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- Meahgan
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Thursday 9 June 2011
To the horse of a lifetime!
Well the last time I posted on here I so excited and pleased with my XC run on Ahlerich at Chatsworth. After watching Ahlerich trot up sound but a little stiff on the Monday morning after Chatsworth I decided he could have a week and half off and enjoy getting a little dirty and playing in his field. I was busy with exams and it was perfect it gave me time to study and time for him to relax. I didnt have a 3 day planned for this spring and his next outing was going to be Salperton at the end of June so he didnt really need to work hard over the next two weeks.
A week and a half flew by I started hacking Al around the farm and he was very excited with life. His first real day back to work I was a little worried he just wasnt feeling right. I decided to pop him over a little jump, normally when Al jumps for the first time back after competing he rushes through everything and is so excited so I came cantering up to a little up right he added and the jump felt like the worst thing ever. Right then and there I knew something was wrong and it wasnt him just being a little stiff. I was so mad at myself for not noticing this right away after to Chatsworth.
So I had the vet come and look at him he kept getting worse and worse with no work which is very upsetting but after talking to the vet and telling him absolutely everything about Ahlerich I just listen to what I was saying I had a horse of a lifetime who doesnt stop even in sticky situations. Ahelrich doesnt stop and the last two events I had stops in the show jumping in the triple combination I kept telling myself that I didnt have enough canter coming in or I didnt have the right distance but then I thought about it again at Withington yes I probably did not have enough canter to jump and advanced triple combination but at Chatsworth I did and I had a pretty decent shot in, then in click hes in pain it was too big and he really had to sit on his hocks in the triple which was causing him a lot of pain to do. In the end I knew Ahlerich's joints would not hold up to the fitness work that is needed for the advanced level.
I stood there holding my best friend the one thing in the world that knows me inside and out (besides my mom) a horse who had given me the most amazing opportunities at such a young age. I knew that the day would come when my flying piglet would say that his joints had enough at the upper levels... I guess in the end I was hoping that day would never come! I wish I could buy him some new legs because he has a heart of gold and I feel so lucky to have ridden him for 6 years. I hope he gets a chance to share his love for eventing with a kid at the lower levels! I Think I would be the happiest owner in the world watching him teach younger riders!
So I guess what I am trying say is thank you Ahlerich for all of the amazing times we had together! The last three XC rides were three of the best especially the last one at Chatsworth. That ride will stay with me forever. You opened so many doors for me; young rider team gold, my first horse trial win, my first CCI*/**, my first advanced and my first CIC***, traveling america and meeting some of my closest friends through competing, moving to England and attending university. If it were not for you I have no idea what I would be doing with my life! I look forward to being apart of your next journey where ever that may be!
So as one door closes many more open thanks to Ahlerich!
Meaghan
A week and a half flew by I started hacking Al around the farm and he was very excited with life. His first real day back to work I was a little worried he just wasnt feeling right. I decided to pop him over a little jump, normally when Al jumps for the first time back after competing he rushes through everything and is so excited so I came cantering up to a little up right he added and the jump felt like the worst thing ever. Right then and there I knew something was wrong and it wasnt him just being a little stiff. I was so mad at myself for not noticing this right away after to Chatsworth.
So I had the vet come and look at him he kept getting worse and worse with no work which is very upsetting but after talking to the vet and telling him absolutely everything about Ahlerich I just listen to what I was saying I had a horse of a lifetime who doesnt stop even in sticky situations. Ahelrich doesnt stop and the last two events I had stops in the show jumping in the triple combination I kept telling myself that I didnt have enough canter coming in or I didnt have the right distance but then I thought about it again at Withington yes I probably did not have enough canter to jump and advanced triple combination but at Chatsworth I did and I had a pretty decent shot in, then in click hes in pain it was too big and he really had to sit on his hocks in the triple which was causing him a lot of pain to do. In the end I knew Ahlerich's joints would not hold up to the fitness work that is needed for the advanced level.
I stood there holding my best friend the one thing in the world that knows me inside and out (besides my mom) a horse who had given me the most amazing opportunities at such a young age. I knew that the day would come when my flying piglet would say that his joints had enough at the upper levels... I guess in the end I was hoping that day would never come! I wish I could buy him some new legs because he has a heart of gold and I feel so lucky to have ridden him for 6 years. I hope he gets a chance to share his love for eventing with a kid at the lower levels! I Think I would be the happiest owner in the world watching him teach younger riders!
