The only way is up.

Well since the last time I posted, a lot has happened!

John went on the trailer on his second time practicing! Hooray, Cinderella shall go to the ball! (one day). He has also been out on his own with no walker for the first time and was brilliant, has learnt how to use himself in canter and has become so much more balanced etc and is beginning to learn how to keep a contact in trot!

I'm so impressed with him recently it's mad. When I bought him, there was no way I expected to have been doing the thing I have been recently. For example, a couple weeks back he went for a play in the stubble field all on his own, had three riders and still didn't bat a single eye lid even when a dog came bounding towards him at top speed from across the field, he was amazing and to top it off, he wasn't strong, fizzy or even excited! He was the most chilled I've seen him, I was gob smacked!

He's also been out hacking on his own again and this time fully around the block. I cannot sing his praises his enough, he was absolutely bloody amazing. We even saw a very scary bus for the first time and yes I had to get off and lead him past but it was the first time he'd ever seen one and he handled it all like a pro and walked past fine and didn't even try and run off when we first saw it! To top it off we had a lot of cars around and one car who even tried to come past us from behind when there was clearly nowhere to go and John did not even care. I was so impressed with him he dealt with everything like a very grown up boy and we even trotted home. Safe to say I did have a little proud cry on the way back into the yard and John got a hell of a lot of pats.

Also the whole contact thing I mentioned before is becoming such a more frequent thing now, I could not be more chuffed. He has been trying so hard in the school at the moment bless him he really is a true to type little gelding. And all of this is in despite the fact that he has hardly been ridden this month or so because of my school commitments and the dark nights.

Depending on how he continues to come on with his balance etc. schooling, we will hopefully try some pole work December time on wards but this depends on a lot of factors at the moment that I am not allowed to discuss, sorryyyy! But when you find out it's very exciting and I cannot wait for it all to happen and hopefully John is excited too!

Also, is anyone as excited for Christmas as I am? I'm so excited it's actually embarrassing but always one to embarrass myself, me, so I do  not care. I'm just waiting for it to be socially acceptable to muck out to Christmas songs and decorate John's stable in tinsel as well as ride in a Santa hat. Must admit I have been listening to a few tunes while doing my coursework at school so it's slowly making it's way into my life already for definite. I mean I'm off to the light switch on in our town today and I've near enough finished my Christmas presents so I feel like I'm very ahead of the game this year, I'm very excited. Mainly because it is John's first Christmas with us! Bless him he's going to regret this one.

And as usual, here's some photos for you!

Happiness is good friends and wonderful animals.

*Little wave*
Hi! It's me again!
Just making you all aware I'm still here, promise! Not sure how good this blog will be as my wrists are playing up a lot today, sad.

I don't believe I have blogged this month! I mean, not much has happened, school happened though which is sad but John has been doing some schooling, quite a bit of hacking and just in general being a pretty cool dude.
Schooling wise, John's canter transitions have just sort of gone "bye! we'll come back one day maybe!" and they're just, urgh awful, however his canter is beautiful and I literally cannot do much more to improve it as it has just become so perfect I cannot so it's a shame his lovely transitions have gone away. BUT. his trot is perfect, wow can that horse stretch. He just feels better all the time and I mean the other day I got on him and did not ask for anything and he was walking around in the most perfect, proper outline I've ever seen, he baffles me all the time.
This same day I was riding in pyjamas which added to the confusion (photo below), and we tried a walk and trot dressage test, and I cannot wait for the day he goes and competes because he just felt so lovely, I really was impressed to find out that my dressage idea for him may work out in the future. He then did the dressage test with Emma and Beth and being John did try and stop where he wanted (naughty pony) but still went lovely and it was so nice to see he can do something like that with someone else, little sweetie. Also, today I brought him out of the stable and rode him after him being in overnight for the first time expecting him to be an idiot and he went the best he has in a while, his canter transitions were beautiful and his bad rein in canter was definitely his better one today as he just felt so balanced, did not motorbike any corners and just gave me such a good ride, awesome little dude.

However hacking wise, he just gets better! We had not hacked much for a bit until this month where we've been over the Chase at least 3 times! John is terrified of bikes and the other day we saw at least ten, probably more and he walked past them fine, and the last time he saw one, he turned round and ran the other way so I was incredibly impressed with him, I rode the rest of that hack extremely chuffed knowing he is making so much progress with me. You know those hacks where you just think about everything and realise how lucky you are? yeah I had one of those. That hack we went for a little canter with Tammy and Theo after and had a great time, I can't wait for the day I can jump on and go on my own, it's my favourite, even though I do love hacking with someone else. But all I can say is someone who had only seen him be ridden twice (both being on these hacks) said that he is so good and is doing so well, so that was incredibly lovely to hear.

