Arc Equine - my review

My blog has been some what neglected over the last few months, the long dark nights really should lend themselves to writing but ironically I am the busiest I have been all year.

2015 has been a long year. The days and weeks etched in my memory by MRI scans and vets visits. It seems a long time ago now but back in the summer months the box rest routine had become the norm, Toy had been 1/10 lame for what felt like forever and we were getting no where. After a lot of researching and thinking, I phoned my vet and said I thought we should try some treatment. Neither Toy or I were happy and we needed to do something.

The injury to Toy's deep digital flexor tendon was way down in his foot, near the navicular bursar. Impossible to see without an MRI and therefore almost impossible to treat with ultrasound. I said to my vet that I wanted to try the Arc Equine. She was honest and said she had little experience of it but anecdotally had heard many success stories. Ever the professional and not wanting to get my hopes up I think, she was cautious about its use.

I took her advice on board and was also dubious but how could all the testimonials on social media and their website be wrong? I bit the bullet, bought an Arc Equine and emailed Ian Thirkell. The customer service was incredible, I ordered online on a Sunday evening and the Arc was charging in my lounge by the Monday afternoon. The email communication was also second to none, concise and very clear, I had a plan and was willing to try anything.

Whilst on box rest, Toy wore the Arc Equine unit during the day, I put it on in the mornings, covered it with a brushing boot and left him too it. He never flinched, it clearly did not hurt him and I don't even think he knew he is wearing it. Since he has been out in the field, I have turned him out in the unit as well, again covered by a brushing boot. He has rolled in it, cantered about and it has never moved. Thanks to being completely covered in neoprene it has also survived a fairly horrendous afternoon in the rain and one dunking in a water bucket, that should probably remain unmentioned.

The unit was simple to use, it came with a small instruction booklet that was easy to read and understand. The unit itself only has 2 buttons and a row of LED lights so really is very simple. Due to work and not being at the yard, Toy did not always wear the Arc Equine on consecutive days but I counted the number of days on each programme and may have added an extra one for luck!

Toy has been sound now for nearly 10 weeks. I am over the moon and the difference in his temperament and personality is huge, he is back to the friendly people-horse he was before. I cannot scientifically wholly attribute Toy's improvement to the Arc Equine but I do feel like it has sped up the healing process. It is now a staple item in my tack room and I will continue to use it, for maintenance or any further injury in the future.

Toy will return to the RVC soon for a repeat MRI scan and we are continuing our rehab programme.

For further information, visit www.arcequine.com

I am in no way associated to Ian Thirkell or Arc Equine, the views expressed in this blog are my own.

My box rest top tips!

If, like me, you are lucky enough to have always had fit and healthy horses then the idea of box rest will be a daunting task. Nursing a horse through injury and rehab is tough so I have compiled a few hints, tips and pearls of wisdom that I have learnt over the last few weeks.
 

Routine

I am a ridiculously organised person, my diary is open on the table every evening so that I can plan the next day, I sit down with my other half on a Sunday and talk through the coming week, discussing what we are doing and when. I, personally, think this has been the biggest help with Toy and the main reason he has been so adaptable and settled.

Mornings start at about 8am and evenings between 5-6pm. In the morning he gets his feed in his stable and is left to eat it undisturbed - something I have always done as I think horses should be left to eat in peace. When he has finished he gets tied up outside his stable with a handful of hay or a grass block. These handy treats keep him occupied for just long enough and are low in calories so perfect for a box resting horse.

Then I muck out, sort his hay and water, groom and pick his feet out, walk him out in-hand and then he goes back in his stable. Once he is in his stable I leave him alone, that's his safe place, somewhere I wont poke and prod him and where he spends time on his own.

In the evening he has the same routine but is fed last thing and then he knows he is all done and its bedtime. I'm not suggesting this is the best way to do things but it suits me and I do think that some sort of routine does make life easier for your horse.

 

Trusting your team

I am very self-sufficient and fearlessly independent. I hate relying on any one to help me but I have realised that I cannot do everything for Toy on my own.

My biggest piece of advice would be to find a team you trust. Find a friend that can help with the day to day care when you are at work or just to give you a break. Find a vet, farrier, physio, dentist and saddler that understand your worries and that can help you.

I trusted my gut instinct and changed farrier after Toys injury was diagnosed. I justified my decision to our yard owner, to my old farrier and to my friends but lets be honest - its none of their business. It was without a doubt the best decision I have made. I don't think my old farrier made any mistakes but I just didn't feel like he was as committed to the cause as I am. My new farrier is a perfectionist and I really feel like he is determined to help me with the challenge of getting Toy sound again.

 

Politely decline peoples advice

When your horse is injured, everyone will try to give you advice. Even if their horse has never had that particular injury or they have never experienced anything like what you are going through.

Learn to politely decline, listen and decide if their advice suits you. Choose the treatment you believe in and feel most confident about. I have chosen to follow the vets advice to the letter. I am box resting when others would have turned out in the field, I am giving the tendon time to heal when others would have gone for treatments. What ever you chose to do, believe in it and give it 100% but don't let others sway your gut instinct.

