I feel like a mum leaving her kid at school for the first time. I'm off away for 3.5weeks on Sat so made the decision that Pait could go away to boarding school. Felt really guilty dropping her off (daft I know) I even gave her sweets which is unheard of for me. Pait was so concerned at my going and leaving her- NOT. She walked into a stable with a huge fresh straw bed and I swear her eyes lit up. "Look mum its a stable full of food!"
No pics though thats no bad thing as she was soaked in sweat with the heat by the time we got there even though we delibrately travelled early morning.

So have a pic of Rory and Duke instead. Rory modelling his new rug.

thrills and spills!

What a weekend! I probably should have just stayed in bed. Saturday I managed to smash my phone and Sunday I was showing taking both Pait and Rory.
Started the morning turning the yard horses out to have them go through the fencing. Then Pait decided to push me off the top of the ramp and I managed to hit mum (who was driving) on the way down. Got to the show and met a hungover sister who was cursing me.
Em took Rory inhand whilst I took Pait both behaved though Rory found it exciting due to it being his first showing show this year. Well Rory only placed 2nd! Beating Pait who came 3rd.
At this point Em went back to the yard whilst I did workers with Rory. He did a lovely clear round but a bit of a lack-luster show so came 2nd. Took him back to the wagon and decided to swop him and Pait for the ridden M&M as he felt tired so I untacked him. Got him untacked and relaxed and then got shouted I was wanted to do the workers championship so hastily threw tack back on.
This is were the lesson comes in always triple check the girth incase the pony held his breath! In gallop my saddle went and I went with it managing to land on my shoulder. So an A&E trip with xrays later Im in a sling with sprained ligaments but I did take the ponies back to the yard first.

He's back!

Rode Rory in the school properly today for the first time since his hocks were done and he stayed sound and balanced! Cracking on with fitting now with the aim to going back doing Rory's main love jumping.

Finally a pic of him with best buddie Duke. Duke on the left (hes only 2)

Little catch up time. Dressage with Pait at the weekend was put on hold due to Daisy wagon needing a new tyre so I had a long reining/lunging session instead to work on her voice commands especially seeing as halt seems to have disappeared with Pait learning to go forwards!
This week I have managed to hack both her and Rory out solo. It would have been nicer to have company but it was a quick ride after work. Typically the irrigaters are out on the fields which makes it a tad interesting in places. Some nice person has left dressage markers out in one of the grass fields though so I had an impromptu schooling session mid-hack with Pait.
Rory is getting fitter and is still sound! This does mean though he is getting a bit dafter when out as he's bored just hacking. Monday's ride involved a 180spin with partial rear, I did have a moment of I'm coming off but luckily sat it, the cause of this was a shetland pony tied to a garden gate! Muppet creature.
Am tentively planning Rory's first ridden show since his hacks were done and his first this year. He's looking the best condition he ever has typically.

Mardy mares and a new arrival!

Well Bex isn't a Dales but Im still putting this here. Last night at 9pm we welcomed into the world a little bay filly. It has been 3 years of trying, 11 months and 10 days tensely waiting but so worth it to see this little girl.

Today I had a lesson on Pait who WANTED the baby thank you very much. She saw us lead Bex and baby into the stable opposite and didn't stop pacing, calling and staring at the other box. I took the cowards route and lunged before I got on as she was in a right mood about going away from Bex's baby. A few tantrums and some very half hearted attempts at work later she finally settled down and did some amazing trot, canter work.
I think Pait wants a foalie lol, am glad she's not in a field near Bex.

Pait's first ridden

Bit belated but on Sunday Pait did her first ever ridden show class at a busy local show. I chose to do the novice ridden as there was no group canter so a bit easier for her as canter is still a work in progress.
8 forward including Pait in not the largest of grass rings which slopes and located with just a hedge between it and a well used national sppedlimit road!
Well she went super and felt amazing to ride. The only place she let herself down was the right canter in her individual show when she had a tiny buck but to be fair the options on that rein were to canter downhill or in front of the line-up which I really didn't want to do so downhill it was and when I asked she lost her balance and got a bit stressed hence the small buck. She stood in the line-up well to say that she had been very fidgety outside the ring so I was a bit worried she wouldn't stand.
In the end we came 6th but it was the good experience which made my day. Onwards and upwards for my little blue girl.

In Rory news- we are slowly building ridden work back up via hacking and have had our first post injection trot this week. I hadn't realised how poor his walk had gotten until getting back on after the injections and having fully spring-loaded walk. He is being daft with minimal work though and rides are getting more "interesting" with each slow ride.

As a side note since Rory having his issues all the Dales are getting codliver oil in their feeds, Rory and Pait get a mug each of micronised linseed per day and Rory also has a joint supplement from the vet. I will protect their joints at all costs and shiny coats are a bonus. :-D

Another good lesson with Madame P-pot. Farrier was also here today (typically at the same time) so ended up slinging tack on as soon as he had finished trimming her feet. Did think she would be naughty to ride as she was in a right strop. But I had lovely forward paces and her huge Dales trot complete with toes flicking out lol. Worked a lot on her straightness and did a canter on each rein at the end. I can't believe how much she has come along since we started canter now has proper transitions and is pretty balanced especially on the right rein. Little moody buck when I asked her to keep going in left rein canter as it's her worst rein and she finds it hard, saying that so far she has given me correct leads which a lot of babies struggle with.
Rory also had new shoes and was apparently in the wrong field when M got him and Duke in. Seems the terrible two had knocked the gate part down and then just jumped it. Did try telling Rory he is not meant to be jumping at the moment especially as I'm restricted to walk only when riding.

Quick pic from Sunday of P-pot @ Mill lane