The old timer and the young upstart

Seems like winter is on its way

2010-09-28T21:28:00.002+01:00

Its been much colder the past few days,wet and windy with more to come apparently :~

Im a bit undecided what to do with Polo at the minute,I rode out last week with a Vic and a couple of girls from the yard and he was really stressy,rushed and unsettled. As im pretty certain he's classic ulcer,but not had him scoped,I think the move has obviously caused a flare up which hasnt settled down. He seems pretty sound so I dont think he's sore. I had both him and Ali on a ulcer supplement during the move and for a good while afterwards but ran out. He was totally chilled out when we moved to the previous yard. The main difference I can think of is Ali was with him the whole time for that move where as this time Ali was on box rest initially so Polo didnt have Ali to help him through it?
Im going to ride again this week and if he's still the same,get him on some ulcer meds leave him for a while and if he's still the same retire him completely. Not that he's been in regular work for a good while but at 18 if he's no better then I think thats fair enough ,the last thing I want is for him to be unhappy in his latter years.

Bit about shockwave for Danni(ive cheated and copied some info)

WHAT IS SHOCKWAVE?
A shockwave is a pressure wave – any action that displaces its surrounding medium is a shockwave.The ripple created when a stone is thrown into a pond is a shockwave.The
shockwaves used in equine medicine are generated in a fluid medium inside a
transducer head and are then transmitted readily through skin, fat, and muscle. The high energy waves are focused within the transducer head so that the shockwave can be
directed to the precise area of the injury. When shockwaves hit an area of higher
acoustic impedance, such as bone, the waves slow dramatically and a large amount of
energy is released into the surrounding tissue.
WHAT CAN SHOCKWAVE THERAPY DO?
Shockwave therapy has been shown to:
• Stimulate new bone growth
• Increase cell permeability and
stimulate the release of a cascade of
healing and growth factors that
contribute
to the healing process
• Stimulate stem cells in the animal’s body
to be directed to the treated area
• Cause neovascularization
(ingrowth of new blood vessels)
• Possibly stimulate fibroblasts, the cells
that generate new connective tissue
Shockwave therapy has been successfully used to treat many soft tissue and bony
problems, both acute and chronic.

These include, but are not limited to:
• Suspensory ligament tears and strains
• Suspensory injuries with avulsion fractures
• Tendon tears and strains
• Osteoarthritis
• Collateral ligament injuries
• Navicular syndrome
• Ringbone
• Joint inflammation and pain
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Muscle tears and strains
• Repair ligament injuries
• Infected or large wounds
• Burns

Scan news

2010-09-26T23:22:00.002+01:00

Vet was out on Monday last week to re scan Ali's leg.
She watched him walk and trot up and said he looked 100% sound so that was a good start.She then got the scan machine out and took pics and measurements to compare with previous scans. There is still evidence of changes to the ligament, she said because the blood supply is poor in that area and there will be some scar tissue but basically thinks its as good as its going to get and is very happy.
I can ride him from now if I want but if not thats good too cos the more rest the better. She said when I do start working him lots of walking no schooling for a while and just take it slow and hill work would be good.
I told her my plan to do more hand walking for now then in spring to do a couple of months of longreining then all being well back to *proper* work next summer..she said this was an excellent plan as it is all strengthening work but with minimal strain on his ligament.

My mouth is okay,two stitches have fallen out in the past couple of days...due to my fiddling on with tongue...still got a couple in but will be pleased when they come out or dissolve. Im still numb in parts and have a massive lump in my mouth which I hope will eventually reduce.

Last two dog shows not had a placing with any of the gang which is a bit frustrating as people keen saying how well they look at the minute,couple more to go then nothing until next year.
Im ready for the break to be honest im bit tired of the travelling,expense and the whole malarky at the minute.
Took the gang to a working terrier show today to find I'd missed the actually terrier show but we did get to do the terrier racing which was a scream.
Buster and Ted both won their heats despite the same horrible Border trying to fight with them,why they kept putting it in for heats knowing it was nasty is beyond me but I did say after it bit Buster I was going to kick it if it did it again. The boys were *slightly* mental throughout. In the final they managed to catch the nasty Border so I didnt have to follow through in booting it and Buster won,even managing to catch the fox tail at the end!!
They might be show dogs but they are all terrier,it was brilliant fun-minus nasty dog.

Might be long a long one

2010-09-19T19:23:00.005+01:00

Biopsy first!Relieved it all over!!
As is the norm for me the morning of the biopsy didn't quite go as planned. Got up early to poopick and feed the boys incase I didn't feel up to it later, then had to drop Minx off at the vets for the xray for her limp and a lump off her gum which she's had once before but its come back.
Yard was still locked up when I got there so had to go get keys and unlock which set me a bit behind schedule,did my jobs and headed up to the vets which is approx 15min drive took longer cos they had roadworks and two lots of 50mph zones
Clock was ticking and I knew I was pushing it for my 10am appointment,delivered Minx and headed back flapping about my lateness. Looked at my phone calender which had appointment down at 11am
Got home to find appointment was actually 11 so was ahead of schedule giving me time to start to work myself up!

The local hurt a bit and he had to give me a bit more cos I could feel a scratch when he first started but then didn't feel anything after that..although that didn't stop me nearly ripping my jeans off clenching them
My whole bottom lip and chin were numb for hours,my bottom lip was swollen about 3times the size as normal. It all took about 30mins from going in, Ive got 3stitches.
It wasn't as bad as I thought but the anticipation is always the worst thing with me as I build myself up for stuff like this despite the fact Ive got a pretty good pain thresh hold.
I had to eat soup for the first few days and drink with a straw,eating is still a bit weird now as the stitches feel tight although I still have numb bits so its not really been too painful throughout.

Anyway its over and I'm back on the 4th,just hope the results are conclusive so I can move forward.

Re Minx the lump came off easily but will probably come back in the future,the only way of preventing this is to pull teeth out and deaden right into the gum which I thought was a bit extreme considering it is a 2min job to take it off and its taken so long to come back so opted for the lesser method.
Her leg is a bit complicated she basically is laying down bone,at first vet thought she had injured the leg and the ligament had becoming inflamed similar to sidebone in horses? But he xrayed other leg for comparison and the same thing is happening there?!?!
So he *thinks* there has been inflamation to both ligaments and the body is trying to lay down bone to stabilise the joint,he's not to worried and thinks once it has all settled down she's be fine but is sending the xrays away for a 2nd opinion.

I was at a show with the dogs yesterday but got nothing with any of them,judge obviously didnt like my gang just one of those shows!;(

Today it was Ali's show day.Show prep consisted of washing- Ali's mane and tail yesterday plaited it up and turn him out in his snuggy hood and rain sheet,easy peasy.
I was doing two trips as Vic was taking Bree and my friend Marina was taking her youngster Victor again so was a bit manic.
I got the boys in, hitched trailer and undid plaits while Vic loaded Bree then did my first run to the show ground with Bree,turned around and came straight back for Ali and Marina's yearling took approx an hour doing the round trip so was all a bit fraught.
As usual Ali came off the box totally relaxed got myself and him sorted then made our way to the ring,had a little wait which gave me time to decide I needed a wee but wasnt sure if I had time to go so crossed my legs
Did our walking around and trotting stuff then our individually bit, judge said he was far too pretty to be a boy
Walked around a bit more then she started pulling us in with Ali first and Bree second..a very successful day!
He is such a star,I sometimes forget how fantastic he is when he's being a monkey grabbing things and wrecking stuff or bitting Polo's bum when im leading them but he is a pleasure to take places, he's just a nice person

Bree had a bit of a panic at a wagon and banged into Vic's car and ran away.I didnt realise anything was happening as I was at the back of the box sorting Victor out for Marina so just heard she was running around,I was mid bridling Victor so couldnt do a thing but other than the broken car no harm was done.
Took some pics for Marina then ran Bree and Ali back to the yard then straight back for Marina who was all done by the time I got back.
She got a 5th and a 6th. Judge said he liked him but he's just at that odd growth stage and looks all out of proportion but did say please dont go away thinking there's anything wrong with him and for godsake dont go and pump him with loads of hard feed to try and bring him on quickly which I thought was really nice of him.

I was very organised and put chicken and veg in the slow cooker this morning which was lush and ive just scoffed it all

Now for a few pics of the handsome chappy

Boo hoo back to work

2010-09-12T17:55:00.002+01:00

Had a week of training then back properly to the grind stone last week,its hard going back when im off for the summer,back to running around like a mad woman trying to squeeze everything in :(

This weekend I rejigged the boys paddock to give them a little bit more room and tighten all the electric fencing up,its handy stuff but really annoying too!
Ive got another inhand show next weekend with Ali so gave his mane and tail a wash and thickened it in detangler,he'll get quick bath next Saturday and we'll be good to go.Its great not having to plait up and because his legs are still dark I can sheet him up and turn him out the night before so its a pretty painless process.
Not missing Polo out I gave him the same mane and tail treatment and trimmed him too,feet are looking pretty good at the minute.

Last Sunday I was at an agricultural show with the dogs,Ted won again and Buster got third so I was very pleased. They did rather lose it towards the end as not far from the ring they had hounds and terriers chasing a furry critter on a rope,well my gang spotted all this and went crackers so as soon as their classes were over we made a sharp exit!

Monday im having my lip biopsy done which im dreading,HATE needles and Minx is having an xray as she's had an intermittent limp so bit of a stressful day so will be pleased when its all over with...

Busy week

2010-08-29T15:46:00.002+01:00

Im on countdown for going back to work so this week has been really busy with appointments,meeting friends that ive not seen in a while and lots of other little jobs ive needed to do.

Polo had an episode with his rain sheet a few days ago. I got to the field I saw Ali with his sheet on and Polo with none so figured he must have gotten out of it somehow. But by the time I walked the field and poopicked and still hadnt found the rug I was up in arms thinking someone had stolen his rug!
My friend,who is still at my old old yard and her field is right next to my new one,shouted over the fence to say she'd found his rug hanging so had picked it up-mistery solved although the rug is beyond repair.

Not really done very much with the boys other than catering to their needs:))))
A few pics taken by my friend of Ali from the show last weekend before I go onto dog show news....

Ive bought a gorgeous picture from the professional photographer who was there but not sure if my new printer scans yet?

Dog show news.....well Ted won his class so has qualified for Crufts woohoo!!!:)))
Didnt get anything with Buster or Mouse yesterday but im still delighted to have both boys going to Crufts:0
Have few more shows coming up over the next 2months but the pressure is off now so if we get any placing they will just be the icing on the cake.

Show day

2010-08-22T17:53:00.002+01:00

..and no it wasnt the dogs!
Entered Ali in the show we went to last year,I figured if he's able to come into work now which im chosing not to do then an inhand class shouldnt do any harm.
Bathed him yesterday then turned him well covered up in SnuggyHood and rain sheet,good job as it rained last night. Set off at 8.30 this morning with my friend and her youngster who was on his first trip out ever.
Just made it in time for her class so that was a bit of a rush. She was concerned he would explode but he went the opposite way and fell asleep and wouldnt trot up so didnt get highly placed-typical! But she was very pleased at how well he behaved and the judge said he liked him but couldnt really assess him as he wouldnt trot:))

I got Ali out and myself ready bit early as I thought the classes in his ring were further on than they were so much standing around and grass eating by Ali,yes he was as chilled out as last time:)))
Got into the ring eventually,there was a real mixed bag as you'd expect in Foreign Breeds. I *think* a couple of PRE stallions( one might have been Luso?) a gorgeous Friesian stallion then some part breds,10 or 11 in total in the class.
We got 3rd which I was very pleased about considering the year we've had and how fat he is:)) That qualified him for the Royal London show again..bit too far to travel for us.
I do think the Friesian should have won as he was stunning and so well behaved, the PRE stallion who won was very dishy and just didnt take your breath away the way I think a stallion should...
Obviously didnt do the ridden..maybe next year? Anyway a good day but im really tired now.

Off to the beach with the dogs tomorrow as they've spent hours in the car today so they can have a good blast around,they are showing in Scotland next weekend..

No much to report

2010-08-11T16:05:00.002+01:00

I dont seem to have the urge to ride at the moment and im conscious of not doing too much with Polo I know he's not up to anything other than an odd hack out,although watching him charge around the field at times makes it hard to believe, .
I took him in the school for 15mins on Sunday,kept him in walk just getting him to soften and not to try and do everything at a hundred miles an hour!

The dogs are making a dent in the rabbit population at the new yard they are into double figures since we moved,I dont feel too bad as many of them have been cropping up with myxomatosis so at least with the dogs they arent suffering and dying slowly.It truly is a horrific disease!
The track along to the field has a high population and the dogs are in their element.
They have different techniques to their hunting and is really fun to watch them a work. Ted is like Minx and tries to use stealth,creeping along on his tummy,pausing every now and again to listen.
Buster uses speed and takes off up the track way ahead of us all,his method seems to be paying off as he's the main catcher,he's very fast!
Mouse tends to only join in when the others have done most of the work...she not daft.

Oh I forgot to say when Ali was in for his scans a specialist was at the practice to scope a couple of horses for ulcers so I asked them to scope Ali as well as ive had that in the back of my mind for a while with him.
Anyway he did have scar tissue so he's definitely had ulcers in the past,the vet said they werent an issue at that time,probably due to the fact he lives out/ad lib forage but, when he comes back into work if he still shows signs of not going forward etc he should have a course of GastroGuard.

Its been a long time since I last blogged!

2010-08-07T20:55:00.002+01:00

Well where do I start?!?!
Ive got no idea and its probably impossible to recap so much has happened so I'll do a summary of the happenings with my world.

I'll start with Ali,its not been great;/
Not sure if I blogged to say he wasnt right towards the end of the winter,just didnt feel right when ridden and looking uncomfortable on the lunge, he then blew a huge abcess out of his hind so attributed the problems with this.
We had a very rough winter major snow so didnt do a lot of months,or so it felt?
Anyway when the weather improved I still didnt feel he was right,despite everyone telling me he was fine. Got the vet out and after nerve blocks and scans the diagnosis was suspensory desmitis of the right hind-not good!
So Ali has just come to the end of three months of box rest, he's also had three lots of Shockwave therapy, he's quite the star at the vet practice as they have all fallen in love with him and cant believe what a good sensible boy he is.
Towards the end of the box rest I had to handwalk him which turned him into a snorting/rearing stallion for a while,in the middle of this we moved yards,more about that in a bit!
He has had a rescan which showed signs of improvement with the lesion so as of approx three weeks ago he's been out in a small paddock reunited with his best pal Polo which they were very happy about.
Last week I had to make the paddock a bit bigger as he started boinging about,vet agreed he's better with more room to wander rather than getting frustrated and silly.
So he's a much more contented happy boy at last and I have a little bit more time and am not quite so demented trying to keep a boxrested horse happy.
I can bring him back into work in September if I want to but the longer he has off the less chance this has off reoccuring so im not intending on doing anything with him until next year,he's young im in no rush.

The yard move came about as things gradually got unbearable,YO's started dealing in horses and running a riding school (who needs insurances and licenses?!?)
They over ran the yard with cheap dutch imports then moaned about the haylage use which was *supposed* to be in with the price for grazing but then suddenly wasnt. Then they sold some of the horses,many of which were lame, to some of the novice liveries and their friends. The final nail in the coffin came when YO started making insulting comments about my horses. Basically because the horse's he bought to competed on started going over backwards to dump him his ego took a hammering so obviously felt the need to put down my two exemplarly behaved horses!
Also the school never got resurfaced as was promised so was boggy and horrible most of the time,possibly could have contributed to Ali's injury?
Polo also dropped a lot of weight of the winter which was a huge worry to me as this has never happened before so I decided this winter he would need the option of being stabled more.I had one stable for them to share on the old yard but simply couldnt afford to pay for two as the yard was pretty pricey for DIY and grass livery.

The boys have been on the new yard just over a month,its opposite my old/old yard:))
It has lovely posh stables ,they've got one each,good fencing and a fab large school..not that ive got anything schoolable right now...and is 5mins from home so closer,haylage and straw is included and all at £10 per week less than the old place.
Polo is in light light work ie a hack or two a week,see how he goes,the move has stressed him but he seems to have settled down more since Ali joined him in the field.

Dog news now I think:)
Still showing although im definitely scaling it back next year...the *face judging* seems to be very apparent this year,many mutterings around the ringside about it all.
Im finding it very frustrating because outside the ring I get such nice comments about the boys. I have judges telling me how much they like them,even had this in the ring twice for the judges to then place them 5th which is good at a Champ show but why say how much you like them when judges rarely say anything, to then place 4dogs above them!Most recently a big *name* in the breed who has written books and judged all over the world was apparently gushing over them and came to tell me how she thought Buster was sublime. Now I was chuffed to bits about it particularly as the judge that day didnt look at any of them twice, but I dont see the point of keep spending lots of money on entries to constantly get chucked out of the ring?
Im not under any illusions that we should be getting CC's or winning week after week but I do think they are better than the placings they are getting...but I suppose im biased:))

Ted has been very consistant and barely gone unplaced but its very frustrating as I cant seem to get a high enough placing at a Champ show to qualify him for Crufts!
Buster seems to either win or do nothing but has had a 1st champ show which means he has qualified.

I did get a rather huge trophy at the beginning of the year for best newcomer,which was won after accruing points from one of the breed club shows which was totally unexpected.

Finally me news!
Im sure ive mentioned on my blog in the past how tired ive been and sore etc well after chatting to someone who seemed to recognise the symptoms and mentioned a condition called Sjogrens.
After doing some internet research the symptoms seemed to be uncanny so have been having tests. The schirmer eye test was strongly positive but unfortunately that doesnt seem to be enough to get any treatment so im having a lip biopsy done next month which im dreading as I hate needles but things are beyond putting up with now.
This is the main reason ive been absent from blogging etc,im just too tired most of the time, and obviously been pushed to the limit with Ali and the boxrest,I have been keeping track of most of your blogs albeit quietly:)

Anyway im off for the summer so im trying to relax as much as possible and catch up with all the things im too tired to do the rest of the time,I will try and blog a bit more frequently!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T22:09:00.002Z

Not alot to report the weather has made it impossible to even get the boys out of the field never mind ride. Their field is a few minutes walk down the lane from the yard which has turned to solid ice making walking them up the hill too risky so they've not been out of the field in over a week.
They've got a large rounding bale of hay in and ive been bedding their field shelter with lots of straw,feeding them and doing water and thats about it really. They finally have the whole field back and have stopped hanging around the gate constantly so I think they are pretty happy.
Hunting on Boxing Day is obviously out due to Ali not being ridden.

Dogs are all in the process of being stripped,yep Crufts preparation has started already, so ive splashed out on new fleece Horseware coats for them as they are feeling the cold. They look very cute.

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010xx

All better......

2009-12-02T22:50:00.002Z

Ali's fine now, have been working him all of this week with one of Polo's boots on the affected foot for a bit of extra protection.
Im just hacking him at the minute to build him up slowly as work has been pretty inconsistent lately but all seems well up to now!
We went for a nice hack around the fields today with Buster and Ted for company,it was reasonably sunny and warm{ish} so we had a nice time.
Polo had a hack along the lane which was spoilt by the idiot farm workers who live next door to our yard hurtling up behind us in the tractor, bearing in mind the lane is quite narrow and Polo is scared of loud noisey *things*. So I trotted him more than i'm happy doing to get out the way but as soon as we got to the corner where the lane opens up they thundered past us sending Polo into trauma mode with him shooting into the air then cantering sideways up the road. I was furious so when I got back to the yard I told the YO's they'd better have a word or I would but it wouldnt be polite!I will be very angry tomorrow if he's lame.......

The other bone of contention at the moment is our field or should I say bog.
I stripped the boys off for the summer as its a big field and there was far too much grass,YO's asked if it was okay to put some horses in the top section for the summer which was fine as the grass was knee high. So we are now in December and the horses are still in the top section and because Polo,Ali and Ted are in the bottom half which is flat its like a mud bath and im really fed up of it!
YO's have been saying for over a month the horses were getting moved but nothing has happened, Vic said she'd had a word tonight about it. Either way on Saturday im moving the fence out a fair bit to give our boys more room !
I wish I had my own land.

Cautiously optimistic.......

2009-11-22T22:02:00.002Z

the panic is over, Im pretty sure its an abscess!
There has been lots of heat in his inside heel bulb and hoof wall over the weekend so he's been in all day with a poultice on. Tonight when I took the poulice off I spotted a small lesion along the coronet back at the heel and it all feels a bit squidgy so will poultice again tomorrow but he is looking much happier to stand with his weight on it.What a wuss though, Polo had two sheered heels when he first went barefoot and other than some slight footiness you wouldnt have know there was anything wrong,although Ali is canny enough to ham it up to get some time off:))
I reckon i'll be riding him in the next couple of days,its quite a relief as I was starting to become concerned there was some underlying issue niggling on.
I rode Polo on Saturday. Im just hacking him whenever ive the time and inclination and when he look comfortable, plus he's been a bit full of himself recently so thought it wouldnt hurt!
He felt pretty good powering along I had my first trot on him for ages. Ive forgot how powerful it is and got ricocheted out of the saddle honestly his power is scary.
Now im so used to Ali's more ridable and comfortable paces I seriously dont know how I used to...well stay on him,although half the time I didnt!:0

Im feeling a bit better as ive had a more relaxing weekend and cleaned my house and go on top of things which always makes me feel happier,I get very stressed when my house is untidy and ive not had time to catch up with it all -sad but true.

Fed up

2009-11-19T22:57:00.002Z

I'll make it brief cos im at work and really need to go to bed but im a bit cheesed off with this week!
Number one reason is Ali is lame again,this time right hind. Looks totally different from the last time when he was just bit short mainly in canter and *looked* tight in his back.This time he's resting the leg,hard to say where its coming from as I cant feel anything and he keeps picking his leg up where ever I touch so that doesnt help. He was totally fine yesterday as he had a short lunge,infact I thought to myself how well he was moving at the time so im thinking maybe an abscess or he's skidded in the mud which leads to the other reason why im fed up.
The WEATHER..gale force winds heavy rain its horrible. Im so sick of mud already and the winter has just began. I spent most of today putting electric fencing back up as the wind had blown the posts flat,trudging through mud to make attempts at keeping ontop of the poo picking and getting the field shelter roof nailed back on as the winds had lifted the sheet off at the corner and I had visions of the whole sheet coming off and hitting one of the horses...not what I need!
Which leads me onto the other reason im fed up-TIME. I just dont seem to have time to turn around. I sleep in at work Mon to Fri shift starts 7am till 9am then get home pick dogs up get changed so I get to the boys around 10.30/11am I then walk them up to the yard and go back to do the jobs in the field,poo picking,fill water buckets haynets etc. Then on the odd occasion when I have a sound horse I groom tack up and ride,then back to feed walk them back to the field, muck out then walk the dogs as they've been stuck in the car. Im lucky if I get home at 3pm in time to have a shower and fly out the door as I start back at work at 4pm working till 11pm then sleeping in just to do it all again the next day.Ive been late for work every single day this week, im seriously lucky my boss thinks the sun shines out of my butt and we've work together for so many years or i'd get sacked at this rate!
I'll be lucky if ive had a total of 2hours at home this week and for some reason this week in particular its driving me insane?
I do realise most of its my own fault .Its my choice to have 2horses and lots of dogs and if I didnt have them I wouldnt have to work such long hours, most of the time im pretty accepting of feeling tired,sore and the fact im running around like a headless chicken but this week its really got to me...so im having a bit of a pity party:(
Fingers crossed Ali's miraculously sound tomorrow and I win the lottery on Saturday -right!!!!

