Update

This last weekend held a bit of variety for The Spykelet. On Friday evening after work I planned on lunging. I thought that a bit of flat followed by a bit of lunging over a small jump would be good for him. By the time I had got up to the paddock and sorted out my wee jump (half barrel oxer with ‘wings’) the light was starting to go so I had to do a bit less flat than I would have (which is not a terrible thing as he is not very fit). We did our flat (he was noticeably stiffer on the right rein) and then I changed the lunge rein to do some jumping. I gave him a couple of circuits on the flat and then steered him over the jump. He was really keen to jump. Really, really keen. LOL The plan was to pop him over the jump a few times in each direction…..BUT….. he hurtled around like the racehorse he used to be and jumped the jump very flat and from waaaaaay back. Clearly, the jump was just too small. I pulled him up and wopped the barrels up to full height. Three times each way was the plan. He jumped it the first two times beautifully but then jumped through it the third time. I popped him at it again and again he was jumping too flat and jumped through the jumps (ie demolishing it). So I putting a ‘placing pole’ one stride out from the jump so that he would be jumping from the right spot and ‘hey presto’ he basculed beautifully over it, giving it plenty of clearance. I really like lunging him over jumps as I get a good picture of how he is going and the type of schooling we need. I stopped at that point as a) he jumped it beautifully, b) he was getting a bit tired and c) the light was going but mostly it was because of a.

Saturday was exciting (well, in my world anyway) as it was our first trip to the forest this season. It was also our first trip in Martina’s flashy new truck. I was quite nervous about driving a new truck as it is a bit bigger and newer than the old one. However all was well and it is a fabulous truck to drive. Spyke and Oscar loaded happily on to it and appeared to have a comfortable ride. They came off the truck nice and relaxed and stayed that way for the entire day. They were SUCH good ponies. We had a fantastic ride, including trotting, cantering and a wee jump and the boys never put a foot wrong. It was also a beautiful and warm day. I was actually really, really pleased with how Spyke was at the end of the ride. He was not particularly sweaty and had managed Andreas Hill with relative ease. So I think he is actually reasonably fit and we can crack on with the season.

On Saturday night I took the girls for a walk with their buddy Tuskani the dalmation down at Mission Bay where we indulged in some yummy gelato.

Sunday was supposed to be the Cambridge Stallion Parade but the forecast was so awful we decided not to go. Instead I managed to do some schooling with Spyke in preparation for our first outing on September 12th…. Our first novice *gulp*. He did some really nice work for me. We still have lots to work on but if he does his tests as well as he practiced them we won’t be embarrassed.

On the doggie front the girls and I had our weekly walk in the forest and then caught up with Tina for a cup of coffee, which was really nice. Just as I was about to settle down for the evening Martina turned up with a rug for Tai so back to the paddock we went and changed his rugs just in time for the rain to start. The timing was PERFECT and I was able to relax knowing that he was well rugged. I finished my weekend off by cleaning and oiling all my gear, which was looong overdue.

Bring on Daylight Savings!!!!!!!!