Does anyone else feel like winter has come and Covid-19 has stopped you achieving anything this year? Normally I can get through winter knowing I have spent the summer training hard and treat this as a time to wind down and enjoying doing less, but this year I feel completely defeated. With our fields being very prone to flooding, I don't have the ability to ride at home during these wet months and the November lockdown rules stopping arena hire, overnight, meant I couldn't ride so an impromptu month off it was! I tried to take it as a positive and use the time to bring on Django (the new foal) but all I kept thinking about was the day when I would need to get back on and all that "freshness"!
I decided to leave Travis until January, I usually give him 8 weeks off over December and January, as he really does do well mentally from a break, and being a heavy horse cross, he maintains condition really well. Ben on the other hand, as an older thoroughbred, had gained a little bit of weight, but had lost a huge amount of top line and was going out of his mind from boredom, making him a handful, so finally I managed to get the use of an arena and hop back on board, after a few bouncy steps he was as good as gold and really enjoyed some pole work exercises, although we both definitely ached the next day.
Django has had his first farrier visit, his first trip out in the lorry, his first rug on, his first go on a pedestal and has his first in hand show booked. I keep forgetting all the little things that he doesn't know or understand yet, but he is really taking everything in his stride. I have already had to put his headcollar on the next hole down, I wish he would stay this small and fluffy forever!
We’ve had a busy but lovely few weeks, with all of the trio doing some work. I took Autumn out to a fun ride in aid of the Ukraine which was great, mainly off road (which was lovely) and there was a river crossing in there too.
It all was going so well. I was enjoying the long Platinum Jubilee weekend, being off work Thursday and Friday. I got plenty of jobs done on the Thursday and then on Friday I washed Diva (Melland Queen of Scots) in preparation for Midland Counties Show the following day.
With the summer fast approaching, the time comes for us humans to plan for going away on holiday. For those of us with horses. this can present a challenge.
The trio have been raiding my bank account the past couple of weeks with a full hay delivery, 20kg bag of treats (lasts the a fair few months), farrier, and they were also treated to a back session each with a McTimoney practitioner as I wanted them given a good once over (think I need one too at this rate).