Good news

2009-11-06T22:34:00.002Z

I guess its good news,it was muscular with Ali possibly the spook or hurtling around hunting who knows but pleased it was relatively straight forward. Physio gave him a good going over last week,not sure thats correct physio terminology:)) said to give him a few days off then start working him.
So I did a few days longreining up the lane and have rode him yesterday and today-he feels MUCH better. Today we went for a hack and his stride in walk was longer and freer so thats good.
Yesterday Vic and I were meant to hack out after we'd clipped Ali and Ted, obviously not my dog Ted but Vic's horse Ted,we also have a cat on the yard called Ted:))) Anyway it took ages to get them done (Ali is now sporting a lightening bolt on his bum) and was dark by the time we'd finish so we had to ride in the school with the lights.
I only did a 20minute spell but guess what?!?!...well the traver seems to be coming along quite nicely in walk so we were going down the length of the school in traver then got several steps in half pass!
Im very chuffed ive never done anything more than the extreme basics, infact spent very little time in a school during my years riding. Im sure half pass is pretty basic to most but to me its a real achievement not just to be riding it but to have taught it too.
I have to say although Ali can be annoyingly lazy at times he is such a straight forward horse to work with its easy to learn things with him and I do feel his attitude has changed it feels like he's trying more and is pleased when he knows he's done something well. It was pretty funny as I was obviously a bit over the top with the praise after the half pass and as I was patting him he reached around for his treat, typically I didnt have any in my pocket so had to steal one from Vic who was in the school also. Ive used treats no more than couple of times when he's done something well but its obviously had a big impact on him and he clearly thought he'd more than earned one so will have to make sure I am always armed with treats in the future.

Dog show last weekend, I wasnt too hopeful with the boys coat situation but Mouse looks well and Vic's pup Lottie was entered so we went regardless.
Ted got nothing and was all over the place on the table when the judge was going over him which I thought was unusual as thats the one place he's usual good plus he'd been standing well before this. Afterwards I notice the table was wobbling quite a bit so think this is what unsettled him.
I nearly pulled Buster as I thought if she didnt like Ted and his hairyness then Buster stood no chance so was really suprised when she gave him 3rd in a decent sized class. I do think she was really focused on movement and Buster powers his way around the ring.
Mouse didnt get anything and actually I thought she deserved a placing in the line up but infairness im still not convinced she's entirely over the back injury and I dont think she's moving 100%.Peter had a good outing all his dogs were placed highly including his new pup and the puppy's sister (who isnt owned by him) got best puppy in show so bodes well for them.
Vic's pup was slighly wild about it all, leaping around and going to jelly whenever the judge so much as glanced at her but was in two classes and definitely settled down by the 2nd class. She didnt get placed but I think gave lots of people a chuckle...exactly how a puppy should be at their first show.

What a fab day

2009-10-26T21:53:00.004Z

Did nothing special just lovely not having to rush around as I always seem to be working on a time limit.
Got to the yard late morning brought the boys up,did some poo picking which doubles up as letting the dogs have a run around the field topped up the water and put some hay in the field shelter for later.

First I gave Polo a really thorough brush,his head and neck was caked in mud so got all that off then brushed from top to toe, mane &tail detangler applied and some coat conditioner for good measure. He was gleaming. Then swapped over and it was Ali's turn. Stopped for a break to give the dogs another walk up the lane spotted lots of rosehips so will be heading back there tomorrow to pick them, very good for arthritis and horsey feet.
Got back and trimmed Ali's feet then took him in the school. Physio said to keep riding him so I thought a bit of light schooling in walk should be okay. Its all very odd cos he felt okay not that I did anything in trot or canter. Anyway working on some laterals leg yield- okay,shoulder in - good. He's really struggled to get traver for some reason ive tried off a circle in walk and he just doesnt get it so ive been breaking it down halting him pushing his quarters over,ask for the flexion then ask him to walk on. Ive no idea if this is a correct way to teach him it but today the penny seemed to dropped and we got 4/5 strides in little bursts.I was very pleased with him and have started giving him a treat when he makes a good attempt at something, not clicker as such but when I say good boy and reach for my pocket he knows to reach around for his treat :))
They got fed then turned back out and the dogs had *another* walk, and I made a ginger cake when I got home-holidays are brilliant!

Just when things were going well!

2009-10-25T17:45:00.002Z

There's a spanner in the works. Lunged Ali through the week and he's not right on the left hind. Its barely noticable in walk,slightly not tracking up in trot but canter looks awful its almost like he's swinging his leg around because he doesnt want to/cant step through:(
Im hoping he's pulled something so the first port of call is the physio who's coming on Wednesday to see him if its not muscular the vet will have to be called out for further investigation. He did rather over exert himself hunting and had a silly spook last weekend shooting forward so im hoping something simple like a pulled muscle but we'll have to see.
Physio recommended to keep lightly riding him in walk and trot only until she gets out so he had a tootle up the road today,not sure if im paranoid but he didnt seem to walk well going up or down the hill from the yard,fine on the flat...grrrr.

Nothing much else to report other that we were at a dog show recently and both boys got 3rd's which i was pleased about as their coats are very untidy and in need of stripping but im trying to hang on until Dec so they'll have nice coats for Crufts. I tried a bit of a tidy up last night, Ted slept through it so I just rolled him over when I needed to get at the other side he is the oddest dog ever!
We have two more shows before Christmas then will have a few months break before we gear up for Crufts in March.
Mouse is finally out of season and home,think my mum was trying to hang onto her as she didnt seem to want to give her back. Mouse is quite the pampered lap dog given the choice which suits my mum.

Winter does seem to have arrived, its been pretty wet and windy lately. Im so pleased to have the shelter up for the boys and my woodburner at home,as are the dogs, its very cosy.
Oh and im now on hols for 2weeks so very pleased about that.

Brilliant morning!

2009-10-10T19:14:00.002+01:00

All a bit last minute, but found out yesterday the hunt meet was going to be within hacking distance from our yard so decided it was too good an opportunity to miss so decided to go with Ali.
The meet was for 7.30am so I was up and out before 6 this morning. When I first left for the yard it was pitch black and there was a heavy fog so it all felt a bit odd and gloomy but by the time we were tacked up and all ready to leave the yard after 7 daylight had appeared and the fog cleared.
There were six of us from our yard including me,Vic and another girl from the yard who'd never been before,and several of the horses hadnt been hunted before.
Took us about 20mins to get to the meet and basically once we go there we set straight off.
I rather niavely left Ali in his usual snaffle thinking he'd run out of steam after 5mins-WRONG! Take back everything Ive ever said about him being slow and lazy,he's just never been motivated enough.
We stayed at the back to try and keep out of trouble but everyone was really nice talking to us when they found out we'd not been before.
On the first gallop he took a hold,not too bad but he was keen,we then trotted along the road into the next field where there was a little break then set off for the next gallop,this time I struggled to hold him. Back to walk for a gateway which led straight into another field Ali was bouncing at this point so because the field went up a steep hill. I thought i'd let him go a bit up the hill to settle him BIG mistake as the field levelled off I couldnt stop him at all!
I blasted past another girl from our yard who was howling laughing as I hurtled past shouting "ive got no breaks.....",I did start to panic a bit as the gateway and all the horses waiting to go through it were getting closer and closer and he'd totally set his neck but he eventually came back to me and control was restored.
We headed straight up a really steep hill next so I kept him in walk as I did not want to find out what was on the other side while flat out. :0 There was another 5min stand/rest bit then off again the pace slowed down alot from here so we were able to chat and get our bearings then we realised we were a couple of fields away from our yard and we were heading into the badger set field. We'd been out around an hour and a half,maybe a bit longer and felt that was more than enough for their first time so decided to split off and head home.
I couldnt be happier with Ali, he was so well behaved standing quietly during the breaks,keeping out of trouble and despite the occasional brake failure he felt safe,sensible and balanced.
He definitely enjoyed himself as did I so we will be going again when they are local to our yard again.
Im now sitting infront of the fire watching Horse of the Year Show feeling very tired but pleased as punch that ive got such a fabulous little horse who seems to be able to turn his hand/hoof to anything. Im doing so many new things with him that ive never been able to do in the past and each time he exceeds my expectations and saves his best for when it counts and all at five and a half years of age.

Ted's turn..

2009-09-30T22:41:00.003+01:00

Horse wise there's not much to report really. Ive not done a lot of schooling lately with Ali so lots of hacking out which is his favourite..other than eating obviously!
He did shoot out spooking across the road on Sunday because a sheep decided to stand up at the very moment we were passing a gateway,luckily he doesnt usually spin and is so well balanced it never feels particularly dangerous.
Yesterday Ali had his first outing for ages with the dogs,only took Ted and Buster due to Mouse being in season and Minx egging Buster on to hunt and go down badger sets etc.:)) The dogs were very good other than Ted getting infront of Ali a couple of times,Ali did bolt off up the field at one point when one of the dogs ran up behind him then jogged and cantered on the spot all the way back down the field but I think this was more the appearance of a new batch of cows in the ajoining fields. He still does not like cows,although settled down quickly and did the gates nicely,he's learnt the art of pushing them open with his chest or with a flick of the nose then does a lovely leg yield to close them.

Ive rode one of the horses the YO's have in to sell a couple of times this week. He's HUGE, about 17hands and a well built boy too,Vic took a picture of me riding him, i'll have to put it up its hilarious I look tiny on him.
Anyway he's a sweet,gentleman and I really enjoy riding him but I probably shouldnt keep riding him as he's so big and bouncy my back is hurting.

Been to two shows in the past couple of weeks. The first one I got nothing with any of them, Mouse did get shortlisted in a class of 19which was good going,its the first time for ages ive left a show with nothing at all so I suppose I was due one like that.
This weekend gone I was at another Champ show, Mouse didnt go due to her season so just took the boys. Ive seen this judge out and about quite a lot but have never had a conversation but had noticed her dogs are quite well built, top-end size Borders so thought we might stand a chance of getting in the placings.
However when the first couple of classes went through she seemed to be going for smaller,finer dogs so I didnt think we stood a chance,typical when Mouse wasnt there!
I was chuffed to bits with Ted as the tactic of just letting him stand himself and using treats seems to be a whole-hearted success and for the first time he really seemed to show himself. He was still bouncy but stood really nicely and focused on me. Anyway he got a 2nd in Junior and a 1st in Special Beginners,which is for dog and handler who havent won a Challenge Certificate,he won two lots of dog food,some money and a rather nice silver trophy. The judge seemed to like him a lot and was chatting away to him when writing his critique.
Buster was in a class of 19(!) and didnt get anything. Buster is in full coat at the minute and it does make him look much bigger but I dont want to strip him just yet as im trying to time all their stripping for Crufts.We still have a couple of more shows coming up so im going to attempt to have a tidy up tomorrow but his coat is finished so he's not going to look his best for the upcomming shows.

Well weekly(ish) isnt bad going:)

2009-09-06T21:24:00.002+01:00

Hey im finding time to update already!

Ive been at work most of the week on training 9to4,im back to work on my normal shifts this week but I was very good all week and rode most nights,usually if I dont ride early in the day I lose the inclination.
Ali has been on lots of hacks we've not done any schooling at all much to his delight. We are going on a 10 mile pleasure ride in a couple of weeks so I want to build his fitness up,he's fit and could do it no problem now but I want to fitten him up a bit more cardio wise so we can have lots of nice canters:)
Today we had a hour and a half hack,ive noticed he backs off the leg the further away he gets away from the yard which he'll have to get over as we plan on lots of longer rides as along with the pleasure ride im planing on taking him to a couple of hunt meets over the coming months.

The dog show last week was a bit odd,nobody could figure out what the judge was going for. Usually you start to get an idea after a few classes as you see quite often see a *type* they are going for..ie good heads,a certain size,coat type or movement but it was really ramdom. Having said that Buster got 3rd in a class of 10 which is not to be sniffed at as its another Crufts qualifier so it was worth the long drive and early morning. Ted got nothing he isnt showing himself well at all and the more I try to stand him the worse he stands so im having a change of tact next time and am just going to give him lots of treats and let him stand how he wants..see how that works? He doesnt do well under pressure:)
I met my friend who has Buster and Ted's brother at the beach on Thursday. After our walk we headed back to the car through the dunes where we heard squeaking, I thought it was a bird at first but then discovered Minx,Buster and Harvey (Busts brother) with a rabbit. Mouse and Ted then joined in when they spotted what was going on.
I felt horrible but I knew we would struggle to get them all off it and it would probably be so badly injured it would die so had to leave them to kill it, which they did very swiftly. They then proceeded to devour it which was rather gross, their terrier instincts were in full flow I can tell you they were a killer pack at that moment in time!

Sorry....hadnt intended on such a long break!

2009-08-27T21:01:00.008+01:00

..well actually i'd not intended on any break it just kind of happened then I think I lost my blogger mojo:))
Anyway im not even going to attempt to go through the past month or two but will do a brief summary,you'll be relieved to know.
Firstly both boys are well. Ive been off work for the summer so have had a blissful time just pottering on taking my time instead off constantly running around,had lots of fun hacks and long walks with the dogs.
Ive started riding Polo again, Vic's trimmer/farrier had a look at his feet and im pleased to say reckons im doing a cracking job and I should be riding him to get more improvement which im doing,in boots and pads. He also had a very extensive physio session he was pretty sore particularly in his deep muscles around his back and bum, which is hardly suprising as due to his feet being an issue. He's been compensating by shortening his stride which has made him sore elsewhere in his body.
He felt dramatically better 7to 10days after the physio and although im keeping the hacks short and in walk his stride length seems to be improving and quite often he doesnt want to turn for home so he must be feeling more comfortable.

Ali has been thoroughly enjoying having lots of hacks particularly in the fields and woods near our yard, he absolutely loves cantering in the fields but never feels silly or like he's going to do anything daft. We've had a couple of good gallops and although he's not the fastest he is a little powerhouse, canter feels so easy for him he just pings in and forgets how to trot at times:)
Ive not had any lessons recently and to be honest Ali really doesnt want to go in the school as he's been enjoying the outings so much but im going to try and be more consistant.
At the beginning of this week we went for a hack and it really hit home what a sensible boy he is,in the space of 5mins a tractor passed us and at least 3large wagons and he didnt even lift his head,its a joy to be able to relax so completely as you simply cant when your riding Polo.

The big news is Ali had his first show at the weekend. I was hugely nervous as I had no idea how he'd react and ive had some horrendous times with *you know who* at shows etc but the boy did me proud again and was absolutely brilliant.
First we had the large foreign breeds inhand. Vic had spoken to the judge on the phone the week before to ask if we could trot them up the traditional Spanish way which involves a few circles on the lunge in canter then coming off and basically running as fast as possible with them with them in an extended trot. The judge had said yes so we'd been practicing this way, Ali was probably run up like this when he was graded and took to it easily, but in the class we weve told to trot them up the English way. I really thought i'd struggle to get Ali to trot up like this but after an initial donkey moment he trotted up well with me running as fast as my little legs would carry me.
Anyway he got 2nd in this class out of about 7(?)which I was really chuffed about, a Friesian won it, this also qualified him for The Royal London Show in September not that i'll be going as its a bit too far away.
Just before we'd expected to go in for the inhand everyone seemed to disappear which was obviously an unannounced lunch break. Now surely the sensible way to do things would have been to have the break after all the inhand classes so everyone had time to tack their horses up and warm up for the ridden...you'd *think*.
But obviously not which meant by the time we got back to the wagon and tacked up then got back to the ring they were calling our ridden class in so no time for a warm up.
Ali totally lulled me into a false sense of security bouncing down to the ring sideways for the ridden class then obviously thought that was way too much like hard work and went into donkey mode who could barely manage to canter!
Although infairness no warm up and me trying too hard didnt help but he can do halt to canter so a bit of sustained canter on the correct leg *should* have been do-able.Vic's mare was in the same class and was behind us which resulted in him hanging back and when it came to doing our individual show piece he was quite nappy for her.I admit to riding like a totally spanner too:0
This results in me hating the majority of the ridden pictures cos he's got his nose poking most of the time and are generally horrible. I could have taken a strong contact and gotten an "outline" but I usually warm him up with flexions and transitions so didnt think it was fair to suddenly pull his head in from the front.
The one thing I do like about the ridden pics is seeing how much his walk has improved. He had quite a choppy walk and i'd not realised how much it has improved until I saw the pictures so im very happy about that!
Anyway he got 3rd in that class but there were only four of us in there:)))
The judge was very nice about him and said she liked him a lot and could see we were having lots of fun together, she also gave me a bottle of Spanish sherry for most promising youngster.

Inhand

Ridden

.
Q and Vic behind us on this one

The dogs are well,sort of, Mouse jumped into the car last week and tweaked something in her back which resulted in a few seconds of not being able to stand up. She has some painkillers and anti inflammatories and is still a little stiff and sore but seems okay,im not ruling out contacting the horse physio if it continues to be a problem as she does dogs too.
We've been to a few shows, not sure where I reported up to but Buster has had another first recently then had nothing at the last two shows although was shortlisted in one huge class where I could tell the judge liked him but just thought he was too heavy. Ted continues to be a wally he seems to be getting placed quite consistantly, its usually a lower placing where as Buster seems to get higher placing or nothing, but im not complaining.
Mouse has had another couple of placings and recently got a Best Bitch at a local Terrier and Lurcher show which was excellent:)
Ive got a Champ show on Sunday just with the boys due to Mouse's back and the fact she is due in season soon.

Soooo I think thats about it for now,I shall be back to update more frequently:))

None the wiser!

2009-06-27T20:23:00.002+01:00

A reasonably quiet week riding wise.
Hacked Ali on Monday then light lunge Thursday, lots of walk with some trot using poles.
I gave Ali a bute sachet Thursday then again Friday afternoon so that he would have it in his system ready for a schooling session which was planned for today.
Well im none the wiser as the title suggests he felt okay on the favorite right rein in addition to the flexions, leg yielding and shoulder in-walk and trot,I focused on halt to trot and reinback to trot etc. I still feel he's not quite 'off the leg' so thought this would be a good way to sharpen him up plus get him using his backend and off his shoulders.
I moved onto his left,stiff rein. The flexions and bend werent as good so lots of half halts and flexing but the shoulder in was better than the right?
He threatened to buck when he first struck off into canter but didnt then once again which I put a stop to by lifting my hands and sending him forward other than that he was fine.
So he still wanted to buck despite the bute...probably not pain?
He did a couple of fabby walk to canters on the right rein just as our the YO's hubby came into the arena which I was pleased about as last week he jokingly told me I was an idiot to have paid so much for Ali cos he "couldnt do anything". His *idea* of a good horse is a horse that bounces,rears and cant stand still so to him my sensible 5year old PRE aint quality!

Tomorrow Ali is going for a hack acting as nanny again to a mare who was recently imported from Holland. She had a rough time coming over and at the dealers yard so lost trust and went a bit wild for a while so the owner has gone back to scratch with her longreining and treating her as unbacked Ali is perfect for the first hack as nothing the other horses do fazes him and his calmness doesnt wind horses up.
She really is the most stunning WB mare you will ever see!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-22T22:07:00.003+01:00

We had another good show on Saturday...can you tell?!?!:))
Im a bit despairing with Ted as he just doesnt seem to be getting the idea at all, he goes into the silly zone boinging around generally being mental.He is getting away with it at the moment because he's still in puppy class and he did get 2nd which is brill at champ show level but im sure its costing him because how can they see him move when he's bouncing around. He is quite good on the table having said that.
Buster was in next and I knew the judge liked him as he came back to see him several times but as I expected his coat was probably the issue as just before the judge did his placings he came and gripped Busters coat as if telling me why. BUT he still got 3rd which at this level is not to be sniffed at as it was another Crufts qualifying class.
We had a wander around the various dog shops as there was a good gap until Mouses classes then came back to watch Peter's star bitch,the one who got best pup at Crufts. I thought she was a mile ahead of all the others in the class but she is being a bit funny in the ring so wasnt showing herself to her best,she still got 3rd.
Mouse was in shortly after this. Now I wasnt expecting a thing with her as Post Grad is tough,usually big entries and a Crufts qualifier.I did feel she was looking well and her coat is tip-top but when we first went in I didnt think the judge looked at her and as it was a large class thought to myself 'well the boys did well I cant complain'.
She is tricky to show and a bit of a live wire in the ring so I have to really focus on her so obviously missed out of the fact he actually quite liked her until the final line up when I saw him really looking at her and the bitch next to us.
She ended up getting 2nd which is absolutely brilliant as the other bitch is a *good* dog and that has qualified her for Crufts too...so I will be taking the three show'ers to Crufts I cant believe it!:000
I honestly thought our last show was 'our show' of the year and although we didnt get any firsts to have them all very well placed again is unbelievable im totally chuffed.

Horsewise my pad hasnt come yet so hopefully tomorrow it will turn up,Claire ive just wanted one for ages and thought it would be nice for the neds no major concerns.

Ali had a bit of a quieter week as its wind-down time.I did school him once which wasnt good and he put in a couple of big bucks despite me totally giving him a loose rein to see if the contact was why he's had a couple of bucks recently.
Im swaying between he's a bit confused-the work is a bit more demanding now and he's protesting-and he's a bit uncomfortable sore somewhere?
He only does it on the one rein, this has always been the rein he's not wanted to bend on, anyway as soon I swapped to the other he worked nicely.
I gave him a light lunge the following day and he looked ok on both reins, yesterday he had a lovely hack and was walking and swinging along nicely.
Today I took him in the school. He was behind the leg intially but then improved, I started with his good rein flexing,leg yielding and shoulder in in walk and trot then moved onto his not so good rein. I kept it short half halting then flexing and he actually worked really nicely and was reaching into the contact,we then popped a tiny jump that was set up in the school twice and I called it a day.
Day off tomorrow on his 2nd wind down week so i'll probably do feet.

and days turn into weeks!

