Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
Author: langlep
So 2020 was going to be my year. The year I got my life sorted after being served redundancy notice from my job in November 2019. The year I ticked off more things from my horsey bucket list. The year I got my mental health back under control and reduced stress in my life.
I had a plan. And it was a good one. Then the plan changed dramatically on 2 January. I came off my horse at speed and broke my ankle. Badly. Like all good equestrians, I got back on and rode back to the yard, sorted Buddy out and then drove myself to A&E. That’s where this journey really began...
I was sent home from A&E and told to crack on, only to receive a phone call later to say they’d missed a fracture (and a rather serious one at that). Whoops! So fracture clinic on 3 January, surgery on 5 January and home to recover.
I started this blog as a way to chart my recover back to the saddle. As I cleared clinics and competitions out of my diary and wondered what the next few months would bring, it's been a safe space for me to say how I'm feeling.
The new plan was to get a new job, to keep Buddy is kept ticking over and recover from my injury. Another good plan! I didn't expect a global pandemic, lockdown and all that happened in 2020.
This blog has changed over time but it's continued to be my safe space to share the things going on in my life, with Buddy and the cats. Enjoy!
Fear not, the only thing that’s died is my bucket. This is the result of someone having a teenager tantrum because they’d eaten all of their recovery mash. I fear I may have created a monster!
He got a bit of a time-out after that.
Thankfully he was exemplary in his two lessons today. First up was jumping. Finally we’ve cracked the perfect canter that Caroline’s been asking for. Only taken me 6 years!
This afternoon it was flat work with Jo. She put me in resistance bands. Well that was an experience! Not sure my thighs will be the same after that. But definitely helped with my lower leg.
In between, Buddy popped on the Spillers weigh-bridge. He’s now 646kg. Which sounds like a lot, but he’s all muscle. He got a perfect body score.
It’s so lovely to hear how well he’s looking. From many people. Sadly my bucket has seen better days…
Arrived at Forest Edge for our latest training camp. Buddy is such a pro at camp life. And so am I. It doesn’t feel that long ago that we were here before. Well I guess it has only been a few weeks. Feels very good to be back.
We took the horses out for a leg stretch before the welcome BBQ. We honestly didn’t get lost. We just took the slightly scenic route. Pip Nav was actually right. But we ended up adding on an extra loop. Made it back for foo though.
We’re not lost, you are?!
Looking forward to the first lessons tomorrow. Bring on the learning, aching and sweating…
I’m not surprised these two are tired. We all had a broken night’s sleep.
I was woken up at 1am by a cat fight on the roof. I thought they were going to come through the roof! Hugo was wailing so loudly. Woke me up with such a start.
Got up to see what was going on. Found Hugo was hiding on the conservatory roof. And Dodo was on the garage roof. Both looked very shaky.
Cue me on some steps checking them. Thankfully they were both OK.
Saw there was another stray cat in the garden. This one only had one ear! Guessing it was involved in the wailing.
The kittens spent most of the day asleep. Needless to say, I didn’t. But I am all packed ready for the start of Big Camp tomorrow.
I headed back to the Showground today. This time without Buddy. Typically it was much cooler today. I was soon regretting my decision to wear shorts. After being a hot mess yesterday, I was verging on chilly.
Of course, it could have been that I was there for 7:30am to plait my first horse of the day. In fact I’d plaited both my charges before lunch.
Both judges were very complimentary about the turnout. Always lovely to hear when you do your best to make sure the horses look as good as they can. First horse came first, second came second. Very happy riders too!
That meant the afternoon was free to watch some of the jumping. Well I say that, I didn’t see that much. I kept bumping into people I knew. All in all, a very lovely day.
My own hair is usually a bit of a mess, but I can definitely plait a horse.
Buddy and I headed over to the Showground for a spot of showjumping today. I left the yard and it didn’t feel too hot. I was wrong. It was baking by the time we arrived.
Tacked Buddy up and headed to walk the 70cm course. Thankfully someone was able to hold him for me. It walked well so headed to the warm up. It was a bit of a different set up. There was a very small warm up next to the ring. They were only letting 4 horses at a time in there, so we used the bigger warm up away from the ring.
Buddy managed to trip a few times on the uneven ground so I kept the jumping to a minimum. Soon it was our turn the go to the proper warm up and Buddy was feeling good.
Slight blip when a woman decided to walk her inhand pony and two children through the warm up. Madness! Buddy was not happy about that either. It was such a small area and people jumping – it was downright dangerous.
The warm up ring can be like going into battle at the best of times.
I brushed it off and entered the ring. It was single phase and we went double clear in a really fast time. Took a few ‘eventer’ lines and Buddy was on it! He ate up the ground.
He was so sweaty by the time we’d finished, I thought I’d take him back to the lorry and wash him off while I waited for the next class. I’m so lucky that Buddy is so easy when we go out.
Wandering back to the ring, I arrived as the last rider was finishing. Imagine my surprise when they announced we’d come second! So happy.
Walked the 80cm and went back to tack Buddy up again. I nearly blinded myself as I had so much sweat running in my eyes. My god, sweat stings! I was a dribbly mess by the time I was done. I couldn’t get my gloves on as my hands were so wet. Classy huh?!
By the time we got back to the warm up, Buddy was feeling as hot and bothered as I was. Neither of us was at our best in the 80cm round. I messed up some of the line and it was a very twisty course. Final result was 16 faults.
I was disappointed as I know we could do so much better. But we started together, finished together and sweated even more together!
I had a visitor today while I was working. This little butterfly flew in and landed on the carpet next to me. After I took the photo, it flew up and landed on my trousers. So I walked out into the garden so it could fly off. And managed to keep Dodo (aka butterfly killer) away.
As a kid, we used to call them flutterbys. I guess it’s an apt name for them. As they literally flutter by. Can’t say I get the connection to butter. Anyone know?!
I was recently recommended to try coconut water as it’s good for natural hydration. I’ve been trying to remember to take my electrolytes but it’s a bit hit and miss.
What’s also a bit hit and miss is my ability to tolerate coconut. I’m good with a Bounty, but not dried coconut, milk or cream. So I was a bit apprehensive about trying it.
Thought I’d be brave. Again, it was a bit hit and miss. I wasn’t affected by it. I just didn’t like the taste. It doesn’t taste like coconut. In fact, I’m not sure what it tasted like.
The only way I could drink it was to water it down significantly. Guess it’s one way to hydrate!
I went over to pick up the collection pots from the East Anglian Air Ambulance today.
Having witnessed the vital work they do firsthand on Sunday, I’m even more determined to raise as much money as we can for them. I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed by the bucket at first. That’s a lot of pennies! Assuming people still carry cash?!
These will be used at the Area Dressage over the weekend. And at our club show. Fingers crossed for a good turn out at both.
I went over to pick up the collection pots from the East Anglian Air Ambulance today.
Having witnessed the vital work they do firsthand on Sunday, I’m even more determined to raise as much money as we can for them. I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed by the bucket at first. That’s a lot of pennies! Assuming people still carry cash?!
These will be used at the Area Dressage over the weekend. And at our club show. Fingers crossed for a good turn out at both.
Took Buddy over to Blickling this morning to meet up with Katie and Archie. It’s been a while since we met there. It’s amazing how the crops have grown up. They’re almost ready to harvest.
Of course they also make good hiding places. We saw a deer jumping across this field. It makes me smile watching them bounce through the crop. Thankfully away from us…
Tales, Tails and Talus 