Borrowed my friends appaloosa again - Fantastic hack!!

 Yesterday was a fantastic fun filled day because we borrowed my friends horse 'B' again and got out on a nice hack together. It was so funny though because we got to the yard and I was toying between three different hacks and then we ended up on a fourth hahaha!! It was lovely though because Z will be going back to school on Wednesday OFFICIALLY. No more online school, no more 2.30 finishes and straight on our way to the stables. 

We are unsure how we feel about this but we are ready and willing to transition. It has to be done, we need to somehow get back to some sort of normality. As un-normal as it is, which is the hardest part!

It's now going to be all about testing, social distancing, masks and one way systems (among many other things) Rightly so. But still lets remember that these are children they just dont understand. Not like we do. And they have to live it. every day. Cut off socially. Something we all took for granted!

 BUT YESTERDAY there was no online school, because of Year ten and eleven testing days' 

SO NO SCHOOL MEANS FUN TIMES. YIPEEEE . . . 

 . . . . SO we had a FUN day together!  A HACK !!

We brought our OWN horses in for a groom. OMG. HOW MUDDY WERE THEY TODAY!! And we chatted and tacked up and got ourselves ready. It was so cool having a horse each. Well even though Viv will always have a place that is so special in my heart!

THROUGH THE EARS OF B 

18HH APPALOOSA 

We had a great time ~ We were out for about 2 hrs mostly walking and chatting. A few nice trots listening to the hoof beats, and a nice long canter. It was PERFECT!!

BUCKET LIST - HORSEY STYLE!

 Looking ahead to the Spring and Summer and thinking of all the 

COOL stuff we can hopefully get up to !!

I thought it would be quite fun to make a bucket list of FUN THINGS. And also a list of Jobs and projects i would like to do over the coming few months. I am ever hopeful for some 

FANTASTIC SUNSHINE'Y' DAYS!

BUCKET LIST (HORSES)

• Picnic ride to the river
• Try archery on horseback
• Trip to the Seaside
• Cross country schooling 
• Jump a course of showjumps (75cm)
• Find a new hack
• More dressage and maybe a score above 60% would be nice and with alot of work well deserved (achievement)
• Do more liberty. BONDING TIME
• Pass my stage 2 CARE exam (will do blog post next on my DREAMS and my AMBITIONS and the journey so far)
• Have weekly lessons
• Join the riding club
• Do more clinics! LEARN, LEARN, LEARN!!
• STUDY LIKE CRAZY (At least 2 hrs a day!)
• Get better at riding and prepare for STAGE 2 RIDE.
• Keep teaching Z 'Get better at lesson plans. Get creative. See results. HAVE FUN!!'
• Start a beginner and get them to Novice stage
• Take Viv to the Durham hydro spa
• Take Viv to the gallops
• Make time for cartooning (I like to draw horse cartoons!)
• BE MINDFUL. ENJOY. BE PRESENT. FEEL IT!!

JOBS

• DEEP SCRUB STABLE
• TAKE RUBBER MATS OUT/CLEAN MATS 
• PAINT STABLE
• CLEAN RUGS 
• BATH VIV 
• CLEAN FEED ROOM
• CLEAN BOOTS 
• CLEAN TACK 

Winter RECAP

 My last blog post was written just after christmas (I forgot to publish it until now) so I thought I would do another post to update on how our first winter as full time mummys to Viv has gone!

It has been AMAZING! We have loved the jobs and the snuggles on a night under the lights. The MUD? Maybe not so much haha!! We got off lightly weather wise right up until January. But then BOY did the snow come! And it stayed for a very long time! It was not only cold and wet. But Icy and dangerous. Viv didn't get out hacking much for a couple of weeks as it was just two icy most days to risk it. 

BUT we have been blessed with a nice warm snap this last week. It has been into double figures at times. Still cold on a night but much warmer during the day. PLUS SUNSHINE! Oh how we all love a bit of sunshine! The only problem with that is MUD and layers on, then layers off! But the hacking has been AMAZING :) 

Here are some pictures of our adventures!

The end of our third lockdown is almost HOPEFULLY OVER!! And we are looking forward to some DRESSAGE (ME) LESSONS (US BOTH) and lots of ADVENTURES WITH FRIENDS . . . Staying safe, of course. I think social distancing will be around for a long time yet! BUT we can at least breathe now knowing there is a breather in sight. Time for a 'LITTLE' bit of normality in a very NOT THAT NORMAL WORLD!!