2009-06-17T23:16:00.002+01:00

Dear me ive got out of the blogging *habit* lately well ive had two weeks holiday from work so i'll say it was a blogging holiday too.
Sorry Claire I kept meaning to reply to your email after Corbridge but kept forgetting..we are both fine anyway.

Im not even going to try and remember in any detail what's been going on in the past few weeks so a brief round-up will have to surfice:)
Ali has been worked most days. I try to give him a good variety of hacking mixed with school work and lessons.
Hacking has been great he loves to go in the fields and will try and turn into any gateway that leads into a field, even if its a field we havent got permission to ride in! He is still scared of cows but tries to be brave although likes a bit of distance between him and the offending beasts.
We've had a couple of lessons since the last posts. Things are getting a bit more complicated now as intially it was just getting him to go forward with some flexions to get him more flexible and bending. He is now getting the hang of leg yielding and has a pretty decent shoulder in in walk and trot, his work is becoming more consistant although he still like to exit the arena when the opportunity arises.
One of the lessons was absolutely brilliant he worked really solidly and tried his heart out, the lesson last weekend was tough which is usually the case after a good one. D is quite an intense instructor so just when you think you have something cracked she ups the game and suddenly im pants again!
My big issue at the minute is im relying on the inside rein to turn and bend particularly on the left rein so im blocking him ...very frustrating!
Last week Vic and I did the fan with the raised poles, Ali is very good at this, towards the end we set up a couple of jumps for him, he's definitely got a decent pop!
He was a bit hampered by the school being small and wings getting in the way but he did make a couple of cracking attempts and seems really keen.
The weather this week has been pretty horrible so today I basically fed them, yesterday he had a 20min lunge.
My plan is to wind him down a bit over the remainder of this week and next have another lesson then give him a couple of weeks off. My reasons are i want him fresh for the show in August and because he's been in pretty much solid work since we moved to this yard (not counting the odd times of bad weather) I reckon a couple of weeks off will go down well.
Also im planning on taking him hunting a couple of times early in the season so he'll have to be pretty fit August and September so a short rest now seems the ideal time.
Plus ive got a fair few dog shows coming up so weekends will be busy over the next month or two.
Ive got a Champ show with the dogs on Saturday, Buster's been stripped and got no coat and Ted could do with being stripped so has too much coat..im not expecting anything:)
To be honest after the recent brilliant placings and the boys qualifying for Crufts anything more would be a bonus.

Much much better.

2009-05-23T21:35:00.002+01:00

Had another lesson Friday and it was a vast improvement. I did think my tiredness last time was the main issue, I felt much more on the ball yesterday and it went well.
I had a nice schooling session mid week so I had an inkling the lesson would be an improvement on last one.
Yesterday started with getting him flexing and stepping through with the inside hind.D said he's so thickset in the neck and can look pretty infront without working properly from behind so getting him flexing and activating the hind is really important.We then moved into trot and did some leg yielding, concentrating on getting him to flex and be straight as he is desperate to lead with his shoulders. I have a tendency to try and correct this purely by pushing his quarters over with my leg but D had me half halting then using the inside leg to straighten the shoulders up instead which worked well and we got some nice attempts towards the end.I must admit it feels really weird as he finds this such hard work yet Polo seems to find lateral work so easy.
Next we moved onto some travers coming off the circle with the bend then moving the front end on the track with the quarters in,it was a bit hit and miss at first. Sorry if im not explaining this properly or correctly, im better *doing* than talking or writing about this side of things!
I did giggle as D said im very interesting to teach as although im not a technical rider im very practical..Im not 100% sure it that was a compliment or not but I *think* she meant it in a nice way? :))))
Lastly we did some canter work for the first time in ages and it was actually quite good. Because Ali tries to use his backend as sparingly as possible I have found his canter hard to sit to as it sometimes feels like his back is as hard as a board and im bouncing higher and higher and he's boiinging without actually going very far.
Anyway he felt more forward,softer and supple so D asked me to again ask for the bend half halting and using my outside leg on the girth to stop him falling out. We got a decent canter on each rein so called it a day there.
We were both chuffed with him as he really seemed to tried hard to do everything that was asked of him,I feel we are both making huge progress at the minute.

Today Vic and I went to see some Border Terrier puppies as she is joining the Border owners club. They belong to a guy I got chatting to at the show last week so Vic is now the owner of a little bitch who she'll collect mid July when she gets back from her holidays.
I later went for a hack along the lane with our YO which was very pleasant as the sun was out.

Unbelievable news!

2009-05-17T17:21:00.003+01:00

Im too excited to string it out so to cut to the chase....Ted won his class AND so did Buster:)))
How amazing is that! I had two dogs in the line up at the end,we didnt get best pup or anything but im just chuffed to bit for them both to have won their classes. To top it all off Mouse was placed fourth in her class which was brilliant as it was a big class and to have them all placed was just the icing on the cake.
I was getting myself in a flap as Peter hadnt arrived towards the end of the dog classes so I didnt know who to ask to take one of them in for me luckily her turned up just in the nick of time and took Ted in the line up for me.Actually Ted stood better for him and was much better behaved as he was still rather exuberant in the puppy class bouncing along and fidgeting a lot.

Today I had a lesson and it was a tough one. D decided to step it up a gear and it was hard!
He is still not wanting to bend in the direction of travel on the left rein so D has us doing more lateral work this time which resulted in me struggling to control his shoulders. I seem to be better/more correct with my right hand as on the left rein although I stuggle to get him to bend when he does bend im controlling the shoulder well. Where as on the right rein although he bends/flexes better I struggle with my left hand placement so he totally falls out on the shoulder. Im sure I wasnt riding particularly well as I was so tired from the very early drive and long day at the show yesterday so the instructions werent really sinking in.
Plus on Friday I helped the YO and her friend catch her friends recently purchased horse who had decided not to be caught ever again.I ended up being swung around like tarzan several times by a 17hand Warmblood and as usual my stubborness got the better of me so I hung on in there till she gave up and came in. Which has resulted in me being very stiff and sore.
Anyway the result seems to be despite me thinking we had the outside rein sussed we obviously havent as D was totally correct in pointing out that im hanging on the inside rein and he's getting very heavy in my hand.
His build is partly to blame as he is very short and thick in the neck so he finds it difficult to bend but as D said this doesnt mean he cant do it and that it isnt important that he does.
We have another lesson on Friday so hopefully with some practice in the school this week that lesson will be a bit better.
Im really tired tonight so an early night is in order...

I love my pone:)

2009-05-14T18:19:00.002+01:00

Had a really nice schooling session today.Nothing complicated or outstanding just a continuation of what we've been working on in the lessons.
Inside leg outside rein, flexions, turning with the outside rein (we are both really *getting* this now) half halts into the corners then forward and straight down the longsides then some leg yielding. Over all his work is gaining much more consistancy and the periods of good work are getting longer and longer im really pleased. Vic said she can see a huge difference in us both from when we first moved to now.
Lesson on Sunday which is good as I think we are ready to move onto the next stage:)

The plan is a nice long hack tomorrow hopefully we'll get some nice weather.

Saturday im in Scotland for a big Champ dog show,Ted's coat is good,Mouse looks really well but Buster's coat isnt looking great. I should have stripped him the other week but held off so ive ended up picking at it to try and tidy him up but made it all uneven! Never mind.
Minx had her stitches out on Wednesday the vet said to try and keep quiet for a few more days-mmm gave up one that days ago its impossible.
I have to ring him in two months with a Buster update. Then all being well he will contact the vet school about the possibility of trying him off the meds as after 6months of medication there is a percentage of dogs with this condition that have been able to be weaned off the Phenobarbital. He also said because its a relative newly recognised condition they are learning all the time so in two months they might have a greater understanding.
He also didnt rule out that something could have triggered this rather than it being a hereditary condition, in the months leading up to him being ill he and Minx ate that gunge at the farm then there was an outbreak of kennel cough going around the shows which he could have been exposed to, its a theory?

Nice couple of hacks.

2009-05-11T23:52:00.002+01:00

Vic and I had a lovely hack Sunday. The wind had dropped so off we ventured into the woods,I had to get off and do a few gates one involved lifting a rather broken down wooden gate off its hinges (well what was left of them) so we could get through.
Ali was walking out really well as was Quenza ...which I heard Vic remark on mmmmm lets say a couple of times:0
Today we went for a pootle along the lane. Im pretty sure Ali is bored with the lane as he tried a hand-break-turn as we passed the gate for one of the fields we ride in but I didnt have a lot of time so the lane it was. He then went into go slow mode as a protest as did Q, the fields are much more exciting and fun so they obviously wanted to make their opinions known!
I rode Polo in the school yesterday,just in walk for 10mins. Honestly when I dont ride him for a while I forget how ultra sensitive he is particularly in the school. He forgot nothing and was lovely despite being very chompy chompy on the bit..well he's not been in the school very often and its SCARY.
Oh and Ali had escaped out of the field again yesterday so more tall posts are on order!
Jean ive got them strip grazed obviously Ali *knows* the grass is quite literally greener on the other side of the fence.

Windy!

2009-05-09T21:17:00.002+01:00

Thats all we seemed to have had for days now,not ideal riding weather so needless to say ive not ridden Polo:)
When I arrived at the yard Ali was already in a stable.I thought how kind of Vic to get him in for me,infact he'd escaped into the top field so the YO had collected him and put him in a stable till I arrived.The fencing was all still up so he'd obviously jumped out, he's popped two 5bar gates and now a fence in the time ive had him,who says PRE's cant jump!
I'd actually decided not to do anything with him as it was Friday and I was tired but as he was there and shouting like a big girl's blouse for Polo (he wasnt bothered when he was grazing!)I decided to lunge him. He was very forward and rushed but I figured it was a fat burning exercise to work off all the extra grass he'd had so let him go for it:).
Had a schooling session today. The conditions were even worse, gale force winds and no sooner had we set foot and hooves in the school it started to rain which got pretty heavy towards the end.
Think we did about half an hour max the work was not totally horrendous.Mainly concentrated on flexions to start with then transitions within trot,half halts into the corners and slowing the trot down as slow as he could go then pushing forward on the long sides. His right rein is fabulous bending around the inside leg nicely, balancing and turning with the outside, left rein isnt so good he tends to fall in and not want to bend but we do get there it just takes a bit more time and work.
He did a wonderful ping from walk to canter unasked for this seems to happen when he's built up lots of energy. I can see why Caroline thinks this helps improve the quality of the canter work as the resulting canter is excellent.

Hopefully tomorrow we will to go for a hack..thats if we dont get blown away!

The resilliance of dogs...

2009-05-07T22:36:00.003+01:00

Minx was full of beans literally the next day after her op,ive spent all week *trying* to stop her running around,jumping up and generally living it up with the others. Us humans are really pathetic in comparison arent we:)))

Had a few nice hacks with Ali,he is much improved with his cow phobia and has passed them on the lane a couple of times without any panic or hysteria, although still cautious,hurrah there's a future in bullfighting for him after all haha!
He also had a much improved schooling session without the antics of Liquorice who has been moved into another field due to his escaping shinnanigans.

Im at work and tired so brief and to the point!:)))

Huge sigh of a relief..

2009-05-01T20:34:00.002+01:00

Minx has been spayed!I took her up this morning she still had a tiny bit of milk but the vet thought it was so minimal it would be fine to go ahead as this could possibly be a pattern she goes through with every season.
She's home feeling a bit sore and tired but perky enough to look for rabbits when we left the vet surgery and has just eaten some scrambled eggs. She's coming to bed with me tonight so she has some peace away from the others which she'll love.

I cant remember where I 'blogged' up to but today Ali was checked over by the physio. I didnt particularly think anything was wrong with him but the physio was out to see Vic's other horse so I thought he might as well get the once over. Physio said he was in great shape, he had a tiny bit of tightness in his bum on the right but only slight,he had a short treatment with her muscle machine 'thing' and that was all.
Polo will get the once over when she comes back next time which should give me a good idea if work is going to affect him adversely or not.
We went for quite a long hack this afternoon.Ali started off well then his pony mate Liquorice started whinnying and being a prat which unsettled Ali a little, not that he did anything wrong just was a bit behind the leg and distracted.
Once he got over it he was great and we had a lovely ride.

Come to think of it Liquorice sabotaged our schooling session on Wednesday by breaking through the fencing and galloping up into the field right next to the school. Ali couldnt settle with all this going on and I was getting really annoyed by it all so we were both lathered by the end and hadnt achieved a thing.
Naughty pony!

Its a busy old life..

2009-04-28T21:55:00.002+01:00

I sometimes think coming to work is easier than my hectic 'out of work' life!
Instructor had to cancel the lesson on Fri as she was stuck in traffic so we ended up having a 20min hack around one of the fields.
The lesson happened on Saturday and was really good and hard for us both which is hardly suprising considering i'd barely rode in three weeks and Ali had been doing mainly work on the ground.
Instructor commented that his stride had shortened up again so she had us doing lots of flexions to get him to activate the inside hind then pushing him through. We ended on a really good note with him reaching down onto the bit relaxed and swinging in trot. I can feel my riding improve with every lesson, im riding with much better feel and am quicker to correct when things start to go wrong.
Then to be really mean Ali had a rest for an hour then went on a hack with Quenza...cruel mummy! We didnt go far just along the lane, it was a good opportunity to pass the bogey cow area when he was tired and he was great. He was a little hesitant but with encouragement and my leg on braved it,the cows being further off in the field helped matters.
Guess what?!?! I rode Polo too!:))
Went out with the YO after riding Ali back along the lane which I thought was the best option as he's been walked out inhand along there a fair bit.He was a bit spooky/looky for the first 5mins but then was absolutely brill,his walk isnt as good a usual but mooching around in the field isnt helping so im hoping getting him on a few hacks booted and padded up will work. His feet have deteriorated hugely since he's been out of work and im now convinced this is where all the problems stem from.This is why I first pulled his shoes however many years ago that was as I couldnt keep him sound,riding in boots and pads turned things around so im going to try that approach again.

I didnt ride Sunday as I had a dog show. Was a weird old day as it was the same judge who gave Buster a 1st three weeks ago and a lovely critique, well he didnt place Buster this time! He placed two of the dogs Buster beat first and second this time, I could possibly understand him placing different dogs and not Buster but not dogs he only beat three weeks ago? Got me baffled!
Ted was silly-AGAIN. Mouse however got placed in quite a tough class,she is looking really well at the minute but her coat still isnt through.A few more weeks and I reckon she's going to be in peak show condition which is just intime for the two big shows in May and June.Buster and Ted's coats are a concern as they are going to need stripping soon which will mean they are probably going to be out of coat for these shows..its a complicated business for sure:))

Yesterday Ali went for another hack with Quenza,he was a bit of a wally when I had to get off and do the gates as he wouldnt standstill when I wanted to get back on using a large boulder. I kept circling around until he realised this was much harder work and stood. Other than that it was a lovely loopy hack through the field and back out onto the road heading home.
Today Ali had a short lunge and Polo went out for a hack with Quenza. He started with the usually 5minute spookiness which unsettled Q a little but then they both settled down nicely.Q had to work hard keeping up with Polo's long rangy walk, she hasnt figured out how to lengthen yet which is understandable its very early days under saddle for her but she did squeeze past a tractor on the way home when I had to get off and lead Polo past haha.
Weather has been awful today and tonight,im hoping for a better day tomorrow and a schooling session with Ali.

Back with a vengence..

2009-04-22T23:13:00.002+01:00

Poor Ali must be sick as a chip im feeling better:)
I rode him in the school again on Monday,not a long session but worked him quite hard his flexing to the left (weaker rein) has gone back and he was trying to motorbike a bit but we got there in the end.Im finding I have a whole new intensity and focus to my riding since I moved yards,ive struggled to stay focused in the past.
Today we went out for a hack with Vic who had her first ever hack on her mare,who she sat on for the first time last week.It wasnt planned, Vic just couldnt face anymore longlining and since the mare's been all over on the lines and has been totally unfazed during the whole backing process she decided to try go for their first ever hack. Huge success all round and Quenza was striding out by the end looking totally chilled and enthusiastic.
Yo came too and on the way home we had a good giggle chatting about our obsession with our horses and dogs.
Im going to give Ali a light lunge tomorrow then have a lesson booked for Friday.

Minx is also booked in to be Spayed on Friday so im going to be on tender hooks until she's through it and back home!

I rode I rode..

2009-04-19T19:40:00.002+01:00

AND it didnt hurt-hooray!
Half an hour in the school with Vic's OH videoing us,talk about a baptism of fire. He was a little less forward and more distracted than where we left off before the 'trampling'incident which is to be expected but he wasnt terrible and is definitely getting the idea of stretching and reaching down into the bit. I watched a bit of it back on the camera and was quite pleased with it there are some nice moments just need to improve the consistency of our work.
My YO rode him once this week to help me out and it was interesting to see how he went with someone else. She is quite a nice rider with a good seat but fiddled and see sawed a little with the rein which had him curling back quite a lot,looking really short and tight and not really using his backend so I was desperate to see what 'we' looked like together.Over all I was pleased with how we look together, although I have a horrible habit of looking down all the time!
YO liked him a lot:)

Im very pleased how both the boys are looking at the moment they are gleaming with health and shiny coats and Ali's weight is great, I reckon we got the field stripped off just before the spring grass really shot through which seems to be the key with him. He's still a little bit tubby but losing it steadily and toning up nicely:)

Was at a dog show this morning,it wasnt a good quality show to be honest,I went because the organiser rang to ask if I would enter and for practice for Ted. Ted got second despite being even sillier (when will he start to cotton on?). Mouse beat Buster in the open class so we got 3rd and 4th.No insult to Mouse but she's simply not as good a dog as Buster or have any coat at the minute so im not sure what the judge was looking for, sorry Mouse. He probably was another breed judge and not that knowlegeable of Borders?
Anyway i'd rather not get placed with a breed specialist judge against the best of Borders than get placed against not very good competition with an unknowlegeable judge..hope that doesnt sound conceited or like im a bad sport its not intended that way.

Of course im back at work tomorrow just when im able to ride again..typical.

For Jean

2009-04-14T22:01:00.002+01:00

Lovely Eh!?! Bear in mind the one on the right (my left) is the 'Polo' one and is nearly two weeks old so you can imagine how impressive it was at the time.

I rode today..but I shouldnt have. Coccyx is still bit too sore, it is much better than it was but not up for riding quite yet,I couldnt get my backside properly into the saddle so was perched. Couple of more days and i'll have another go.
Went for a hack with Vic who was longlining her mare.Well we've found something that terrifies Ali,a herd of cows! He was in pure panic mode and just wanted to run away I pointed him away from them towards a gate and hedge and he felt like he was going to go over it. This wasnt helped by the fact I couldnt sit in the saddle properly so I got off at the first opportunity to see if being on the ground with him would help. Usually if he has a good look at something he's fine but not with these cows,having said that the more he snorted and leapt around the more it seemed to attract the cows seemed like there were hundreds gathered along the fence and wall. In the end I marched him away as quickly as possible.Throughout this Vics mare stood grazing on the verge oblivious to Ali's panic...something tells me she's going to be a bombproof hack:))
I re mounted along the lane he was still a little stressy but settled okay,when we turned for home I rode him so far then lead him past the cow field.He was still scared but most of the cows had moved futher up th field so he coped going past with just few stops and snorts.Ive never seen him so scared.
Tomorrow I might lunge him then take him for a walk past the field inhand.

We're on a roll!

2009-04-12T18:56:00.002+01:00

Very succesfull time at the show yesterday Buster got ANOTHER FIRST and Ted got a second and a third,im entering him in a maiden or novice class ontop of the puppy one for practice.
Buster was fabby, he was in a very good and large class so I was chuffed to bits.Ted was marginally better than last week, still a bit of hooligan boinging around but there is some improvement in behaviour so he's getting there luckily they make allowances in the puppy classes.

Vic rode Ali out on a hack today accompanied by me,the dogs and her OH with her broken pony also called Ted it was a gorgeous sunny day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I also gave Polo a good groom,foot soak and trim and trimmed Ali's feet too. Yes my back is feeling loads better,I felt things start to improve yesterday so im pleased and reckon i'll be okay to ride mid week the way things are going. Thats if ive not set things back doing too much today but the foot stand takes most of the work out of the trimming so its not too hard going.
The other news is i think im going to have a matching black eye!0
Had a bit of a freak accident tidying up tonight which involved a board falling on my head knocking me down and cracking my eye on the corner of the dog's chair..honestly its unbelievable,infact if it wasnt me i'd not believe it. Its right on the fleshy corner bit and puffed up instantly ive had frozen peas on it, hopefully it will go down over night!
So Jean you might be getting a picture although I doubt this one will be as impressive as the other one was:))

Still not back in the saddle

2009-04-10T21:11:00.002+01:00

Its very frustrating being on hoilday and not being able to ride but my coccyx is still far too sore to ride!
If im no better by next week im going to have to get something done so willing it to get better as ive got a serious doctor/hospital/anybody doing anything to me phobia:0
However ive a feeling Vic is willing me not to get better as she's rode Ali a couple of times this week so he has done something most days.
At the beginning of the week Vic helped with the poles and we did the raised pole's exercises Rach showed me.
Then Vic rode him in the school one day with me as instructor {haha} then took him for a short hack yesterday around the fields and had her first canter on him. He was little unsettled as i'd left Polo in the field where as I usually bring them both up together but I had my little 3year old niece for the day so it was easier to just bring Ali up.He was still as safe as usual just few head shakes and stops, Vic seemed to enjoy it anyway (hey dont get too comfortable on him Missus!).
Today I gave him a 20minute lunge and he was fabby..he's pleasure to work with.

Sorry Jean I took a picture of the eye but I updated my phone the other day and lost all the recent pictures,it was a truly impressive shiner still got a fair bit of bruising under and around the eye even now one week on!

Dog show tomorrow....

Im still alive!

2009-04-05T20:44:00.002+01:00

I have the most corker of a shiner you'd ever see honestly im impressed with it myself:))
Some of the swelling has gone down but its got some serious bruising, my coccyx is still really sore but better than yesterday so hopefully few days out of the saddle will do the trick.
And to top it off im hoping to ride the old lunatic this week or next while im on holiday,Im going to be carefully and only ride when my back is okay and Vic is going to come out with him on Ali to nanny him but he looks pretty good blasting around the field so reckon a few hacks wont hurt but may help with the excess energy that seems to be building up.
I lunged Ali on two lines yesterday he was fab as usual particularly with me hobbling on trying to keep up with him.

