Its Show Time!

So I took Enzo out a few weeks ago to his first ridden show. It was only to Gayton Thorpe Riding Club - a local in this area. I took him in the clear round...and have to say the first attempt was a poor one, he had a good look at everything and took a huge dislike to the water tray. (I was very surprised to see one there as was he!) After battling with the tray he continued round but I took him back in at the end to jump the clear round again!

And he jumped clear! Yay! Got his first little rosette too :)

Then I took him back in to jump the Novice horse and having jumped the water tray previously we got eliminated at it! Doh! And he then proceeded to jump it after the bell had gone!

So I am now looking at taking him to the local show at Tilney on the 8th July! Fingers crossed it goes better than the last one!!

P.S Sorry for the lack of blogs! Been rushed off my feet!!

Its Twitter Time!!

So I have been rubbish updating Enzo's blog lately - I have just been so busy with all these horses!

This is very short and sweet I am afraid but he is going very well and seems to be incredibly full of energy at the moment! I am looking at getting him ready to go training again, maybe Forest Edge in the next week or so.

But my main reason for posting if you haven't already seen is the new Twitter feed on the right hand side of this page. Yep that's right Enzo has his own Twitter account! This is done in first person as Enzo (of course) so please check out his feeds and follow him too - if I haven't updated the blog no doubt I will have Tweeted!!

Rain Rain Go Away!!

Its absolutely crazy the amount of rain we have had recently - I'm sure everyone else has been experiencing it too!

I've been working really hard with Enzo, hes getting pretty good at his walk to canter transitions but still need a lot of work especially on the downward transition! But he is a working progress of course :) He will get there!

I was looking to take him to a local show this weekend but its on grass and with the amount of rain we have had lately I don't want to risk him slipping especially as he is still unshod. So the training continues until the next one comes along! I will get some videos and pictures of my little man!

Lets get ready to rumble!!

So Enzo went training for the very first time with Philip Spivey last weekend. Philip hasn't seen him since last May and Enzo went extremely spooky of course! We did a small grid, water tray, cavaletti and a 5 strided distance. It was all very good experience for him and found a lot of things I have still got to work on (but we knew that was coming!) This is a little video of him jumping the water tray!

I've also been working hard on the homework that Anna Bostrand-Daly gave me in our last dressage lesson. We had a follow up lesson this afternoon and still have a lot more to work on! He had his silly and yet lazy head on today and I got the giggles because Anna was laughing too much at him being 'Mr Snail'.  Despite his canter still being quite poor, the trot is getting much better. So my homework this time is short sharp transitions walk to trot and back down, walk to canter and back down and lots of figures of eights!

Schooling time!

I took Enzo and new boy Henry to Forest Edge last Thursday, I was meant to take Griff too but long story!
So it took ages to get Enzo to even trot round the arena! The video below is the final course he jumped but it took a little while to get to that point. He literally stopped at everything first time and then jumped it the second time but I expected nothing less as he's so spooky even at home! He was having a heart attack at these fences bless him. Here is the video of him once he got his confidence.

Please leave comments - let me know what you think of him!

It's been a while!

Many many apologies to those who regularly read Enzo's blog! I have been so busy lately and I also managed to crack the screen on my phone and on my current phone the internet wont work so updating things isn't so easy!

So the little man has been doing amazing. Wednesday last week I had a dressage lesson with Anna Bostrand-Daly. (BD Equestrian) She loved him and he was a total star. We worked on flexions, making him more supple, riding squares instead of circles and just generally getting lots of changes of direction to get him more balanced too. Of course it was very hard work and he kept slamming the brakes on to catch his breath! Poor boy!

I also gave him a jump Monday and introduced him to his first double. He's loose jumped through grids so this shouldn't really of been a problem and it wasn't. We kept it small and if anything he was rushing through it slightly but that will come with work. I also added in some scary fillers/planks at the end, he needs to see some more things and it was VERY spooky. But with some persuasion we jumped through it every time even if it meant from a standstill :) and eventually he was flying so very pleased with him!

So last night I gave him a hair cut - he did have a trace clip that was growing out but now he has everything but his legs off. Tomorrow we are off schooling at Forest Edge. This is going to be his first ever course and will be a huge eye opener to him, I think he's going to be shocked!

All will be videoed and I'll definitely get that posted! Wish me luck!!

Back on track!!

All is back on track now! Wahey! Enzos had a couple of flat work sessions back in the school, we also tackled some trotting poles which he finds very difficult! However he is slowly getting the hang of it and now more often than not he is trotting through them properly without trying to cat leap over them all!

Yesterday I gave him a little jump for the first time in quite a while. He was cat leaping the cross poles, going so so high! It was a little OTT that's for sure! So I put a placing pole down again to give him something to think about rather than throwing himself at the fence, and it really helped. We gradually built it up to an upright and onto a small oxer before introducing the planks! He didn't even bat an eye! Firstly we had the plain white side and then we turned it round to the zig-zags. He was jumping it very relaxed, even tried to bronk after it one time think he was enjoying himself!

