Riding log - anyone interested?

[SupersonicDave]

Saw this on a horse forum and thought it would be a good idea.

Basically i need a bit of help with motivation (too much to do, not enough hours in the day etc) and can get a bit stuck in a rut wrt schooling/hacking/lunging.

So, today i am riding out my mare, a friend is riding my gelding, and we are going to ride through the village and back across some grassy tracks. Want to concentrate on keeping my mare calm, especially on the grass.

Oh dear, what happened to all the charging about the 'new' place at every opportunity? Still, if you are a bit out of practice then 1 hour is quite a long time especially if you feel unfit, I'm flagging after a half hour lesson! It's amazing how quickly a bit of time off can affect you isn't it? I've only been away for a week but I was still aching after a little hack out.

was in hospital for couple of weeks (for no compelling reason really) so will use that as excuse

but am genuinely seriously tired about two thirds of the time, in a not even slightly normal way, don't know how to improve fitness without energy - red bull? am I old enough at 40 for it to be age related?

It's quite a good excuse so will let you off on this occasion.

The last time I felt that exhausted I was pregnant but I'm guessing you've ruled that out! Have you spoken to your doctor about it? Otherwise I can't say I've noticed Red Bull have any affect on me at all (and I'm older than you), perhaps coffee?
Alternatively you could stop posting on Mumsnet at midnight and get yourself off to bed.

Doh! see how tired I am? confused what you said about Red Bull with age when you meant tiredness with age!
Don't know about that, my mum has tons of energy. We are going on a walking holiday soon and I'm seriously worrying about whether I will be able to keep up with her.

Wow its busy on here...
Mitchie - Coffee, haven't slept for days as DS won't sleep (he's 4months so we'll let him off)... and coffee really is a life saver (well that and a very long schooling whip when my legs just give up!)
Pixel - your holiday sounds fab, the places you find to stay it always sounds soooo nice (and horsey)!
Butkin & CMOT - Congrats on your successes at the weekend!
Older - sounds like your gd is having a great time, I'm anti-hunt but there's no denying that it is a huge confidence booster for young riders.
Manatee - glad long-reining isn't the answer to everything, makes me feel much better!
Frosty - hope you're starting to feel better!

Not much news here. Schooled baby horse today (got to stop calling him that but he's huge and it makes me feel better !), he was really good, calm and listening but still going everywhere doing a giraffe impression - we have a long. Long way to go but I do love a project!

was thinking it's a bit like early pregnancy actually but as minge hasn't been near any sperm for what feels like years can relax where that is concerned

maybe it is chronic penis deficiency? or more likely just something to whinge about - anyway, will have to ride more and go to bed at 7pm or some ridiculous time like that

You know the answer then Mitchie! Maybe you could have a passionate affair with a man in tight breeches? That would give you some energy!

I had a date this week with a tennis coach, if that counts, but he was so boring and also a bit free with double backhanded compliments ("women like you use their looks to get everything they want" - I don't have everything I want, starting with the right sort of looks!)

OMG - chronic penis deficiency - THAT MUST be why I get tired too.

Rode only briefly yesterday in the school. My friend came up to play horsiness and ride the mare to convince herself that she is not scared of horses. Dmare did a great job, she is very good at being ploddy with beginners.

She is in a field with literally no grass as it has been so dry, so the YO wants to move her and her two field companions into the woods (the ones I ride in :-o) There are 2 fields in there, but I am worried for numerous reasons.

still chronically aspermic but enjoyed hack and didn't get tired - was especially nice because daughter (youngest) rode out with me, just the two of us plus three spaniels plus some random 78yr old man getting his hunter fit plus some random woman on a TB that reared every time it saw a spaniel. Plus horse flies of course.

don't understand why lessons are more exhausting than hacks, I suppose because you have to do thinking and Actual Riding instead of freewheeling round fields?

chronic penis deficiency - you've made my morning!
..sure I came on here with something horse-related to post but after reading these posts and laughing like a total loon I can't think what it was now

Hello!

Afraid I haven't been on mn for a while, have been re-reading all my old Jilly Coopers :o

I have noticed that I much prefer hacks to actual riding these days.

Dh and I are doing the heath ride on Sunday! So not ready, dh away this week too, so at home with 2 small dcs and trying to get 2 horses ready. Hmm, not going well.

But, dh has the kids and doing the horses on Friday and I am going to burghley! Yay

Welcome back from Jilly Cooper world - have only read Riders and that was fairly recently (last couple of years). Loved it!

How long is heath ride? Sounds like busy weekend, of nice things to buy at Burghley (why does iPad want to change it to Burleigh every time?)

have hardly ridden lately, should make most of daylight and weather before WINTER

Winter seems to be looming so quickly doesn't it ?

