New shoes – update

Sof modelling
her new shoes

So a while ago I wrote a post about getting Sofie some brand new boots (having so far only having hand-me-downs).

 

 

Last month they arrived and they were beautiful. Unfortunately they did not fit! NOOOOOOOOOO! Despite all the due care with fitting shells, when I came to put on her spangally new boots they were too tight. After a very short ride it was clear that these were no good, they were just twisting off. I re-measured her feet to find the little madam’s feet had gotten bigger. Months they had stayed the same size, only to grow and extra 4mm just after I ordered the boots. Sods law. I think the gel insoles also made the boots come up a bit snugger, exacerbating the problem. Heartbroken I had to email the hoof boutique back for suggestions as to what to do.
 



Boots on the back feet

Renegades offer a free exchange if boots do not fit, however this only applies to standard boots. Because we had got gel insoles bonded on my boots were classed as a special order and so exempt for free exchange (because it is not likely another customer would want what I had asked for). Bugger. Thankfully for me Liz at the hoof boutique and renegades are very keen to do their best by their customers and so agreed to treat the boots as a hire which was very kind of them. The larger set of boots (which I bought for the fronts) fit her back feet so I only needed to return one set.

Nervously I ordered the next size up, the largest they do. This time we played it safe with no gel insoles. Not quite as luxurious but they fit. Hurray!

We took the new boots round Frensham Sponsored Ride – a bit of a baptism of fire really – but they were brilliant. Nothing dislodge them -  galloping across wet fields, jumping fences, and Sofie digging for Brittan – they stayed put and did not budge. No sign of a rub, even though she had been in the boots for over 5 hours (I put them on in the morning before we loaded and did not take them off until after the event). Worth every penny.

 

 

I hope to God her feet don’t grow anymore!

 

post test ride success



 

Frensham Sponsored ride

Out official Photo - Big smiles from both of us

After a fitful night’s sleep the day was upon me – Frensham sponsored ride was here.

Preparation for the ride was a bit frantic. Trailer, car to tow it, and capable chauffeur was organised days before, thankfully I have lovely family and friends who stepped in last minute. I failed at pre-registering, but the organisers reassured me that it would be fine to sign up on the day. The week before I jumped Sofie a cross poll in the sand school to see if she jumped. Yes she does, and with a lot of enthusiasm. I however have somewhat forgotten about the nuances of jumping – like how to count a stride, set up for a fence, get over the fence, ride from the fence – OK I have entirely forgotten how to jump. Never mind, I’m sure it will come back to me on the day :s.

And then it was the day. I was accompanied by our usual hacking buddies (and fellow members of fat pony club) Gem and Harry. Both Sof and Harry loaded smoothly. Unfortunately, once said fat ponies were on the trailer it was clear the tyres were flat. Bugger. Not wanting to un-load we decided to go to get the tyres inflated on route. My father kindly agreed to drive – a decision he would soon come to regret. On sued the most ridiculous 100 point turn in the garage. I chased away anyone on the forcourt as we battled the trailer round the narrow space. Sof took it all in her stride but Harry found the forward revers forward experience rather unsettling.

Tyres inflated we were back on route. Unfortunately someone gave me the role of navigator. I have been known to get lost in the ladies loos, I should never EVER be allowed near directions. Despite the very clearly written instructions, and a sat nav, I still managed to force two more U turns into our journey. An hour later our trailer full of very stressed humans and a stressed Harry pulled up. Miraculously Sof seemed quite chilled about the whole affair.

I think I had used up all my stressing in getting there. I was no longer fretting about the ride. Bit more faffing then we were on-board and ready to go. We were some of the last competitors round the course.

ready to mount - I hate my body protector
which appears to have eaten my neck

faffing with tack

about to head off

I had no idea how Sofie would react. She was clearly excited to be at a show ground but not frantic like I expected she might be. Once we were on the course we put them both into a trot to settle them down. Sofie was lovely, lead the way quite happily. We had a pair of horses canter pass us in the other direction at close range, and she did not react at all. She looked at the other competitors go over the fences, and whilst she clearly wanted to join them she did not bolt. She let people pass us without a fuss. I finally plucked up enough courage to allow Sof a crack at one of the smaller fences – I could almost hear her shout yippee as she flew over it. She was a little disappointed I wouldn’t let her jump all of the big fences from there on in, but we had great fun over the ones I felt brave enough to attempt. Not one refusal from her and we almost never had a lead. On occasion, normally after a fence I had a momentary break failure but she came back to me eventually. There was one moment where she took a disliking to a gelding that we ended up riding round with. She reversed at him at speed then bolted off when I scolded her. She might be a little bit in season still. Other than that she was perfect.

 

Harry was very well behaved as well, except for his sudden and bizarre decision to drop to the floor and roll mid-walk. Took both me and Gem by surprise. Luckily Gem just managed to step off him when he was on the floor and got him up before he squished his very expensive saddle. Sof just looked on disapprovingly.

