La Belle France, La Belle Bonbon.

It was my french lesson this morning so didn't get to do much with the horses. I did, however, take Bonbon for a walk before I left for the lesson.  We went around the garden, into the field and up the track to the top towards the school. She was great, standing calmly in the halt and staying focussed. She makes me smile.
As we returned to the stables it started to rain and the smell was beautiful. The view from the terrace was beautiful too.

Never satisfied - it's too hot now!!

I didn't manage to get up early this morning, but I did manage to get Remy in the school before it got too hot to do anything.
We had another lunge session and the transitions were good, we just need to keep the trot. He's fine using the perimeter of the school, just lacks motivation on the circle. After lungeing I asked him to halt and I lay over his back, letting him take my full weight. He was fine, stood stock still, even while investigating my feet which were suddenly waving about just behind his eyeline.
A short lunge session with Anky as it really was too hot by then and finished with a walk with Bonbon, round the garden and through the gate into the field.

Phew, I'm worn out!

I woke early at 7.30am,which is a rare occurrence for me, I got up as the dogs were crying to go out. The horses were at the gate waiting to come in so I brought them in for their breakfast.
After breakfast I took Remy up to the school for a lungeing session. I worked on moving him around the school, waiting until we had a nice relaxed but purposeful walk before asking for the trot transition. The transitions are improving, with a quicker reaction into a softer transition. We had some lovely trot work down the long side with nice transitions to walk. He is a little uncertain on the large circle in trot, I think he feels a little insecure when he comes off the track but he's improving all the time. He's not particularly demonstrative and it would be easy to think that he's switching off, but as Trudi pointed out, his ears are moving all the time, he's definitely paying attention,watching and listening. At one point we were trotting down the long side and I got slightly out of position, ie, just in front of his shoulder and he gave me a beautiful transition to halt! He's teaching me quite a lot!!
I tacked Anky up next, we did the short ride to the wood, back past the house and up to the school. She was brilliant on the ride, forward, but with a nice stride. As we neared the house and she realised we were going past, she was a little reluctant, but she went on, and even though she was a little worried she stayed forward and willing. In the school we practiced stretching and lowering the neck at walk. She's very good on the right rein, still sticky on the left, with the same tendency to tip the nose, but that's improving and even though she was distracted by  fishermen on the lake she stayed fairly relaxed.
Before we put them back in the field I took Bonbon for a walk round the garden, down to the area that I use for lungeing and groundwork, she was a star. 
The afternoon was filled with trampoline workout, Egoscue exercise program ( I think I"m hooked) and sax practice in readiness for an afternoon with Ricky and another sax player tomorrow.

Booked for the big snip

We had an appointment at the vets today for the dogs to get their annual vaccinations. While we were there I had a word with the vet about getting Obi castrated. We've been thinking about it for a while, the main reason is that he's getting a bit grumpy and over excited as he gets older and the second is that he's completely off his head every time Elfin (our dobe bitch) comes in season. So the deed is done, he's booked in for the 2nd June. Poor boy, luckily he's blissfully unaware of what awaits him!
I just had to take a pic of this today as we've been waiting for two years for this clematis to produce a flower. Hurray!!

Much improved

The trimmer was due at midday so I took Anky out for a hack after breakfast. She was so much better today, on her toes but willing and forward. I intended to do a short circular ride to the wood and then ride past the house up to the school and do a short session there. As we approached the house I could see Gareth's van in the driveway, he'd arrived early, so the ride was cut short but it didn't matter as I was so pleased with her.
I'd noticed that Anky's boots seemed a little loose so after he'd trimmed her we measured her feet and they've definitely changed shape, more upright and shorter at the toe, so after speaking to the hoof boot people,new boots have been ordered and are on their way.

I really wanted the Easyboot Glove,

but unfortunately Anky's foot shape wouldn't be ideal as the measurements are between two size categories,so we went for the Easyboot Edge

The Egoscue Method........

