Quick update

Had a call from Sue last night, who had been contacted by the treasurer of the show we were at on Saturday. Max won his first ribbon!! Came 2nd in his RTR jumping!! Clever boy, he is such a dude.

I'M BAAAAACK!!!!

Worlds most lazy Blogger. Thats me. OK, so whats new - Troy is super. growing by the day - I have quietly backed him, so thats very exciting! He's just laxing out now though, until he's closer to 3, as he still has so much growing to do.

In the meantime, I've been given the ride on a friends horse. Sue and Grant have kindly asked me to ride Max, their big chestnut Anamour horse. He was only started a couple of months ago, although he has just turned 5, he's still a very big baby. So, he's done nothing.

I am having an absolute ball with him. Today, we thought we'd take him to a local sports day, just for a look around, and the experience of going in a couple of flat classes. He was a star. Despite being somewhat....errr. excited on arrival, he soon settled down, and got into the swing of being a show horse wannabe, and was not fazed by other horses cantering around him, etc etc. Two classes and he was a very tired boy!!

Did one of the little RTR classes, and he jumped so well. His jump is lovely, just rolls into them which is great for the likes of me who can't see a stride to save myself!! We had planned on doing a little 70cm sj round too, but the weather packed up, and we both got totally soaked so decided to call it a day as the ground was so slippery, and the course quite tight - too tight in the wet for a Giant Ginga Giraffe!! Anyway, have included some pics of today - quality is crap as they were taken from the video camera, but you get the idea!!

I feel so lucky to be riding him - but a little nervous too - he's a lovely horse and I don't want to ruin him!!! Can't wait for some lessons with Mandy and winter dressage.

My horse is a mountain goat.

Should I be worried that my horse likes to stand atop a large mound of topsoil and stare into my bedroom window?

OK, so the picture isn't great as its from my phone, but you get the idea....

Random pics found in camera

These are from ages ago, but I've just found the other camera!! Anyway, took them the day the shellrock was being laid in the yard, as you can see, troy thought it was all rather exciting. Muffin, mmmm not so much...

Grown up horse stuff

Well this week we've been doing a lot. Firstly, I realised that Troy has never been taught to lead from the offside. I discovered this when "lunging" him from a long lead rope. All good in one direction, not so good in the other. he was like..."what the? I can't go that way, its just not right!". The nice thing is that he learned very quickly that its ok to go to the right, just as its ok for mum to walk on the right hand side, not the left!

Back on and off the float, now with the partition in. I like to have all my horses self loading, as I largely travel alone to events. Seems to be going just fine at the moment. He will load on voice command - I haven't put the bum bar up yet, just want him to be nice and relaxed in there first. Just lots of on, stand, off. And then repeat... lol.

He's been "sacked out" and I try to throw as many rugs/saddle blankets etc around his feet and body whenever i have him in. He's quite happy to wear a roller and saddle blanket too.

As usual, I've been so busy doing stuff, that I havent taken any photos! Took this one on my phone this afternoon, the boy tied in the shed as it had started raining.

Cute..

I just found out last night that Troy and I share a birthday. I, however, am not rising 2.

Back on and off the float this afternoon. Big yay!

Float training???????

Well it wasn't intended to be. I had parked the float in the paddock and configured troy's tape today to include the float in his paddock. Put the ramp down with the intention of letting him look at it and get close to it if he felt like it.

Silly bugger kept a wide berth from the scary blue thing with wheels.

Went into the paddock this evening to say hi, catch him, and just handle him a bit (oh, ok, play with him, I admit it!) Led him around the float a few times.

I am guilty of talking to him as if he is one of my kids. Which sounds awfully inane and quite mental to the casual passer by. Luckily we don't have many of those...

so, there I was, talking inanely to him. Left him standing at the bottom of the ramp, and walked into the float myself, so that I could talk/sing/be an idiot from inside the float. (the photo is taken from inside the float...)

Well next thing, bugger me, he's in there with me!! Must have been lots of lovely horsey smells from when Violet was in there last. He just stood there sniffing, and chilling. So I carefully backed him out. and walked out with him. And went back in, and he followed me straight back in. Same again.

Lots of horse cuddles and turned him out. Too good to be true!!!

This is the horse that was an absolute b***tard to truck down here, according to the transporter. Go troy!!

Photo, taken by me from inside the float (from my phone so excuse the quality - again, it was all very impromptu!)