Where to even start!?

Well I haven't blogged in what feels like forever! I did write a little update blog a few weeks ago but apparently that didn't feel like publishing so hey ho, let's try again shall we? So, so, sooo much has happened in the last week I don't really know where to start! 
 The Team Ginger ponies finally met each other (well, Sparkie, Sunny & John anyhow!) which was super fun. John and Sunny seemed to love each other, Sparkie seemed to think he could take John on; poor John just wanted to be friends but being the grumpy sod he is Sparkie was not interested in the slightest! It was the first time me and Sparkie had been in a stubble field (how we have managed to go six years before achieving this I do not know!?) and he was very excited by this but was a good boy :) 

sliding into your dms like... 

love this pony! 

A few various other outings have happened but I really do not have the time or patience to remember every single one and write about each one... one of these was a trip to Ashwood XC with the twins. It was their first time out together but they were both very chilled with each other and behaved like good boys :) Sunny jumped the best I've seen him jump xc, he looked much more confident as did Emma which was very nice to see! His canter in between fences and into fences was a lot more consistent and he started to string more than one fence together, little hunter trial pony. Jack was just perfect, I don't really know how else to sum him up! He was just having so, so much fun and jumped every single fence on the course like and old pro. Some jumps from an sj clinic had been left up in the one field ranging from 85cm-1m and just for a test I decided to try and pop him over some just to see what he'd make of them. I wasn't expecting anything special because there was super bright fillers, a skinny, a wall, planks, a water tray, doubles and spreads, all things he's never seen before. Well didn't he prove me wrong! He took everything in his stride with no hesitation, he was super duper. He also went into the water and jumped out for the first time which was a big deal because A) He HATES water and b) SUNNY led him into the water!!! As in Sundance who also hates water and usually throws his dummy out the pram. He was a very grown up boy and gave Jack the confidence to go into the water so well done Sunny! To finish off I took Jack round the whole course by himself and wow, what a bloody good ride he gave him, he kept a lovely, forward gallop covering the ground the whole way round and he was just fantastic; even did the water by himself! 

He's so scrumptious. 

Sunny leading Jack through the water!

On Tuesday we had a Chase Me Charlie day with Sparkie, Sunny & Jack. Well. I don't think anyone expected it to go as well as it did! First was Sunny's turn... well he just had the best time ever and was tanking himself into fences; got to give it to him he has confidence to spare! He is not the most natural jumper, but we have done a lot of work to improve his technique over the summer and I think it's really paid off because 80% of the time he looked SO much better over a fence on Tuesday! Finished off at 90cm which is only 5cm off his all time record. He still looked very nice over it which is a big deal for Sunny as he usually starts to flatten through his shoulder at anything over 75cm, so I was really nice to see him go so well.

Then it was Sparkie's turn.. he was awesome, but then I guess when is he not? He really is my little hero and I love him to absolute pieces. I think that pretty much sums up every single ride on him, I honestly cannot fault him; he is one in a million. I am so, so, soooooo excited for next season on him, can't wait to get cracking with him eventing wise! 

look at those knees!

gaaah pony is so cute

Emma jumping 1m; her life goal! Hats off to Sparkie for being a

fabulous teacher! 

Lottie & Sparkie looking perfecto!

Finally it was Jack's turn. Now I would most definitely be lying if I said I hadn't shed a few happy tears over this horse lately because he is just an absolute pleasure to own and ride and he is just exceeded both mine and other people's expectations by a huge, huge amount. He is just the best horse I have ever had the privilege to sit on. I have always said that I was excited to see what this horse can do in the future and if this is how he feels now then I can't even imagine what he will achieve 2 years down the line. Clearly I am very bias as he is my pride and joy, but for me, he is the horse I've always wanted and that will do me just fine. I can't say I am the most confident rider over bigger fences but he looked after me so well and was such a gentleman (apart from when he put Lottie on the floor but he was very, very sad and ashamed of himself about that so we shall forgive him.) Ended up finishing on 1m20 which he made feel a little bit too easy for my liking and is the biggest I've ever jumped him under the saddle and only the second time I've ever jumped that big. 

notice he is sporting a new hair do!

If my horses behave anything like they do these last few weeks out competing this weekend then all I can say is bring it on! x

Princess Sparkie's eventing début and other successes!

Well, we only went and completed one of my life long goals didn't we? Last Sunday, 13th July me and Sparkie did our first ODE together at Eland Lodge. I booked us in for the 70cm class back at the end of April in a slight moment of madness/braveness. No, we didn't win or go double clear or go round the dressage in a perfect outline but I am SO happy with just how perfect he was. Before even taking into account how he behaved ridden wise, I have to give him a huge gold star for what a complete gentleman he was to be around all day. He has never been to such a busy event with so much going on and so many tack changes and breaks etc and I just can't give him enough credit for how well he handled everything!

Our dressage test left a lot to be desired as expected but taking into account the fact that it was our first ever dressage test, I was so so pleased to come out with a score of 38/62%. I have put a lot of work into his flatwork this year so I feel like this is proof of how much he's actually improved; I was expecting to get into the 50s! I really did not know what to expect with the showjumping as he's not a huge fan of jumping on a surface and there were some very scary fillers, to be honest I was expecting to have problems over the first fence! I had a few problems in the warm up ring as his saddle kept slipping and it made me really nervous so I wasn't in the best frame of mind before going in. He actually really surprised me and didn't even look at some of the scary fences and was going really well until four fences from home where he took a particular dislike to a nasty blue plank and just put the anchors on. Had 3 stops so elimination; he then jumped it the 4th time which was super frustrating but ah well, was just a case of a lack of confidence on both of our parts!

I was feeling a bit shook up after being eliminated show jumping and was so so nervous going down to cross country to the point where I almost withdrew him, but I'm so glad I didn't because he was amazing xc! One stop, which again is a confidence thing, but he looked after me so well and gave me on of the best rides of my life so I finished on a massive high! I had a really good day, for our first attempt I was more than happy with how it turned out; just need to get more confident and then we'll be flying round, so excited for the future! 

isn't he lovely? 

Lots of other little bits and bobs have been happening recently, but I really would bore you if I went into much detail. The week before the ODE, Sparkie went to Stafford Show where he won the 2ft6, putting him at overall reserve champion for the season and 1 point of being overall supreme champion which is fantastic! Jack went xc, where he was a bit of a green baby and rather challenging, but he jumped over some of the BE90 course which he made feel really easy so I can't be too cross with him!

Flying ponies!

So much always happens in between blogs, I never know where to start! Last week we loose jumped all the ponies and they were all fantastic; bar Sparkie who was a pain in the rear end, but he did jump up to 1m25 so I guess I can forgiven. Jack was just, wow, so awesome, I literally just stood in the middle of the field and pointed him in the direction I wanted and he just took himself over everything... ended up jumping 1m30, finding it a little bit too easy, he really is one hell of a horse, gah, he's a good sort! Sunny had a great time, jumping isn't his strongest point but he loves it and that's all that matters and he cleared up to 1m5, which is the biggest he's ever jumped by quite a bit so well done Sunny! 

We also did some ground work with Ron because now the summer holidays are here it's time to crack down on his manners and get him all ready to be backed next year. Took him over a tiny cross pole just to see his reaction and well... only the picture will explain!

Turns out it can jump! We also starting doing some lunging work and he took to it really well with no tantrums, well done Foalie :)  

Then today it was show time for Princess Sparkie. He was just brilliant (when do ever have anything else to say about this pony!?) he gave me such an easy ride which is something that doesn't happen all to often with Sparks haha, he was just super chilled and won his class, yay pony!