hair off the Monf?

and am shattered as had a bad night last night (mostly, i have to say, through drinking too much tea during the day!)

and for some perspective on the Cuban Saddle:

morning turnout

2011-11-25T22:53:00.003Z

i'll be doing tomorrow... think the arms are ok, and partners going to come with me (amazing her wanting to be up that time! but wants to drop the car off for a service at 8, so can help me do the horses first!).

hopefully all will be fine..

from Cuba

2011-11-24T22:19:00.002Z

interesting to see what you all make of this.....

it's a good bit of leatherwork and i'm very pleased with this present.

no sooner asked

2011-11-23T22:38:00.002Z

than bought. i was very impressed, actually - requested new chair yesterday, gave details via hyperlink to the precise chair, it was bought by lunchtime and will be delivered wednesday, apparently. that is impressive. there are, i know, other aspects to look at, but that's the first step.

in the meantime, i drove myself to work today, first time i've driven since going to hospital saturday night/sunday morning. was fine to work; was NOT so fine driving to yard afterwards, too many bends. Monfils was, i think, pleased to see me.

then to Gaynor's, she's been doing a sterling job. showed her my current situation (can't lift right arm without physically pushing it up!) so she's going to carry on doing the sterling job

and if we can (rather, if SHE can) we'll improve Monfil's clip Saturday. he currently has belly and half neck/face. frankly, he needs a trace.

RI has been in touch, she saw my post on EE forum - lesson due Sunday - we've agreed she'll work the horse and i'll just stand and watch ...

new office chair

2011-11-22T22:25:00.001Z

i have asked for one. i incline to the view that the upper body issues i've been having this year HAVE to be to do with ergonomics....

and in the meantime, i'm crossing fingers that my left shoulder doesn't go off again....ggrrhhhh

i'm going to rattle for england at this rate! painkillers....

stopped screaming in pain

2011-11-21T22:32:00.002Z

which is good. couldn't get my socks on, bad. went to work, asked Janet to come get me, which she kindly did (not far away!) and made great use of wheeled office chairs as trolley and as walking assistance, LOL. feeling better again this evening... but of course, all that trying to keep myself upright yesterday and keep the weight off the bad leg has not done a lot for the left shoulder or hip .. but they'll settle, hopefully...

Monfils in Gaynor's capable hands.

if i can get socks on tomorrow, then i shall drive myself....and if still good in the evening will go down to yard.... gently gently, i know!

Sciatica

2011-11-20T17:10:00.001Z

Seriously painful. No idea why unless it was the bag os sugar beet. But was at the out of hours gp at 0100 and can barely move my left leg. Totally fed up

one year ago today

2011-11-18T21:09:00.002Z

Monfils ran his last race at Market Rasen and i'd never heard of him! He came 4th out of 5.

He was fully clipped and a lean mean racing machine, LOL

Tonight, he's got a full winter coat, is muddy, and is munching hay in his stable having spent the day in the field.

He's not a lean mean racing machine but is a chilled lad.

tomorrow, all being well weather wise, he'll get clipped, but not a full clip of course, just enough so he's comfortable and i can keep him rugged against the mud, LOL

clip at the weekend

2011-11-16T21:47:00.001Z

that'll be us. he'd overheated overnight! Cannot be doing with this, so clippers will be coming out...

in other news, the right wrist that took me to hospital in October, started twinging and swelling again - rather think that carrying shopping on Sunday didn't do it a huge amount of good!

more progress

2011-11-14T22:32:00.003Z

on the learning to lunge front - M was much more willing to keep going forward today, despite distractions from the mares in the field next to the arena - i wasn't going to get trot, but walking, either direction, was happening.....

slow but steady, i guess, by the end of the winter we might have got somewhere!

YHL was ok - not the shopping bargains that people had said one could normally get - did get ONE bargain, for Gaynor's eldest (nice winter jacket for £5!); bought a new saddlecloth, but it is longer than the current one, and too long, i think, for the saddle, so that's depressing. heather Moffett's new book (she's rewritten Enlightened Equitation totally, with a load of new pics) and saw her new saddle, looks rather good; came home with money left over.

Ten minute ride

2011-11-12T23:30:00.001Z

And its weeks since i did ride due to my various injuries - but i was pleased, as it was ten minutes of a relatively forward walk, on both reins, with several changes of rein - and no stops, not even when he would have preferred to speak to one of the mares.

busy day! with some success....