......of Health Through Motion.
I'd like to thank Trudi  for lending me this book.
If it wasn't for the fact that, right from the beginning, the author stresses that however misaligned and disfunctional a person has become through not using their body efficiently and correctly, it can all be rectified, this book would be very depressing indeed.
Standing relaxed in front of a mirror and following the guidelines set out in the book, the reader is able to self diagnose any faults in posture. I have only read the first 4 chapters and already I know that my feet are splayed outwards, my kneecaps are angled outwards, my shoulders are rolled forward and stay in that position because I am not bearing weight in the functional four socket position with the head, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles in alignment. Also, my right shoulder is lower than my left. Gulp, I am disfunctional in many ways. LOL, I've already phoned the knacker man!!!
The book is fascinating and despite the fact that I'm sure the faults that I've mentioned are just the start and there will be more, I'm so looking forward to working my way through the rest of the book and finding the relevant exercises to fix myself!
Pete Egoscue Website
As a complete contrast, I glanced up whilst reading, to see Bonbon walking down the field - it was magic, she was striding out, her neck stretched and lowered, she was completely relaxed, I could see her muscles rippling and her summer coat was gleaming in the sun. Corny I know, but it was poetry in motion.

R,B,A and A again.

A busy day with the horses today. Another session in the school with Remy, lunging at walk and trot followed by some groundwork using the whole of the school, small circles off the track, halt, immobility,walk transitions. He was very good today and I finished by asking for halt and then placing my small tub at his side, jumping up and down on it to see how he would react and then leaning over his back from both sides. He looked sideways at me as if to say 'what the hell is she doing?' but didn't move.
I walked Bonbon around the garden, keeping her focussed, asking for halt and standing calmly before asking for the walk transition. She was a bit spooky around the front where we've never been before but she stood calmly when asked and handled it well.
A short session with Anky, lungeing at walk and trot followed by some in-hand work with some leg yield and giravolta on both reins. She's starting to stay more relaxed over her neck and is coming straighter on the left rein.
They were all hanging around the gate again at 5pm, I felt like riding so I brought Anky in with the intention of going a short hack. She wasn't very impressed and  wouldn't stand for me to get on. When I did get on she immediately tightened up and refused to turn up towards the gate.  I spent 10 minutes or so on the yard asking for flexions left and right until she started to loosen and we headed up to the gate. She was certainly on her toes, thinking backwards, rushing forwards but we got up to the track into the woods before she veered off into the field and started throwing her head around and backing up. The wind had got up by now and she was certainly "on one" so I just kept asking until we got a nice flexion and then circled her in that direction, alternating left and right. It was obvious that she wasn't going to settle, but she was behaving herself and doing what I asked her despite the fact she was worried so after walking towards the wood a short distance I turned and headed for home. She was very active so I practiced leg yields left and right. When we turned into our driveway and stopped at the gate she let out a huge sigh. Bless!! I must start riding out again, it's been too long!!!

My boy's too tall for a wobbly dustbin!!

Took Remy in the school today and started just by asking him to stand and remain standing until I ask for something else. Sounds simple doesn't it! Probably due to my sloppy training he halts and then tries to guess what I'm going to ask him next, he'll either walk on, or, like today, volunteer a rather nice giravolta. He tries to anticipate as soon as I place myself close at his shoulder, so, on Jim's suggestion, I asked him to stand, stood perfectly still myself and then I walked to his side, gave him a gentle pat, quarters, round the back and returned to his head, gently patting him all the time. I repeated this 3 times and it worked every time, he didn't move a muscle. When I returned to his shoulder he remained standing waiting for the signal. I worked at walk around the perimeter of the school, using small circles, changes of rein and walk/halt transitions. Once he was calm and focussed I halted him, stepped up on my improvised mounting block and lent over his back. He was fine so I repeated it on both sides letting him take my weight ( quite considerable, believe me!). He was a very good boy as the only thing I had as a mounting block was an upturned wobbly dustbin.
I had a short session with Bonbon on the yard, leading and halting, she was very calm.
I wanted to ride Anky but she was stretching a litle so I took her out and lunged her at walk and trot. She didn't look particularly tight over her back and after a few minutes started to stretch down ( to eat the grass I might add) so we did a little in-hand work and she gave me a really nice giravolta on both reins. he's seemed ok since.  A good day with the horses.

