My Bad Back...

A little while ago with Weka I had a bad fall that injured my back. :( The problems have persisted, and recently it has been really bad, dis enabling me to do things like riding. After visiting several physios (which all said different things, and did nothing) we went to a chiropractor in Te Atatu who was recommend to us. He is really weird, with evil cackle and little dog he uses as a nurse!!! However, it is working, so hopefully (fingers crossed fingers crossed!) It will be fixed soon. Let me know if anyone else has had a bad back from a horse related fall. We use a wheat sac regularly and that is like HEAVEN!!!! The chiropractor, Rob Stewart, says my vertebrae are out a alignment and has (painfully, may I ad) Been clicking it back into position. I sure hope it works cause the screams could be heard from Russia...

Showjumping/Cross Country Practice Day

Thinking of doing this to brush up on Sky's showjumping. he is actually a really good jumper, so hopefully we will be doing a lot of that this season. Let me know what you think. (Sorry, link will follow soon)

Pony Club - 23/10/12

Had a great session at pony club rally this evening. The first rally for us this season, although the second for Massey due to me being at School Camp. Dressage with the AMAZING Ginny Thompson. So excited to have her as my instructor for the season! Sky was a bit of a slug after not being in work for a week. Did a lot of without stirrups work, which was a bit bad on my back, and a lot of work with poles. She taught us this great exersize where you have 5 poles spaced 5 meters apart and you will walk (or trot/canter) in, and between the poles do a circle to the opposite side. It works well, and Sky was much more flexible by the end of it. We did lengthing and extending through canter poles as well, which FAILED EPICLY!!!! Rebecca came and watched him, and was pleased by what she saw. I think. Really looking forward to rally next week, although I will be away this weekend.

Work experiance

This was a while ago, Tuesday the 2nd I think, but I though I would update you on doing work experiance with the best farrier, or "Hoof Practitioner" as she is officaly called, for a day. It was great. First place we went to was two old thoroughbreds who looked pretty much abandonded, with rain scold and mud fever. They were super skinny, and their feet, being thoroughbreds, were interesting shapes. Learnt alot there about the shapes and how to trim a horse according to what work they were doing. They next place was almost the extreme opposite! Rather than bonafia racehorses, there were fat, foundering shetlands. The most annoyning think abou that property was that no-one was home, but there dog, whom we nicknamed "Jack", kept trying to climb on the poor little things! He would actually stand, with all 4's, on their back and ride around!!! It was the strangest thing I have EVER seen!!! The lastproperty was a lady, with her eventing mare, and a 14.2 old paddock mate pony clubber. Meet the horsewhispering extrodanaire Nadine Roth, so that was great. All in all, had a great time and learnt HEAPS, but I still think that perhaps it is not the career for me, as bending over hurt my already sore back, and I spent the evening lying on a hot water bottle!

Going away: 15/10/12 - 20/10/12

Going away to school camp for a week so Sky won't be ridden, and I miss out on the first mounted rally of the season :( I wonder how Sky will cope with 5 whole days of not being ridden when 3 days was enough to send him into orbit every time I asked for canter.. Camp is going to be fun though. I hope. It better be...

C+ Horse Managment Exam

I Passed!!!!!!!!!!! Yay. Doing the riding this season. First rally is tomorrow, unmounted though. So looking forward to the new season!!!

Dressage disaster!!!! 12/10/12

Sky was a total nightmare today. Tryed to do dressage, but 3 days without being excersized was just to much!!! Soon abandoned that plan, and went for a nice road ride instead, jumping ditches and banks on the way. It was really hot, and waws actually quite pleasant. Thinking about doing the Karekare Beach Races this year. What do you think?

Jumping at Pony Club - 6/10/12

Went down to Pony Club (Massey) today with Erica and her thoroughbred Maisy. Sky took AGES to get on the float though, argh!!! Took an HOUR!!! But once we were down there we had a great time in the arena, showjumping to 1m. Sky was a total superstar all day. Really productive schooling session. Afterwards I washed him in the big concrete washbay that Massey has before taking him home. I don't think his legs have ever looked that nice!!!

Sky

One of mum's old uni friends came round today and had a little ride on Sky. She is a very experienced horse person and was very impressed by Sky, even though he moved like a slug because of being so tired from yesterdays adventure at Mokoroa. Looking forward to the new season with Sky, hopefully loads of ribbons will follow. :P

Mokoroa Valley - 2nd October 2012

Had a great time at Mokoroa Valley with Sam and Erica. Went for a long fast ride including races up the hill, and swapping horses. Sky held his own against the big guys, but couldn't bet Maisy when we raced. It was really muddy, and we got DRENCHED!!!! Had a nice ride though, so that is all that counts. When we got home Sky had a nice warm bath, and had his feed warmed up with warm water as well, the spoiled boy. We will be going again tomorrow, on the 6th, and doing the same thing. :)

Weka jumping photos

Found some more photos of me and Weka jumping today that I though I might share. This is me, with my position really wonky over a small jump with I was schooling at home. Please comment on other things to improve on, bearing in mind that it was just a schooling session. :)