2011-11-11T21:56:00.002Z

firstly, the plumber to mend my upstairs loo (thank goodness we have two!)

then, back to the yard to wait for bedding delivery - that was an interesting job, it was palletised, should have been easy, but there was a slight fault with the wagon's tailgate upon which the pallet is put to be lifted up and down, and ALSO he said no can't put it in the allocated space indoors due to unlevel surface - but anyway, had to handball half the bags off before he could get the pallet off his tailgate, otherwise it would have all tipped over...

than after lunch, got M in early, got the mud off and into the arena to see how far we could get towards lunging..... as it goes, he was happy to walk on out away from me on both reins, but occasionally allowed himself to be distracted by the mares....

a great improvement on previously so i think on balance we are starting to get there, and he's certainly thinking about what I'm asking more than he used to .....

muddy horse...

2011-11-10T22:30:00.002Z

I've given up on the rugging for now.... last night, sweating again. it's no good, i'd rather have a muddy horse than a horse wet with sweat, he clearly has a thick coat and that will have to do him for now.

and who said TB's were wimps?

so he went out rugless this morning, and was nicely warm this evening.

I don't want to clip at all if i can help it, but rather think I'll have to indulge in a belly/neck clip - from the girth area forward and up the neck

in the meantime, the shoulders seem to be improving apace (touching wood and crossing everything) so all being well I'm going to your Horse Live either Saturday or Sunday, haven't decided yet.. whilst partner's away, a good place to go even though I'll have to go down on my own....

heather moffett's bringing out a new saddle, with a leather tree, that i want to investigate, and i'm told it's very good for shopping, and there's demo's by various people (whether i want to see them is another matter...) and i know that people i know will be going...

rugging is an art

2011-11-07T22:05:00.002Z

which i haven't yet cracked for monfils...

for the last week it's been unseasonably warm and i bought the thinnest rain sheet i could find (very thin) which he had on on Sunday; nonetheless, came in sweaty having been running about as a result of a hot air balloon....

this morning, below freezing - the thin rug from yesterday was still drying out from the sweat getting in to the very thin lining, so he had the slightly heavier thin green one ... and i'm not totally sure he won't be overheating overnight....

anyway, rattly bottles.... last lesson, RI used an empty small plastic drinks bottle with some gravel in it to rattle and thus send him away

good idea, worked.

doesn't work now - because he's been de spooked to it, i reckon! so that's what that was about, Trudi!

despooked....

2011-11-06T21:22:00.002Z

to the rattly bottle, i think that what's happened...

high energy, yes, but it didn't work....

he knows, you know.....

I did get some walk at first, even managed to get him going again after he was distracted by the mares coming over to see what was happening, but eventually, nothing was working again...

tchah.

and my shoulders? the painkillers are helping a lot, and I can move them pretty well now, just need to be a shade careful....and at least can start self physio'ing with the exercises the physio gave me... (the relevant movement is, in essence, the same as groom horse/tack up horse, so don't need to build extra time into the day to do this, LOL)

both shoulders seized up

2011-11-04T19:43:00.001Z

by wednesday evening hence lack of posting....

gah.

easing up now, with loads of paracetamol and added codeine, which means i can then start physio exercises again...

lord knows what this is about ,but my money is on something ergonomic, it's just a case of working out what...

on his own...

2011-11-01T22:35:00.002Z

for about 5 minutes, apparently was NOT happy.... when paul took his two out of the field, monf, apparently, didn't lift his head from teh grass - paul then heard him kick off .... had i had his mobile number, i would have texted him to wait until i got there... but i didn't... hey ho. unlikely to happen again! one of those things... and now we know.

so 1 1/2 hours later i could give him his tea, he'd got a bit hot!

i wasn't going to clip, but i might just do from the girth forward and up the neck ....

in the meantime, I've now fried my left neck/shoulder, was waiting outside the GP's surgery for it to open this morning, and got appointment for 09.35, that was good. Paracetamol 2, 4 times a day, hopefully it'll kick in soon..

oddly, it's better moving than not, so sitting in the office is bad, mucking out was ok. Weird, or what?

warm!

2011-10-31T21:57:00.001Z

so warm, i rather wished i'd taken his rug off this morning before turning out, even though it's a very thin on...

changed it to a thin stable rug for the night....

anyway, took him in the arena to try the lunging again, and actually got some movement! didn't do as well as gaynor did, but better than i've done in a long while, so pleased with myself!

swopped horses

2011-10-30T21:43:00.002Z

for lunging.

which proved to me, at least, that it's not my ability to lunge that's an issue, since lunging Charlie was not a problem.