An afternoon at the pepiniere/jardinerie

I had a lovely afternoon out with Bev today. She came over for lunch, we had a giggly girly 10 minutes on the trampoline and then we went over to the  pepiniere, jardinerie (tree nursery/garden centre). It's a fantastic place, acres of land with a vast selection of trees and plants. We were very conservative this time, I bought only a couple of things. A lemon tree and a beautiful plant with white leaves that look like flowers, I can't remember what it's called as the label has fallen off, Bev would know. I saw some beautiful trees though that I've earmarked for our next visit!!

When I got home, Jim had just brought the washing in. I couldn't resist taking this pic of my little sweetheart, Inca.

Mummy's Boy

The horses were hanging around the gate this afternoon, so I brought them out one by one to work them.
First a session with Anky in the school. Remy wasn't very happy and I could hear him calling throughout but Anky just ignored him. Little mummy's boy, it'll do him good.  We started with the in-hand and then ridden. We're getting the start of a nice giravolta and today she kept the softness through her neck for a few strides before beginning to tense again. She was very spooky when we started, but was pretty calm by the time we finished the session.
A couple of short sessions with Remy and Bonbon. First Remy, a 10 minute session concentrating on the halt, asking for the softness through the neck and then asking for the walk transition, back to halt or into giravolta. He got some nice steps today staying up through his shoulder with a nice, even stride.
A short in-hand session with Bonbon asking and maintaining the halt, softness through the neck to a walk transition. She's not as shufflly (not sure that's a word) as Rem and seems quite happy to stand until asked to walk on. 

No Ulcers.

It's official, the test has been done and Anky does not have Gastric Ulcers. I'd sort of come to that conclusion myself, but now I know for sure. To be honest it doesn't change anything, she still gets episodes of gassiness (trapped wind,I guess) but I can now rule ulcers out once and for all. I wonder if there is an equine supplement for trapped wind? Her current diet consists of grass more or less 24/7, hay when they come in for the few hours every day, two/three feeds per day of Dengie Hifi Lite,Baileys Lo-Cal Feed Balancer and unmolassed sugar beet. To this I add Aloe Vera Juice, Slippery Elm, whole colostrum powder and probiotic twice per day.

Vide Grenier

I had a day off from the horses today, hehe, well , they had a day off from me!!
I went to to Brantome with Bev to the vide grenier (empty attic), think car boot/jumble sale, where the french try to sell all their old junk for ridiculous prices.
We had a great day, ahem, buying old junk, a truly french 2 hour leisurely lunch and a good natter. The scene was perfectly French, right down to the street singer/hurdy gurdy man who was great, albeit a little freaky!

Cantique et Cigale

More of the same today but working in the little area at the bottom of the garden. Remy was pretty focussed and we got some nice halt and walk transitions. We practiced the giravolta and he gave me some nice steps without backing off or trying to pivot.
Anky seemed very well this morning and was nice and relaxed and soft in her neck, rather spoiled by her snatching at the grass. We did get some lovely stretch in trot, but unfortunately for the same reason, lol she looked like a living lawn mower.
I took Bonbon into the chook run again and she was much calmer. She got a little spooked once, gave a little squeal and thought about leaving, but I kept hold of the rope this time and she just came back to me and was pretty calm.
We were invited to a concert of choral music this evening given by my friend Ricky's choir and a choir from Holland. I have to say that it's not my favourite type of music, but it did sound brilliant in the church at Busserolles. As an encore, they sang something entirely different, a rendition of  'La Mer Chantée' which turned out to be a rather nifty version of the Bobby Darin hit 'Beyond the Sea'.

One, two, three...........

