DAY 1

Leapt out of bed this morning to find legs, back, arms and generally my whole body just wouldn't move. I suppose 2 days of lifting hoiking, dragging for about 12hours both days is paying its toll but I needed to get to the yard early to check Kai and Harv weren't on there backs with legs in the air with the huge amounts of grass they had. Actually wew were quite cruel because the patch they are in is about 2 stables wide which I will gradually extend once they graze it down a bit.

All in all they have settled well - both a bit noisy but OK.

Met Lorna at NW and we gutted old stables and had a general sort out. After a few coffees and socialising I rushed back to Onley to make sure ponies still alive (seems to be the theme of this weekend ). All ok so decided to ride Kai. Lunged him first and he was ok so lorna helped me on and there was 1 little "mmmmnnnn not really sure about this" moment fro him - he got an " well I am so off we go" and he was fab

Worked him quite hard and practised all our new little tricks and even though the men in camouflage were doing there best to shoot us (the school is next to a paintballing place - very odd!) he was just brilliant. Very pleased with my riding as I actually gained some balls for the first time.

Then Lorna and Harv went exploring with me on foot. We decided to just go through to the main EC and have a mooch around a bit of the 1000 acres they have there. So off we went down a lovely little track and got to the motorway bridge we have to cross - no probs there, and down to the first gate into our new land of hacking ....fields! Lorna went in and I started trying to close the gate. Ahhh a cow I said ...lorna started eeking at me and asking could I hurry as there was a few more cows coming over. I couldn't see them as there was a little hedge in the way but as I walked around it there were about 50 of them all coming over to us and I'm on foot we left at a brisk walk with me hiding behind harv and lorna. went under the bridge where a tank was hiding (I kid you not!). Harvey very brave, across some fields to the polo fields but i had a little spook half way across as a pheasant flew out under my feet - harvey didn't even blink we made it home without any further cow issues but had great fun on first day of exploring.

So far so good with the boys, lorna and my new home, Need to sort the paddock tomorrow and get lots of handles for the electric as it is very strong or so we are told, neither of us are actually going to risk trying it

the move

Today, 07:02 PM

Fran lesson first - I think I got some balls!

Worked on getting in really forward and quicker off the leg and if we didn't go ...we galloped!!!!!!!!!! Well actually more of a gallumping which is what kai does

Very pleased with the beast.

And then we moved yards. Simple eh When I am not so exhaused will give a full report but basically all went well. Horses are settled and in a very very very little paddock within my field bit due to amount of grass. Both were perfectly behaved and I am very proud of them. Kai did have his tummy lines ...stress maybe but munched his way though about 10 haynets

It is ok there, and and the hacking is so good not one person rode in the school all day ...on a saturday! Very emotional day but it wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be and massive massive to Lorna who is always there by mine and the boys sides. Andy and G were also just amazing and they actually travelled the boys while Lorna and I went shopping

So bye bye Netherwood .... a new start ahead of us.

sad

don't want to leave :(

bad bad me

Kai was colicy / ulcery today and it makes sense with his behaviour yesterday. After being so good until yesterday he did do a little bunny hope when I got on but I ignored it.

I have changed his hay through being to lazy to go and collect the stuff he is used to and had some ordered in with the rest of the yard. It is lovely green new hay all fluffy and tasty. I noticed yesterday he had eaten all hay both morning and lunch by the time I got down at 2pm but thought he was a greedy pig. Anyway it appears it is 1) too rich and 2) he is eating in at a rate on knots so he is going from 2pm with rich grass in his belly and nothing to eat to keep his acid down. So so so cross with myself He was really bloated tonight and had rubbed all his tail out again. YO also mentioned he had been not quite right at lunchtime and she had noticed how much wind he had so it all add up = bad mummy.

To top it off I had run out of pink powder and thought would do a big shop at the weekend for when we move so clearly the combination has made Kai feel a bit poorly again.