One day I feel I will run out of things to say about this horse, he just keeps getting better, chilling out more and just trying his hardest all the time. I cannot wait to get him out and about and really bring out his full potential.
Trailer practice tomorrow, come on John!

A whole lotta you.

The only way I could title this blog was to title it with a song, which I will leave at the end.

This is because, there is a lot of love going on at the moment for me and John! I mean besides his love for schooling which I blogged about last week, we are really starting to come together.
John is one of those horses where I feel he takes a bit of warming up, he's a very sweet, loving horse but he was definitely not as loving as he is now, no way.
He is most definitely my horse. We clicked very early on in our partnership looking back, but it was nothing special. I've never really ridden a horse that tries as much as he does as stupid as it sounds, he puts his absolute heart into everything he does for me, a very classic gelding really.
I'm not saying he's perfect, because to me, he's perfectly imperfect and very much exactly what I wanted when I even thought about a new horse let alone actually considering to view and buy one.
I mean I could sit here and list everything I love about him but I shan't because there is too much to list really. I'm very excited to see what the future brings for him.

In other news, I have not really ridden my horse this week, massive oopsies! but I have lunged him twice and he is improving with it every session. He very much struggles when it comes to lunging so to see him stretching and really using himself in his trot and just trying his absolute heart out (as per usual as I stated earlier) which is wonderful to see!
But today riding did occur! Beff and Emma bought Sunny and Sparkie up to meet John and I was a bit nervous before getting on as I thought he might be a bit silly while in the stubble field with more than one other horse as I had never ridden him with more than one horse at all let alone in a stubble field. All I can say is I shouldn't have been nervous because he was amazing. I really don't know how he stays so cool and level headed because he's not a very experienced horse, he's in fact quite the opposite when he wants to be.
He went first into the field, showing everyone where to go like a star and then schooled in there beautifully, minus not knowing where his legs went in canter (which he is usually very good at, strange horse) and then had a good gallop with sparkie which we all thoroughly enjoyed! He then went into the school after and did a wonderful trot for me, stretching beautifully and just really trying for me. Beff then had a little ride and so did Emma and despite having a gallop not long before, he went into the school as if I'd only just got on, all I can say is what an amazing little horse; an absolute pleasure to own and ride.

Ponies meeting!

Sparkie and John having a well earned stand around!

Sunny and John meeting!

Emma having a play on John!

John having a very much unnecessary proud moment

And the link I promised you!
"All I need baby is a little time and a whole lotta you."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohN54aamu8U

There's no 'i' in team.

Two blogs in one day, wow, you guys are being spoilt today! I mean considering I never blog, I'm impressed with myself.

Howdy Hi!
I just realised I have never informed you on some of my best friends and their ponies (all of which are ginger and awesome).
I ride their ponies quite often and they just, arggghh they're awesome, all of them!
Really hoping their okay with this blog because it's happening (soz guys)

So meet Emma & Sunny.
Emma is pretty damn hilarious, if I had to sum her up in one word, I think it would be outgoing. That's it, that's all I need to say about her.
No I'm joking, but that does sum her up extremely well.
Emma has owned Sunny (a 6yo Welsh D X, I believe) for 4 years now and they really are so perfect, if you thought horses were your soul mates then by God these guys are a perfect example of that. I have ridden Sunny a couple times and I can honestly say he isn't easy, my word he's an awkward one but Emma makes him look so easy and watching them school is my absolute favourite because they just look so perfect, if my horse works like that one day, I will be so pleased. I just love watching them progress basically, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing one of your best friends so happy. I mean the other day was a perfect example, we persuaded Em to jump Sunny and they were awesome. For the start Em honestly thought she was riding like rubbish and she wasn't, she never is, she puts herself down way too much, but that session was the best I've ever seen them both do when jumping and it was so nice to watch and see them both having a blast.
May I also add, Sunny is so freaking photogenic, what a gorgeous and adorable little fella he is! I shall include some photos below for you of them both!