Started with Remy today. A short session in-hand. He was tired and distracted so we kept it simple with walk/halt transitions, trying to keep the neck soft and long. I've been thinking about his focus and the need to quicken his reactions, so worked on the ask, having been reminded of the old concept, 'do as little as possible and as much as necessary', which is easy to overlook when concentrating on several things at once (hehe, for me anyway).
Anky was next and we worked again in the school, in-hand first, asking for a release over the neck, keeping the relaxation. She was more relaxed today and the left rein felt much better from the start. She was fine ridden and kept the relaxation on both reins. She showed no discomfort again during the session, but when we returned to the stables she started stretching (as she would stretch to pee) but still wanted to eat. I don't know what to think now, I've seen her stretching in the field on and off during the afternoon, but she came in for a feed mid afternoon and also ate her tea.??????
I figure it's time to start doing more with Bonbon so I tied her up outside for a good grooming session which she loves and then took her into our new mega chook run for some grass as it's far too long and we can't see the chooks. This was a new experience and she was handling it very well, out there on her own, chooks pecking on the muck heap, all the others in the stable. She was eating the grass, but her ears were going ten to the dozen and every few seconds she stopped chewing just so that she could listen. At one point she raised her head and looked intently down the field. I just stood quietly with her and she put her head back down to eat, but whatever she'd heard, it got the better of her and suddenly she just squealed and legged it to the top of the run. I couldn't have held her and I let go of the rope immediately and Jim caught her at the top. I went up to collect her and she didn't seem too upset so I walked her back down and after a couple of minutes of looking, with small squeals ( I could tell she was really thinking of going back up to the top, but she didn't) with me talking gently to her to keep her attention, she settled and began to eat again. I led her round quietly, and gradually we worked our way back to the top of the run. I had in mind that she may get a bit worried once she'd turned her back on whatever had bothered her before, but she stayed calm and we reached the top with no problems. She's a sweetie (why do you think we called her Bonbon!).

A smile to lift the heart

Off this morning to collect my horse feed. We get an order every few months from the UK as I've not found a horse feed in France that was suitable. After picking it up I went over to Trudi's with the Lexington so that she could try it for a second time. On arriving, I got the biggest beaming smile from her daughter, a smile to lift the heart. What is it about kids that they can do that to you?
I had a lovely time, a chance to not act my age, a nice relaxing lunch and then we played with the pones. Great - thanks guys.

A busy morning

I took Anky up to the school and we worked in-hand, concentrating on relaxation. She was very tense and distracted but I used the massage to encourage her to relax and stretch down. It took a while but eventually she gave and almost immediately started to relax and stretch. We kept losing it as she raised her head in response to something she'd either seen or heard ,the muscles in her neck going completely rigid, but we continued with the massage and after each distraction she relaxed more quickly, to the point where I could move her around the school, keeping longer and longer periods of relaxation, using circles and a little leg yield. After this I had a little sit on and we worked in walk encouraging the stretch down, changing the rein as soon as I got some softness, eventually working figure of eights with nice changes of bend.
I was pleased with the right rein, which felt much improved as soon as I got on, with genuine bend and softness. The left rein is trickier, Anky has a tendency to want to twist her neck and tip her nose to the inside, but with a little massage onboard, she started to relax and give a little. Trudi's got it absolutely right, the tenseness is most definately in her neck and not in her mouth. A good session which was spoiled slightly by Anky stretching and looking uncomfortable once back in the stable. She'd shown no discomfort during our session, but back in the stable she lay down and didn't eat her dinner.After about 10 minutes she got up so I took her out and lunged her very gently at trot which perked her up and she started wanting to eat the grass, so was obviously feeling better. Phew.
I then took Remy up to the school and worked in-hand on keeping his attention, not letting him walk through my hand and getting a quicker reaction. He was distracted, but after a while he started to listen, we worked around the perimeter of the school with small circles off the track, halt/walk transitions and lots of changes of rein. We finished our session with a much more focussed and relaxed horse and got a lovely leg yield on both reins. Hee heee!