So pissed off - was supposed to be having a good last week and getting as much confidence as I can but the best made plans and all that. I'm hoping Hannah may be able to work her magic and get on him and I am chucking as much crap hay down his neck as I can. managed to buy some pink powder so have him on double dose. he gets back to normal soon

eeeeeekkkkk

We have had an offer on ours and we have accepted so hopefully tomorrow it will all go through. They want us out within 6 weeks though

House number 1 (castle mound) that we had been in talks with all week decided to go with original person despite us having offered a lot more. They felt they were a week down the line and wanted to continue - wish we had bloody known but it happens.

House number 2 - pukey sick decor house. We are going to put an offer in so please :goodvibe: like mad that we get as offer accepted. It is over budget so we will have little funds to start to get it decorated thought so pukey will have to stay


Kai went jumping with aunty H and he went really well. Very pleased with him and he got his first clear round. They looked very proffesional together and a few people watching made comments over how stunning he is Han rode him fab too so hopefully he will make a sj'er for her after all. Really pleased how well he kept his head despite hundreds of people all in the cr together.

So tomorrow may be the day - otherwise we may end up homeless

Fran lesson

After a slightly close call leading Phe out to the field and hurting my arm I did actually manage to do my lesson although have a very sore wrist now and def think it is a strain Better than a break though

Anyway got on and walked / trotted round. He feels much more settled in his head and has moments of stretching down without coming overbent. The problem is when he takes the contact he goes over bent but when he stretches on loose rein he doesn't. So just need to perserve and sit very quietly and let him build strength and confidence and it should come. Must remember to test the SI is true by offering the inside rein and pray it all should all stay in place

Leg yield and shoulder in much improved. Got to try and keep the trot swinging and soft through the ly. Worked on slow med trot into shoulder in to get a little more elevation and the SI into Med trot. He tried his little heart out on this one

Canter trans are much more responsive and I was pleased with them today although he still struggles taking the contact forward and the second I over the inside rein to stretch down he falls into trot. Very but it is improving so need to stay calm about it.

Aunty H back so he can have some fun again - will see if she can hack him for me again and we are off to S'hull doing SJ on tues so he will like that.

Only 1 more weekend at the yard until we leave

Outing!

We hired out the school at solihull and took both boys along for a play. It was horrid weather and really windy and spooky even though we were in the covered school at solihull. Kai was a little tense to start off but walked round on a loose rein for 10 mins to let him settle then worked on trot. Kept him nice and soft in an outline but working on stretching. Much harder when he is out but shoulder in and leg yield feel much quicker off my leg.

So on to canter trans. The first few were car crash tv :kopfpatsch:

need to work on .... sitting trot, nice and bouncy - outside leg back and ask for canter - ensure contact remains consistant - keep lower leg long and soft - DO NOT TIP FORWARD AND DRIVE - and if he doesn't take the canter and rushes stay calm slow the trot and ask again......sounds simple doesn't it!!

I actually got some nice trans on the left rein but I just found he couldn't keep the canter forward no matter what I did after. He just runs out of energy it feels like. Can't wait for F lesson on Sunday to work on it again and explain what Ken is getting me doing.

After we finished took him out of school - nearly ended on head when he couldn't coordinate getting his legs over the little step to get out. We led the way with harv behind and then went in outdoor. He was quite spooky but nothing stupid and we had a mooch round.

Left it there - really pleased with him and progress :wub: he really tries sometimes.

Need to get Aunty H to do some fun stuff with him and get him out in the week jumping or something, going to pop a few fences at home tomorrow hopefully to do something different - may do a little gridwork.

House update - well we are after the Castle house and I have had the remortgage approved on this house so hoping if all goes well with Andy's bit we can put a proper offer in on Monday. If not I have fallen upon a lovely 4 bed in the next village along so we are off for a nosey tomorrow. It isn't the perfect home and carpets are :doublepuke: but it looks huuuge from the pics and garden looks really nice so an extra 2 miles from yard but still really nice village and 2 miles closer to work so doesn't make the round trip much further. Had a house viewing yesterday which went well and they seemed to like it - we are on their shortlist anyway. I'm feeling really positive about it all despite lorna reminding me we move the horses in 2 weeks :eek:

Leaving trailer and stuff at yard until we move house, feel happier having it where I know it is safe until I move house.

So thats it for the moment - womdering if I should do a leaving do before or after we leave :dunno: kind of don't want one as it means it is all real!