 

Use your free time

I have attended more demos, watched more people ride, volunteered at events, been dressage writing and learnt more than ever before. I feel like my horsemanship skills have drastically improved, watching Richard Maxwell load a horse on our yard a few weeks ago was just mesmerising and such a privilege. It is so easy to forget about horsemanship when you are focused on riding all the time. I have certainly learnt more from the ground than I ever thought possible.

I have taken an opportunity at work to go on a course, something that I just would not have done if Toy was competing. I would not have time to do both well but because he is off games I have grabbed the chance.

Prepare for every eventuality

A lot of people have said to me that Toy will be back eventing and that the prognosis is good. I am being pragmatic, the prognosis is not good and I have to be prepared to make some of the toughest decisions.

Think about all the options, however hard they might be. I have not discussed my decisions with others as I want to be clear in my own mind what I will do. These are questions I may never get asked but at least if the time comes then I am prepared.

Enjoy your horse
Last but not least, I have learnt that I am incredibly privileged to have my own horse. Yes, I work hard to pay for him and work hard to be the best rider I can be but hundreds of people want to be able to ride and for one reason or another they can't.

I am bitter about not being able to ride, there is no denying it but I am trying to be positive everyday.

Boredom busting

With Toy on box rest I have been granted a gift I am not used to, the gift of time. I have been left wondering what on earth non-horsey people do with their days off and boredom has reared its ugly head.

 

I have been out for lunch, cleaned the house, cleaned the car, walked the dog, read a book, been for a run, drunk buckets of tea and still I feel like there is a huge hole in my life. I have been back on a horse, after 4 weeks without my bum hitting a saddle, I have hacked a lovely mare from our yard. Not only has it been good for my muscles but its also proved invaluable for my soul.

 

 

I spent last Saturday at Quainton Stud, dressage writing for the combined training. The tests ranged from Intro - Novice and it was very interesting to listen to the judges opinions. I have a new found respect for judges at the lower levels, the difference in the ponies and horses and the huge variation in riding made the whole thing a complete muddle in my mind. I have some more dates throughout the year dressage writing at Bury Farm, including the PetPlan Area festival and the High Profile Show so there is that to look forward too.

 

My Mum and I went to Summerhouse Equestrian Centre on Tuesday and had a lesson each on dressage schoolmasters. My horse, Larry was trained to Advanced and was described as a flying change machine. He was slightly smaller than the horses I have ridden recently but it felt brilliant to ride canter and trot half pass and flying changes on an established horse. I couldn't stop grinning after each change, he made them feel so easy! I would recommend one of these lessons to anyone, if you are feeling a bit uninspired or want to practice movements your own horse is still learning. I was a bit hot and bothered afterwards but it was well worth it. There are a few videos on my Facebook page - Fran Woolman Eventing & Dressage.

 

Toy seems to be settled into his new routine, the yard is busy enough to keep him amused in the day and blissfully quiet overnight so he seems very happy. Unfortunately he is the messiest horse I have ever met in the stable, it normally resembles a pig sty in the mornings and I am fighting a battle to try and keep him clean!

 

 

 

The lameness story...

So the eventing season is officially over for Team Toy.....as is the dressage season and any riding for the considerable future. A bold statement I know and one that I could not have written last week through the tears. However, I am being brave and we have a plan, I just hope it works.

 

For those that don't know the story, Toy was first obviously lame on Sunday 12th April. He had been re-shod on the Friday and we had competed at Aston Le Walls on the Saturday. We went out for a little hack with his best friend Twist and about half way round he started to head nod.

 

He had a few days off and then over the following 2 weeks was intermittently lame. In this time our farrier took the shoe off, found what we thought was a bruise and I poulticed the foot. No puss, no heat, no swelling - nothing.

 

After a few days lunging and still looking sound I hacked again on Friday 1st May, on return to the yard he was the lamest he has ever been and I called the vet. I chose to give him 2 weeks completely off work, turned out in the field (the vet was in agreement that this was ok) and he had 10 days of bute in his feeds.

 

After this rest he had dramatically improved, almost sound in walk and trot in a straight line and only really obviously lame on the lunge on hard ground on the right rein. So off to the vets we went for nerve blocks and x-rays. Toy spent 2 days there and after very thorough investigations the vet had narrowed it down to somewhere below the pastern on the inside of the right foreleg.

What follows next has completely amazed me as the suggestion was for an MRI scan. A notoriously expensive investigation they have to be agreed by your insurance company prior to being done. We had the joy of a long bank holiday and my heart sank thinking we would wait forever for the scan. My lovely vet faxed the insurance claim forms on the Thursday evening and whilst I was standing in the field on the Friday morning, I had a phone call from my insurance company, not only did they agree I could go ahead and have the MRI but they had sent my own vets a cheque! The service has (so far and I'm not holding my breath!) been incredible.

Fast forward a week, Ann and I are sat in the Royal Veterinary College car park whilst Toy is inside having his scans, just amazing. After 6 hours waiting, Toy appeared looking a little sleepy, with a shaved neck and smelling very sterile! The vet at the RVC explained that he has an extensive lesion in the deep digital flexor tendon in his right fore foot and also some remodelling changes of the bones in both front feet, suggestive of navicular.