And then there was three. Meet Beth, Sparkie & Jack.
Beth is an amazing rider. She is just awesome. If one day I am half as good as Beff, someone give me a pat on the back please.
One word for Beff? Sarcastic. Beff is the queen of sarcasm, pretty much.
Beff has had Sparkie 6 years and they are such a wonderful little pair. I mean literally little lol. Sparkie is 13.3/14hh I think, 10yo and a Welsh C and he is so awesome. We call him the princess because he really thinks that's what he is, a princess. I mean Beff and Sparkie are pretty known at local shows and Sparkie can go out and do a jump off course in around 30 seconds, which never ceases to amaze me, never. He thinks he's about 17hh and will go in against horses and still come out first like the trooper he is.
Jumping Sparkie is my favourite, he's just so awesome and you can definitely tell it's what he was born to do.
I don't really know what more to say about Sparkie, he's just pretty amazing. I mean so is Beff but.

Jack however is a 15.3hh ish, Welsh D x Thoroughbred I think? He's just turned 5 I believe.

Beff had had Jack since he was 2 so around 3 years I think, I may be wrong! She has does wonders with this little horse, breaking and producing a horse done right. All I can say about Jack is wow, he is so young and yet has so much potential, he has such a bright future that I can't wait to see develop because it'll be a good one, I'm sure of it. Just his schooling, jumping, everything is perfect and Beff rides him beautifully. Never have I felt a horse so eager to jump at such a young age, he gives you so much confidence and makes you feel so safe, and for his age I think that is absolutely wonderful. He is an absolute credit to Beff in every way, all the horses are a credit to these guys but just seen the first Jack cantered, that is not the same horse, no way, him and Sunny are just adorable and have blossomed into beautiful little horses.
Again I shall leave some photos here for you.

But wait, there's someone left?!
Little Ron. Ron is owned by both Emma and Beth and he is the cutest little guy ever. They adopted him from the RSPCA this year I believe and he has just recently worn a bridle and met a bit for the first time and I hear he was wonderful. He has changed so much just in a few months and I can't wait to see what he's like once broken, I'm super excited for the fun times ahead with this little kiddo. He's only about 2 and so you can imagine how adorable he is. His urm "surprise" nudges for attention amuse me highly, he just is so cute and laughs at everything, which is also pretty damn cute.
Again, some photos of his cool little face!

And there you go, meet the team!

A budding romance.

Misleading title. Not about me, just so we clear that one up.

John has found a new love, and he does not have my approval on this, not one bit.
John, loves, schooling.
Please someone send Jesus so he can take the wheel because I am a jumper, not a dressage rider or shower (show-er as in someone that does ridden showing, not a shower that you wash yourself in lol)

My key aim was to nail John's canter and by God are we nearly there. He is so much more balance and controlled and I am so pleased with it, but if John could learn to not enjoy working real hard riding in circles, I would enjoy that. I mean don't get me wrong, if I'm motivated and feel up for it, I'm all down for having a good session improving a certain area we need to work on but never did I think we would end up here.
I mean it's not how it sounds, I'm not having a breakdown and John is something I don't want lol. Just give me a jumping session any day, I love it!
However, I suppose I knew this day was coming sooner or later because my horse has ridden hunter potential and his showing debut will happen; but I am far from a show-er (nearly typed shower again and had to correct it, damn) and the whole concept annoys me but maybe, just maybe I could learn to love it, I mean if my horse is as good at it as I hope, maybe that might make me enjoy it? I hope so because that's what is needed in this situation.
Also, this new found love John has found, among things such as pears and his "neigh"bours, (haha see what I did there?! this is why I have no friends....) may lead us to other things, such as dressage, I mean again not my thing but I may come to enjoy it I suppose, and hope.

On the topic of John's schooling, he is going so well, I am incredibly happy with it, he is so much more relaxed and steadier and just listens to me a lot more. We're working well together I think, because I'm very much still trying to work his quirky ways out! However, John has this odd thing where he loves schooling once he's going but that's if you get him going lol. He doesn't listen to whips on the shoulder and hates them on his back end and so I think I am going to try roller ball or rubber spurs just to back up my leg and so I shall update you on how this goes.

Standard blog, not sorry, no pictures for today but John is still his normal ginger self and looks less fat than before,
Happy Sunday!

Summer is upon us!

Someone may as well hand me the award for 'The world's worst blogger' now. I mean, I'm pretty awful at it, but I have an excuse this time, I went away for a week to sunny Italy! So I mean that makes up for some of it I guess lol.
Anyway, onto blogging!

John wasn't ridden much throughout June, mainly because of how hot it was and because I did not have the motivation it required but despite that, he has come back better than ever. While I was away, Beff rode him and said he was pretty awesome which makes me very happy considering I wasn't around to supervise or anything and even had people on the yard comment on how well he looked while I wasn't there which made me even happier about it all.
Since having come back, I have ridden him a lot more. We have done a lot more schooling and safe to say I think we may have cracked his trot! After a no stirrups session the other day, he really just feels like he's coming along in leaps and bounds. As well as that, his canter is just becoming so, so good. I just really cannot get over how much he has improved since he first arrived and that was only 3 months ago and so I couldn't be happier with the little ginger best friend I now have in my life (besides Alf of course!) because he really just tries his absolute heart out to please.

