Larry update, end of 2012 year report and 2013 goals!

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Hi all

As the year comes to an end, I thought I would write a report on how the year has been and what my aims for 2013 are.

So at the start of the year I loaned out my mare Ellie – she is the mother of the yearling I have (Haggis) and is too small for me (15h) but a fab temp. Unfortunately she was sent back after 3 months even though she went on a long-term/forever loan basis!! On her return she kicked my new horse – more on that later – and I sold her to a lovely lady not to far from me. She adores her and selling was definitely the right thing to do! She actually came to buy my IW trailer I was selling and ended up buying both the trailer and Ellie!

Early on in the year I bought a lovely project horse, Charlie. He was a 6yo Hannovarian x TB, fab temperament as long as you didn’t rug him while eating (I received a kick in the knee cap to remind me not to do this!) but he had lots of potential and my OH loved him. Sadly Ellie kicked him and as most of you know he developed a septic elbow which surgery did not fix and was put to sleep. RIP Charlie

As our arena was finished at the start of the year I started having weekly flatwork lessons, which has really helped with Jacks training.

Our dressage scores are slowly improving and one of my goals in 2013 is to achieve a 30 dressage score so far we are getting between 33.5 to 38.5 in BE100. I am also hoping to move him up to novice – which was an aim for the 2012 season but the weather has been so rubbish I entered 8 events in a row and they were all cancelled!!!

As it was so bad, I registered him BS and headed off to BS shows when I could – he has been reasonably consistent, coming 2nd regularly at BN and Discovery – we have only been to half a dozen shows so I’m pleased with that result!



Our best result of the year was 7th at Hutton in the BE100 (dr 33.5, SJ 4 and xc 5.2), we had an annoying fence down in the SJ – something to work on for 2013 is to practice on grass a lot more as I think this will help us to get the elusive BE SJ clear round! We are also not quite fast enough on the xc, I am paranoid that he is not fit enough so don’t push him round – I’m pretty happy to get time faults if my horse isn’t exhausted at the end of it, but hopefully if the events run this year we can get his fitness even higher!



So after losing Charlie, I bought Larry later in the summer, as most of you know Jack kicked him in the field and he developed a septic joint in his hock. Thankfully this time surgery was successful and he is currently out in the field, growing up, eating grass and recuperating. My goal for him is to starting riding him in springtime with the aim to take him to a couple of shows in the summer, then to turn away in autumn and bring him back into work next winter and aim him for the 5yo qualifier. He is such a lovely boy and put up with box rest extremely well. I am pleased to report that hubby also approves of him, which is brilliant!


He is a big lad is Larry, 16.3, turning 4yo and wears a 7 foot rug, I am very relieved that he fits in our new horsebox – purchased earlier this year, you will not miss us at shows as its orange!! Along with my dogs lead, collar, saddle cloth, stirrup irons, XC colours, velvet collar on my tweed jacket and bling browband!! Everyone needs a bit of orange in their life

Even the goats have orange collars:


Managed to go and do a bit of Side Saddle this year also, my friend kindly let me borrow her horse and we took him to a local SS show where he won the best horse class. He was brilliant and would have done better in the other classes against the expert horses if that hadn’t been the 3rd time in a year he had been ridden in the saddle. If I spent time working on his aids he’d be perfect!
Can’t seem to upload the nice ones so here is one the second time he had ever had the saddle on!


Haggis the hoss went to his first show on his own, he took part in the yearling/2yo class at Drum show and was initially pulled into first place after the walk/trot around the arena. Unfortunately he doesn’t quite move straight enough in front so was moved down to second. He had a fun day though I think.


On another note – my hubby and I have also shown our Hebridean Sheep this year at the Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire, Border Union and the Hebridean National Show. We gained some good placing’s at the national show and at Border union but our best success was at the GYS and RHS as we won breed champion with out tup Rudolph! It was amazing to win. Not sure we can ever top that!!
Note the orange headcollar!


My goals for 2013

J – build fitness up, work on SJ on grass, continue with DR lessons
Move to Novice BE, and jump Newcomers BS.
L – back in spring, take to a couple of shows over summer then turn away
H- There is a chance he may be sold. If not then aim for 3yo in hand.
Spock the Shetland – keep the weight off him!!!

