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Mon 2nd

We’ve had days of on/off drizzle, heavy rain and winds again so the horses have had some time off 😉 Today though, we have mild temps, wee breeze and dry weather SO I went and fed them this morning and cleaned the field. I then tacked them both up and took them out of the field. I walked them a quarter of the way back to the house (up the big hill and to the first gateway) where then I mounted Stormy and lead Bella all the way home.

 

Every opportunity to snatch at some delicious grazing, there are some fab cow parsley plants about at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding Stormy and leading Bella…both did a fab job sticking together and keeping the same gait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stormy loves a wee canter at this hillock in front of the house….managed to keep Bella up with him in trot 😉

I put them into the home paddock for an hours rest/grazing where they did actually rest for quite a bit of it. Then Mark and I tacked them back up and we rode them back to the big field together 😉

 

 

Love ride, not too long as we were both tired from some home decorating and doing odd jobs this time of year but just great to get out together for a wee ride on the big monsters 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella had a bit of trot energy once back in the big field so we did some nice trot circles 😉 Nice end to a nice rie 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weds 4th

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY STORMY…today is his 22nd Birthday so here’s some pics of him from baby to now to celebrate his wonderful life so far 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an amazing 21yrs together (we got him at 11 months old), he’s been such a joy to learn from him and train him into the happy, athletic, cheeky boy he is today. He thoroughly enjoys human company, especially his dad, Mark, for whom he has a big soft spot. He enjoys using his brain and agility is a sport he has fun doing with us. He also enjoys getting out on a hack, not so much for the journey, but for the cheeky snatches at greenery he can get along the way. He’s taught me so much over the 21yrs of owning him (we got him at 11 months old)  for which I’m eternally grateful as I take all my knowledge out to students all over Scotland 😉

 

Fri 6th

 

I’m swooshing off to Aberdeenshire for a long weekend teaching horsemanship so today is the last day for a wee ride for a few days 😉

While it’s sunny and not raining (expecting it later on,) I have a wee short exercise session with Bella.

We start off by doing a super good groom to get the dirt and dust off her coat and tidy her mane, tail and feathers. Then I tack up and we walk around the field (using S2M w/h/bk) checking on the agility equipment, making sure it’s all in place, standing upright and not damaged.

 

 

She then sidles up to the mounting barrel and I get on 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a really lovely 20 min ride working in halt, backup, walk, trot & canter.

We also use some forehand turns and hindquarter turns through a weave and going around, through or over the agility obstacles.

 

 

Now I’m ready and relaxed to go out teaching…..see you next week 😉

 

 

 

 

• Shelley – HorseSavvy.co.uk

 

 

 

Sat 3rd

Well…what do you do when you decide to ride BUT (1) you changed the field cone/tyre pattern from 2 circles to a long long straight weave line (2) the horses across the glen for some reason are whinneying and (3) it’s blowing a complete hoolie?????

YUP…you try to ride for a couple of mins then decide everything is just too much of a distraction for wee Bella so go and play online with her instead 🙂

Changed jump wings/poles from a ‘course’ set up to a ‘serpentine’ set up

 

 

 

 

Used to have two ‘circles’ of 8 cones and 8 piles of tyres.

Today I changed this set up, after at least 10yrs of it being this way, to where I had a long long 12 cone weave set up 🙂

Bella was very confused and rightly worried that things had changed so drastically (letting her graze the area for the next day has helped her get used to the new pattern set up) 🙂

 

 

Me and the kids 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

< 2 mins riding, the rest was on foot with Bella online playing and familiarising her to the new set up

 

AND playing helped her focus and relax >

 

 

 

 

Mon 5th

Today is like chalk to cheese from the weekend. We have sunshine and blue skies today 😉

I started off giving Bella a good groom, she still has old hair coming out from her Winter coat but is nearly into her Spring coat now. We then did a small play session with some walk/trot fig 8’s to check willingness, transitions, curves and connection.

 

 

 

 

Then we did some slow ridden checks and warm up using the jump wings and poles for curves, transitions and moving the forehand and hindquarters independently.