Gaynor eventually got Monfils going

she said, he's very like Charlie when she first got him (he was 2 going on 3 at the time, and had done nowt) - an interesting thought, as we'd already thought Monfils hadn't been established on the lunge before being ridden when first brought into training, so perhaps he did even less than we thought...

anyway, roll on the morning and they can go out again. they'll be pleased!

proper winter routine

2011-10-29T22:27:00.003+01:00

starts today, with worming weekend. we all hate this weekend, horses and people, and it happens twice a year. horses have to be off the land and in their stables for 10 am Saturday, get wormed, and not allowed out to graze again until Monday morning. Apparently Monfils was bucking in his stable after i left this morning, and Charlie Definitely was this evening - wouldn't have been so bad but horses being walked up and down in front of him didn't do his head any good!

i took monf into the arena in hand, no point trying for anything ridden i don't think... so tell me, RI shakes a noisy something at him and off he goes, i do the same and he doesn't? I did get a bit more movement than usual, in that he moved away in walk and did a few steps, but that's about all that can be said for this afternoon.

and then it started raining, quite hard...

two to do...

2011-10-28T22:37:00.002+01:00

Gaynor had won a ticket to go to a ball! so i was getting both of them in ... they were no where near the gate, and not at all bothered about coming in (just as well, as i was/am concerned whether my wrists would be able to cope fetching 2 in if one/either/both kicked off!) - and i had to fetch both together as they were the last two out..... don't think they were too overjoyed, TBH, but tough....

Had I had the energy, i could have ridden, but it had turned into a black coffee afternoon (two cafetieres full to keep me going after lunch! i practically never need to do that) plus, as is normal for a Friday, everyone going home....

hopefully, will get something done tomorrow...a nice ride out would be good! but have to be up early for early turn out and get back in again for 10 am

in overnight again....

2011-10-27T21:13:00.002+01:00

Gaynor & I had assumed that everyone would keep theirs out overnight until saturday morning, at which point

1. it's worming weekend and they all have to be in from 10.am saturday morning until monday morning turnout

2. it's the end of overnight turnout until the end of April

But it turned out that all the other owners of horses in our field were bringing theirs in overnight from tonight. not wholly sure why, but the end result is that ours are now in as well... i did think we could have left them out, they would have had each other for company, but G reckoned charlie wouldn't be happy - he was first at the gate when i went out to get him, but not over impressed to be in, so he's conflicted. and Gaynor had to come back, having been, done and gone home again!

Monfils wasn't over joyed to be in either, despite the fact that it was wet

but, they'll all settle when they realise they are all in....

we were just hoping to be able to stave off the extra early rising until sunday!

before and after shots...

2011-10-26T22:09:00.001+01:00

of the feet - we haven't got any.

trimmer came today, and we both agreed we should have taken photos of his feet at the start of the year, as the improvement to the feet he has now is fantastic - lots of concavity, developing nice thick soles, and nice thick walls, and no apparent issues at all. excellent

and he was fine - so it must have been just a case of rushing about yesterday afternoon....

best laid plans

2011-10-25T22:35:00.001+01:00

went when i got monf in from the field - had clearly been running about, was very hot and sweaty - in fact, i was slightly concerned, put his cooler on and walked him about in hand to cool off..... but not colicking, it seems, just had been running about and it was quite warm at that time.... dried off and cooled enough to have his tea, and was then very keen to be out again! a tad worrying, though.

better in hand work

2011-10-24T22:33:00.001+01:00

after yesterday's lesson

not brilliant, but moving, which is a start...

doubt we'll get much more done this week, weather is forecast to be went and windy again...

a good but wet lesson

2011-10-23T19:29:00.002+01:00

it started raining as i left the house..... :-(

but Monf, RI and I were the only ones who got wet, it had dried up by the time gaynors lesson started.. :-(

Anyway, ground work as planned, and RI did some ridden schooling as well, useful for her (to know how he goes, what's his stiff side, etc ) and for him (to work out what's wanted before I try, LOL) and for me, watching and trying the in hand again myself.

by the end of the lesson he looked like a much happier horse

she thinks, and this is probably right, but i hadn't thought about it, he's very easy to block due to being very sensitive... but it's clear that it's me been blocking ... less hand, claire, less hand!

