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Chatty
Dec 22, 2010 21:48:32 GMT 1
Post by avril on Dec 22, 2010 21:48:32 GMT 1
That's such great start, and really well done. Looking back on where Chatty was in her training around this time last year, she was still struggling to stay in balance on the lunge on a trot circle. We wish you every success next season in Le Trec, and hopefully you can inspire more owners to have a go as many of our horses would be suitable candidates for this when they graduate.
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Chatty
Dec 22, 2010 22:43:41 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Dec 22, 2010 22:43:41 GMT 1
mmmmmm I foresee a training session at yours. Just the question of parking to sort ............
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Chatty
Jan 9, 2011 15:44:53 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Jan 9, 2011 15:44:53 GMT 1
Hi Chattysmum I'v really enjoyed your recent posts and admire the way you got straight on with doing lots of interesting outings. I love the idea of trec and would love to give it a go when poss. It was also interesting and encouraging to find you have had some obstacles to overcome. Thanks for sharing these and best wishes for the years activities. I enjoyed Chattys diary so much and will look forward to the updates Angela
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Chatty
Mar 3, 2011 16:15:35 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 3, 2011 16:15:35 GMT 1
At last, managed to get Chatty out for our first proper hack. Loaded her in the trailer for the first time since October and she was brilliant - you would think she does it every day of her life she was so relaxed. Boxed to where I live as there are a few bridleways to explore and went out on our own for about 2.5 hours. We had an excellent time although I only came across one small stretch where we could canter. Planning on a trip to Camber Sands next week so we should be able to kick up our heals a bit then.
nb I have been hacking out locally round the roads and lunging to keep up her fitness. I wouldn't advocate taking an unfit horse out for this length of time.
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Chatty
Mar 4, 2011 1:20:26 GMT 1
Post by liz on Mar 4, 2011 1:20:26 GMT 1
That sounds so enjoyable and I'll look forward to hearing all about your hooley on Camber Sands
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Chatty
Mar 4, 2011 20:30:48 GMT 1
Post by avril on Mar 4, 2011 20:30:48 GMT 1
Camber Sands isn't too far away from us and we've been promising ourselves for the last 16 yrs to have a day out there. I really fancy a beach ride, catching a few gentle waves, and having fun. Not much chance now that we're so busy but hearing how you get on will give us a vicarious lift after such a long winter.
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Chatty
Mar 5, 2011 10:57:48 GMT 1
Post by sarah on Mar 5, 2011 10:57:48 GMT 1
Now that would make a wonderful video Avril - especially if there were any "out takes" ! ;D
I have never done a beach ride, and would love to - fun for horse and rider and such a great sense of freedom.
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Chatty
Mar 5, 2011 19:00:55 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 5, 2011 19:00:55 GMT 1
Exciting - we've been out again today, this time to Bodsham which is between Crundale and Hastingleigh. A friend kindly let me leave my trailer in her yard and Chatty and I set off. I wanted to go here as it is extremely hilly which all helps in getting a horse fit. Mind you, we set out up a long hill and I worried that she was a bit pooped by the time we reached the top. We had a truly lovely ride. Chatty goes from strength to strength in her boldness now that we are riding such distances on our own. We even found some lovely bridleways that were around the edge of fields where we had our first really good canter for months. Coming back I took a wrong turn and found we were off my map. Luckily we found our way, more by luck than judgement, but on the way disturbed a big herd of deer which amazed Chatty. They were very inquisitive and so graceful. She's a very tired girlie tonight. Day off tomorrow, I think.
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Chatty
Mar 6, 2011 0:48:33 GMT 1
Post by liz on Mar 6, 2011 0:48:33 GMT 1
I did a beach ride once but it wasn't a sandy beach and I was riding my friends young event horse, helping her escort a Cattistock Pony Club ride ! I went down in my friends lorry with my neighbour's children and their ponies which I knew would be a mistake!!! The first half of the ride was quote orderly until we hit the top of a hill near Hardy's Monument and it turned into a bit of a cavalry charge. We stopped for a picnic lunch when all the pony clubbers (and escorts, of course!) had to strip down their ponies and make sure they had water and were grazing safely before we all sat down for pop and sandwiches which were waiting for us. We then headed down the hill to the beach which is pebbly - for those who know that part of the world, it was near Chesil Beach. Well, my young horse hadn't seen the sea before and the sound of the water HISSING as it retreated down the shingle made him whip around very quickly but after half a dozen times he settled and enjoyed a paddle. The only child to get wet was my neighbour's daughter who got dumped into the sea. Slightly mean, but I would LOVE that to have been filmed She was a very spoilt brat who wasn't always nice to her lovely pony. I'd love to have had the opportunity to have had a ride at Saunton Sands in North Devon. It is a fantastic beach which goes on for miles and when ever I was there, usually with my Mum and Dad who ised to live nearby, I saw horses breezing along the beach. A wonderful sight it was, too.