 

 

 

 

Onto the main riding session and we were determined to do the 12 cone weave…it’s so lovely to have such a big space to train in an it feels so much wider/larger now the old cone/tyre circles are changed to a cone line for weave/fig 8’s and some work with canter too. We started in trot doing close-to weaves around the cones. On the way back we upped the trot to a big trot and did more of a squiggly snake serpentine weave thereby doing more arc’s, changing my trot diagonal rising in the saddle and getting more curve in Bella’s body. When she felt stiff, mostly going to the right, I put in a circle around cones and then continued. We ended with a wee canter 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wed 7th

2nd attempt at the 12 cone weave. Went much better than yesterday as Bella gets used to the change 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thu 8th

Today, I decided to not do any particular pattern as I felt Bella was getting a bit bored doing the same thing SO we did P2P’s around the field. The only things I was concerned about getting was (1) focus (2) straight to the stopping point (3) better halts where she actually halts well and relaxes into the halt and not keep antsy-ing about trying to move off (4) and once we start off again that she trots (because if she wants to move her feet and has trouble relaxing into her halt then she can use that energy to trot to the next point) 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun 11th

We have a lovely day with a bit of sunshine and a nice cool breeze…perfect for a wee ride, and Mark joined us today too.

 

Stormy and Mark enjoying riding bareback today 😉

 

 

 

 

 

Bella and I started off with some trot serpentines using the 12 cones as markers for where to change our curve/diagonals 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then started working on some canter serpentines….this included halts between each change of direction (in the centre by the cones). This helps to teach relaxation between the canter half circles so that Bella starts to look for relaxation at this point and then also to take that relaxation into the canter semi-circle too. At the moment she was bracing against the arc and then rushing canter (thereby not always getting the correct canter lead) SO the halt in the middle allowed us both to think, calm and re think the next arc 😉

Some pics of the halts we did:

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s some pics of the canter today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And at the end to get our brains back onto something small we did some sidepass over a tube…lovely to end on a good note and a lovely walk to cool down too 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thurs 15th

 

So, I managed to get up really early this morning to go and feed S&B and to snatch a ride before the sun got hot. Always feels good doing this 😉

I was only going to ride the perimeter of the field in walk and then trot BUT as always happens, plans go out of the window.

Bella was doing well when she decided there was a tiger in the low stone wall, did a wee hop, jump and canter to show her spook. I decided to not stop her as I would have done previously but to ASK her to CONTINUE CANTERING the field to show that I was ready for canter and to make a good thing out of a silly thing 😉

I then asked her to trot the field, then canter, trot and then canter the field again 😉 The canter on the map is red 😉 🙂

She did so well and we got to relax and enjoy the canter more and more. This year’s cantering the rail/field has had a good start today.

 

 

 

< Stormy having a wee chat with Bella before we start our ride.

 

Bella checking out the cows and calves that were just moved to this field below ours >

 

 

 

 

 

Bella after our ride and after I put some water on her sweaty back and groomed her again 😉

Yawning is not about tiredness but about processing thoughts, lessons and sometimes a release from stress
(learning can be stressful so teaching slowly and carefully through relaxation and allowing each horse to show how much processing time they need and allow them that time is ultra important).

Bella hasn’t done this sort of yawn for years so today and our relaxed multiple canters across the field was a lesson needed for us both.

 

 

 

 

Bella in thinking mode and mentally tired. She took a few mins on her own and then came for a peppermint and a hug. Then she drifted off to find Stormy and they both went to the shelter to rest and escape the morning sun 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Fri 16th

 

Storm & Bella strategically find the shadows in the shelter this morning….it’s very hot up here.

 

 

Bella putting 4 feet on large pedestal and then first left front then right front on small pedestal for some apple slices 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stormy did the pedestal for apple slices too 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As S&B now off the main field area and on the track for the Summer so I spent the morning putting out some agility obstacles around that area.

< Jump. Archway. Tarp >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

< 4 Flags. Drain tube. Curtain >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

< Long narrow gap. Trot poles. Low trot pole >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

< 12 cone weave. Pole which I attach a rope too. I hold the rope and circle around in walk, trot then canter. Circles rely on me and horse synchronising on the circle as I try to ride it one handed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S&B chilling out on a wee hill just before I went off for my breakfast 😉

 

 

 

 

 

Sun 18th

We have a really nice strong breeze this morning so I get out and feed S&B early and then go to catch Bella for a ride. She decided to not want to be caught just now so I ask Stormy if he wants to be with me…he said ‘OK MUM’ 😉

 

 

I groom and saddle him and then do a bit of play in the field we’ve cordoned off and I’ve put the agility obstacles up in.

He did so well, he never forgets anything and did a lot of the obstacles before I got on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice slow wander about the field popping over a tarp, under the curtain, through a narrow gap….he did so well 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then caught Bella, who was hanging out in the shelter, and did the same with her.

