LK Equestrian

Well, it has been a very exciting week this week, but some parts must still be kept under cloak and dagger! However, the one bit I can reveal is that I have been selected as part of the 'Promising Young Rider [Eventing] Squad' on the Leg Up For Talent scheme. I have been selected along with the top class riders Laura Collett, Emily Llewellyn, Dani Evans, and Tom McEwen.

I know I am not the same calibre as these riders, but I hope to emulate them at some point within my career. The Leg Up For Talent scheme is in association with www.yedsearch.com and The Little Black Book, and aims to give a 'leg up' to promising young riders. To be grouped with riders of that level is a privilege, and I hope that I can prove myself.

If you wish to support me, by doing it through the Leg Up For Talent Scheme, your company will be awarded a full years advert in The Little Black Book, and an advert on Horse & Country TV, which has a audience of 250,000 people per month.  If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact me.

A seriously late report, I know, but we've been wickedly busy the past week and the weather's turned again.
Last Saturday we went to Arena UK for the JAS qualifier. Peter had done a really good job at Solihull, and narrowly missed qualification, so we were hoping a second shot at Arena UK would prove  fruitful.
My friend Louise came up from London, and we met Tor at Arena UK, so mum had a day off! Louise and Tor played photographers / pole pickers / rug holders and anything else that I couldn't do!
Peter warmed up really sweetly on the flat outside, and felt really easy to work with. We then went in to the indoor to pop some fences, and he was getting a bit deep to them all, but jumping well. We finished on a fairly meaty oxer, then waited our turn to go in.
As we went in, Peter's eyes went out on stalks, and he gawped at everything bar the fences. The fact we regularly BSJA at Arena UK seemed to make no difference what so ever! Started to jump around the course, and Peter seemed to be really un-focussed and not in front of my leg at all. I just sat quietly and rode the elephant that seemed to have appeared underneath me, and pretty much carried him around the course. We got a style mark of 31, 4 down showjumping, 2 down cross country, and time penalties. It wasn't until after my round that I realised I hadn't put my spurs on, which would explain why he wasn't sharp  off my leg.
We only had a 40minute gap between our Novice and Open times, but we popped him on the lorry with his thermatex and went to have a look at the open course and the first rider in. It suddenly seemed quite big!
When I warmed up second time round, I put my spurs on, and had a totally different horse underneath me! Peter went in and jumped much better than he had the first time, our rhythm was much better but he was still a little green. We had a couple down and a time penalty, but our style mark was 25. I was a little disappointed as felt that was quite harsh, but it seemed the finer, thoroughbred types were getting the higher marks, so I think possibly that the Peter wasn't quite the judges type. However, we finished 15th in the Open.
Here are some pictures, thanks to Tor!

Let's try and kill 3 birds with one stone!

My Arena UK JAS times are better than my Solihull ones - Peter is the only one going this time, and Arena UK is just up the road!

141 OPEN     PETER PIPER LAURA KEELEY   Sat 1552    
124 NOVICE  PETER PIPER LAURA KEELEY   Sat 1505

My Oasby numbers and sections are as follows...

12.3.10 Oasby (1) Nov PETER PIPER Keeley, Laura Section A, No 23
12.3.10 Oasby (1) 100 TALAVERA II Keeley, Laura Section F, No 205
13.3.10 Oasby (1) 90 CVS SPELLBOUND Keeley, Laura Section O, No 567

And thirdly...

Peter, Cal and Tally all went stressage schooling on Monday at Laughton Manor as the field is just too wet to ride in. They all went really well, considering they've not been schooled properly since before Christmas. It was Cal's first stressage session with me, and  he went sweetly, although I think I need to do some more bit fiddling. We have a couple of snippets on video, but unfortunately our camera is now well and truly dead so there is no hope of redemption. The bank account will be taking a hit!

Cal

Peter

Today Peter and Cal went and had a showjumping lesson with Claire Lomas at Aylesford, near Melton Mowbray.

This was Claire's first time meeting Cal, and our first lesson together. We arrived late due to traffic, so it was a bit hurried getting ready. We were trying a new bit today, as the nathe doesn't really seem to have enough 'hold'. At JAS Cal and I had a royal falling out with the waterford, so today we went for a half way house in the form of a loose ring french link snaffle, with a copper link. Cal warmed up really sweetly, much more balanced and settled. He was a little spooky to start with, but popped a little upright sweetly on both reins, and I had much more control. We then moved on to string two uprights together on a straight related distance. Claire then put a skinny in between the two, to make him and I more aware of our lines and rhythm. The skinny was just 'plonked in' so we didn't know the distance, which meant Cal and I had to trust each other to get it right. Cal hopped through this beautifully - straight as a die at the skinny, and sorting his own legs out with the striding. We were much more 'together' and I was able to ride him into a contact rather than keeping hold. I think I've been treating him like too much of a baby.

