April 2017 - In which people and ponies become models - Simon gets new underpants - and I hook up with an artist

Beau Bayou Blog April 2017

In which people and ponies become models - Simon gets new underpants - and I hook up with an artist

Brand Ambassador

I am very proud to be able to say that I am now a brand ambassador for Laura Mary Art.  Laura very kindly sent me this gorgeous print of a hare to say thank you

I have been in touch with a couple of other brands but the lines of communication are slow so hopefully more news next month!

You may have noticed, that Neue Schule Bits are running a competition for their next sponsored rider.  Since Beau prefers their bits it would be inconsiderate of me not to try and go for it!  I have been tweeting like mad #nsnexttopjockey and @nsbits!  I want to join the team badly, of course, but this is too good an opportunity to miss, so get entering!  It’s for any standard or level of rider and all you have to do is keep using the hashtag

In other news, Simon has been having great fun with Derriere Equestrian - #DerriereEQ.  He won a pair of riding underwear via #Dressagehour on Twitter, and has done his best ever since to tell the world how comfy they are!

The poor man just needs some breeches now!

Side Saddle

In mid-March, Ginny kindly organised a showing master class for us all to practice our individual show, and learn what happens in a showing class.  The wind was blowing hard and all five horses had a naughty spell (Beau got some tempi changes into his show)!  But we all came away knowing we could deal with whatever happened in the ring, and me with a much clearer idea of what to expect.  I also found that my apron needed some tweaks to help it sit level when I’m mounted.  SO I went home and sat back down at the sewing machine.  I had to shorten the apron slightly, and add curtain weights to the hem because in the wind it was whipping up a treat – most immodest!

At the time of writing we have now done our very first wonky show.  It was such a lovely day with a calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  The Show was run by Area 5 of the Side Saddle association, and was held at Pittern Hill Stables in Warwickshire.  They were running classes for all levels, starting with my class, the walk trot.  Everybody there was friendly, and all the competitors were supporting each other and helping each other out.  If all showing was like that I am sure people would do much more of it.  A really really enjoyable day

I wanted to try and apply what I learned at the seminar in February and the master class, so had to do the best I could with all my kit.  So, I spent what felt like the entire previous week cleaning and ironing and washing and polishing – including Beau (not the ironing part) – so by Saturday evening everything was gleaming abd ready to load up.  I even turned Beau out in a headless (for safety) lycra neck cover to try and keep him clean.  That was a slight fail – I have no idea how he managed to get mud UNDER his neck cover, he must be part cat. 

Anyways, the class went fine, and although by the time we did our individual show I was pretty tired, I don’t think we did too badly.  We certainly could have, and have done, better but I have to wait for the next novice show in October to try and prove that.  Pics below for a taste of the day.  Ginny always recommends warming up astride, so the first thing we did on arrival was take a wander around the arena.  Then my sister Tory had to get me dressed! 

Habit construction

FINISHED! ( see above ;) )

Quadrille

We had a team get together this month to start writing the test and discuss costume ideas.  The music and theme we have chosen will be challenging – the music certainly suggests movements so I hope we can do it justice.  No mounted practices yet, but we’re a mean team on foot ;)

Combined training

Jumpies training has been good and bad.  I have been over the top of the blocks at trot with no issues, but as soon as we introduce canter my head falls off!  I think, though, I now know why.  Having been basically a get on and get it done kind of rider, I have only in the last couple of years been trying to take dressage seriously.  This has mean that my seat has moved to being more upright.  Of course as soon as you start to canter at a pace that you can jump from, you're all out of balance which has been unnerving me.  So Alison made us canter over poles this week until it clicked in my head.  I now think it has, and am looking forward to our next session in April to prove it to myself

YourHorse

YourHorse magazine came to do a photo shoot too in March.  We all had a lovely day posing for pictures and generally giggling!  Beau of course was very well behaved.  I am going to have to buy every issue of the mag now to see if my hand, or Beau's hooves have made it into print! Parker and Sardra really got into their roles - though it was not until a week later that we managed to fulfill the 'horse drinking' brief.  We are officially the king and queens of hi-viz, so I am hopeful that our #glowmeansslow pic makes it into the pages of YourHorse soon

Ambitions

It has been one heck of a month – all about getting to the side saddle show and not looking too daft!  Apart from the jumpies training to try and get me back from the CT competition in one piece

Dressage:  The main focus is STILL to get 70% in a prelim test unaffiliated!

Posh dressage: Tracy to compete with Beau at Elementary – am looking for classes…

Dressage again:  Having discovered that BD are allowing Team Quest members to compete affiliated at prelim – AND having coughed up for full membership for 2017, I am now aiming for regional festivals at novice – though I am not sure what’s involved in that yet.  Mainly I'd like to end up at the Veteran and Draught Championships again

Side saddle: An intro dressage test ridden wonky.  Showing done – and we came 6^th :D  

Quadrille: Lots of theme ideas already bubbling away for 2017 – and entries are opening on 31^st March!  EEK!