Guess who joined our family!

 It has been an awful year with Covid. The beginning of LAST year was MAYHEM and HYSTERIA. People panicking. Shelves cleared. Nobody with any clue as to when or what was to come. Media fed the fear, panic ran through society quicker than the virus itself! We were told to stay in. But could also go out. Nobody knew what they were supposed to be doing?!

The year has continued in waves. Right into this year. We were lucky that we were blessed a good spring. The weather was glorious so we  could be out in the garden, also having to go and look after Viv on our days. And when we were given the go ahead to be able to ride again we enjoyed some lovely hacks. 

This Summer we have been on picnic rides to the woods and the river (My friends have been letting me take their horses out sometimes. It saves my legs and meant we could go further and have more fun).

I also entered my first Dressage competition this Summer. We did Prelim 2 and got 60% which i was over the moon with as it was such a wet and windy day and the arena had a SPOOKY puddle at the bottom of it! Haha!

It was a dressage and go event due to the covid restrictions. IT POURED DOWN and it was really windy! The outdoor arena had a fetlock eating monster hidden in the puddle right at C!! We had a few hairy moments the first few times round haha! Luckily they were before the horn went and after that she scrambled through it changing her rhythm though. (She hates getting her feet wet!)

I was over the moon with 60% though. THANKYOU JUDGE! Viv tried her litte heart out for me. The judges comments were really positive.

Also this year I have seen a massive increase in Z's confidence. She has been practicing really hard on her flatwork and her jumping and she has come on leaps and bounds! She especially LOVES polework. And so does Viv it seems! 

NOVEMBER BROUGHT A SPECIAL OCCASION

CAN YOU GUESS WHO JOINED OUR FAMILY?

Vivienne! OMG we couldnt be happier! We have taken Viv on full loan and it has been AMAZING SO FAR! The daily trips to look after her. Watching the sun go down after school and finishing the yard under the lights in the darkness. SO COZY!

Z Has been brilliant and proves she can be a fantastic horse owner.

WE HAVE SO MANY ADVENTURES AHEAD OF US. CANT WAIT!!

A bit of all weathers this week!!

It has been a mixture of many seasons this week.

 Not hot mind, but warmer days mixed with FROSTY mornings. 

And OMG. 

Do I LOVE a FROSTY MORNING!! :)

Monday while the kids were at school i decided i would do the school run and then housework as QUICK as possible. Quick meaning fly hoover over, dust what is visible, do any stray away dishes (OMG a pre-teen room makes for a sink full!!) Washing on, Dryer run, Last nights Washing AWAY. . . Bugger the ironing hahaha!! So whats left? OH YES . . .  sneak in a nice hack. Needed obviously!

I have been literally KICKING MY ASS from Monday and all  this week as I feel I have lost my mojo with riding. I decided that to sort this i would start the week making myself ride EVERY DAY, And just BE HORSEY EVERYDAY!! Apart from Wednesday as I had something on! Im not kidding, some days it was hard to motivate myself, but I knew it was in my best interests to lift one's mood! SO I WENT!!

I have loved it. Once there I am internally 'HAPPY' I am able to feel truelly 'LIKE ME' the hours pass quick because they are AMAZING!!

I have decided to KEEP THIS GOING. I am going to try hard to ride most days and just enjoy spending time with Viv. Because she is . . . well amazing for the soul!! 

Back to blogging

Hi guys, sorry i haven't updated this blog in a long time. 

But I have missed it so I cannot wait to get back to my weekly blogs. 

I love keeping a record of our adventures! And of course sharing it with you!

The winter has been easy on us. Easy meaning DRY and this has meant we haven't had the big issues with mud that we usually do through the winter months. The gateways are still muddy but the majority of the winter paddocks have stayed dry. However Springtime things could change, we are not quite out of the mud season yet!

Viv has stayed in tip top condition all winter. Her coat has gleamed even with all that fluff! Where she is clipped she's like a new penny!

We are coming into spring again now, and i cant wait for the warmer weather and hopefully LOTS OF SUNSHINE!! We had a few mild days last week and it really lifted our spirits and got us excited. I picked Z up from school one day last week with Viv and it was glorious! Z loved it so much, as did her class mates when they seen there was a horse outside of school!!

It is back to frost and a bitter cold day today. Winter needs to hurry up and go now!

Whirl wind of a summer

It has been a whirlwind of a summer! 

The weather has been on our side right up until recently. 

This has meant LOT'S of fun, 

heaps of adventures and MANY precious memories!

