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Chatty
Mar 29, 2011 11:00:33 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Mar 29, 2011 11:00:33 GMT 1
She's beautiful Chatty's Mum
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Chatty
Mar 29, 2011 18:33:53 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 29, 2011 18:33:53 GMT 1
Thank you everyone for your kind remarks and thank you Avril for putting her photos up for me.
I'm not doing Findon as I am in Tenerife that weekend. Was it you that was advertising for a lift?
Happily, also, I have found a new place to keep Chatty today. Lovely secure field with a lorry body to store my hay and as the owner is a friend of mine, he has said I can erect a field shelter if I want. The field is much closer to me, there is plenty of access for my trailer, his mother lives on site and the hacking is very good. There are huge electric gates which are locked every night so she will be safe from thieves. I am soooo relieved and can't wait to move and get settled. I have known I was to lose my grazing for the last two years, when the house was sold where I keep her so it will be nice to be secure again.
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Chatty
Mar 30, 2011 12:56:08 GMT 1
Post by cassandra on Mar 30, 2011 12:56:08 GMT 1
Hi Chattysmum, yes it was me advertising for the lift :-) Still havent been sucessfull :-(
It would be really nice if i would see you on one of the rides have you got any planned?
Anja
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Chatty
Mar 30, 2011 15:40:55 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Mar 30, 2011 15:40:55 GMT 1
Hi Anja
I think I am probably going to enter the two day Black Knight training ride - one or two days, not sure which yet. After that I will be into the Trec season which is my first love.
I posted a link on MSC Facebook page for information on a Trec to be held in West Sussex 2 / 3 July. You should give it a go.
Lisa
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Chatty
Apr 3, 2011 18:34:01 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Apr 3, 2011 18:34:01 GMT 1
Chatty has now moved and is now 5 minutes down the road from where I live so for the first time I can easily pop to her in the morning and take her rug off then do the same in reverse at the end of the day. Yesterday we went out to discover the area and found some lovely bridleways, one of which we will be able to have a canter on when the land dries out a bit.
Chatty is extremely pleased to see me at the moment but she is eating, drinking, pooing and not calling out so I think she will settle well. The people that live over the back of her field called out hello today and wanted to know all about her. I have agreed that they can give her one carrot a day and they seemed very happy to have a horse next to them.
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Chatty
Apr 5, 2011 8:42:32 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Apr 5, 2011 8:42:32 GMT 1
Chatty is settling in nicely. The farrier was due yesterday afternoon and as he was late, we spent an hour playing with a large tarp, walking under a digger whose arm was extended, making an arch, then, we were really brave. Chatty's paddock is within the grounds of a haulage yard so in the evening all the lorries are lined up next to one another ready for the next day. I realised that there was a gap between them all so we weaved up and down between them . Not sure she would be so happy if all the engines were running but still quite impressive I thought.. Not sure what the owner would think either!
She is already putting on weight on the good grazing but interestingly, has not shown any adverse effect like she did last year. I have read recently that grazing has different levels of non soluble carb (NSC). Research has shown that well-managed lush pastures may have lower NSC levels compared with "stressed" pastures that arise when environmental conditions are not conducive to growth or when grass is overgrazed. It goes on to say that pastures that are regularly topped are also thought to have lower NSC levels. (H & H 31 March 2011). Either that, or the Spring grass has not really hit us yet!
The farrier was astonished that Chatty still had her shoes on as they were so worn and thin (a testament to how much work we have been doing). Her back shoes were the worst which he said shows that she is using her engine (back end) correctly. She now has normal thickness shoes on the fronts and heavier ones on behind.
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Chatty
Apr 18, 2011 21:35:35 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on Apr 18, 2011 21:35:35 GMT 1
Have had to have Chatty's shoes changed back to our usual ones as the new ones had absolutely no grip on the road. That accomplished we went off to Milstead on Sunday for the Charity X Country ride. Lovely ride although the going was very hard in places. Lots of opportunities for cantering and we had another gallop. Chatty likes it! We also took the opportunity to try jumping and did a few of the smaller jumps. I haven't jumped for so long that it took me a while to relax and I kept getting left behind but then, amazingly, we had it. I had forgotten how wonderful it feels. Chatty never felt as though she would stop (I did let her look at most of the jumps first) and before I knew it we were sailing over accompanied by my yippee!
