All work no play?

This week has been full of work and only a tiny bit of play. I have become 'used' (and I use that word very lightly in this context) to the idea that for the next 8 weeks of my life I will not see a horse from Monday to Friday.

Let me explain a little further.

I am in my 3rd year at university where I am studying Journalism. My dream as a child was always to become an interpreter. Not many know this but I can speak German, Spanish, a little Japanese and English (of course). I used to be very fluent in them all but sadly as time has moved on I have lost my ability to speak in a range of different languages and now just usually stick to English. 

So, during Secondary School I was adament I would be an interpreter. I wanted to have an interesting job, work for the Police force as one and travel around. Sadly, when I moved to Lincolnshire my plans became a distant memory and here I am following my second dream: to become a Journalist.

3rd year is hell. I'm not going to lie, its the most awful time of my life. I have spent the past three days pulling my hair out, crying, screaming, shouting, moaning and ranting. Whilst being at university I have had to just deal with the fact that Monday to Friday is study time and weekends only are for equine adventures. That was until the beginning of 3rd year begun. Suddenly I found myself with more freedom than I've had in two years and I began to not leave Lincolnshire to go to university until a Monday night and then would go home again on a Thursday. Looking back now I was an idiot and could have got so much more work done if I hadn't have been in a rush to go home.

Anyway, you can imagine my excitement when an old friend, Sam, from my previous yard in Nottingham asked me go and see her and her new horse this week. When I say friend I do mean so much more. I remember throughout my teenage years she was like a second mum to me. We would often joke she was my adoptive Mum and through the years when I lost all my confidence she would be the one standing in the wind and rain with me in the menage willing me to just jump the tiny cross pole.

She keeps her horse not too far away from university so it didn't take long to get there and the whole way there I was really excited. When I arrived I was equally as excited to learn that the girl, Sarah, who used to loan Ceaser - in his naughty days - was there too! It was like a Bowleys Farm reunion and now all we needed was the ample water and poo fights we used to have.

Sam now owns a gorgeous 17.2h ex racehorse called "Chester" and I was lucky enough to be able to have a go.

All week Sam has been messaging me telling me not to expect too much when visiting her but when I arrived at the yard I instantly fell in love. The horses are all turned out in three or four big fields, the stables are big, the menage is nestled in woodland and at a short few steps away from the stables you walk into a adventure. The woodland there is fantastic, it goes on for miles and the liveries have all built some natural fences in there. I truly believe you could hack out all day and not hit one road. Everyone that arrived on the yard greeted me and stood speaking to me like we'd been friends for life. The atmosphere was lovely and I just couldn't get the riding opportunities there out of my mind.

I was lucky enough that Sam let me borrow Chester for a ride and took me down into the woods so I could have a jump on him. He truly is brilliant and if Sam ever sells him I would snap him up instantly. He doesn't at all ride like a 17.2hh and if you remember one of my previous posts I declared I hated riding big horses. Chester though didn't ride like he was so big and I felt comfortable; which doesn't usually happen on something bigger than 15.2hh. He has an amazing jump and his lateral work is brilliant. I have thoroughly had my faith in ex racehorses restored.

Apart from riding, myself, Sam and Sarah spent the day reliving our "youth" at Bowleys Farm and the fun we used to have. It was lovely to hear some of the stories about Ceaser's previous naughty behavior and the things he used to get up to. It seems escaping into the village (which was a good 2 miles away from the old yard) and destroying lots of Garden plants used to be his habit. How did I ever forget all that?

If I ever am competing Nottingham way for a couple of days I will certainly be taking Ceaser to this yard. I am pretty confident we would have so much fun exploring the woodland and jumping those brilliant fences!


Overall I had a fantastic day and it was lovely to be in the company of some equine friends during the week and I certainly have missed days like I had yesterday.

Thank you to Sam and Sarah for taking my mind of the ever growing list of university work I have had this week and for a lovely day.

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Have a little patience...

This weekend I was reminded just how rewarding time, patience, fun and love is for our equine friends.

Lately I have found my self being so wrapped up in my competing I forget to take time out and have a bit of fun time with Ceaser. I try to hack him out at least once a week and jump every other week to keep his mind fresh from schooling and going through dressage moves several times.

Although, just lately I have let it slip and just focused on perfecting Ceasers leg-yield, shoulder in or collected canter. When I was younger on our old livery yard I remember watching the yard owners daughter flying over a jump that got bigger and bigger every time she cleared it. She used to be my idol and one day I told myself I would be like her. Everyone asked her ride their naughty ponies and everyone loved her. She was brave and had a huge dedication for getting to the very top of her sport.

Sadly, a few years after we left I went back to the yard to find work had gotten in the way and left her unable to compete. Its such a shame as she was a fantastic rider. I remember being at that yard and just riding all day having fun with my friends. We didn't care we had a local riding club competition coming up the following weekend and our ponies weren't the neatest on the yard but that didn't bother us.

It seems such a million years ago I was once a rider that rode just for "fun" and my pony rarely saw the end of a hose ready for bath time. Now I'm usually found wanting to perfect my collected canter or shoulder in dressage move and my horses are all pristine. Don't get me wrong, I'm the first at the yard to be up for a hack to the pub for fun or join in with the pony games the children on the yard are playing but I also want to get to the top in my sport and I believe I have the drive and dedication to get there.

As I said though, lately I feel I've forgotten how to have fun and I shouldn't.

My reminder of time, patience, fun and love came in the form of Frosty. If you saw my blog post last week I introduced Frosty as our latest addition. He's a 14.1hh 5 year old New Forest cross Cob. He was described as backed but never done anything further. Frosty came to me a nervous little soul. You can tell he's friendly, means well and doesn't have a vicious bone in his body but for some reason he's nervous and every time I have gone to lean over his back he has tensed up and I've lost several hours of sleep wondering why.

I've spent the past two weeks working with Frosty on the ground. I've left him tied up for an hour with a haynet in the barn so he has had to watch people coming and going past him. Weekends are relatively busy at the yard and a lot goes on so I thought it would be good for Frosty just to stand and take it in.

So far he has been nothing but a perfect gentleman on the ground and his manners are excellent. Somewhere down the line he has been started off well and it is evident someone has spent a lot of time with him.