 



tired ponies ready to go home

Anyway in conclusion, awesome day out. I have a cross country machine on my hands. Next time I will learn how to jump and will have a crack at the big fences.

 

Cross country jitters

I have just committed to going to Frensham Sponsored ride and I am totally bricking it!

This is daft, I said I would go since last year, but I just made the commitment in my mind, Sof and I are def going. I had a look at the website and the entry form and instantly my hands began to shake and my heart is going like the clappers.

If I am scared then why the hell am I doing this you might ask? Well sometimes the best things in life are the scariest.

Frensham is a 10 mile sponsored ride with optional small cross country fences. It is really just for a bit of fun and a great day out.



Baby T and me relieved
after first outing

Last time I felt this nervous was when my sister signed me and T up for our first sponsored ride back in 2003. Admittedly I think I had a bit more to be scared of. Tonto was 3 or 4 and had never been anywhere – ever. We had tried to take him to a little show at the yard, but we had to take him away after he hyperventilated with excitement. I had never really jumped Tonto, nor had I ridden with the horse and rider who kindly agreed to babysit us (and they were a new pair as well). Tonto broke my dad’s finger loading into the box, he reared up and through dad like a rag doll, unfortunately dads finger got stuck in the bridle. Once we got there Tonto was rearing and spinning at the start. I think it is the only time I have ever seen my normally unflappable instructor look worried. The first 10 minutes were hairy, but once he realised all he had to do was stick with his buddy he was a super star. He lead over all the fences. It was the making of us. I thought if I can ride Tonto round a sponsored ride, I can ride him anywhere.

This time round I ought not to be so scared. Sof is an older, more experienced horse, and I am riding with our normal hacking buddies Gem and Harry. I know Sofie has competed with her old owner, so show grounds should not be that exiting. We went round a local cross country course and it is clear she is familiar with the fences, so I think she has done cross country before. We have really bonded and she does now listen and really try for me. There is no reason why she won’t be anything other than angelic. But I am still crapping my pants. I expect her to be excited, and I’m wondering how well my breaks will work. I have bought some gloves to save my hands (when she is overexcited we play tough of war – I win, but at the cost of my skin). Still this is hardly reason to have a panic attack.

Perhaps I am just older and more risk adverse than the 16 year old me. Things which are less frightening scare me more. Or perhaps it is just anticipation and excitement that is making my heart flutter in my chest.

Either way, we are doing it. Game on.

A patient princess

I was a little nervous of getting back on Sofie after a week holiday on spring grass. I expected to come back to a round Haflinger full of beans. I had visions of us careering across fields with no breaks. Turns out I was once again unfair on Princess Sofie who is turning out to be a lovely gentle soul. I get back on after a week off and she plods along on the buckle enjoying the warm spring evening. She hasn’t even put on weight, and there is no heat in her feet so she gets to continue to enjoy grazing without her muzzle.

She is so lovely and calm that I trusted her enough to take Tonto out on a ride and lead by myself.

I think point I should make a little confession. I hate riding alone. Not only do I have no-one to talk to – anyone can tell you I hate my own company – but I also start to fret about what would happen if I had an accident. This puts me into an uncharacteristically anxious state (well on horseback at least) and an anxious rider makes an anxious horse. I have never ridden Sofie alone.

So deciding to ride out Sofie alone with Tonto in tow was a tad optimistic.

I guess my thinking was I was not really alone, there are three of us. At least the horses can gain confidence from each other. I also really wanted to take the old boy out. He’s spent all winter only pottering from his field to the yard and back. Not much variety for him, and Mr T is a smart horse who enjoys exploring the world. He seems to be relatively mobil, providing he is walking on a smooth flat surface. Luckily the field next to the yard is more or less a bowling green so now the ground has dried out I thought he would enjoy a potter.

I decided to lead past the scary plastic, knowing full well Tonto would be a knob about it – he was – and I wasn’t sure I could handle him whilst riding. Once safely in the field, where few things can jump out at us, I jumped on board Sofie. We walked up the long side of the field. Sof was a bit confused by the whole thing. Who was this hairy dishevelled cob and why was he stalking her. Tonto was his usual helpful self and kept on unnecessarily switching sides, forcing me to have to keep passing the lead rope behind my back. Sof was getting a bit upset by the rope touching her princess bottom and my arms flapping about. She also could not work out if I was talking to her or Tonto when I kept on asking T to walk on. Tonto Finally decided to walk next to Sofie, but I could see his expression turn to mischief. I could tell he was plotting to tank off when we turned to home. I decided best to jump off and lead on foot before I get into trouble.

Once on the ground both ponies walked happily next to me. Was really nice to have them side by side, ears pricked, enjoying life. I tried to take some photos, but this was nih-on impossible. Besides Tonto had the muzzle on to stop him from snacking as we walked which is hardly a photogenic look.

going for walkies

 

T trying his chat up lines

 

happy ponies

I feel a bit guilty thinking this but Tonto does really look ugly standing next to beautiful Sofie. He is not in his prettiest stat atm. His long winter coat is dark and course and he has a full beard which hides his noble head. Come summer his coat will change to a beautiful copper colour and I will hack away his beard. I still think Sofie is prettier, but T isn’t bad looking under all that fluff. I hope to have a little photo shoot with them once they have both lost their winter woollies.



