WOW! Well March seemed to fly past… & of course, ended
on the BRILLIANT high of the clocks going forward – Spring has finally arrived!
Louie had his MOT in February, and in between a couple of
visits from the vets, saddle fitter and physio, we spent a few weeks lunging. I’m
a big advocate as to the benefits of lunging, seeing the way in which it has
helped Louie develop and build up his muscles without the interference of a
rider. Some people don’t see the purpose, but with the correct use of the
appropriate aid for your horse, it’s a good exercise to support your overall
plans.
Mid-March we were back to it – enjoying being back onboard
and Louie was feeling fab!
It had been weeks since we’d been on a hack around the countryside,
so at the first opportunity (the weekend), we ventured out on a GLORIOUSLY
sunny spring morning – we got a real feel of spring
fever that morning!
We did our first ever social media takeover as a volunteer
for Northumberland Sport – live tweeting and doing a couple of updates on
Facebook too. I enjoyed doing it, and a discipline that my day job has taught
me is to fully understand a tone of voice and persona, while interjecting your
own style into it. I feel like I struck the balance, and overall the activity
did well for them, so everyone was pleased!
 |
| Image credit: Stevie Purves |
One thing that Philippa had suggested in our last lesson,
and Yogi also supported, was to try as soft a bit as possible for Louie to help
him gain confidence and want to take a stronger forward contact. Louie is very
happy on a contact that’s the same weight as a feather which makes it difficult
when I need him to take more of the bridle.
So, we got a new bit – a super bendy, rubber, mullen mouth
piece loose ring. So far, it is working a treat – Louie is taking more of a
contact when I’m pushing him into it, becoming longer in his frame & it
means when he does get a bit excited, he doesn’t take offence to a harder half
halt!
We first tried the bit in our first showjumping lesson in
just over two months!! It was very unusual to feel such a firm contact from
Louie – it’s something that will take a bit of time to get used to, but really
a few weeks on, I much prefer the feeling. You can see how our lesson went in
our March
showjumping lesson post!
That night…the clocks jumped forward! HOORAY!
We didn’t even blink at the thought of missing an hour in
bed, waking up bright & early, and enjoying a sunny hack out with another
horse on the yard.
Throughout the week, as it was mostly still dark at 6.15pm
ish, we’ve been in the school, working with the new bit, working on my position
corrections that Yogi highlighted, & generally enjoying ridden life again,
although I do continue to lunge Louie with the Kavalkade every 7-10 days.
Of course, our blog was fairly hectic too in March as we ran
our A-Z
of Everyday Equestrian. This is an idea I’d had for many months, but never
found the time to plan the content and consider a post update and social media
content every day for 26 days… Sounds easy? It took up a lot of time, and I
suppose I was fortunate in one way that it took place during Louie’s downtime! If
you haven’t already read it, head over and take a look – there will be a lot of
familiar items, I’m sure! 😊
What’s planned for April?
RIDING IN THE LIGHT ON AN EVENING!!! (OK, so we’ve established
the clocks went forward)
We’ve already done a few days of April, enjoying a pleasure
ride around Hulne Park, Alnwick, Northumberland.
On top of that, we’re hoping to get back out to more lessons
and competitions, enjoying relaxing hacks on an evening after a tough day in
the office instead of schooling, and perhaps some cross country schooling,
depending of course on the good old British weather to keep the ground good!
No comments:
Post a comment