on the coligone, di, the idea is that use something like this as an initial diagnostic, and only go the whole expensive hog of scope and gastrogard if the results of the coligone lead you to think that you were right in thinking of ulcer...

coligone

2011-10-22T19:43:00.002+01:00

link in heading...

is the stuff we're trying him on, arrived today - gloopy red stuff, he was quite happy to have me squirt it into his mouth (once i'd acquired a big enough syringe with which to do so!).

he wasn't quite so happy at the idea of ground work

never mind, lesson tomorrow, and groundwork is the lesson for both of us (but mostly, i think, him...). it will be interesting, cos he's a stubborn old soul with that but i DO want to get it cracked...

frost to cloud

2011-10-20T22:32:00.003+01:00

therefore freezing to overheated.... they got lighter rugs on tonight

I'm not going to do anything with him until the stuff from the vet turns up - hopefully tomorrow! have a lesson booked for Sunday, though, that i don't want to cancel, so i reckon in hand work for Monfils & I will be the way to go

cold cold cold

2011-10-19T21:47:00.002+01:00

but the horses still want to be out at night because the grass is good ....

so they got thicker rugs on as they were starting to feel cool (it's going to be 2 degrees C tonight, apparently) but otherwise were good to go

still waiting for the stuff from the vet's, the courier sent it to the wrong place :-(

interesting!

2011-10-17T22:42:00.002+01:00

Vet says movement of left leg is often an issue with ulcers - and considering the difficulty getting Monfils to go left when ridden ....

So he agrees with my assessment, that it may well be, and when he gets fresh delivery of what they use as a diagnostic, on Wednesday, I'll get some and then assess - only go the scope/gastrogard route after that further trial.

but he IS an ex racehorse, and the high likelihood is that he will have, at the least, low grade ulcers in there if not

and he's out tonight - the stable doors etc had all been coated with creosote stuff, and stank, and i couldn't leave him breathing that in (plus, there's loads of grass). Gaynor said they'd both wanted to be out again last night, Charlie had had a party in his yard and been stressing all night, and whilst Monf hadn't gone that far (bed not trashed, hay all eaten) he was keen enough to go out again.

The needs of his airways took priority tonight, i thought!

mmmmm

2011-10-16T21:30:00.001+01:00

we had a standstill tonight, some movement, but a struggle...

he has been off the supplement for his gut for a couple of weeks....i ran out ... and didn't get any more, thinking, we'll see what happens....

might there be a link?

i would have to think so.....

but, he was going ok for gaynor last night, so may not be .. but on the other hand, second day on decent grass....

so mmmmm

lovely day....

2011-10-15T21:14:00.002+01:00

for all sorts

the horses, of course, had a great day filling themselves with grass ....but it turns out that, in fact, they were not supposed to move last night - not sure what happened there, mixed messages somewhere i guess

anyway, Gaynor and I had schooling sessions

firstly, she on Charlie, using my saddle, and trying various combinations - panels without shims, panels with shims, smartpanel.

panels without shims resulted in saddle dropping slightly in front, so Gaynor felt tipped forward

with shims - worked better on the horse, but she didn't like the bulk under the thigh (TBH, nor do i much)

smartpanel (the replacement for the suberpanel) was the preferred option - interesting, as earlier in the week she didn't like it, but now does.

the point of all this, of course, is that she needs a new saddle, and we are trying to find her a second hand Fhoenix, so sorting out what works for her and Charlie...

then Monfils & I - only in walk, but he was walking on a lot better than previously in the school. Then Gaynor got on him - she hasn't ridden him before, kept saying how tiny he is, but i don't think he is - probably, narrower than Molly was at this point, but i wouldn't have said he was smaller, really - he went well for her, better than for me :-( - but then i haven't done as much riding since our last lesson, what with my wrist and all the bad weather.

Anyway, my wrist was good, hurray! I have the appointment for the MRI scan, and the follow up with the hospital (the day before the next appointment with the wrist specialist in Newcastle) but TBH i don't really think I need the follow up appointment, and not at all sure i need the scan, but think I'll go for it anyway - there has to be some reason the bone moved! and i guess we need to know, but would rather Paul Stuart had a look (that's the Newcastle chap) whereas the Durham chap is really a knee man

and to close the day - partner was supposed to get the 20.00 train from London kings Cross, arriving at Durham 2300 - missed it! it was going to cost £110 to get the 21.00 - so has gone back to her friend's, and will get a coach tomorrow....apparently they were held up in traffic (she did in fact have train ticket to get her back into London, but i guess they thought being driven back meant more time at friend's ...)

grass....

