Bringing the boys back in

Hammer & Cossack: we seem to have the toxins under control, with boys boys being like little old men pottering around their paddocks. So time to bring them back into work and make them earn their keep! Helen and I are going to lunge them, judge their attitudes, and probably just jump on! (if i know both the boys like i think i do, they will be cruisy as and happy to have the attention!). Following on from that I have been approached by a girl who is interested in lunging/riding Cossack a few times a week to get her 'horsey-fix' which will help me immensely while I have competitions looming!

Joe is going to start following the Andrew McLean book, to get a bit of insight into the training of a horse. I believe if we start off right and get the ground work sorted first...they will be away!

Grindy: I am struggling for time to get good decent rides in at the moment, but am managing to keep things ticking over! I am hoping to get down to Bill for a few lessons before I head out to try and qualify. She appears to have had a few more falls in the paddock, but she is booted full time now so that seems to stop most of the damage. She is holding her weight just perfectly and looking stunning! Can't wait to get her out there doing something!

HOY: Qualifications have gotten alot stricter for many of the classes, however my dressage quals appear to be the same as last year....57% in a Level 5 Zilco Freestyle. If we achieved it last year before our breakthrough, i am confident we can achieve it this year! Looks like i have a test on Wed, Thurs and Fri. Have found out the grazing that I usually keep Grindy at over HOY is not available this year, so am on the hunt again...have a few leads to follow up so here's hoping!

Long awaited update

Grindy - I am very happy with Grindy after her break over winter. I expected her to have gone quite a few steps backwards, and to have alot of work to do, to get back to where we were after HOY. But she is really stepping up to the mark. We still have a wee way to go in her fitness level to have her comfortably carrying herself, and her extensions are lacking the elevation we acheived right before HOY (i am literally talking about getting this in my warm up with Bill prior to my 2nd HOY test!) She is looking awesome, we seem to have finally sorted out her weight too.
The only negative i have, is that i turned up on Monday to find her legs bleeding after she obviously had another of her falls. So she is back in her paddock boots for the time being!

Hammer - Is having a wee rest after beign affected by the toxins. His head is far too massive for him to be bolshy and jumpy. Poor Joe copped it a few times with a good whack! But we have restricted his grass (he was getting a bit chubby anyway!) and started him on a toxin binder and chelated mag. Busy week this week means I have to focus on just keeping Grindy ticking over..but next week we will pull Hamm out and get him up and going again!

Cossack - is back with us, and i willupdate on him soon!