A Return To Routine

Heidi hi, it's been a while! Well, we all survived the winter and winter 2.0.  I finally got my butt in gear and started a plan, with various changes, going from A to D.

Cu Chulainn, aka The Dude

I knew that I really wanted to work on flatwork with Cu Chulainn this year, as he is a beautiful mover but we suffer from tensionitis. He gets tense, then I get tense and it's a whole catch 22 situation.

Sir Fred - Mud Monster

In February I went for my first lesson with Fabienne and it was great but also an eye opener to how unfit we were (ok, mostly me!).  He wouldn't relax in canter so she advised me to try and change his bit for a while. In all honesty I didn't get riding properly after the lesson for a while, so I didn't do another one for ages because I wanted to put in the practice.

Beautiful sunset

I changed his bit to Fred's XC bit, which is a rubber bar pelham. Although it's a pelham, it's not too harsh and then only if you are pulling on it(which I hoped not to be). He took to it really well as he's only ever been in a snaffle. 

Heading out to the field

We worked on transitions, walk, trot, canter, and I tried to get him to relax. The first thing I noticed post ride was that he worked out and I didn't!! Do you know when you've been doing something so long you barely notice you're doing it? Well, that's how it was with his pulling. I think he was always pulling a bit and then just sometimes a lot and it was only the 'a lot' that I noticed. So that was a very pleasant surprise.

A couple more days working away and practicing and we were off for our next lesson. This was quite a while after our first, so my own fitness had improved a little too. This went really well and he was a star bar!! He is just so willing and really wants to do his job but overthinks a bit, like meself. We worked on a course of trotting poles, getting relaxation and rhythm consistent. Then we moved on to canter transitions and trying to get a relaxed trot after canter. All a work in progress, but good.

The XC bit

I put the practice in at home and he is really getting the relaxation part, next we need to work on suppleness, but for right now, I'll focus on the relaxation to keep it consistent.

Misty morning

In early April I had an appointment with my consultant and decided I needed to jump before it too see if I had any issues to add to my list. Our first proper jumping session since Paddy's Day 2021. I know I jumped in Milchem, but that was 3 practice jumps and in we went and I bounced all over the shop and barely stayed on! I tried to trot into the jump to start with. I managed two in trot. He was so excited to be jumping and was putting a LOT of effort over them, so canter was just easier. We had SO.MUCH.FUN. The jumps were small and it was a small bit out of control, but the craic was 90 and I stayed on!!

A few weeks later I went in again to practice. This time I somersaulted off at the very first!!! A combination of miscommunication and rustiness. At least I know I can still bounce! I got back up, showed him the jump and we turned around and popped it. We worked more on having control that day. Tried to get more strides between fences and meeting them right. 

Full mud monster

I've been mixing it up a bit between hacking, ground work, flatwork and fitness with him. It also depends on the weather and the ground, joys of no arena. Last week we went in again for a jump about. This was the hardest I've worked at jumping in a long time. Halfway around the course I was out of breath! This was not because he was bold or strong, but because I think I was probably riding him properly for the first time jumping. Actually giving him the support he needed! Which meant he was tired afterwards too because he was really on his hocks. I collected him a little bit too much before a jump at one stage but because I gave him the support I had no doubt we would jump it fine because he had the energy behind! It was such a great feeling, but I need to up my fitness game. Big time.

Beautiful shot of the boys

I actually bought a cycling helmet and have started cycling a bit, not enough, but a start is a start. I'm trying to get swimming as much as I can. I would like to get back running too, at some stage. But for the minute riding the 2 every day(bar 2) is pretty decent, my body has not grown accustomed to the new routine either and I rarely get to sleep early enough.

Now, having focused on Cu Chulainn above, Fred has lived up to the Fantastic Fred moniker. He was a bit lame for awhile. I couldn't feel heat anywhere but kept an eye on him. I brought him to the river for some aquatherapy which he thoroughly enjoyed. I lunged him one day and he was only a small bit off. I decided it was just the ground (not that that isn't an issue, but it's not something major) and that he'd be better off being ridden. So back to the grind he went. I started working him and he just got better each day. I've started a new routine where I ride him in the morning before work as the flies are not around (he gets really annoyed by them) and with the dew the ground might be a bit softer. He is getting fitter and fitter and really looking well in himself. He has a natural shine that is making him glow and I always say, he absolutely loves being in work. He loves the attention it brings.

Cu Chulainn meets the foal

I'm aiming to get back in to the show ring with him. He loves showing off and is made for it. I will need to keep an eye on the ground and the weather, as no shoes may be tricky, but the fact that he's ridden in the fields all the time really help.

Fred and his hennies

As I'm writing this he has just walked into my view out the window and even though he's muddy, you can see he's getting his muscle back.

Next week I have two lessons. I'm back to Fabienne with Cu Chulainn and my friend Karen is taking Fred for a lesson with her. I also have my first lesson back with Seamus which is soooo exciting!! I cannot wait! I'm going to video the lessons and hopefully get a little vlog together, the good the bad and the god awful!!

** My mam was unaware that I fell off, so I may be RIP for the update!!