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Chatty
May 8, 2011 8:07:27 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on May 8, 2011 8:07:27 GMT 1
Chatty and I have spent the last couple of weeks doing some serious fittening work in preparation for the start of our Trec season. Next week is our first competition and we are travelling to North Wales for it next Friday morning. I am a bit nervous of the fact that we have entered at level 3 (about 30km) and are competing individually. We have been boxing out and riding up and down some serious hills and over all terrains and I think Chatty is more prepared than me. On Friday we boxed to Bodsham and had a lovely ride over the North Downs. The farmers in that area did not make it very easy as bridleways had been ploughed up and disguised and I had to be very careful with my map reading so as not to get lost which was brilliant practice for me. Our weekly lessons are going well and Chatty is becoming much more responsive in the arena. We need to do much more in the way of jumping but that will come, it's just having the opportunity to do it.
This week we have the farrier, a lesson and will box to a big local forest to ride up more hills and fine tune my orienteering then it's off to Wales we go.
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Chatty
May 9, 2011 19:15:27 GMT 1
Post by avril on May 9, 2011 19:15:27 GMT 1
I daresay we wouldn't be able to keep up with you these days, chattysmum! Sounds like you're both as fit as fleas. She must be a true LeTreccer now at level 3. The ground is like concrete round here, lucky Chatty has proper cob legs and feet to stand up to it.
Wishing you every success next week in Wales, and make sure to let us know how it went.
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Chatty
May 14, 2011 9:07:20 GMT 1
Post by em on May 14, 2011 9:07:20 GMT 1
Hi chattysmum
Much much luck this weekend with your competition... I am on the wales shropshire border and the weather seems pleasant dry but cool hopfully ideal conditions for your ride... let us know how you get on.... I would like to ask was Le Trec something you always wanted to do and then you looked for a horse or was it just that after you got Chatty you decided to have a go... hope you dont mind me asking but you seem to be doing such an amazing job re competitions and fitness training and exploring the countryside all over that it is as if you have been doing it for years
good luck em x
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Chatty
May 16, 2011 8:36:36 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on May 16, 2011 8:36:36 GMT 1
Hi Em
I have been doing Trec for a few years but for the last four years have not had a suitable horse. I have hunted for the right one and believe Chatty is the one. I am very rusty in the map reading department at the moment so do not expect to do brilliantly this year and Chatty needs to have more experience at obstacles etc but we are enjoying ourselves hugely. Unfortunately the weather in Afonwen, Mold was wet, windy and very cold. I have written a short account in my next post. Thanks Em for your interest.
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Chatty
May 16, 2011 8:37:52 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on May 16, 2011 8:37:52 GMT 1
Oooh, I'm so tired today. Travelled to North Wales on Friday in a state of high anxiety as I have had a couple of problems lately with the car towing up steep hills. A day in Toyota told me that there was a little drag on the turbo but just to keep an eye on it! One of the technicians had advised me to keep the revs up while going up hills which isn't always easy in an automatic but it was either that, or pay out (Toyota price over £4,000) to have a new one fitted and they weren't even sure that had been the problem. Horrid journey because of the stress and then, when I was nearly there, I pulled in to a service area to get some diesel and found I had a puncture on the trailer. How lucky was I that there was a recovery service, actually on the forecourt and the nice man changed the tyre and replaced the faulty valve in the one that had gone down. I was very relieved to get to Afonwen in one piece. She vetted fine for the competition with a resting heartbeat of 28.
Did not feel too nervous drawing the map and starting the ride. Chatty was an absolute star, very steady and full of going. We got back over six hours later and I felt we both could probably have done a bit more. However, I had 2 or 3 away with the fairies moments when I just couldn't think where we were. Hopefully, it was down to not eating and drinking enough. Really enjoyed the ride though, the views from on top of the hills and the one mountain we rode up were stunning.
Then, I am ashamed to say, I made a huge mistake. Went over to dinner and drunk a couple of glasses of vino. Was very tired and left early. Got back to the trailer and Chatty saw me go to the back where I keep the hay. She was there like a shot, talking to me urgently. I thought, she must be starving. A six hour ride and she's got her muzzle on. I stupidly thought, put some hay out and take the muzzle off and she'll eat the hay and not too much grass. I put a huge pile out and she fell on it like the half starved horse I thought she must be and I went to bed. Half two in the morning I woke up to the sound of her pulling at the grass. When I looked out, the hay pile was virtually untouched and she had cleared her enclosure of grass. There I was, in the freezing wind and rain with my nightie and wellies on, putting her muzzle back on. Too late. She had had five and a half hours grazing.