Anyway after our walk I decided to take Sofie with us on the way back to Tonto’s field. I didn’t want to break the golden ‘you do not leave Sofie’ rule, especially as I have just got her calm again in the stable. She was super patient as I put Tonto back in his field, and so calm I decided to ride her back to the yard. Now we really were alone. I was expecting her to jog and spook but she was an angel. What a good little horse. We then went out for a second stroll with Gem and Harry, making the most of the lovely evening.

 

 In fact thinking about it Sofie was the epitome of calmness and patience today. She went in and out of the stable, lead filthy old men round fields, went out and back and out and back to the yard, posed for photos. Not one complaint. How far she has come from the horse who you could not leave waiting for one second only a few months ago.

Dancing hippos

Sof and I after schooling the other night

Spring has sprung, the evenings are now light enough for riding and Sof and I are eagerly awaiting an active summer – OK I am eagerly awaiting an active Summer, Sof might prefer an eating summer. Never-the-less we can finally crack on with some proper work.

Up until now I have given Sofie a fairly easy ride. The first summer was about getting to know each other, introducing this concept of ‘hacking’, and working on ground training.

Winter is a rubbish time of year for riding, especially when your horse does not come with a stable. As I get older I have become an increasingly fair-weather rider. Gone are the days where I would happily spend all day at the yard in freezing conditions developing frost bite (my doctor was impressed that I had managed to get frost bite in the UK – it took wildly inappropriate footware and an extreme lack of common sense – the ice in my socks should have probably been a warning sign that I should go home and seek warmth but hey-ho). Last winter deep mud, rain, high winds, and cold dark evenings sort of halted progress. We were limited to a few early morning short rides and a Saturday hack.

In any case, Sofie has needed a bit of time to get back into full fitness. Last summer her weight was a huge issue. She was a bit lame but I could not find the cause. She had a physio session but she was so fat that the physio could not find the muscles to tell if they were sore. In her words Sof was a ‘sausage roll’ pony. She literally could not move for the casing of fat around her body. The only option was to rider her gently until the weight came off, then assess the lameness.



Sofie showing me her square halt



Finally Sofie is a healthy weight and the last physio visit confirmed she was fit to do some proper work. We have some stretch exercises to do to help her with her back flexion and tone up her belly. These involve me waving a treat under her belly so that she stretches round to eat it, effectively making her do a ‘sit up’. Sofie is a fan of anything that involves treats so does not mind one bit, though she is a dirty cheat and often avoids doing the full stretch by picking up a back foot.





an idiot & a confused Sof

Anywhos with a healthy Sof and longer evenings I am finally in a position where we can do some schooling. The only problem is the last time I schooled was back in 2009 on Mr T. Since then all I have really been doing is flopping about on-top of the horse. I have entirely forgotten how to ride properly. I pride myself at being a good horsewoman with a reasonable seat, but I am aware I am not a good rider. My limbs have always seemed to have a mind of their own. As soon as I get my hands under some form of control my legs seem to run a mock. The net result is I ignore my extremities and ride almost entirely from my seat. I try and keep my hands as still as possible so not to annoy the horse and the legs do their own thing. I don’t pay them much attention, neither do my horses - who are thankfully forward going so don’t need much leg. This unique style was fine with Mr T as he knew what I meant, we had our own little language, but it does not always translate to Sofie who seems a bit bemused by my wriggling about.

 

Unlike myself, Sofie clearly does know what she is doing. When she was still fat, I experimented in the school with her I was pleased to find that she did know some dressage. The dancing hippo from fantasia came to mind. Sof just needed the pink tutu. Now she is healthy she can do more. Sometimes in my wiggling I stumble across a correct aid and she flashes into a beautiful little dressage horse. She really tries her hardest, I am very much the weakest link atm.

So I have gone to seek instruction. I miss my old instructor terribly; he was fantastically fun and really got the best out of me. Unfortunately he is now at another yard and too busy to travel. Instead I have gone for a chap who others use at my yard. His initial conclusions on Sof and I are:

• will make a great little team,
• the horse is cracking,
• my riding style is currently ‘very relaxed’ (meaning entirely wrong).

I find myself being quite slow with following the instructions as I have to de-code what he is trying to tell me. I am not sure if this is my rustiness or just because I am so used to my last instructor I’m finding it hard to adapt.

But when I do finally work out what I am meant to be doing Sofie responds beautifully. She is surprisingly light and sensitive to her rider. A mild shift in your seat and she will move her hind quarters for you. A small nudge on her side and she instantly springs into a transition. It feels far more like riding a posh Warmblood than a little Haflinger. I wonder if she was professionally schooled in Belgium. She is doing very well to remember it all after so many years off. Never underestimate a haffy. Who knows by the end of the summer we might even get some rosettes, providing I remember how to sit properly.