First BE ODE next month, any advice welcome!

[Rollingdinosaur]

I am finally taking the plunge, and having a go at a proper affiliated ODE next month, if I don't get balloted out. I am excited, and somewhat terrified. I have done several unaffiliated ones, and not made a complete tit of myself, so this seems like the logical next step.

I would be interested to hear any tips, or ideas of what to expect, from those in the know. Will the standard be a lot higher? Will I look a prat, as a lot of my gear is on the cheap side, and I will be turning up in 4WD and trailer, rather than a swanky lorry. I am also not sure on the hat standard required, it mentions PAS 015, and kitemark. Does that mean it needs both? My hat has the kite mark, but not the other bit. I suspect that means I need a new hat, but I don't want to fork out for one if I don't need to. Any tips will be gratefully accepted, thanks.

[Jonsnowsghost]

Woo well done frosty! Buzz has gone out today he's going to have a few days chilling in the field then we get to start some trotting! Too excited

[Jonsnowsghost]

Hi all, if anyone is still reading then my latest update isn't a good one I'm afraid!

So Buzz had a lovely week out in the field, I bought him up a few times and he was a nightmare to lead, leaping and running around me, he doesn't run off or anything so I just tend to calmly stand until he's finished then carry on! Anyway so I rode for the first time and he was like a little bomb, I mostly walked but did about 5 minutes of trotting and about 30 seconds of canter just to get it out of his system so he didn't buck me off (I've seen him cantering around his field too). All good, he was very well behaved and good to walk back down with a leadrope around his nose
Sunday morning decided to go on a hack with a friend, came up a little excited but again had lead rope on nose so controllable (I know it's not perfect but it'll do until he settles) left the yard and did a little trot...LAME!!!! went for a little walk just so he was out but honestly I was gutted. Turned him back out so he can just chill out in the field :( trotted him up a bit today in the field and he was still lame (he got fed up eventually and started cantering around me) but it has only been 2 days. I'm going to leave him to the weekend then have a proper look. I can't really work out if it's the same leg as I checked all the ways that his leg was funny before - can't pull it out, he walks with the proper flexion and he hasn't got the really wide leg stance that he had - so I have no idea. I'm hoping that the extra trotting may have just strained it a bit but I really didn't do a lot so I'm worried about what is up.

In other news, my elderly pony is booked in for PTS in two weeks so I'm feeling very very sad, and also really guilty, but I know deep down it is for the best. I don't want him to go though

[frostyfingers]

Jon, I'm really to sorry to hear that, you're having a rotten time. Is it worth getting Buzz in and cold hosing a couple of times a day in case it's some sort of sprain? If he's back on box rest and then has to go out it may be a good idea to ask for Sedalin or something to take the edge of him when he's out - I did it with my previous horse, otherwise it was like flying a very large kite at times.

Awful about your old pony too, no matter how right it is, it's always horrible - I know what you mean about the guilt too. Last time round I just kept saying to myself "he doesn't know". It's the worst thing about sharing your life with horses.

[Jonsnowsghost]

Yes I'll start hosing him today. It's so strange as he was completely sound to ride and when I took him back out, no idea what it could be really. I'll have to call the vet again.

It is the worst :( he's having a very pampered 2 weeks then on the day he's going to be turned out into a field, he hasn't been out all day on grass for about 7 years (goes into a sand pen during the day with hay) so he will love it!
He's going to be cremated and buried in my mum's big garden and I'm going to plant a pear tree over him as pears are his favourite :)

[Rollingdinosaur]

Looking good Frosty! Sorry to see your update Jon, bloody horses!! Fingers crossed Buzz has just picked up a minor knock and will be back on track soon. Sorry to hear about your old boy too, but definitely don't feel guilty, you are doing the best you can for him.

[Jonsnowsghost]

Thanks rolling, I'm not sure what it is to be honest, there's no heat in his legs or swelling or anything. Got my vet friend coming over Saturday to have a look at him but he's just chilling out.

