So the month of May has been crazy busy for me but at least it looks like things are looking up after losing my horse Kaz at the beginning of April and then losing our grazing too.
We started off with our second league weekend of the year at the end of April. I took both Casper and Orders again playing for World’s End and London Ladies Yellows.
Saturday started off with Casper playing on the World’s End team, we went on to win both of our matches against High Point and Nottingham Knights. Although we didn’t get off to a good start with all of us missing the canter pick up! Being the first person to come round always puts pressure on you, Casper knows the sound of whistle and always lights up, I’ve now got to match my speed in getting down to the ball to how quick he flies down the pitch. Even so luck wasn’t on anyone’s side with all the teams missing their canter pick ups. All our training came together from the last few sessions and we managed to employ some of our new tactics on the line and in defence to our advantage.
Soon it was Orders turn with the London Ladies, we played against Derby who are the top Ladies team, and surprising ourselves and Derby we only lost by a small margin compared to what we thought it would be. We started strong by winning the canter pick up, having Annabelle on her small horse and being incredibly tall she is our strongest player at the canter pick up she came round first, only to roll the ball across the floor. Coming round second on Orders, I was feeling again the pressure especially as he was very fresh in warm up, getting down to the ball and picking it up was relief. Orders decided to celebrate by having a good bronc! We managed to get the first few goals in and finish the first half in front. Derby came back strong in the second half and gaining the upper hand. Although it was a loss we were still on a high with how well we played together improving again.
Sunday World’s End went to play Harleys, playing against one of my under 16s whose now in her first year of seniors. We were a player down due to a horse going lame after catching herself overnight in the stable. With only four players it was a hard match and Harleys managed to get a final goal past us to win. Even finishing in second place with our goals and points we are still currently top of the second division leader board.
London Ladies were playing against Harleys Ladies, previously we only lost by a small margin so we were quietly confident going into the match. We also had a new player for the weekend Donna Allen who previously has played for GB Ladies team, she was a great asset and fitted in perfectly with our team. Although Harleys put up a really good fight we managed to win the match finishing the weekend on a high.
To make the weekend even more stressful the Thursday before we left, we moved to a new yard where I’ve taken over a small barn. On returning from the weekend, we had our liveries move in to the barn as well. All being previous clients of mine and all playing Horseball as well, I am very lucky that they are trusting me and have moved with me with this new endeavour. So far so good! All our horses have gotten on very well in their new herd, and all are very settled. Something I’ve been working with my vet for the last year is Orders fluctuating weight and box walking. Although he’s been on weight gaining feed, he’s very stressful with his box walking every day and a fussy eater! Since the move the box walking has stopped and he’s putting on weight! Both I and my vet were stunned by his sudden change in behaviour, the only thing we can put it down to at the moment is the new environment. My advice to anyone who has a box walking horse is to try them somewhere where they can see other horses and have activity going on. Orders has become incredibly close to Casper now that they can see each other through the bars of their stables, luckily they don’t nap or call to each other.
With a month of new beginnings at the new yard and everything going positive, I decided to try my luck at giving Casper a proper jumping session since his injury. A few careful sessions and we went to for a jumping session with my coach Anna Beck from Weston Warmbloods, our time off seems to have done wonders as we could finally keep a steady rhythm without either of getting two quick, we’ve been known to take strides out of distances with ease! With everything going well and Casper being spoilt getting a new monoflap event saddle it seemed rude not to test it out at competition. My thinking of going to a nice quiet competition didn’t pan out with Anna convincing me to go straight for a British Novice. So we went down to Sparsholt college for the novice, Casper was incredibly excited getting into the warm up and cantering round everywhere!
Having warmed up well under Anna’s watch, she reminded me to keep my leg on as there were lots of fillers he hadn’t seen for nearly two years having not had access to them. Heading in the arena was terrifying but Casper knew what to do, nerves were out the window and he flew every fence, we had a couple down due to not quite getting the right stride but I loved it, can’t wait to get him out again. It was great fun for the day and getting back to my original competition roots and grooming again for Anna and her successful team.