When we got Frosty I had a summer project in mind and Dad told me he wanted him for the riding school. I thought it would be my perfect opportunity to prove to Dad I was capable and bring this pony on myself but as with everything I began to have my doubts after last weekend we seemed to be going backwards rather than forwards. A lot of the liveries were watching me work Frosty in the arena and he became very tense. Eventually I had to ask them to leave as he suddenly developed a problem of trotting past the gate where every body was lined up. I wondered then if I was even capable of doing this and whether or not just to tell Dad I didn't have time.

This weekend I thought about taking a completely different approach with both Ceaser and Frosty. I have been told I am a busy rider and make life difficult for myself so when I rode Ceaser this weekend I stayed quiet, didn't rush myself and didn't get wound up if Ceaser wouldn't work correctly. After 10 minutes it all came together and both rides I had over Saturday and Sunday I believe are the best I have had in a long time. Ceaser worked perfectly and produced some fantastic moves.

With Frosty I reminded myself I had been given six weeks to re-break and school him ready for the riding school so I didn't need to rush like I had initially wanted to. Saturday I took him in the arena, popped some trotting poles up and eventually made them in to a cross pole which he jumped like he had been a show jumper all his life. I noticed he has became very attached to me and everywhere I move his head follows. He is constantly looking for me and when I am lunging him he almost seeks acceptance from me to go forward and then he will. My Partner, Mark commented that he seems too watch my every move.

Conscious of the fact Frosty is not mine to keep but in fact for the riding school I asked Mark to take him for his first walk up the road. I walked next to him on the other side but didn't hold him so he had to seek reassurance from someone else. As soon as I stopped, Frosty stopped and when I walked slower to hold back a little he looked round for me. I have only spent a total of 6 days with this pony so far due to being at university but it is already evident he is attached to me and each day I find myself growing more attached to him.

Sunday I decided to test his trust and asked a girl at the yard to place some cones in the arena dotted around and a banner on the floor with a cone either side that he could walk over. Frosty also has a fear of mounting blocks so we put a plastic mounting block in the arena with a cone either side. After just ten minutes I had him trotting over every obstacle in there and trotting past a group of people at the gate.

Frosty's trust in an individual person is so evident. It is clear he is a one-to-one pony that seeks reassurance from his leader before accepting he has to do it.

Monday the yard was quiet as every one was either at work or school so I tacked Ceaser up and decided we would hack out. Usually I cannot hack Ceaser out alone as he is scared or gets so far up our lane then refuses to move forward. I just went for it, trotted him up the lane and repetitively told him what a "good boy" he was and patting him. The reassurance from me seemed to work as we got as far as the bridle path and managed to go for a good gallop. The feeling of just being there, you and your horse is amazing. I had honestly forgotten what it was like and promise myself I will do it more often. Ceaser was brilliant and had his ears pricked the whole way after our gallop.

With the yard still being quiet when I got back I decided to put a saddle on Frosty and just see what happened. I lunged him as usual but with the stirrups down so they flapped around on him. This was a fantastic achievement as he has never even been lunged in a saddle and eventually dropped his head in to a lovely outline almost as if he was finally accepting what was happening. I then took the lunge line off, let him go and stood staring at him. As I walked forward, he did. As I turned, he did. Just then I saw a livery coming down the hill towards us so I asked her to hold him for me.

The day before when I had tried just to lean over him he had tensed and suddenly moved away from me, however quiet I was. Today I slowly put my foot in the stirrup and just pulled my self up to sit on him. I honestly couldn't believe it and could have cried as he turned his head to look at me.

That's when it hit me. I spent too much time worrying about looking perfect for other people, worrying about what others were whispering about me when I was riding and worrying how long I have before my next competition that I stress too much. Here I was just a week later after telling myself I couldn't do it, sat on a pony that was just last week too nervous to let me lean over him.

Frosty had put all his patience and trust in me to look after him that when it came to wanting something back he just gave it me. From what I have heard about Frosty's past, the last time someone got on him he had them off so I feel so happy that he allowed me to get on.

For non-horse owners the feeling of achieving something like this is something they cannot even begin to think about experiencing but I am sure every equine owner reading this is reliving that moment they sat upon their horse for the first time.

I am sure so many of us spend too much time worrying what we look like or what we have to prove to others.

From now on I will be taking a step back after realising that time, patience, love and trust are things that really make a good equine relationship. How many trophies or rosettes you've won doesn't account to anything once you've gained the trust from a horse once wary of you.

Just have a little patience......

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In memory of my two best friends

I have been wanting to write this blog for some time now but so far have not found the words. Last night as I was lying in bed in the dark struggling to get some sleep I realised it was something I needed to do, even if just to let other horse owners know they aren't alone.

I remember the day so clearly, I was 15 and had not long lived in Lincolnshire on our new livery yard. The yard was still pretty much a building site but we had high hopes and visions in our heads what we wanted it to look like.

It was a Sunday morning, early on in March and all the horses were itching to go out. My dads gorgeous 16.2hh palamino gelding, Bertie was always a sweetie for anyone. He'd stand whilst you groomed him, looked after you if you rode him and were slightly nervous. He adored my Dad and I and for those who are reading that and thinking "Don't be silly, you don't know that". I do. Bertie had character. For my Dad and I he was a superstar. Dad couldn't ride very well and I was still struggling with the aftermaths of my riding accident just a year before and for us both Bertie was a perfect gentleman. He is the horse I owe everything to, if it wasn't for him I never would have jumped again after my accident. I remember being 'made' to get on him just after having my pot taken off my arm and feeling so safe I just turned towards a jump that was up.

I remember that huge horse going so steady in to the big jump we were approaching and carefully lifting us both over. I remember the day my Dad and I hacked out with two women on our previous yard and me screaming at Dad to slow down as we galloped through the woods and my little 12.2hh bronked her way up. The smile on Dads face is one I'll never forget and the look of pure trust from both horse and rider is one that will stay with me forever. Bertie knew everytime he hit those woods he galloped. I remember telling Dad I was never hacking out with him again as he always just left me. I never stuck to my words and most weekends the four of us would get to the bottom of the woody hill, just look at each other and like a flash of lightening be at the top screaming how fantastic that was.

In the March our lives turned up side down and no one could have predicted what that day was to do to us all. Dad had tied Bertie up outside his stable and had got distracted whilst a friend came to look around the yard. Dad never tied Bertie up on a short rope as he swore blind "Bertie liked to move around and interact with the other horses". The decision that day was one that fills both my Dad and I with the same heart wrenching guilt every passing day.

