Sunday 31 January 2010

Out again at last!

First outing of the year today- down to SNEC for their unaff SJ show. Decided to enter the 85cm class (comfort zone!) and be brave and enter the 95cm class also.

Not very busy- was everyone else staying in as it was so cold?! ;) Had a nervy first round in the 85cm but Heidi saved the day at a couple of fences where I'd panicked and not quite found the right stride and we went clear. A nice speedy jump off (she loves these the best!) and some tight lines kept us in the lead until the 2nd last horse went and just pipped us to it by 2s. Very happy with 2nd place though as George definitely had his BSJA hat on and was building up to height!

Decided to do the 95cm first round but w/d if the jumps got scary big in the jump off. Thankfully didn't need to worry- but for a good reason! ;) Only four of us in the class, with us last to go. The first three all picked up 4 faults each and a more relaxed and more flowing clear round gave us first place and red rosette without needing to panic about big jumps in the jump off or wimp out! ;)

There was a photographer there today, so look forward to seeing the pics when they go online. :) (sadly our usual personal paparazzo had a prior engagement so no Bob pics! :( )

Saturday 30 January 2010

Merry Christmas?! ;)

Well for Team Hopalong it was on Thursday as we got "our" new saddle at last! :D A lovely Chrismas present from my husband and parents, we were supposed to get it delivered and fitted right at the start of January, but the snow scuppered that plan.

Here's Hopalong modelling it after our first hack out in it. :) It's a Kent & Masters jump saddle and very adjustable for both her (changeable gullets) and me (blocks are on velcro so can swap between flatwork and jumping set up).

Off to SNEC on Sunday to try it out jumping. :)

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Team Hopalong find fame at last?!


Last September, Team Hopalong were fortunate enough to win a XC lesson with Ian Stark at Hendersydwe Park, Kelso, courtesy of HORSE magazine. Even more exciting, this months magazine has a 5-page spread covering the lesson, including lots of photos featuring green grass, blue skies and sunshine... I can almost remember what all three are like! ;)

Ww will be digging out the article to read before our first XC competition this year and hopefully put Ian's words of wisdom into practice. :)

Sunday 10 January 2010

Happy New Year! (January cancelled!)

Happy New Year and all the best to everyone for 2010 from Team Hopalong. :)

As per the rest of the country, we are suffering a lack of normality due to the "Big Freeze". This means we've not been riding since 17th Dec and everything takes twice as long to do- defrosting the car, breaking ice on water troughs, spreading hay in the field as grass well and truly buried etc. Hopefully we'll see a "Big Thaw" soon and we can go back to complaining about the mud! ;)

So all plans for January have been cancelled and I think Heidi is enjoying being a lady of leisure. At least she's still able to get turned out 7am-4pm each day as normal or she'd be going stir crazy (like I am with the lack of riding!).

Had a "mild" couple of hours yesteday afternoon when the sun came out (I know it doesn't look it, but photos were taken on my wee camera phone!) so thought I'd let Heidi enjoy a wee break from her rug, thinking she might enjoy a naked roll etc... no, she just wanted to stand and eat!

Had a battle to get her to stand and let me put her rug back on again- think she was quite happy without!- but then got a lovely photo of her being interested in a fox trying to catch a rabbit for dinner next door.

So I'm afraid it will be a quiet month for us until we get rid of the snow/ice and can get fit again and out and about.