I have been working 6 days a week full time on the yard with our apprentice and although we have had many empty stables we have still had ca. 18 horses stabled & 4 living out full time. It’s been hard work & I have loved (nearly) every second of it. It feels like its been quite a long time since I have been at this end of the business & I felt that the yard had slipped a little out of my control; but its all back to how I like it & the ship has been righted. I think the hardest thing about this period is keeping the hope & belief that things would turn around – at one point it felt like everyday someone was handing in their notice or leaving. All for very good reasons, eg. injured horses, travel time between home & the yard, just taking their horse home as they have stables in the back garden; but it doesn’t make things any easier & I am not good at goodbyes!

But over the last 14 days we have filled back up to the point where I think Zie Zie & another are going to have to winter in the old stables – the change around has been dramatic! Technically here we have 3 barns, split into an older barn with 9 stables, a newer barn with 17 & overflow old stables with 2 usable when we need or have colts in. The older barn is now booked up for the winter with DIY horses & the newer barn has a mixture of training liveries, full liveries & part liveries. It has made a huge difference to our work having the older barn completely DIY; it means that we have gone from a 28 stable yard to just 19 – it means we can be full for the winter without having to increase our workload and costs dramatically – the ideal situation.

So once again the buzz is starting to come back to the stables! We have 3 horses booked in for full time training this winter by us & my 2 I think I’m going to have fun.

Tommy & Hero have sold too. Tommy is off tomorrow to his new home & Hero gets to stay with us longer while we break him in & train him for the family that have bought him – its so exciting & I’m so glad he gets to stay.

The plans are still in progress but we are looking at running unaffiliated dressage here throughout the winter – not only shows but run a club with evening talks, quizzes, bbq’s, trips out & lots more!

Training wise with Gio & Hubert K they have been having a very quite few weeks while I have been sorting everything out. Lots of hacking for Hubert & Gio has had a mixture of lunges & school work but nothing intense. So they are both very happy campers at the moment. Certainly no shows at the moment while things are so up & down with the yard – I feel like we need to get things right at home before I can concentrate on competing again (but I can’t wait I miss it soooooo much)

Finally we have decided to look for another apprentice to work 4 days/36 hours a week – we can’t offer accommodation at the moment but can offer lots of riding this winter & great education from Broadlands.

I promise not to leave it so long next time!

Anna-Lisa x

NB. I can’t find any photos to attach on the laptop but there’s loads on Instagram!

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We have also had all the boards around the outside arena replaced & painted; the lunge pen, which basically blew down this winter, has started being repaired with the fencing that hadn’t blown down has now been demolished & new fence posts are in, we just need to place the boards around the edge, & complete the fencing so that it is enclosed again & it will finally be fixed. We have new letters for the arena too – everything is starting to look refreshed & smart again – just how I like it!

Last week was also a busy week of making new contacts, eGlove (More information @ eGlove) who manufacture technical sports gloves that enable you to use your smart phone (& I’m sure much more) without having to take your gloves off are sending me a pair to test ride. I’m looking forward to comparing them for riding in against my favourite gloves, Roeckl Chester. And seeing if its possible to take loads of videos while riding – always the important things.

Also EquiNutritive (More information @ EquiNutritive) are sending a 50 day dose of their calmer powder, No More Nerves, according to the website it states:

“This specially formulated blend of vervain, lemon balm, raspberry leaf, chamomile, passionflower, marshmallow root and peppermint has a calming effect by acting on the endocrine and nervous systems. This blend is a good accompaniment to sound training practices and can also be used for acutely stressful situations such as travel.”

Again I am looking forward to using it & seeing what difference it makes, & of course telling you all about it.

Giovanni W had a hard end to the week with a mixture of me, Ellinore & Sarah working him he might start to realise he has to actually earn his keep around here. Also finally he is not bum high at the moment – maybe he has stopped growing for a while?

Finally Friday came around & we dropped Hattie off at daycare for a day in the forest, packed the car & trailer, loaded Hubert & set off to Keysoe. It rained & it poured all the way – I took a deep breath, after camping in the bad weather at Sheepgate I was not looking forward to a wet couple of days at Keysoe. Luckily as we approached Keysoe the skies began to clear & even blue sky. By the time I had pitched my tent, settled Hubert into his stable & sent Ben on his way it was a really pleasant (if not a bit cold evening!) For a while I sat & watched a few people working their horses in the arenas & then went & tacked up Hubert. After our disastrous trip away at Sheepgate I was a bit apprehensive as to how Hubert would find everything, so took him outside & let him have a good look around and exercised him in & out of all the arenas – making sure he went forwards the whole time. Bless him he was a little nervous to start with but soon started to relax with time. It was a good evening as I put Hubert away and with my laptop went back to the arenas, sat in the really comfy seats & wrote my invoices for the month – although the wifi at Keysoe is shocking so didn’t get to send anything out until I came home. With the cafe shut it was a night of soreen bread sat outside of my tent at the back of the overflow car park on my own.