I have a remedial farrier booked for this coming Wednesday and will take some before and after photos of his feet for comparison. He is on 8 weeks box rest with in-hand grazing only for the first 4 weeks, then progressing to in-hand walking. Fingers crossed.

I kept a stiff upper lip at the vets and all the way home but don't mind admitting I have shed a fair few tears over the weekend. I will continue to write these blogs, in the hope that anyone else with a lame horse can read them and know that they are not alone, it is ok to be upset and not everyone will understand.

If all the love and support from the yard could heal, then Toy would be well on the mend already. We are a strong team and I love a challenge so with gritted teeth I am going to try and keep him sane for 8 weeks in his stable.....I left him this morning listening to Classic FM.

 

Releasing my inner dressage geek!

I nearly titled this blog "Becoming a dressage geek" but re-phrased it fairly quickly as I'm sure I have been a supressed dressage geek for a while now!

 

Whilst Toy is off games I have had my head stuck in various horse books and also been looking for sofa based ways to improve.

 

I came across a Facebook page called Master Dressage which had some really good hints and tips. One of them was to dissect your dressage test sheets in an Excel document, comparing scores and comments for each of the most common test movements. Below is a photo of my 'in progress' Excel document, I started with Elementary because I have only done 2 tests. I am currently working my way through the 6 Novice tests and then I will eventually get to the 20 Preliminary!

On a serious note I wish someone had suggested this when I first started riding dressage tests, it would make useful historical records, help to track progress and ultimately helps to highlight specific areas to work on in training.

 

Whilst working in Excel I took it one step further and created a page for recording my dressage scores so that I can easily see how far I am from qualifying for an Area Festival or Regional Championship. Easy to keep up to date after each competition and breaks down the total number of points and those gained from qualifiers.

 

I'm sure I never spent this long on homework at school! :)

A lame horse and some self reflection!

Horses are great levellers and it turns out that Toy's lameness may not be as straight forward as first thought.

 

He was lame on and off for a few weeks and in the end I called the vet as I did not know what to do next. She had a good look and a poke and we are still none the wiser. She suggested nerve blocks and x-rays but I went with my gut instinct and decided just to give him a few weeks off. He is just finishing his 10 day course of bute and will stay off work until Friday when we will trot him up and see what happens next. He is looking amazing, has a very shiny coat and is still as cheeky as ever. Getting him to eat the feed with bute in has proven a bit of a challenge but I have won him over with apples and carrots and a splash of apple juice instead of water!

All of this started just as I was re-considering my plans for the year, thinking that I might have a break from eventing and concentrate on dressage, aiming for an Area Festival qualification instead. Now to be honest I will be happy just to get back on board. I am not very good at being ill and it turns out I am not very good at having a horse off work either! I get so frustrated that it is out of my control and not knowing the cause really is a horrible feeling. I know I am not the first person to have a lame horse and I certainly won't be the last but it does test your resilience!

 

The first few events of the year have felt like very hard work, a fair few tears were shed after our elimination in the BE100 at Swalcliffe and I have had to remind myself that I ride for fun. I am not afraid of hard work and live for a challenge but have questioned why I want to step up...because I think I should, because other people expect me too or because I really want to do it? I still feel like I have a huge amount to prove to myself but then again I don't think I will ever be completely happy with what I have achieved at what ever level.

 

I have spent a few days wondering what on earth you do when you have no horse to ride but have since filled my time with a lovely trip to Devon to see friends and family, the yard has had a good tidy and my tack is sparkly clean. I have also been helping a few friends at the yard, pulling manes and videoing dressage tests. I love helping people with their horses, especially when they are trying so hard to get it right. It has helped put into context my feelings about eventing, every rider wants to achieve something, even if it just being a happy hacker, we all love our horses to bits. Those of us with higher hopes and a competitive streak all have our own battles and I know deep down that every achievement, however small should be celebrated. I am just not very good at taking my own advice!

 

Fingers crossed that Toy will be sound on Friday and we can start our rehab, I will walk him in hand for as long as it takes and be very cautious about getting back on board, however impatient I am feeling!

 

Aston Le Walls BE90 11th April

So after the dramas at Swalcliffe BE100 we stuck well within our comforts zone and went back to Aston Le Walls for the BE90 on Saturday. We had nice late times so spent the morning getting everything ready and left the yard at midday.

Toy all dressed up and ready to go!

The dressage area was surprisingly empty so I managed a proper warm up with plenty of transitions, changes within the pace and really asking Toy to sit on his hocks. Unfortunately, Toy does have a spooky side and the shadow of the judges box at C was just too much for him to handle! Even more annoyingly both canter transitions in the test were in the corners by the judge so they were not our best. I was pleased to score 33 and there were some nice comments, especially about his walk.

 

The show jumping warm up was going well until Toy stopped in front of a really plain upright, which we had already jumped several times, and I fell off! A bit shocked but unhurt I quickly got back on and jumped him again before my demons could catch up with me. Feeling refreshingly determined after the fall I kicked on round the course and although it was not pretty there was no way I was letting him stop. We had one annoying pole down but overall I was pleased.