Again, just walking about but some nice work through the obstacle course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun 25th

 

SO, after days of stonkingly hot weather and then nights of hard rain we have a nice day today…..a nice breeze, cool air and some sunshine.

 

We also upped the ante on training too…today I want to try some Canter P2P’s….

We start with walk/trot warm up exercises using the P2P principles so that the pattern is instilled first.

 

 

 

 

Then we try some Canter P2P’s….and didn’t we do well. Yes some of it was in trot and I took what Bella wanted to offer thereby making our exercise fun and not a ‘task’ 😉

Having the pattern down nicely but changing it up so that it’s not boring I made sure Bella had the 3 things she needed which are:

‘Direction. Speed. Destination’

AND having that destination was great to teach her to relax, calm down after the high energy canter pace. She can get a bit antsy and not wanting to keep her feet still after a bit of canter so this was a great exercise for us to learn relaxation after exertion 😉

 

 

 

Bella and Stormy relaxing in the sunny breeze…no flies makes horses happy this time of year 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

 

 

• Shelley – HorseSavvy.co.uk

 

 

 

Tue 1st April

Well April is here and we’ve got a few days of glorious sunshine and blue skies (nights colder and a breezy but nice).

Today I thought I’d give S&B a change by taking them out on the track down the road again. It’s been a while since doing it last and normally, in Summer, it’s a real treat as there are always lovely munchies along the way for them (thistles, heather, long grass, knapweeds, raspberry leaves, dog rose leaves etc) but today there are few pickings to be had, just a very enjoyable walk with a ride on Stormy home, leading Bella 😉

 

I walked them both in-hand down the track then at the wooden bridge we turned, I mounted Stormy and I rode back. Totalled 28 mins and 2.2km.

 

< Ready to go in the field

 

Up the top of the field on the track ready to rock’n’roll >

 

 

 

 

 

Leading them both we found our stride nicely with Bella by my side (where she loves to be) and Stormy following on behind (using 22′ line to make sure I have enough rope for him to do this) 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the bridge we walk over it, rest for a bit then turn around and I find a gate to mount Stormy from.

 

 

 

 

 

Stormy did a great job carrying me home, up all the big hills 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella did a fantastic job of just being led, she stayed either near my leg, by Storm’s back leg or behind him when the track was narrow.

 

 

 

At the end of the track, their field is on the left of us, I dismount and lead them both down the field hill to the shelter where a nice bucket of water and an apple were waiting for them 🙂

 

 

 

Thurs 3rd

Sunshine, light breeze, blue skies and Mark, Storm & Bella 😉 We didn’t do anything spectacular but it was just lovely to be out and about with Mark and S&B today 😉

 

Bella working well from my focus, weight, seat, legs 😉 Much more in harmony this year ;o)

 

 

 

 

Going around the field with no thought about where Mark and Stormy were which is good.

 

 

 

 

 

Mark and Stormy having fun in the sun

Trotting about all over the field, they so enjoy each other’s company 😉

 

 

 

Nice and slow today 😉 no need for rushing about….

 

 

 

 

 

Sat 5th

 

Gorgeous sunny Saturday…bit chilly but beautiful AND a day to ride S&B.

We decide to bring them back to the house for a couple of days, just as a change for them before all the grass grows fast and furious.

Here Mark is tacking up, I’ve done Bella and she knows it’s a ride out so is taking time to just chillax and rest 😉

 

 

 

< Bella and her perfect mounting block sidling 😉

Mark takes Stormy for a drink before we set off >

 

 

 

 

Stormy bring Mark up the first part of the lower field hill….

….and then cantered up the higher part of the field hill (the one we’ve been working on)….so proud of him, he did it perfectly 😉

 

 

 

 

Both of us rest just before the top of the field where we join the track.