It almost seemed to happen in slow motion and I am sure that is why to this day I can still see in my head exactly what happened. Everytime I vision it I just want to stop time and pull the lead-rope away from my gorgeous horse.

As I said, Bertie was tied up outside his stable and like any other day he was having a nosey round the floor and across the other stable. He must have got an itch on his face as he slowly lifted his back leg up and begun to itch his face with his hind hoof. All I could do was watch as his lead rope got stuck underneath his back leg and he fell to the floor. I didn't know what else to do apart from scream but Bertie got up, shook and acted like nothing happened. The relief that hit me that very moment was something I've never experienced before. He was okay. I checked him for lumps, bumps and any cuts. He had no evident injuries and Dad and I decided we would keep a close eye on him and if he seemed lame would get the vet.

Like usual, he went out in the field to play, came in at dinner time and ate all his dinner. The next day I had an entrance exam at a local girls school so I would be late turning them out. Due to this I gave everyone extra hay, Dad said his weekly goodbye to Bertie, told him he would see him next weekend as he works away during the week and we left.

The next day I arrived at the yard at roughly 11am and as I walked in to the barn I just knew. There was no usual sounds of horses eagerly awaiting to go out, no hooves impatiently banging the door showing their frustration in being in and as I walked down to Bertie's stable no one could have stopped me making the noise I made when I saw him. He was laying there, so peaceful looking but still. I ran and ran. I don't know where I was running to or why but I ran. I ran and I rang my dad. All I screamed was "He's died, Bertie's died". Dad sobbed and I put the phone down and rang the vet.

What seemed like eternity the vet arrived and told me there was nothing we could have done. Bertie must have damaged some internal organ when he fell and although he seemed okay it would have taken a while for his body to slowly shut down. The vet helped me cover him in his rugs and told my Mum we would need to arrange for someone to come and collect him.

Dad didn't want him moving until he had seen him, so that afternoon Dad arrived and just sat with him all night. He didn't move away from his best friend all night and it was only the next morning when Mum told him he couldn't stay there that we managed to make him move. We both kissed him once more, cut a handful of his tail and Dad left. I waited for the "Peaceful Pets" crematorium man to pick him up and just couldn't leave him. I had to be pulled away from him and all I could do was scream and cling on to his gorgeous, sweet, kind face that I would never be muzzled by again.

The man from peaceful pets was wonderful, he promised to fetch me when he had Bertie loaded in the horse trailer so I could say my last goodbyes. Dad had arranged for Bertie to be cremated alone so we could ensure we had just his ashes back. It cost a small fortune but we both owed this gentle, loving horse everything.

I wish I had never gone to say goodbye once he was loaded in the trailer. It was a sight I will never get out of my head. He didn't look like him and I remember just sobbing for days. Dad immediately went off horses and didn't touch another for months. I could have easily done the same but I knew I had to carry on for the other horses. They needed me, they knew what had happened. A few years back we had rescued a small 13h Palamino gelding by the name of Jelly. As soon as we got him, he and Bertie had been inseparable. It was almost when Bertie died the life in Jelly was sucked out of him. I knew I had to carry on for Jelly's sake and so I turned him out in the field with Ceaser and hoped he'd find a friend in him.

A few months later Bertie's ashes came back in a lovely box we'd picked out especially. The box didn't get taken out of the cardboard box it was wrapped in for about 2 years after that as both Dad nor I could bring ourselves to open it. My request to have his shoe taken off and sent with his ashes had been approved and to this day his shoe and box of ashes sits on our mantle piece in the farm house.

Slowly Dad began to become involved with the horses again and he attached himself to our 15.2h black ex racehorse, Amy. Amy was like Bertie in so many ways. She had the same kind, gentle and caring look about her that Bertie did.

In December of the year Bertie died Amy suddenly went down in her stable. I heard a bang and ran to investigate. Although she got up it took longer than usual and worryingly I got the vet out immediately.

Vets tests came back inconclusive. All they could find wrong was some liver damage and we began treating that. No explanation as to why she suddenly went down but the vets assured us it was nothing.

Amy went off her food and getting her to eat was a chore. Each night I'd sit on a stool, spoon feeding her bran mash with molasses in to try and entice her to eat. I lost count of the endless hours I spent mixing and spoon feeding her. The vets warned me if she didn't eat her organs would begin to shut down. I'd lost one of my best friends, I wasn't about to loose another so I sat with her until she ate.

The sound of her licking up her bran mash and molasses was the best sound in the world. I shouted for Dad who just showered her with kisses. At that moment we thought it would all be okay and we had our Amy back.

In January we were bringing Amy in from the field when suddenly she went down again, this time in the middle of the barn. We immediately rang the vets and were told to put a straw bedding around her, keep her warm and they would be on their way. Thankfully just 5 minutes before they arrived and an hour after she'd first gone down, she got up and looked at us all like we were bonkers. Probably wondering what all the fuss was about.

I knew deep down it was happening again. We were loosing another best friend. I told Dad I didn't think it was fair to make her struggle on like this. With the vets advice we gave her another chance and agreed if she went down once more and we couldn't get her up then we would have to consider doing the kindest thing and putting her to sleep.

We went through some really good months. The vets couldn't work out what was wrong with her so we just carried on treating Amy as we had done. She was now eating, walking and running around like normal and she had everyone baffled. We had a back person out to Amy to try and see what was wrong with her. He couldn't find anything wrong and promised us it was not her back.

When she went down no matter how hard we tried we couldn't get her up. We had people pushing her bum, one pulling her up but nothing worked. She just wouldn't, or couldn't get up. It was horrible to see and very upsetting. I was adamant this was happening because of what had happened to Bertie. It was someones way of punishing us and no matter how many times the vet told us to not feel guilty, I did.

The following March I was due to go and see x-factor live in Nottingham. Just before I was due to leave Amy went down in her stable and this time I knew it was bad. Dad told me to go and he would update me through the night. I would only be gone 4 hours and he promised he would sit with her. Half way through the concert I rang Dad and his words brought my world crashing down.

"Its time Sian". I begged him not to do anything until I was there and combined we made the decision he would sit with her until I got back and then I would take over and we would give her until the morning to get up. All night we tried everything to make her get up but slowly you could see she was giving in. The fight in her was going and I could tell she was tired.

