New Job and Ready To Compete!

Well, seeing as things have been a little slow going freelance I've got a full time job working for the Council to help pay the bills until I get more clients.  I've had my first week there and it is a nice easy job.  It's in Children's Services so the content of the things I deal with are sometimes very delicate but I really enjoy admin and working closely with the Social Workers on cases is great.  PLUS there are some people with horses there so I might be able to find some clients or more horses to ride and compete!

On that front, I'm competing M on Monday at Caistor Equestrian Centre - can't wait!  We're doing Intro A and Preim 7 for our first trip out.  She has NEVER been schooled or done Dressage proper so I'm looking forward to seeing how we do and the feedback from the result sheet.  Even better news is there are only 4 people in the Prelim 7 class so we might even have a chance of winning!  I do like competing!

As much as I'd like to be competing at a higher level, it is so much fun starting out on a new horse at grass roots level.  It's all contributing to raise my profile and I might be able to find some clients while out competing.  M's owner N will be briefed to hand out my card if anyone asks about me and M!  Plus by BFF will there to watch me and then compete M in the XC later in the morning.  So she can help too!  Don't forget to visit my website!  JCS Equestrian

From next month I'm hoping to be able to compete SJ and XC too as my consultant said I could by then if my hip was feeling better. I'm thinking Messingham Show next weekend and then possibly Winterton Show or Hackthorn ODE.  I want to be out every weekend if possible now!

Right, best get my kit organised for tomorrow.  I'm going to wear my green and navy tweed jacket I think with a canary shirt and red tie. Tagg Clothing for my jacket!  Teque Style for my shirt!

I fancy going more traditional rather than all out posh in my navy jacket which is a Mears Pytchley (BEAUTIFUL with brass buttons).  I want to go for relaxed first time out and not try to hard.  Ooh must polish my boots too!  I'm a gaitors girl too, can't find long boots to fit!

Wish me luck?!?

(Can you believe people pay for this!??!?!)

Good Day

Yesterday was a busy one.  I taught C and her big horse S in the morning sunshine.  We are really making progress for such an unusual pairing of horse and rider.  Massive horse and skinny ma-link rider!  C gets very excited when S goes into an outline all on her own.  Going to practise some basic prelim dressage moves on Fri and then work towards cantering and pole work the week after.  Getting there!

   

After that I nipped to school M.  For a cob that has never done any schooling let alone any proper dressage schooling before, she was a superstar practising prelim 7 and 10 moves yesterday.  She's not fit but she's such a trier.  N said his neighbour is happy for us to use her super-duper massive arena to work in so can't wait to practise in there next session.  She's a really cool colour.  My genius-pal H says she is sabino colouring.  Funky!  Am planning to go there on Fri afternoon.

Horse Coat Colors: Appaloosa, Dominant White, Equine Coat Color Genetics, Champagne Gene, Sabino Horse, Cream Gene, Roan, White, Seal Brown

After THAT I then went to D's yard and helped her until my best friend C came and I rode her horse M. C and S made me a makeshift arena in their jumping paddock and we had a go at some dressage and then popped a few jumps.  WOW this horse is amezzin.  I really hope I can take her to some competitions for C.

At the end of yesterday I was filthy, sweaty and unsuprisingly SUNBURNT!  Can you believe it?  Got the weather has a massive effect on my wellbeing.  It makes me happy!

Must buy some of this though!

Let's get physical!

Right, so I've been to see my physio F this morning.  Blimey traffic was busy on the way in too!  Anyway, I told that I'm doing much better, much stronger now but still getting the impingement niggle and can't bring my right knee up to my chest still.  It's like there is block in my hip.  She frowned and has said that when I go back in a month and if it is still no better then I might have to go back for a referral and have a dye scan MRI this time to deffo see what is causing the impingement.  GREAT!

Well, on the up side she's told me not run - ace!  But, I can cycle and she's given me some more hilarious exercises to do.  This time I have to do hops and jumping!  As in hopping on one leg, jumping up and down, box jumping and hopping from one leg to another.  I wonder if she's just playing with me??  Plus I have to do the other exercises too: lunges, leg lifts and one I call the Lincoln imp knee twist.  Just wish I had a buddy to get fitter with?

So I'm on the look out for someone to cycle with or walk about with in my village.  I'm even going to put a note up in the window of the shop.  I really want to get fit.  The fitter I am the better a rider I can be.  By gosh I want to be better.

      

Good Deed of the Day

Just to let you know I saved a couple of swallows.  They were stuck in a window behind a grill and couldn't get out.  So, I called my farmer friend N who's stable they were stuck in (which is next to my paddock) and he let them free.  Happy Ending :-)

My paddock and dog J

Apologies

Well oops, I've not blogged for ages.  Mostly I just forgot and have been lazy.  Anyway, quick update.

All moved in to new house.  Still lots of DIY to do but this will be ongoing FOREVER I think.

Hip is LOADS better, seeing my physio Fiona every few weeks until she is happy to discharge me.  My consultant has advised me not to compete show-jumping until July, so I've been gradually increasing the amount of riding and have been jump practising this week.  So far so good, just normal achiness and no hip pain - woop woop!  BIG thank you to my best friend C for letting me ride her horse M.  Truly a super duper neddy, if not a little wild at times - she reversed into a hedge with me earlier this week!

OP is getting fat in his paddock atm.  We are buying some more fencing to split up my paddock more to reduce his mammoth grass intake!  Saving half already for hay and then going to split it again and add a few sheep for good measure!

I need to get back on OP but he is a peculiar chap.  He'll be 4 1/2 now and is cold-girthed.  Rather than lunge him lots, I'd rather just get on him.  He's the kind of beast to get too fit if you lunged him and then buck you off!  So I'd prefer him to be a little fat and sleepy and then go for a little wander around the field and then crack on with bringing him on and fittening up.

I'm struggling to get any customers so will have to do some market research and try and get my info out there into to the wider world.  I'm supporting C at a show on Sunday on a fun little sabino cob so think I'll be brave and approach people with my details and hand out a few cards.

By the by, once I'm fit, I'm going to compete the little sabino cob M.  She's fun!  So I'll hopefully build a bit of a competition profile on her and then try to pinch super M from C too for dressage :-)

I promise to update more regularly!

J