#equetechrealrider

[townendbellboyii]

Quite a stressful ride tonight. Small smothering of snow overnight and the temperature was in the minus when I arrived at the yard after work. School still not frozen so I quickly put my breeches on and some jogging bottoms on over the top to keep my legs warm. Big mistake... I've been riding in lovely pikeur Lucinda grips for too long so the saddle felt incredibly slippy. Deli felt very fresh thanks to the freezing weather. And the cold just reminded me of the time I last fell off because he spooked. But I bravely climbed on trying to ignore the irrational thought that Deli would shoot from under me the minute my weight was in the stirrup. He never ever has done that when mounting so I don't know why I have this worry. I start to walk him round the school and all of a sudden his heart rate rises as does his head carriage and starts snorting. Deli had decided that a yellow bucket on top of a decoratoring bench against the outside of the arena fence was a Fell pony munching monster. I quickly dismounted and walked him up to the monster. I walked him past a few times and he stopped snorting but was still shying at it. So I got back on and schooled at the other end of the arena avoiding it. Quickest schooling session as I have to say my nerve was thin but I made myself canter 👏. Deli was good but I had to work hard to keep his attention on me and stop him oggling at the monster. Got off and walked him past the monster a few times again in hand. I'm pleased I did it and pushed myself I hope next time I can push myself a bit more. #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #selfconfidence #spooky #ponyblogger #equestrianblogger #beastfromtheeast

[townendbellboyii]

Breezy is an understatement. My hands had gone beyond hurting and lost all function as I tacked up this evening after work. I was so pleased to put my @roeckl_official gloves on! @pointersequine have a sale on Roeckl gloves... go grab a bargain they are the best gloves! The air is so dry at the moment that the school was less frozen than yesterday 10am. In fact it was perfect and all powdery on top. Thankfully the school is sheltered so it wasn't as windy. I was all nice and warm in my Pikeur coat and Deli had his bum warmer on. I worked on being constant with the contact and having my say on the speed. Deli wasnt too happy about that. It's my own doing really, I've been accidentally training him to take control. And in turn he's been training me to let him! The trot work I got from him felt like I was riding Valegro. Did some leg yielding. Right was good as I have my stronger right hand to stop him rushing. Left leg yield wasn't as good as I struggled to keep him round without rushing. So instead of doing it on the three quarter line I rode it on a circle; spiralling in and leg yielding out. Then I took it back to the three quarter line and it was much improved 👏 Canter work and I was riding round saying (out loud) small seat to remind myself not to move my seat too much. Lots of 10m circles and then practiced the canter loops. On the right rein they were great. On the left I wibbled when it came to do the loop towards the gate of doom. But I called myself a whimp and managed a couple tiny loops like 1 foot away from the track 👊. Deli changed twice whilst I was riding the loops on the left rein. But i worked out if I kept my right shoulder forward and gently moved my hands right to guide back to the track he didn't change. Big pats for the clever boy. #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #selfconfidence #ponyblogger #equestrianblogger

[townendbellboyii]

Spot the difference... 2015 to 2018 Deli had Monday off. Schooled last night. Decided to canter early to fire him up and then I could school him to calm him down. Seemed to work well. We were joined by two others... He seems to have an aversion to grey ponies 🙈. But I just kept him away and he was really good. Tonight I did the same warm up with canter and then decided to work on our centre line halts. In the tests he would swing his quarters out to the left so i started on the right rein trot to halt alongside the fence to keep him straight. This gave me the opportunity to fine tune the transition without having to worry about keeping him straight. Then I did the same on the left rein. Next I did a few centre lines without halting and when the trot was straight I did my first halt. He swung left... Then I had a 💡 it's because I have too much in my right hand. So the next centre line I concentrated on having a even feel on the contact and it worked! Lovely square halt with no stepping left. Also Amanda thank you so much for suggesting stepping into a stirrup, it's really helped especially with the canter work #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #ahsaddles #ponyblogger #ponyofinstagram #equestrianblogger

[townendbellboyii]