At 8am that following morning I rang the vet. If Amy was going to get up she would have by now and the vet was on her way. I will always be thankful to the lovely vet who came out. Without her there I would have never have gotten through that dreadful day. She examined Amy and finally we had answers. Amy had become paralyised from the bum, down. We told the vet how she had been a racehorse in her younger years and she told us that it was most likely and old injury had caused this.

Questions in my head swirled round. Why had no one picked this up before? Why had the endless amounts of vets who had seen Amy before not realised this?
The lovely vet with her now said it is something that probably wouldn't have been detected until it struck. Unfortunately this was now and there was nothing we could do. Dad sobbed and offered all the money in the world to make her better. The vet told us the only thing we could do was some how keep her stood up but it would mean she wouldn't ever be allowed in the field, or out of her stable. What life would that be for a horse?

At that moment the hardest decision of our lives was to be made. We knew the kindest thing to do would to put Amy to sleep. I fed her all the carrots and treats we had as someone turned out the other horses for us. She neighed loudly as the others were turned out and she desperately tried to get up but just couldn't. It was heart breaking seeing her want to get up and the frustration in her face because she couldn't. My girl fought right until the end.

Together Dad and I decided we wanted the injection to be used and then Dad walked away. I couldn't leave my girl, so whilst the injection was administrated I held her head. The fight in her was gone then. She kicked her front foot out and I just held onto her head tighter and tighter until the vet told me it was time for me to leave.

What seemed like eternity I was called back and both Dad and I were told she was gone. We clung to one another and that was only one of two moments we've hugged and cried together.

I was only 16 yet in the past year I lost two of my best friends. I made that decision to have her put to sleep as Dad simply couldn't. I often think back now, what if I'd let her live, would she have gotten better, would she have been okay?

For weeks after I rang the vet who put her to sleep. She had kindly given me her mobile number and told me to text or ring anytime I had questions. I spent endless hours on the phone to her questioning what had happened and slowly I begun to realise that Amy couldn't have lived a good life if we had kept her alive. It wouldn't have been fair. But to me what had happened wasn't fair.

Two years later out of curiosity I flicked through the Ad-Mag horse classified section with Dad and we intriguingly rang a number asking about a horse for sale. I don't even know why we were ringing but something that day made us ring and on the day Dad went to view the horse I got a phone call.

"I went to look at the horse, but as I walked through the barn I saw another. Sian he looks just like Bertie and Amy combined. Its unbelievable, you have to see him." exclaimed my Dad.

So, not really knowing what I was doing or where I was going I drove the 2 and a half hours to go and see this mystery horse that wasn't even for sale. As I walked up to him I knew exactly what dad meant. This horse sniffed my hands inquisitively and I saw the same look in his eye I saw in Bertie's and Amy's. I saw the kindness in his eyes, the sweet face. It sounds stupid but I saw my two best friends I'd lost.

Somehow Dad managed to convince this man to sell his best hunting horse, one that he said he'd never sell.  I don't know how he did it but when I went to view him the seller was adamant he wouldn't let him go.

"Khalisa" arrived with no name and only his racing name to go by. "Lay the Cash". Dad decided he would name him after the horse he rode in Malta whilst we were on holiday. Khalisa in Malta was the only horse Dad ever got on after Bertie and Amy died. He never rode another horse and told us he never wanted to, but for some reason this small chestnut gelding attracted dad whilst on holiday and not so long after we had our own chestnut Khalisa at home.

Khalisa has proved to be difficult but if I'm honest he hasn't done anything Bertie didn't do when we owned him. If you could ride and Bertie knew it he would be so naughty for you. Yet when I got on he was the sweetest thing. Khalisa reminds me so much of Bertie when being ridden and Amy when you're in his stable.

Something made Dad buy Khalisa and I am sure one day he will find the guts to get back on. For now Khalisa is on loan at our yard and Dad just enjoys spending time with him on the ground. For those who ask why don't we sell Khalisa as he is clearly too much for Dad will never understand the real reason we have him.

I still have dreams that Bertie is galloping towards me in fields yet never quite reaches me. I don't know what this means and wish I did.

This is dedicated to my two best friends who are gone but never forgotten. On the anniversary of the month we lost you both I wanted to do something to ensure it was still clear I thought about you both.
Both Bertie's and Amy's ashes now sit in boxes either side of the fire place in the farm house. None horsey people that come round think we're mad having too relatively big wooden boxes just sat there but we know why.

To my darlings, Bertie and Amy.
7 and 6 years on and we still miss you.

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Introducing "Hundlebys Lovatt First Sight"

I haven't introduced my new little project properly and I am dying to show him off.

"Hundlebys Lovatt First Sight", Frosty is a 14.1hh New Forest x Cob (we think). He is 5 years old, was backed at 3 and then left to mature in a field for 2 years. I don't really know a lot about his history and although I know he was backed I'm not sure what he has done.

My initial plan with him was to go right back to basics and take it really slow with him but Dad has given me 6 weeks to get him ready for the riding school so on the day he arrived I thought I would test the waters and throw scary things at him.

So far he has taken everything in his stride, he's had a saddle on, lunges in a bridle, lunges with side reins and I have leant over him whilst he is walking. I really don't think that re-backing him will be a problem as he is such a kind little pony that he wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone, its just his nerves that are getting in the way.

As I said, I am not sure about his past and I wish I knew. His nerves are the main problem standing in the way at the moment. If there are more than two people stood around him he panics and doesn't like groups. I have also found that if you rush over to him he panics and you need to approach slowly. This could be because he is in a new place with new surroundings, smells and people but I am hoping he will learn to trust soon.

Frosty is my 6 week project and I am very excited to have the opportunity to bring another youngster on. I have been given this opportunity before, both with Ceaser and Sara my 12.2hh but never have I been given a deadline. Although the pressure is on I am loving every moment of it and in just three days notice a huge difference in Frosty.

I will be blogging about Frostys progression throughout the next few weeks and how he is getting on. This weekend he has been lunged for half an hour every day and I have leant over his back both whilst standing and in walk. As well as this I have been walking him in-hand around the yard to try and get him used to different surroundings. Already I have had plenty of offers to buy him and in just three days could have sold him a few times over. I am back at university now and wont be home until Friday so he is having four days off to relax in the field and take everything in from the weekend.




I think it is safe to say, this little sweetie wont be going anywhere!

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Pony riding VS Horse riding

I can't say too much on this topic because I have recently just been interviewed by a magazine for the same thing but I wanted to discuss "adults riding ponies" and what people think of it.