We also went for a blast in the stubble field the other day which we both enjoyed thoroughly and John was perfect, did a little walk and trot before hand in there and he really showed how calm and sensible he can be which exceed all my expectations of how he was going to behave haha!

I also really do believe this progress he is making is down to us getting to know each other better a bit more and him learning to trust me which I'm so happy about because I mean for how old he is, he hasn't stayed in the same home for a very long time (not because of any fault of owner's just change in circumstances) which is sad but hopefully he will stay with me and he won't need to learn to trust and love someone new again which I think may be why sometimes he plays up, because of new people.

I shall leave some photos at the bottom for you and try and blog more in August, promise!

    John being awesome while I was away!

                     Love him tons 

  Beginning to learn how to trot nicely!

    Having a ride in the stubble field:)

        Apparently he loves thistles?

 Being good for my mum (and making her look tiny!)

Where did all that time go?!

So tomorrow I have had my main man 2 months! Which in the grand scheme of things is not long at all but wow did that go fast! How have we put up with each other?!;) 

In that time I have obviously ridden john more but we've done a lot of hacking more than anything because it's been so hot! He's getting so good with his hacking now in the terms of new vehicles and bikes especially as he really dislikes bikes! We've been on a couple hacks with just a walker and we've even been on the chase with Tammy and had a canter! 

His jumping has got so much better, I've found he enjoys it more and works better if he's not jumped for a good while, so I'll have to keep that one in mind for now! There will come a time where we compete so he'll have to get used to it all by that point;) (don't worry that won't be for a while!) but he's getting over his fear of coloured poles but fillers are a bit too much for him at the moment, which is okay!

His schooling is a bit iffy, we haven't done a whole lot due to the weather, school work etc etc! But this summer I really hope to crack down on it! If I ever get my butt in to gear that is!! But walk and trot he's coming along so nicely! I'm very proud of how he's relaxing and how we're learning to work together! 

As a pair we really are starting to come together more I think. He follows me around like a lost sheep and we always have a cuddle whenever we see each other, it's just compulsory! When I go away next week I'm going to miss his little face so much, I don't know how I'm going to cope in all honesty! I can see me crying on the first night just because he's literally such a star and his cuddles are my fave. Cheesy I know but I just really am going to miss him as well as alf, even if it is just for a few days! 

None of the family apart from mum have really met him yet, but because of his cheeky nature I don't think many people would like him, but my boyfriend Tom really has made such a cute little friendship with him, they really do love each other and it makes me so happy that they like each other, I have a couple of cute photos of them having cuddles and just generally being adorable!

Also the other day, john had a lovely visit from one of his old owners, Sophie, which was so nice! John enjoyed his cuddles he received and the carrots and polos he got, which is typical of him haha! Sophie was so lovely, she said a lot how she thinks johns found a perfect home which is so nice to hear from someone who has had him in his darkest days because john didn't have a great start really! So to hear how much john has come on and even just with me in such a short time is so nice to hear, I'm so glad I'm actually doing something right with this little horse, he really is one in a million and sometimes you really do need reminding you are doing the right thing despite the off days and times where you just want to give up and hearing things like that really do make you want to keep going and look toward the future. I think having Sophie visit was definitely what we both needed. 

So apologies for being such a bad blogger and his rubbish update but here's what's been happening in a brief sort of blog! Here are some pictures for you all!

     Boys sharing a cuddle and john                 rocking the sunnies....

                 New field for john!

               Some quality lad chat

              Second time jumping!

                      Being pretty

              Hacking, first time out!

                   Cutest little face

              One of his first jumps!

Lots and lots of work!

I'm just warning you now, I have a lot to inform you on, so be prepared okay?

So, from the last time you heard about me and John he's been ridden a further I think 4 times? 

So on the 13/05/14, Mum came to see John being ridden for the first time, he was a lot more settled than the previous ride which was his first ride at home and he clearly showed that he had settled absolutely perfectly, I jumped straight on and didn't lunge, and ended up doing walk and trot on both reins and a canter on one rein! He was foot perfect, I could not have faulted him in anyway. He still felt a little rushy in his canter as he seemed to look at the viewing but I didn't expect anything fancy for a second ride at home and a first canter at home, and my first canter on him! (I don't think I can say much more, he was literally just perfect!)

