My First Pony

I started riding when I was 8 years old, thanks to my aunt but it wasn't until I was 12 that I finally had my own pony.  Cocoa was really dark bay/brown and a similar size to Tommy at 14.1hh, he had a white slipper and a lovely white stripe!  He was about 9 years old when I had him and the yard where I kept him was like a dream yard x
 

He was a riding school pony and stayed on working livery when I first had him.  He looks like butter wouldn't melt in this picture but he could be a real monster.  He was difficult to leave tied up as he often jumped at something and then either broke the string, rope or his headcollar - whichever broke first when he pulled back.  He did slowly get better at this but I never went far from him if he was tied up.  He was really difficult to load and sometimes a NIGHTMARE to catch as he would run around you in a circle just out of reach!

However, the reason I wanted him in the first place was because I was out on a group hack one day and as we were hacking up a driveway next to a stubble field one of the horses decided to gallop off up the field.  He was quickly followed by every other horse on the ride, except Cocoa, in my eyes at the time that made him pretty much perfect. 

He looked incredibly smart when plaited up and I was always really proud to be riding him.  We used to help out at the local one day event running the fence sheets to control (before they replaced horses with quad bikes) and he was always really good.  He could be a bit slow but it was possible to get him going and he had a buck if he was excited.  

He could spin around on the spot in half a second if he saw something that he wasn't sure of and I ended up on the floor a few times but it helped me develop good stickability! We had some lovely hacks and I always felt safe on him.  He had a lovely jump, when he wanted to and that took some work because to start with he would just refuse everything, but he got better.

He was lovely to look after and I think, looking back, how lucky I was to have such a lovely pony, sadly he broke the sesamoid bones in a front leg when he was about 17 yrs old and had to be put down, but he got to meet Chesney first. 

I didn't know his breeding although looking at him now I think he had some New Forest in him (see picture below of a New Forest pony).

Look out for my new video next week on my You Tube channel Horse Life and Love
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You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!   

Jo

Greatest Horses - Valegro

Valegro is a horse few people have not heard of, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin he is a world record breaker in the dressage arena.  Born in 2002 in the Netherlands his sire was Negro a young dressage stallion and his dam Maifleur.

 

Originally called Vainqueurfleur he was renamed when sold to Negro's owner.  Carl Hester then bought him in 2005, he was gelded and shipped to England.  Valegro didn't grow as much as he hoped (he is now 16.2hh) and Carl considered selling him on, but was convinced otherwise - luckily!

Nicknamed Blueberry, Valegro was always easy, brave and keen to learn.  

2006       - Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future (ridden by Lucy Cartwright)

                - Shearwater 4yr old Champion (ridden by Carl Hester)

2007       - Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future (ridden by Carl Hester)

Charlotte joined Carl's yard and she and Valegro learnt together.

2007       - Shearwater 5yr old Champion

                - Novice Champion

2008       - Winter Elementary Champion

                - Shearwater 6yr old Champion

                - Elementary & Medium Champion

2009       - Winter Advanced Medium Champion

2010       - Prix St George & Intermediare I Champion

2011       - European Championship Team Gold

2012       - Olympics Team Gold & Individual Gold

2013       - European Championships Team Bronze & Individual Gold

                - KWPN Horse of the Year

2014       -  World Equestrian Games Team Silver & Individual Gold

2015       - FEI World Cup Dressage Winner

                - European Championships Individual Gold

2016       - Olympics Team Silver & Individual Gold

Valegro was officially retired at Olympia in 2016.

Have you seen January's video on my You Tube channel?   
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Until next time!

Jo

Lungeing

I have always found lungeing a useful way of exercising Basil and I used to lunge Chesney often too, before he was retired!  My first pony I lunged when I did not have time to ride and that is still sometimes the reason I lunge Basil.  However, since then I have discovered the other benefits. 
 

After a few days off work Basil, like many horses, is often a bit 'fresh' or loopy so I usually lunge him on his first exercise day after a break.  This is generally a disastrous session because Basil bucks, gallops off up the arena and is mostly naughty.  However, he gets rid of his silliness because when I ride the next day he is a lot calmer :)
 
Another reason I like lungeing is to bring some variety to our work, so I mix it in with hacking, schooling and jumping.  It gives me a chance to watch Basil move and make sure he is working through from behind too.  He always stretches his neck down and I can see his back stretching and lengthening, I love watching him canter around as it looks so effortless.

This photo is from http://nobackpain.dk/en/fordele-ved-longering/  I wanted to use it because the horse looks relaxed and is stretching down, as Basil does.

I lunge with just a headcollar because Basil doesn't tolerate the cavesson well (I think it is the ring on the top of his nose) and unless it is a 'fresh' day it works well.  I am not a big fan of attaching the lunge line to the bit because I don't want to be constantly pulling on his mouth!   Horses need to work thorough from behind with impulsion before they should be gently 'asked' to come on to the bit.  I find that Basil works with a good bend, a lovely rhythm and great balance on the lunge and it is a real pleasure to watch him when he is being good.  He also drops his head to a lovely 'prelim' position so I don't feel the need to use side reins.

A lungeing session of 20 minutes is apparently worth an hour schooling or an hour and a half hacking - so he works harder in a shorter amount of time too.  I suppose this isn't true though, if you don't get your horse working well through from behind with good impulsion, but not too fast.

Some of the other benefits:

·         improve balance

·         improve rhythm

·         improve canter transitions

·         helps the horse work on the correct bend

This horse is not working on the correct bend!

Lunging is an essential part of training young horses, it is great for helping them learn more voice commands which can then be used when riding initially. It also helps them strengthen their backs in preparation for a rider, by stretching down and engaging their hindquarters they will build muscle.  It can be a great way to build trust too.

However, it is important that lunging is done properly - it is something horses need to learn.  They must learn:

·         not to pull

·         to respond to voice commands

·         to work on the correct bend, though the whole body

·         to stay out on the circle

It is also important that someone experienced teaches a horse to be lunged, so they start off in the right way!

Have you seen January's video 'It's 2018!'  on my You Tube channel?   
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You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!   

Jo

What's going on with the boys?

Basil's back is improving, the physiotherapist came out again last weekend and could definitely see improvement.  I have been lunging him as much as the weather has allowed to try and keep him sane.  We now have some walking exercises over poles to do in the arena 2 or 3 times a week so let's hope it doesn't freeze too often!

He is getting very hairy but I have decided not to clip him again now as I won't be riding until February and that will probably be only walk.

Chesney is now getting some oil in his food, along with the sugarbeet, Dodson & Horrell Sixteen Plus cubes and Hi Fi Senior.  I hope that with his Cushing's medication he won't look as bad as he did last February and will hold his weight a bit better - only time will tell.

Tommy is enjoying the mud and had his tail washed again last weekend (just the bottom half as I thought it was too cold to put the hose on his dock), no trouble at all, I tied him up and he just stood there - ANGEL.

Have you seen last week's vidoe '2017 In Pictures'  on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!   

Jo