As you may know by now, I am a pony rider. I show ponies and compete in dressage competitions and veteran showing classes with my very own 14.1h coloured cob cross, Ceaser.

Today at my universities final BUCS equestrian competition of the season I was unlucky enough to draw the same horse I did last year at Leicesters home yard for dressage.

My horse was a 16.3h ex hunter and eventer and very powerful. Last year when I rode him he sadly had cancer of his eye and I was upset to find he had unfortunately had to have his eye removed. Although this doesn't stop him from working and he still loves dressage.

I knew from how the ride on him last year went that I would have my work cut out. I am a very slim size 6/8 and only 5ft 6 so I don't have a lot of weight behind me. Breaking both wrists two or three times hasn't helped either and put on something that big I look like a pea and just can't get my weight behind it to make it work.

My horse produced three satisfactory dressage tests for the other girls who rode him and all got off saying how awful he was. To me they had done a good with him and being last to ride him I really did have my work cut out.

As soon as I got on he was rearing to go. Despite wearing a flash noseband he still manages to grit his teeth together and lean on the bit. The rein in which he has lost his eye is very stiff and I just knew I wasn't going to do very well. No matter how much I asked for him to soften he didn't and the more I pushed forward and asked for him to soften and come down on to the bit he wouldn't and got more angry. I tried to push on through his tantrum but I just wasn't strong enough to hold and support his weak left side at the same time.

I felt like I really wanted to wrap my legs around him and almost support that weaker rein, whilst asking for more impulsion from him but at the same time ask him to go rounder and soften rather than tensing. I can understand from the horses point of view that softening and going rounder may put himself in a vulnerable position.

We went in and produced a rather tense test. It has to be the worst test I have ever ridden. Every movement I asked for he would resist and go above the bit as to ignore my aids. I think he only managed to soften on every few strides but would still soon resist. I feel if I had more weight behind me like the other girls I could have used it to my advantage but I have none there to use!

My Jumping went very differently. There was a variety of horses available to draw out of the hat and again I was willing to not pick the big 17h ex 2* eventer. I've seen him jumped before and knew I wouldn't gel again. Also in the mix was a 14h pony club pony that had a cracking pop on it. I was lucky enough to pick the pony and was happy with my draw.

We went on to produce a fantastic round and I felt in my comfort zone once more.

So this brings me to my topic. What are peoples opinions on adults riding ponies? Often when I arrive at a show or dressage competition I can see people looking and laughing when I bring Ceaser off the lorry. Most are probably thinking "How the hell is that small cob cross going to produce a decent elementary test?". Its funny really as many are quick to judge before seeing ceaser being worked. I've had it from people at the yard and STILL have the odd livery coming to watch or staring as they walk past the menage where I am working Ceaser.

So what, I am a 21-year-old riding a pony. Does it matter? Does it make a difference? Usually we stop all staring when Ceaser goes on to win his Elementary class with a percentage in the very high 60's beating a lovely 16.2h.

I know many adults that ride ponies and do it because they prefer it. I will be honest in saying I just don't gel with horses. I have many opportunities to ride one and am often being pressured by my boyfriend and dad to ride my dads 16.2h TB ex racer and school him to affiliate. In all honesty? I don't want to. I am quite happy on my ponies. It doesn't make me any less of a rider because I will quite happily get on a horse for someone having difficulty but on the other hand I will also quite happily get on a little pony who is being difficult.

Many top show producers are adults on ponies and although Ceaser may not be a big 16.2hh warmblood type he is still working at the same dressage level as some of them.

I wouldn't like to trust children riding Ceaser though and often you will find ponies that just aren't suitable for children. I have been told many of times that Ceaser is a horse stuck in a small body and many believe he rides more like a horse.

I will leave this there and comment more when the magazine article I am featuring in comes out but next time you see an adult riding a pony, don't snigger - because often the ponies are more difficult than horses. Maybe you're the one whose taken the easy route?

I have included some photos of me riding my ponies and one of me on my dads horse, just to show adults CAN ride ponies.

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"Hunting and Dressage in one weekend? You must be mad!"

I must be mad and the next time I tell someone I want to do something extreme with Ceaser, the day before I intend to do an affiliated dressage event I want them to remind me of this very moment where I am laid in absolute agony.

Yesterday was fantastic. For a few weeks now I had been planning on going to the local hunts closing meet with Ceaser and seeing what he was like to hunt. I've never taken him before and was worried he would spend most of the time on two legs as that is usually what he does when excited.

Friday evening, not only did I need to bath and plait Ceaser but also had a massage at 5pm. Somehow, I managed to fit it all in and finally sat down for dinner late Friday night after going through my "to do" list for the weekend just once more in my head just to ensure I hadn't forgotten something.

Saturday morning arrived and I was quite excited. I haven't hunted for a few years now and was eager to get back out in the field and join in. I enjoy hunting and think its a fantastic way to keep your horses fit, healthy and rearing to go. As I mainly do dressage and showing on Ceaser I thought it would be a brilliant change for him and enable him to have a good stretch of his legs. Rarely when we are out hacking do I allow him to have a good canter, let alone gallop so I was sure he would enjoy it.

Standing around before the hunt set off I was relatively surprised at how relaxed he was, especially when the dogs were let out as usually he hates dogs! It was only when we were signaled to set off that I realised just what was in store for me and did I find exactly how strong my pony really is!

As soon as everyone else set off I could feel him wanting to go. I was told previously to position myself at the front if he is the type to not like being left behind and so off we went closely following the hunt master. A friend had given me some typical hunting advice and said "If he tries to misbehave sit up, hold on and kick on!" so I did just that and I can honestly say I had the best 2 hours out I have had in a long time.

Usually whenever I take Ceaser places I'm usually wiping endless stable stains off, or restitching plaits in that have fallen out or wiping my boots off. It was nice to be able to relax a little and although we had to be turned out correctly I didn't feel the usual pressures of the show ring.

Ceaser seemed to thoroughly enjoy the morning and only popped in a few bronks as we set off but apart from that he was relatively well behaved. We even popped a few fences which felt amazing. The adrenaline you get from doing something like hunting is so different to that of showing and dressage and I really felt it was important for both Ceaser and I to go out and do something different for a change.