So I guess what I am trying say is thank you Ahlerich for all of the amazing times we had together! The last three XC rides were three of the best especially the last one at Chatsworth. That ride will stay with me forever. You opened so many doors for me; young rider team gold, my first horse trial win, my first CCI*/**, my first advanced and my first CIC***, traveling america and meeting some of my closest friends through competing, moving to England and attending university. If it were not for you I have no idea what I would be doing with my life! I look forward to being apart of your next journey where ever that may be!
So as one door closes many more open thanks to Ahlerich!
Meaghan
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Chatsworth International!!!
Wow what a great weekend a lot was learned and there is large room for improvements! Ahlerich's dressage was five marks better than his last outing at Withington but it could have been better his walk to canter was very tense and I could have asked for more in the medium and extended trot. I was a little disappointed in myself for not going for it and taking the risk to get better marks. I sometimes still get nervous that Ahlerich is going to blow up in the middle of the test but what I have been practising at home is really riding him forward through the tension which has made a huge difference and now I just need to carry it through to the test. I am hoping to do some dressage shows before our next outing at salperton at the end of June and being able to go in and ride the test not sitting there and trying to hold it together! Here are some photos from Chatsworth
Then came the show jumping which was in a huge arena with a mini grandstand I didn't get to walk the course but I was able to watch a few riders go and see how it was riding. I had a great warm up Ahlerich was jumping out his skin I cantered into the big arena and started to have a wonderful course everything was riding well 1-6 jumped perfectly and then I added an extra stride between 6 and 7 which was alright but coming out the 7ab combination I lost the implusion he jumped 8 well and then we came into 9abc I had gotten the canter back and had an okay distance in but Ahlerich got a little nervous with not enough canter into the triple he put two strides in a one and I didn't react quick enough and he landed dead after the b element and could not get over the c I circled got a good canter and jumped through there okay having the c element down. He jumped the rest of the course well but sadly had the last down as well as a lot of time. I feel horrible to put Ahlerich in that situation again he has such a big heart and never wants to stop but he had no choice this is something I really need to work on we are going to go to some show jumping shows and jump some lower level classes just to get our confidence back and then hopefully be able to jump the clear round that I know we are both capable of doing.
So as I got back to the lorry I started to worry if I was capable of riding at this level after having two not so good show jumping rounds at this level back to back. I started to get Ahlerich ready for XC and we headed to the start box they told be I had 20 horses till I could go so I decided the best thing would be to head back to the lorry and wait instead of making Ahlerich wait around the start. Once I got back all I could do is think if I could do this course did I trust Ahlerich enough to tackle one of the biggest advanced coursed in England. So I asked my good friend Thalia who came with me to the event to help out what does she think? Her response was would I reget it? Once I heard that I hopped on and headed to the warm up. We met up with another good friend from uni Astier Nicolas who had walked the course with me, he came up and hit mey leg and said ride strong and postive and you will be fine! We warmed up went over the course with Astier one more time and Thal led me into the box! I was so excited to get out there and attack the course but Ahlerich had other ideas when we were being counted down from tec second Ahlerich was abnormally calm and once the man said go I kicked Ahlerich, thal let him go and instead for going forwards out of the box he ran backwards.... somehow we made it back out after being 20 seconds late but I was glad to be on course. Everything out there was big and there was no easy fence on that course everything rode great I wasn't going for time because I did not see the point in running Ahlerich fast after such a bad show jumping and made even though I was probably the slowest person of the day I think I was the happiest and I was so proud of Ahlerich for taking such good care of me! He jumped everything perfectly the most amazing jump was the jump into the main water jump it was huge and we got an amazing jump in and it felt so cool landing into the water. The rest of the course went well and I was so happy coming through the finish flags. Ahlerich was a rockstar and I was proud of myself for going out doing it and jumping clean round!
Ahlerich is now enjoying a few days off before he starts back at it again! I have to give a big thank you to Thal and Astier the weekend would not have gone so well without them!
Until next time
Meaghan and my little superstar!! <3
Then came the show jumping which was in a huge arena with a mini grandstand I didn't get to walk the course but I was able to watch a few riders go and see how it was riding. I had a great warm up Ahlerich was jumping out his skin I cantered into the big arena and started to have a wonderful course everything was riding well 1-6 jumped perfectly and then I added an extra stride between 6 and 7 which was alright but coming out the 7ab combination I lost the implusion he jumped 8 well and then we came into 9abc I had gotten the canter back and had an okay distance in but Ahlerich got a little nervous with not enough canter into the triple he put two strides in a one and I didn't react quick enough and he landed dead after the b element and could not get over the c I circled got a good canter and jumped through there okay having the c element down. He jumped the rest of the course well but sadly had the last down as well as a lot of time. I feel horrible to put Ahlerich in that situation again he has such a big heart and never wants to stop but he had no choice this is something I really need to work on we are going to go to some show jumping shows and jump some lower level classes just to get our confidence back and then hopefully be able to jump the clear round that I know we are both capable of doing.
