MY RECENT NEWS Tuesday 9th December 2008

After moving yards on the 5th June, Kyle and Spike have settled in great. Four days later and I was away to Stoneleigh with Kyle for a weeks course, "Natural Attraction, week 5". What a fantastic time we both had and the difference in Kyle was fantastic. I guess that had something to do with the fact I spent a lot more time with Kyle and it was just me and him all week. The course was brilliant, so much info, info that I need to recap on, after all I took plenty of notes.

For a time, after the course I played loads with Kyle and Spike in and out of the round pen. Touch it, poles, sideways and back up, learning to stop using weight and little rein, maintaining gait and direction.
With Spike as he has a great tendency to grab at the grass around the inside of the arena at every opportunity I decided it was time I stopped getting dragged around on the gorund and flipped forward like a rag doll while riding. So we played follow the rail but don't eat the grass.
Spike and I had a great challange the other day, while in the arena the kids came and started bouncing on the trampoline, now here I am on a spooky 5 year old horse in my saddle with my halter and one rein. (I don't mind the kids playing one bit as it is a great challange for Spike). As we approached the corner Spike stood stock still like a statue then in a nano second we were facing the opposite direction.. Mmm! me thinks time to dismount and use approach and retreat from the ground. Over all Spike was a very brave lad and stood up to the bouncing kids.

The following weekend (on the Friday) I called out Mark Johnson, he is a registered farrier who decided to go into Barefoot Trimming. we had a chat and I also decided to take off Kyle's hind shoes and see how he goes. 6 weeks or so later Mark came back and took off Kyle's front shoes. This was the time when I was on tender hooks seeing if Kyle would go foot sore or not. Last time Kyle was without shoes he went totally footsore on all four legs so bad I had to call the vet. (He was trimmed traditionally that time). Now its December and Kyle is still totally barefoot and going really well.

Spike, oh boy! what a clown. In the field playing the Circling game Spike decides to up the pace, slips, looses his footing and goes skidding acrosss the grass on his side. He stood up, looked at me bewildered and I had a decision to make. 1) Go and mother him or 2) Ignore what happened and keep him moving (while checking for lameness). I decided to go for the latter and he was fine apart from the green streaks from the grass down his legs.

Beginning of July I started the two lads on Simple Systems, not sure what to make of it, it looks like green slush. Kyle and Spike seem to love it and its the first time in years I have seen Kyle actually eat keeping his head down. (He usually takes a bite, looks around, takes another little bite, looks around etc)

After a couple of great Fun Days I am back to Stoneleigh for "Natural Collection, Week 8", I enjoyed Week 5 so much I just had to go back. Now I was a bit disappointed as I enquired about taking Spike and was told to bring Kyle as your horse must have walked trotted and cantered and be Level 2/3. So I took Kyle only to find that a few others were not to the Level 3 standard either. Mind I had a great time with Kyle and pleased I took him.

I had a fantastic time and if it wasn't for saving for a NP Saddle I'd be back in 2009.

AUGUST
The Conference was awesome, being a volunteer this year seen me on the Savvy Club stand and I loved every minute of my time there. The faculty were amazing and treated us all as equals. We got a private chat with Pat and Linda which was a great surprise and though Sue Shoemark mentioned they had another appointment not once did Pat and Linda look eager to get away.

SEPTEMBER
Spike went to James Roberts for 3 weeks colt starting, I had some mishaps that could have been avoided but overall I do see a difference in Spike. James has done so much good work with Spike in such a short time. Now its up to me to carry on where James left off and hope I don't undo any of JR great work. It's hard as I can't play in the fields due to the mud caused by all the wet weather we have had and (Oop's best not say any more so deleted this one sentence as a certain someone got a bit melodramatic (Didn't you Linda lol) and could have caused unnnecessary trouble). Changed my mind, my website and as it's the truth can say what I want... lol ...so

The other day, I decided to play in the arena only to find every few minutes I had to stop and shake the bits of sand out my shoes.It was like running through deep sand at the beach, virtually impossible and even my horses struggled. I tried to ignore the bits digging into my feet but you can only hobble around for so long. So there I am trying hard to balance one one foot with Kyle or Spike shoving into me.. How I never fell on my backside I don't know.... (Lesson learnt, wear my chaps lol)

After being told that Spike was good on trial rides (used to spook at everything) I decided to take Spike round the Firs. Well he was spooking at everything and I mean everything.. so much so that at one time he jumped, only slightly but it was enough for me to loose my balance. My horseman's reins came loose and I was catapulted out the side door landing with a heavy thud on my side.
Now I'd only just started the ride so decided to finish it and by by the time I got all finished at the yard and got home I was in agony. My backside was literally black and blue and I ended up on crutches for two days as I couldn't walk with the pain. OUCH!! Discovered that Spike is great when with other horses but unconfident on his own.

OCTOBER
Flu Jab and Dentist, the Flu Jab has left me exhausted, seemingly my specialist at teh chest clinic says it sounds like I don't have flu but I do have some flu symptoms, hense the tiredness. I feel like an old woman needing an afternoon napm adn still feeling worn out. The Dentis.. oh err! after half my tooth fell out I realised I needed to go.. £550 later my teeth look great but I had to have one taken out which leaves a horrible hole. To get that put right I need £1200... guess that will have to wait for a bit.

NOVEMBER
Spike was freezemarked by Farmkey, the lass who came to do it was not very happy, dunno why... I should be able to ride Spike as from tomorrow (Dec 10th) as it will have been 2 weeks but may leave it a litte longer.

DECEMBER
Tried a different brand of shavings to see if it would be cheaper but after trying "Soft Bed" I have decided to go back to using Snowflake. The Soft bed were thicker and easier to muck out but I went though more.

Trying to sell my horsebox as would now like to have a trailer again what with not competing anymore in the carriage.

To date now organising the Northants Naturally calender for 2009 and seeing into booking instructors for courses, Fun days, rides out etc..
Gonna also plan days with the horses to get on in Level 3.