Don't get me wrong, he was strong and I didn't feel like I had much control most of the way but I enjoyed it and as we set off at a gallop across one field I could feel he was enjoying it just as much as me so I did what I was told; sat up and kicked on!

Everyone I told that I was planning on doing two dressage tests after a mornings hunting looked at me like I had suddenly grown two heads and told me I was absolutely bonkers. "Expect to enter A in working canter and bronk" were some comments and inside I was just thinking "Please don't let me down Ceaser".

I honestly do not think he is the type to go out and do something and then come home very tense and fizzed up. I wouldn't have expected him to do both in the same weekend if I thought much different.

On Sunday as my alarm started buzzing at exactly 7:50 I did think to myself what am I doing? I could barely move for aching and a few extra hours in bed would have been welcome. No pain, no gain though right? So I shot up and in record time was dressed, ready to go and down the yard with travel boots on the pony.

In the warm up he felt amazing. Maybe a little slugish but that was to be expected. I haven't mentioned before but Ceaser has a very sensitive pink nose and when it is sunny he sometimes nods his head a little. Sometimes I do wonder if its more of a habit than anything though as when he is really concentrating he "forgets" to do it. Today was a particularly bright and sunny day though and I was struggling with his head shaking and my sore arms.

This I think showed in my marks and reflected on our percentage. I was deeply mortified by a 4 in one test for my give and retake and the comment of "hardly showed give and retake, ponies head stayed in same place" yet in my next test I got a 7! I did the exact same thing. Apparently that particular judge is a very harsh marker and I suppose in the dressage world you will always get one of those judges who likes to be that extra bit picky. I was a little annoyed though as I cannot help that Ceaser keeps his head in a lovely outline even if I let go of the reins a little! Surely that shows a well mannered pony? Who knows?

Anyway, I felt both tests had gone reasonably well despite only being out hunting just 24 hours before. I ached in places I didn't know existed and if Ceaser felt even as half as achy as I did then we'd both done very well considering. Our final percentages came to 60.83% in Prelim 14 and 63% in Prelim 13. Admittedly not as good as last time but to be fair it was only our second attempt at affiliated level dressage. Sadly as I mentioned in a post just this week Ceaser is a pony that likes to be kept busy and prelims just aren't busy enough for him. He works wonderful in a Novice or Elementary so I think now I need to aim at moving up.

I think what I will work towards now is becoming affiliated so I can do more than prelims and move on to tests he excels in rather than just walks through with his eyes shut! Saying that, it is always brilliant to get judged by different people, if you weren't, competing would become boring.

I am so pleased to be able to say that Ceaser and I have qualified for the British Dressage Petplan Equine Area Festivals as well. To qualify for this you need to gain two percentages over 62% in Prelim or Novice at affiliated level. I cannot believe that my once little green pony who couldn't do much has now qualified for a prestigious event like this one. I am so excited and cannot wait to get booked in.

It is only March and already I have qualified for a championship I had in mind. That is one "to achieve before the end of the year" crossed off my list!

Overall I have had a fantastic weekend and would like to take this opportunity for all at the South Wold Hunt for making me feel very welcome and especially to Kate for looking after both Ceaser and me. The advice of "Sit up and kick on" certainly worked and I had the most enjoyable weekend I have had in a while.

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New sponsor to work alongside!

I have some very exciting news that has made these past two weeks seem surreal.

As many of you may know, for the past few weeks I have been searching for some sponsors to closely work alongside and help me develop my career in becoming a part time dressage rider.

My move from unaffliated dressage to affiliated has been nice to me so far and I am finding it alot less scary than what I originally thought!

I am now pleased to announce that both Urban Horseware and Global Herbs have agreed to sponsor me and I am happy to welcome them on to The Sian Lovatt Equestrian and Journalism team.

Urban Horseware a new clothing company that are aiming at providing the latest technology in RnB meets riding. Their clothing lines are packed with ideas ranging from providing the swanky urban look to the classy vintage one.

I am very lucky to have such a highly respected team of people like those working for Urban ahorseware supporting me and I am very much looking forward to working with them throughout the 2012 season.

Global Herbs is another well respected company who have accepted me onto their rewards scheme.

Global herbs are the only supplement company in the UK run by Vets, with veterinary advice available at the end of the phone.

Their supplements are highly recommended by many for anyone wanting feed supplements for horses, cats, dogs and people!

They have a huge range of products For the following:

- calming

- laminitis

- breathing

- skin and eyes

- joints

- hooves

PLUS MORE!

For every article that I get published in a magazine in which I advertise their range in I get a tub of herbs of my choice. This is a fantastic opportunity for both Ceaser and I, especially as I am particularly fond of two of their products and swear by them!

This will leave me more money to spend on training for both Ceaser and I that I would have been spending on supplements!

These two fantastic sponsors are ones I am lucky to have join my team and I am looking forward to the coming season. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank both companies for their support.

Here's to every success in 2012.

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How do you warm up for a Dressage test?

I was riding in the howling wind and on and off rain on Monday when suddenly a thought occurred to me.

As you all may know I am a dressage enthusiast and having just made the transition from Unaffiliated to Affiliated dressage I am finding new exercises to do with Ceaser that helps him look and feel more supple.

Before we made the step from unaffiliated to affiliated we were working at elementary level and doing really well. We were always placed in the top two and came out with some top end 60% scores.

For those who know me well will know I never practice my dressage test. I'm not one of these riders that spend hours in the menage the week before my dressage test practicing Elementary 44 before I'm due to do it the following Sunday.

Admittedly there have been occasions where I've felt like I could have done with the extra few days of practice and time to get that 10meter loop in from the track in canter perfected but with university commitments it means I have only been at home over the weekends lately and I just haven't had the time to practice. Friends that come with me to the dressage competitions will always say "Oh Sian, you're terrible" when I mention I haven't practiced but really is there a need?

I don't believe in boring your horse in to submission with endless attempts at perfecting your up and coming test and in stead I will unpick the dressage test I am due to ride and practice little fractions of it.

If I know I have a 10meter loop in the following weeks dressage test then I spend my schooling session with Ceaser the week before perfecting our 10meter loops and combining it into what other schooling exercises I had planned.

Also, if in my previous test I was told my 20meter circle was a little on the large side or my free walk on a long rein wasn't active enough then I practice that. Its the same for when I'm warming up at a competition. I don't panic and begin practicing my test there and then, I simply unpick the movements required of me for the test I am about to ride and insert them into my warming up plan.

