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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Riding log - anyone interested?

999 replies

SupersonicDave · 26/03/2011 11:25

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.

OP posts:

Notinmylife · 26/05/2012 18:59

Hi alemeda, certainly sounds like you have your hands full!! What horses do you have? Mine is a tb, he is better if I mount from the ground, but not by much,

Alameda · 26/05/2012 21:58

I've got a 15.2 brown (or dark bay, he does have black points but passport says brown) 20ish yo gelding who is like an overgrown NF pony really, I love him far too much. Even when he has lost his head, hunting or x country, on his back still feels like the safest and happiest place in the world. Then the 13.2 who is a very pretty skewbald, sort of blue roan and white. We've come a looooong way from the bolt and buck days, I just need to relax and see the sudden handstands as a thing of the past - still think of him as a baby but he must be at least 10 now!

'new' pony is also a bit of mixture, 13.2 again but much finer than the boys so I might not get on board unless by some miracle I slip below 7st, which is not ideal (or likely at the moment)

sorry, can go on about them forever!

Project Love is working, he is making it easy by 1. being so beautiful 2. being such a genuine pony (and a brave one) and 3. so much more comfortable and responsive than my horse - we went on a two hour hack and I loved almost all of it. Just not the bit where we were on a narrow bridleway, fenced with barbed wire on one side, face to face with a GOAT. Anyone would bolt?

Notinmylife · 27/05/2012 07:20

They sound lovely! My Mums pony is 20, she still thinks she is 5 though so we are hoping she still has lots of years left in her. My boy is 8, and still very much a baby. Your goat experience sounds traumatic, they are quite sinister looking things though

Mirage · 27/05/2012 22:49

Welcome Notinmylife can we see a picture of your horse? Did his loaner say anything about behaviour whilst mounting? He may just be nervy as getting used to new people/surroundings.

The pony we saw yesterday was very nice,but I had a few doubts about ever hunting or x country with her as she's never done either,so we are still looking.The girl's old RI is selling one of her daughter's old ponies and we tried that today,he was lovely,hunted,x country,pony club,hacks,everything,but is ridden in a pelham and quite a step up for DD2.She cantered and jumped him on the lunge and really liked him.I think she'd take a good 6 months to get to grips with him and I'm just a bit worried that by the time she gets the best out of him,he'd be outgrown and we'd be back to square one.He doesn't come with a saddle either,so that is another consideration.I might get our current RI to take a look at him and give DD2 a lesson,and see what she thinks.

DD1 had a party today,so I rode Dpony for the 2nd time ever.I hadn't ridden at all since September,and DD2 and I went for a hack around the village,of course loads of people we knew saw us,and I must have looked a bit silly at 5ft 8 on a 13hh pony.It was the first time I've ridden on the road since 1978!,but despite her spooking at the cricket team and a scary skip,we were fine.DH came too,on foot,just in case and DD2 did offer to lead me off her 12hh pony.

marialuisa · 28/05/2012 08:35

Sorry to hear Newboy hasn't worked out but lucky that DD2 is so relaxed about it! There are some lovely Welsh Bs on Horsequest at very low prices if you struggle to find something by word of mouth.

After panicking that we needed to sell dpony this summer I'm now coming round to keeping him for another 12 months (and trying to stunt DD's growth!). In Pony Club land she's already a bit too big for him but now she's decided showing is her "thing" I can see that we might be able to eke a bit longer with him. We'd all love this to be possible as he's so lovely and DD has barely scratched the surface of what he's capable of.

Butkin · 28/05/2012 11:19

Went to lovely show on Saturday - South Lincs - near Stamford. 6th of 16 in the RIHS M&M which was fine. He was a bit lazy but better that than the other way.

Yesterday didn't go showing as I was commentating at our Pony Club's Mounted Games which was lovely - although I'm glad I was in some shade!

Have just posted a pic of our Section B on my profile as he's looking well at the moment.

marialuisa · 28/05/2012 13:35

He's lovely Butkin.

