Late night blogging (zzz!)

I am such a bad blogger, I continue to get better and then worse again, I think it's because I'm so busy I just forget!

Anyway, enough with excuses, my ponies are being SUPER!
I could not be prouder with how they are going recently and they really are proving how worthy all the hard work I've put into them is.

John is turning into a fantastic little horse, schooling amazingly and he has matured so very much in the past few months. I do really think with a pony like himself, it does him the world of good to go be fat for a few weeks in between work. He always seems to come back so much better and not only that, but this time he seems to have screwed his head on a bit more and realised that not the whole world is trying to eat him, only some.

Star is still being super. We've been for a couple gallops across the stubble field while we have it to ride in and it's safe to say we both thoroughly enjoy them. We also went xc as I mentioned in my last blog with Beth and Sparkie and he was amazing. He felt so much more balanced and level headed than the last time we went and even though we didn't jump fences as big as last time, I felt like there was a massive improvement in him despite the ground being terrible and riding with another horse!

They both continue to impress me so much. :)

In other news, apart from this, not a lot has happened!
School has started again and everyone is at work and so team has not had much quality time together which makes me oh so very sad and I hope this is going to be rectified very soon.
I have begun putting Emma what seems to have become leg bootcamp to help improve her leg and general aids when riding by standing in a field and screaming at her. It seems to be working so I must be doing something right?! But no, in all honesty, it is really nice to see someone who you care so much about flourish so well in something they enjoy so much. It's even better, in fact, to know you're helping them get there. :)

All in all, not a lot to say really!
Summer is over, sad, but christmas is fast approaching and that in itself is something to get very happy about indeed!

I will try to blog more, promise!!

People are weird and ginger ponies are the best.

So my laptop decided it didn't want to charge... again and I was left without a laptop... again. But now I'm back, hopefully for good this time and things have changed since my last blog!!

So my assistance has left me. Needless to say looking back on it they probably weren't worth and I've now learnt to be very careful with who enters and stays in my life. Safe to say my ginger ponies and some very dear friends will be the few that remain.

In other news, Inca is still sort of my adopted pony, Lottie's back is a little better now and she can ride again but she has said I can possible adopt Inca again when she goes to uni which is exciting and has also said I can have a go at competing her over the winter so that might be something to try!

My ponies are fab and fat and doing well. Both are progressing lovely recently, Star has really started to flourish and come out of his shell and his jumping has exceeded my expectations completely and I couldn't be happier with him.
John has not been in much work on the other hand but is still a very fancy, ginger pony who I still very much love and will be keeping for a long time to come.

Not much to say really! A lot has happened but not much to write about in all honesty!

We are off xc tomorrow so hopefully I shall update you after this!

EEEEEKKKK

I've acquired some assistance (and adopted another pony?)

Hi!

My laptop has broken yet again so I'm now left stuck with nothing to blog with apart from my phone which I won't lie, is a little annoying and causes a lot of spelling mistakes which frustrates me more than it probably should. But, I felt that despite this, it has been far too long since I last blogged and I needed to get an update posted so here you are.

June hasn't been that awfully crazy apart from me gaining some new friends and a new love interest. Safe to say my boyfriend continues to make me feel like one very lucky girl all the time. This is because, he is absolutely fantastic with the horses. He catches them, brings them in, grooms them, helps me tack up, rides and helps me muck out... He really is quite cool (but do not tell him I said that) and I love watching him have a little cuddle with my favourite ginger pony knowing my two boys are best buds, it's really really nice to be able to be this happy again.

I've also acquired a helper who's name is Ollie, Ollie is Brad's best friend and he is always willing to help and go to the horses! He's also a great fan of the ponies and with the two of them around, yard chores have become so much nicer that's for sure!;-)

I've also adopted another pony, sort of;-) her name is inca and she is owned by one of the lovely girls on the yard, who has a very poorly back currently and so I've been trying my best to help her out and ride inca, bath her and help with her field upkeep. Inca is a pure dressage horse and she is so very different to ride from my two but she's lovely and I throughly enjoy riding her as I sort of begin to feel like I can ride and do sort of maybe know what I'm doing! I'll include some pictures at the end for you:-)

My two haven't really done a lot this month as for the first half i had exams! However star has done some hacking and jumping as well and some relaxed chilling and he's starting to come back into work very nicely:-) 

John however is just getting fat, naughty lottie needs to get an exercise regime in place for him soon that's for sure! He's done bits and bobs recently, teaching Ollie how to lunge a horse and giving me some hefty bucks! So he's enjoying life as a fat pony currently but I shall be cracking on with him this month hopefully!