There is just too many things to list, but there are a few that are so AMAZING I would love to share them with you. 

TRIP TO THE BEACH

OMG !!! I was over the moon when i received the call asking if I would like to go to the beach with Viv. I jumped at the chance and couldn't wait to get out in that fresh sea air on horse back.

ALSO ~ Fun with the kids!

 Oh what fun we had this summer!! (L) came to play, he hasn't ridden since we sold our first pony. He was put off by Vivs size in comparison to Sparky who was only 12hh. But once he was on and realised Viv was the best teacher ever and so gentle with him. He loved it. After practicing a little off the leadrein he sharp gained enough confidence to pop a couple of small jumps! Super proud. And Viv was a diamond as always!

And the pets have had fun too!!

 We even got a SECOND TRIP TO THE BEACH!!! After (S) owner had fun on the cross country little (Z) got to ride on the beach and I had a ride on appoloosa 'B' all 17.2hh of her!! She is very forward going but comfy. Its only the 3rd time riding her and I am nervous when on her i think because of her size and also she is very forward going. BUT I am getting more confident on her and one day i hope to take her on a nice hack to really show my nerves I am made of stronger stuff!! (Z) LOVED the beach, she paddled in the water with Viv and enjoyed a hack along the beach off the leadrein with B and Dekota. Such a good day :)

Autumn is in full swing now. The horses are getting FLUFFY Awwwwww!! And soon it will be clipping time! The leaves are beautiful, all the different colours and tones. Walking to school kicking the leaves . . .  PERFECT END TO A PERFECT SUMMER!!

17 days of full time love

We have 17 days where Vivs owner is away on safari . . . 

 . . .  I KNOW, I am jealous too!!

How lucky, 17 days with wild animals, i've insisted on lots of photographs to inspire me to create them in acrylics. I cant wait to paint a giraffe in its natural habitat just chilling, eating, doing whatever it is giraffes do hahaha!!

While (S) Owner is away (S) ME - Loaner is in charge with Mini human. This is exciting. We have so much planned. I HAVE MANY HACKS PLANNED. A picnic may be needed! We need to keep her fit for her owner. Plus well loved, groomed and cared for. We simply cannot wait!! We love our mare!

Our day will be. Finish school, then tea quickly made and eaten. When daddy is home from work to look after mini (L). Me loaner (S) and mini human (Z) will enjoy a couple of hours at the yard with our favourite girlie. Lots of grooming. Lots of love, some exercise and lots of cuddles !!

And also LOVE for this girlie too, who will be missing her mummy so much !! She is such a sweety!

Lesson - first jumping lesson in many years

I bit the bullet, faced many a demon and we did it!!!
I love this horse !!

Summer in full swing

Summer is in full swing.
The weather is breezy, at times cold.
    BUT IT IS DRY!! WOOHOO!

I sit here tonight reflecting on the last few weeks. So much has been achieved. Both me and Mini me have had a blast. Overcome some of our demons. Expanded on our skills. 

Mini me (Z) has been practicing hard on her balance, today we had a lunge session where she trotted with her arms out to the side. We started with one arm at a time and then built up to two. I didnt get any photos. I was too busy doing the mam thing and getting ready to signal that halt and the instant of a unplanned dismount. Thankfully that didnt happen. Z managed to let go of the saddle and be the steadiest aircraft in the sky. No turbulance in these skies!!

Going back a few days i had a hack out with a friend and her beautiful appoloosa Bee. We enjoyed a trip through woods and we had some long trots and good canters. Including a down hill canter OMG OMG OMG . . . I DID IT.

 I sat back, i sat deep, it wasn't a mountain, it wasn't a mountain, 

OMG! ANYWAYS. 

I made it. 

Thankfully AND we stopped before a steep decent.  I make it out like it was a mountain. In theory it was steady decent. I must admit, after shitting myself i actually enjoyed it. Hooves below, trees above. the noise, the adrenaline, the need to be HERE . .  NOW . . . IN THIS MOMENT. There is something special about the bridleways around us.

A) You have to find them 

B) you have to navigate them. 

There is always a challenge. But we cannot complain. Its mainly offroad. 

Maybe next time the farrier is out i shall ask for off roading tyres??

Viv is looking so good. Her summer coat is in full swing. She is positively gleaming. Inside and out. 

We have loaned her now for about five month. WE LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!

We are privalaged and so happy to have her in our lives!!

I literally couldnt imagine her not being there!

Catch up soon xxx