Nothing today as I was at a dog show,we should have been in and out first but they changed the schedule around so the Borders were much later getting into the ring than I had anticipated.
Ted was a hooligan again and didnt get anywhere this time,he really is sooo naughty practice does not seem to be helping!
Buster was an absolute star totally eyeballing the judge as he strutted past him how could he not win...which his did and we got a nice trophy too!That seems to be the way with Buster you can never tell if he's going to get a first or nothing but he always tries to please and gets lots of nice comments.
Mouse got a fourth with was good,he came back and felt her coat which I *think* was his way of saying why she didnt get a higher place,its still too soft at the minute from when she was stripped but im still happy with the day.

Ive spent all evening writing an assignment for the course I was suckered into doing for work and finished.It was painful and ive written total rubbish but im happy its done and I can enjoy my two weeks holidays.

Poloooooo!!!!!

2009-04-03T21:20:00.002+01:00

I cant believe im having to say this after the last few drama filled months but Polo ran over me yesterday...yes RAN OVER ME.
It was a gorgeous day so I walked down to collect the boys Polo cantered down with Ali behind him,I should have known something was up cos he kept stopping and looking but seemed calm enough in himself.I got them through the gate and had turned to close it when Polo literal leapt forward in a blind panic I stumbled forward,unfortunately there's a dip in the ground at the gate so I fell flat on my face.It seemed to happen in slow motion, I knew Polo was coming over me cos I was right infront of him I remember shouting his name and feeling like I'd lay there ages waiting for him to stand on me.I think he must have tried to avoid me as luckily he only caught me with one leg..right on my backside!
I staggered to my feet and waited for them to settle down so I could take their halters off,Ali had followed him in charging around the field.Polo looked very sheepish when I got to him,mind you that could have been total confusion about my appearance as when I limped back to the yard and looked at myself my face and hair was covered in dirt.I knew i'd hurt my head, side of my face and my bum but couldnt really tell how bad at the time.
Drove home with my face and backside throbbing then had a shower which was when I saw the extent of the damage.
Im covered in grazes and bruises up my arms,grazed all down the side of my face which is pretty swollen and my eye has developed into a rather impressive shiner.
Probably should have gone to hospital but I hate the places so went to work instead:)))
I know why he did it, YO had hung a few rugs over the gate of the field opposite and because it was 'different' it sent him into panic mode.Im annoyed with myself more than anything cos he almost did the same thing a few weeks ago when rugs had been left over the gate but I caught him in time to stop him...grrr like I shouldnt know what he's like after all these years!

Today everywhere hurts,my ribs,my shoulders,my backside particularly around my coccyx, which ive injured once before,despite how bad my face and head looks this actually hurts the least.
I brought them in seperately today as Polo still seemed spooky,dont think the spring grass is helping matters the other two pones in the field are in high spirits too, although Ali isnt joining in with the madness thankfully.

I actually went out for a hack on him with the YO this afternoon I know I shouldnt have but the weather was so nice I did although it was so painfully I wished I hadnt,I wont be riding till my butt is feeling better.
Bless him he pootled along with me yelping and groaning and despite going around fields he's never been in before..YO is convinced he was looking after me.Of course it could have been the way I was perching trying to keep my bum out of the saddle:)

Hopefully tomorrow the stiffness will have eased NOT that im going to ride after today.I didnt half get some funny looks tonight when I did my shopping:0

What a week...well last week that is!

2009-03-31T22:39:00.004+01:00

Last Sunday started okay,went out for Sunday lunch with my mum for a joint Mother's day/my birthday treat.
I was late getting to the yard to feed the boys,just as I pulled up I saw a few of the girls and YO leading one of their liveries up the field,I got a sickening feeling as I could see the leg flopping just above the hock.
They managed to get the mare into a stable while waiting for the vet to come I knew it was a bad break but we dressed it roughly as there was a cut which was bleeding steadily.Soon as the vet came she said there was nothing they could do due to where the break was and how bad it was broken...I knew this was going to be the outcome.
The owner couldnt face staying and our YO was in bits so I ended up staying with the horse while she was PTS,it wasnt nice as she went down on the leg but I couldnt let her go alone:(

Anyway I then took bad at work on Monday with a stomach bug or food poisioning,ive never been so ill in my entire life so most of last week was a total right off.Im still feeling a bit off but iam back to getting on with things.
I lunge Ali on Sunday as I didnt think riding with dizzy spells was a good idea but today got back in the saddle.Only had a half an hour session but it was really good actually I was definitely 'in the zone' and rode him very well if I do say so myself:),im finally managing to replicate some of the moments we get during a lesson and am really riding him if that makes sense.
He's still leaning in on the left rein at first but with a combination of flexing,inside leg with the outside rein half halting he is working through it,on the right rein things are much easier there were spells when I felt he was truly bending around my leg with no inside rein felt great!
...and the weather has been great this week too:))

Was at a show Saturday,it was a huge entry of over 250 dogs(thats just Borders btw) so all the classes were big.Ted got placed not highly but still placed despite being very silly and hyper again and in a big class to boot.
Buster was in a massive class with some top name dogs,he didnt get placed but we were pulled in when she cut the class down to her pick of 6 I was pretty pleased with this just a shame there are only 5placings.
Mouse was in another huge class. I was delighted with her as its the first time ive not used food to get her to stand as she can be tricky to show and she was brilliant.I thought she was going to get a placing as the judge kept looking at her but infairness she has no coat at the minute so this could be what cost her a place?
Got a small show this weekend then another breed show next weekend.

Short and sweet

2009-03-21T22:53:00.002Z

Ive been busy today started off with soaking Polo's feet,trimming him then taking him out for a walk inhand with the dogs.
I then fenced off the last little gap where they can get into the river as Polo escaped and made his way into the top field this morning,much to the dismay of the boys left in the field who were apparently running around like headless chickens looking for him...he's quite he hero in herd:)
I then took Ali for a short hack around the fields,I figure he would be a bit stiff after the lesson cos I know I am so a gentle tootle to loosen up would help.He was lovely,a nice walk,short trot along one side of the field then a little steady canter up the hill-perfect in everyway.
His feet got trimmed too.

Ive ordered them some fly rugs as I think we are going to have a lot more flies at this yard with the stream and trees, I borrowed one of my friend's to try for size as her horse get serious sweet itch and she reckons this particular type are the best so they are now ordered.

Taking my mum out for dinner tomorrow so giving the boys a chill out day.

Super-dooper lesson today.

2009-03-20T18:37:00.002Z

Im very pleased with my boy today and myself I might add!:)
Ive forgotten half of it already now but i'll do my best.We started with getting him to flex in walk loosening him up but with a forward walk and energy.Straight away he was responsive to the leg so I could concentrate more on what we were doing rather than keeping him going which was good.Then did some 20(ish)m circles flexing in then using the outside rein to move the shoulders across we got this quite well then D said to give him a long rein and go large around the school.Ali was really stretching and reaching down for the rein, D said was the best walk she's seen from him.
Then moved into trot it was tougher for sure,at first he tried to curl back,lean heavily on the inside rein then had a large buck and we also exited the boards of the school several times anything but flex and come off my inside leg but then he suddenly lightened and lifted and it felt great.
After a break on a loose rein D wanted me to ride him around the whole school totally giving with the inside rein and to create the bend using half halts and inside leg/outside rein,this was really hard but there were moments when we got it.
At the end of the lesson D said she was very please with us both,she said I actually ride him well and im correcting him and riding him with much better timing. I can get a bit fixed and focused on one rein then forget the other and I havent quite got the outside rein 'feel' yet.She said he was like a different horse today and overall there was a huge improvement from last week so im very happy.

Its turning into a weekly blog it seems so a quick re-cap of the week-
Sunday we went for quite a long hack,it wasnt the best hack in the world he started off a bit nappy and shouting lots then half way around became forward and a bit silly! I trotted him at first to wake him up and then to settle him down{doh}, we also had a decent canter along a nice incline where I had to really pull him up as he didnt want to stop.As we turned along the road for home the penny dropped where he was and he started to shout and bounce,I felt there might be a rear on the way so pushed him forward into a steady trot which seemed to do the job and he settled for the rest of the way home.

Through the week he had two sessions in the school one with me where we worked on the flexing and things from the previously lesson.
Vic had a ride on him on Wednesday and found to her peril just how wide he is but she really enjoyed riding him and playing about,he is the perfect horse to play about on as his paces are extremely comfortable and he doesnt get wound up.

The other thing that im pleased about is his physical shape,although he is still carrying a bit too much weight around his tummy its definitelg firming up and looking more toned.Also his chest and shoulders are looking huge,his chest is now wider than Polo's who's a bigger horse and well built in himself.He's turning into a real power house:)
The field is now stripped off so they now have less than half the field which they share with their Fell pony friend and Vic's horse Ted who moved in with them last weekend.
It was quite funny today as when I got to the field to bring them in I caught them just about to make a break for it.They were both in the stream which runs between their field and one of the other fields,I shouted of them which stopped them in their tracks Polo leapt out and cantered over to me luckily Ali followed Polo and not the Fell who continued up the river into the other field!
Need to strip that bit off tomorrow.

Hoping for a gentle hack tomorrow,well thats the plan.

Falling to pieces

2009-03-14T20:31:00.003Z

Ouch im stiff today and think im getting a cold {yuck}.

Had a lesson yesterday with the instructor who was opposite my old yard.It actually wasnt bad I was dreading it a bit as we've not had one for ages but things werent horrendous at all,although im feeling it today.
D had us doing lots of flexing to get him bending around my inside leg, he tends to set his neck or curl in rather than flex at the poll.Spent time sharpening his responses up and getting him forward he did object a couple of times a did a couple of bucks D said to continue to ride him forward and flex him that basically he's objecting cos its hard work.
Over all I was pretty pleased,he softened much quicker than I thought he would and we had some nice moment,Vic watched bits of it and she said she saw some nice work at times.

Today I gave him a gentle lunge today to loosen up thinking he might be feeling as stiff as me although in honestly he looked pretty fresh.
Polo had a brisk walk-out in hand.

Tomorrow im stripping their field off as he's starting to put weight on, obviously the grass is coming through!

Through the week we had a day playing with the poles which he's not done for ages he was really good and bounced his way through them its a fab way to get him to really use his backend.
Also had a hack,he was by himself so bit nappy and did a bouncy buck when I first asked him to trot but once he got going he was fine if not particularly forward.

Buster had his photo taken a few weeks ago at a show which I like so I bought a copy,here it is....
Didnt attempt one with Ted as I knew he wouldnt standstill hopefully when he gets a bit experience i'll get his done.

Groan...

2009-03-07T21:22:00.002Z

not a great day in the school with the 'G man' as soon as I sat on him I knew he was in grind to a halt at every opportunity mode so I should have gone for a little hack but he was so good in the school last time I went in anyway. His Fell pony friend was in there too who seemed to be in the same mode,maybe they'd been partying hard through the night?
Anyway the lateral work okay but not as good as last time,I tried playing about in trot half halt and gather him up in corners and short side of the school and open and forward down the longsides-tried being the operative word!
He argued about going forward at every opportunity and bucked a couple of times when I had the cheek to ask strongly (not in Polo's league matey!).I asked for a few canter transitions..horrible and a few more bucks cos I would accept him bouncing up and down like a rocking horse rather than going forward{sigh} hack tomorrow see if he's better then.
Im desperate for a lesson will definitely contact the instructor from my old yard see if she'll travel.

I took Polo in the school and had another crack at the rope circling,he was a sharp as ever, picked up exactly what it was all about instantly and wanted to trot round when I only wanted walk, he's the most incredibly sensitive and reactive horse.
He looked sound then off then sound then off but as we played he looked sounder,
maybe the herbs are working?!?!

I lunged Ali yesterday using the whole school and he was pretty good,we were just playing about really .

Forgot to say we went for a long hack on Wednesday,another new hack, Ali was really good although didnt like passing a smelly farmyard that had lots of noisy cows.He was mortified when it started to hail stone half way around and was tossing his head in disgust we had a few good trots and canters in the dash to get home. Mmmm maybe we just need bad weather to get him forward:)))

Dogs are all stripped now,I did Ted last week and made a start on Mouse. Ive never seen a dog react like Ted he positively loved it and was flat on his back while I did his tum.The others dont mind it but all have areas they dont like so much Buster is good all over but didnt like his shoulders done the first time,Minx is good everywhere but doesnt like her legs being done,Mouse doesnt like her tummy done.I finished Mouse off last night,well she has a bit on her tum still to got but I do that a little at a time,Minx got a tidy up as she had a bit of a mane,Ted a good brush through with the stripping blade and I tidied Buster up.
Im a bit cross with myself as his coat didnt look great for Crufts, his neck and shoulders arent through properly so it all looked a bit uneven but I was scared of making it worse so left it.Last night I pulled out all the long bit that were sticking out over his back and thighs and he looks fab now,still short on coat but its even and looks much better-typical!

Phewwwwww

2009-03-05T22:22:00.002Z

Just got home so quick Crufts news.
Well a day of highs and lows pretty much sums it up.This will probably sound weird but driving down this morning I had a feeling something bad was going to happen,I was paranoid the car was going to breakdown,Buster was going to take bad or *something*.The *something* didnt take long to rear its head but it wasnt aimed at us.
We'd literally arrived at our benching area and were putting the cage up etc when I saw an old man crash to the floor,it seemed to happen in slow motion as I watched,he simply went over backwards banging his head on the floor with the worst crack ive ever heard in my life.
A few of us rushed over, he was taking big gasps of air so we got him into the recovery position while shouting to get a doctor and ambulance.Seemed like forever until an on-site nurse arrived with emergency first aid kit,I could see he'd stopped breathing so told her, she proceeded to faffed on with an oxygen tank until another lady who was helping took charge and said he needs CPR and defibrillator NOW.
Another nurse who was just out for the day came and between the two ladies and another man giving CPR and a couple of us getting the defibrillator sorted we muddled through until the paramedics arrived who whisked him off like lightning.
His little old wife was standing through all this then got taken to hospital.
Well after this I have no idea what happened when for a while,I know I'd not give Buster his tablet when I arrived as i'd originally planned so ended up giving him it not long before his class.I cant remember if the old lady came back before or after we'd been in the ring but when I spoke to her,she was with Crufts staff and her husband had died.
What a horrible thing to have happened it was all we could think about all day,I kept hearing the crack.At the time I thought he'd gotten his leg caught on his cages but afterwards I reckon he'd had a heartattack and was probably gone before the paramedics arrived.The lady had no one with her and seemed completely dazed but obviously wanted to stay while the staff tried to contact her son and arrange her transport home as her husband was the driver.We kept an eye to make sure she was with someone all the time and incredibly she took her old dog into its class and won,apparently they'd shown and bred for many many years so im sure this was her way of handling the situation or doing it for her husband.
Anyway we did our class Buster didnt get anything my mind was not there and to be honest I dont think he'd have ever placed him anyway as he was going for much smaller dogs throughout the day and with a fair bit of coat,which Buster doesnt have because i'd had to strip him late with his illness!
Afterwards Peter said although he thought Buster looked great he seemed a bit flatter than his usually OTT self,im pretty certain it was because he got his tablet not long before we went in the class as one of the side effects is drowsiness.
I wasnt expecting anything anyway just getting there is an achievement and Peter said to have him looking half as well as he does and well him just being alive is not bad going.It did all seem pretty unimportant after what had happened anyway.

The high..well it wasnt mine but figure I can claim a little bit of it as it was Peter's glory and he's the one who's introduced me to showing so I was as pleased as punch when his little bitch pup not only got a first but then got best puppy of breed which is a fantastic achievement for him.

Im off for a bath and to sleep for 20hours....

Wish us luck!

2009-03-04T20:41:00.002Z

We are off to Crufts in the morning! Leaving at 3.30am{yikes!} so im in bed trying to sleep- interpreted as using my phone to go on the internet.
Im not looking forward to 3.30or the drive but excited to be going particularly with Buster's illness!
I'd would be a miracle to get placed but wish us luck anyway..got to try &get some sleep now.

Good day allround!

2009-02-28T19:07:00.002Z

Great weather,ground is drying up and had fun with the boys.

I am a dunce though!When I first had lessons with Polo the key to getting him working calmly and sensibly was lateral work, now I do 'some' lateral work with Ali but think ive been so wrapped up in getting him forward and off my leg ive kind of been going through the motions with everything else.Today I spent ages in walk playing about, turn on the forehand,leg yield,shoulder in etc and he felt as responsive to my aids as he's ever been.I could really feel him lift and was truly carrying himself at times.Worked on some laterals in trot which he made a good stab at then a few circuits in canter on each rein ,he was getting tired at this point but we got a couple of really departs so I was pleased.

I also Polo into the school and braved some rope circling with Polo,Richard Maxwell style. Now Polo is an absolute nightmare to lunge or long rein he just wont go away from me unless im forceful then explodes when im forceful so its something ive not bothered with too much cos its always been more hassle than it was worth. Today I thought i'd give the rope circling a crack and im shocked but he was actually very good!
Seems like Ali's my school master, because he's so forgiving when I make mistakes and stays calm when I clearly dont know what im doing its allowed my timing and skill to improve and this transfered to working with Polo.
Polo is quick to pick anything up,both good and bad,and cottoned on immediately to the idea I had to be very subtle and still he bounced into trot most times.I wanted to keep him at walk as he is starting to look sounder and I dont want to put the spanner in the works but it took some doing.Seeing him working even just for a little while makes me miss riding him and his extraordinary movement.

Ive decided to go hunting next winter,some of people from the yard went today and it sounded like such good fun.YO had gone too, when wife came back (she gone on foot as there wasnt enough room on the wagon) said she's definitely going to take one of her neds to a few of the local meets next winter as some of them will be within riding home distance.It sounds like such good fun and I reckon Ali is the perfect horse to take and have a great day out on.

Dentist day.

2009-02-25T19:44:00.002Z

Both had their teeth done today.Despite noting that dentist was due several times over the past few weeks I still managed to forget this week and only realised this morning when I looked at my phone diary.After initially getting in a bit of a tizz when the penny dropped then remembering he didnt know i'd moved the neds and not being able to get a hold of dentist it all got sorted and I met him and on the road to show him the way to the new yard.
The over all opinion was they were in pretty good shape orally,Polo needed minimal work which is great,Ali a little more basically due to his age/new teeth erupting.Polo was much improved this time as he's always battled a bit since the work he had done at the vet school Ali just fidgits but nothing bad,dentist noticed Ali's chest has widened and how much he's filled out he was very complimentary about him.
I had intended on having a quick ride before he arrived but Ted put the spanner in the works by getting his head wedged under the stable door!Caused a fair bit of panic between us all for a while as we couldnt get his head out,in the end we lifted the door up a bit using a shovel while YO climbed over into the stable and wiggled him out.{sigh}

Show report but no lesson!

2009-02-23T23:32:00.002Z

The lesson didnt happen instructor had to cancel which was disappointing,im going to contact the instructor I was using at my old yard see if she's prepared to travel to the new yard its not far so fingers crossed she will.

The show was a good day out on Saturday,Ted got a 2nd and 3rd which I was pretty stunned about considering he was totally wild,wouldnt stand even for a minute,tried to say hello to all the people ringside and actually sumersaulted over when walked up to the judge at one point!
I didnt get anywhere with the others,wasnt surprised with Mouse as her coat is finished and it was a huge class or Minx for the same reason but I reckon Buster deserved a place in his class..hey ho thats the way it goes.
Peter was relieved to see him and looking so well, he said he'd feared the worst when I was keeping him up to date during Busters illness, he got lots of nice comments around the ringside as usual:)
Crufts next week im just delighted he's well and I can take him and show him off
he really is a special boy.

Ali has been a star man again last week its going to make for boring reading:)
My mate,Vic, came and played in the school with us to help work on getting Ali forward,he's doing great on the longlines and improving on the hacks so the next step is to get him more forward in the school under saddle.
I rode and asked for lots of transitions as soon as I could feel him dying off in the pace or not responding promptly when asked to move up into trot etc Vic basically shooshed him from behind with a lunge whip.He made a few spectacular leaps forward until he got the idea but once he cottoned on he was travelling much better and carrying himself rather nicely with very subtle aids exactly what I want,he really lifted his shoulders when making the transitions up into trot which felt absolutely brilliant!
We also did this on the longlines Friday (I think).He did have me skiing a couple of times when 'shooshed' as for some reason he reacts far more with a lunge whip when working from the ground this resulted in some spectacular passage Vic was taken aback at how well he *can* move when he gets his butt into gear!
Sunday we had a fab hack with Vic out longlining her mare.We took them on a new route up onto the roads looping round through the woods and river and back through the fields.They both seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves on their adventure.We were both faffing about trying to take and pose for pics then had a giggle when we realised we'd both totally forgotten about the minor detail that we were out on basically a baby and an unbacked mare on longlines in an unfamiliar place:))
Trimmed both their feet and lunged Ali today nothing demanding just in his halter and playing about for a bit of exercise.

Polo's had a couple of foot soaks this week and two walks out inhand.I hope im not speaking too soon but he seemed full of beans yesterday and I seriously couldnt keep up with him he was striding out so well.I had to keep jogging and friction burnt the soles of my feet by the time we got back to the yard.Fingers crossed he's feeling better and on the mend!

and another week goes by..

2009-02-17T20:30:00.002Z

Ive had to switch shifts this week at work as we have no students in so im on days this week basically doing nothing! I wasnt told about any of this when I transfered from school so think its hugely unfair to be expected to totally work a different shift pattern,they'd not expect anybody working days to switch onto nights for a week several times a year..not even sure its legal!?!? I really need to get this sorted but didnt want to rock the boat until I got the days off I needed for Crufts haha.

The weather's been pretty bad all last week snowing then icy so the ground hasnt been good for much of the time plus the school has been frozen so we could do a great deal.
I longlined Ali in one of the top fields as this had the best ground,the field is opposite their field so when Ali's pony buddy saw him and started to gallop around shouting Ali got a tad excited to say the least.From the moment I said 'trot' he pinged into canter and well pretty much stayed like that for the 20mins we were in the field,purely his choice he kept boinging away and even had a few bucks.I didnt attempt to turn it into a training session and let him go for it thinking 'well ive wanted forward':) plus it was good for his waistline,he was rather hot and sweaty time he was finished.
He's had two long hacks Friday and Sunday and was a very good boy.Sunday we went out with another livery along a totally different route he seemed to thoroughly enjoy exploring although wasnt amused at having to ride along a muddy track on the way home and gave the other girl a good laugh as he took off into canter as if he'd figured blasting through would get it over with quicker,he really doesnt like mud!

Yesterday he had his second flu jab,because I was at work my friend saw to him for me,when I texted her to ask if he'd been okay her reply was 'yes he was so stressed about it all he couldnt even be bothered to stand up so he had it lying down in the field' I could just picture it too!:))))Slight difference from Polo and his needle phobia:0

Polo's been walked out inhand a couple of times and had a foot soak for his thrush!

*should* be having a lesson tomorrow yikes.........

