Happy New Year Everyone, I hope it's a good one!!

A sunny day.

This morning was bright and sunny after a couple of days of horrible wet weather. The sunshine can coax even the most reluctant body into action, so I went for a ride on Corky. She was pretty sluggish going out, but woke up on the return journey. It was only a short ride, about 40 minutes and she seemed ok in her boots. I've been asked to start riding out with a friend who lives just down the road, so I need to get her a little fitter.

I gave Anky a good grooming, she has a lovely thick shiny coat and is definitely looking in better condition, so despite her occasional bouts of belly ache I'm hoping she's slowly improving. I walked her in-hand up to the school, she was very calm so we did a few minutes in the school and then walked back home. I hope it stays fine, I really don't like the rain!!

A great Christmas.

We've had a lovely couple of days, the best christmas for a long time, spent with friends.

Christmas Day was spent with Bev and Bob , it was a lovely sunny day and we had a lot of fun. We made a fantastic Christmas Dinner between us, and I think we did rather well!!
On Boxing Day we spent the day with Trudi and her lovely family and we had a great time.

So, thank-you to our friends who helped to make our christmas special!!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire............

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!................

Jack Frost nipping at your nose...........

Despite all the drawbacks that adults (me???? lol) are supposed to be concerned about, the first snow of the year never ceases to thrill me. The horses were funny this morning, they've seen it before, but like me, they were still wide eyed and enthralled by it.

 

Winter scene.

The cold weather arrived today with a bang. It has been freezing, the ground is rock hard, but it has been so beautiful, the sun making an appearance for the first time in a long time.
I couldn't do anything with the horses but I did take some pics.

Corky and Anky stayed up the field, but Remy and Bonbon had to come down to see what I was doing.

It's snowing as I write.

Schooling Exercises in -Hand

I've just started reading this book by Oliver Hilberger. He describes it as "A 'how to' book for working in-hand". He stresses the importance of in-hand work for suppling and gymnasticising the horse, aiding his development both physically and mentally. My initial impressions are good, it's very easy to read, giving step by step instructions to get you started, and, I think it will help(for me, at least) take the mystery out of in-hand work.
It has lots of photo's (perfect for me :-0 )and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Obviously once I've read it I'll be an expert!!! (sorry, in-joke!!)

Miserable Mardi

Well it's grey and freezing here today, so I thought some nice bright pics would cheer up my blog. Photograpy is a wonderful thing but I'd never get the hang of Photoshop!!!

Une leçon manquée,

J'ai manqué ma leçon française ce matin, donc j'ai décidé de me donner quelques devoirs et écrire encore mon entrée dans le français.
Je viens de lire un livre par Tom Widdicombe, c'est un livre très simple, mais il a un message fort.
Une inquiétude constante pour les chevaux est qu'ils doivent être sûrs, ils sont des créatures d'instinct et leur instinct pour fuir est fort.
C'est l'emploi du dresseur pour fournir un endroit de sécurité, le cheval veut être dans cet endroit et Il peut se reposer et accepter le dresseur comme le chef.
Mes chevaux sont bien comportés et ont de bonnes façons, mais je veux plus, je veux la vraie communication, le respect réciproque et la confiance.
Je veux toujours monter bien et entraîner mes chevaux bien, c'est si important pour moi, mais pas sans un rapport vrai et honnête avec mon cheval.

Vous pouvez corriger mon mauvais français si vous voulez!!:-)

Oh look what I can do!!!