2011-10-14T22:03:00.001+01:00

at 16.50 this afternoon, people were told that the horses were moving fields tonight, into their winter quarters - which at the moment has grass! hurray. bit of a rush though, time i got there from work Monfils was already in - don't know why we weren't given any notice, but everyone is pleased about that as all the geldings were well hacked off where they were - and very jealous, no doubt, of Monfils & Charlie

no doubt, however, we'll not be able to catch them tomorrow night!

dry!

2011-10-13T22:22:00.002+01:00

well, monf was, and had not rolled, which was quite impressive as he does so most days - i rather think he found the weight of mud yesterday a bit too heavy!

so i got the dry off his neck and head

the wrist is feeling heaps better, it would seem that chip of bone has settled back to where it was .. thinking, should I ride at the weekend?

happily, monf seems to be the sort of horse you can leave for a few days, get back on and have a reasonable expectation of being ok (she says, hoping she hasn't tempted fate)

appointment has arrived for MRI scan, and then appointment with consultant or his registrar (probably his registrar). however, THAT is the day before my next appointment with the wrist specialist in Newcastle about my left wrist = and i have to say, my preference would be for him to see the right wrist as well!

Mudmonster

2011-10-12T20:31:00.001+01:00

That was monfy.

Both sides of the rug thick wet mud.Off

So he got hosed off before i took the rug off and put a dry one on.

I've heard of people having to do that but never had to do that myself before now.

the plot thickens...

2011-10-11T22:02:00.002+01:00

in terms of my wrist.

yesterday's post was at 07.52 am.

i went to the fracture clinic for 10.55 a.m, where the man said - but that's an OLD fracture! he's ordered an MRI scan.

Now, i'd previously broken my right wrist about 20 years ago.

so when i eventually woke up yesterday evening and thought some more, i rather think what probably happened is that whatever i was doing on sunday afternoon while riding pulled a ligament or something, which in turn pulled into a new place the fragment of bone that had been loose from the 20 year old injury, pulling it away from where it had been resting and putting it into a new, very painful, place

that would account for the pain being equivalent to a break, and the x-ray looking like a break...

so the fingers now move, the swelling is subsiding, the pain is substantially reduced ....

I'm going to give it a week before trying riding again, but was able to muck out this evening with no great issue...

and in the meantime, we put my saddle on Charlie for Gaynor to try. a much improved picture of both horse and rider, they both worked well.

broken right wrist

2011-10-10T07:52:00.001+01:00

following on from last night's post, i finally caved in to the pain and went to a & e - avulsion fracture right wrist :-(

a lovely ride out

2011-10-09T19:36:00.002+01:00

with a fantastic feeling extended trot up the hill on the back drive

but i should not have ridden and certainly should not have trotted

the right wrist that i hurt last night grooming was, by the time i got back to the yard, excruciatingly painful.

struggled to dismount as that's the arm i normally use to support my weight, and don't know how i got the tack off.

arguably should go to hospital with it but since it can only be tendons and it's not as if they can do anything in an acute phase save provide NSAIDS, which i have, i shan't, but will ring gp in the morning

Whether i can muck out is doubtful as well

:-(

rain stopped play

2011-10-08T18:17:00.003+01:00

it was one of those horrid mizzly days that soaks you through without actually raining. euch.

AND Gaynor had forgotten she didn't have childcare for this afternoon, so couldn't have ridden out anyway, but frankly, the horses only wanted to be in and dry!
a
and whilst getting the dry mud off from under the rug (how DO they do that?) i managed to strain all the tendons in my right wrist and fingers ....

fingers crossed

2011-10-07T22:24:00.002+01:00

that the weather is fine tomorrow...

tbh it was a nice evening tonight - but i was getting both in (charlie as well) and it was friday and it had been a long week.. what can i say...

if the weather holds, we'll be riding out.

gales still stopping play

2011-10-06T20:00:00.001+01:00

and the temperature has plummetted to about 7 degrees C due to windchill, mostly, and there was a vague hint of sleet tonight. mad.

so i found something to spook him...