I'm trying to think that with Misty, I've ridden him when he's sound this year and I counted back and it has been 4 times which is not good! Although he's in a sound phase at the moment typically. I know it won't last though as I think he's basically in a constant state of low grade laminitis which flares up and down. I just keep hugging him loads! I'm going to miss him so much :(

[BTPlonker]

What did your friend think when they came over?

[Jonsnowsghost]

He's inconsistently lame on it which is slightly better than Tuesday so she said as I am going on holiday in 2 weeks to just leave him out as that'll be better than keeping him in as he can do some low level walking on it.

Stressful horses!

[Rollingdinosaur]

They certainly do like to worry us. Fingers crossed that by the time you are back from holiday he'll be good to go!

We have had some ups and downs the last few weeks. I almost got to the point where I'd decided that I couldn't cope and he was too much for me. I then gave myself a mental slap, and things have improved a lot. I have to remember he's just a baby, and be brave when he's having a wobble. I have also enlisted professional help, in sorting his issue with insecurity in open spaces. We are taking him out into fields, with just one other horse at the moment, and riding away from him etc, just enough to stress him out slightly, without pushing him until he's lost the plot. Hopefully after a few weeks of that, if we gradually increase the amount of horses working around him, and then add in jumps, , he will be able to cope with XC schooling.

[frostyfingers]

How's everyone doing? We've started Autumn Hunting now which means I'm up at 3.45am twice a week, it's fine once you're up but a killer when the alarm goes off! I have a dilemma of sorts on Saturday - we're out near Sapey in the morning, so I could come back home and collapse in front of Burghley in the afternoon or head back out to Sapey and watch some real live eventing! Either way it should be a good weekend.

Jon, how's Buzz coming along - do you have any indication of what's up yet?

Everyone else seems to be very quiet! As eventing heads towards the end of the season are there any plans at all?!

[Jonsnowsghost]

He's just chilling in the field at the moment, I've had some ridiculously long days at work recently so I've just said a quick hello then gone off to eat! I did a brief trot up on the field on Monday and he looked slightly less lame to me but he always jumps into a stride or two of canter first because he's excited
This weekend I'll trot him up properly again but it's hard to just leave him be! I do think it may have been a case of a bit too much too soon but when I do get back on I'm not quite sure what I'll start with, maybe 2 minutes in trot then slowly increase or something. Looks like it'll definitely be next year before we get out and about now, I'd love to do some autumn hunting!

[IsItTimeForGinYet]

Well done Frosty. Like usual our hounds have got the cough so our start is delayed - like usual!

Sorry to hear about your setback Jon. What is the latest?

I've just got back from Burghley - rider not riding this year. The course looks huge and exhausting to me. The new fence down by the river makes the course even more hilly so it will be interesting to see if anyone gets near the time.

In other news not much is happening. My lovely horse is ridden when I can - not much at the mo due to school hols and once kids go back am doing some riding out for an eventer but hopefully will have time to get mine fit for hunting and dressage....

[Jonsnowsghost]

This morning i stuck him in the school loose and he had a trot around, I'd say he's about 95% sound with the rest as inconsistent strides so not totally lame but also not 100% sound! The field chilling is definitely working so I reckon when I get back from holiday we'll be ready to get back on again, and start it slooooowww.

This is what I say but when I turned him out he did 4 full laps of the field in flat out gallop so the thought is there at least

[Jonsnowsghost]

Oh and old pony is going on Monday :( going to miss him so much

[frostyfingers]

Will be thinking of you Jon, a horrible day for you.

[Jonsnowsghost]

Thank you. I've left work early and am going to spend the afternoon sitting with him, very sad

[Rollingdinosaur]

Also thinking of you today Jon. I hope all goes as smoothly as possible and you are able to remember the fantastic life he has had with you.