Take hubby out lots to keep him happy about the amount of horses I have
Watch CBBC in Feb to see what my hubby and I look like on TV!
Complete my university teaching qualification
Write a couple of articles (has always been on my long term list but never get round to it!)
Have lots of lambs at lambing time! Have fun showing the sheep
Save up for arena mirrors!

Thanks for reading! walkers S&V crisps to all

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Just an update on Larry

Hi all

Just to fill those in who don't know. Earlier this year I lost Charlie (who I had owned for 8 weeks) to a septic elbow - he had been kicked in the field by my mare (who I sold) and after having the vet out 3 times due to the wound not healing, the infection penetrated the joint and we couldn't get on top of it even with surgery.

Following this, my best friend (Lab) in the world developed pancreatitis, she was taken into work (I work at a vets) and thankfully got better but was pretty bad for a few days.

Then she developed a lump so had this removed - turns out it was a lipoma so hopefully no more will grow.

Then I bought Larry - my lovely 3yo chestnut gelding who although bought unseen (vetted though) turned out to have a super temperament and is a lovely horse to have around.

Guttingly (if thats a word) he was kicked in the field on Wed night, I chucked him on the box and took him through to work. The wound was close to his hock - I wasn't taking any chances. After examining it, it looked fine so he was bandaged up and kept in overnight - just to be certain - and re-examined the following morning.

After reviewing him on Thursday morning, It had developed into a septic tibiotarsal joint. Can't really describe how I felt.

Took to theatre for joint flushing and even though he is a big boy, he did what we hoped and recovered well from his GA. He's been pumped full of antibiotics and is behaving impeccably. I went through to see him again today and he is still sound. He had another tap which came back with a low cell count so was taken off injectable AntiB’s. He is coming home tomorrow. He'll be on oral AB's for a while, box rest for 10 days until sutures removed, then box rest for another 10 days, then controlled exercise building up to full turnout for around 30 days.

It will be a couple of weeks before we can be absolutely sure that he is better but at least he is on the right road.

Will be glad when this year ends - this is the 5th insurance claim I have had to put in so I'm guessing my premiums will go up I've certainly had my moneys worth this year.

Couldn't face putting anything on here the other day as have been on tenterhooks waiting (feeling a bit sick), however I feel a bit more optimistic now so thought I would share. I’m also knackered as have had loads of sleepless nights so hopefully I can relax a bit once he is home.

Larry:

Walking holiday and Larry update :)

Hi all,

So J and I decided to take the lorry and go on a dog walking holiday for a week round the north east of Scotland! We planned to ‘glampervan’ in the truck, taking the generator, radiators, heated towel rail and lots of things to make it a fun week away.

After shopping for a new walking wardrobe (the old stuff falling apart) we packed enough clothes to go for 6 nights. Mum came up to spend the week with her hubby Dapper and look after our large gang of animals – including the new goatlings –





So we took out the partitions, put a roll of carpet down and made the horse-end quite comfortable



We set off on Thurs morning, heading to little chef on the way (I love little chef!) for breakfast before arriving at Dunotter Castle for a wander round and the dogs went for a swim







We then headed over to our first stayover – Bennachie Forest. What a lovely place, unfortunately we found out that the main car park was closed for forestry works so had to drive round in the dark hunting for ‘Back’o’Bennachie’ car park – which actually turned out to be an even better place to stay.

Unfortunately the weather was grim, it rained all night and after heading out for a 3 hour walk the following morning with the dogs, we were absolutely soaked.



Even the inside of our boots were wet. Cue several hours of radiator, towel rail heat and still our clothes were wet.

We did manage to cook nice meals in the truck though:





We decided then that we would change our plans and drive somewhere else but not any further north. We headed over to the Cairngorms and found a beautiful place ‘Glenmore’ to stay in. We parked on the banks of Loch Morlich, which has its own beach, and then went for a walk in Glenmore forest park.





It was a lovely walk, but we were wearing wet walking clothes which made it a bit unpleasant so after returning to yet more rain, we decided to bail out and come home.