2011-10-04T22:06:00.003+01:00

well, nearly so

working on just getting him moving forward off my leg, without stopping when he wants... he has a nasty habit of napping towards the gate, and he can nap slowly in walk, and he can nap without warning - and since one can't spend more than half the time facing the other way ;-) - it is a nap, as he doesn't want to be in there, really...but he has no choice, it's too dark at night to be hacking out (well, dusk is cutting in too quickly to make it clever to go out!)

anyway, he's given up playing statues, so I'm getting something right!

and what spooks him? the sound of horses haynets hitting off metal gates from the other end of the yard when he couldn't see what the noise was. he was NOT happy!

gales stopped play

2011-10-03T19:34:00.003+01:00

although quite where that came from is anyone's guess - strong winds got up mid afternoon, just started raining when I got Monfils in ... no point even trying to get the mud off at that point! but of course, by the time I'd finished my chores (which involved dismantling and spreading out loosely the bale of haylage I'd just opened! due to the heat over the weekend...) he was dry and it had stopped raining - but it's going to again, and still seriously windy... and getting very dark very early. despite this happening every year, it always amazes me how noticeable it is from one week to the next ... happily, the same noticeability applies in the spring as well..

it was supposed to have been a hot day at 20 degrees C..... mmmph.

warm rain

2011-10-02T19:08:00.000+01:00

stopped play. it barely stopped ... but at least it WAS warm....

evently matched....

2011-10-01T23:41:00.003+01:00

interesting this - Monf & I went out for a hack with Gaynor & Charlie. previously, before our lessons last week, Monf walked so fast, and/or Charlie was so slow, we would leave them miles behind without trying.

This week, whilst Monf will always walk faster than Charlie, we weren't leaving him miles behind and gaynor was very impressed with herself (she's been practising since the lesson, LOL) that she needed barely a touch for him to move on, AND he trotted down an incline which he's never been known to do before.

Monf was a good lad, of course - we came back up the Park, which is full of sheep and, more importantly, cows, and a bull - I had NO idea whether he'd met cattle before, and i'm still not sure that he had, but all he did was look hard and keep walking. Charlie was the opposite side of Monf as Charlie is terrified of them..

and it was sooooo hot we hosed them off when we got back - and all we'd done was walk

eaten alive

2011-09-30T22:45:00.002+01:00

by midges .....ggrrrhhhh could feel them crawling about my skin whilst i was riding...

didn't do a huge amount, and stopped once we'd managed twice round the arena on left rein ... default at the moment seems to be right rein, my feeling is it might be my balance, not sure...

anyway, one problem - the tip for getting movement/turning is lift the hand and turn the wrist so the knuckles are on top with fingers towards you ... which is fine right hand, but is not doing my left wrist any good at all....

so will have to send message to RI about that

and i do so wish someone had been able to video my lesson...

we've pretty much lost enough light for evening hacks now, save for a nip round the 20 acre, and that'll not be possible by the end of next week :-(. winter's coming in ... but at least the weather is good at the moment, despite the midges...

we're all melting

2011-09-29T20:07:00.002+01:00

it's like a warm bath outside, which is very bizarre for September, end of! and forecast to continue into October....

anyway, didn't ride tonight, decided the need for food took precedence...Monfils is looking well, and shiny, probably because of the heat, and am waiting for any signs of a winter coat. i was wondering the other day when was the last time he DID have a winter coat, and wasn't fully clipped - it'll be a good few years back!

Keys and hacks

2011-09-28T20:22:00.001+01:00

Apologies for last nights lack of report.

Went in the arena to practice after Sundays lesson, and progress was made. When he had statuesque moments it was easier to get him going again. Turns not quite so easy partly because carrying schooling whip in case needed to reinforce leg, which it was, so got in the way, and partly because of strain o left wrist - lift and turn not good. O willhave to see how that goes

tonight Hack out just round the twenty acre gorgeous weather but needed toget round before dark - nights drawing in - went out with Beth who was gutted to have missed Sunday advise going to try do the next time.

But you wouldn't believe - i didn't realise till we got back my right stirrup was two holes longer than the left! What was that about?!!!

excellent stuff.....

2011-09-25T22:16:00.002+01:00

New RI, trained by Heather Moffett and by Racinet's pupil in the states, so i had hopes....

and they were fulfilled.

as for me - i had, of course, forgotten a lot of what i used to know (i suppose understandable after loads of time NOT riding after injury!) and need, of course, to not ride Monfils the way i used to ride Molly - her issues are not his (if he has any apart from being clever..)