 

Powered by the relief that the show jumping was over, the X-country course felt  straight forward and rode well. Toy went off out of the start box like a rocket and made it all feel easy. The only small issue was a few sharp-ish turns where Toy landed on the wrong leg and then tried to do a mid-gallop flying change, only changing in front and becoming disunited. Not so much of an issue for him at 90 as he will jump from any pace but something to bear in mind for the future.

 

No videos this time round as Team Toy and Team Twist had joined forces and we only had Anne on the ground to help.

Sharing his haynet with best friend, Twist

 

Since Aston, Toy has been intermittently lame in front :(

 

It became apparent as we had a little hack out on Sunday, just in walk as we were heading back to the yard he felt uneven. He has had 3 days of bute and rest and was checked by the physio on Wednesday. She thinks it his front right leg and probably coming from his shoulder. He has no heat or swelling in either leg or foot and at times, especially when cantering round the field, looks fine!

 

Thursday I lunged him in the pessoa and he did some lovely work, even throwing in a few bucks. Today is Toy's birthday and we celebrated with a lesson this morning with Ann Bostock, he felt amazing and she agreed that he looked sound, until the last bit of work on the right rein, we did one shoulder in and then he started to nod...immediately we stopped and walked him off. Carrot stretches, leg stretches and shoulder massages are the plan for the next few days....along with some happy hacking in straight lines in walk only.

 

Fingers crossed it will all settle down and we can get out and about again soon!

 

Swalcliffe BE100 21st March

Last week around work I spent my time preparing for Swalcliffe ODE, we had a brilliant time XC schooling on Tuesday and I had a fantastic dressage lesson on Friday with Ann. I felt well prepared and we set off in the lorry on Saturday morning with Tracey and her new horse, Twist.

 

On our way there, luckily we had pulled in to fill up with diesel and we were not on the road but the clutch broke! Our knight in shining armour Eddie the mechanic came to our rescue and after only half an hour delay we were back on our way! Who ever said unnecessary stress wasn't good for you...Tracey and I had been busy planning how to get the horses home!

 

As soon as we arrived I left Toy on the lorry with my Mum and Dad keeping a watchful eye on him and jogged round the XC course. I should have perhaps in the past taken more notice of BE100 courses as it looked quite big and there were a few technical lines. However, I felt like I had prepared for the step up and was actually pleased it would be a true test of our ability.

 

Warming up for the dressage I tried to remember everything from my lesson the day before and worked Toy quite hard....leg yield, shoulder in, simple changes, our newly developing half pass and before I knew it we were off down the centre line. I haven't had chance to school on grass over the winter and Toy struggled with his balance, particularly on the downwards transitions. I later found out we had scored 29.5 and I was over the moon!

 

We warmed up for the show jumping, knowing it is my weakest phase but with the knowledge that we had jumped well a few weeks before at Aston Le Walls. We started well over fences 1 and 2...3 and 4 were a bit sticky and I think I just took my leg off. The double at 5 he got a bit close to the first element and then knocked a pole on the second part but he didn't shoot off like he can do at home when he knocks them so I was pleased. We re-grouped well for fences 6 and 7 and the at fence 8 he stopped and I fell off! It was a bit of a shock as one minute we were jumping quite nicely and the next I was on the floor, unscathed but stuck between the poles and wings because of all the flowers! The very nice arena helper gave me a leg up and we jumped it the second time. Fence 9 was fine and then at fence 10 Toy decided to stop/spook and off I came again! I think I was feeling a bit defeatist by that point and watching the video back I could probably have stayed on but I really didn't think he would do it again.

So 2 falls in as many minutes meant I had to chat to the medic and was not allowed to go XC. Very annoying but probably for the best as I would not have set out in the right frame of mind. Even more annoyingly for me I know that about 99% of my riding is in my head and my confidence is easily knocked. I have spent the last 2 days reflecting on the falls ranging from "I'm never going to try a BE100 again" to "For gods sake just get on with it".

 

What I have tried to remember is that eventing is my hobby, I do it because I love it and for no-one else's benefit but my own. I should enjoy it and if it isn't enjoyable then there is no point putting myself under all that pressure. I want to achieve the most I can with Toy....as long as we are still having fun along the way.

 

Unfortunately I cannot get the day off work for Ascott Under Wychwood so we will have to wait until the 29th April for the new event at Whitfield. In the mean time we are going on a Sponsored Ride and may take a late entry into the unaffiliated ODE at Aston Le Walls.....just a few things to keep us busy!

***Since writing this blog I have had an "emergency" jump lesson and came out of it wondering why I had not ridden like that at Swalcliffe...as Charlie Unwin would say I am filling my mind with good positive memories and have my confidence back!***

 

 

Aston Le Walls BE90 8th March

So the 2015 eventing season has officially started!!

 

I spent last Saturday running around getting things organised and walking the XC course and then went to bed early with an alarm set for 4am! With the lorry packed and Toy plaited we set off out of the yard in the dark and arrived at Aston Le Walls just after dawn. Team Toy was down the bare minimum as it was just Lynne and I in the lorry and then Hicksy and Hamilton met us there.