It was nice to give it a try, and had we ended up with the weather that we then got for the next two days, we’d have stayed out and travelled but alas it was not to be.

But…

That did mean we could come home and dry our walking clothes to get out and go somewhere locally – went up Trahenna Hill and the Iron Road (4 hour walk) yesterday which gave 360 degree views at the top of the hill – it was awesome! We had lovely weather; dry clothes and the dogs loved it!


My dog resting:


We have decided that we will probably go away in the lorry again, but next time it will be less ambitious and we’ll only go for long weekends (maybe in the middle of summer too!)

I also got to make a start on Larry’s education:



Long reining: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmKof4SlDjQ



Lying over: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51c348PZ7Rk

He’s only 3 and a half so if the weather prevents me from doing more then I’ll start him again next spring. If I can get to sit on him before the year-end that will be perfect!

And to finish off, gave Jack a light school http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU_aWrHQnA8


All boys coming in for a gallop: think the hill will get Larry’s muscles built up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AnCmz-g8J8

Thanks for reading, We’ve got lots of munchies to offer as we packed enough food to last a month!

Aske report and brief Larry update

Hi all

Sorry its taken so long to get an Aske report!

I entered Aske and requested an early start time as I was driving down on the Saturday. I had originally wanted to compete at Burgie (Sat) but we were taking some sheep along to the Hebridean Show and Sale at Stirling on the Friday night/Sat morning. We won breed champion at the sale and our shearling (not the champ) was one of the top ones to sell

Anyway I headed down to Aske on Sat after Jack was scrubbed clean. My stable was about 20 minutes away from the venue at a pig farm and although I though J would have a porkie at them (excuse the pun ) he didn't bat an eyelid.

My friend met me to chauffeur me to the xc course so I could walk it as my times were close together (thank you). Course looked nice, the BE100 was running as we went round with some very dodgy stride missers - the one thing that shocked us was some rider who lost control of their horse on the way to fence 5, the horse went through the string so they got it under control and tried to jump the string to get back on course even the jump judge said it was dangerous - horse was confused and eventually at the second attempt jumped it, before heading through to fence 5, they didn't need to do it, and were cursing loudly. Anyway, for us it was a bit of a how-not-to-do-it (although I think we knew that already!)

I was eyeing the course up for the Novice, and the only fence I could see that I think J would need so pre-schooling over would be the hedge jump into water. Need to find an xc course with a proper jump in that I can school over - any ideas?

Went back to the truck, tucked J in for the night and turned on the tv. was a lovely evening just me and my dog and even though it was minus 2 we were toasty warm (I love my lorry!)

Got up early (was the first to be up in the morning) found I had the only stable with rubbish lighting bathing a grey horse with a head torch is not easy! Plaiting in the dark I can do so was loaded up and leaving as other riders were appearing.

parked up, tacked up and hopped on, my feet were freezing decided to warm up for longer as it was cold but I over cooked J. he was totally flat by the time I went in, so got a 37. headed over to SJ.

The course was on a slope, I thought the ring was nice and J was jumping well. Went in with a *slight* hope we might break our 4-faultitis-at-BE-events but it was not to be - what a total misser I got to the 4th fence - to be honest he did well not to have both parts. Not sure why but my eyes were watering going round - think i need racing goggles

Anyway, happy enough with 4f, as he jumped well. My friend had come along to watch again so we had a chuckle at my expense and patted the very good horse for being an honest soul while heading over to start xc.

I really enjoyed the course, was a good end of season run, although not as hard as it had been previously from what I heard. J jumped well, pinged everything and came home clear with 6 time faults.

Our tf are getting better, its really me that wants to keep him continuing to grow in confidence so haven't been chasing the time too much. Next year we'll do more work on that. Interestingly my friend who watched (who has done advanced etc) said that she felt I needed to get him to some gallops next spring as he needs to learn to gallop and properly open out. She felt that although he could cover the ground easily, he just wasn't yet doing it.

So thats a good plan for next year I think. (thats if there are any events to go to!)

Pics from Aske:






And just a quick update with Larry, he has now started his training slowly due to the weather. He is already bitted so the bridle has been fitted, breaking roller was ignored so has been introduced to lunging and a saddle!

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