I know it's a little bit late to be starting a 2017 diary seems it'll be May in a few days, but to be honest other than just hacking and general riding we haven't done a great deal... up until now!
I know some people might remember Cleo from before, but just a little introduction. I bought Cleo in April 2010 as my first horse, she was very green and I was rather scared of her, but I loved her so carried on! Thanks to various people and instructors, she became a wonderful horse who has given me 7 years of happiness and will hopefully continue to for many years to come!
I'm not a very confident person, at the same time I bought Cleo I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome which is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, because of this I struggle a lot with anxiety and depression, but my dear Cleo has helped me along! I have a lot of confidence blips, depending on my mood at the time, but luckily I moved to a new yard just over a year ago and it's full of the most wonderful and supportive people, and I've got a fabulous instructor who is amazing at getting mine and Cleo's confidence up!
Anyway, I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with jumping, by which I mean I spent most jumping lessons sat in the middle of the arena crying my eyes out... at the start of the year I jumped this, and it felt massive:
and by the end of my jumping lesson two weeks ago, I was jumping this!
proud is an understatement AND there was no crying involved!
Over the last year or so, Cleo has taken a severe disliking to travelling in trailers, I'm not aware of anything happening to her (we don't go out very often anyway) but this summer I was desperate to get her out and about. So I booked us on a charity ride, and hired a lorry to take us in the hope she'd load and travel ok. The ride is on the 6th May, but earlier this week my instructor told me there was a space on the lorry to go out this Sunday as sadly one of the horses going has gone lame and has dropped out, so I could have that space if Cleo would load ok....
I contacted the transport company we are using and he very kindly came out that afternoon to do some loading and travelling practice. It usually takes me a good 2 hours to get Cleo into a trailer, he had her on the lorry within 15 minutes, and after that she was walking on and off no bother. Once she'd loaded a few times I got in the back with her (well a couple of stalls away from her) and we went for a little drive to see how she coped, she really struggled to balance and nearly went down a couple of times, but then suddenly realised if she stands with her legs square rather than crossed she can balance, and after that she settled really well!
So hopefully this Sunday we are going out with three others from the yard for a little ride out, I feel awful for the poor pony that had to drop out but It's made my year being able to go with everyone- I'm a bit of a loner and am rubbish at making friends, so to finally be able to go out with people is amazing!
I know some people might remember Cleo from before, but just a little introduction. I bought Cleo in April 2010 as my first horse, she was very green and I was rather scared of her, but I loved her so carried on! Thanks to various people and instructors, she became a wonderful horse who has given me 7 years of happiness and will hopefully continue to for many years to come!
I'm not a very confident person, at the same time I bought Cleo I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome which is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, because of this I struggle a lot with anxiety and depression, but my dear Cleo has helped me along! I have a lot of confidence blips, depending on my mood at the time, but luckily I moved to a new yard just over a year ago and it's full of the most wonderful and supportive people, and I've got a fabulous instructor who is amazing at getting mine and Cleo's confidence up!
Anyway, I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with jumping, by which I mean I spent most jumping lessons sat in the middle of the arena crying my eyes out... at the start of the year I jumped this, and it felt massive:
and by the end of my jumping lesson two weeks ago, I was jumping this!
proud is an understatement AND there was no crying involved!
Over the last year or so, Cleo has taken a severe disliking to travelling in trailers, I'm not aware of anything happening to her (we don't go out very often anyway) but this summer I was desperate to get her out and about. So I booked us on a charity ride, and hired a lorry to take us in the hope she'd load and travel ok. The ride is on the 6th May, but earlier this week my instructor told me there was a space on the lorry to go out this Sunday as sadly one of the horses going has gone lame and has dropped out, so I could have that space if Cleo would load ok....
I contacted the transport company we are using and he very kindly came out that afternoon to do some loading and travelling practice. It usually takes me a good 2 hours to get Cleo into a trailer, he had her on the lorry within 15 minutes, and after that she was walking on and off no bother. Once she'd loaded a few times I got in the back with her (well a couple of stalls away from her) and we went for a little drive to see how she coped, she really struggled to balance and nearly went down a couple of times, but then suddenly realised if she stands with her legs square rather than crossed she can balance, and after that she settled really well!
So hopefully this Sunday we are going out with three others from the yard for a little ride out, I feel awful for the poor pony that had to drop out but It's made my year being able to go with everyone- I'm a bit of a loner and am rubbish at making friends, so to finally be able to go out with people is amazing!