 

The dressage warm up is cramped at Aston and despite the small number of lorries there seemed to be hundreds of horses. It was difficult to do the warm up I normally plan due to lack of space and I barely managed to canter a circle. However, Toy went into the arena like a pro and performed brilliantly. I tried not to rush the trot work and took my time performing each movement. I was pleased to see on the video that he is stretching forwards more into the bridle and only came back with a slightly shorter neck in some of the canter work. The last centre line was a bit wobbly but our halt was square and I thought the test had felt good. I scored 33.8 which I was a bit disappointed with to be honest, the test felt better than that but I could have written the test sheet myself as the comments are all things I already know and have just mentioned above. With hindsight I probably played it a bit safe and for such a simple test it then had no wow factor, plan for next time is to give it a bit more oomph!

 

Onto the show jumping and the all too familiar nerves returned...that horrible nauseous feeling cannot be mistaken for anything else and I think it will plague me forever! Toy was very relaxed in the warm up and jumped beautifully, not touching a pole. The show jumping course was straight forward, a few tight turns for a big horse but I know that he can loose impulsion on the turns in canter so I just kept me leg on and tried to remember everything I have been practicing at home. We went clear but I was a little disappointed with myself as it felt disorganised and a bit fraught....having watched the video it looks a lot better than it felt and I actually think we may have improved over the winter!

With a huge feeling of relief that the show jumping was over, I actually managed to eat something and we got changed ready for the XC. The course was what I had expected...the ground at Aston is flat so I was not concerned about fitness and there were no jumps that I was particularly worried about. Having said all that Toy and I haven't been XC schooling yet this year so I did wonder what he would make of it all.

 

By the time I had walked to the start and had a canter round it was clear that Toy remembered what to do! We had a little wobble going out of the start box but he saw the first fence and we were off! The ditch was early in the course at fence 3 and I was undecided before hand whether to bring him back to trot or just kick on...he was feeling bold so I just collected the canter slightly, let him have a brief look and before I knew it we were over. He jumped the rest of the course easily and even leapt into the water causing a huge splash, it was all over so quickly and he made it all feel so easy.

So we finished our first event of the season on 33.8 and a double clear! Over the moon that he has just come out after the winter, 6 months since his last event and just picked up where we left off. Cannot wait for Swalcliffe, our first BE100!

 

 

Jump lesson 2nd March

So the pre-season training has not gone to plan over the past week, the lorry would not start which meant we could not get to the Mandy McGlynn show jumping clinic and then for one reason or another we have not been X-Country schooling either. Luckily I had a jump lesson booked on Monday with David.

 

There were a few new jumps in the arena but I asked not to jump them as Toy can be a bit difficult with new fillers and I really just wanted to feel confident jumping and to end on a high.

David set out a figure of eight with four jumps in the arena. First of all just with poles and using the repetition of cantering round and round to get Toy to settle. I have never asked Toy to do a flying change but he knows how to do them and if he lands on the wrong lead after a jump he will change himself, so this exercise was quite good as I could get used to asking him to change canter lead over the second poles.

David then put the jumps up and I just popped round the figure of eight in each direction. He also set up a skinny fence on the centre line at one end so I could vary the route and get Toy thinking. Even though it was a fairly simple exercise I finished the lesson feeling amazing, I now feel so relaxed about jumping Toy and am happy to sit up straight and wait for the jump rather than panicking and either dropping him or chasing him on the last stride. Toy didn't chip in any short strides or get too close and balloon the fence so I was really happy.

 

 

Also, very pleased that the height of the fences are creeping up week after week and I am feeling more confident jumping bigger...even if David does put the poles up a hole or two when I'm not looking!

 

Next stop Aston Le Walls for our first event of the season on Sunday....cannot wait!!

 

British Dressage 23rd February

On Monday we went out to Bury Farm to do Novice 38 and Elementary 43. It was especially lovely because my Mum and Dad there to watch and as always they were a huge help. I was also lucky to have my trainer, Ann Bostock there as she was also competing. I have never had a trainer at an event before so it was nice to have her help in the warm up and after to reflect on the tests.

 

I had been working all weekend so had to get everything ready on the Friday before and I will admit I had not spent enough time learning my tests. Knowing that my Mum would be there I had not worried too much as she could call them for me....what I had forgotten is that the wind at Bury Farm can be awful and there were points in both tests where I had no idea what she was shouting!

 

I trialled a slightly longer warm up than normal and got on 45 minutes before our first test. I thought it might drag but it flew by and I was able to practice onwards and more collected strides, shoulder in, leg yield and do lots of transitions as well as giving him a few walk breaks.

 

We went into Novice 38 feeling good and it went well, no dramas and no huge obvious mistakes. I was very surprised when I checked the scores as we got 69.5% and had won the Restricted section. We came 3rd overall, beaten by two riders in the Open section and the scores were close so I was very pleased. The comments were fair, Toy needs to be more balanced in all his paces especially in the transitions and despite some improved difference today he still needs to cover more ground in the medium steps. The lowest marks were for our downward transitions from the counter canter to trot which is understandable and will hopefully improve with practice.