Star hasn't really been out at all this month, he went to Emma and Beth's yard and played over some jumps and went on a hack and was a well behaved gentleman as always! We had great fun that day and he proved he is not just a pretty face! He also had his first bath whilst with me and he was super, so good as I expected! (A lot nicer to bath than John!!)

But overall we haven't really done a lot! Hopefully we will do more this month and you will be able to see but for now I will leave you with some recent pictures!:-) 

Show day is finally upon us, and Lottie is not okay.

Before I start, this was written 31st mah and I apparently forgot to post so here you go!

Aloha!
Well, today was show day and I woke up feeling like I was going to be sick and could taste the dinner I had eaten the previous evening. Safe to say, I was not excited.
After some arguments with myself I did finally manage to get out of bed and get ready for the show and so we went to get the trailer and go get a pony!

When we got to the yard we were running quite behind schedule (turns out we were super super early anyway) and I was still feeling nervous with a very soggy pony from the rain that night and a voice in the back of my head telling me to go home. Either way Star on the trailer and we set off to the show.

we got there so very early we were waiting around for 2 hours! Many thanks to my amazing support team for staying so long in the freezing weather and to Star for being impeccably behaved despite the standing around, and some rather rude people who clearly do not understand personal space and that horses can sometimes kick.

Back with a bang.

(Before I start, I wrote this about a week ago so it made sense then promise)
Helloooo!
Safe to say I am feeling extremely good about my riding recently and the ponies. I just feel like they're really coming along and we're just really starting to get to where I want us to be. I've also really been working on my position the past couple of rides and more myself than the horses and I really think it has aided me quite a lot.

I also think that recently my jumping has come back better than ever. I really am starting to get back into it and really love it how I used to! I think most of that is down to Star though as he just makes me feel so safe and allows me to sit back and focus a little bit more! He is just ace!

He proved this yesterday when we took a little trip to Ashwood to have a play round the xc course! This was our first time out on a xc field alone with no other horses and he was so well behaved and jumped everything I asked of him minus one fence which I was wrong to ask him to do and so I am going to forget that as it was unfair of me to expect it of him. I don't really have much else to say because he was just so awesome for me, emma and beth! Here's some photos :-)

star looks cute and then there's me....

ass for days son (also v impressed with my position here)

awww

need to learn to stop leaning on him

having a great time clearly

jumping big scary corner for Beff, good boy!

easy peasy

emma's head will forever amuse me hahaha! v proud of her for this though

Thoughts, Feelings and Ginger ponies.

This week for me has been, let's say, pretty awful.
I've just had the worst week I've had in a while and just when I thought I was doing okay, I seem to be right back to where I started, where I was around two months ago.

All I can say is, I am very lucky to have my pony.
He is my absolute world and without him, I would probably have given up a long time ago.
And this is super gay but he is my bestest friend and the love of my life. I honestly do think he is my soulmate without sounding like a forever alone horse lady.
I mean do not get me wrong, I do have a special person in my life but I also have John who is just my absolute best friend and he is the equine version of me in all he does, it's quite scary actually. He is literally the best thing that I have minus my friends/family right now. We've just had him over a year and it's crazy to think that just over a year ago I had never even met this pony or even heard of him and now look at us, a pair of crazy gingers!