Saturday morning I got up super early & trained Hubert outside & what a difference from a few weeks ago, so much more confident again. It ended up quite a rush between his morning exercise, plaiting, mucking out & getting back on to warm him up. Keysoe had opened up one of the outdoor arenas for warm up & it helped a lot. It was the best warm up we had ever had. By the time we left the warm up it was getting busy & I was glad to start my test. A few little mistakes kept our score down, but he at least attempted to go forwards within the whiteboards & I came out of the test with a huge smile on my face – to be honest I had no idea what the judge was going to make of the test, but he had felt so much more confident than the last competition, which left me happy. The only problem we really had was getting out of the arenas – there were some white plastic garden chairs that had been moved & he was so scared of them we spun around 3 times back to the competition arena before someone walked in front of him & he followed them gingerly out. After a short break for Hubert we warmed up indoors for our second test & got called into the arena 7 minutes early (being on my own I had no way of double checking my time & waiting), so after a very short, but forward, warm up we went in the arena. He coped really well going from the indoor to the outdoor for the test & again he was a little more forward, there were a lot of mistakes in the canter work but overall the trot work was fab. After settling him back in his stable I went & checked my scores, 63.52% in the first test & 58.45% in the second, & also a 1st & 2nd placing – including prize money! I was over the moon!!! The rest of Saturday was spent watching the advanced classes, hand grazing Hubert & cleaning tack. The cafe closed early again so another night of Soreen loaf it was.

Sunday I could hear the rain & wind battering the tent as I woke up extra early & to be honest my heart sank. After such a good day on Saturday all I could think was that when I last tried to ride Hubert in the wind at Sheepgate I fell off. I tried to put that thought out of my head & got up as I was planning on riding again early. When I actually left the tent the rain wasn’t too bad, just the wind was blowing hard. I fed, mucked out & tacked up & took him straight outdoors. Yes it was a bit damp & the wind was certainly blowing but Hubert was even more forward as I just walked & trotted around the arenas for 15 minutes & gave him the biggest pat I think I have ever given a horse! My times were early on Sunday so I had planned everything down to the last second, & all went relatively smoothly. Warm up was indoors only (which suited me in the rain) & in the first test there was another burst of energy from him, I was so proud! Not long before the second test my reader indicated that they probably wouldn’t make it to the arena in time to read – I tried not to panic – after a good but a little tired warm up I managed to get someones attention as they walked past me & begged them to read – promising chocolate. They were so kind & agreed to help. Also the steward working in the warm up arena was such a nice lady & kept me laughing while it seemed ages waiting for the test before me to finish. It was such a good atmosphere I was already smiling ear to ear before I even started the test. The test it self was again a little more forward, but to get the forwardness I had to lose some of the connection between leg & hand as he was tired & in my opinion at the moment going forwards is more important than scores, especially in bad weather. Ben & Hattie arrived just as we left the arenas & was pleased to let me know that I had won the first test with 65.1% even with the mistakes. After putting Hubert back in his stable I dashed back to the tent & dashed back to the arenas with chocolate, for some reason I had bought 3 bars with me which worked out perfectly, 1 for Emma for reading on Saturday & the first test on Sunday, 1 for the steward to say thank you for being so friendly & working hard, & one for the random reader I managed to find! When the scores came out 61.25% & another second placing.

The rest of the day was spent taking the tent down in the wind & rain while Hattie sat on the floor playing with stones getting drenched (she’s a good girl!), packing up Hubert & heading home with the biggest feeling of satisfaction I have felt in a long time – compared to the beginning of the month at Sheepgate I couldn’t of been happier with Hubert & every time it just gets a little bit easier & a little bit better!

Back to the reality of the yard & end of month paperwork again, working the horses & yesterday dealing with gale force winds & weather warnings! Today the sun is once again shinning & I am hoping for warmer weather.

Enjoy the rest of your week!!

Anna-Lisa x

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Hero jumping

Been a very hectic week on the yard, the young horses have been loose jumping again and to everyone’s surprise this time the Maestro colt Hero jumped better than Tommy. Hero’s half brother that I brought over from Holland as a 2 year old broke and at the end of last year decided he wasn’t destined to a dressage home so I sold him as a 4 year old to a young teenager who is having a great time with him. Finish B (now called Chester) is jumping over 1m50 loose and 1m25 with his young jockey onboard, he has been cross-country schooling and his best activity is polo-cross. So if Hero takes after Finish B then there will be no stopping him and a mixed home is where he will find his heart.

Tommy didn’t disappoint either, but it was just more expected. Then at the end of the week we had some spare time so our 4 year old Lord Leatherdale, Giovanni W, was given the opportunity to try a bit of jumping. Gio was very enthusiastic to say the least! His legs are so long now I don’t think he knew really what to do with them – he seemed to enjoy himself though! All 3 are for sale.

Hubert K was training hard leading up to BD on Sunday at our local college Easton. He worked nearly everyday but worked hard one day and then the next day had a half hour under saddle stretching in walk, trot and canter. He seemed to really enjoy a focussed week and I enjoyed it to!