Trying to give me a heart attack!?!

2009-02-07T20:51:00.009Z

This is getting beyond a joke why is it my animals are determind to give me heart failure..not the large half a ton variety I might add!
As my usual routine I arrived at the yard and set off across the fields with the dogs for their walk.Got into the second field walked half way up the field when I realised I only had Ted and Mouse no sign of Minx or Buster,they often run the outskirts of the field hunting the hedgerows but after calling and whistling I realised they were nowhere in sight!
I headed back down the field continuing to call for them after a couple of minutes I saw Buster's backside reversing out of the ground as he appeared his coat flipped over his head.Im not totally soft I only put their coats on when its wet as the have to sit in the car while im doing horses so I dont want them to get chilled.Anyway I ran and grabbed him and saw he'd come out of a badger hole.I deliberately avoid the middle bit of the field where all the badger sets are as they wanted to go down them when I fisrt stumbled upon them but this hole was situated way off to the left and down from the sets so hadnt noticed it...obviously they had!
I shouted and whistled for Minx down the hole totally flapping at this point thinking how far underground could she have gone? if she stumbles on some badgers they'd killer her....what if her coat get caught and she cant get out.
She was missing at least 10minutes,which felt like hours,but then her bum popped up as she backed out with coat over her head.
My god what a relief my heart was pounding!
I turned and headed for home keeping a close eye on them,they were both itching to go back.Its safe to say those two have the working Border ethic in abundance,I really should pursue the idea of getting them working certificates would be another string to their bow and I could enter them in the working classes,although they are few and far between.

This was when they first discovered the badger sets a few weeks ago..

Ted

Some of the fields we have to ride in at the new yard..pics not taken today I might add!Not bad eh:)
...
Couple at the beach as promised

Meanwhile despite the snow,sleety and icy conditions ive been out on two long hacks with Ali yesterday and today, we've had to stick to the roads and lanes as they've been gritted whereas everywhere else is frozen and icy .AliG has been an absolute star im really pleased with him he's walking out much better to the point im only having to use my legs to ask him to move over,straighten up or on the odd occasion he stops and says "Mum it must be time to turn for home".
Today we went a 'new' way and he was fab led virtually all the way along the main road while my friend longlined her mare,he's taking his 'nanny' role incredibly seriously,although in fairness the mare seems to have the typical Iberian attitude of being scared of nowt:))
He halted and looked at a few round bales in a field along the road but that was it,his walk is longer and swinging most of the time now instead of being short and choppy so im really chuffed to bits with him.
Polo meanwhile has a few hours kip in the stable and munched on some haylage...its a hard life.
Tomorrow im giving Ali the day off as I think he's earned it as he's had two days of long hacks so Polo will get some attention and a walk out inhand.

Oh nearly forgot while leading them down to turn them out Ali stood on the lace of my boots which was poking out the bottom of my chaps.I staggered,nearly fell right infront of him then somehow got a good knee up the butt for good measure.Luckily he realised something was amiss and stopped dead,I did find it pretty funny but I suppose if he'd kept walking and i'd fell I could have easily been stood on as I was right infront of him..another Brownie point for Ali!

Caught out...

2009-02-02T21:20:00.002Z

Yes its been a whole week since ive 'blogged',when ive got time im too tired to think then if ive got energy im too busy to sit down!:)))

Anyway a quick recap,last week I was pretty consistant again and AliG had 'work' of somesort or other most days.I longlined in the school and he was fab again.His responses are much sharper and he'll keep ticking along at the pace set without looking for any excuse to stop, the canter is great!
Rode out with my friend again while she longreined,he alternated between walking out really well to backing off and grinding to a halt.Her mare was a bit wandery and slow too so they may have been influencing each other?
I had a bit of a eventfull longlining session in one of the fields on Saturday,just as I was going in some people from the yard were walking towards us with dogs i'd taken my gang so its was a bit of a flurry of excitement leading to Ali not wanting to stand to shut the gate.Eventually we got that sorted when two groups of riders from the yard came into the field one was YO's hubby so I warned him not to come blasting up behind us as i'd end up mud skiing.Its amazing how many people wouldnt think twice about doing this but on longlines not a good idea.I took him down around the field to let all the riders get out of the way,when we came back up he obviously 'thought' we were doing a small loop and then heading for home so wasnt impressed at the idea of continuing into the field.He spun round which cause one of the lines to flip over his back then continued to spin leading to the line wrapping around his neck I let go a ran and grabbed him up near the bit then untangled the mess!Soon as he realised we were heading that way again he objected and tried to spin and take off so I set him off on a circle and lunge him in trot and canter for around 10mins then set off in the bogey direction.I think he'd gotten the message at this point and gave in then was fine longlining around the perimeter of the field.

Yesterday I took the dogs to the beach in the morning but hadnt really wrapped up well enough and got totally chilled to the bone so only fed and haylaged them.
Ive still got lots of pics to put on the computer as soon as I get time.

Today we have had HEAVY snow showers, I managed to get to the farm which is 'fun' with my skid at any excuse estate car.They looked quite happy when I arrived I had to hike all the way to the top corner of the field to get them when usually I shout and they come running!I lunged Ali in the school which was fun as there was a lovely soft snowy footing he seemed to enjoy it as he was very forward and bouncy.
More snow on the way tonight, so they say...........

Wow!

2009-01-26T22:28:00.002Z

Hacked AliG out with my friend yesterday and today.She's in the process of doing groundwork and longlining with her unbacked mare and is now at the stage of venturing out and about and you guessed it Ali is the chosen 'sensible' companion for her!:)
Today he was walking out wonderfully, really striding out, I dont think I had to push him on other that when we stopped for cars and he half heartedly asked to turn for home but then got straight back into his stride.It felt like a 'proper' horse walk if that makes sense now it could be a fluke but i'd like to think not and the longlining is working:0
How many four&a half year olds would take on the role of nannying so fabulously,think he's earned the day off tomorrow.
Ive bought him a turnout hood as his mane is being rubbed away with the rugs and he needs a loving flowing mane if we are going to do the show in August,my friend's OH reckons he looks like batman will have to get pics he looks cute but embarrassed;))
Polo had another foot soak today as he has a bit of thrush, hardly surprisingly with all this mud, its the giggle of the yard that he'll stand quietly with two feet at a time soaking in buckets of borax.

Tomorrow ive got some sorting to do of my storage area ive been given a few pallets to get everything up off the ground,its now known as Aladdins cave as I have soooo much 'stuff'.

Walking and more walking

2009-01-24T22:25:00.003Z

Ive put some miles in today!
This morning I met my friend at the beach,the one who has Busters brother and the little dog pup,we walked from one end of the beach to the other then back we were out for two hours.The dogs had a blast at first the little pup was a bit nervous until the penny dropped to who they all were then he and Ted had a great time playing,he remembered me straight away and went crazy.Its lovely to see them again:)

When I eventually got to the yard I took Polo for a walk inhand with the dogs(they are crashed out now hardly surprising!) he was as good as gold and seemed to enjoy getting out. He's looking a lot sounder but im not going to push him at all, hopefully if I just take my time now he'll be right for the summer then i'll have both my boys to ride:)
I then took Ali back in the school on the longlines.SUCCESS again he was brill no slapping of boots required!It transfered when I asked for canter too he was more forward than he's even been in the school,ended feeling very satisfied.
Dont know about the animals but I know im getting fitter I can just walk and walk at the minute without getting tired..although I am now so off to bed for me.....

Friday..my favorite day of the week.

2009-01-23T18:12:00.002Z

Im cream crackered but can work through it when its Friday:)
Wednesday I worked AliG on the longlines.After pondering on Jeans comment the other day about getting an instantaneous response I realised this hasnt been happening more ask then ask again then get response so I spent 20mins going from walk to trot and back again totally mixing it up ,anything from one stride walk straight into trot to 3/5/10strides then the same in trot.When he didnt respond I wacked my boot and ground with the line and jumped up and down so he was leaping into trot, by the end a quiet and calm "aannnd trot" got the desired reaction.
Today I repeated this for 5mins in the school then longlined him out for a 15minute hack up the road and back he was very good,I reckon this is the way to go for now thanks Jean for reminding me about the basics!:))

Buster has been absolutely brilliant this week totally different from my last post about him,his glands have gone completely down on his neck which is the first time since he's been ill ,the meds have obviously fully kicked in now so im over the moon.
Had them all down to the beach twice this week which is Ted's first time, they've had a whale of a time.Ive been concerned Ted has lacked much of the socialization i'd like at this stage due to Buster being ill but to be honest he's an extremely well behaved pup, recalls instantly, been fully housetrained for months etc.Ive been watching a lot of the Dog Whisperer on the Discovery channel and have made some slight changes to how i'd normal deal with a pup....plus the others.
Nothing major im just being more consistant and getting in there much quicker to correct any undesirable behaviour and doing far more walking on the lead than i'd usually do rather than letting them run free for much of the time.
I know some people dont like Cesar Milan but his common sense/no nonsense approach appeals to my nature.Im very conscious four dogs is a pack and can easily set each other off into trouble and excitement.Anyway the dogs ALL seem more settled and Ted so far has been the easiest pup weve ever had.

Muriel ive got some pics to put up over the weekend of the new yard and dogs at the beach:)
Yes Claire its the one a gloucester lodge.

Cold,wet and windy!

2009-01-19T22:22:00.002Z

Thats our weather today pretty horrible:(
Saturday I rode Ali out with my friend who was longlining her unbacked mare.He was no bother but still very slow going out and walking out coming home im starting to feel rather frustrated with this ,im not the most patient of people and am so used to Polo who strides out on a mission!
Yesterday I rode Ali in the school and it was worse he was falling out on the right rein and falling in on the left rein and backing off as soon as we got near the gate of the school.I tried to do a little bit of lateral work to get him listening to my aids,leg yield was okay, turn on the forehand just point blank refused to move his butt at all one step would have been great but would he heck.I could feel my temper rising so after I got a step forward and a slight movement over so gave up at that.
Im feeling really frustrated with him which is probably being a bit hard on him.I tend to forget how young he is as he appears to take everything in his stride but the yard move is very recent and he's bound to be unsettled.
So for now im going to limit my time in the school to working him inhand and on the longlines only,he seems to enjoy it and I know I do,im hoping to have a lesson in a few weeks which hopefully should kick start us back on the right track!

I am thinking about having a couple of weeks break soon anyway the weather is awful at the minute and only going to get worse and it seems pointless freezing my backside off when ive got the whole of the summer to enjoy the horses when(hopefully) the weather's lovely.

Ali had his jabs today,unfortunately when he had his initial jabs (in Spain)the 3rd vacc was outside the time so ive got to start his jabs all again.
There's a show 'up here' in August which has some Iberian classes which is pretty incredibly im hoping to take him so figure nows the time to get the jabs started again.Its maddening really as he's covered but due to rules and regulations he now has to have another jab in a month then again in 6months,I hate the idea of giving vaccinations for the sake of it!

Busy but satisfying day

2009-01-16T23:02:00.003Z

Its been a busy one finished work at 9.30am after doing a maths course at 8am{ouch}Despite me working on the care side because we are a college and are 24hour curriculum we all have to keep up to date with our numeracy and literacy (ha thats a good one for me!).Im also doing a short teaching course one night a week (enforced) and have to do a micro teach next week and as usual ive done nothing in preparation gulp!Ive passed my numeracy so just the maths to get through now.

Headed straight to the shops unpacked that then cleaned my house,Ted had been playing in the drinking water bowl so my kitchen floor was flooded!
I then went for dog food,logs for my fire,dropped Buster with my mum and collected my Christmas pressie from her,she hadnt got me anything with being ill but this week has been getting out and about a bit.Its a steam station iron.....cant decide if getting an iron for a present is really sad or a good thing?
Buster has lost his nail but is absolutely fine although he's not had a good day today 'episode' wise and has vomited/regurgitated a few times this afternoon:( Its hard just when I think he's really starting to pick up and get back to normal he has a few bad days...Im so impatient I want him 100% NOW {sigh}.

Had a lovely longlining session with Ali in the school today he was sensible,focused and reasonably forward.
Lots of changes of rein,loops,serpentines,spiraling in and out on a circle.Transitions in walk and trot also some rein back to walk i'd like to get this established on the longlines in walk and trot then undersaddle.
Polo is still lame although refusing to accept the point and keeps galloping down the field to me!
Im trying to not think about it he came right with time before so there's no reason why he shouldnt again, I could try box resting him but he would be climbing the walls after two days so I cant see the point in upsetting him when he's happy in himself just not rideable.
They are being such good boys though, they really do have manners to burn..apart from when they see food or something that Ali can grab and play with :)))

Muriel can you send me the link for your blog again ive lost it somehow from my favorite list(?) and can not find it on blogger search!

Huge relief

2009-01-14T23:18:00.002Z

.he's fine today his dew claw is going to fall off but other than that no limping or obvious soreness.My YO's went up to the house today nobody was about but they'll keep trying.I was having flashbacks all last night about it.
I have my fingers crossed your curse works Jean!

I longreined Ali around some of the fields today doing lots of hills,we'll both be getting fit I tell you,he was wandery and nappy going out but I just kept insisting.Drifting and trying to turn around occasionally was as bad as it got so not challenging in the slightest.
I fenced off the river today although its nice the boys have made other friends the other field they go into has mares and we know what my two are like with the ladies!:) They do have a little fell pony in with them who kept turning up in their field via the river despite the YO trying to put him in the main field,he obviously likes being in with them.

Yuck back to work and had no internet!

2009-01-12T23:13:00.000Z

My boss is ill and had the work laptop at home so NO internet all last week {sheesh}
I collected it on my way in tonight as he still has 'man-flu'
Lots of news and stuff going on so i'll probably forget most of it but i'd better start with the boy who's been the hot topic..well ONLY topic of conversation lately.
Buster has been on the meds nearly two weeks now,he's much much better and gets better as time goes on he still has 'some' bad days although nothing to how ill he has been.I spoke to the vet school last week with the 10day update and the vet is pleased with how things are going I have to ring at the end of the month with a further report then he'll probably have to go for blood tests to check the levels of the phenobarbital in his system.Those results will govern if his meds need to decrease,increase or stay the same.
So ive cautiously sent off his Crufts entry I couldnt wait any longer as the closing date was today if he's not right we wont go but hopefully with all of Jan and Feb on the meds fingers crossed he'll be okay!
Ive not mentioned pups for ages but a brief update is the little pup went to the girl who has Buster's brother just before Christmas apparently they are best mates already and we are planning on getting together at the beach this weekend so cant wait to see him.
I visited the other two pups this weekend and they are doing fab.The little girl is absolutely stunning it was a bit painful actually as I desperately wanted to keep her but she wasnt the best pup at the time and I had to go with my head and Peter's knowledge...this is why I wont put myself through it again!:))
Ted is doing very well, he's a very well behaved chilled type of pup,he's entered for his first show in Feb which is also Buster's practice run for Crufts.

Horsey news at last seems like its turned into doggy blog lately.

Anyway thoughout the recent chaos ive worked AliG pretty regularly.Polo isnt completely sound which im certain is down to tearing around while settling in and the hard ground we've had of late so im not panicking too much..I did have one sit on him in the school and he was extremely stressed,chomping on the bit like crazy,pretty much an explosion waiting to happen which didnt really suprise me I know it'll take him a good while to settle which will show if he has any pressure placed on him. He's had a couple of walks out inhand and been very good although he always is if he can follow me!

AliG has had about 5/6hacks and quite a bit of time in the school.He's a bit nappy and backing off the leg ALOT and threatened a few times to rear/buck although hasnt really followed it through.This has mainly showed up in the last week so I reckon its partly due to a mare being in season who he quite fancies.I thought he'd go backwards for a while so iam planing on doing a bit of longreining again as this worked brilliantly the last time, I do wish he was more off the leg in general though!
He has been very sensible out hacking, apart from being behind the leg on the way out,we've had no spooking or sillyness in that way.

Over all they've both coped far better than i'd imagined they would infact the YO and his wife told me at the weekend they are the best behaved horses on the yard,plus they now have regular horsey visitors crossing the river to join them in their field too so im positive I made the right move now.

The verdict is...

2008-12-30T23:35:00.000Z

its quite a rare form of epilepsy!
One of the vets rang this morning she said all the results from the biopsies have come back clear so they've basically eliminated any physical problem which could cause these symptoms. She said they could do brain scans but that would mean another trip to Edinburgh plus lots more money.
This was one of the possibilites the vet mentioned on the initial consultation after he'd observed &examined Buster...how good was he!!
I did have a feeling he pretty much knew what was going when i picked Bust up as he seemed so convinced it was treatable but until the results were in didnt want to commit.
Ive done a very brief google for 'limbic epilepsy' and it seems spot on plus in the long term there's a good possibility he'l be able to get weaned off the meds,which the vet did mention too.
He's now on Phenobarbetone had his first tablets today and there is most definate small signs of improvement. He's been a bit perkier tonight and is more affectionate than he has been as he'd distanced himself quite alot through all this which was hard to take.
She did say it was pretty fast acting but im delighted with how fast it seems to be kicking in!
The vet school will continue to oversee his treatment from now on but via my vet so I wont have to keep travelling to Edinburgh.
There are obviously side effects to the medication he's on so ideally if he can come off them in 6months that would be great. He's had no quality of life while this has been going on, just last night he was so up &down i'd seriously considered pts so im relieved to have ANY options.
Will have a more thorough google tomorrow...

So im hoping I will have my old boy back in the next few days and i can enjoy whats left of my hols:)

He's home for Christmas!

2008-12-24T23:17:00.000Z

Had another long day on the road today but im happy my boy is home:)

Im just going to type out the sheet the vet gave me of their findings it will be more accurate than me trying to do my own interpretation sorry if this is boring-
////Clinical examination revealed Buster's salivary glands to be enlarged.We have also detected a mild heart murmur(interesting as this has never been detected before vet doesnt think its linked with current illness or anything to worry about)
Blood tests revealed evidence of mild dehydration and one of the parameters relating to his liver was also increased.However,a further blood revealed no evidence of abnormal liver function(this was the test done this morning).
X-rays taken of Buster's chest releaved no evidence of significant abnormality.
Endoscopy of Buster's oesophagus,stomach and upper small intestine.Biopsies have been taken from his stomach and upper small intestine and have been sent for analysis at the lab.
Samples taken from both his salivary glands revealed no evidence of inflammation,cancerous changes or infection.(huge relief there)////

Vet wouldnt confirm a diagnosis until the other lab results are through he said he has 'some' of the symptoms of two conditions, it could be either or both.
But his is confident he'll have a firm diagnosis once these are in and a course of treatment,I get the feeling he's pretty sure what it is but doesnt want to commit himself until the results are in.We should have those by Monday or Tuesday next week.
Vet seemed really pleased and positive so im feeling much happiers and optimistic.
At the momemt the meds are treating his tum its pretty much the same as if he has ulcers!
When he brought Buster out to me vet said there are lots of disappointed people in the back as he's been are huge hit so Buster now has a Scottish branch to his fan club.
I could tell instantly he was much brighter, he's had a few more swallowing episodes when he saw me and when he saw Minx,Mouse and Ted but since he's been home ive not seen any which is brilliant as it was happening every few minutes the last few days.
I cant praise the vet and the University enough they are absolutely brilliant and have been lovely with us both throughout.My bill was at the bottom of the estimate so I managed to pay for it without hammering my credit card...granted it was still nearly £900 {gulp} but he's worth it:)

My mum is still in hospital and will be for the next few days yes Christmas in hospital!
She's on a drip with antibiotics and morphine,she's not allowed to eat or drink either the ultrasound showed she has gall stones,I think they are hoping it all settles down so they can take the gall bladder out at a later date but the doctor hasnt rules taking it out in the meantime.
Visiting is betwen 2and 8pm so we'll all be going down tomorrow afternoon to visit and open pressies!

Huge thankyou to Claire for the offer of driving today I wished there had been more time to take you up on it ive done a LOT of driving in the last two days and needed matchsticks coming home.
Jean thanks for the lovely comment yesterday it helped a lot and obviously worked!

Hope you all have lovely Christmasxxxx

Edinburgh in the morning

2008-12-22T21:00:00.000Z

Had an awful night with him last night he had several 'episodes' he was heavy breathing and doing the swallowing I was convinced I was going to lose him and sat up most of the night.
Took him straight up the vets this morning its the first time the vet has seen him having one of these turns,I mentioned he sounds fluidy on his chest so after examining him he took an xray of his chest with him awake but still cant find anything abnormal.I asked if he had any ideas at all of whats going on he said he's honestly seen nothing like it before!
He chased up Edinburgh who rang me to book an appointment unbeknown to me as my mobile went straight to answer phone and I didnt get a voicemail alert,im furious as I could have had him there this afternoon.I rang the university to find out why they hadnt called and when they said they had I checked my voicemail I had FOUR voicemails that havent come through.Orange is the worst network ive ever been with,I'll ring them soon as im sorted couldnt trust myself to do it today!
So appointment is for 10am will be leaving here about 6.30 in the morning as its a good 2&half hours plus i'll hit morning rush hour up there.

Fingers crossed he has a better night and we get some answers tomorrow AND whatevers going on is treatable!

No change.

2008-12-21T18:47:00.000Z

Sorry to worry you Jean he's just the same:(
Today I noticed the glands in his throat are huge and although whenever he's had his temperature taken at the vets its been normal, today when I had my hand on him he was definately hotter than the other dogs.
Im phoning my vets first thing in the morning to find out whats happening re Edinburgh I just want to get him up there as soon as possible!
Im leaving him with my mum when I have to go to the farm the other dogs need to burn off steam and he cant cope with the slightest bit of excitement or exercise without triggering an attack.

Had two lovely rides on AliG at the new yard.He's been such a good boy we've been through fields,streams and woods and he's taken it all in his stride.Today we had a hack along the lane and despite it blowing a gale he was very sensible although he did get a bit excitable when we headed home and jogged a bit:)

Will keep you posted as soon as I have news...

Im back..ish!Awful news.........

2008-12-16T22:39:00.000Z

Im having a horrendous time at the minute Buster is seriously ill im absolutely terrified im going to lose him.
He's been ill for 2and a bit weeks,started with him being a bit quiet then he had a 'funny turn' when out for a walk he seemed to be struggling to breath and swallow.I rushed him to the vets and he's since had two lots of xrays,an endoscope down his throat,swabs sent away and blood tests everything has come back clear.He's extremely lethargic,has these snorting gasping episodes and over the past few days has been vomiting up a phlemy/mucus.
The one good thing is he's still got his appetite and when he's vomiting its not directly after eating.
Up to now we thought Kennel cough,foreign body 'somewhere?' problems with his laryx,he's been on antibiotics for 10days and anti inflamatory meds but nothing has made a difference.
The vet is totally baffled by it and is contacting the vet school at Edinburgh so im waiting to hear if/when he can go up.
Im so worried about all this I can hardly sleep.......