I used to always get to a dressage competition and panic about the test I was about to ride, I'd make my test caller read out the up and coming test in the warm up and ring so I could quickly go through it.

Its okay "quickly going through" your test either the day before your due to compete, or in the warm up ring but is that setting your horse up correctly for the test you're about to ride?

Ceaser is a lovely 14.1h, 16 year-old gelding. I have owned him since he was 3 and to say we know each other inside out is quite a understatement. I know that look he gets when he's seen something worth investigating and he's planning on taking me for a skiing lesson whilst he runs off with me attached to the end of the lead rope whilst he checks it out. I know the tense feeling he gets when he is about to throw an almighty buck in or rear in frustration and on the contrary, he knows when I'm in a mood as usually that is when he misbehaves!

I'm under no circumstances here saying I claim to be a horse whisperer and Ceaser and I can talk to one another, what I am saying is we have a connection and to ride a good dressage test I think this is what is needed.

Having owned Ceaser for so long now I know his quirks, what he's afraid of and how to ride him through a particularly bad day. It has always been evident to me and my many of instructors that he is a pony that "likes to be kept busy". If he isn't kept busy you're likely to end up careering from one end of the school to another because a birds flapped its wings or a pony in the neighboring field has came close to the menage to have a look.

Recently a new riding instructor said to me "I've noticed you grab hold of him as soon as you get in the arena Sian, why?". I simply explained that he is a pony that for the first few minutes will test you out. Often in the first few minutes of riding I've found myself back at the gate quicker than a bird could fly out the hedge. So, I take a hold and just let him know we are there to work and then when I feel he has settled down I allow a walk on a long rein.

Again, lets go back to when I was riding on Monday; it was windy and ever so slightly sleeting. No other horses were out in the field and walking Ceaser down to the menage I knew he would be tense to ride that day and possibly spooky because of the wind. When we built the menage I asked for Dad to throw every possible object around the arena so we could desensitise the horses. Around it we've got banners, viewing galleries, conifer trees, a horse that can come up to the side, everything.

I don't believe in wanting to take your horse out competing if you do not desensitise them. I've been at a livery yard before where the owner had tried to enclose the arena off in case spooky ponies were ever ridden in there. Do not expect your horse to work correctly at a competition where it is seeing new unfamiliar objects if you do not work on getting him used to these objects at home.

Anyway, back to Monday. As I went to mount Ceaser he was already snorting at a leaf blowing across the arena and even walking round he was snorting with every foot fall he made. If I didn't know him I think I would have probably swiftly ridden for 5 minutes and got off. He was very tense and I knew I had a spooky pony on my hands.

Don't forget horses are herd animals, to them if they are taken away from their herd they become vulnerable and potentially are putting themselves in danger. What may be a simple leaf blowing across the arena to us could could potentially to a horse be a bear about to attack. Putting yourself in your horses position and theoretically looking through his eyes I believe can and will make you a better rider.

As I asked Ceaser to trot his head went between his legs and on went the snorting. Now, I could have just trotted around the arena several times which trust me I have seen many liveries do, but in stead I worked on what I knew was coming up in my dressage test the following sunday. Figures of eights, 3 loop serpentines, 20 meter circles, the lot. Often if I can feel I haven't got Ceaser 100% I ask him to leg-yield and shoulder in a few times. This takes a lot of concentration and usually after this a light in his head so to speak suddenly clicks and he knows he is there to work.

Yes, he was still snorting the whole way around the arena but after an initial spook at some birds in the field next to the arena I managed to then get him past that particular part without even so much as eying up the field. It took a few attempts but gradually the tense feeling he began with went and I had a pony beneath me that was working lovely, in an outline, tracking up correctly and listening to my every move and signal.

What I am suggesting or even saying (you decide) here is that too many riders get on and just trot endlessly around the arena, I've seen it so many times when I have been stood watching a livery. Trotting around the edge four or five times isn't getting your horse to work, you may as well have put it out in the field in stead of ridden.

Also, on the contrary I see too many riders getting that last minute test practice in by demanding their horse go through the test every day for a week leading up to their up and coming test.

DON'T! What will you achieve by doing this? Start again, unpick your test, think of areas you aren't strong in and work on them. Combine these exercises in to your schooling plan and keep your horse busy. It is amazing how many liveries or friends come up to me and say "Sian, my horse is being naughty". When I ask what they've done they simply tell me they've just been trying to go around the arena and maybe done the odd 20 meter circle. Stop and think for a second, put yourself in the position of your horse. Would we always run the same run whilst training for a marathon? Would we run around the garden daily to get our exercises?

I am sure many of you are sat there shaking your head and saying no. Runners will test themselves, they'll change the route of their run, they'll sprint half the way and jog the rest. They wont go to the same spot daily where the marathon is due to be held and run that same run. It'd get boring, repetitive and I'm sure after a few days you'd think "oh I can't be bothered anymore".

Don't treat your horse different to how you treat yourself. Think of interesting exercises to keep him focused, listening and right there underneath you. Don't practice your up and coming dressage test endless times before you're due to ride it. You could just well get to the day of test and your horse literally thinks "I'm fed up of this, I'm going to misbehave" because he is fed up of doing the same thing over and over again.

A better horse is one schooled correctly and consistently. Change exercises, take your horse out for a hack one day in stead of schooling. Pop some trotting poles out and change the way and tempo in which you approach and go over them.

A happy horse is one that owner and rider understands it.

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Dogs attacking horses figures on the rise

Last night I got asked by BBC Lincolnshire if I would be interested in doing a short interview on the Radio this afternoon regarding dogs attacking horses and of course I quickly agreed.

This comes just as two horses have had to be put to sleep in the last week due to a dog attacking or chasing a horse whilst in the field or out hacking.

In comparison, in the last 12 months there has been 250 reports of horses being attacked in the country. This is a figure that is three figures too many and needs sorting.

How many times have you been hacking out and have found a dog to be running in the direction of your horses four feet?

Not only is it scary but it can also be quite intimidating. If you don't know your horse very well then you are probably wondering what is going to happen or what could happen.

I personally don't agree we can direct the blame entirely on dogs here as dogs are animals that like horses follow instinct. A dog, if feeling inquisitive will run towards a horse to check it out and then if it feels threatened will of course go to attack. Doesn't every animal do that to protect itself?

