Jackaline updates!

I couldn't think of an appropriate title ^ Decided to quickly write this in a break from revision! Well, it was almost a month ago now, but at the end of April I had my first ever lesson with Jack and we went to our first show..which was interesting to say the least! Pretty disappointed with how I rode him in our lesson, I really let my nerves hold me back and I don't think the instructor got to see what he was really like, he was very tense and forward :( but he did try very hard and started to learn lateral work! our show as then the next day.. he hacked down perfectly and was very good and all in all was actually a star when he was there. He'd never been ridden for that long before and he got fed up and started rearing and throwing himself to the floor..provided entertainment for everyone put it that way haha! But I just got off and let him settle down and relax for a bit and then he was really good after and even had a little canter round :) which is fab as he's only ever cantered once in an open field never mind with loads of horses trotting around and all the other various distractions! 

We then moved yards, meaning he went in the trailer for the first time since his accident...I didn't go with him because I'm quite scared of being in the trailer now, but my Mum & Dad said he was brilliant and loaded straight away no problem..no excuse now to not go to shows Jack;) It took him quite a while to settle in and he was being quite naughty, but he's only moved yards once before so we'll let him off! Haven't really had much time to do anything with him really because I'm super stressed with exams, but just been doing a bit of lunging and finally rode him again last night and took him for a hack last weekend with my friend and Jack's twin Sundance(who Jack hates for some unknown reason) and he was really good considering! .. definitely feel like we've been set back a bit though, lost a lot of confidence with him for some stupid reason, but ah well, we'll just have to work through it I guess! Sometimes I find it hard to remember that 12 months ago he'd never been sat on and that even the fact I can ride him is an achievement in  it's self.. 

Sparkie is also fab, he is going SO well at the moment..was planning to take him to our first show in 7 months this weekend, but unfortunately my dog bit him this week in a complete freak accident and he's had to have stitches across his nose..pretty gutted really, finally felt like we were ready again, but ah well, it's not the end of the world, there's always more shows to go to. 

Beth, Sparkie, Jack, Carling & Barney! xxx

5 years with the ginger bean!

well today, 8th May it's been 5 years since I first met Sparkie...something I completely can't get my head around! doesn't seem like 5 minutes he was a little 3yo now he's almost 9...Jesus on a boat, when did my baby grow up!? the last few months apparently...me & my family have both noticed *touch wood* that he really seems to have finally matured recently! For example, last weekend I moved yards...last time Sparks moved(2 years ago!) it took me two weeks to be able to even complete a lap of the arena without any bunny hops, whereas on Saturday he settled straight ij and I jumped him the next day in an open field and he was fantastic! he's always been a very stressy pony, so it's nice to see :) I have a lot more updates(lessons, shows etc!) but I will write about that another day! ta ra

best day ever?

well.. I don't think I'm being over dramatic when I say had one of the best weekends ever..or the best Saturday ever. Either or. 
 So on Saturday we went xc schooling with fellow ginger Sundance and little Molly, which was tres bien.. I wasn't entirely sure how it was going to plan out, but the aim for the day was to have fun and we most certainly did- the first time in a good year and a half me & Sparkie have come home still on speaking terms and with a smile on my face!

Sparkie was so fab, and so well behaved, especially as he was only in a bitless! He jumped pretty much everything I pointed him out, even some of the bigger ones(including some rather hench, scary tyres) that I didn't think we'd get over...good pony!

just a few of many photos! I then went to see Mcfly Saturday night which was just...it made my life, idc. They were SO good, The Vamps were also an amazing support band..aah, take me back :( So in conclusion...possibly the best day of my life so far. Quite possibly.

Beth, Sparkie, Jack & Carling xxx

long time no see!

sorry for not blogging in so long, I....forgot. Soz. Also, I apologise in advance for any mistakes in here as I'm writing this on my phone which is known for very unpredictable autocorrect(sorry/spermy as one example)! Anyhoo...
Carling- he's now moved fields! He now has his own field, yard & stable all to himself and he seems a lot happier and playful..at our old yard he was unable to go out due to the field just being unsuitable for him in his old age, but he's moving around a lot better now...even took off with me last week, cheeky moo!
Jack- he is being a rather awesome little hoss atm *touch wood*. He is so, so, so much more balanced and stopped rushing in his walk and trot work with no napping...he honestly feels so lovely to school! :) Canter is still a work in progress, but seems to slowly be coming together...all going to plan we should have our first proper show in two weeks, eek! He also went for his first proper hack on my birthday and he was an absolute angel, just took everything in his stride & felt so confident...aw love this horse!!
Sparkie- warmer weather=sweetitch season:( such a pain in the rear, fly mask on, all sorts of lotions and potions ready to go! Taking him xc on Saturday for a bit of fun :)
au reviour! xxx

ponies ponies everywhere

Firstly I'm writing this whilst watching Comic Relief and Snow Patrol were fricking amazing and Lifening makes me cry and it was all just beautiful and I can never make it to 'a father like my Dad' before crying like a baby and Gary is my hero. 
So last Saturday I had another horsey day, which was pretty hilarious even though Molly went lame (sad face, but she's fine now!), Sparkie frustrated me, I frustrated myself and Victor was a bit awkward.. but it was such a good day, even better seeing as I didn't have work, yay! Here are some pictures..