The poor neds have been moved then pretty much had flying visits from me im exhausted with stress and moving all of their stuff(8car loads and its not all moved!).They had an hour in the field with the herd then we had to move them into a field of their own.It was AliG causing the problems not Polo,he was totally looking after his old mate and wouldnt let any horse near Polo and beating anything up that so much as looked in their direction,to the point of pinning a pony down!
The field they are in is fantastic -huge,no mud,stream running through it,sheltered I couldnt ask for more and thats 'their' field from now on.They are very clingy to me when I arrive running over to me and following my every move bless them .
I feel so guilty as they are baffled by it all then im not spending more than an hour with them but ive got two days left at work then I break up for two weeks then hopefully I wont feel so torn between where I have to be ,to where I want and need to be!
Sorry if this a bit jumbled my mind is all over the places:(

Blogger break

2008-11-28T19:38:00.000Z

Ive decided to take a blog break for a few weeks.
Im not finding a lot of time to get online at the moment so im already being hit and miss with the blog and im feeling guilty for not keeping track of everyone elses news!
There's the upcoming horse move,work being incredibly hectic (also been roped into a course),im not sleeping well again I cant see things improving in the short term so I reckon a break is the way to go.

I will leave you all with my recent news then come back when things are more settled.
Over the past week ive rode both my boys.It was very interesting riding one after another in the school its hard to put into words how completely different they are in just about everyway.AliG is so well balanced and rhythmic he looks good without seeming to put any effort into it,he's comfortable and easy to ride.
Polo is all power but unbelievably sensitive.I cant remember the last time he's been in the school so was Mr Stress Head, lateral work always helps settle him so we did leg yielding,shoulder in,turn on forehand etc all with the slightest of aids.We had a couple of short trots, which is the first time in months and it felt like two strides and I was at the top of the school..i'd almost forgotten how hard he can be to ride:))) ..Oh and he felt totally sound!!!
Its going to be fun having a school I can use whenever I want,wish I could transfer some of Polo's sensitivity and forwardness to AliG and give Polo some of AliG's balance and common sense:))

Okay folks thats all for now i'll be back...................

Decision made!!

2008-11-18T22:07:00.000Z

Well after much consideration and deliberation ive decided....to....................
MOVE!:0

Told new yard owner who is happy to accomodate my million rug boxes,rubber mats,bulk bought feed etc and is also desperately trying to persuade his wife they need a Border terrier pup:)
Told my current YO today she looked a bit shocked and made a few snide comments which I didnt react to I was as nice as I possible could be explaining the school and off road riding were the reasons for going.My friend was with me and she got a bit narked about the digs but I think because ive decided to go they really didnt bother me or get me annoyed in the slightest.
Anyway she has a months notice although i'll probably leave before the month is up.M is gutted and has been asking everyday if ive changed my mind, after the conversation I had with her today I think she's wishing she had come and put her name down for one of the part livery stables.
Jo said her little daughter is inconsolable anmd burst into tears..amazing the impact I had there considering I have no time or patience for kids isnt it!:)))

I had a lovely ride out with the new girl on Sunday her horse is spooky and nervy,didnt bother AliG in the slightest. She did a huge spook going over a wooden bridge then at some logs, he didnt react or feed off her nerves at all we then had a nice canter along the track with him leading.She was amazed at how good he was for a baby,its quite a change for me being on the sensible horse!

Today Ali had a short lunge session then I gave my friend a little riding lesson on you guessed it AliG.She's had a couple of lessons recently, I kept her on the lunge concentrating on her position and getting the feel for the movement' Ali was so good, honestly how many four year olds would you trust to put a complete novice on.She said im a good teacher and it was better than the lessons she'd paid for:)

Will have to start packing up this weekend I have LOTS of stuff!!

Decisions,decisions,decisions....

2008-11-14T18:35:00.000Z

Im in a quandary!
At the beginning of the week I went on a yard hunt,not for me but for a friend who needed to move urgently,we looked at four yards within a few mile radius of where I am now.To cut a long story short I am seriously tempted by the first yard we visited which is also the one friend chose.
We moved her horses there today and I had a good look around particularly at the hacking and its amazing.They have over 160acres,streams,access to ride through ajoining woods and the roads are extremely quiet too.They are taking 10 as part livery with a further 10 grass liveries,I couldnt afford to pay for the part livery but mine only come in for a couple of hours a day anyway so they would be fine living out.The fields are huge,no mud,good fencing with lots of hedges and trees for natural shelter plus they also have a school!
I had a good chat to YO and he said im welcome to put mine in one of his stables if I want to mess on through the day as his will all be out.I mentioned the fact Polo can be riggy and Alig was late cut and he said not to worry I can have them in a field with geldings only or by themselves if they become a problem he's also happy to let me strip graze during the summer if they get to fat.The fabulous hacking and school are a huge draw.
Writing all that makes me wonder why im deliberating so much!:)))
I suppose they are so settle where we are and I hate the idea of moving them for movings sake when im not exactly unhappy where i am...although the YO can make things hard at times.
My main areas of discontenton at our yard are since the two new horses arrived there are 5big horses plus a pony in the field and it simply isnt big enough,it cant be over two acres,its already looking pretty trashed and muddy and doesnt get rested full stop.We poo pick daily because of the over grazing which isnt exactly fun when your up to your ankles in mud plus the time spend doing this I could be riding oh and the fencing is rubbish,its impossible to get the YO fix or maintain anything,no school and the lane is becoming more and more busy with traffic. I know I have permission to use the school over the road but I dont like to go in more than once a week or when other people are riding and its impossible to get in during the school holidays.
The other issue is hardly anyone rides on our yard,I quite enjoy riding on my own but sometimes its nice to have company to go for a long hack plus im more strict with myself if ive made arrangements to meet and ride:))
M has rode El about a dozen times this year,Jo rides maybe once a week,YO does but to be honest her ponys are so slow I might as well be riding by myself plus she's not my 'cup of tea' and run out of conversation after two minutes!
If this move was me moving house i'd jump at it because its not for me but the horses im thinking and dithering MUCH more,Polo does tend to react badly to a move which puts me off but he would have ALiG with him which should help.
I said i'd have a good think and get back to him within a week or so which gives my friend time to settle in a report back to me:)

Horse news ive been a good girl and rode BOTH boys this week plus had great fun in the school with Ali playing with the poles.We've not done this for ages and he was incredibly keen and forward cantering and jumping them when I was trying to get him to trot,most unusual for him but good!
Polo was pretty blumming good considering how long its been since I last rode him,we didnt go far but he seemed happy to be out.

Mmmm not sure if this is good or bad??

2008-11-08T19:29:00.000Z

Firstly im full of cold had a sore throat yesterday which has become a full on seriously congested head cold gradually getting worse as the day went on:(

I nearly didnt go today as i'd not slept well but pleased I did as Buster got two third placing which is ANOTHER Crufts qualifier! Im really chuffed he's qualified four times over this year which is good going as you only qualify with certain classes at Champ shows so bloody good going if I do say so myself.I could tell she liked him, she came and lifted him just before giving her placings Peter said that was her way of saying he would have gotten a higher placing if he'd not been so heavy.I could get him a bit leaner if my OH didnt keep feeding them treats everytime my backs turned grrrr!

Well the puppy news is Peter still thinks the blue,Ted, is the 'boy' but he REALLY likes the other pup too and thinks he could do very well in the ring too so that is making things really difficult!
I know realistically I cant keep two as five dogs is simply too much,plus I couldnt show two as they'd be in the same class so ive got to be tough here.But im not prepared to put him up for sale to just anyone so at the moment im going to hang on wait and see.Peter gets lots of people ringing him for dogs so if he gets the right person wanting to show he'll put them onto me,ideally i'd like someone I know take him.
Never again!!!!

Right im off to have a hot bath and bed my nose is getting the better of me dripping all over the laptop.

Doesnt time fly when your having fun!

2008-11-07T19:40:00.000Z

Barely had online time recently apologies for not keeping up with my blog and everyone else's news.
Last week I was off but caught the decorating bug so was up till early hours of the morning most of the time,my bedroom has been painted from top to bottom and my hallway has nice new wallpaper on it.This week ive been sleeping in a different residence with work and had no internet:0

The weather was pretty horrible most of last week so I didnt do a great deal with the neds,Ali had a couple of hacks and a longlining session in the school.Yes im still going in!:) I havent managed to catch the livery yard owner to find out the facts but ive seen the pony club using it and a few other people from outside having lessons so figured it should be okay unless im told otherwise.The general consensus seems to be,okay well among Jo,M and I,is he's not allowed to hire out the school for money:)
Ive pretty much done nothing this week as its rained most of the time:( Its taken ages to clip AliG his coat is an absolute nightmare so thick soft and fluffy ive done it over 3days and that was only to get a low trace clip!
He's been an absolute star though not batting an eye at me crawling around trying to clip from a million different angles:))

Pup's have had their second vaccination tonight and were microchipped they didnt make a peep though it all,vet said he'd done the other two on Wednesday and they'd screamed the place down!
Tomorrow im off to Scotland for Buster's last show of the year,taking the two pups for more opinions but im pretty certain im keeping the blue dog.Ive called him 'Ted' cos he looks like a teddy bear!:)))Having said that the thought of the other pup going is getting harder to contemplate..NOT that ive advertised him yet!
I cant keep two........I cant keep two......I cant keep two ......I cant keep two......

A rant...

2008-10-25T22:03:00.000+01:00

about my YO!!Now there are lots of good things about my yard one has always been the YO tended to keep her nose out and let us get on with things but lately she's been an absolute witch.
A while ago Ali and Polo managed to reach some of her hay bales they mainly burst a few bales but did eat some (which I didnt want as her hay makes the horses cough) I told her they'd done it and moved the hay so they couldnt reach it.Now firstly they had tons of room at the back for the new cut hay but for some reason stacked it right at the front.Bearing in mind last year her young horse was on restricted grazing in the pen and managed to get at the hay you'd think she'd have realised the horses can get at it and put it further in.Im not excusing them eating it but they did do most of the damage when i'd had to strip them off in a tiny paddock using my tall electric fence posts(mainly got the shorter one's) when she decided to bring her friends mare.
Jo told me she slagged me off about it saying she'd had to pull me about it, i'd not offered to pay for the hay and I wasnt bothered.I had all intention of giving her some money for it even though it could have been avoided by stacking it further back in the first place.I ended up clipping her horse for nothing cos she wouldnt take the money saying "oh dont be silly I dont want it":000

M had sent Ellie away to stud this summer after several attempts at AI she was in foal and came home but on her last scan the vet said there was nothing showing so she'd obviously absorbed the foal recently.M was obviously disappointed but the vet did said its been a really bad year for it and they 'think' the weather affects the hormone levels so he thinks its worth trying next year.YO's son broke his neck to come and see M and say "oh well that was a waste of money wasnt it" cheeky little so and so!But he repeats his mother so we could just imagine what she'd been saying to all insundry when she found out.
This is the woman who paid £2000 for a Welsh section foal that was lame when she went to see it and has the most crooked legs you could ever see and has been lame ever since!

A few weeks ago she was complaining to M she has to have a stable for Jo's pony even though Jo doesnt pay her for it.The farm actually belongs to YO's hubbys father who is old and found it too much to manage anyway Jo has known the family for years and pays her livery to the old man rather than our YO..this obviously rankles her hugely.Plus the 'stable' as a tiny old pig pen that isnt high enough for anything over 12hands AND he's only actually had two nights in it when we had the floods!

She's excelled herself today with her comments to M though.
It has always got her back up that we use the arena over the road as she hates the guy who owns the livery yard.He's done nothing to her she is just absolutely eaten up with jealousy because she had wanted to buy one of the fields next to the farm but he bought them all and open the livery yard.
She has put objection in after objection to the plans so was furious they went ahead apparently there have been complaints about the traffic and horse boxes on the lane (mm wonder who from) so now the arena is only allowed to be used by people who are actually based on his yard ..well this is what she told M. He never charges rental for the school and is pretty generous letting different people use the school including the kids pony club so thats all got to stop despite the fact they used to have the pony club at the top of the same lane but in a field.
Anyway M said she was positively gleeful in telling her we wouldnt be able to use the school,what an absolute cow.
Im not taking any notice as yet until ive spoken to the livery yard owner as far as im concerned I dont drive up the lane to use the school but to get to our farm and he doesnt charge anything for me going in so can anyone stop and 'friend' from using their facilities?
Im livid can you tell.The thing that gets me the most is she's complaining about the traffic, disturbance and how things arent done legitimately yet when the new girl moves onto our yard she will have 7 horses there on livery (not including her own) with 5 people coming to and fro plus they have a garage work shop on the farm,none of which is declared, PLUS her OH doesnt work but has lots of 'fiddle' jobs on the go!
The upshot of this all is im seriously considering moving the horses.I dont really want to cos the yard is close to home lots of off road riding and I can winter them out but if I cant use the arena I cant have lessons, I cant school my young horse plus im up to my back teeth of this woman at the minute.
Im not rushing in im going to have a think and see if things settle down but will put the feelers out to see whats out there.Im obviously restricted in that I cant been somewhere that does a lot of roadwork for Polo (not that i'd want to be anyway)
plus i'd be better with a field to myself due to the horny natures of my two:))

Sorry its soooo long but I just cant see why anyone has to be so bloody horrible all the time it makes me mad!

Ps No horsey news as its been blowing a gale all day haha!

Travel sickness.

2008-10-23T19:47:00.000+01:00

Both the little fella's have terrible travel sickness I took them for a little run out a few days ago and i'd barely got to the end of the street and they were puking..lovely!It has to be hereditary Mouse was really bad for the first 6months my friends have reported the other two pups are the same,Minx has always been great as were her pups,:0
For the past few days ive been putting them in the car for short spells with the engine running feeding them ginger snap biscuits,ginger is meant to be good for sickness and it seemed to help Mouse so worth a try.

My shifts have been all over the place this week doing two days and one 'normal' night so ive not done too much other than a hack with AliG.
Its blowing a gale today so I thought i'd pass just ended up clipping the YO's pony.
My two are still unrugged but think i'll rug Polo this weekend and have a crack a clipping Ali and rugging him he's like a ball of fluff,he's never been done before as far as im aware so will have to see what he makes of it.Im dying to see what colour he'll be underneath:)

Not sure if I mentioned it but Minx is helping to bump up my vet bill again.She hurt her paw last weekend,not sure if she caught it on something or Ellie stood on her?Anyway she had a deep cut on her pad plus the vet said she may well have broken toe as it was extremely sore but because the course of action would be the same there was no point xraying.My mum and brother took her up for a dressing change yesterday while I was at work, by all accounts its looking good im taking her for a dressing change tomorrow and have booked the 'boys' in for their first injections.

Im off work now for a week and a half..hurray:)))))))))))))))

Then there was two:(

2008-10-18T20:50:00.000+01:00

The've been gone a couple of hours and its remarkable how empty the house seems,im sad but a bit relieved too as they were becoming a handfull.
I'll make you wait at little to see who stayed cos im feeling cruel!:)

Horse news ive gone from one extreme to the other and Ali's had 4hacks this week nothing really to report as he was a good boy.He still had a ears back moment at that 'bogey' spot yesterday but with firm forward riding he hasnt done anything other than pin them for a few strides then they pop up then pin again.Still cant work out why he does it 'there'(hasnt done it anywhere else for months) but it lasted a minute tops then he was fine...strange.
Today I received a phonecall from YO to say when M had arrived at the yard this morning she found AliG charging around the yard snorting.
Well I now know for certain Ali has a decent jump in him for some reason he'd jumped the five bar gate out of the pen! At first I thought he'd done it to get to Ellie as yesterday he'd shown a bit of interest in her when she was in season but if that was the case he'd have gone round to her stable not run around the yard like a headless chicken.So I reckon he'd gone to the gate to wait, they know what time they come in so hang about around then something spooked him and he leapt the gate M said Polo was very wound up too.
I have to say im impressed its a big gate going uphill and the pens pretty small so he couldnt have gotten a run at it..Caroline fancy an Andy eventer?:))

Okay i'll put you out of your misery my cute girl and the large light dog........... went tonight:(((
Peter surprised me I was convinced he'd go for the blue dog and the large dog.He had a good look at them and watched them move then popped two in the box and said these are the two I think are the best he picked the blue dog which wasnt a surprise but he also loved the smaller dog.
His thought on the blue dog were he potentially has as good a head as Buster(high praise)he has tight smallish feet so he doesnt think he'll be as big as Buster which is good and he liked the way he moves.
The smaller pup is very different but Peter thought he had nice lines when he moved,loved his rich colour and think's his head is extremely good although different from the blue dog.
Basically he said if he had to pick a dog to take home today he'd take the blue as he's pretty certain he's the 'one' but if I can hang onto them both a bit longer he'll get the lady who showed him the ropes to take a look too.
Luckily we've got a show in two weeks in Scotland so the pups can have a trip out in the car and they can take a look then.
I'd put a advert up in Farmway at Hexham last weekend but havent advertised anywhere else so unless I get interest from there i'll wait a couple of weeks.
Peter was full of praise for the condition of them all he said I make an excellent job of it as Minx's pups were the same.I reckon looking after the mummys is the secret plus the steak, chicken,sausages and scrambled eggs Mouse had when she wouldnt eat probably didnt hurt:))
He said again he thought I should move Buster up into the next classes because Buster is such a mature well developed dog for his age this is something we'd discussed a while back.I kind of wanted him to have the allowances which are given in the younger classes but to be honest he's so brilliant in the ring he probably doesnt need it.
Anyway ive now got five dogs on the settee with me,im the one hanging off the end!

Holidays are coming...

2008-10-14T21:42:00.000+01:00

and its a good job im so busy at the minute.Break up on Friday,well sort of.Im going to be working one night as its assessment week for new students up to now we only have two coming into residence so if it stays like this i'll only have to work one night and im off all of the following week too!:))

I actually rode a few times last week shocking but true:))
Alig had a session in the longreins in the school which he was a good as ever.
I also did a short lunge session then rode last Friday.I was really pleased he hasnt gone backwards despite not having a lot of work under saddle recently it proves the work on the longlines is effective and doing the job.
Yesterday we went out for hack he was very sensible leading past a tractor,he did have a very short spell when he pinned his ears I just rode him firmly and he snapped out of it and was fine for the rest of the time.It does seem like he gets to a point then decides he's done enough but it was more like a token protest and he didnt for one minute feel like he was going to escalate it and go up.We had a fab canter along the verge heading home very bouncy and forward it is a nice feeling to ride a horse that you 'know' isnt going to drop a shoulder and spook.:)

Its decision day for the pups on Saturday breeder is coming down for a show so will come and give me his opinion im pretty certain he'll love the blue dog but half of me is hoping he goes for the girl..she is far too cute and cuddly.
However it would mean disappointing friends who have their heart set on her.Thats the one saving grace here I know where she's going and will be able to see her,still tough though..im so not cut out for this breeding malarky!

Just call me lucky.

2008-10-06T13:58:00.000+01:00

What is it with me at the mintue if there's the possibility of something going wrong it will and is.
My saddle eventually arrived so sent off to ride Ali on Sunday wasnt till I got on the saddle I thought something's missing here..knee rolls! I had a feeling there was something missing when I unpacked the saddle but the penny didnt drop till I sat on it, some are on the way.

Ali was very good on the hack but incredibly lazy he's definitely a horse that needs to be kept semi fit to have any oomph ive never encountered this before certainly not with Polo.
I took Polo for a short hack to see how he was doing its hard to explain but he felt a bit stilted to begin with but then loosened up and felt freer.He was pretty good in that hurried manic way of his after a lay off they realy are like chalk and cheese.Although AliG is more trainable,sane and safe sometimes im not sure if he's for me I find it hard work riding a horse that isnt forward and for all of Polo's hang ups and unpredictability he is very forward.
Hopefully i'll be able to get more time in the saddle and resume our lessons with D it definitely was making a difference but at the minute it wouldnt be fair to expect him to work hard for an hour when he's unfit.

Today i'd planned of longlining AliG in the school but when I got there I noticed he had a swollen hot area on his chest/lower neck area-GREAT!
Not sure if ive mentioned it on the blog but he's had a few of these hot lumps on his bum sporadically over the past few months after a few days it goes back to normal then the hair falls off.I thought after the last time it was the fly spray but ive not used anything lately,they are itchy too.Ive washed it and thickened it in Aloe vera gel, this is what I did to the others lumps,will see what its like tomorrow then decided whether the vet needs to come out.It looked less swollen this afternoon from the morning so hopefully it'l be fine but it might need further exploration if it keeps happening to see whats causing it?!

Show report :)

2008-10-04T21:00:00.000+01:00

It poured down all the way to the show and back luckily it was an indoor venue but it did take much longer to get there than i'd thought because of the wet roads.
Buster got fourth which I was pleased about as I always struggle to get placed at the breed club shows he was very good again, think he really has this showing malarky sussed!
I still find it hard to get my head around how several members of the committee can abandon their particular role to show their dogs,I find it baffling,suprisingly (not) they were all 'well' placed:))
There was a lady who'd judged us a few weeks or so ago showing one of her pups in minor puppy,poor thing was terrified eyes bulging in a total panic meanwhile she was determindly trying to make it stand up which involved holding its backend up by the tail!
I felt really sorry for it and was getting seriously annoyed with her.The pup looked like it had never been anywhere before and had seen nothing,none of my dogs have ever acted like that its always been a case of controlling their boisterousness in the beginning.Not a good example of how to show and handle you dog never mind her being a judge a surely supposed to set and example.

I was much later getting back than i'd thought due to the weather but doubt i'd have entertained doing anything with the boys so they got fed and turned back out.The good news is despite my lack of doing anything with them they are slimming down slowly but surely ive not rugged them up to now and am going to hang on a bit longer yet.

Hopefully ive outwitted the pups by heightening the box tonight this time with wood ........

What next!

2008-10-03T21:19:00.000+01:00

I'll make it quick as I need to go to bed cos ive got a show tomorrow so an early start.
Had get the blumming vet out on Monday as when I got to the farm AliG's eye was completely closed,no idea what he'd done but I didnt want to risk it.
Vet was worried about uveitis,which had been my first thought,as it looked like he'd walloped it on something,pressure building up and a knock can start this off so he had to have two lots of eye drops 4times a day.
Luckily its back to normal and he's fine and dandy.

Ive done bog all with them this week due to the eye...weather(wet/windy/cold)..and pure tiredness on my part,I need to get myself kick started again soon!

Puppies are doing great they are all now escaping from the box my dad made and my attempts to make it higher have been destroyed:0
They've just had their supper and been outside to do their 'business' so hopefully will settle down soon so I can go to bed!!