Then on the Wednesday (14/05/14) the team came to see Watson's cheeky little face! He literally just felt even better than the day before, we did all paces on both reins and even did a little trotting pole which John really seemed to enjoy through jumping it and then cantering off at full speed, silly horse bless him, it was hilarious I must admit! Emma then got on, he was such a polite little gentlemen considering it was his third ride at home and he just let someone else get on and ride him around! He's not a hard horse to ride, but he is a bit odd I must admit so Emma rode him beautifully:) After that, Beth got on and really put him through his paces doing a lot more canter work, safe to say John was very sweaty afterwards!! But again, he really didn't mind, considering he'd had three people jump on him and just do whatever, he listened so well and really showed how much of a well mannered horse he really is, he makes me so proud. I then jumped back on to have a bit of a bareback cool down and he was just, I can't sing his praises enough, he listened beautifully and then we just spent some time in the school just chilling with him. He really is the horse I've been looking for, for a long time and he will be staying for a long time too. 

Thursday (15/05/14) Mum came up again! John really wasn't keen on the idea of schooling again but he wasn't getting off that easily! (soz mate you're fat so) He tried his hardest, which entailed pretty much nothing out of the ordinary, to not be tacked up (so he basically just put his head up so he didn't have to have his bridle on which by the way, didn't work) but once we were in the school and I had got on, he was again, absolutely perfect. His canter work has improved so much already and his balance was a lot better that day. He took everything in his stride as per usual. However, he did try to express himself in the only way he could think of when I asked him to keep cantering, which was when I gave him a small squeeze with my heels, he lifted his back end off the floor so little that it just felt like a bouncy stride of canter, it was simply hilarious!! Bless him, he really does try to be naughty but he knows that it's bad so doesn't, he's so cute! But other than that, I have nothing to comment on about that day, he was again, a lovely little lad to ride :)

I decided on Friday he needed a change of scenery after his face before schooling the day before, so I managed to get one of my lovely friends on the yard to come on a hack with me, she's been there a while so she knows her way and so showed me a lovely route, and we had a wonderful time! She owns a beautiful little haflinger called Tilly and a lovely dutch warmblood named Theo, you'll probably hear about them a bit more in the future so there you go! Anyway, John decided after around 5 - 10 minutes he was too good to be behind so over took Tammy and Tilly and went in front for most of it, until we came to a road where there was no way he was going in front lol. We went for a little trot up a hill at one point and just put in to perspective how unfit my horse is, Tilly has been ridden around once in nearly three weeks before this hack and John had been ridden every day of this week, we got to the top of this hill and John was sweating, and very out of breath indeed, tut tut Johnathon, you need to get fitter mate! Anyway, I couldn't again have faulted him, for his first time out, he took everything in his stride, I had buckled end for most of it and I even had buckle end of my reins with John leading the way home in open fields. I was one hell of a proud mother. He makes me so happy, such an awesome little horse, I genuinely can't praise him enough.

So that brings us to yesterday which was Saturday! (17/05/14) Emma came up and we had a little play with him bareback so he could have a bit of a break from new and tiring things and just have some fun! I had a little walk and trot on him and it's safe to say I need to learn how to ride bareback basically, but in my defence, I lost my confidence bareback massively early last year in the snow which we won't really go into as I don't like thinking about it, we'll just say me and Mol were very lucky that day. But even with my crappy riding, John was an angel he put up with me amazingly and I think he enjoyed the break from normal work! Emma then jumped on and had a little walk and trot and made him go so much better than I did, he looked after her so well, he was trotting so slow I genuinely didn't know if he was trotting or walking lol, turns out Emma was just asking for a steady trot, it was all okay. Then we gave him a bath because his socks for looking a lot more orange than white and needed sorting as they were driving me mad! He was so good bless him, he had a bit of a fidgit but I was so pleased with him because frankly he could have been a lot worse and he didn't try to run off etc. Safe to say when Emma had finished with him, he was looking very gorgeous indeed and clearly he already knew that so it didn't help his ego at all but oh well, he looks nice so;) We then turned him out for the night after a lovely day :)

And today we're off on a hack with some other women from the yard so that'll be good if John realizes he can't push his way to the front!! 

Here's some pictures, enjoy!

Love, 

Lottie & John x

 why you down there mum??

 i was buckle end at this point, js

 he had way too much fun with this

 he's simply adorable.

 we're soaring, flying...

 gorgeous boy!

 this is definitely going up in my room at some point.

 it was hot okay?

he's far too gorgeous for his own good.