Dickens Diary - September 2007

1st Sept - Party Time!

Deekie shared a lift to Summerhouse with Moose today to watch some Show jumping! Moose was competing and I decided to take Deekie for the experience of a competition atmosphere without him having to actually compete. We got there and Moose and Miranda went off to warm up while Deekie attempted to control his excitement - whilst being led around the car park with John or John being led round the car park by Deekie! All was going fairly well - Deekie was taking in the noise and atmosphere so we decided to walk him around the warm up arena while it was quiet. This proved to be a little more exciting and Deekie spent a few minutes half rearing on the spot and bucking through shear excitement!

After 20 minutes of being a Chicken my time had come - I had to get on the cheeky Monkey! I decided to take him out of the warm up area in case he couldn't contain himself, so I got on him in the car park. I walked him around the car park and lorry park until he settled enough for me to go into the warm up arena.

I was fairly impressed with Deekie, he had a few minor blips and couldn't quite cope with the small ponies cantering around him and whizzing over fences, however after about 15 mins Deekie settled and worked well, he even jumped a few of the warm up fences! What a star.

2nd Sept

A day off in the field and time spent eating and reflecting on yesterday's experience!

3rd Sept

I Lunged Deekie today- this type of work for him is still very important at his stage of Rehabilitation, you can start to ask for more engagement and the horse should find it easier without the rider on top to think about.

4th Sept - Hack and headlands today.

I took Deekie around the Village first to stretch his legs and then went for a trot and canter around the headlands and gallops. Deekie is a keen Deer and Pheasant spotter and is always the first to let me know where they are! Deekie is a lot stronger in his canter now - he is able to carry himself better and push himself forwards rather than pull himself forward in his paces. This is confirmed today on the headlands as he can canter for a longer period of time in self-carriage, he is more balanced and straighter - what a nice feeling.

5th Sept

A hack today with Kerry and Dom. We decided to go for a hack through the village and on the way back we swapped horses and I rode Dom home leaving Kerry to ride Deekie. All went well on the hack so when we got back Kerry asked if I would take Dom in the school to see what I thought of the work she has done so far with him, and Kerry took Deekie in. I started working Dom and all I could see out of the corner of my eye was Deekie not co operating - poor Kerry she gave up in the end and I don't blame her. Deekie has decided that he is a one-person horse.

6th Sept

Deekie has a day off

7th Sept

Deekie is becoming a lot more confident out hacking on his own, so after a quick turn around the village I decide to take him into the x country field and pop a few fences. Deekie is very pleased with himself and spends the afternoon in the field telling all of his friends what he had just jumped.

8th Sept

Back on the Lunge today, 20 mins of transitions and good work I bring him in.

9th Sept

John helps me pop Deekie over a few fences in the school, all goes well and we finish with the planks and fillers - which he thinks might eat him so makes sure he gives them extra clearance!

10th Sept

Day off for Deekie

11th Sept

Deekie goes back on the Headlands for some canter work. Schooling Horses around the gallops is a good way to work them - they are normally more forward thinking and willing to work. No problems in that department now!

12th Sept

Deekie hacked out today with 2 of his friends - moose and Rubber lips. We went on a good hack and included lots of hills - this made him use his hindquarters! Deekie thoroughly enjoyed his hack out with his friends.

13th Sept

Deekie Lunged today and I included some trot poles that were slightly raised. At the end of the session I took his side reins off and lunged him over a few fences. This is a good exercise as you get to see how he is jumping, what shape he is making and gives the horse confidence when starting to jump as they don't have to worry about a rider on their back.

14th Sept

A light hack and leg stretch through the Village. Deekie is starting a bit of a fan club and now has a regular slot in the Hill and Valley parish magazine! People are starting to recognise him so I have told him to be on best behaviour when out in the Village!

15th Sept - day off for Deekie and I'm off to Compete a Friends Horse

16th Sept - day off for Deekie Still away and I am missing Deekie!

17th Sept - I am back and I take Deekie out on a hack to stretch his legs. I think Deekie had missed me too - as he spent all morning nuzzling me and giving me Kisses x

18th Sept

Deekie gets lunged today - so that we can both get back into the swing of things. Deekie is keen to work after his weekend off and does 30 mins of very good work.

