Cool

May has arrived with a plom! It’s been the hottest day of the year. So I spend a lot of it in a car. I had to drive to Essex to do a site visit. Cruising along in the Upgrade with air conditioning was decedent to say the least!

Gone are the days of arriving looking windswept and interesting in the Comedy Car with the windows open.

The Comedy Car has found a new home. Where a new person can giggle as they wizz along. I’m sad to see him go. We’ve had many adventures together.

I’m very happy with the Upgrade though. He feels huge compared to the Comedy Car. I’m loving the air conditioning. I’d forgotten what a joy that is.

Terminator

We’re back home after another epic training camp. Epic in so many ways. Bert’s first camp and to be honest, he totally aced it! He waited patiently while I went for my lessons. He made himself comfortable in the Buddymobile. He slept through every night. He had zoomies in the forest and played nicely with the other dogs.

Every time I left him, I told him ‘I’ll be back’. I’m no Arnie, but it did make me giggle. Just call me Terminator.

Buddy aced camp too. Six lessons, massive lightbulbs and huge leaps forward in our training. He feels stronger, straighter and much more rideable since his injury.

The only ‘downside’ was the heat! Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous. Last year, I didn’t take enough layers. It chucked it down and was freezing. This year, it was like someone had left the oven on…

Very draining for us all. We coped with a heady mix of fluids and electrolytes. I am very tired now. We shall all sleep well tonight.

40 winks

Someone is very tired after another full on day at camp. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that both of my kids are very tired. I am too. The sudden heat is rather sapping. Still we’ve all had another good day.

In our flat work lesson this morning, I felt so much straighter in my body after yesterday’s treatment and taping. It’s really puts you in the right position that’s for sure. I noticed a change in Buddy too. He had to work differently to adjust for my new posture. I could really feel the difference. He was much straighter too.

The battery seemed to drain though and he felt like he was getting a little stiff. After last year and his injury, I was a bit concerned. He worked really hard yesterday and I foolishly forgot to give him his electrolytes. That wouldn’t help.

I walked him off in the forest and he felt good. So he got a lunch with lots of electrolytes in it to see if that would help.

He popped on the weight bridge after our lesson. I had 630kg in my head. He was 631kg! And a perfect body score. The nutritionist said he had really good muscle tone too. We got a rosette for being perfect! What a lovely touch.

After taking Bert in the forest for a run. And some lunch for me. It was time for our second lesson – jumping related distances. We built on the quality of canter lesson we had yesterday. I’d mentally prepared myself to stop if Buddy wasn’t feeling it. Well he was well up for it! My new position massively helped as did my softer hands (another learning from yesterday). So happy with him!

I know Buddy is a seasoned pro at camps. Bert has taken to it like a duck to water.

Last day tomorrow. Always bittersweet.

Sloppy

I think I might have put too much water in Buddy’s breakfast. It was a bit sloppy. Needless to say I declined post-breakfast kisses.

We all had a very good night. And a very good day today. Apart from a few whimpers when he first went in his crate, Bert slept through. Buddy had a good sleep too judging from the amount of shavings in his tail.

Today we had two lessons – flat & jumping. I’d bought a ‘Soft Tissue Release and Trigger Point Work, with optional kinesiology taping’ session. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was great. She assessed my position in the saddle. Took lots of videos. Spoke to the instructor. Then released my tight areas. I’ve got tape on my shoulders to help put me in a better position. Be interesting to see how it all affects my riding tomorrow.

Given that this time last year, Buddy was clearly not right and off games, there are so many positives to take from today. And there’s still two more days!

Two kids

Well I’ve made it to our first training camp of 2025. Hurrah! This is the first time I’ve been away with two kids, Buddy and Bert. My god, they need a lot!

The Buddymobile felt a bit cramped with it all. I also needed three lists! And I still forgot the poo bags and toilet roll. It’s much better now Buddy is tucked up in his stable and Bert is tucked up in his crate in the horse area.

I’m tucked up in the living. As much as I love the Buddymobile, it’s definitely time for a bigger lorry! Bert’s arrival means I need more living. Well that’s my excuse! I want a toilet and a fridge too.

So far both kids are behaving very well. Coming to Forest Edge is such a happy place for me. I know Buddy loves it here. And it seems Bert might too after zoomies in the forest. Buddy, on the other hand, had a leisurely walk before the lessons start tomorrow. Bring on the learning…

Can’t handle it

It’s been a while since we had a ‘Pip injured herself’ post. Can’t take full responsibility for his one. My Baby Sprocker had a part to play in it too.

A friend took me to the local pub for lunch. She wanted to say thank you for the support I’d given her recently. Very kind of her. As it was such a beautiful day, we thought we’d eat in the beer garden. Unfortunately, the door opened outwards, so Bert dived out and I caught my hand on the door handle. Right between my fingers. Ouch!

One for me to work on as he does have a habit of diving through doors. This is the second time I’ve caught my hand. But the worst one as it’s blew up immediately.

Sure I’ll live. And didn’t stop me scoffing scampi and chips. Yum! Best break out the arnica…

Catch me

Bert is off to Badminton Horse Trails next month. I’ll be there too. I know I get on really well with the people I’m going with. Bert is a bit of an unknown quantity. So today he met the two dogs he’ll be going with.

Rambo wasn’t that fussed about Bert. He preferred to mooch round the dog park enjoying the sniffs. Buster, on the other hand, was very happy to run around like a loon chasing him. So funny watching them tear around and play.

I’m very relieved that they got on. A little bit too much as Bert tried to hump both of them. A tad embarrassing. He’s a raging sea of hormones at the moment. The joys of adolescence eh? Let’s hope that’s calmed down otherwise it’s going to be an interesting trip…

Resurrection

Well it wasn’t just Christ who was resurrected today. My show jumping ‘career’ with Buddy was too. For the first time since December 2023, we entered a show jumping competition.

It wasn’t pretty. We are VERY rusty (bit of an understatement). Given he had the majority of last year off games, I’m over the moon!

I kept it low by entering the 60cm & 70cm. It wasn’t the triumphant return it could have been. I went with low expectations. I just wanted to see how Buddy reacted.

Sure we had two poles in each round. Sure I couldn’t see a stride for toffee. Sure I rode like a muppet. But we did it and that’s what counts. I know my eye will come in the more we jump. I also know I’ve been a bit lack in our training.

My Baby Sprocker has been winning in those stakes. That is paying off. He came to his first competition. He even jumped a little fence. He got LOTS of fuss. He slept in the lorry while I took Buddy off to compete. Afterwards, he got to watch some of the action. It was all rather exciting to start off with, he soon settled though.

All in all a very good outing…