25hour day?

2008-09-28T20:55:00.000+01:00

Thats what I seem to need right now there arent enough hours in the day and im struggling to fit everything in!
The puppies are more and more demanding I honestly dont think they are far off needing to go and get some one to one attention.However until the breeder has been to see them in a couple of weeks im reluctant to make a decision on who or even if I should keep one its a shame he lives so far away!
Luckily the weather has been lovely so they've been getting out in the back for lots of plays and running around they are hilarious to watch although at times determind to give me a heart attack.Today alone I had to scoop a sweeping brush bristle out of one pups mouth as he obviously been chewing and got one stuck and pick one up who'd fell the two foot from the decking!
My heart is going for the little girl,she's the cuddliest pup ive ever known, but I think two of the dogs are going to be a bit special so I need an objective opinion.

Horse news- Polo looks a tad lame again:( Im sure the original problem was tendon now and because he spent the week galloping around being crazy over the mare I reckon he's niggled it again.Im really cheesed off he was looking brill up to this and I was going to start gently (ahem) hacking him again.
Im going to get Jo to trot him up inhand tomorrow to get a better idea then if that the case rest again, it seemed to be doing the job until the mare threw the spanner in the works!
I turfed out his stable as ive not had time to do it since it was flooded so I scrubbed and lifted the mats hosed it all out and tried to concrete the area that lets the water in,hopefully it'l work although the only way to tell is if it rains and we've had more than our fair share.

Ive done two longreining sessions in the school with AliG this week and went for a hack yesterday.Im pleased to report his behaviour doesnt seem to get affected in the slightest by not being in regular work.He was lovely in the longlines,im not always sure what im doing is correct but it looks good to me and his behaviour is impeccable time and time again.Hacked out with Jo and her daughter on yesterday we just walked as he's not done much lately plus Jo's daughter has lost a bit of confidence after falling off the pony last weekend.He led there and back without putting a foot wrong,although he has is moments I often forget how young his is because he's SO sensible.
This bodes well for the winter as I usually give Polo a month or two off when the weather is really bad and im getting stressed and pushed for time.
Im now saddleless for AliG until the Fhoenix arrives M has taken her's back as she needs it mine 'should' be here this week fingers crossed..good job Ali likes longreining!

I was a terrier/lurcher show today Buster won best over all terrier we got a rather nice trophy too! Minx got a 2nd in her class then I got 2nd for her and Buster in the brace.Dont get me wrong it wasnt a top level show but the judges definitely knew what they were doing so I was pleased as punch.
They also has terrier racing on afterwards so I put Buster and Minx in for a go,they've not done it before, honestly ive never laughed so much in ages they were in an absolutely frenzy!
The dogs get put in a trap like box,there were four in each heat then a fox tail is waved around infront of them to entice them.The tail is attached to a long rope with a pulley type of wheel the person at the wheel starts winding it in and the dogs are released.Buster and Minx needed no practice they were off and running Buster won his heat with his old mum hot on his heels they were barking all the way.I ran to collect them they were bouncing up and down trying to get at the tail with the man at the wheel holding it up as high as he could.
After their heat they were manic every heat sent them loopy screaming and pulling its incredible the strength two small dogs have when they are hyped up.
Buster should have won the final as he was way in the lead but something distracted him for a second and he hesitated so he lost his position,it might have been me walking up to the finish bit with Minx as she was squeeling:))
It was a really fun day out.

Its not my fault this time.

2008-09-21T19:42:00.000+01:00

The delay in show report etc is all Minx's fault!
Ive just got home after having a dramatic few hours involving a mad dash to the vets with Minx.I was at the farm sorting the boys out was all done so called for the dogs to put them in the car Minx came staggering over her head was waving from side to side and he legs were all over the place.
I ran and picked her up and put her on the back seat covering her head with my coat as it looked like a fit of some kind her head was bouncing from side to side and her eyes were rolling around,I also had blood all over my hands from somewhere.After a few minutes she was still the same so I put her on the front seat phoned the vet all while reversing and holding onto Minx by the scruff to stop her from falling off the seat,it was very violent and she was panting heavily!
Im not a panicky person usually and used to work at a vets many moons ago so have seen it all but i'll admit to seriously panicking how I didnt crash I dont know. The surgery is about 25mins away but I think it took me 15 mins.I use the same vet practice that I use for the horses as they still have that country vet feel rather than the money grabbing business of most,but it does have its drawbacks at times like these.
A few minutes out from the vet's she started to come out of it ...huge relief!

The vet gave her a good look over checking her responses,heart,eyes,reflexes and everything seemed to be back to normal,the blood was from a tiny nick on her ear which she probably did thrashing around.
The other thing was she absolutely stunk and had obviously been eating something seriously nasty.The farm was an old pig farm and it still has a huge metal drum that they used to put the slurry in so I reckon its been leaking out,probably with all the rain we've had,and Minx decided to eat some of it-gross eh.
Had good chat about it as Minx has had a couple of these 'turns' in the past ,this was definitely the worst by a mile though.The last time was about two years ago when she was stung by a wasp so Angus reckons she has a low threshold which sends her body into a type of shock.
He decided it would be best to make her vomit to bring it all up so she had some lovely salty water and brought up the most disgusing looking and smelling crap ive ever seen.
I mentioned Buster was with her so after smelling his 'delightful' breath he also had a salty drink and brought up even more of the stuff than Minx!
Mouse must have sighed with relief that she isnt into such disgusting behaviour she did however tuck into my Foxes Mints while left in the car so her breath was lovely:)
Angus said he has to make his Border sick at least once a month for eating things it shouldnt and told me how to make them sick for the future oh the joy of terriers...I may have failed to mention they have this not so pleasant side.
Anyway they are all sitting next to me on the settee after their baths seeming okay.

Back to yesterday if i'd realised how far away was I doubt i'd have gone it was near Blackpool so meant to be 2.5/3hours,took me a bit over two, all the driving of the past few weeks has really worn me out plus im going to get 'done' for speeding if I havent already be caught!:0
He didnt get placed which after talking to Peter (breeder)im not suprised about.The judge prefers smaller fine boned types she definitely wasnt placing 'faces' so thats fair enough as far as im concerned.
It was really funny she was spaning the dogs then lifting them off the table when she did Buster she said to me "oh my he's a heavy boy" I grinned and said its all muscle:)
Peter did very well his puppy dog got placed as did one of his older bitches but his puppy bitch got a first in a huge class beating some big names so that was excellent.
Had a good chat to Peter outside he said I had to get Buster stripped as his coat was finished plus all that excess coat is making him look much bulkier and heavier framed than he is.He reckons because Buster is top end size and already has a correct head nothing needs to be exaggerated with him so I probably wont be able to get away with showing him in 'full jacket' as they call it.
I'd been hanging on incase stripping now would mean it wasnt right for Crufts but as Peter pointed out Crufts is still 6months away (you really do have to think that far in advance) and as we've still got a few Champ shows to go it would be a shame not to show him at his best.
Peter did his head there and then and some of his neck,his undercoat is through so he was obviously ready to be done he gave me some chalk to help grip.
Peter also said he could drop a touch of weight even half a pound could make all the difference,the pics up are from the early shows when he was in puppy classes so he has filled out more since then and is probably carrying more weight.
To be honest I think ive gotten a bit lazy and not been on the ball as I was with the girls probably because he was doing so well without really trying.With the cost and time travelling,entry fees etc its stupid not to put the effort in beforehand to make sure he's at his best so wrist slapped it wont happen again.
I spent ten minutes today stripping him the chalk makes a HUGE difference still have his legs and chest to do he looks very different although I love them with a bit of coat he does look more ready for the ring, will get some posh pant pics up when ive finished him.
I was approached by a couple of different people at the show about him one lady admired him and said how devoted to me he was I had to admit its mostly due to the food in my pocket:)Another guy said he was looking for a Border and Buster was his 'type'. I mentioned I had pups and thought he was going to come back to me after he went back to talk to his wife but I didnt hang around much longer as I wanted to get home for the pups.
Anyway ive probably worn you all out with dog talk:)

I was straight out on the town last night with my friends so havent done much horsewise other than the basics.Thankfully the mare went today and before the Minx saga I managed to extend the boy's paddock so fingers crossed things should be settling down and I can get back to my routines and crack on with them a bit more... famous last words!

Yippy:))

2008-09-19T21:05:00.000+01:00

The horse is going tomorrow so normal service should be resumed soon!
Ive been bringing the boys in overnight as the fence was down again Thursday.
The novelty seems to have died off for Polo anyway he's not looking that interested now and they were both standing waiting at the gate for me this evening,amazing how quickly they slot into a new routine.
I longreined AliG in the school today,I thought that would give me a better idea of his soundness.He was a very good boy again and looked pretty sound so I was pleased.

Im at a show tomorrow so its an early start im not expecting anything as its a lady judge unless she has freakily large hands she wont be able to span Buster which wont help matters.Its a shame he's such a lump as I 'think' he's a good example of the breed otherwise I checked the weight guidelines from the breed standard and he's waaaay over think its was upto 14lbs he's 22lbs and not fat!
Will get some new puppy pics up over the weekend,the little girl is making the idea of not keeping a bitch very difficult she's so cute and has more guts than all the boys put together.

Furious!

2008-09-16T10:10:00.000+01:00

YO casually dropped into conversation on Sat her colleague's wife had bought a horse and it 'might' be coming to our yard on a short term basis until they found something closer to home.It all seemed undecided and vague so you can imagine my suprise to find it at the yard Sunday morning and it was going on the inside of the track ive stripped off for my two.
Now I know its a livery yard and you are at the mercy of YO's but I knew this would cause problems primarily because the horse is a mare and the temptation would be too much.I was polite and chatted to the owners but said I was worried my two would go through the electric fencing and into the middle bit with the mare as the grass is very long.
I arrive Monday morning to find the fence all down and the horse's in together and mine munching on the long grass..I was furious to say the least the YO didnt even ring me to let me know!
Aside from mine being on the lush grass the mare is a failed racehorse, sounds like someone bought it then turns it out to chill out for few weeks then sells them on for a small profit,anyway they dont know its history has it been wormed it could be carrying anything if its gone through sales etc.
Then to top it off Polo's going loopy with the hormones and excitement of it all!
YO knew I was seriously mad,I didnt attempt to hide it.She said she'd put the fence back up so I snapped well there's no point they are just going to go through it again.Ive ended up making a small strip for them using just the tall posts ,I mainly have the short ones, so basically mine are on grazing the size of a postage stamp to make was for a temporary livery,who's there on the cheap cos they wont pay for a stable and when it goes i'll then have to go a clear a field full of poo's!

And breath.......
After i'd sorted all that I managed to take Alig in the school for a quick longrein session and he was excellent.His hormones are obviously gone as he was totally chilled out about it all unlike Polo.
Im going up now hopefully to ride both depending on the rain and whether Polo is safe:))

Ive got some lovely pics of Buster and Minx playing with the pups they are fantastic with them although Buster sometimes get a bit carried away,im sure Mouse is relieved to hand them over for a while.

A few show pics for Muriel

2008-09-14T20:25:00.000+01:00

Mouse at Crufts

Buster strutting his stuff..

The trouble with.........

2008-09-13T18:29:00.000+01:00

puppies and two horses means I dont hardly have any computer time so other that checking up on folks I cant seem to find the time to post.Sorry I will try to do better!:))

To be honest with the floods over last weekend and the continuing rain this week ive done very little horsey stuff. I squeezed in half and hour in the school Tuesday with Ali on the longlines.He was absolutely fabulous the ground work with D and lessons are obviously paying off he was balanced,responsive and forward I couldnt have asked for more really.
Today we had a longish hack with YO did most of it on the main road coming home,I thought I take advantage of the fact we were with her bombproof plod as we've not done too much road work recently..he was fine of course!
The only thing he looked at was when we passed someone in a wheelchair who was kicking off with his carer and lashing out...AliG obviously doesnt realise what mummy does for a living:))
I had a real blitz today I lifted Ali's bedding to let the stable air,tried to do something about the flooding problem in Polo's and then did their feet.

Puppies are doing great they've been out for a run around in the kitchen today.Buster is lovely with them he licks them to death and is so gentle around them Minx is almost too excited around them verging on obsessive so I keep a close eye on her.I dont think she'd hurt them deliberately but i'd rather not risk it, wonder if its something to do with the memory of having pups?she could just be jealous of course!
I went to see my friend today who's Jack Russell had pups few days after mine.She had to hand rear them as the dog was severely anemic what a difference in their development they are very skinny and underdeveloped,about the size mine were at a few days old.

Yesterday I was at a big show in Darlington with Buster he was a really good boy he's totally got the idea of what he has to do.A friend who came with me said how controlled and focused he was at the last few shows which is most unlike him as he's usually OTT he obviously realises its 'show time':).
He got 3rd which I was pleased about the judge clearly liked him a lot he kept coming back to him spanning him over and over again.Buster's a good sized Border and a solid lump of a dog he's probably over the weight guidelines so if anything is going against him its that.
I chatted to an older lady we've gotten to know she said when she judges she gives priority to the head as this is what sets them apart from the other terriers so needs to be retained then movement,she reckons Buster's pretty good on all fronts so she'd not be too concerned about the fact he's well built.So we just need to show under lots of judges like her or ones with big hands:))
Im finding people are starting to notice and chat to us now, its a very close knit sort of community and its taken quite some time but I get the impression many of them like Buster.One lady who has lots of Champs came and gave me some tips on tidying up his coat which was nice,in fairness he is a bit raggy at the moment but im hanging off stripping him until the last few shows are over.
Anyway our run of placings at the big shows continue so he's qualified for Crufts three times over this year which is pretty good going.

On a brighter note.

2008-09-07T19:30:00.000+01:00

Puppy pics follow.

The water levels on the lane have dropped right down but it was still a bit too deep to drive through so I parked up and walked along the verges the rest of the way to the farm.The have been more showers today but also sunny spells I could have actually ridden but hadnt taking my tack as didnt know what to expect.Polo was waiting at the gate from me(think he hears me whistling for the dogs) with AliG right behind him.So they came in for the day to have a break from the mud and have a snooze.

Its very hard to get decent pics as the either wont stay still of when your ready they fall asleep but here are a few I like ..........playing

Lets wreck the joint

Meals on wheels

Cute little girly

This big boy reminds me of Buster

Love this picture

Im needing names for them so I can get them registered.Im absolutely hopeless at thinking up names..I need four show names and 'pet' names any suggestions folks?
Im thinking of Tinkerbell for the girl as she's so dainty and cute could shorten it to Tink or Bell so something to go along with that might be good?
Black and tan pup looks a bit like a panda with his light bits around the eyes so I was thinking of Bear?..doesnt have to be anything related really.
Then there's the Buster clone :) and the chocolatey coloured pup.........its very difficult!
Some names from their bloodlines if that helps...
Brockhole Bubbles at Quatford.Ground Control.Scots Guardsman.Pilling Pepper.Durham REd Clipstone.Bolt from the Blue of Brockhole.Border Mist.Westby Crystal Gem.Sirenside Turbo.Holmstone Freelancer.Petite Pip

Anyone got a boat?

2008-09-06T19:42:00.000+01:00

Its has continued to rain all night and all of today so getting up to see to the horses has proved rather risky.
YO rang this morning to say the bottom of the lane was flooded she'd put my two in their stables and could see to them if I couldnt make it up.It was very nice of her but I knew i'd feel happier if I could get up and sort them myself I text Jo and she said she'd meet me on the lane and we'd see if her jeep could get through which luckily it did!
Polo's stable was flooded along the front as expected so I put a couple of bags of shavings down to soak it up.We mucked out and filled haynets so they were sorted for the day.M then rang to say the stud where Ellie's been staying had phoned her to say they were bringing her back as all their fields were flooded and they needed every spare stable for their own horses.No sooner had I sorted her stable they arrived to drop her off so she was deposited in her stable much to Polo's delight who had a smooch over the wall.
Jobs all done so we set back off now we'd been at the farm about an hour and during that time the flooded road had risen more I had my doubts we'd get through to be honest.We got most of the way along but when we hit the corner and it seemed to go REALLY deep Jo panicked a bit and put her foot down and the jeep sounded pretty iffy and I thought for one moment it was going to tip over the water was that high but we got through.

Tonight M picked me up as she's also got a jeep but we werent expecting things to have gotten so much worse the water was along the lane where i'd parked my car earlier and had been clear apparently it was chest high a the deepest part!
Thankfully our hero,YO from over the road(the one that lets us use his school) was ferrying people back and forwards in his tractor so we waited our turn and got dropped off at the farm gates.
Sorted the horses I put my two out with lots of hay in the shed,I figured they've got shelter and if I cant get there tomorrow YO only has to put hay out for them and they'l be fine,I put Polo's sheet on as he's older but im resolved in being tough with Ali.Our field isnt too bad as its on a hill but the yard below us is one much flatter ground and their fields are now lakes.
Tony then took us back to the car in his tractor...pics of what used to be a road

this is the part that had no water on it when I was there this morning..our lift turing around

couple of kids from the livery yard deciding to wade through it

The view from the back of the tractor

The lane which is most heavily flooded on the left is a field which usually has horses in you can see the water is at the top of the fence

Puppie pics tomorrow as it looks like im going to have alot of time on my hands.

I'll make it quick

2008-09-05T21:56:00.000+01:00

...im just about to give puppies their last feed of the night then go to bed.

Well what can I say its rained all last night and today, HEAVY, its the beginning of September and I had to wear several layers and put the dog's coats on its been that bad ive had to knock my heating low too!
It doesnt seem to be bothering the boys too much I put some hay in the shed for them to eat if they go in for shelter overnight.
AliG has had two hacks this week and a session in the school.
Interestingly he had two small strops on each hack,literally a bit of head tossing and jogging, he responded well to being checked and was foot perfect after that.Anyway he's also been a bit footy over stones recently so what is the interesting bit you ask...well I ran out of magnesium approx two week and thought i'd see how they went without it.It may well be a totally coincidence lets be honest with all the rain i'd not be surprised if that was causing the footiness but it could be the lack of magnesium?Ive ordered some more.

Puppies are doing great, eating for England and taking up much more of my time i'll try and get some updated pics up over the weekend.I warn you they are even cuter:))) speaking of which they're now shouting for their supper............

BooHoo back to the grind stone.:(

2008-08-29T21:31:00.000+01:00

Started back at work this week,full week of training which has felt incredibly long and monotonous so ive not really had the will to do too much else its amazing how boredom can make you feel tired isnt it!
AliG's had two longreing sessions this week basically cos it was quick to do he seemed to enjoyed himself as we've not done much of it recently not alot else to report on this as its pretty straightforward and uneventfull:)
Tonight we had another lesson.D worked him inhand again first and he did really well he'd obviously remembered and studied hard from last week as he picked straight up where we'd left off and just got better.His stride is lengthening and the bend and flexibility in his neck is improving with each session.He's definitely a smart cookie and has figured out very quickly life is so much easier if he tries and works with you.
The negative was he coughed quite a bit and has been over the past two days.Im not particularly worried yet as they've managed to steal some hay from the barn next to their shed!Its the YO's hay which isnt good quality and tends to be dusty (hence why I always buy hay elsewhere)Polo was coughing a few days ago so im sure thats all it is.
Ive moved all of the bales that were within reach so 'hopefully' they shouldnt be able to get anymore and the coughing will clear up.

On the puppy front they are thriving and starting to become proper little dogs with personalities.They are staying awake for longer spells playing and are almost walking.
The large lighter dog is very cheeky and growls a lot,the little girl is very active,feisty and tends to wake them all up!The black pup is pretty chilled out, steady and determind,finally the smaller dog has almost caught the other two boys up and although is probably the quietest he's by no means shy or nervous.

Didnt get a look-in!

2008-08-24T17:12:00.001+01:00

Well the show was eventfull to say the least:0
Had about 3hours sleep but was up and on the road by 6am,arrived in excellent time as there was hardly any traffic on the roads so got my number,catalogue etc and settled ourselves down right on ringside waiting for things to start.
Little while later we heard growls,howling and screams, two dogs were obviously having a fight over the far side of the hall and it was a bad one.There were lots of people trying to seperate the dogs which felt like it took forever,I couldnt face going over to see but eventually they must have gotten them apart.I saw a man covered in blood(his I think!) apparently it was a Staffy and a Afghan hound,both dogs were hurt!:( There were lots of show officials taking statements im not sure what the course of action would be whether the offending dog will get banned/owner have to pay the vet bills?You do see some dogs taking a dislike to each other and having a growl and snap at each other but its the first real fight ive been around at a show it was horrible to hear!

The show got underway and my breed 'mentor' was in the ring first with his puppy dog now I was certain the pup was a sure thing he honestlly,well in my opinion, knocked spots off the other pups so when the judge placed him fifth I leant over to my mum and said "we havent got a chance here."
The lady who got first just happened to be one of the club's secretaries and a few of the other higher placings I recognised as big name breeders/members...I knew it was going to be one of those shows where you can spot the placings by the people without looking at the dogs!
Buster was in the third class which was pretty big,he was an absolute star didnt put a foot wrong but as expected we didnt get placed.
I had a chat with Peter outside the ring he was absolutely fumming he said the dog that won is a very nice dog who's winning up and down the country so if he'd been judging he might have beaten Buster but other than that we should have been in the top two without a doubt.
He said the judge was giving out CC's for the first time and was clearly making sure it wasnt for the last time by giving them to the people that matter.The thing was the dog she placed third was a very different dog from the two she'd placed first and second so if she had a 'type' why then go away from that unless of course the owner just happens to be a judge/breeder and treasurer of one of the clubs........
Peter said it was just going to be one of those shows where you might as well turn up without a dog for all anyone would notice:))
Another lady who we chat to and gives me advice(shes bred and judged for years)came up and said "well where's you red ticket I missed the class?" when I said we got nothing she couldnt believe it.
It's just one of those things, Peter says you have to accept it and keep trying as you do get judges who go on the dog alone or give up!

The next excitement was the firealarms went off so everyone had to troop outside.
I wanted to get back for Mouse and the pups so we had a wander around the shops where I bought some bits and pieces for the dogs and a big sheet of vetbed for the puppies then left.
The final insult was my mum's friend who came for the day took the vetbed to carry but left it outside the car and I drove off without it...what a day!:(

Oh im wrong there was one more disaster I gave Ali a quick lunge in the field when I got back.For speed instead of taking the reins off the bridle I twisted them and looped them through the throatlash.Well didnt he put his head down to steal some grass somehow got his leg through and snap the reins:000

Today we had a great lesson!
D started with some ground work/lunge to see if she could get him to bend I have to say she is very good and he was looking great after a while.
I then got back on with D keeping us on the lunge to help bend and keep him going if I was struggling,we had some spells where he was really flexing and reaching for the contact it was almost like a sweeping motion felt fabulous.His trot was much better too for the first time he felt like a horse and not a pony.
D said because of his breeding there is alot going on at the frontend with lots of high leg action but nothing happening behind so our focus has to be on getting him to track up and be active from behind.
I was really pleased with things at the end as was D, she didnt think we'd be where we were 'at'towards the end quite yet.