The next day was not good. Her resting heartbeat was 48 bpm at the vetting. She didn't want to stand to be mounted and was wide eyed and spooky. Luckily I am used to her enough to sit to the huge leaps sideways she did. When I put my legs on she grunted with displeasure. She would not stand still when asked. It took me precious minutes to get her past a tall bendy flagpole. She was agitated, uncomfortable and unhappy. Suffice to say we did not have a good round. When will I learn.
Another attempt in Wales in two weeks time. NOTE TO SELF: This time I will, absolutely not, take her muzzle off or give her any hard feed whatsoever (I don't even carry it in the trailer any more), even when she has worked so hard and calls to me and pleads with her eyes. I must tell myself she is plenty fit enough to do the work and the travelling without supplementing her diet. I really am such an idiot sometimes. In my defence, I was very tired both from the journey up there and the long ride following the map.
On the plus side - she did the best fast walk she has ever done. She walked straight over the narrow footbridge. She did the step up, step down, staircases up and down, immobility and the ditch. We just need for it all to come together on the day.
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Chatty
May 16, 2011 13:26:30 GMT 1
Post by angelac on May 16, 2011 13:26:30 GMT 1
Hi Chatty's mum That account is most interesting,all the more so as I've just been finding out more about Trec for an equestrian studies course I'm doing. I would love to have a go at beginner level in due course. That sounds quite an arduous route you were on and 6hrs in the saddle obviously a long spell. What distance did you have to cover? Poor you with the vehicle bother, anything like that really throws me! I seem to recall from an earlier post that the Spring grass really effects chatty. Do you think that made her trickier on your second day? I've wondered about Spring grass, as last year I took my new Highland to the RC show. He is a really chilled boy and didn't turn a hair at all the goings on. However he stuffed his face for a couple of hours and cleared the area around the box of juicy grass as we waited a couple of hours or so for our turn. He walked all through the ground to our ring no bother but then exploded for just 5 mins before turning back into a good boy and winning a rosette. Folk were galloping nearby in a practice area which may have been the cause, but I do wonder if the grass was a big factor.I think it was naive of me to have allowed this anyway. Strictly haynet next time It was unexpected as he is usually very laid back and chilled. Have you experienced anything like this after just a couple of hours? Anyway well done for your perseverance and I hope the next ride goes well. Please let us know as it is most interesting Best wishes Angela
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Chatty
May 16, 2011 19:08:11 GMT 1
Post by chattysmum on May 16, 2011 19:08:11 GMT 1
Hi Angela
We rode a route of about 30km and think we went into four checkpoints where we could rest for a few minutes. At level 3 and 4 we also have a vet check on route where we rested for 20 minutes.
The grass definitely affects Chatty. Explosive is a good way of describing it but then she seems very tired afterwards. I am sure it is a chemical thing.
Happily I have visited her today. She is supple and has no sore spots on back or legs and seems to have coped with the travelling and the distance better than me. I hurt all over and my brain has only just stopped feeling like mush.
Taking her to a friend's later on in the week to practice obstacles and jump a couple of ditches and tree trunks so hopefully we will be better prepared next time.
NB Let me know if you need any help with your course or you need any contacts.
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Chatty
May 16, 2011 19:28:16 GMT 1
Post by angelac on May 16, 2011 19:28:16 GMT 1
Thanks Chatty's mum We have been working on fitness programmes for an unfit horse and a fit one who needs to get fitter. I picked my own for the unfit one .This is good as I have started to action it. Then picked a fit one in the field of endurance as I'm interested in this. I have done a previous assignment on this as well. It sounds so interesting. It must take a bit of experience getting them through the vetting gates. Do you have friends acting as your back up crew? What sort of obstacles do you do apart from steps,jumps,that low pole to go under? Strange the grass thing. Blair is so relaxed, but I think that 2hrs or so of bingeing caused a sudden sugar rush. He exploded for about 5mins and then totally reverted to himself, Went into the ring without putting a foot wrong . So strange Would love to know how you get on. You must both be very fit. Chatty is stunning All the best Angela
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