19th Sept - Deekies 2nd Jump Lesson with Will Mifflin

Will is pleased with Deekies progress from his last lesson and today we continue with grid work and finish the session jumping planks and fillers.

20th Sept - Day off for Deekie and out in the field to stretch his legs and chill.

21st Sept

Kerry rode Deekie today and I joined her on Rubber lips. We decided to hack through the Village to warm them up and then finish by taking them for a trot and canter around the Headlands and Gallops. All was going well so on our first canter I told Kerry to go on in front with Deekie as he has a bigger stride than Rubber Lips. Deekie decided to show Kerry his newly found confidence and improved balance by giving her a forward/ strong canter, which looked fairly impressive from where I was sitting!

Back on the Gallops I asked Kerry if she would canter Deekie up the Home straight - Kerry was not too keen as she thought Deekie might just take a strong hold of the bridle. I reassured her that all would be ok (I kept my fingers crossed) - Deekie decided to have the last laugh and Kerry could hardly get Deekie into trot never mind canter. I don t know who was laughing more, Rubber Lips was smiling I was in fits of hysterics, Kerry was nearly crying she was laughing so much and Deekie had a cheesey grin from nostril to nostril!

21st Sept

In the school today for 30 mins of flat work. All of the lunging work that I am doing with Deekie seems to be paying off - his transitions and movement with in his paces have improved greatly. Well-done Deekie.

22nd Sept - Day off for the Deekie

23rd Sept - A hack around the Village today and a chance for me to tell Deekie what plan I have for him tomorrow!!!

24th Sept - Off in the Lorry today to Brockhampton to use they're indoor school. Deekie has his 1st Dressage test on Sunday at Brockhampton so I have decided to show him the venue in advance. This is a good idea when working with anxious, nervous or young horses as it gives them chance to see new things without the added pressure of having to compete on the same day.

Deekie walked into the school and spotted someone at the far side of the school in the gallery area - well he rooted himself and stared, when he eventually walked forwards he made a bee line straight for them not taking his eyes off them for a second! When he had settled down I started to work him in walk and trot, I then introduced the white Dressage boards - which were monsters in disguise, and we also rang the bell (which he wanted to eat!). At the end of the session he was working well and had accepted everything that we had showed him.

25th Sept - A hack with Kerry and Rubber Lips and a chance for Deekie to fill Rubber Lips in with yesterday's experience.

26th Sept

A bit of canter work today with his buddy Moose. John came out with us on Moose today and we took them around the headlands and gallops. I am coming to the conclusion that I will have to change his bit from a loose ring snaffle to probably a hanging cheek snaffle with a lozenge in the middle as Deekie is now cantering well but just starting to get a little strong on the bridle and I don't want him to start leaning and pulling. This is fantastic though as 5 months ago Deekie wouldn't even break into a canter on the headlands. I feel that we have come such a long way in a short space of time.

27th Sept - A day off for Deekie.

28th Sept - Back on the lunge and time to up his workload. Deekie is ready for this now and confirms my thoughts by exploding into the first canter transition when asked! Someone is feeling well.

29th Sept - A hack with Kerry on Rubber Lips and John on missy a three-year-old filly that he is bringing on. After our hack I take Deekie into the x country field where we jump a hanging log, post and rails and a palisade fence that he has not seen before. Deekie jumps everything first time like a professional. What a star x

30th Sept - Party Day

Off to Brockhampton we go, I asked on my entry form if I could be first in as I didn't want to over faze him with too many other horses in the warm up arena. We arrived with plenty of time so we dropped the ramp and let him take in the now familiar scenery. John helped me tack up and we got him off the lorry. John gave me a leg up and off we went to the warm up arena. Deekie was very well behaved and as another rider joined us also on a young horse Deekie barely batted an eyelid.

Well we went in and did a very pleasing test.I decided to load him back onto the lorry and let him watch everything whilst tucking into a haynet.John and I went off to pick up Deekies score sheet and tuck into a bacon bap and coffee - yum yum.Deekie came 3rd in his class with a score of 87% - not bad for his first outing. I went back to the lorry and showed Deekie his Rosette - he was very pleased with him self and devoured the rest of the haynet on his way home.

Watch out for my next installment........

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