On Sunday we went to Easton and competed in both Novices. Once again a lot of lessons learnt about me and about Hubert. At Easton the warm up is outside and the competition is indoors, Hubert was a little weary in the warm up and started to back off in lack of confidence straight away – then to my surprise started to head shake! There was an awful lot of little flies flying in my face as well as his. It was as if they were getting down his ears – and he didn’t like it! I had a fly veil in the trailer but because the tests were indoors there was no point putting it on. So our warm up didn’t quite go to plan and the second warm up didn’t go much better – all the plans in the world and something new crops up!

In the first test he backed off far too much – not as much as he has in the past but nowhere near forward enough and certainly not forward enough to do the canter across the diagonal and counter canter; second test and he was a lot more confident, still not forward enough but another little improvement – but again we lost our counter canters and got marked for it to with my first ever 1 – we ended up on 61% & 60%. I have no photos or video or even feedback as Ben was busy entertaining Hattie outside of the arenas as she has started to run around now!

Regional qualification looks doubtful now, I just hadn’t predicted how unconfident Hubert would be in the arena,he will certainly get there but it will take a lot longer than I had first thought. He is worth the time and effort though!

This week I’m off to Keysoe for 2 days, well 3 as Ben has to drop me, Hubert & my tent off at Keysoe on Friday afternoon and then picking us up Sunday. I hope the weather is kind to me – I will be shattered after all the end of month paperwork I have to get done before going.

Will update again next week – have a fab time in the meantime!

Anna-Lisa x

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As I am sure everyone does we analysed what the differences have been when he has been out to shows or training; his first unaffiliated show in January was the first time I felt him be a little naughty, Keysoe training (which was very busy with BYRDs camp going on) he was nervous but trusting, Ferry Farm BD he was a good boy & Sheepgate was a nightmare – there was one difference – Nupafeed MAH calmer. The first show and Sheepgate he wasn’t on Nupafeed but he was for Keysoe and Ferry Farm as I had a little bit left over from my old mare. So Thursday morning I had a delivery from Horse Health with a new bottle of Nupafeed and started to load him up again. Sunday we went out to Easton College unaffiliated dressage and rode one novice test to see if he behaved – it worked! Yes he was worried a little, yes it was a VERY rough and ready test, but I could put my leg on him without any antics. So now there is no doubt in my mind that at the moment Hubert needs the Nupafeed to help him get over his anxieties and concentrate at a competition – so back to Plan A and regional qualification.

The rest of last week was spent juggling Hattie as Ben had to work extra, and working with the youngsters. My back has been injured for a few weeks now and before Sheepgate was on the mend but after my fall from Hubert it was very sore again last week meaning that Giovanni W (Gio) had to start to concentrate with Ellinoré riding and me training them on the ground. It worked really well and he made some real progress and even got to go for a hack at the end of the week with Becky on foot (just in case!)

Again because of my back Hero and Tommy (Hilfiger) had a light week of loose schooling and for the first time we jumped them both, safe to say Hero is not going to make the best jumper but after a while he was brave enough to take himself over 40cms (to be fair on him thats braver than Bvlgari ever was!), but Tommy jumps amazing! A proper jumper clearing 1.40m easily and enjoying himself. We will loose jump him this week again and get some video this time.

Mondays is often spent in the office for me organising the week ahead but instead of looking after Hattie after feeding I helped turn out this morning as the horses moved to their summer paddocks! They were so excited as they realised they were not going to their usual fields and we have a good amount of grass now so there wasn’t much running around – heads down eating!

The sun is shining now and the forecast says 22 degrees today so fingers crossed – time to go work some of the horses #LoveMyLife

Anna-Lisa x

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It is a long time since I have competed for 4 days like this, apart from going to Holland training & the odd overnighter training in the UK I haven’t been away with the horses since I stopped grooming for other people, so I am excited to finally be going away again. We have 6 tests booked in, Friday, Saturday & Monday, Sunday will be a chance for a gentle leg stretch.

Hubert K has been living out at night now since the 10th April & he is shattered – I schooled him yesterday & he was so tired we didn’t end up doing much. Today was meant to be a hack day, but I think he would appreciate just having the afternoon in the stable to snooze, and a light schooling tomorrow.

We are still getting to know each other and I have been playing around with his routines and feed – looks like there’s some more playing to be done but I want to see how he feels at Sheepgate first.

The weather has been glorious (picture of fantastic evening walk with Ben, the dogs and Hubert K after a late evening lunge) but it looks like it is turning; I hope it isn’t as windy as it is right now over the weekend as I am sleeping in a tent while the trailer gets used as storage – I have plenty of blankets and a 30 year old sleeping bag all ready – Ben and Hattie are going to visit for the day on Saturday but like their creature comforts too much!

We have been working Gio hard too this week. I have put my groom Ellinoré on board so I can see how he is going from the ground and train him that way – it’s gone so well we are going to do the same today and tomorrow – then he can have a 4 day break in the field. Hopefully it won’t be long until I can start competing him or he finds a new mum to take him out and about.

Now it’s time to finish getting the office work done otherwise I won’t be allowed out to play!

Have a great Wednesday

Anna-Lisa x

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