Very pleased with how he is progressing, looking to take him schooling in a couple of weeks, and we have a dressage lesson on Wednesday!

Dont forget to follow Enzo on Twitter: @Enzo_II

Video to come soon!!

Time to re-cap!

I have been so unbelievably busy recently I honestly haven't had a chance until now to sit down and post on my blog! What with a new horse arriving last week, taking my total number of horses to ride a day to 7, plus fitting in clipping, teaching and trying out new horses, I just haven't stopped. Luckily I have been able to continue getting Enzo exercised.

So after seeing the physio we have been continuing to do straight lines, this time gradually moving into trot and canter, and he seems to think he is a racehorse now! Normally snaffle mouth I suddenly found myself putting in a slightly stronger bit due to him getting so very excited about cantering across the fields!

We have also loose jumped him again (advised by the physio) to check how loose he is becoming behind when jumping and there is a great improvement, however he's still not back to normal so we have her visiting  again on the 9th. I'm hoping he'll be totally sorted then and I can continue getting him ready for his first show :)

So I hope tomorrow I can update you on how he is, but once we are back to real flat work and jumping I will get more pics and videos as I'm sure you miss seeing them as much as I like to reflect on them!

And the sun is shining!

Today has been so lovely!! And it was nice at the end of the day to get back on Enzo and wander the fields again. He was much more chilled this time and it was all rather relaxing in the sun. Wont be long before its time to get cracking with him again. Looking to order him a bridle for shows just got to find what I want ;) so any suggestions send this way!

Oh and to top it off his little field friend Lola had a saddle on for the first time today! And a very good girl she was too :)

Hello again!

Finally finally finally I get to write something of interest!

The weather has been horrible, of course the snow has finally gone, and I can ride my boy again! Its still not all that exciting Enzo is still only walking for a week but tonight was the first time I got on him since he had the physio.

I took him for a walk around the field as he has to do straight lines, and seeing as he has never hacked before I thought this was the most sensible option now the ground has dried up. I expected him to arch his back a lot, be a typical 4yo that's not been ridden for nearly 2 weeks but he was actually very well behaved indeed.

He marched round the field, and poor boy had a fright when we got near the ditch that surrounds the field. Two ducks flew up out of no where he span round and nearly had me off!! He made me jump too! In all fairness he was very very good so long may it continue!

Snow, snow, and more snow

Unfortunately I haven't got a lot to blog on today! Since my last blogging session I had the physio out to give Enzo a check over. He was a rather naughty boy! But she found him to be very sore on his last vertebrae just before his pelvis. It ties in with him escaping out of the field one day so we think he took a fall but was lucky not to have any wounds, and I had no idea he was that sore in his back.

:(

However since then all we have had is snow! So he's been turned out everyday to keep moving, but once the snow finally clears he's got to do 2 weeks of walking in straight lines (he has never hacked yet, so I fear its walks around the field!) pretty boring but I'd much rather get it fixed now than when its not possible to fix!

Not that he minds anyway!!

So I will report back as soon as this blasted weather disappears and allows me to get back to riding, and I have a feeling that could be an interesting day!!

Update Time!

Not managed to blog for a few days now, I've been so busy lately!

Last Thursday we moved Lola and Enzo to a yard down the road to empty the two stables at home so I have room to take horses in for schooling and competition livery. Both were very wound up when they went in the field and had a good gallop around but it didn't take long for them to realise they had lots of nice grass to eat! I rode him that evening and he was extremely spooky to say the least!

The next time I rode him was Saturday, this time he was a lot less spooky and we even got some trotting poles out. He still cant quite get the hang of them! Then we put up a cross pole which was then an upright he was jumping really well! So I decided to swap the pole for a plank and ohhhh it was very scary!! Took a little while to get his confidence together but when he did he was flying (literally!!)

Sunday I rode him back on the flat and he was much more settled and worked extremely well, was like riding a much older horse he was fab!

Unfortunately I wasn't able to ride Enzo last night due to the farrier back at home, however I managed to give him a quick lunge tonight and someone was feeling rather fresh and cheeky!! He soon wore himself out though!

All in all its been a great few days!!

Loose Jumping

Had a little fun today decided to give Lola & Enzo a loose jump!

I will say no more here is the video!

Enzo Loose Jumping Video

Time for the dentist!

Well what can I say! This little man was a horror! But 'll give him the benefit of the doubt as the dentist found he was in quite a bit of pain with his little teeth! But what an experience this was for him!

Enzo got a little cross to say the least - he really didn't want to see the dentist today. He has a few caps still to fall off and also a rotated tooth, plus the fact they were sharp. But hopefully he should feel better now they have been sorted, although he has got himself another appointment booked in April to finish them off.