 

 

 

 

 

Following Mark and Stormy along the track…normal thing, different day…but we thoroughly enjoy it and it’s also a nice way to hack out with a good destination, not too far for Mark and Stormy (Storm is 22 this year and Mark is still waiting for his 2nd knee operation) 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella and I had a really lovely ride but glad I kept my jacket on as it was a wee bit chilly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last bit before home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella today after I trimmed all the long hair from under her jawline, looking really smart now 😉
(don’t ever do the lower whiskers as they need those for feeling around with) 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Tues 8th

 

Ride the horses back to their big field today. Glorious sunshine and blue skies with the hint of a nice breeze…perfect riding weather 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a really lovely ride with Mark, S&B <3

 

 

 

 

 

 

< Bella, back in the big field after a roll

Big Stormy just can’t help himself….clean for a min then rolled on some dry mud to make himself dirty again 😉 It helps with getting his moulting coat out and clean his skin so we don’t mind at all really 😉

 

 

 

 

Thurs 10th

Today I had a few things to do in the morning:

1. Feed S&B
2. Put them individually in different round pens so I could get faecal samples for worm counts
3. Walk them about individually to get them off grazing for half an hour so I could do tape worm tests. This involves putting a tester in the side of their mouths so they lick it until it changes colour and they can’t eat, drink or be hard exercised half an hour beforehand. Easier said than done when we don’t have stables SO I walked Storm about for a bit and groomed him, which took up the half an hour, and then rode Bella bareback in a slow walk, which did her half an hour.

 

This is them in their individual round pens while I clean the field waiting for their samples 🙂

 

 

 

Then I rode Bella bareback. I used her saddle pad to keep my jod’s clean as she’s moulting a lot too.

 

 

 

All samples were got and sent off to the laboratory who get back to me via email to say whether they need any wormer or if they’re clear of worms 😉
We do this a few times a year and it’s better to only worm them when they need it so as not to create resistance to the worm paste 😉

 

 

 

Sat 12th

Today, another beautifully sunny, hot, dry, blue sky day, gets me up early to get out and ride Bella before it gets too hot 😉

 

 

We had a lovely ride. A bit of walking around the roundpens in a clover leaf pattern. Bella worked very nicely with very little use of the reins, relying on my focus, balance, weight in the saddle and leg cues.

We then did good trot work through an obstacle course I  put together using poles on the ground and jump wings to create narrow gaps to go through 😉

We also went around the field, down a hillock to get to the water trough as I new she was a bit thirsty, then up the big hill, down again, trotting the length of the arena which has a couple of poles for trot work. Then over a jump and into canter to end the session 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this I cleaned Storm’s heels and legs by taking off excess chestnuts and ergots (look them up if not sure what they are) and then trimmed his chin of long hair…doesn’t he look handsome in his neater ‘summer’ look 🙂 He’s SO good when I do this, with blunt ended dog scissors, and stands totally still for me 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun 20th

Well…it’s been a bit of a week here. Firstly Bella had a strange 48hr lameness in her back right leg. Not sure what it was from as could not find any heat or swelling in her leg. No pain in her foot re: an abscess or any fur missing from a bite or kick from Storm SO….I massaged her hip, rump and leg and put arnica gel on her joints just in case. THEN my back went out of whack so I had to take some time out with Mark giving me a lie in, and no dog walking, for a few days. Once my back is ‘out’ then I just have to rest, rest and rest some more so I’ve missed S&B with play and riding but also feeding etc ;(

 

Today was a good day and it was lovely to have S&B walk and trot with me at liberty the whole length of the field to where Mark and I groom them.

I did a full groom with Bella (Mark worked on Stormy) and got the old winter hair, dust and debris off her coat and conditioned her coat and mane and tail 😉

 

 

She was happy to see me and took me straight to the pedestal where she showed that she hadn’t forgotten how to get a treat 😉 lol

 

 

 

We then did some connection exercises to make sure she was willing and able to be ridden. Stuff that asked her to change gait, find her balance and arc around an obstacle 😉

 

 

 

 

 

Then we rode. The gentle sway of her hips really helped me to just relax into riding and allow the movement move my hips and back without me doing anything much….good therapy for sure.

And we went from a nice gentle walk into a nice gentle trot and it was great to feel the effortless of movement under me as she took me around the field 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My best girl, in my best place <3

 

 

 

 

Tues 22nd

My bad back is still not 100% but there’s nothing better than a wee bareback ride on Big Stormy to put a big smile on my face  😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND…how DO you groom a big Polar Bear that’s loosing his Winter pyjama’s? Yup…by standing on a tall barrel 🙂

 

I’m SO pleased Stormy (and all our horses over the years) was taught to stand still at a mounting block and to know how to turn around while I’m standing still on it too so I can groom both sides 🙂 🙂 Or even mount from either side too 🙂 🙂

 

 

 

 

Weds 30th

Enjoyed a nice ride on Stormy and then Bella today 😉 🙂 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you in May 😉

 

• Shelley – HorseSavvy.co.uk