A nice session this morning, I took Anky up to the school in-hand, keeping her attention, lots of halts and backing up, past les sacs jaunes (yellow rubbish bags)that had freaked her out a couple of days before. She was excellent, focussed and although at times a little edgy she kept her attention on me. On my return I had a little session with Remy and Bonbon on the yard. Remy was more focussed today than I've ever seen him, backing at the slightest ask, sideways at a very light touch on the shoulder and staying focussed on me. Bonbon who I've done very little with was quite alarmed to be on the yard, not just going to the field as usual, but being asked to stand quietly at halt, asked to back up and follow, but after a little spook and jump forward , she settled really well.
Feeling quite pleased with myself (hehe) we turned them out, Corky first then Anky, Remy and Bonbon last. A couple of days ago the local farmer had put some fresian cows in the next field and they had been a source of alarm then. Unfortunately today, we'd just put Corky and Anky out when they appeared at the fence - Oooops. We'd just come out of the stables with Bonbon and Remy and were approaching the gate when Anky went a bit loony and galloped down the field with Corky. The youngstes spied the cows and added to the fact that the other two had legged it, it was just too much. Jim had managed to get Bonbon through the gate and into the field but she spun round and he slipped in the mud and fell over, so she legged it after the other two. In what seemed at first like slow motion and then went into fast forward pretty damn quickly Remy lost his usual composure and tried to set off along the barn wall. I was trapped against the wall and before I knew it I was at the end of the lead rope and couldn't hold him. He galloped down the garden and jumped the garden gate into the field, joined the others and they all had a hooney around snorting and rearing. After a few minutes Corky and Anky settled to eat , but Remy and Bonbon were still looking suspiciously towards the cows so I went into the field to retrieve the lead ropes. It was funny as both Remy and Bonbon walked straight up to me obviously wanting reassurance. I got the ropes and checked them out for any injuries and they were fine. So I hope Remy doesn't make a habit of jumping gates, and my next purchase is for 10 foot lead ropes!!

Thur 10th Dec Christmas Do!

It was our horse group christmas do today. Well, I've had more fun putting the rubbish out! Apart from the fact that I had a laugh and a good natter with my friend Bev it was all a bit of a washout. Thanks Bev you do me the world of good!!

Wed 9th Dec -Tom Widdicombe - Be With Your Horse

I've just started reading this book and I have to say I like it a lot. It's so easy to understand, to the point and makes a lot of sense. It gave me the inspiration to work with Anky , Remy and Bonbon today. Very short simple sessions, very quiet requests, getting their attention, asking to back up and standing still! Yes, I feel better already.

Wed 9th Dec -Share Your Flair

Followers of Not Waving but Drowning have been nominated to share 3 random things about themselves, so here goes.

1.I was so nearly Australian. When my mum was pregnant with me, they were well into the process of emigrating to Oz. My dad had a good job lined up, a house to live in and all was set. At the last minute my Mum decided she couldn't leave her Mum and Dad and all her family and wouldn't go. So instead I was born and grew up in North Manchester. :-(
2.The only time I played hookey from school, I went to a concert in Manchester with a friend. We were unlucky enough to find ourselves sitting next to the P.E teacher who took great delight in making is run round the x country course twice in our next p.e lesson. Punishment indeed for two girls who hated sport and were always placed at third deep at rounders.
3. I love Stephen Fry, but not really keen on Hugh Laurie.

If any of my followers want to divulge 3 random things about themselves, please, feel free.

Tuesday 8th Dec. Hmmmm.

A nice sunny day, I took Anky into the school.
Anky was not with me, yet again, she was out there checking out the monsters.
She did some droppings so I decided to dismount and do a little in-hand to try and get her to focus.
I did up the reins and left her to her own devices whilst I cleaned up the droppings, she was up at the gate ignoring me, so I cleared a few leaves from the corner of the school and she stayed down at the gate, keeping her distance from me. Hehe, "please open the gate and let me go back to the yard" she seemed to be saying. Jim arrived at that moment with the dogs, wondering why Anky was standing on her own at the gate. She suddenly set off at a canter and then had a few minutes cantering round, threatening to tip up and skidding into the corner nearest the gate. Jim said " you should catch that horse and I just said "should I?". I just thought it would be better to let her stop in her own time and see if she would come to me. Anyway the distraction of Jim and the dogs seemed to be making her worse so I told him to leave and I waited until she had started to calm and came up to me. I stood very quietly with her for a few minutes, then clipped her up and started to lead her around the school at walk. I stood at her shoulder and asked her to walk on, me taking up a position as in-hand and she walked off purposefully and we did walk halt transitions on both reins for the next few minutes using all the school. She was quite calm as we finished so I remounted and walked her back up the lane home. Not sure what to think of it all really.

Le professeur a dit "dans le français, s'il vous plaît".