...puppies eyes are open today:)

Sooo tired!

2008-08-21T20:52:00.001+01:00

Think ive lost the ability to sleep its always the same when im stressed or unsettled,I was watching the 10km marathon swim at 4am this morning..THATS how bad it was!Actually they are remarkable athletes to swim pretty much flat out for nearly 2hours the poor English lad led all the way but went off course near the end so was pipped for the gold,he had to be rushed off for treatment by the paramedics at the end he was so exhausted and the guy who won the gold had leukemia 5years ago.See im an expert now!:)

The pups are doing great getting bigger by the day and Mouse's appetite has returned at last so she back to eating anything and everything.

The weather hasnt helped me achieve much on the horse front this week but have managed to lunge Ali once,did his rope circling yesterday and had a short hack tonight.It wasnt going to be a short hack but going along one of the tracks which run off the lane I spotted a little rabbit looking rather ill.It had wound on its back legs which were covering in flies and had red myxomatosis type eyes.It didnt look like it had long to live but I couldnt leave it there suffering,the one time when it would have been good to have the dogs to finish it off quickly(athough not sure i'd have liked them to touch it with the state it was in) I phoned YO's hubby and asked him if he'd come along and put it out its misery. Time I waited around for him to come and set off again it was getting on so we just went to the end of the track and back.Ali did react a bit as we passed the field we sometimes longrein through as it heads home ,I gave him a sharp smack and told him to get on. He was a bit unsettled for maybe a dozen strides,tossing his head,jogging but then snapped out of it and settled down so I was pretty pleased.
He was fine the rest of the hack although we didnt go much further, we passed a field with a combine harvester and tractor rattling around in and he didnt bat and eye at it.
Waiting for our Indian takeway to be delivered then im hoping for an early night and SLEEP.

Puppy pics..prepare for a cuteness overload!

2008-08-17T22:16:00.000+01:00

The first two are when they are a day old the last few from today so they are four days.My niece came to see them today,she wanted to kiss and cuddle them all but she was fine when I told her Mouse would get upset so she had a quick hold of one and a pic.

This is the little girl and the large lighter pup

The large dark pup and his smaller brother

Sorry Caroline .....yes we have puppies!

2008-08-15T18:47:00.000+01:00

Just havent had the time to get online had so much going on.

Mouse had the puppies on Wednesday,it wasnt straight forward OBVIOUSLY but im am now the proud granny of three boys and one girl:)
I knew the night before she was on her way as she was so restless and digging in her bed she was clinging to me all morning so I literally spent the day sitting on the floor with her surrounded by towels with a cage set up.The contractions started around 3in the afternoon then she started pushing hard a little before 5,I saw a tiny paw popping out so knew pup was coming backwards which isnt unusual or too troublesome in dogs.Took her a little while to get the pup out I was worrying the bag was burst and it would be struggling for oxygen so I helped with a few little pulls intime with her pushing.A boy and a decent size I hard to really rub and work on him to get him going to start with but along with lots of licking from Mouse he started to gasp for air then breath properly.She had a bit of a rest then the next two came quite close together,girl then boy both much smaller she just popped them out oh forgot to mention this was all happening on my knee sitting on the floor,she was determind to involve me completely!:)
She then had a long rest cuddled up with her babies at first I wasnt too worried as she'd had the two in quick succession but after an hour and still nothing I rang the vet then took her up.I knew there was at least one more as I could easily feel it sticking out her side so the vet scanned her and gave her and injection to stimulate the contractions.The injection was given 45mins to work but still nothing was happening the vet recommended not to hang around as the pup was still alive so she had a cesarean section.I was pretty gutted as she'd done so well having the three but when the pup came out he was a huge black dog so I very much doubt she could have gotten him out.
Once she woke up I headed home armed with powdered milk and bottle kit just incase she wasnt up to feeding them that night,it was 10pm,torrential rain bouncing down and I was panicking cos I didnt have alot of fuel left in the car.The surgery is half and hour away and I didnt want to stop on the way there but luckily we made it home.
Both of us had very little sleep that night as they puppies were pretty noisy and demanding,obviously Mouse wasnt feeling great but she fed them all night if getting a bit stressy at times.
Last night they were much quieter and I got a little bit more sleep.
My only concern it she's not eating a well as i'd like im having to hand feed her little and often she wont touch dog food so has been having scrambled eggs,toast and chicken breasts.She also panting quite alot it might just be she's a bit anxious?She's on antibiotics but is going for a check-up in the morning so i'll mention it all.
Puppies are very active and wriggly its amazing how quickly they can move around the cage,will get some pics up when I get some time!
Anyway I definitely wont be doing this again I cant handle the stress and worrying fingers crossed Buster will continue to do well showing so he can have a bit of stud work much more straight forward.Although his coat is a mess,I have a show next weekend so its too late to strip him and ive done no practicing with him:0

Ive been running up and down to see to neds as I dont want to leave Mouse too long at the minute so they'll be having a few days of doing not very much.Plus both had their teeth dont yesterday and dentist recommended a few days off,particularly AliG as he was working on him for nearly 45mins.Its the first time ive used this guy and I was very impressed he was extremely through and the good thing is if Polo needs more drilling in the future he's completely qualified to do this.He said Ali has a good mouth its just a case he has new teeth erupting etc,he loved him and commented how well he did as he did have to work on him longer than the norm.
Polo obviously fought and although didnt need a great deal done made it take twice as long as should have done!

Quick catch up had a lesson on Sunday and it was MUCH improved AliG did attempt two rears.He's going forward better now but didnt want to do this into a contact I stopped him just before it turned into a full rear and he behaved well afterwards we had some great canter towards to end and for the first time he got into a nice rhythm and didnt feel like he was going to stop at every opportunity.
Had a long hack on Tuesday he didnt put a foot wrong ,got caught in a heavy shower coming home.

Off to eat my cremated dinner that I forgot was in the oven..Mouse is eating better than me!

A waiting game.

2008-08-08T21:34:00.001+01:00

Still no puppies it MUST be soon she looks ready to pop!

Yesterday I longlined Ali in the school its was going to be an opportunity to try the flexion work on the ground but some of the kids from the yard were riding in the field which is right next to the school.They were having a hoolie around galloping up and down the field and over a few jumps it was impossible to do anything sensible with Ali as he was very excited about it all bursting into canter,passage and snorting. I didnt mind he was forward and lathered by the end (his own making) so it turned into a fat burning exercise instead which isnt a bad thing:))

Today I went for a swim in the morning..I did the 40lengths:)
Brother and I then took the dogs down the beach I was going to leave Mouse with my mum but she was determinded not to be left so she came.We didnt walk too far because of Mouse but the others all had good run and swim chasing sticks,Mouse seemed to enjoy the trip out anyway.
This evening I went for a hack on AliG he was a bit slow and looky going out but once he got going he was fine.We had a trot along one of the tracks then a canter coming home up the hill he was pooped at the top but the fitness is steadily improving we were out a good hour and a half..I WILL get some weight off him if it kills me!:))

Lunge,hack,school

2008-08-05T20:31:00.000+01:00

That about sums the past few days up really!:)

A friend came to visit and we went for a little hack along the lane and back,I rode Polo and she rode AliG..well I figured the four year old would be the safer option than the sixteen year old:)))
Polo actually felt pretty good(?) so I dont think the odd short hack will do him any harm but i'll play it by ear.AliG as expected behaved perfectly and led Polo past the barking dogs rattling the fence at the riding school,they spooked him on the way out so he was flapping about having to pass them again no such worries from Ali!
Today I took him in the school and half wish I hadnt,it just wasnt good. I 'think' the problem was the last lesson finished without a clear breakthrough and I couldnt get the feeling establish of what I was aiming for.Today I just HAD to go and TRY to work on things and it just basically wasnt happening,once I know what I should be feeling im usually okay otherwise I struggle.
I was getting frustrated, AliG was setting his neck on the left rein and getting behind the leg again I hope I havent set us back to square one:(
Tomorrow we are going to have a 'fun' longreining session out and about.

Oh and I eventually found time to go swimming it was brill I havent swam for well over 12months, going again Friday,did 34lengths will go for 40 next time.

Picture mad....

2008-08-01T22:42:00.000+01:00

thats me at the minute!
Was working today looking after one of the girls from the college so her parents could go out for a meal for their wedding anniversary so didnt really have time or energy to do much horsey stuff they came in this morning then got put back out tea time WITH muzzles...well for how long they'll stay on!
The dogs needed a good run when I got home so took them all off to the beach with my brother,pics as promised Muriel:)

Pregnant little Mousey

Buster determind to get the stick(tree) from Zak

Minx and Sky both bringing the stick back

There arent any of my mum's other border Crag,he's on the lead tied round my waist cos he's a sod and tries to fight every dog he sees!

Pheww

2008-07-30T20:59:00.000+01:00

Had a lesson tonight and boy it was tough I was lathered by then end.
We were working on getting AliG's neck softer and more flexible, because of his build and thick muscled neck he's rather fixed it in(thats the best way I can describe it).We did lots of flexions alternating to the outside and inside on the left and right rein its was driving me mad cos I just couldnt seem to coordinate my hands and legs tonight.D did lots on the ground alongside us taking the reins to work us both through it we were getting there by the end but I was frustrating myself more than anything else.
Ive arranged one for next week to see if we are any better I think we were both a bit tired from the long hack yesterday i'll make sure I do some gentle work the day before the lesson next week see if this makes a difference.
They are tag teaming each other getting the muzzles off last night Ali kept his on and Polo got his off it was the reverse the day before!

The best ever:)

2008-07-29T21:49:00.000+01:00

AliG excelled himself today went out for a hack with Jo and her littl'in and its was the best hack ive had on him EVER. He led all the way and didnt put a foot wrong not even a moment where I thought he was reluctant to go further,plus I barely had to ask him on at all!
We went down the steps and along the track then instead of turning and doing a loop back up the road we turned down onto the lower tracks I thought if anything would cause a strop this would as we turned in the opposite direction to home but no he was quite happy.He hesistated as we approached the little wooden bridge over the street(not sure if he's been over this before?),ive learnt with him if I give him a minute to look he will think about it then cant resist the urge to have a close look this is totally different from Polo who worries the more he looks so you have to take the lead and ride him past whatevers spooking him.
We rode up though a small racing yard and he had a little spook as some cows were hiding behind the hedge and there was a tractor rattling around at too,I say a spook its a little wobble on the spot really:),then rode back towards the track he knows.He was creamcrackered by the time he got to the top of the hills so I led him along the lane home...it wasnt all for his benefit my hips and knees were killing me at this point probably cos he's soooo wide!

Tonight I rode Polo with the YO he was very well behave led all the way,as usual, he still doesnt feel 'right' but when he's trotting and cantering around the field you can barely tell anything's wrong with him?!?!
Im in a quandary of do I just forget this summer totally leave him till Autumn see how he is or do I keep going for gentle hacks a couple of times a week to see how he copes with improved fitness.Dont get me wrong he's not hopping lame but the best way to describe it is that he's lost the freeness to his movement (if that makes sense) he seemed to be throughly enjoying himself but I dont want to make matters worse.
I dont want to put him though a whole load of tests as he hates it and gets distressed but I might speak to the vet again and see what the options are for some less invasive explorations?She mentioned scanning his tendons and xrays...
YO just couldnt get her head round why I wouldnt trot or canter him!Her older ned is virtually crippled with his feet and makes a donkey look fast so I suppose if she's happy to ride him then she must think im neurotic for being so cautious.
Few weeks ago she'd asked for a sit on Polo as she's never rode a big horse before so I was cruel and put her on the spot at the bottom of the lane and asked her if she wanted to ride him the rest of the way.She spluttered a bit(she not a very confident rider but a bit of a know-it-all) but then couldnt think of an excuse not to so I gave her a leg up,she obviously gave him a kick and nearly papped herself as he shot forward I told her he's super sensitive and a squeeze is all you need,she couldnt believe how big he moves but said he was extremely comfortable.I however was not so comfortable on her pone,saddle was rock hard,horse was dead to the leg and just felt like putting one leg infront of the other was a huge effort!
Pleased with my day but pretty tired now.

Blogger may die..pic overload!

2008-07-27T19:09:00.000+01:00

Had a fab day today my friend/workmate was emptying the flat she's been renting up here taking her things home for the summer,her boyfriend borrowed his dad's horse trailer for the move and they took me to the beach with AliG!:)
There was a bit of a sea fret to start with which lifted after we'd been there a little while its was still very warm the sea felt great.
I didnt want to risk damaging M's saddle,ive been borrowing while Ellie's away at stud,so it was basically a trip out but it was great fun.AliG was a bit blown away by it all dont think he could get his head round it all but seemed to enjoy himself.He would only go in the sea at first following me and nearly knocked me over at one point when a large wave came at him..obviously the spot I was standing in was the safest place to be but other than that he was excellent.
My brother met us down there with his GSD and Buster,I thought it was a bit much for Mouse as she's getting big now so she and Minx stayed with my Mum.Buster had a great time too he's into the swimming now and followed me and AliG in some deep water when we headed back.Didnt get that on the pics as my mate knocked the camera on my phone to video towards the end and for some reason they dont load on my laptop properly?
Anyway pic overload...........

Would you Adam and Eve it!

2008-07-22T21:30:00.000+01:00

Well I received my new Fhoenix replacement,decided against risking another Vogue, and I cant quite believe this but the left flap is set on too far forward exactly the same as it was on the Vogue.Its about 2inchs further forward on the left than the right so its not exactly a tiny fault to have been missed,soon as I sat on the saddle I saw it instantly..im really cheesed off about this!
I paid postage to return the Vogue that was faulty and am going to have to pay postage AGAIN to return this plus its all the time and hassle.Emailed Gill but not had a reply yet im going to email Heather and tell her whats happened and go from there.
The saddle felt very nice and I dont think its as faulted as the Vogue was but ive paid enough and expect a perfect saddle.

Sad news my rabbit died last night he seemed a little quiet through the day but I thought it was because it had been so hot but obviously he had something else going on:(

AliG was funny the other day he had a right strop on then I added to his annoyance by expecting him to work.Took him in the field and did the rope circling work,he's so much forward now and rarely tries to stop he was still not amused but was actually working and responding very well.Jo was watching and one of he kids did 'something' which made Ali spook he leapt forward I hung on he skidded then fell over flat on his side he got up looking rather stunned!

Yesterday I took him in the school I stayed mainly in walk incase he was a bit sore from falling over.I concentrated on getting him to walk on staying in the same rhythm he's definitely starting to cotton on and im getting a much better quality walk,he does find it hard he was grunting and blowing just in walk.I was pleased with him definitely an improvement again from last time.

Had a dog day today and took them all off to the beach,my mum's three too it was a gorgeous day hot and sunny.Buster had his first swim which was hilarious because he jumped in a pool after the GSD not realising it was so deep so basically he had to learn to swim then and there:)He wasnt fazed at all and was swimming quite happily,Sky his granny is a proper water babe so maybe he's taken after her:)

Two more sleeps at work and then im off............

I have news!

2008-07-19T20:36:00.001+01:00

Ive been neglecting blogs lately,are there less hours in the day or is it just me?,
my body is shutting down im sure because it knows holidays are close (one more week!) im feeling very tired and lacking in energy but not long to go and one whole month off:)

Anyway the news is im going to be a Granny!No I dont have a secret child who has given birth its Mouse:0
I didnt say anything until I knew for sure but they should be due anytime from the 11th of August I took her for a scan yesterday to make sure,even though I was 99.9% certain, and the good news is there is more than one and quite probably four!One would be bad as that would almost certainly mean a cesarean,it would be too big.
Mouse is definitely looking after herself she's very mellow,doesnt come in the field with the horse's and just lies watching me poo pick while the other two run around,very different from Minx who was still running around until the week before the pups came.
I warn you now im going to be a nervous wreck until its over and done with but everything crossed it will all go well and we should have puppies.:)))
Oh and Im hoping to keep another depending if OH is game..four I must be mad!!!:0

AliG has been a good boy this week had two longreining sessions and an hour in the school working on the things from our lesson.
He was getting a bit mad in the school as I was insisting he respond and go forward keeping the rhythm and did one small cow kick,mini buck type thing.He's having a laugh if he thinks that would do anything he's not seen the bucks ive sat on Polo..he's a true master:))
Denise said he just hasnt figured out that he keeps going until I ask for something else,typical baby, so to spent the next few weeks working on rhythm and getting a quick response to my aid.She reckons once he's 'got' this then life will be much easier as he should be thinking much more forward.There's a huge difference to his canter and me sitting to it when he's travelling better D said he was just bouncing up and down like a rocking horse without actually going anywhere which was why it was so difficult to ride.
I'll give him his due he's a bloody fast learner I feel like I only have to do something a couple of times and he's got it, the quality of the work feels better after every single session!

He did a good longreining session today out on the roads past a couple of buses,wagons plus 3horseboxes and trailers on the narrow lane..all without hesistation:)

I washed both their manes and tails today as ive been putting some itch stop stuff on and it was creating a bit of a build up..they looked lovely and silky at the end.
Trimmed Polo his feet have gone back a little, probably through the lack of work, nothing dramatic and nowhere near what they used to look like just frogs are slightly cruddy toes a touch longer than i'd like.

Muzzle's have been staying in place the past couple of day:)

Phew what a weekend

2008-07-14T23:31:00.000+01:00

Im worn out and its only Monday!
On phone internet which is faffy to post so i'll keep it brief.
Saturday went to a dog show,its the local club where i never get placed and guess what true to form didnt get anything:) Had only entered Buster cos i didnt want to be there all day. We still had lots off positive comments from outside the ring just not in the ring. I noticed the Chairman &Treasurer of the club had entered their own show dont know anywhere else this would happen?
Anyway bit more practice for Buster who was very excited about it all for some reason.

Sunday i had a lesson on Ali with the lady from over the road. Its was very good she's a real task master but thats what i need as im terrible for losing focus it was very much along the lines of what i was doing when i was down at St Pirans which is great.

Lots of stuff going on at home as my sisters newborn has been poorly turns out he's lactose intolerant so the milk has been making him very ill poor little lad had a hernia with crying from the pain. Hopefully he'll be on the mend now.
Just to top things off my niece.the one who rode Polo with me, has been prolapsing when going to the toilet so she was in hospital today for an op.
She's fine but had to wait till 2in the afternoon for the op so was very upset with hunger..wouldnt you think they'd do a baby early!

Grrrrrr

2008-07-09T13:26:00.000+01:00

They are BOTH now getting the muzzles off and Polo is looking more unsound!Well I reckon that confirms my lami theory...its been wet and warm and the grass has shot through seems too much of a coincidence.
Farmer is topping field as we speak and the fence has been done,at last, so tomorrow im making them a long thin strip with the electric fencing and abandoning the muzzles they have helped get a good bit of weight off AliG but if he's also getting it off its a waste of time!

Quick news as Ive got to get ready for work.
Rode AliG in the school on Monday I only had 30mins but he worked well his lateral work is coming on nicely the flexions have help with this he's so much more flexable and bendy:)
Polo had a walk out in hand which excited all the horse's in one of the fields who galloped around..Polo was bouncing and snorting which wasnt ideal.

Today my friend came and we longreined AliG ..he was excellent.Passed a huge tractor on the lane then went along a track he's never been before going under a dark narrow tunnel absolutely no hesistation I had to lead Polo through this tunnel the first couple of times.He walked out very well and seemed pleased to be going somewhere new we were out for well over and hour and had a trot heading home (we must be mad).
It was warm and humid so we were pretty hot and sweaty time we got back to the farm.
I wish I could have a few weeks of longreining 3/4times as week he enjoys it so much and it seems to be doing the job of getting him more forward thinking the problem is getting walkers to come with me I just wouldnt want to risk it by myself incase he got away from me on the road.

Success:)

2008-07-04T18:49:00.000+01:00

Weight taped them both today and the muzzles are doing the trick,I couldnt wait till the weekend to see how much they'd lost.I knew AliG had lost some but he's dropped more than i'd thought infact its over 50kilo's!Polo's only dropped 15ish but i'd expected that as he's getting the muzzle off most nights at some point {sigh} and he's not in work ,plus he wasnt carrying as much weight as AliG in the first place.
Im really pleased Ali's accepted the muzzle brilliantly and although Polo doesnt like it he's been better getting it on the past couple of days..was worth all the sewing and stabbing myself with the needle.

My friend from work came longreining this week.AliG didnt put a foot wrong passed a tractor with a huge trailer while heading for home and he just walked past without hesitation.
I took Polo out for a walk inhand round the fields with the dogs for exercise which he seemed to enjoy,thats one good thing about him he'll follow me around anywhere like a lamb.

Today I gave them both a good brush then did some ropework with Ali in the field he finds its much harder to work with the temptation of grass to eat but he was pretty good.
Ended by doing some trotting inhand after a few initial 'I dont think so' moments he was trotting along behind me nicely.I did have to kick my trainers off as they were slip-on's and I couldnt run with them,I had a giggle to myself thinking what I must have looked like running round the field like an idiot no shoes on with AliG trailing behind looking baffled:)

IT WORKS!

2008-07-01T20:58:00.000+01:00

Well AliG has definitely taken things on board from his trip out.

I had a session in the school on Monday started with the rope work which he was excellent at he has a new found respect for it:) Then tacked him up and spent some time working on his reaction to the leg using my home made 'wipwop thing' well boy he's got this only had to use it a couple of times.He shot forward a couple of times from halt to canter but then when he realised i'd only use it if he wasnt reacting to my leg it was only taking a squeeze of the leg and he was reacting instantly.Its the most forward he's been EVER in the school.

Yesterday we had a hack and he didnt put a foot wrong no scowling,napping infact on the way home Jo noticed i'd never had to kick him forward once for the whole ride.
His fitness is eventually starting to improve for the first time the hills heading home didnt kill him im very impressed with how quickly he cottons on and how accepting he is:)
Im sure the fitness is because he's losing weight the muzzle is working a treat for him and he's totally happy having it on..Polo however is not!
Its a right old battle getting it on and he's somehow managing to get it off.Up to now he's had it off every morning other than one AND its still fastened up.But I figure even if he's keeping it on for a couple of hours its better than nothing plus his weight isnt quite as bad as AliG's.Im going to weigh tape them both at the weekend im pretty sure Ali's lost a fair bit since I first started using them Polo not so much but he's not put any on so thats good