Claire then started us with angles and combinations to work on getting Cal to respect my aids and commands, rather than blindly rushing on. We did some serious angles, including an A, B, C, D element, the C element being a skinny. We kept the fences low as we don't need to worry about height, and by the end Cal had really settled into his job and was much more 'with' me, and, in his mummy's words less cocky!

We finished with a little course, and I only lost him on a couple of occasions, it was a bit more fluent than our BSJA round.

Cals Video

Next up was Peter, and we did similar exercises on a more advanced level to work on getting him more up in front rather than on his forehand, and did some portable skinnies in prep for JAS at Arena UK on the 20th. He was very fresh, and even managed a buck, most unlike him! I think the sugarbeet is really starting to get into his system - his condition is looking better as well.

Peters Video

They were both immaculately behaved [apart from Peter's blip], and Claire was very complimentary about Cal, and was pleased with how 'un-babyish' he is, and how together we are after such a short space of time [which has been spent hacking, and one BSJA show!]. She says there's more to come, and the 5yo classes should be within his capabilities. Next stop is Oasby for some XC schooling on Wednesday - could be interesting!

This morning I received an email from Dana at Global Herbs, saying to check out their new website. It's much smarter than the old one, and really easy to navigate.

www.globalherbs.co.uk

Also, whilst having a nosey around, see if you can spot Heffa...! A little tip...It's under 'Breathing'!!

I am currently sat here with with my foot squashed between bags of frozen peas.

We headed off to Arena UK today with a lorry load - only one of which was mine! We took new addition, Cal, aka Baby Pony, Heffa, and Juliette. For those who don't know Juliette is a 16.3 mare [by Nad Elshiba o/o Diamond Dallas.] who I've picked up the ride on. She's a showjumper, but isn't doing much at the moment. She has winnings up to Fox and I honestly would switch to SJ for her, she's just awesome to sit on. Click here for a video.

Anyway, Baby Pony was there for the British Novice, Juliette for 1m Am and Newcomers, and Heffa 1m Am and Newcomers. Arrived slightly behind time, but managed to get 3 stalls round the indoor to save having to keep going backwards and forwards to the lorry in the rain. I warmed Baby Pony up, and no offence to the showjumpers out there, but they had no idea of warm up etiquette at all! Bearing in mind the indoor warm up's [both] aren't exactly huge at Arena UK, people were walking two abreast on the outside track, or standing across the inside and outside track talking, or turning across warm up fences. I was having to manouevre BP around them all and get warmed up! He was really cute though and did some nice flat in the big outdoor.

Went in for his round, and he was quite keen, but then green in the fact if he got fast he bunny hopped as couldn't co-ordinate all eight limbs quick enough Was pleased though as he's only been here a week and it was more a confidence thing after the JAS. Need to work on rhythm and respect for my 'whoa' aids. It looks really fast in the video but didn't feel that quick, but will work on a shorter canter once he's confident moving forwards over the fences [Baby Pony is 4]

Baby Pony's Round

Came out of the ring, Jenny popped BP's fleece on, was walking him off, and suddenly someone's chestnut mare had a total spaz, backed up and booted me. The lady then rode off and didn't say anything in between gasps I yelled 'your mare just kicked me, the least you can do is apologise' [okay, I was in a LOT of pain] and all I got back was 'but she doesn't kick.' Trust me, she does. I was helped off of Baby Pony, who just stood like a saint, and had no holes in him whatsoever. Hobbled [hopped] to the side, and sat on a chair, and paramedic arrived. Boot was taken off, and foot was an odd purplish colour and swelling Cue me being shipped off to Grantham A&E. Arrived at half 11, was sent off for X-Rays, 2hrs later was seen by the doctor He gave me a prod and poke, and said 'I think you need an x-ray.' I was a bit and said that I'd already had one...? 'Oh, have you? I'll go look at it'. Five minutes later he returned and said I had a joint fracture So was shipped off to plaster room to have a back slab on, where I was told actually I didn't have a fracture and they thought the line was actually a growth plate...So here I am, with painkillers, frozen peas, and a splinted foot, not sure if it's broken or not, but very sure that it hurts.

So please can I have healing vibes that it isn't broke and I will get Juliette and Heffa to Solihull on Weds....

Well it was a serioulsy early start - half four! My last really early start was well back in last season! Even SOE wasn't that early!

We got there, and met Claire, my new owner, and her 4yo for the first time. We were entered for the Intro and Pre-Novice as Cal's been doing the BSJA 4yo classes which are 1m, and he is 5 in May. I wasn't there to be competitive - more to have a play and a feel and see just what I've got to work on! Warmed up quite sweetly, little bit cocky into the fences but tidy. We went into the ring, and showjumped nicely [as is to be expected!] albeit a little full of beans. He was strong in front but not confident to move forward so we kept breaking into trot. Then onto the XC - jumped the first oxer really nicely, then the skinny triple brush to skinny wall to skinny roll top - straight as a die and tidy. Got to the 12ABC combination and he just couldn't read it. A stop coming in then a stop in the middle. He went through third time, but then had a stop at the skinny arrowheads [which were fairly meaty and you would never get combinations like that at Intro]. We weren't too suprised to be honest as it's a lot for a youngster to take in - having never done JAS I didn't realise just how many fences they crammed in, and just how non-intro the intro was! The judges comments were - 'some good moments, a little more training and you will be fine.' I love the way it suggests we've actually had some training already!