[Jonsnowsghost]

Here's my handsome boy today. He's gone now and I've spent all evening in tears. He was so calm and chilled out even when the man came to meet him (he's scared of men normally) and the company I used (they do an "all in one" package for want of a better word and are cremating him too) was so nice they let me have as long as I needed and just asked me to fetch him when I was ready then gave me time to leave the field.
I still feel guilty and totally devesated but it was his time bless him. Love him so much :(

[frostyfingers]

It's so sad, you know you're doing the right thing but it doesn't make it any easier. I cried buckets after I lost my lovely horse almost 2 years ago, and still do now when I look at his beautiful portrait taken by my DH. Cry all you like, he was part of the family and I hope you find some comfort in Buzz.

[Rollingdinosaur]

Oh Jon, he looks like such a sweet boy. I am sorry!

[tootsietoo]

Oh so sad. You know you were doing the best thing for him though. Gutting about the lameness.

I am having one last hurrah on my pony in a few weeks time, doing a BE90. I haven't ridden him much though as DD has been riding him, it will be interesting to see how I get on! DD took him to the PC regional champs (which is a new thing in the past few years, 80cm, virtually every team qualifies as long as they aren't eliminated!) and their team won! She was 7th individually, 3rd after dressage, one pole down SJ then clear XC. She was so over the moon and so pleased she can finally do a good dressage test! It has made handing him over to her almost worth it . I'm busy taking my new connie hunting. Barring one or two "moments" he seems to be taking to it well and he learns quickly, so we should be able to do some eventing next spring.

[IsItTimeForGinYet]

How's everyone doing? Hope you are doing ok Jon. Time is a great healer but when I lost my last chap I cried buckets for months. They play such a huge part in our lives.

Hope autumn hunting going well frosty. I'm yet to make it out but hopefully won't be too long.

Rolling when is your BE90?

All is ticking along here. Lovely horse is slowly getting fitter and is losing his belly, mainly thanks to swapping from smelly tasty straw to wood pellets. Still riding out for eventer on some very nice horses (& some not so) but think it will soon end due to staffing levels increasing and horse numbers decreasing with the end of season fast approaching.

What news with everyone?

[Jonsnowsghost]

I miss him loads, I'm not really sure what to do with myself as I'm so used to getting up early to do his stable and put him out, Buzz lives out so I can go whenever! Buried him yesterday in my mum's garden so he's got a nice resting place :)

Buzz is finally fully sound so now starting the long process of bringing back into work. Currently walking for 15 minutes with about 30 seconds of trot (he could probably do more - I've seen him doing laps of his field in flat out gallop! But I don't want to push it) we had an xc competition at our yard on Saturday and I was so sad to miss out But they hold them every 6 months or so so fingers crossed for next time!

[frostyfingers]

I've neglected this thread recently as I've been so overrun with hunt stuff - it really does seem to have taken over my life! I've been out visiting farmers, which is generally fine, and then endless meetings, (3 this week), oh and hunting twice a week! There's been no scent unfortunately and the hounds are struggling to find the trail, but we've had some good fields out and a nice time generally. Thankfully we've moved to 7/7.30 starts so I'm not getting up in what feels like the middle of the night.

Good to hear that Buzz is sound Jon, take it slowly now and you'll reap the rewards later...... Gin, I hope you get out soon, I do love the quiet misty mornings of autumn hunting, - dhorse is horribly hairy and I'm toying with a clip already, I really want to wait until the Opening Meet but unless it gets much colder soon he'll have to be done which is a pain as I prefer to leave him unrugged for as long as possible.

The whippet puppy is now a lean mean paper shredding machine (she's also "read" a book, gutted my lovely furry slippers, and emptied her nice stuffed dog bed among other things) but still very cute, most of the time!

[Jonsnowsghost]

Just wanted to share this photo of Buzz from the weekend, I know I'm biased but he's so handsome 😍 just cut me out of it ha