good ponies! Managed to get a bit of riding in this week now that the days are getting lighter yay! Rode Jack and he was a bit nappy and rushed a bit, but he's only three so he's most definitely forgiven seeing as 90% of the time he's perfect! Also lunged Sparkie over some fences which was pretty hilarious, as he just ran round the school having a whale of a time while I ran behind him clinging on to the lunge rope...'twas fun! 

Beth, Sparkie, Jack & Carling :) xxx

because tack is over rated..

hello peoples! so today I completed one of my life time goals..I rode Sparkie tackless! Not the first time I've ever done it I'll admit it, but it's the first time I've managed to get pictures and    we haven't done it in ages, so yay :) It's been something I've been working on for a few weeks and it hasn't really gone exactly to plan... he understands neck reining and listening to your seat really well, however he has a bit of a habit of climbing out the arena or running through the fence, so it's not really practical to try it in the outdoor as I honestly wouldn't put it past him to jump the fence with me or something crazy! so today we tried in the indoor and even though we didn't exactly have maximum control he went really nicely..better than he does with tack!? I will never understand this pony eh...

Also, we went for our first hack of the year on Saturday which was...interesting to say the least. He's not the best pony to hack and our first time out in a while is always a bit of a hairy experience..to sum it up, we got lost, ended up staying out for 6 hours and I had to get off three times! The first time was when he had a fit down a little country road, spining round, napping and threatening to rear for what seemed like no apparent reason, but when I got off and lead him, it turned out there were pigs round the corner so I'll let him off! The second time however, was the same shannigans, but over a pile of mud this time..not quite as forgivable there sparks! And then the third time was simply because his saddle slipped back, haha, oh I do love having a small pony! 

Goodbye for now mon amies! xxx

happiness.

Well, I will warn you in advance, this blog is likely to be full of emotional cheese...you have been warned.
So, I was sitting down the other day just pondering life, yanoo as you do, and it kind of just hit me...life isn't actually all that bad. And for some reason, I'm not too sure what's possessed me, but I felt the need to write this blog, so when things are not so good, I can read this and realise just how great life actually is at the moment.
 Last week I officially made the decision that I wouldn't be competing Sparkie this year. After having such a crap season of it last year, we'd pretty much decided to give up with him anyway, but recently I'd been umming and aaahing not sure whether to give it another chance, but then last Wednesday I finally made a decision. The sun was shining, I jumped him with no martingale, no fancy tack, no extras, just a simpe snaffle bridle, we got our strides wrong, we cat leapt, stopped, had a good gallop, almost fell of a couple of times.. we had fun. It just made me think, this is why I brought this pony, this is why I've stuck with him for so long, because he's fun and actually, I really won't miss not taking him to shows, because that isn't fun for us. Making that decision has literally felt like a weight off my shoulders!
plus(if it wasn't cheesy enough allready!) I just got thinking about a lot of other things. Over the last three years, I will openly admit that I have really, really struggled. I'm obviously not going to write my whole life story on the internet and I'm definately not looking for the sympathy vote, as I know people who've been through a hell of a lot worse. I never realised how much I took my family and my horses for granted before, I was one of those kids who read stories in magazines or watched other kids in the playground worrying over family things and I used to feel sorry for them, but never worry because 'it would never be me', which I think is partly why I completely lost a grip on anything. It's hard to really put down in words without seeming like a pathetic loser(hehe) the feeling of being lost. There is no way to understand what it feels like to not want to be alive unless you've ever felt like that.
 But the other day, I sat down and realised to myself, that actually I really, really like my life now. Maybe change isn't always good, but you can learn over time to cope with change, to accept it and look onto the future instead of wishing for the past. I have so many amazing friends right now, the most beautiful horse that I am immensley proud of and my awkwardly adorable little pony that made me feel life could actually be ok sometimes, who I will have a whole 5 years this year(crazaaaaay).
 May have some exciting news soon, fingers crossed, I really, really hope this goes ahead as it would be perfect for me! Bring on the rest of 2013...
 Now I just have to hope no one ever finds this or reads it and thinks I'm a total moron, muahahha, please no D:
love Bef, Sparkmeister, Jackalina & C-Dawg.