I think my last ride on him sums it up really.
Emma and Beth came to see him and have a play because it has been so long since John got to show off to my friends! He was a star and it was so nice to hear the people who have been there from day one of me owning this pony saying how much he has come on and how wonderful he is becoming. It really warmed my heart I won't lie. Even just saying how much his weight has come on made my day.
When he was stood on the yard, we had next to no fidgeting, he was a gentleman to groom and tack up and was fantastic to put his bridle on which we used to have a lot of problems with! He let me get on from the mounting block, from the right side!!!, and proceeded to give me one of the most fantastic schooling sessions we had in a while. He was using himself, not looking at anything else going on, listening to me and even did some fancy welsh trot when changing the rein, just because he can and there were people watching, and then his canter was prefect, using so much power from his back end, really pushing off and even trying his hardest to give me a few strides of contact in canter. Safe to say I was thoroughly chuffed with my little ginger pony. He even schooled well for Emma and did everything she asked of him even when he knew it was hard work. It's just crazy to see how much he has come on, filled out and grown up. I'm so very proud of both of us, because he has not been easy to crack but he has shown that is really is worth it and all he seems to do recently is progress.
So all I can really say, is here's to the next years pony because I know that he is going to be one stunning, amazing, little horse and I am so very excited and nervous to say that it is me who is going to get him there and has got him to the stage he is now.

Here's some John photos from over the last few weeks!:)

After we had a very brave session of desensitizing! 

Mr. Fancy Pants he is becoming!

Contact in canter nearly?!

More KitKat please Mummy??

Can't get rid of me that easily I'm afraid! *APRIL*

Well, let's start with an apology. Since we have spoke I have had some major issues with my laptop and have since had to purchase a new battery and charger in order to be able to use it again. My new battery arrived today so I'm back with regular bloggings again! Yay!!

Warning, lots of updates to be shared with you!

Since we spoke, I guess quite a bit has happened!
Star and I have been on more outings, with a venture to Somerford Farm Ride to kick off April for Beff's birthday! I had the absolute best time and may have got dunked in the water at the start but I still think Star gave me a super ride and jumped some fences I would probably never even thinking of looking at not so long ago! I could not stop for most of the ride, granted, but I still had so much fun and I nearly fell off a couple of times, purely because I was laughing so much I just did not have the energy to hold on after about two hours of riding and jumping xc fences! Considering how unfit Star was that day, I cannot thank enough for trying his heart out and letting have the most fun experience round the track! Safe to say, Team Rhubarb and Custard are officially a thing and pairs hunter trials may have to be a thing at some point this year! We shall see what happens!

Promise this looked wide from where I was! Eek!!

They love each other. End of.

I rode Sunny after a very long time too! And completed one of my goals for the year, and cantered him! Now I would like to say I am quite a confident rider but I know my limits and Sunny pushes these quite a lot so I often just sit back and do not really ride him very often as he is a horse I can honestly say I know would take the piss with me, badly. So to say I cantered him has made me very happy! I cannot honestly remember the last time I did and it felt so nice to do so again. So thank you little Sundance for being a good boy for Auntie Lottie, she appreciates it, promise.

See I can ride!

My little baby pony also came back into work after quite a bit of mild work and quite a few days (or weeks) off! All I can say is, thank you to the world for letting me find this horse. He came back so much better and since he has continued to flourish into a fantastic little horse (as you will see later). He was so much more willing, more well behaved and more than anything, he had built up so much more weight and has continued to look fantastic for it.

Could I look any happier to be back at home?!

I also had an old school pony day with Hannah and Beff and it was sooo good to jump little Viccles again! I had ridden him about a week and a half before this and I was so happy to see his little face again, but being able to jump him again absolutely made my day. I love that little pony and he taught me to ride/jump and I am forever grateful to Hannah and her pony for that because he is a gem and will always have a special little place in my heart. Hammy made me do a course on him and despite him being a little unfit, he gave me such a good time, flew the fences and reminded me why I loved my jumping so very long ago. It just felt so natural to be back on him flying some decent size fences, I will never stop calling him my second pony and if he ever needed a home and I could give him one, I would snap him up in a heartbeat because he really is just great. I 'm looking forward to seeing him so much more over this Summer.

Fave. Pony.

I then had a birthday!! I turned the age I have been for far too long now, 16, so it was safe to say I didn't feel much older lol. I had a fantastic day. Beff came and took some photos of me and Little John which I am in love with and John really showed how much of a show off he is, posing for the camera like the true model he is. I finished off the evening with dinner out, thanks to one of the most wonderful people in my life right now and a sleepover with my most favourite persons ever. It really was one of the best birthdays I've had since I was little and I am very grateful to my mum for that because I really do think she tried her absolute hardest to make sure I had a good day, I am so very lucky to have a woman like her to not only call my mum, but to call my role model. She is truly fantastic and I do not know how I would have coped over these last few years without her, I really don't and I hope she knows that because I'm so very grateful for everything she does for me every day.