I think the heat makes them a bit sluggish. DD was (again!) told that dpony would be better doing small breeds in an early junior ridden class yesterday morning but by lunch time the same judge complimented DD on how nicely he "dinked" round in the first ridden. Given dpony had been having a nice doze in the sun just before the class I think it had just got a bit too hot for him to be all that bothered.

Butkin · 28/05/2012 20:27

We're thinking of doing Junior Riddens on the palomino as he is a big striding pony and should go well in those classes plus at 12.1 he is at the bigger end of the FR scale. However DD is only 9 and will be taking on much more professional children so we'll wait until next year when she'll be ready to canter together etc and ride in a double because, hopefully, she'll be doing 122SHP by then.

Notinmylife · 28/05/2012 21:22

Mirage, I think I have now put a couple of pictures on my profile, they are not great, but all I have of him at the moment. I was warned that he wasn't great at standing to be mounted when I got him. It does seem to be his only real issue though, and hopefully once we get to know each other that will sort it. I rode again today, and having his eye covered seemed to work again, it just means I can't ride on my own for the moment, as me getting on is a two person job!

I am very of all these shows people are doing, sounds great!

Alameda · 28/05/2012 21:27

oh your sec B is delicious! well done for Saturday

cooled off on our water ride, added an extra loop and it somehow took about four hours and now we have a loose shoe, boo hiss

Alameda · 28/05/2012 21:29

can't see your profile notinmylife :(

Notinmylife · 28/05/2012 22:38

I have had another go, hopefully you can see it now!

Alameda · 28/05/2012 23:17

what a beautiful boy :) he looks like quite a lot of horse to me!

Butkin · 28/05/2012 23:37

Notinmy, looks a smart sort. Touch of the Sadlers Wells about him. Do you know his racing name?

marialuisa · 29/05/2012 10:58

DD has done junior ridden for the past 2 weekends and there has been quite an overlap between those in first ridden and junior ridden (both NPS area shows) and very few riders at the upper end of the age limit. The numbers in the classes have been smaller than for FR which has made the go round in canter easier and the ringcraft on display hasn't been much beyond what goes on with the cannier kids in FR. Main difference between shows was at the first one all but DD had doubles (although some had split reins) and at the second no doubles in sight. We watched an RIHS junior ridden where the winner was in a wilkie too.

Poor DD has another 2 summers in FR after this but she looks much older than she is so junior classes are a better fit. We're doing FR too though because she needs the practice!

Notinmylife · 29/05/2012 20:45

His full name on his passport is Master William. I think he only raced once though.

Butkin · 30/05/2012 13:08

Maria, What part of the country are you in - we're in Suffolk but seem to bump into Emmerson, Templetons whereever we go and their jockeys ride so well.

Notin - yes as you know he is a son of Hello Mister and only ran once - 12th of 12 at Nottingham for Bill Turner as a 2yo in 2006. Sure he is enjoying life more now!

marialuisa · 30/05/2012 14:00

We're further north along the M1 and although the producers are about (we have seen Katy Carter, Julie T, team Hollings and the Burkin team at shows) it doesn't seem to be dominated by them in the way I'd expected. I've noticed some of the shows (mainly BSPS) we could go to are perceived to be more "facey" than others and we've just not bothered with those as we've got so much choice within an hour's drive.

We're also very amateur so probably not picking up on some of the subtleties and still at the point where any placing is welcome- unlike a child we saw throw her third place RIHS qualifier rosette in the bin!

Butkin · 30/05/2012 20:22

Yes we really only do BSPS shows now because we are trying to qualify both ponies for RIHS - hence going to Rutland on Sunday. We lost a month around Easter with the Palomino in pic because he had an abscess so only 4th show of the season. Grey SHP is only a 4yo baby and Rutland will be just his 2nd show.

We're excited that the BSPS Summer Show Schedule arrived today and we're working out classes. Don't plan to do PUK this year (don't like it at all) or Equifest (who we've supported since the start but getting too big now) unless DD gets outside rides.

We will start going to smaller shows with the SHP when he comes off the lead in a few months time and he needs to learn about FRs and ultimately 122 opens.