Le Trampoline

C'était ma leçon française aujourd'hui qui était beaucoup d'amusement.  Je voulais travailler avec Anky et Remy cet après-midi, mais le temps était horrible. Il ne pleut plus pendant une courte période et le soleil brillait, mais les chevaux étaient loin au fond du champ, alors Jim et moi avons commencé à construire le trampoline que nous venons d'acheter. Malheureusement, après seulement quinze minutes, il a commencé à pleuvoir, alors nous l'avons terminé sous la pluie!   Espérons que, quand la pluie cesse, je peux commencer ma condition physique programme!
E.T.A
Well, the rain stopped and I had my first session on the trampoline. It's harder work than you might think.
Started off pretty well

Energy levels going, going......

Gone!!

 The horses were quite interested and a little bit bemused by it all

 Notice the rugs are back on and the decidedly bedraggled look after all the rain!! Sigh.

Intrepid, Moi?

No, most certainly not, but I'm ever so grateful for the award given to me by KK at All Horse Stuff.
Here it is - I take a bow ;-)

Anky and Rem in the school

Trudi came over today and helped me with Anky and Remy. I haven't worked them for a couple of weeks and Trudi provided some much needed motivation. She worked Anky in-hand and ridden, concentrating on getting her to relax her neck and stretch down using massage just behind the poll and along the top of her neck. It had an irrisistable effect and I think the more we do the better Anky will be. I agree with Trudi that this could be the key to the work with her and once we have more consistent relaxation the quicker we'll progress.
Remy was chilled to the point of horizontal today, he's a good boy but he just has to learn to concentrate on what's being asked of him and give a quicker reaction. Ho hum, I've a lot to learn. Me, Anky and Remy, we all have a lot to learn.
Thanks Trudi, you're a pal!

Playing on the beach

We used to take our horses to the beach, but we couldn't do this.

Jean-François Pignon.

A musical interlude.....

.....over at Ricky's today. We always have a good laugh when we're playing. We didn't actually play much music today but we had a good giggle!! The sun came out just as I was leaving home and when I got there she was preparing her pool for action - she's optimistic!! She keeps inviting me round to swim in her pool, insisting what good exercise it is. Well I can't swim, but I do like to go round to play in the pool and for the chat and drinks! Preferably when the sun's shining!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

A burst of energy......

......not from me unfortunately, but the horses this morning after spending the night indoors. They went out and were very skittish indeed. It was great to see, Remy digging and rolling and teasing Bonbon, Anky throwing herself about and cantering just for fun. Even Corky had a roll and a kick of heels. They managed to retain their enthusiasm for the day for about five hours before the pouring rain got the better of them and they came up and huddled around the gate. So they came into the dry and they're still there, all fed and watered and tucking into their hay. The forecast doesn't seem too bad for tonight so I think that they can go back out later.
 Wow.

What the f**k has happened to the weather??????

It is bloody freezing, we've had to start lighting the fire again, the horses have their rugs back on and won't venture far from the gate, the wind is buffeting the house and it's doing my already frazzled head in!!

 'Ne'er cast a clout till May be out'       Exactly!!!!!

Pole on the ground

Well, Mary didn't win, that's 3 day eventing for you, one down in the show jumping and you drop like a stone. C'est la vie

The red button

Another inactive day today, made easier by having Badminton X Country on the red button.
I'm supposed to be having a lovely day out with Bev at the local plant fair, hmppphh!!
I've always enjoyed 3 day eventing (never myself of course, just watching, although I have done some hunting and x country events in the dim and distant past) and I enjoyed it today. It was good to see Mark Todd back at Badminton and Mary King had a good ( if not a bit hairy) round to end up in second place before the SJ tomorrow.  Karin Donckers did a good dressage test (as usual) with her beautiful mare Gazelle de la Brasserie, but  not so good x country. All those beautiful horses and something to look forward to tomorrow.

f**k