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Chatty
Mar 6, 2011 10:06:52 GMT 1
Post by sarah on Mar 6, 2011 10:06:52 GMT 1
Liz, I know Chesil Beach well, its not far from me. The stones there are big, and I remember well the incredibly loud sound as the waves rush back out - I am not surprised your horse was suspicious to begin with ! I have never ridden there, but did walk my Collie there, and I remember one day when we were walking past some fishermen, and my dog grabbed one of the fish they had caught, ran off and ate it - they were NOT amused!
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Chatty
Mar 6, 2011 18:17:42 GMT 1
Post by liz on Mar 6, 2011 18:17:42 GMT 1
LOL, Sarah! My ex OH used to fish from the beach! Wish it was one of his fish!
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Chatty
Mar 12, 2011 21:17:22 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 12, 2011 21:17:22 GMT 1
Had a mixed week. On the down side I am losing my grazing shortly so I had to find a new companion home for Chocky. Luckily I found a lovely lady who was looking for a companion just half an hour from me so I let him go. I bought him as a companion six years ago and he has been great fun but unfortunately I just couldn't afford to keep two horses in livery. Happily I can visit whenever I want to so will keep in touch.
Chatty has settled well to being on her own in the field and luckily she can see other horses over the fence. I kept things "as usual" for her and boxed out for a lovely ride with a fellow Le Trec competitor, Lenham/Otterden way. I drew the maps but didn't bother to measure the distance we would be riding. Phew, three hours later we arrived back and I measured the distance to find we had done 18.5kms, up and down hills. Poor Chatty must have been tired today.
Tomorrow we are off to an Endurance GB training ride near Brighton, up on the South Downs. I am doing this just to carry on with her fitness programme. We have a start time of 10.10am so planning on cleaning my tack then getting an early night. Chatty is having one of her infrequent nights in the stable as it is going to be a case of grabbing the horse and going in the morning!
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Chatty
Mar 13, 2011 0:00:19 GMT 1
Post by liz on Mar 13, 2011 0:00:19 GMT 1
I hope your training ride goes well and look forward to reading about it!
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Chatty
Mar 13, 2011 21:32:51 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 13, 2011 21:32:51 GMT 1
What a wonderful ride we had. Chatty and I were on the road by 7.20am, heading for the Brighton area. Found the venue no problem and everyone there was extremely helpful and friendly. The weather was extreme in that we could hardly see 10 metres in front of us in the fog. The higher we climbed up onto the Downs, the thicker it got. Chatty was amazing. Travelled well and although a bit excited when we got there, watching all the other horses, as soon as I started tacking up she stood like a rock. I was very pleased today at her fitness. Other than for very slippery tracks and steep inclines we trotted most of the 20kms with a few canters thrown in for good measure. I had no idea the going on the top of the Downs was so good - basically virgin turf. I expected some reaction when others cantered up behind us but Chatty did not take any notice and showed no signs today of wanting to catch others up. When out earlier in the week she had got quite beside herself when a group of horses in a field starting charging about but I had remained calm and put my legs on to keep her together. Today we came across a similar situation but with the fog all you could hear was a stampede coming. Chatty started to react but this time when I put my legs on she immediately listened and carried on walking. We completed the 20kms in about 2 hours without feeling as though we had pushed it too hard at all. We've had a brilliant day out and our partnership goes from strength to strength. Can't wait for the next outing.
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Chatty
Mar 19, 2011 21:29:51 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 19, 2011 21:29:51 GMT 1
Following on from my posts last year concerning Chatty and her altered behaviour due to too much grass: while out with Chatty last year we came across some pigs which she appeared absolutely terrified of. She frightened me badly and finally, after about 10 minutes, I managed to lead her past them.
Today, while out on a hack on our own, we passed a field with two huge pigs in it. One was wallowing right next to the fence and the other came jogging over, snorting. I thought I was going to be bacon (pardon the pun) but Chatty took hardly any notice of them at all. We happily trotted up and down the fence which just goes to prove it was the grass, not Chatty herself causing her reaction.
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