J'assiste à une classe de conversation française tous les lundis et à la demande du professeur, aujourd'hui , l'entrée sera dans le français.
Hmmm, c'est difficile pour moi parce que je n'écris jamais dans le français.
Ce matin, malhereusement, je me suis levé très tard (pas si inhabituel pour moi) et je me dépêchais parce que j'étais en retard.
Heureusement, je suis arrivé à la leçon à temps et c'était très intéressant.
À cause de la leçon, je n'ai fait rien avec les chevaux aujourd'hui, mais cet après-midi j'espérais faire un peu de travail dans le jardin, il a certainement besoin de travailler, mais le temps était affreux, il pleuvait durement, j'en ai assez!!

Collective noun for cyclists?

It's weekend so the chasse are out and about. They're not close today as I can only just hear the bangs, but I don't like riding out just in case I come across them, so I took Anky up to the school for a short in hand session.
She was quite edgy and distracted ( that's so NOT a surprise!!) but we did a little lead work and then some lunge work at walk and trot. She was quite full of herself which was good to see, and I really did want to see her moving as she's been well the last week or so and moving about so much better in the field. She was taking a longer stride in the walk and much less tight in her shoulder, and the transitions to trot and then back to walk were so much more fluid. Her physique is better also, she is losing the bloated belly and finally putting on some condition and topline, so, I am very much hoping we're finally getting there!!
I took Remy into the picadero and he was very calm and responsive until a group of cyclists( don't know if there is a collective noun for cyclists, perhaps I should say peloton as I'm in France!!!!) complete with lead car equipped with siren came past. He was quite worried about this, grew to a great height and started pawing and snorting. He then managed two or three revolutions at a lovely cadenced trot interspersed with the most beautiful canter. I let out the line a little and waited quietly until he came to a standstill, stock still, head in the air snorting. When he does something like this I realise what a big boy he is and I felt like a very little me stood on the end of the line. This doesn't worry me however and it was lovely to see him with so much presence, but,obviously I needed to get his attention and have him focus on me, so I walked from the centre of the circle and stood in front of him about 3 metres away (which was the only way I could get his attention without pulling on the headcollar), and asked him to come to me,which he did, so I started leading him around, changes of direction, halts, backing up until he was calm and totally focussed on me. All this was done on a loose line and I was so pleased that he'd refocussed on me so quickly and willingly.

The sun shines (briefly).

I awoke to bright sunshine this morning and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ride. Jim said that he would ride Corky, so we groomed, tacked, booted up and set off.
Anky was very forward and although alert she was quite relaxed and for the first time ever she left Corky behind. We went around the small fishing lake and headed back towards home past the stone cutting hut. At this point it's left turn for home and right turn to extend the ride. Anky was on the buckle and I presumed she would turn left towards home, but she turned right (hmmmm) and continued to walk on down the lane. It was quite funny as Corky predictably tried to turn left, she looked very miffed when she had to turn right and you could almost hear her tutting! I don't know why Anky decided not to turn left (she knows the direction for home) but I was really pleased and we continued on for another 10 minutes before heading back.
We were out for about 45 minutes and they seemed fine with their boots.

I've just had a little chat on facebook with my nephew Thomas. He's been a big part of my life since he was born, but now that we've moved to France, of course, I don't get to see him as often as I'd like. He was just a boy when we left the UK -it's his birthday soon and he'll be 15, and he's growing up so fast. I really miss him.

A lovely afternoon.

Went over to see Trudi today.
When a friend tells you that they have pneumonia, it certainly has some impact, so was worried on the drive over. I was very relieved to see her cheery smile when I arrived (antibiotics to the rescue methinks). We chatted all afternoon and I had a lovely time. Thanks Trudi.

Another wet and miserable day.

I'm ashamed to say that I've done nothing with the horses for five days. I could blame the weather and it really hasn't been very agreeable, but, to be honest, I've not had much motivation. Anyway, I'm sure it will return with brighter weather. On a positive note Anky seems to be feeling good at the moment. Yesterday they were all having a good play in the field and she was leading them a merry dance, rearing and spinning, and looking pretty much like a normal healthy horse (touching wood).

After our breakthrough with Tiger we didn't see him for 24 hours and thought we might have scared him off. But,I think, having thought it over, he's decided he's onto a good thing and he's back twice as friendly and spent last evening cuddled up on the sofa with me.
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