So as I got back to the lorry I started to worry if I was capable of riding at this level after having two not so good show jumping rounds at this level back to back. I started to get Ahlerich ready for XC and we headed to the start box they told be I had 20 horses till I could go so I decided the best thing would be to head back to the lorry and wait instead of making Ahlerich wait around the start. Once I got back all I could do is think if I could do this course did I trust Ahlerich enough to tackle one of the biggest advanced coursed in England. So I asked my good friend Thalia who came with me to the event to help out what does she think? Her response was would I reget it? Once I heard that I hopped on and headed to the warm up. We met up with another good friend from uni Astier Nicolas who had walked the course with me, he came up and hit mey leg and said ride strong and postive and you will be fine! We warmed up went over the course with Astier one more time and Thal led me into the box! I was so excited to get out there and attack the course but Ahlerich had other ideas when we were being counted down from tec second Ahlerich was abnormally calm and once the man said go I kicked Ahlerich, thal let him go and instead for going forwards out of the box he ran backwards.... somehow we made it back out after being 20 seconds late but I was glad to be on course. Everything out there was big and there was no easy fence on that course everything rode great I wasn't going for time because I did not see the point in running Ahlerich fast after such a bad show jumping and made even though I was probably the slowest person of the day I think I was the happiest and I was so proud of Ahlerich for taking such good care of me! He jumped everything perfectly the most amazing jump was the jump into the main water jump it was huge and we got an amazing jump in and it felt so cool landing into the water. The rest of the course went well and I was so happy coming through the finish flags. Ahlerich was a rockstar and I was proud of myself for going out doing it and jumping clean round!
Ahlerich is now enjoying a few days off before he starts back at it again! I have to give a big thank you to Thal and Astier the weekend would not have gone so well without them!
Until next time
Meaghan and my little superstar!! <3
Friday 6 May 2011
Withington - A learning experience
Well its been a month since my last event with Ahlerich and man did it show!! Dressage started out pretty well Ahlerich was nice and relaxed I wish I could have had a few more minutes to warm up but he went in the ring and started doing a nice test. I decided to where my helmet instead of my top hat for the first time and man I was probably the only one in England wearing one!! Man did I stand out! But it was nice I have to say not worrying about my top hat flying off in the wind! Well dresssage wasnt the best but we got through it I am going to enter Ahlerich is some schooling shows so we can get some more practice before Chatsworth next weekend! With dressage over we moved on to show jumping well that as well didn't go as planned. We started having a wonderful clear ride, al was really jumping well over the verticles (hes weakness) and then we came into a triple combination and I did not see a distance and I just sat there hoping al would sort it out for us and at this level that does not happen I felt like such an idiot and was kicking myself for not helping ahlerich out! He tried his little heart out but just did not have enough canter and landed right in the middle of the oxer :( I re-organized and got a big canter and jumped through the combination great and finished the course well. I feel so bad for ahlerich I think he may trade me in!!! Well I went back to the lorry and got ready for XC the whole time I was telling myself I need to ride more forward out there the jumps are big and I need to get a good gallop early on! Well once again I didn't listen to myself and it took till fence 6 to get going well and at this level that is just not early enough!!! But on the up side ahlerich was a super star I hate corners with a passion and after this event I could jump them all day he was perfect through all the tough lines and big fences. On some of the landing sides I was thinking oh my advanced is HUGE!!!! I am so lucky to ride Ahlerich he is such a star!! He ended to course well and was sound the day so it was a good learning experience for me and looking forward to next weekend and giving the advanced level another go!!
