It's finished!
Ooh, ooh, squeak, squeal, ooh, my arena has been done. It only took him a couple of hours. I can’t wait to try it out tomorrow. Tia can do her full dressage test for Saturday. I feel like singing that song “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control……” Who WAS that?
Tia had today off because she worked extemely hard yesterday. Tetley worked in the barn because of the high wind and was superb. I can see his stride is different between one foot and the other, but I can’t feel it when I'm on him - maybe when he is collected up he doesn't do it? He did some brilliant walk and trot work. I started to teach him passage by asking him to move away but stay in piaffe. He said “Look, for six years you have been telling me not to let the piaffe creep forward and now you are asking for just that. Could you get your act together please?”. He was very confused, but I can tell that he is not going to take long to get the idea. Now we have an arena, I can get on with flying change too, so much easier than on a bumpy field with no point to aim for.
Today I tried Caddy in a French link (better) and a copy of a Myler – the one with independent sides and a very restricted joint in the middle, with a very, very thin mouthpiece. That was best I think, but it’s hard to tell. He spends the entire time “clacking his teeth” but without actually letting his teeth meet (thank goodness, I can’t stand horses that grind or clack their teeth, it drives me nuts to hear the noise!). Time to have his teeth checked I think. He kept winding slowly down to a halt if I stopped nagging him. I can’t be doing with nagging, so I gave him a good boot in the ribs :-0 . Did he buck? Bolt? Nah, he just about shuffled into a jog for two strides and then walked again. Talk about quiet!
Must go and do some more raking. Did I mention that after 25 years of wishing and 4 years of planning I’ve got an arena? I’m so excited, and I jus………..
C
posted by cptrayes @ 9:41 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
photo of finished arena required!
Oh, you are so lucky. I only wish!
Our land is clay so it is either like concrete or so wet it can't be ridden on, there are only about 7 days in the whole year when it is "good" going.
We even had a JCB here last year and I asked if I could have a section levelled off for an area, but it "wasn't possible" - not 100% our house, still owned by mother-in-law and SON as well as hubby and my name doesn't appear anywhere! I did ask a couple of times, and it is the first thing I would do if I won the lottery (and that is highly unlikely as we have a winner as our neighbour and lightening doesn't strike twice!).
Envy, envy.
Judith
Way cool!
You are going to love it! I love mine. The abilty to school on good footing makes all the difference in the world.
Pictures please!!!!!!!!!!!
//// I feel like singing that song “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control……” Who WAS that? ////
Pointer Sisters??
I'l love to have an arena.. bet you cant wait to get out there!
Polo is happy and settled at this yard so wouldnt want to move but we have no facilities other than field and stables.
YO has a wonderfull flat field next to ours that they take a crop of cr#p hay from but nobody wants to buy...cant work it out??
Im another 'pinning it all on a lottery win' :):):)
I'll post a photo when the weather is fit to take one! We are planning a "topping out" ceremony and have the bubbly in the fridge. Just Cava, because a "real arena" surface costs at least £10k and that one was only a fraction of that (though still a huge amount of money to spend :-0), so the Cava matches!!
I am so lucky aren't I? It must make other people sick to see me with so much. The only thing I can say is that I do appreciate how lucky I am, I never take it for granted. I wish you could all have one, I really do.
Judith, what shame - I hope mother-in-law doesn't LIVE there as well as half own it :-(?
C
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