I could not love him more if I tried.

We got mum in front of the camera too!!

Sign us up for the Joules catalogue now yeah?

WE WENT TO A SHOW.
Me and Star tackled our first show, in style, dressed as minions, of course.
We went to a team jumping event and we got eliminated but I really do not care because Star went out, saw jumps, fillers etc, jumped the jumps and really did try his heart out, not only for me but for Emma too and that's all I can ask for. He handled the atmosphere perfectly, did not chuck me off and was a perfect pony all day, so thank you pony, I'm very thankful to have had my first show without falling off lol. We came 4th (last) but we got a very pretty rosette and I actually did not cry at a show for once which I cannot remember never doing so I am over the moon with how that day went considering we were running extremely late too!

The bromance continues. Squad goals.

Super Star!

And then to end the month, John and Star met properly for the first time, and had a fantastic time running around the school together. It was so lovely to see them having fun. Especially John who seemed to love having a friend to play with and he really showed his baby nature!
Good boys!

And that concludes April! I will post what has happened over the past couple of days in another blog. But I hope I haven't bombarded you too much!

Breakups, Outings and Team adventures!

So it's safe to say this month has been, well, a little bit disappointing. I mean don't get me wrong some fab things happened but some rubbish things did too.

Let's get the bad out of the way first, so as mentioned in my title, at the start of the month my boyfriend decided I was a little bit too much to handle basically (which I am I won't lie) and decided he he didn't want to be with me any more, and yes it hurt as I did really, really like him and I guess I kind of still do but people change, GCSE's are stressful and having a constant winge in your ear doesn't help ;) So I do honestly completely get it, and if he's happy then I have to find my happiness too, as gay as it is, life goes on and the world doesn't stop for anyone. All I can say is a massive thank you to my closest and bestest friends as well as my amazing mother and the deputy head because all of these sat me down and definitely let me be sad but gave me the massive kick up the arse I needed to get myself back on track. I also turned to my orange pony a lot and although he can be so naughty he is my best pal and he gave me the much needed cuddles I required so thank you monkey!!

Anyway, let's stop talking about the sad things now!
Me and Star have been out in the trailer twice! We went jumping at Priory to try some mini courses and we didn't have an overly great time because I thought he was really ill and felt awful the whole time I was riding. However touch wood he seems okay and we're watching him very closely! But overall he jumped the things I asked and was a super little horse trying his very best!
We then went xc and you can most definitely tell he has hunted! Jesus did he fly! I can honestly say I have never felt that brave xc schooling ever and I never imagined even looking at some of the fences I did! We went with Emma and Beth and although Emma fell off and was a little hurt, I think we all had a really good time! And hopefully this is the start of many team adventures with the ponies!

And then at the end of this month we went and fence judged the xc at Stafford Horse Trials and we had an absolutely fab day and i cannot explain how much i needed that pick me up, those guys never fail to make me smile no matter what day I've had or am having.

And Johnathon as you're probably wondering is doing fine! He is just being his usual naughty self! However he has had most of the Winter off bar a couple of rides and I just think he has connected with and started to respect me so much more for it. I just love his little face so much and I cannot wait to get him working again in the Spring!

Lottie learns to jump (again)

So as I mentioned in my last blog, Star the newest pony to enter my life, arrived last week(?) and he has lived up to his name ever since he arrived.

He has only been ridden 3 times since arriving at the yard and has been ridden with two other horses in the school on more than one occasion and had horses coming in and out during our rides but he has still remained focused on the job and well behaved! 

On our second ride there was some poles out so we decided to have a go, one of the women on the yard was riding and when star was a bit unsure she very nicely led us over them first. After star knew what the task was he loved them and was pulling me into the poles and generally having a great time! 

The next ride we had Beff come visit and we again tried some poles but at a canter this time and again Star was dragging me into them and zooming around like a pro! He schooled beautifully for Beff after I got off and then even jumped some jumps showing that the height we started him at was clearly not enough for him at all, he loved it and by the end of the session he was taking me to the jumps when I had no reins or even any sense of direction haha! 