Raise the inside hand to get flexion and look where I'm going and stop being so damn busy! and to get the statue to move, again, raise the inside hand and then take him slightly off balance - job done

and when he gets to the point where he wants to take the contact down - let him...

and I'd started pulling back .baaaad me...

and i was blocking.

but i was more pleased for Gaynor, who had her first lesson in her life - a good rider, but needed more - and she was well made up (but needs a new saddle, so will be borrowing mine!)

another bad day.....

2011-09-24T20:22:00.002+01:00

didn't even get on! ggrrhh

the day got off to an unexpected start - Gaynor was going to turn out both this morning, but her OH (he's in a band) hadn't come home from a gig in Harrogate, the band had been offered a caravan near there and since it was a late finish ... but she didn't know that until 10.30 last night! failed to get through to me on the mobile (she'd texted, and we were upstairs listening to the radio on the internet ) so it was fortuitous I got up earlyish anyway and saw her several texts and notifications of missed calls from her - she'd been on the point of waking the kids to go and do the horses, as she hadn't been able to get to me....

we spent most of the day waiting about for TV to be delivered - had expected it today, had booked it today - it didn't turn up, and when i checked the website (having found one could track orders!) they have it down for NEXT saturday ..ggrrhh. Partner was VERY bored as (even though she was busy) she didn't get any time away from the house, at least I managed that much...

did take time out to collect new rubber stable mat - Gaynor took me up in her 4WD, would never fit in my car!

so when i did make it to the yard i had that to put down, which meant moving the bedding over, lifting three mats, putting new one down, and then cutting the two bits of a whole one I had left to fit the last space left....

by which time, it was too late to ride - well, i could have done, but everyone else who was going to ride had ridden, Gaynor had hoped to, but ended up unable to do so as had no childcare - and i think i want company, even though i know he'll go out on his own I'd still rather be with a friend

hopefully, we're all good for the lesson tomorrow ....

The view

2011-09-23T21:04:00.001+01:00

Might be good but we were playing statues i wish I'd not got on!

I did get some movement but not enough and then i was last there so end of that attempt.

a better night in the arena

2011-09-22T19:48:00.002+01:00

the new girth arrived (i spiked my finger with a staple getting into the parcel!)

so, decided to go into the arena - no one to go out with, and we do need to do this... young beth came to spectate (i say young, about 17 but a good eye and a good rider) and i was pleased she did as she was able to assist the process of getting him going

of course - he was taking the piss was the problem....

at one point, beth got up, came in, and physically moved his front feet forward, so eventually he was forced to move his back ones and we got going again!

after about 1/2 hour (was it that long? not sure, probably) i was able to dictate the place we stopped!

i think a lot of the trouble has been that i've been stopping when my wrist hurt - which for me was valid - but of course he doesn't know that, he just knows he hasn't had to do it....

so, more tomorrow!

then hopefully a hack out on saturday, and a lesson on sunday morning assuming the weather holds....

in the meantime, here's that mohican....

mohican

2011-09-20T20:27:00.002+01:00

if i shorten the mane, Monfils has a Mohican ....needed doing, but interesting result. had hoped to take photo, but had to move him in instead (his "parking space" is near the tap and friend needed to cold hose her horse's tendon!) so will try and get one tomorrow......

by which time, i hope my new girth will have arrived, apparently it has been posted!

Another nice ride

2011-09-19T19:59:00.001+01:00

Out with tracey and her dun Marcus. Tracey was riding for the first time for a good while since she fried the tendons in her ankle. So walk - up the steep hill behind the yard, through the gate (which i opened) along the track following the peasants we were putting up in front of us - monfils not phased at all in the front. And back round. Excellent.

sunday

2011-09-19T06:34:00.002+01:00

was largely spent footing a ladder ..... i HATE it when it is time to paint the house.

ride the horse? well, i should have done that first thing, had i but known.....

but one good note - when i went to the field for him in the evening, they were having a MAHOOSIVE hooly - but i called anyway, and do you know, he came!!!!! i was a bit stunned by that

lovely evening ride

2011-09-17T22:25:00.001+01:00

with Gaynor - unexpectedley, she arrived a minute or so after me, i thought everyone else had been & gone!

and I did ALL the gates... mind, i really will have to be careful, they're not good on the left shoulder, much easier with the ones i can do with my right hand!

and it was so warm we had to get the fly spray out!

just as monfils and i got to his stable door...