Everybody else had to see the dentist too so he shouldn't feel like he was the only one!

Picture to follow!

Time to jump!

The trotting poles didn't go too badly yesterday, so I thought I would pop him over a few fences today. I started with some poles on the ground and trotted over them each way before putting up a cross pole.  I trotted him a few times each way to it and he happily popped it, landed in canter so I kept coming round and he jumped it in canter easy peasy!

We put up a little upright and then we also added a placing pole for him. The first time he came to it he was a little shocked couldn't quite work out where to put his feet! Came back round and he jumped it fine and both ways he was really good. We then turned it into a tiny spread with a cross pole in front, again he was a little confused but after very little persuasion he jumped it and was flying! We made it into a square little oxer probably only about 75/80cms and kept the placing pole and he was jumping it so nicely!! he really impressed me today and he can only get better with time!

Edited back here is the link to his video!

Enzo Jumping Video

Trotting Poles

Well seeing as he is doing so well I decided to put out a few trotting poles to play with. I have to say it took him a little while to figure it out! All he wanted to do was canter through the poles which considering they were trot poles was very difficult and he managed it very well! Of course that's not what I wanted him to do despite him trying to be clever!

He did eventually figure out where to put his little feet and we managed to trot through very nicely in the end!

I will edit this and post some videos when I get a chance!!

Yeee! Haaa!

Well someone has been getting a little carried away! Enzo had the weekend off due to shows and other things so when I rode him today he was feeling rather cheeky! He had a huge amount of energy in comparison to normal, and decided that it would be fun to have a little buck!

He stormed off into canter  and once we were on a circle decided to stick in a crafty little one, I laughed as its certainly not like him to get that enthusiastic! I changed the rein and cantered the other way and he did the exact same thing again only this time the buck was MUCH bigger! Got a little bit carried away I think and definitely something I don't want to become a habit the little monster! at least he's enjoying himself!

Cantering!

We are on a roll now! Today I just lunged him, got on him and my Mum let me off the lunge straight away. Hes such a little professional. Had a nice walk trot around and decided to brave it and have a canter. Easy peasy! He even struck off on the right leg first time both ways which was something he struggled with before.

I am actually amazed how good my steering is...especially for such a baby and its only my 3rd time on him now. He makes me smile alot :)

He was that well behaved today, even the horses galloping around in the neighbour's fields couldn't tempt him into doing anything silly. He's just too cool!!!

No stopping us now!

So back on board again today, lunged him briefly first and then jumped straight on. had a walk and trot round on the lunge - he was very chilled out! Hes taking it all in his stride again like before which is great, however I don't want to get too carried away!

Seeing as he was being so good I got my Aunt to let me off the lunge. We had a wander round the school rather slowly to say the least! Haha! At least he wasn't panicking...although I'm not sure panicking crosses this boys mind EVER hes so laid back! So much so that I decided to have a little trot round too. He surprises me all the time, and I was really impressed with how good my steering was!!

We shall see how tomorrow goes!

Enzo 10/1/12

Up up and away!

Gave Enzo a couple of days lunging with the tack on, and as usual he was as good as gold. No acrobatics to report. Boring I know hey! However today I'm sure he knew something was going to happen - every day hes been well behaved and today he decided he was gonna canter round and round and round....and round. He just ignored me. Cheeky boy.

Decided to lay over him, My Aunt held him and my mum legged me up. Laid on him and patted him got off, got on and off a couple more times. He was unsure but he didnt move. Got on him properly, ears flicked back briefly but he relaxed pretty quickly and again I did this a couple more times and then we walked around. In fact he was so relaxed that I managed to go round back on the lunge, just walking but we went both ways. He was brilliant.

Day off tomorrow as I'm at a show but will continue this next week! Heres a little video from today.

Enzo First time!

Saddle up!

Today I put the saddle back on Enzo for the first time since he has had his holiday. And as usual he was as good as gold! He didn't move away at all but grew to about 16.2hh as I put the saddle on him, but as far as reactions go it was basically nothing! Girth done up and away he went.

Today wasn't as windy as yesterday - he was a saint again. I half expected him to explode especially when he cantered with the saddle on, but he had one tiny buck and that was about it! He had the stirrups down and everything, not a peep out of him. He's obviously not forgotten anything!

Back in business!!

Firstly I want to start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fabulous christmas too.

Enzos Christmas present!!

Enzo was a little spoilt - I got a present which was really for him, a brand new stable rug! He has also had a little hair cut and is starting to be lunged again. It wont be long before I am getting back on him. I have got a small plan for him; I am going to get him going so he is ready to go to a show and once hes been to one or two he will then have a small holiday before I get him ready for the age classes. Its very exciting!

Enzos little hair cut! Ready for work!

So just a little update with how things are going, there will be videos of him lunging and I will be blogging everything just like before so keep following and checking back to see how he is progressing!