 

All in all, things are looking very exciting for me and Star and this show season (when I'm not at work!) and we are going out for our first time together next week! I'm a little nervous I won't lie but I'm also very excited! 

John has also been ridden and has definitely not been forgotten and was awesome to ride the other day nailing all of his canter transitions and starting to properly use himself and balancing up more and more everytime! So we shall forgive his naughty behaviour on our hack about a week ago;) 

So there's your little update for now and I will report back soon!

Enjoy some photos of what we've been up to recently!

I may have not been completely honest with you...

*holds hands up*

Yes, guilty, I have been keeping a secret from you.
In my defense, I kept it for a reason!

I'm hoping no-one has guessed this because I have tried to keep it as hushed and top secret as I possibly could but I think it's time you know now.

Tonight saw the arrival of Star.

Star is a 16hh, Cleveland Bay x Thoroughbred, but I won't tell you his age because I want to see if anyone can guess!
He's a fab horse who seems to really take everything in his stride and considering he hasn't jumped/been off the yard/been in a school in 5/6 years and he loaded first time, traveled perfectly, got off the trailer and walked down to the school perfectly and then proceeded to school amazingly and did not put a foot wrong, I think it's safe to say he's a gem. When he did the jump, he first just did a pole on the floor and clearly loved it as jumped it and then went it up to a cross pole he had a little look at it but popped it fine every single time after with no hesitation and I think that is saying something considering the last time he jumped a show jump was many many years ago.

I am very excited to get him fit and jumping again and get him out and about! Things are definitely looking very exciting.

The decision to get another horse was not easy, I just want to put this out there. John is still my number one and will not be forgotten about, no matter what, my Mum adores him and has already stated the rules. I'm not really going to explain it anymore because I don't feel I should have to but I wanted to just say John is still with us and he is my absolute baby and best friend and there is no way he will come second to another horse or be any less cared for, I just simply would rather get rid of the other one before doing that and I said that when I first started looking at horses.

But less of the serious stuff, Star is home!! Eeeek!!!

Having a trot

I am having the best time riding that horse

Not jumped in 5/6 years? No problem!

Cutest little face

All of the stuff...

I honestly don't remember everything that has happened since we last spoke, all I do know is some very exciting things have happened!

John and I had our first lesson in forever and I really did not realise how many bad habits I have, and it was definitely worth the lesson because I realised we as a pairing are not really ready to have all our naughty bad habits tweaked yet because he is still learning and balancing himself and just generally figuring out what leg goes where and when it needs to be there. So I have decided that one day we will have lessons again, but for now, we can just enjoy getting there and this is nothing against the instructor I had, Heather, as she was fab, I just feel we are not ready for lessons yet but I know that when we are ready, she is always there for contacting.

In all honesty, John has been ridden much, he had about a month off and I got back on him again a few days ago, and as always he was a star. A few things had dropped in quality, for example, his speed, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt because he worked lovely in the end and was really listening to me and working with instead of against me as he was at the start of our ride.
I rode him again yesterday and we went out on a hack. Now this was the first time we had been out since moving yards and I wasn't really sure what to expect, but all I can say is that the hacking is fitted perfectly to both me and him and I can see us often going out for a stroll in the summer evenings. It was quiet, picturesque and there were no roads, score! I cannot tell you how happy I am to no longer have to see scary road signs, white lines and red cars, I could not be more relieved if I tried. While we were out, he was perfect, he didn't look at anything, and wasn't even really tense from the start, because he has been so much worse before. However, he did find it necessary to jump the blue hose pipe we had to cross to leave the yard, but I knew this was coming and it didn't come as much of a shock to me as I know what's he like far too well. He even trotted away from Emma and Beth of a couple of occasions (one of which was his choice and would not let me walk because he wanted get home super quick to see his friends) and had no fuss about this either.

Apart from this though, not much has happened, some exciting things are taking place but these are all secrets and I cannot share, teheehhe

Here's some pictures to show you that John is in fact not dead, just not in a lot of work!

Good boy looking after me after I had the dentist!

They love each other and I love it.

Conquering the world with the wind in his hair