 

After a short break I warmed up again for Elementary 43. The wind was strong and Toy went into the arena feeling very spooky. He had a good look at the sponsor boards and did not really settle. I could have done with another lap around the edge before I went in but I am always wary of doing this after the bell has rung and then upsetting the judge. The test was tense and I made an error when I had absolutely no idea where I was going, which obviously cost me marks. We scored 61.2% and the comments were fair. When Toy is tense he doesn't engage his hind end as much and then he isn't soft over his back and feels almost impossible to ride.

Overall, another good day out and lots to learn from so we will keep practicing :) Unfortunately the wind played havoc with the videoing of the tests but they are good to learn from and I have found some good snapshots of the best bits!

 

Next stop, back to Bury Farm for a Show Jumping clinic with Mandy McGlynn....

 

 

Charlie Unwin talk 18th February

Last Wednesday I attended a talk by sports psychologist Charlie Unwin. I have been to another talk and a workshop of his in the past but this most recent one was definitely the best so far. I am not going to spout word for word everything Charlie said, it would have little meaning in this blog and I would probably be breaching copyright! However, I did make lots of notes and I will try to share some of them and their relevance.

 

I have spent a lot of time this winter doing what I call, non riding training, attending talks, reading books, watching videos. I was not sure how beneficial this would be as people always talk about time in the saddle but Charlie emphasised the importance of thinking about what you are doing and reflecting upon it and I now feel almost justified to have spent so long thinking about my riding and how I will improve. I loved his saying "know your own approach, know your own mind".

 

Charlie also talked about changing your vague ideas into clear plans and I realised I was very vague in one of my previous blogs....

 

"Secretly in my heart of hearts I think if we can achieve the top 10 placing's at BE90 and BE100 then we have a chance of qualifying for a Badminton Grassroots Regional final but that depends on how we go and how we fair against the competition!"

 

What I should have said is that we will achieve top 3 placing's at BE100 and we will qualify and compete at a regional final. Being clearer about my goal and taking charge of my season means I have a better chance of succeeding.

 

Charlie split the talk into sections, focusing on the before, during and after phase of a competition. How you reflect on the event, what went well and what went badly was really interesting and I actually think I have spent the winter in quite an enviable position. I ended the 2014 season with my best placing yet and have (unconsciously, until now!) used this as a bench mark for the coming year, aiming to replicate that amazing feeling and that achievement again.

 

Charlie also talked about writing things down in a notebook after each training session or competition. I realised that by writing this blog I am giving myself time to reflect and time to think back and benefit again from all of the things I am learning. It is sad to think that we will not be able compete this year whilst wearing the GoPro as watching the videos of my X-Country rounds has enabled me to re-live the moment and go back over the positive emotions and store them in my memory.

 

There was an exercise that I have heard Charlie talk about before, about your bubble, keeping the things you want to achieve in the middle with all the things that you can control. Then around the edge are all the things that are out of your control and the emotions or thoughts that you might have because of them. Since the first talk I attended a year ago I have tried to think about my bubble and I am now more aware of certain people or situations that provoke negative emotions, which allows me to block them out as I know they are out of my control.

I will end this blog with, I think, one of the most thought provoking quotes of the night....

 

 

HGV training

I have said from the beginning that this blog would be warts and all, the highs and the lows, the bad and the ugly...well, here goes!

 

I have spent the past week doing my intensive HGV training or category C in modern terms. This will allow me to drive anything up to 32 tonnes that has a rigid body and therefore allow me to drive Anne's lorry and give me the freedom to take Toy out on my own if needed. I passed the theory just before Christmas and waited until now for a whole week off work so that I could have a lesson every day.

 

I have driven quite a few vehicles, a few of my own cars, Hicksy's car and a 3.5t horsebox so I was not too worried about the vehicle itself but more the other people driving around me! I went to meet my instructor and we then drove into the suburbs of London to the test centre. Being a bit of a country bumpkin the suburbs of any city scare me even in a car so navigating my way round the Hanger Lane gyratory system in an 18t lorry in rush hour was not what I call fun! A week intensive course sounds like a good idea and it gets the job done but I would not recommend it to anyone who is trying to juggle work, a horse and general day to day life.

As the week passed by I had no major problems, no crashes, no stalling, didn't even hit the kerb but I had not at any point felt particularly confident. A few comments from my instructor about being a girl and lacking the physical strength made my blood boil and I wished I could see him handle half a ton of horse.

Well, today was test day. I later discovered whilst sat in the morning rush hour traffic that both my examiners daughters had horses so he was resigned to the equestrian way of life....I'm not sure if this endeared me to him or not!

To cut a long story short - I failed, purely for driving too slowly. The comment was that I drove "like I had a horse in the back" which is kind of ironic! The relief that this week is over is huge, I hadn't quite realised how stressful it had been and I am not too bothered about having to re-do the test, just glad that my week of driving and constantly thinking about driving is over!

Jump Lesson 10th February

On Tuesday I had a jump lesson with my trainer, David Britnell. I had not jumped Toy for a few weeks because of the weather and lack of time so I was not quite sure what would happen!

 

David set out a number of jumps around the arena, keeping them small to start with just linking them together into a course, they included a few uprights with cones and barrels as filler, a plank and a bounce. I was pleasantly surprised with Toy, he was keen and forward going and had not forgotten what to do! I had also clearly benefited from the break as I had no nerves and was able to sit up, keep my leg on and wait for the fence to come to me.

