Blogs | wobbleberries

Strange times

Strange times

Well it’s been a long time since my last blog and how life has changed is an understatement. What’s happened since last time had a day out at Olympia which was great highly recommend visiting it, did some judging at Arena events with LandS Eventing. Then just as the eventing season was getting underway the world stopped, I mean literally stopped at least the earth was still turning but everything else in life changed. I have been working at home since the country locked down

Muddy, wet and shopping

Muddy, wet and shopping

So here we are again, another busy month started off with volunteering at the last Wolf Run of the year a decidedly wet and muddy one. Fitted in a couple of lessons on Cookie each lesson I’m seeing some improvements in my riding (ok we’ll just gloss over not being able to get the right diagonal in one) and the last lesson totally nailing transitions. At the end of the last one I left the ground, yay, after not jumping for a few months concentrating on control etc so alls good

Rain stopped play and changed plans

Rain stopped play and changed plans

Last month it was all about Blenheim, went to receive my long service award and had a lovely lunch on the Thursday with my sister in law Tara had a look round the tradestands eyeing up the bargains (may have even bought a pair of shoes before 10am). Then it was back on the Friday with my friend Jennie, result scored a free cup of coffee on the Equine America stand and invited back for prosecco in the afternoon love a freebie. Also bumped into loads of Wobbleberry friends and

Apologies for the radio silence

Apologies for the radio silence

Firstly I must apologise for lack of posts, it has been quite busy over the summer. Anyway had a lovely day stewarding at Offchurch Bury back in July lots of lovely competitors to chat too. Then was called in to fence judge at Pony Cub Tetrathlon at Offchurch which was an enjoyable day if a tad windy sat on top of the hill, watched some super riding and no doubt some future eventing stars. We went on holiday for a week to Brean in Somerset and took the dogs with us the weathe

Another warm lesson

Here we are again, after this week's lesson it was very muggy and warm Tuesday evening but still booked in for a lesson and it was back on Cookie but this time we popped into the field instead of the school. So had lots of space to roam in but not too far away from instructor otherwise you can't hear them! This week went really well transitions were better, ok apart from cantering on the wrong leg (ooops). So this weekend it back to volunteering with LandS at Offchurch Bury f

What a scorcher

Well what a weekend the sun came out and gave us a rather warm Saturday and we were at Nottingham University for their Open Day a lovely campus and such friendly students. Then Sunday was spent with guess, go on, you can most probably get it, yes LandS Eventing for their BE event. As usual well looked after by Sue and Alf ‘the muffin man’ its well appreciated by all the volunteers something that LandS do incredibly well. I was in my usual spot stewarding the xc warm up and i

The sun is shining and something exciting

The sun is shining and something exciting

As i write this blog the sun is shining and how much better does everything feel with the sun on our backs? Anyway back to what's been going on the the last couple of weeks. No surprises i have been to work and its just starting to get busy for our team in the run up to A Level and GCSE results days (just to explain i work for one of the awarding bodies in the country). Last weekend i was at Ragley Hall nr Alcester, volunteering with LandS at a fun ride, i had the job of chec

It’s ok to take your time

It’s ok to take your time

Well since my last blog i had a day out at Badminton Horse Trials on the 1st dressage day, if you have never been i would recommend it the shopping village is immense, the atmosphere is awesome and as i was watching the dressage absolutely top class. Of course Cakeberry came along and had a wonderful time caught up with friends especially Downtonaberry. So i did a spot of shopping and kept bumping into friends, had decided to go on a course walk and would say if you get the c

Pretty flamingos and bad habits

Pretty flamingos and bad habits

Well there was a lot of pink at LandS Arena Eventing on Saturday 20th April from pink wigs, wings, onesies to a pair of pretty flamingos aka Lloyd and Henry, it was a fun day in the sunshine raising money for local charity Myton Hospice. Also i volunteered at The Wolf Run this time being held at Offchurch Bury usually the venue for horse trials, very surreal seeing it with not a horse in sight. Seemed that the runners loved the new venue even though according to the finishers

Timing is everything

Timing is everything

Well after spending a busy weekend volunteering with LandS Eventing stewarding the xc warm up both days, it was a tad chilly on the Saturday but weather improved for Sunday. Seeing lots of lovely horses coming past, setting off on course and happily coming back together, so many friends competing and lovely to see people from last season again. Minor niggle to the weekend is why when you say to a competitor you’re next that means you have just 2 minutes before you need to go

Another lesson (getting on well with your instructor)

Another lesson (getting on well with your instructor)