2011-09-16T20:40:00.002+01:00

the heavens opened!

i expected it, and TBH was surprised it had not started sooner.....been forecast! and set in for the weekend, we are told...

more solo hacking

2011-09-15T20:08:00.002+01:00

not that that was the original plan, but i'd got there too late to have company

so ... deep breath -

along the back drive (i knew that wouldn't be a problem, did it the other week) and round the 20 acre - i started singing as i got to the first corner, as i do dislike wide open spaces, and who knows what's going to happen .... also, of course, got to get rid of the memories of molly planting, disliking fishermen, and so on ...

walked along quite happily. put up a pheasant, which startled me but not him ...

and i was surprised to be able to open the gate at the end - i could feel it in the shoulder, which isn't wholly fixed yet, but since i couldn't have done that at all a few weeks ago, very pleased indeed.

was going to trot up the hill to home, but the girls on ponies were at the top so he stopped and dropped back to walk before we'd really got going...

there was a change in log positioning at the top - there are some logs that people pop - and there were two at a narrow place, leaving a gap to go through - he was a shade snorty at that, as it wasn't like that last time we went up that hill with company, but went past it no bother

also, unlike the last few times we've done that (when i was at the riding school) he walked over the blue pipe thing on the ground without a second glance - that's possibly been assisted by the fact that i used that stretch for in hand grass when he was on box rest a few weeks ago.

overall, very very pleased with both of us!

Rug time

2011-09-13T20:10:00.001+01:00

Its getting nippy so rugs on. Only lightweight for now but it's time.

And we're still getting that wind

Hurricane katia

2011-09-12T20:54:00.001+01:00

Has vicious tail! Too dangerous to ride in that wind!

i said to max...

2011-09-11T22:33:00.000+01:00

back in June, that i thought that when Monf is licking & chewing, he's not actually thinking about what he's learning, he's thinking about his next evasion..

i watched the film i took of that session today, as a reminder..

Monf's evasion is, to come towards me at an angle .... so therefore can't get him to go away from me...

out on my own!

2011-09-10T21:59:00.003+01:00

did think about going in the arena, but decided instead to go along the back drive, would decide whether to come back via the 20 acre depending on the weather - if it's really windy, there's a stand of bushes that, from now on to spring, clatter in the wind - and the wind kept getting up really high, then dropping back.... so went as far as the ford, then turned round and came back, as the wind had got up (course, it dropped again when i got back, but that's sod's law...) - the boy was very good, and very brave! there was a horse screaming it's head off for its friend in a field over the hill, and someone could be heard opening and closing a gate out of site (two riders then seen coming down hill) - and we met one of them coming the other way on a track to the side of the back drive....the pheasants (of which there are 100's just now, stocked up ready for the shooting season) didn't phase him one bit (but then, they run round the grazing as well). i reckon putting a pheasant up is more startling to rider than to horse...

anyway, enjoyed that; will try another (gateless - i think I've mentioned, i am physically unable to do gates at the moment!) route next time!

got back and thought we'd do some schooling in the arena .. not. he's a stubborn b when he wants to be....

broken girth!

2011-09-08T21:41:00.002+01:00

happily, i noticed as i was tacking up. It certainly wasn't like that last time I rode on Sunday, it was very odd. In the bin, and i need a new 26" one - will get a Professional's Choice (I was looking for a reason to buy one....)

so put the 24" on which is, strictly, a shade short, and which i don't really like, it doesn't have the elastication and the girth straps don't fit inside the girth neatly, which i like on a dressage girth...

went in the arena - did think about going out (Charlie was being ridden too) but we both ended up in the arena

still won't lunge!

2011-09-07T22:10:00.002+01:00

that was quite amusing in one way .... Gaynor had thought she could sort it .. wouldn't believe how hard it is (I really do think he really DOESN'T see the point and so won't do it) and to be fair she did get him going both ways once - then he turned himself in, as he does very quickly - and couldn't be got going again. should have just stopped there (I had to be at the airport in 40 minutes to pick partner up) but I let her enthusiasm get the better of my judgement and we tried again. no good... so he won that one. But on the other hand it was interesting, and useful ...

I only want to try to get it going as we're going in to winter so less riding, plus I would really like him to actually start volunteering this just on principle.

but I really don't think it's going to happen...