 

Please excuse my awful drawing below but it gives you a rough idea of the courses we were making up, jumping off which ever stride, encouraging Toy to think for himself and taking the pressure off me so I didn't get anxious if we got to close or he chipped in a small stride at the last moment.

 

 

 

I have had in the past a few bad habits, especially show jumping, which have all stemmed from my nerves. I have an awful habit of trying to take off before Toy, ending up with my weight on his shoulders and making his life incredibly difficult. My other habit is to drop the contact in the last stride before the fence, leaving him wondering what on earth is happening. Fingers crossed I am on my way to kicking those nerves and hopefully I will be able to enjoy the show jumping this year, rather than wishing it was all over.

 

Unfortunately there are no videos or photos from the lesson - I will try and ask an unsuspecting passer by next time!

International Eventing Forum 2nd February

The past week has been a bit of a write off with lots going on at work and a broken car I have not had much time for Toy and I am feeling very guilty! He has had an impromptu week off which I am sure has done him no harm but with my obsessive planning I like to be productive and am at my most relaxed when things have gone to plan.

 

Luckily for me, my enthusiasm for the looming event season was reignited today when I attended the International Eventing Forum at Hartpury College. Sitting in the arena surrounded by other enthusiasts and a few equestrian celebrities reminded me that even when the chips are down ultimately I love riding and especially the sport of eventing.

 

The morning sessions were with Christoph Hess, an FEI judge and renowned "international expert". I found the guinea pig rider, Sam Griffiths and his horse the most interesting as the horse was obviously tense and not swinging over his back, which is often my biggest fault with Toy. Christoph encouraged Sam to open the horses neck, encouraging the horse to seek the contact forwards and not drop back behind the vertical. Christoph asked Sam to ride shoulder in, giving the inside rein to encourage the contact from the inside leg to the outside hand. He then rode 15m circles in the corners, started the long side with shoulder in, then asked for medium canter, back to shoulder in and then another 15m circle in the next corner. The horse needs to be in front of the leg and the medium steps should be lengthened strides without excess speed. Sam rode some of the canter in a light seat. allowing the horse to stretch forward and round over his back. My take home message from the session was that flat work is not just about dressage but about gymnastic movements which are necessary for all three disciplines. Christoph clearly loves what he does and he was very encouraging.

 

Next there was a shorter session with vet Hugh Suttern and National Hunt trainer Charlie Logsdon, discussing the fitness needed for event horses. It was interesting to hear Charlie say that the modern event horse tends to stay consistently fit all year and competes more regularly. This was reassuring for me as I never really let Toy completely down in his fitness, other wise he goes a bit crazy! Hugh and Charlie also emphasised the importance of keeping a record of everything you do with your horse, then you can look back and see how many times you  galloped the week before an event for example and if that event was good/bad, then adjusting your training plan and do things differently next time around.

 

After lunch the afternoon session was with the legendary Andrew Nicholson, he rode four horses varying from a 4 year old to an advanced horse, doing different exercises with each and I could have listened for hours. He explains everything so simply and obviously knows his horses inside out. He said he gives his horses very little warm up as there muscles are developed and as they have no injuries then they shouldn't need endless walking and trotting around before they jump. He expects them to concentrate as he gives them clear instruction and he expects them to follow with no room for misunderstanding or questioning. He also emphasised the importance of a round active canter for jumping, moving the canter forward and back but always riding the hind end.

Andrew rode a number of exercises starting with four jumps on a circle. They were only small vertical fences, one pole on each. He suggested verticals because then you could jump nearer the inside or outside wing to adjust your strides rather than using cross poles and having to jump the middle. He used some v-poles on verticals and oxers to give the horse something to focus on and said this was useful towards the end of a session when the horses was getting tired.

He also jumped two verticals that were only 5m from the wall of the arena, using planks instead of poles this time as he thinks they are more forgiving if the horse knocks them. He jumped these on a curved line and then jumped the plank on a shallow loop to a vertical and then onto the next plank.

 

His last more experienced horse jumped fences on a bigger circle, using a bounce, a vertical, then an oxer and another vertical.

He made the point that eventers need to jump economically to save energy over the x-country and also not learn to balloon simple fences as this will complicate teaching more complicated fences such as drops at a later date. His honest and simple approach was amazing to watch and very inspiring.

 

The key themes that I came away with are simplicity, keeping an active canter and maintaining ride-ability so that Toy is manoeuvrable, supple and ready for anything!

 

British Dressage 21st January

On Wednesday 21st January we ventured to Quainton Stud for our first day out competing in 2015, the weather was forecast to be the worst this winter but luckily for us the snow held off and it was just very grey and bitterly cold instead!

 

We had the luxury of slightly later times so we got ready without too much of a rush. Toy warmed up well and felt ok, not brilliant or awful, just ok. I tried to remember all the things Ann Bostock had said to me in lessons about creating impulsion and then containing it and I used lots of transitions and lateral work.