Our DD is certainly not in the throwing away rosettes brigade. Even though she has suitcases full she is still miffed if she doesn't get one (which happens in RI classes outside first 6).

marialuisa · 30/05/2012 20:43

What don't you like about PUK? I'm being badgered to take dd and dpony, people seem to rave about it. I don't do tents/caravans so it sounds like hell to me, but we're close enough that we could do a day trip (although from what I can see it's arranged to try to make you stay, the classes DD's qualified for appear to be on different days!). Need to decide fairly quickly as I think it closes soon and I've only got a limited time to join.

Will look out for your palamino at Rutland.

Notinmylife · 30/05/2012 21:58

Butkin, where did you get all that from? I knew some of it, but not the details! Bless him, it doesn't sound like racing was really his thing. I think he will be much more suited to a slightly slower pace of life though.

Butkin · 30/05/2012 22:42

Not in - all on racing post website and more.

Maria - yes will have palomino in FR and grey in SHP LR at Rutland plus looking forward to doing the show as well - always something entertaining in the main arena although shops can be a bit ordinary.

We used to go to PUK in our early LR days to do the Lobster Pot. Like all the Championship shows it is designed for people who stay for the week with lots of classes each day for same types and entertainment for the kids in the evenings etc. We had a horrible experience last time we went. We'd booked a stable for the week but didn't get there until the second day and somebody had nicked our stable and it was all so disorganised and unhelpful.

Then they made us go to the evening performance to get our rosette even though we knew we'd not come in the first 3. In the evenings they really jazz up the ring with loud music and clapping - there were ponies everywhere and 2 kids on the floor in the collecting ring. Not our thing at all. The young pony we had stabled there got so upset, because he was near the funfair, that we couldn't show him there or for the rest of the season because he was so tucked up. We don't like Newark Showground either.

BSPS is a class act. They have lots of classes but they are all well thought out and we normally only have to go for a day or two. Their rings run beautifully to time with superb stewards. You do take on a higher class of pony but the experience is worth it and you feel great if you get in the places. We are also fans of Arena UK with lovely outdoor rings - including a great surface - and we like the main indoor arena. They have had some lorry parking issues in the past but if the ground is dry it is a great venue.

Equifest has been good to us in the past but they seem to be trying to be so inclusive for all ponies/horses that it is now so big and good stabling is hard to get unless you sponsor.

We have been to Royal London to do afternoon classes - the rings are good at Onley - but we'd never go into an evening performance there. That can be beyond belief!

marialuisa · 31/05/2012 09:13

Thanks for the info. We have "tickets" for so many of these places and if I'm honest I think going to these sort of championships is probably a step too far for us but obviously DD is keen so was contemplating a day trip. From the description PUK sounds a bit like Butlins with ponies-really not my scene at all and no chance of getting DH there.

Butkin · 31/05/2012 10:59

Maria,

To an extent you can ignore tickets (except for BSPS Blue Riband, RIHS and HOYS of course).

The Champ shows just want you there and they are an enticement.

Remember that there are lots of classes for your pony/DD at each championship show that you don't have to qualify for. You'll find it is the same bunch of ponies in each class and you'd be better off looking for the weakest divisions ie novice, restricted (not qualified for RI/Hoys), Tiny Tots FRs, etc rather than the classes you qualify for. You won't notice any difference on the day.

You should also look at home produced classes (Lee-Smith at PUK and Pretty Polly at BSPS) because that takes anybody like us with produced ponies out of the equation.

You should definitely do some of the Champ shows. The children love them and I don't think going to PUK for a day will be any harm at all. However PUK and BSPS mean you have to register whereas Equifest is just a free for all.

I'm sure you'll have a good time and will see loads of good showing shops!

marialuisa · 31/05/2012 11:15

Thanks, will attempt to decipher the schedule and see what day looks best. We are so amateur it's painful (DD has confessed that she would like to have one of those full-on parents that take over the collecting ring) but it does mean it's fun. It all reminds me of "Toddlers and Tiaras" to be honest.

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