Meaghan and Big Al
Meaghan and Big Al
Thursday 14 April 2011
Highs and lows of life
Well two weeks ago I ended my weekend on a great note and very excited to move back up to the advanced level at Burnham Market.... well as most eventers know we have a plan A plan B plan C, D and sometimes even plan E. Well plan A has been crossed off the list and now onto plan B sadly. Ahlerich came up pretty sore on monday morning after his gallop on sunday and I completely blame myself for this I decided to gallop him on some pretty hard ground I told myself as long as a go slow he will be fine.... well I couldn't be more wrong. I have to thank this amazing chestnut pony for putting up with all my mistakes and from now on I will never gallop him on hard ground again instead he will go swimming or go to the proper gallops! Lesson learned! But on a good note to this pretty bad one my farrier came to check his feet my oh my they were so uneven that poor Ahlerich was putting most of his weight to the outside part of his foot. So we reshod and the poor boy had bruised outside heels on both feet. So now he is enjoying new shoes so he is better balance and the rest of the week to recover. I have had to withdraw from Burnham Market which is a big bummer but there is always another day to play. We now have a little over 2 weeks to get ready for our next outing at Withington I will be very excited to get back into the start box again! On another sad note my family dog Gunner past away this morning at 18 years old he was the cutest thing in the entire world and he loved tennis balls more than anything else on this earth. I think when I go home in june is when it will really hit me that he is not alive anymore :( Also my sisters new horse Just Jealous aka James has to have surgery on his knee to remove a bone chip that happened about a month ago. I am so sad for Charlee she and James were just starting to bond. I hope he has a quick recovery and he and Charlee can be out on course again! Until then I think my step dad Britt could use the help getting his polo ponies back into work... she may be a very busy girl! Well this has been a pretty sad week for all of us. Hopefully next week will be a better one.
miss you and love you forever Gunner
Meaghan
miss you and love you forever Gunner
Meaghan
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Belton Park
WOW is my response on how Belton went! Ahlerich and I were entered in the OI I was lucky enough to catch a ride up with Matt Heath and his groom for the day Sam. Sadly Matt first ride was at 8:20 so we left the farm around 5 am poor Ahlerich had to sit around all day and watch the others have fun until he got to come out and play at 3:50... well it sure did work! Ahlerich felt fantastic in the ring I was actually enjoying doing dressage right up until the last two movements which is disappointing because he was going so well. But he still scored a 37 I was a proud mom at this moment my hard work this winter with Tor has finally started paying off it also could have been a little bit of magic ;) Next was the show jumping and Ahlerich was finally fed up with waiting around he started hoping up and down not going forward and I was thinking if I make it through this round it will be a good day! Well we went into the ring and got the job done sadly with 2 rails I am really going to try much harder on riding a show jumping course and each jump instead of just getting the job done! Its time to leave all the rails in their cups! Then came the cross country we had all the right gear this time and as I was warming Ahlerich up I was thinking this is going to be a good ride, fast and clean I had brakes and a gas pedal that both worked! So in the start box we went... oh wait Ahlerich didn't want to go in so we started about 4 seconds late..... silly boy! But after that it was the best ride I have had in such a long time we were truly galloping and going for it and jumping well. I am so proud of my chestnut boy he tried his little heart out for me, we came home with 9.4 time penalties the fastest I have gone in the last 3 years! On the drive home I was thinking how amazing that ride was and how it has taken me 3 years to come over my fear of riding a XC course. People around me may wondering why I have been at intermediate for so long why I wasn't doing the CIC*** this weekend and my response to them would have to be, I have not felt how I felt sat afternoon in over 3 years. To go out there on a horse you trust your life with, to run and jump huge crazy things and to cross the finish line thinking WOW I just had the ride of my life! I am so lucky to have Ahlerich he may not be everyones cup of tea but he is my everything and means the world to me! The next stop on our adventure together is Burnham Market advanced! Until next time!
Meaghan and the Flying Piglet!
Meaghan and the Flying Piglet!
Friday 18 March 2011
First gallop after Twelesdown
Well it has been a little over a week since out first intermediate ate Twelesdown and Ahlerich has been going great! I have been trying to up his conditioning program with a lot more walk and trot sets. My good friend Gemma and her horse Nelly have been joining Ahlerich and I for "hacks". Most people in England consider walking down the road and around the farm as a hack but Gemma and I have changed the meaning of a hack we go out for an hour and half to two hours on the road trotting and walking in stirrups that are so short that we can barely stand once we get off. Our thought is that we can accomplish two things in one, conditioning our selves as well as Ahelrich and Nelly at the same time! I wondering how long it is going to last! Oh well we are at least enjoying it for now! Today Ahlerich and I had our first gallop since Twelesdown and he felt amazing! I am trying to become a faster cross country rider and trying to attack the course more and really working on speed and adjustability. So I can try and save time when bringing al back to jump a fence or combination. I have to say today he felt great and was very rideable. Hopefully we can keep caring this on throughout all of our training and conditioning. Until next time enjoy the nice weather!
Ahlerich and Meaghan
Ahlerich and Meaghan
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