I have been out hacking before when an irresponsible dog owner threw his dogs tennis ball right in the path of my horses feet. Immediately I had to pull my horse to one side which in turn startled him a little. Luckily he isn't the type to make a fuss of things like this although he does dislike dogs around his feet. When I asked the dog owner why he had done what he had and explained what the consequences could have been he simply replied "I have more right to be here than you". I was on a bridle way so in fact we both had as much right as each other.

In dog owners defense I have been on the beach before with my dog, we've let him off of his lead and five minutes later we have had to go running half way across the beach after him chasing a bird. We cannot control our animals actions, but we can try to prevent them.

What some dog owners do not also seem to realise is that horses can be dangerous animals too. If they feel a dog running between their legs then their automatic instinct would be to kick out, or move quite abruptly. Don't forget the way in which horses eyes are positioned gives them a 'blind spot'. What if they can feel the dog near their legs but cannot see them? I am sure if me and you were in this situation we would panic too.

No one can determine what any animal can do, us owners aren't able to tell you what our animals are thinking.

Owners need to be as educated as much possible and dog owners need to understand the potential dangers that can occur if they allow their dog to run at or past a horse.

In reality we aren't even necessarily looking just at dogs attacking horses. If a dog runs up to a horse and the horse becomes startled this could cause them to bolt, which could then result in both rider and equine injury. An injury that could have been prevented for the sake of a few seconds.

All it takes is for dog owners to be educated and aware. It doesn't take long to grab hold of your dogs collar should you think it could become startled by an approaching horse. Riders will be thankful for your actions and will most likely stop to have a quick chat. I often say hello and ask how the person holding the dog for me is; if they are kind enough to.

During my interview on the radio today I got asked whether us horse-riders think we are above everyone else because we are high up on a horse and dog owners are on the ground. I can't speak for everyone but in no way do I find myself thinking I am above someone just because strictly speaking I am higher up at the time on a 14.2h pony. We don't think like that and lets be honest, most horse owners usually own a dog too!

As mentioned before, dogs are like any animal and will do what their instinct tells them and if they become startled they panic. This can apply for dogs attacking horses legs or for horses kicking out at a dog too close.

This is a topic that needs looking at - in no uncertain terms am I aiming this post at dog owners or even horse owners. I am one of each myself and I see both sides to the story.

In a bid to combat dogs attacking horses the Blue Cross and British Horse Society (BHS) are launching a leaflet to enable dog owners to learn more about equine behavior and how to enable their dogs to become used to horses.

The leaflet is set to be launched at Crufts this week but can also be obtained from the BHS website.

We're all in the same boat; both owners, whether equine or canine. We are all out to exercise our beloved pet. In stead of your quiet afternoon walk going wrong, simply add a few seconds on to your walk by holding your dog whilst a horse passes quietly, it could not only save time but also a life.


Should you wish to listen to my interview on the Radio click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00p3f53
For more information on equine incidents click here: http://www.horseaccidents.org.uk/About_Horse_Accidents.aspx

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Think of yourself not just your pony

For the past few weeks I have been fretting about trying to find someone to come and give Ceaser a checking over and massage before the show season starts up again. During this time I completely forgot about myself and whether or not I needed a checking over before the show season started!

For the majority of my teen life I suffered a great deal with migraines and recently this pain has been in my neck. I just put this down to the fact migraines ran in the family and I'd be stuck with them for life. Doctors wanted to put me on Amotriptolyne, a drug used to control migraines but one that was previously used as an antidepressant. As soon as I heard the word depressant I immediately told Doctors no and I would rather take the required paracetamol for when a migraine strikes than be dependant on a tablet daily that ''controls" my migraines.

Two years ago now I was involved in a car accident and had mild whip-lash. I didn't expect that this at all could have been associated with my migraines but how wrong could I be? I recently mentioned to a friend that I suffer with horrendous migraines and also happened to mention my car accident. She advised me to see someone as the two could be connected.

For a few weeks I forgot about even needing to see someone until a conversation arose about Ceaser being easier to ride on one rein than the other and suddenly it hit me. Could it be me that's slightly "wonky" so to speak? Have I made him stronger on one rein than the other? It is commonly known between my close equine friends I have one hand that has a mind of its own when I occasionally ride and if I am honest I put this down to my weakened wrists through breaking them, I never imagined what I was soon to find out.

So, on a day when I had suffered a migraine for three continuous days I rang a lady who specialises in sports massages and reflexology. I described my symptoms, the pain in my neck, the tender parts of my neck, the migraines, everything and that was it I was booked in.

As soon as I layed down and the lady pressed my neck she instantly said "Your neck is a mess!". Admitedly this broke the ice and she went on to say how my neck was very knotty and I was quite tense throughout my neck and shoulders. She agreed the car accident may have triggered the neck pain and over time it has just gotten profoundly worse. After an hour of working her magic she said I should feel better but needed to rebook for the following week.

Before I left she did a routine check of my spine as I had mentioned I had been told I rode stronger on one rein than the other and although she had found one side of me was more tense than the other, she also found something else!
(This where it gets scary!) One of my hips was ever so slightly higher than the other, and funnily enough my stronger side was the slightly higher side! So we had found my problem, I didn't have a "weird" hand as all my friends had laughed about, there was a genuine reason why I rode Ceaser on one rein better than the other!

It was recommended that I go to an Osteopath who will sort me out, but told it wasn't a huge rush.

So, if I hadn't have gone to be checked over I may well have spent a huge amount of money having Ceaser sorted, checked and prepared for the coming season when really its me who needed doing more! My plan now is to get me sorted and then get Ceaser done. Both me and my lovely massage lady thought that if I sorted him before myself then it would be a waste of money as I'd only need him rechecking when I was sorted and back to having two equal strength reins.

It amazes me how quick people are to judge that the 'bad' behaviour of their horse is instantly their horses fault. I had always assumed Ceaser had one weaker rein and one stronger rein yet in reality it has probably been me who has one weak and one strong rein. So, next time your horse won't bend as easily on one rein, or strike off on the correct canter lead just stop and think. Is it your riding? Are YOU doing something wrong, or could it be your position or how you are sat? The answer to these questions could be yes and really you think it's all your horses fault.

Also, through your love for your horses and spending time and effort on them you could be prolonging getting a problem of your own sorted. How many times do us equine lovers think "oh I'll just treat myself today?" I know the ansrew to that and I'm sure it's a very rare occasion!

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