Horse mad

[Mother Hen]

Hello, known as motherhen here at Forsham, because I cluck and fuss around everyone, I've been horsey mad since I can remember. Not well off enough to have a horse of my own I had to beg or borrow rides from anyone that would let me, my Mum got me a Saturday job in a yard at the age of eleven, I never looked back. Taught to ride by the army Major that owned the yard, I have competed in many disciplines over the years. When my showjumper needed extra schooling to get the best out of him I dabbled at a bit of dressage. I had always wanted to take on a horse that had never been broken, as I had helped break youngsters in a yard that I had worked, I felt this was something that I could take on. At the moment dressage is my passion, and the horse that I have is quite a character, I never go for the easy option, but there's nothing like the high of a horse working for you, at what ever level you are, it gives you goose bumps!

[Mother Hen]

HOORAY!! Came 2nd today at dressage means I qualify for Hickstead 2010
When I was tired last night, and still had to ride, clean tack, iron shirt, I was wondering why I do it! Now I know!!

[Mother Hen]

I try in my mad schedule to have a lesson, it is so good to have someone knowledgable on the ground to help, you can concentrate on the horse and they can tell you if your getting it right.
We are beginning, to do proper sideways, we have used legyield to supple him up for quite a while now and we have a play at shoulder in, he is really starting to understand what we are after and his attitude to work is a lot better, I think because he finds it much easier, we are using a slightly different approach with him and it seems to be paying off!! He did a lovely test last time out amongst some very good competition, we got 4th at 68.68%!
Mad on horses or not just go on 'u' tube and look at Moorlands Totilas WOW!!

[Mother Hen]

It's so difficult at this time of year to keep the enthusiasm going, when you look out of the window and its pouring down and the wind is lashing, its so easy to think, I'll do it tomorrow! Especially when your horse is like mine, a bit of a handful, although he is usually very good on the road and is pretty good with traffic it's the odd, gust of wind or in my case the squeek of the windscreen wipers, car drivers who do not ride do not realise how much noise they make!! I do try to stick to a routine because I ride mostly on my own there is no one else to spur me on. If I'm not competing at the weekends I try and hack, then I can let him have a day off in the week and one day I can lunge as a change in his work, I have a lesson once a week if I can but if your not able, why not hire an indoor school, if you share with friends the cost can be fairly reasonable, I book my lesson ahead, otherwise you would never get around to bothering!!

[Mother Hen]

We are nearly at Christmas, and although after, the holiday the weather is usually a bit more difficult to deal with, frost and snow, the daylight hours do start to extend and the bulbs start to show, so we feel a bit better!
I have qualified for Hickstead in May, and that will soon be here, so I will plan what sort of things we will need to work on.
Don't laugh! I'm reading a positive thinking book at the moment, about attitude to riding and life in general, apparently if you put a card where you will see it a lot, maybe tack room door? with the date on it of a major competition, it keeps it in your mind, so you work more positively towards it , rather than it creeping up on you, with not enough time to prepare properly!
I'll let you know.

[Mother Hen]

I just don't like this time of the year, after the snow it's the MUD! MUD! glorious MUD!, I had managed to put him out every day apart from one or two in the snow, but he has been in for a week.
It's more difficult to keep enthusiastic, but I did the last clip on Sunday and the thoughts of longer days, are just around the corner.
Keeping them happier in the stable is slightly more difficult also, I usually give him some quality time in the evening when I tidy his rugs, give him a good groom, so he is ready to go in the morning, I find if I don't do it first thing in the morning then I get caught up in the day and get caught out by the light.
Considering, he is responding to his work very well, although this morning he was a bit sharp, newly clipped and it was a cold, but he behaved!

[Mother Hen]

Managed to lunge this morning, it was nice to get him out! The light in the evening is definitely stretching out, so hopefully I will be able to ride in the evenings soon.
I have not been able to have a lesson over the snowy months and am looking forward to starting again.
I have not been able to compete either as these have been cancelled because of the weather and only one that wasn't cancelled I had not sat on him for a couple of days so I didn't want to chance it!
As we know he can be a bit volatile!! it seemed silly to go and return to his naughtiness, I would rather wait and go when his work has been less disrupted.

[Mother Hen]

Well the best laid plans etc etc.........
Who would have thought the weather was going to be as bad as that!!
Have started to ride again most days and managed to enter for the dressage at the weekend, he has not been out for ages, goodness knows what he will be like but if I don't start soon he will not be in a fit state to go to Hickstead!!
I will keep you posted, he is so quite at home as a rule so it is difficult to gauge how he will be when I get him in a competition situation.

[Mother Hen]

WOW! absolutely amazing wasn't a bit bother by anything today, wouldn't it be lovely if this was the new him!
We came third with 66%
When it goes well you feel like all the effort is all worth it, so I entered for next time while was there.
We still struggle with the canter, he has always had difficulty and goes very deep, but I am getting there. He is very capable of getting 8's when we put our brain in gear.

[Mother Hen]

Went out yesterday, you know I said he is capable of '8' s well we got six! the trot work is really starting to come together, it is still the canter and the warm up arena, if there is anything in there that has the potential to upset him, I keep well clear.
He had a lovely attitude again yesterday, but was a little sharp in the test and so the canter was a little exuberant.
I will have to sort this before we go to Hickstead as I will need to give him a good warm up, there is plenty of space there so if its dry I can have a good trot round away from everyone.
He is so lovely though, as he has not been out in the lorry for about 5 months he went in as if he had only been out yeaterday.