We decided that for the Pre-Novice we'd put the waterford in as he was being cocky in the nathe, and Cal had a serious falling out with me about it. I decided just to do the SJ section of the PN then pull up. We got a few down but I was riding him a lot more forward to try and stop him arguing with the waterford - I think we'll try a loose ring french copper link at some point as it might be a bit of a half way house. Comments again were 'Keep educating, it will improve.'

Click Here for Cal's Intro Round

Heffa, bless his socks, had been on the lorry since 6am and wasn't jumping until 3.10! However, he was an absolute angel to warm up, not a single fence down, lovely LOVELY rhythm, seriously picking up, it just felt really really good. We went into the ring, and was pretty much off straight away. Jumped number one nicely, a little under two and just stepped over it, deep into the double at 3 then a forward stride to 4. Round to the skinny at 5, a little deep again, then the upright at 6. Forgot his back legs at 7 so the gate came down. Onto the XC, flew over the first, straight as a die over the skinny brush and good forward stride to the skinny wall. He turned in the middle of the ABC combination really nicely, but then got under the roll top. It was then kick on up the long side for the double of arrowheads, and he was amazing at those. He took the bit a little bit into the bounce and was too fast, so took the B element out, then pushed on round for the final oxer which he flew. We got a style mark of 17 [5 for Upper body, 5 for lower body, 4 for communication and contact, riders aids and for arena craft. Heffa got 3 for technique, 5 for outlook and attitude, 4 for quality of pace and impulsion. Together we got 4 for rhythm and 5 for balance, so total of 43/60] and the comment was 'A really good round, although maybe a little quick into the bounce. Well done.' Heffa came 15th overall, and would have Q'd on a DC. We're going to take him to Arena UK for the JAS there as well, along with Poppy for the Intro and maybe PN.

Click here for Heffa's round.

Cal has also met Tripod, the 3 legged stable cat, and after Cal buried his nose into Tripod's fluff and snuffled and snorted, I think they're friends!

Well, with the serious amount of rain we've had over the past couple of days, the snow has finally cleared. However the fields are ridiculously wet, and the river is looking very high - so still no proper schooling for us. Luckily the roads are now clear so I can start getting them all out on exercise. I've just got to hope it doesn't freeze otherwise I am stuffed.

We have much to look forward to here - we are entered for the Jumping And Style [JAS] class at Solihull on the 24th January, and Oasby entries open on January 26th. I'm so glad that we can actually start looking forwards to the season and really getting a move on. The snow was very pretty but it got very boring and made things so difficult! If you are at Solihull on the 24th, look out for the Equi-N-icE logo on the saddle cloth and a hooped black/white/kingfisher silk. Airowear on my sleeves will also give me away!

I do hope that this weather starts to clear and we all end up feeling less miserable soon!

We're very excited here! Mum sent a couple of the "Snowed In" pictures to BBC Lincolnshire, explaining that unfortunately, the work does go on. We received a lovely email back, and both pictures have been used in the January Snow gallery.

Click here to follow the link - we're images 3 & 7!

Well, with this cold snap that we have been having, there is very little to report on the activities of LKEquestrian! My laptop has a broken keyboard so I have been unable to do anything at all - I have only just done my BE renewals for this year!
Christmas was very different for us this year, as we left the ponies at home and headed over to Jane and Keiths, Poppy's owners. We arrived christmas eve and returned on the 27th, and had a fantastic time. Boxing day Jane and I rode out - Jane on her broodmare Abbie, and me on Poppy. Jane hadn't ridden Abbie in two years, and it was her first time away from her foal, Gracie [who will join Team LK when she's 4!]
I have managed to ride my lot about 3 or 4 times during this cold spell, almost killing Peter in the process. Hacking out on clear roads we hit a sudden patch of black ice, and I had to call home to get them to come out with shovels and grit as it was so dangerous and slippy for me to move him.
I did ride in the field when the first snow's came, as I used Kevin Bacons Hoof Dressing in his feet. It's the only thing I have found that stops the snow balling in his hooves. Mum got some cracking pictures, and I donned all my Equi-N-icE gear as I thought it'd look pretty cool [excuse the pun] to wear it in the snow. Here are a selection that I've managed to retrieve from Facebook as I can't get them off my laptop! There's also a couple from boxing day.

And to lift spirits a bit and boost us up, Oasby entries open at the end of the month, so we're on our way to the 2010 season! Also, Peter is entered for the Novice JAS [Jumping And Style] class at Solihull on the 24th of January, so if you're around come and say hello.
And a little bit of exciting news...we should have a new addition to the team at the end of the month...keep coming back to check!