Dedication is... The late nights at your second job with the 5 am starts the next day The dark winter nights, when will the rain end? The battle pushing the wheelbarrow through the mud so you can put the hay on a drier mud patch in the field De-icing water troughs, picking out the ice shards by hand in a hope that they wouldn't re-freeze half an hour later Endless grooming, hot clothing, tack cleaning, tail washing Constant mucking out only for your pony to poo just as you walk away with the wheelbarrow Scrimping to get by, making do with what you have just so you can have lessons and compete Social life sacrifice because you either haven't the spare cash, you're too tired or haven't got time - or all three The feeling like you're constantly chasing your tail to get things done with no let up Having to do the bare essentials during the working week, leaving big jobs filling up your weekends Riding, whatever the weather or time of day Your pony having a better wardrobe than you Your pony having a better balanced diet than you Your pony having a better exercise regime than you The soaked to the skin, pealing off your clothes feeling as you jump in the shower in a desperate attempt to warm up The pony's house is neater, cleaner and has less dust in it than yours #townendfellpony #nativepony #pony #ridergoals #dedication #equetechrealrider #selfconfidence #inspiration #dressage #poniesofinstagram

[townendbellboyii]

So I do smile when I ride... now I wasn't going to share this photo as I'm instantly drawn to my weeble-like stacture. But I really don't want to sensor or conform to the "Instagram lifestyle" It's pictures like this that drives me forward to be healthier and more active... I rode tonight, shared the school with one other and Deli was very good. Didn't get too distracted. Right canter was rubbish. I knew it was me which made me feel frustrated. Why can't I crack this?! Anyway I know tomorrow will be another day, so finished on a good note (not good enough says my annoying inner voice) Sometimes that annoying inner voice is useful as it's what drives me to improve. I just have to make sure that I don't let it ruin my self esteem. Ponies having a duvet day tomorrow as we're expecting some bad weather... taking bets now on if I ride or not 😒😂 #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #selfconfidence #bodyimage

[townendbellboyii]

Super proud to be in Native Pony Magazine... again 😁 Wow a national magazine, both our names in print along with the rest of our Dressage team #wishfellthinking. Can't wait to see what 2018 brings us. I have been using this recent cold weather as an excuse not to ride 😒. Monday and Tuesday I get up the yard after working all day, exclaimed how cold it was. Mucked out and put Deli to bed. Last night I somehow managed to kick myself up the arse and schooled. Deli was very good, schooling in the pelham as helped him learn not to rush against my hand in the leg yield. Also I'd forgotten to swap my showing stirrups for my #Sprenger bow balance ones. I don't know if it was the stirrups or my recent massages but I felt more secure on the stirrups. Funny that my showing stirrups are only cheap traditional metal ones where the Sprengers are £££ 😂 Maybe I should be looking for new stirrups as I really should keep my showing ones for best. Of course I didn't ride tonight as I rode last night. Honestly I need supervision 🤣 Must try better #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #nativeponymagazine #selfconfidence

[townendbellboyii]

Today really wasn't our day 😦 I couldn't fault Deli... I had a battle with my confidence in the warm up when we were joined with a badly behaved horse and then Deli refused to go past a bit of the warm up that he had gone past fine. That aside he warmed up well and I decided not to over egg it as normally the go around can be a bit long. If I'd had known we weren't going to canter as a class then I would have done more. Deli was so good in the go around. Marching out in this super speedy walk and then his trot was great. I messed up and wrong legged the first canter in my show. I was gutted. But I tried to fight back the negative thoughts "Well that's all of yesterday's hard work gone to waste" and carried on. Dug deep and pulled out a great gallop and remembered to stop in front of the judge to salute. But it wasn't enough. We were placed 5th (out of 7) behind four combinations who didn't wrong leg it - which I guess was pretty fair. But I suppose that is riding club showing for you... I have gotten too used to not just being judged on how the individual goes. I think a confirmation mark and a ride mark giving you a total is much fairer. I can't help feeling down about today, I feel like I let Deli down. But I suppose this is what I need. Let's turn a negative into a positive and push me towards the dressage qualifiers. Today was our first outing since going to fun stuff so it's time to get serious and put the work in. Our next outing in two weeks is Matchy dressage, then polework clinic. The clinic is also the same day as a NPS flat show so I might do that on the way home if the classes doesn't clash. #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #showing #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #selfconfidence #mountainandmoorland

[townendbellboyii]

We may still be a work in progress but it's the progress I'm enjoying. Never be in a rush to get anywhere... enjoy the journey #townendfellpony #fellpony #native #schooling #ridergoals #equetechrealrider #dressage #selfconfidence #lesson