thread on which to report positive things

[MiffyWhinge]

firstly the sun came out, hooray

secondly and even more welcome Joey didn't put a foot wrong today (once he started concentrating and stopped having a good look at everything around him). He managed to shoulder in, leg yield and, with a placer pole, put in a single stride of canter before a jump and do a double with a placer pole in between - he was a star, am ashamed of all the grumpy thoughts I've been having about him until recently. Clever, beautiful boy

please share yours!

Ours seems fine and they are not normally picky. I think they are just turning their nose up because it is not spriing grass iyswim? They liked the Alfalfa though

DH rode TB again yesterday, had a lovely ride and cantered him. He is going to hack him out today

I pulled mare's mane yesterday (well, hacked most of it off and started pulling it to tidy it up) need to finish today, she currently looks like someone out of the Beatles

I want to ride

Aw won't be long - and if pulling manes is your thing you are welcome to show off your skills on Barney he loves it, goes into a sort of blissful trance

did you cut it with scissors or a solo comb type thing?

Mare's mane was nearly to her shoulder, so hacked it off then combination of pulling, backcombing then cutting (like a solocomb)on the thinner bits and by her ears. She doesn't mind it, but everything has to be done with her in about 5mins as she gets impatient and cross. Hence why she still looks like a Beatle Think i might get a pair of thinning scissors.

18weeks and 2days til due date...

Probably doesn't feel it to you but pregnancy seems to be whizzing by!

It is going quickly, but i am suffering a bit already and on that front it seems unbearable. Knowing most pg women take it very easy from about 30weeks and i will still be mucking out 2 horses everyday until the day i drop. Thinking about getting a spport band/belt for my bump to make life a bit easier.

Hope someone can give you a hand with it all, at least some of the time. Did you say you were deep littering?

Pity am not closer as could help a bit

support band sounds promising tho?

Just feeling sorry for myself!

DH rode TB out today and DD and i went too (me pushing the buggy of course) feel knackered but happy - its what its all about

Glad you feel more cheery Alice. As it'll be the summer by the end of your pg, could you run to paying a teen to muck out for you ? Or would your horses not be amenable to that ?

Started to actually try and canter yesterday. Ben did the equivalent look of 'oh fgs woman, make up your mind - the other day you said I wasn't to canter, and now you want me to ?'. Instructor tried to help him along with the end of a lead rein, so he decided to buck. But as he's a bit big for that, it wasn't terribly impressive . So, this is the next challenge in my world !

Sit up and legs, legs, legs!!!!!!

I am a bit particular about my horses and DH helps out at weekends when he is not working. It keeps me fit anyway. Have got them deep littered on chopped wheat straw now instead of straw which is much easier.

And keep bottom in saddle

why is weather so rubbish?

It is rubbish, but that is because it is easter day.

DH is supposed to be riding out with my friend on my mare and another girl on her horse, but i know he won't if it's raining

Had a great day at Higham Point to Point on Saturday (Alice - you couldn't move for Chapmans!). Today we went to Manor Farm where DD was 3rd in FYFR (roan wearing the new Courtlea numnah we bought him at BSPS on Friday).

Could be off to Ipswich horse show for unplanned LR class - just because DD is enthusiastic and we're happy to go with the flow.

Well done to DD Butkin. DH is now insisting he needs a payrise because DD needs a pony!!!

DH rode out with the others yesterday and DTB (darling TB) was very good, stayed at the back plodding along and had to be asked to canter when the others did. Very proud of both DH and DTB. DH is having trouble walking today though! I don't think he has ever managed 3 days riding in a row.

Did you happen to notice the beautiful open ridden champion at bsps Butkin? also reserve whp I have stuck a thermometer up his bottom a few times - claim to fame!

Today am just happy for sunshine, not riding until this evening. Anyone seen Owls or Pixel lately?

Right - off for round two of me v Ben regarding canter. Wish me luck, esp as it's Pony Camp up there this week, so there will be lots of children to witness my failings.

Well done Butkins DD

Good luck! and don't forget to enjoy yourself

yay - that time it worked ! Am starting to feel quite about it all.

Allowed myself to be talked into going on a group hack tomorrow lunchtime too. Counts as going to the gym at lunchtime doesn't it ?

God yes, at least you can smoke while you're hacking

well done!

Mitchy

Well done Cmotdibbler

Well, that wasn't quite so good. Previous canters only worked out of the arena, and today (as there had been some confusion over times, so there was an adult lesson at the time I had been told, followed by a hack) we were in there. Trot was fine, but to canter, one cantered, the others stood in the middle (only half arena is finished). Horse likes people in the middle, so kept insisting he was going to join them, rather than cantering in what he considers to be a small space. Ho hum. He is a naughty boy at times, but was rather pleased when one of the other people (who was buying the tb she has been loaning today) said that she could never ride him at all.

You all must laugh at me being chuffed over what you learnt as children

So much harder learning anything as an adult though. I am very impressed at anyone brave enough to start later in life.

Sorry, came out wrong, what i meant was anyone learning over the age of about 14

Also mustn't assume we were all competent riders as children, as some of us have always been feckless

anyway is not as if can always canter nicely now, bombed around yesterday at suicidal speed and have hurt my hip from Barney being mental going off at stupid angle at 500mph nearly unseating me. Only got self to blame of course, as ever!

Might rethink the oats situation.

Mitchy, you always make me giggle! Will definitely have to organise a ride in thetford forest or somewhere once i'm back riding. DH would be very keen too!

My little mare has a huge swelling just behind her girth area from my friend riding on saturday. My friend rides racehorses and is used to jacking the girth up as tight as it goes poor little mare. She also came in today with a grazed leg (from tarting round the paddock - such a floozy!)