 

Our performance in Novice 37 was a bit like my plaiting skills, rusty and out of practice. However, our schooling over the winter has defiantly helped and Toy concentrated and listened to me throughout. Toy was tense and against my hand for a lot of the movements and tight over has back especially in the trot work. We wavered on the lines across the short diagonals in the give and retake the reins and annoyingly the old habit of stepping to the right with his hind end returned in the halt. I finished knowing that it was not our best test, I predicted a low 60% mark and I was right...62.5%.

 

I didn't have long between tests so I stayed on board and went back into the warm up, he unfortunately produced his best medium trots of the day in that second warm up session but at least I know they are achievable!

 

I went into Elementary 40 with a little "Whoop!" that I was even entering the arena to ride an Elementary test, not a big deal for some people but it felt like a huge achievement for me and Toy. We both relaxed more and although he still hollowed in some movements the overall performance was better. His quarters were in for a lot of the canter work and again he stepped side ways in the first halt. We need to show more difference in the medium steps but the counter canter has defiantly improved. There were moments where he felt as good as he does schooling at home and I was amazed when I saw the scores...67.7% and we had won the restricted section!

 

With hindsight I had put a lot of pressure on myself as it was our first outing of the year, we had entered our first Elementary test and Toy has been schooling brilliantly. What I should have done is relaxed, remembered that it was freezing cold so he was bound to be tight over his back and that we both need to practice our " performance".

 

Watching the videos back I may have been a little harsh on myself, the Novice test in particular felt awful to ride but it goes down in the book as test practice and that is what we need. I have made a mental note to sit up straighter and roll my shoulders back and I need to bend my elbows more and carry my hands...the same old bad habits that have haunted me for years! We will keep practicing!

 

 

 

 

Dressage Lesson 12th January

On Monday I had a dressage lesson with Ann Bostock. It is only the third lesson I have had with her and she spent the first two telling me to get Toy moving forward off my leg, engaging his hind end more. I was pleased on Monday that our practice has paid off and I can now create enough impulsion and am actually able to half halt properly!

 

The wind and rain were horrible and we were both soaked through by the end, however, Ann reminded me that this is no excuse for a poor posture and really encouraged me to roll my shoulders back and lift my chin....quite difficult when the rain is lashing you in the face and you have water running off the peak of your hat!

 

After I had warmed up I did some work without my stirrups, trying to bring my knee back away from the knee roll on the saddle and really stretch my hip flexors. Fairly easy in walk and canter but painful and incredibly bouncy in trot! Ann pointed out that if I am competing at Elementary then the next step up is Medium and I really need to have sorted my sitting trot by then. I will keep practicing!

 

I know from practicing at home that Toy could do more counter canter than he was letting on and I had been working on riding a 10-12m loop back to the track at E or B, carrying the counter canter on round the short side of the arena and then down the other long side. We pushed it even further in the lesson and did the exercise above but carried the counter canter onto a 20m circle in the middle of the arena and added in peeling away onto 10m circles on the centre line on the correct lead and then back onto the 20m circle again. He was fantastic!

 

We had a play with the medium trot as well, making sure he is straight for a few strides and then really developing the medium strides across the diagonal. I need to give myself time to come back to working trot before the letter at the end though, otherwise the medium strides just fizzle out and here is no true transition.

 

We finished with a few leg yields and had a play with the shoulder in, I was able to sit to the trot during the exercises as Toy had really warmed up over his back and it was a lot easier to ride!

 

The video below is from schooling at home today....having a play at some of the exercises mentioned above and trying to make the rein back a lot less tense.

Flat work schooling at home
 

2015 Goals and Plans!

I am itching to get out and about now that it is 2015...I am excited about what this year could bring and love the planning!

 

My goals for 2015 are as follows....

 

- Compete in our first Elementary dressage test (already entered!)

- Achieve over 65% in all Novice dressage tests

- Qualify for a PetPlan Area festival at Novice level

- Have a go at an Elementary Freestyle to Music test

 

- Top 10 placing in our first one day event of the year, which will be a BE90

- Complete our first BE100 one day event

- Continue to compete at BE100 and achieve top 10 placing's by the end of the year

- Achieve sub 30 dressage scores in all our BE tests

 

Secretly in my heart of hearts I think if we can achieve the top 10 placing's at BE90 and BE100 then we have a chance of qualifying for a Badminton Grassroots Regional final but that depends on how we go and how we fair against the competition!

 

I have spent hours looking at my diary and the BE schedules deciding which events to go to and when. The very rough plan is below.....

 

March

- Aston Le Walls BE90

- Swalcliffe Park BE100

 

April

- Goring Heath BE100 or maybe Whitfield BE 100 later in the month

- Ascott Under Wychwood BE100

 

May

- Moreton Morrell BE100 or maybe Keysoe BE90

- Aston Le Walls BE100

 

June

- Ascott Under Wychwood BE100

- Berkshire College BE100

 

July

- Purston Manor BE100 or maybe Tweseldown BE100

- Upton House BE100

 

August

- Aston Le Walls BE100 (?? maybe Novice if the year is going really well!)

- Keysoe BE100

 

September

- Goring Heath

- Purston Manor

 

We have kicked on with winter training and went flying up the gallops today, Toy felt very well and certainly enjoyed himself! We have a jump lesson tomorrow and then will go for a long "fitness" hack on Saturday with plenty of hills and lots of trotting.

 

#kickon2015