Well i went back for another lesson on Tommy with Cjay found out that Tommy is 14.2 been a few years since i’ve ridden a pony. Anyway half an hour can seem a long time when your practising lots of transitions in trot (my knees will let me know how long in a couple of days!) so all seems to be going well, may have slipped back into some old habits but soon reminded when i did them. We did some trot poles Tommy managed to sneak an extra half a stride in ponies seem to be able t

Somewhere new

Somewhere new

So tonight i was trying a new riding school was teamed up with Tommy (sorry no photo but i’ll get one next time) the instructor is a friend so this lesson was an assessment of how i’m doing. Very different type of horse than i’ve been riding a bit smaller so slightly shorter stride, but didn’t feel too small for me. We practised lots of transitions found that Tommy needs quite a lot of leg to get him moving forward something i may notice in a couple of days! So a useful exerc

A good day

A good day

Well todays lesson went well it was a busy day at the riding school which is great to see. Teamed up with Mr Horse who was in a chilled kinda mood, we did rather a lot of trotting today (think i may notice that in a couple of days!) We did some raised poles which even he managed to leave where they were, over a couple of cross poles and yes they stayed up too! So off round the gallops for a trot i was put at the back thank god he was not feeling as well as the last time i rod

Don’t think your instructor can’t hear you!

Don’t think your instructor can’t hear you!

Hello readers well today was lesson day and ended up being teamed up with Mr Horse again. It all started well (apart from the rain) getting the hang of this sitting trot business less bouncing about so must be sitting deeper in the saddle which means my lower leg must be in a better position. Anyway a couple of canters and a teeny mention by the intsructor when i swore at Mr H on the far side of the arena for trying to tank off ooops!! We came to do a tiny cross pole in trot

It’s been a while

It’s been a while

Apologies for the silence, it’s been very busy since my last post, helping at arena eventing, volunteering at the Wolf Run, day out at Your Horse Live, more arena eventing, two weeks away in Florida, again more arena eventing oh and a bit of work thrown in too. Then today was lesson day was on the lovely Mr Horse who was feeling very springy and totally up for it more about that later. We warmed up couple of circuits trotting, a couple of canters then the jumps came out. Pop

Windy day (can’t hear the instructor!)

Windy day (can’t hear the instructor!)

Well today was lesson day it was a tad windy in the school, so the lovely instructor put me at the front of the ride eg biggest horse the gorgeous Gomez have i mentioned before he’s 17.2 of loveliness. Anyway off we went trotted round on the right rein then down the middle changed rein (think we may have been on the wrong leg not sure couldn’t hear down to the gale force conditions) quite proud of myself when we did sitting trot i had totally forgotten how wonderful Gomez's t

Not your usual monthly catch up

Not your usual monthly catch up

Well September has been a bit busy (nothing unusual there i hear you say). The beginning of the month started with volunteering at our local Wolf Run yet again drawing on peoples faces and arms and then cheering them through the finish great fun. The next day up very early and off to Burghley for their fun ride to be the official photographers assistant, just to say trying to get a group horses to put their ears forward at the same time is exhausting lots of chirping, rustlin

Always look where you want to go (don’t look down)

Always look where you want to go (don’t look down)

Well not such a busy month this time, but still had the pleasure to watch some great riding. Started off with fence judging at The Pony Club Tetrathalon Championships at Offchurch Bury have to say the standard of riding was excellent as was the sportmanship and camaraderie of the competitors so thumbs up to The Pony Club equestrianism is in safe hands. Then it was off for a busy day supporting friends at Aston le Walls first up was Wobbleberry graduate Philippa Mitchell and

July sun to thunderstorms

July sun to thunderstorms

Well July has been a busy month for volunteering started the month at the scenic Offchurch Bury with LandS Eventing for their BE event boy it was hot and sunny. I was charged with stewarding the xc warm up the slightly scarey part of the event, first time i’d ever done it but i loved it got up close with some gorgeous horses including 2014 Grand National winner Pineau de Re who is on loan to Lizzie Doolittle lovely to see another former racehorse enjoying life after racing. I

Caroline Wilson & Moors lady

Caroline Wilson & Moors lady

Warwick Hall 3 22/07/2018 Pip and I managed to complete our Wobbleberry challenge at Warwick Hall. We had tried on 2 other occassions to complete the challenge only to have both events cancelled due to wet weather! So its taken us nearly 2 years to achieve this since I first signed up for the challenge. We have had some knocks on the way, mostly to me, but its been an amazing rewarding positive journey. Almost as soon as I bought Pip I signed up to be a wobbleberry. I did pon

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