Had a fab lesson at the weekend with an instructor who was visiting from a vv posh riding school (sorry, equestrian centre ), but was exhausted and aching after. Am trying to work out a time to go and ride friends horse which will be fun

Dhorse and I are going in our first show on saturday. Goodness knows how I'm going to get his white face clean though, he won't let us near it with anything. We've spent four years being patient and he's still scared so goodness knows what happened to him when he was younger. We are only doing two classes anyway and it's more for experience as I haven't got any proper clothes but it should be fun and I'm looking forward to it.

I'm going to Burghley on Friday too.Luckily it is fairly near to us.My friend took her dds to coursewalk yesterday-I had to work so we couldn't go.Boo.Have arranged for a friend to ride dpony on Friday as I won't be around,and she is looking forward to a gallop over the stubble.

We had a horrible moment today when we thought dpony had gone lame,our instructor checked her over and thought it was her left shoulder.Thankfully it turned out that it was stiffness that disappeared after a few minutes warming up.My heart was in my mouth,especially after the vet bill from the weekend.We'll have to be careful about warming her up properly,I don't want anything to happen to her.

looks like everyone (but me) has something exciting planned for weekend - although there is enough built in excitement around yard with film cast and crew. There are at least six million people. I managed to leave my car in shot today, apparently they couldn't pass it off as an authentic bit of agricultural equipment from pre-WWI days. Am a huge fan of the cakes and sandwiches that keep appearing, and actually will be huge or more than huge if filming goes on for long.

Shire horses arriving tomorrow, to do ploughing. Need to be really organised and get out for a ride, otherwise get caught up watching everything or can't get past without disrupting things. Which leads to sitting around, eating cake. Poor me.

That sounds pretty exciting Mitchy. When a film crew were based at the hay yard my dad was involved with (a long running crime show is often there), he reckoned it was great as the makeup ladies would cut his hair while filming was going on as well as getting all the grub he wanted.

Am exhausted. Ds and dpony have been enjoying hacking out this week, which means me running through stubble as they trot. After the next lot of surgery I may well be looking for a horse of my own that I can lead off of to save my legs

You're all very busy! Dhorse lost another shoe over the weekend which had to be held on with duct tape until the farrier came yesterday - he now has expensive Natural Balance shoes behind, and side clip "hunter" shoes in front - not sure what the hunter bit means but hey ho. I took him out today for the first time in a week and he was quite sleepy really, even though we met loads of farm machinery - combine, tractors with spikes on the front, trailers, lorry loads full of straw bales - he didn't bat an eyelid.

I was very brave and decided to jump the only non round bale lying in the fields - one of those extra large oblong ones - and was very pleased with myself and dhorse. He loved it, so much so that after we landed he locked on to a round bale and headed towards that with me squeaking "no" in fright - luckily I turned him. He probably would have jumped it fine, but there was no way I was going to.

I'm aiming to do the last local fun ride here on Sunday, fingers crossed that all is well as I've had to cancel the last two for various reasons. The fact that we are going to a mega party on Saturday night WILL NOT stop me......I hope!

Mitchy your life sounds really interesting at the moment - dead jealous!

We've had a terrific day in the sunshine at Burghley today but will miss the cross country as DD has been offered spare ride in last HOYS qualifer at Moreton In the Marsh show on Saturday so we're trekking off there (rather glad we're not paying diesel/entry fees for the pony!).

Good luck Butkin's daughter. of bale jumping, urgently need farrier so not much riding until horse has been shod - probable of cmot shopping for new horse when it happens too. My daughter is at Stratford Hills today, maybe she will see Saggy?

film people had less than realistic view of shire horses' ability to individually plough very hard ground, I blame Morpurgo for originally selling us idea of TBxID(?) as heroic agricultural machine in warhorse. Am in love with the shires but think they are leaving today.

I've had a lovely day, although I'm glad the show was in-hand as dhorse was VERY up on his toes. Managed to hang on to him (thank God he was wearing his new 'brakes') and he even settled and did a nice trot round at the end (lap of honour ha ha!) until another horse trotted past him and he started rearing and bucking on the spot. I did hear a cry of 'well held' from the ringside though .

Anyway, two nice things. Firstly he got a second and a fifth which I'm really chuffed about for his first show. Secondly, the lady I bought him from was there. She's very knowledgable and has done all sorts (showing, driving etc) but had to give up due to ill-health. Anyway, she hasn't seen dhorse since he was two so I asked her if he'd turned out how she expected (he's just turned 6 now) and she said "Better. He's a credit to you". I don't think I've ever felt so proud!

I've told dhorse that he'll have to behave now as I've got some nice pictures of him to put on a for-sale advert.

KNEW you would bring back rosettes, just knew it! Well done!

Do we get to see these nice pictures too?

Might find one or two . As you can imagine I was a bit trampled busy to be taking photos but my step-dad was snapping away so I will get them from him when I get a chance.
How are you feeling now? Any better?

:) much better thanks - hardly riding at all, but think some of that is summer holiday stuff

can't believe your pride and joy is still only six, he's still a baby (although Joey must be at least 8 and I wonder how long I can say that about him?)