Combined Training again

I had to trek to Duchy College again to take part in the babies' combined training competition.  This time, when I went into the arena, I recognised the jumps immediately!  I knew what I had to do and cantered off confidently and jumped all of them, bar one.  I got a bit distracted at fence 3 and forgot to take off and went more through it than over it.  She was jolly pleased with me.

Hanuman update and dressage

She has heard from the Anglo European Studbook who say that Hanuman's DNA test was in order. What exactly happened to the dressage genes is unclear since the little fellow is clearly determined to be an eventer. Tilly denies any responsibility.

Tilly denies any wrongdoing in respect of jumping genes

 Meanwhile, I went to another dressage competition and jolly hard work it was too since I had to walk all the way there.  It was all very worrying, with horses neighing and running around.  The rider of one hyper-anxious horse was only willing to get on once it was safely coralled in the warm up arena with a large man hanging on to it.
I didn't feel able to go forward again but didn't misbehave.  She said it wasn't great but at least She didn't feel suicidal like last time we went. 

Hanuman's Antics

The man has not been to fix my hedgebank excavations, which hasn't been a problem since we just stand on top of the bank to attract Jester's attention as there is a four foot drop the other side.  Young Hanuman, however, dreams of being an eventer and climbed on the bank and leapt down the other side, where he pranced round, hotly pursued by Jester.  
Hanuman refused to come to Tilly's calls, so she braved the descent and went in the field to rescue him.  By this time, She had arrived with two headcollars, although what use She thought two headcollars would be when there were three horses charging around is a mystery.  Hanuman showed no interest in returning home with his mother and Jester was reluctant to give up his new playmate.  Since everyone seemed to be charging round Jester's field, I decided to drop in and join the party.  With four horses galloping around, Her two headcollars proved woefully inadequate. 
Meanwhile, Posy demonstrated that she really is a dressage diva because she just stood on the bank with her knees knocking for fear of jumping down.
Order was finally restored and we were all given to understand that we were Very Naughty Horses, even though Hanuman started it all.  Posy got an apple for being a little goody two shoes and staying put.

We have now been put into a different field, which was yet another excuse for Hanuman to run about.  To show that his dreams of eventing stardom are undiminished, he jumped up a little bank between the trees (see 1:16 in the video clip below).



I don't know where he gets the energy from.

My Personal Masseuse

My personal masseuse arrived today.  She bends bits of my body and it feels quite strange and then, after various contortions, I feel quite relaxed. 

Beats working any day.

Trail Ride

Today I went on a SCADRA Hash Horse Harriers ride.  This is where you follow a trail of flour, go for miles, leap a few obstacles and then, eventually, find a 'Treat Stop' when you finally get to eat some carrots.  I was keenly following the trail as the flour on my nose in this photo shows...

Finally, I found the sign I was looking for - a 'T' for treat stop

I had to hunt around, but then found the carrot stash in a tree stump



Success!!

Lengthened Strides

She has invented a new way to create work for me, by using trotting poles, 1.6m apart, to teach me to lengthen my strides.  I did get in a muddle a couple of times, but ended well.  I should like to point out that once more it was raining.

She says that the poles will make sure that any lengthening in front is matched behind, unlike these horses.

I don't think that there is any danger of my looking like these horses, but She says it is important that I am never featured in a dressage book hall of shame with red lines drawn along my forearm and hind cannon.

Yet another outing

Here I am, in the motorised cabin again.  Although I find the travelling very worrying and spend the journey trying to kick off my travel boots, I am keen to get in there straight away because I always get a carrot. 

 We went to Cholwell (I was only there last week!) but this time, the arena was strewn with objects, the like of which I have never seen before, honest.  I really wasn't sure what to do with them at first.  After a while, it dawned on me that these were jumps again.  She had made them very small but it was hard work going over them on such a hot day when you have a winter coat coming and raging conjunctivitis in one eye.  There was meant to be a photo of me popping effortlessly over some little jumps, and here it is...

On the far left you can see my tail.  You will have to take my word for it that I did do some jumping.

On the basis of today's performance, she has decided against taking me to my first show jumping competition.  What a relief.