New learning

I’m rather excited about this. It’s the workbook for the latest training course that I’ve signed up for. Tonight was the kick-off session. It was really interesting listening to the other people who are in my cohort. They’re all Equestrian Coaches. Unlike me, I’m a BHS 0. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learnt a lot of the years.

I’ve always been very resistant to making horses my living. Horses are my passion and my hobby (more lifestyle than hobby). But I’ve always wanted to learn more and more. To improve myself to be the best rider for my horses.

Now I feel I want to give back to something that has given me so much. You see I’ve been the person standing on the mounting block terrified to get on their horse. It wasn’t until I had that experience that I really understood how crippling and debilitating fear could be. It broke my heart that something that brought me so much joy, was the source of so much pain and frustration. Slowly I rebuilt my confidence one ride at a time.

So I’m coming at this from a different angle. I think it’ll really help me to move my coaching business more towards working with riders.

Let’s get my little brain cells working…

Archie

Another day and another set of ears. I am a very lucky girl indeed to get the chance to ride so many different horses.

Each one makes me smile in their own way. They’re all very different. Today I got to jump Archie. He was a total dreamboat.

Reminds me that not only am I good rider. I am a confident rider too. Having only sat on him once very briefly, today I got on and popped him round a few jumps.

Took me a few jumps to work him out. And him me. I haven’t jumped a different horse for a while so I’m rather used to Buddy. Once we worked each other out, it felt so good to be jumping again.

It wasn’t that long ago that my confidence was shattered. It’s been a long road to getting back to me. I’m sure there are many silver linings to Buddy being off games. This is definitely one.

Blue

I headed over to catch up with Natalie this afternoon. She’d kindly offered me the chance to ride one of her horses. I met Blue. He’s 17HH so bigger than Buddy. Just as cheeky though. He definitely made me smile.

I’m grateful that people have offered me their horses to ride while Buddy is off games. It’s very flattering that they consider me good enough.

But riding other horses reminds me that I am a good rider. Sure I’m no professional. I class myself as an enthusiastic amateur (with the emphasis on enthusiastic).

The same could be said of Blue as he jogged along. Thoroughly enjoyed the ride! I definitely wasn’t blue by the end. Though my foot might be after he stood on it. Guess you can’t win them all.

Off games

We were meant to be having a night away. Buddy in a lovely stable. Me in the Buddymobile. Tomorrow we were meant to be demo riders at another CPD Day. Flatwork this time. But someone is off games.

I know flatwork isn’t your favourite, but going lame is a little extreme Buddy. My fab farrier was due today so perfect timing. No obvious signs of an abscess, so hoping a few days rest and a treatment from Auntie Sam will do the trick and we will be back to it.

Honestly, I’m not joking when I say I feel thwarted. I literally get the Buddymobile fixed and now Buddy’s out of action. You couldn’t make it up.

Still Buddy is happy in himself. He’s not hopping lame, but definitely uncomfortable. Hoping he’s just tweaked something dicking about in the field. On the other hand, I’ve had my toddler tantrum and stamped my foot ( I’ll probably be lame tomorrow too).

Sometimes it’s just not your week. All healing vibes gratefully received.

Demo rider

What a blooming brilliant day! We got to do something new today. We were demo riders for a BHS CPD day. We had to ride in front of 14 coaches / instructors.

There were five of us riding today. Four in a group lesson and one in a private. Yesterday, Jo Winfield chose us to have the private lesson. What an honour. She was complimentary about my riding ability, Buddy’s capability and our partnership. As were a number of the coaches afterwards.

Obviously I didn’t hear everything she was saying about us as that’s not the idea. She’s coaching the coaches as well as me.

Today was all about Arena Eventing. Something we’ve done before. But not like this. Buddy jumped everything I asked. He gave me such a great feeling. Got to open him up for the XC style jumps.

Still lots to work on. We had so much fun though! Just what I needed. I smiled all the way home. I came away with homework. And am learning to us my body to slow him down.

We will both sleep well tonight.

Dramarama

Back home after a very long day at the BRC Intermediate Champs in Onley. I wasn’t competing, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t in on all the action.

Up for the Arena Walk, which mostly involved me taking my jacket on and off, jumping up and down and generally desensitising the horses to the fact the viewing gallery was rather close to the arenas.

Then it was helping one of the rider get ready for her test. Well I was until another rider’s horse managed to pull a shoe off and cut herself. Once the first rider was onboard, I rushed to get the vet and find a farrier. The later proved more challenging as there wasn’t one onsite. After ringing round as many farriers as we could Google. We found one who would put the shoe on. But only if we took the horse to him.

Cue 1.5 hour roadtrip to the farrier’s house! Where he put the shoe back on on his driveway. I kid you not!!

We managed to made it back in time for her to plait, get signed off by the vet and get ridden in for her test. Phew!

Good job I’m calm in a crisis.

The horse does all the work

It’s always made me laugh when people say that the horse does all the work. And as riders, we just sit there. Today I’ve definitely disproved that.

We headed off for a lesson this morning over at Martham. We were put through our paces for sure.

After getting back and sorting Buddy out, I took the lorry home to give it a deep clean. We head off to our first training camp of 2022 this weekend. So I wanted it to be neat and tidy. 2.5 hours later!!! It doesn’t take me that long to clean my entire house.

Pretty sure it’ll needs another clean when I get back!