Stage two retake prep

I do know it!!! I just have a slight mental block on the whole darn anatomy section. I proved today however that I DO KNOW IT. I just need to show this in my anatomy retake next week. 
As for my Show Jumping, well had a training session first thing this morning, poor Ted was not really ready for this level of activity first thing this morning, however apparently i'm now looking slightly more stylish and less flappy with the legs on approach, doesn't help that i'm used to riding what has felt like a mini race horse the last few years, oh and i'm learning to squeal less upon safe landing, easier said then done and the breathing is also coming..Got one more session on bank holiday Monday before we go to a friends BBQ and my SJ retake Friday also. Oh what fun. I had better pass as I have my stage three late October...Nothing like a bit of pressure.

Watch this space...

From Spring 2012 Chloe will be offering freelance instruction on your own horse or pony (private, groups, riding and pony clubs), coaching, BHS exam preperation (stages 1-3 and ptt) courses (including BHS Riding and Road Safety training courses), clinics and workshops, further information (dates, venues and prices) will be posted on the website from Spring 2012. Please email Chloe at gileschloe@ymail.com if you would like to be notified as soon as further information becomes available

Floodlights

Yay we now have two new low level floodlights overlooking our grass jumping and schooling paddock, perfect for the evenings as they start to draw in! Not seen them yet as left the electrician putting them up this morning whilst he was meant to be fixing the hot water in the house!!! I hope to have the trees removed at the end of the paddock shortly also and then it will be a nice floodlit 20x40 grass manage, ooooooooooh!

Selling Horses

Today I sold Zasperella my 6 year old Welsh x Appaloosa pony that I owned her since she was a four month old foal and purchased as a friend for Calypso who I owned also since he was a foal (22 years ago) and who I recently lost. I am feeling very sad but feel it was right for Zassy, she has recently learnt to jump and will go on to do lots of new and exciting things in her new home while I focus on moving onto horses now (at the age of 34, about time I guess). I am also going to be kept busy no doubt teaching our little girl Pippa to ride on dear little Dazzler as she is riding a few times a week at the moment. 
Good luck Zassy, we will all miss you! xxx

BHS Exam Diary Update

Exam diary update...
Revising to retake the jumping and anatomy section in a few weeks. The sticky 'post it' technique to revise the anatomy using my little girls rocking horse is proving challenging. Pippa is loving it though! Hubby Henry say's he will help me revise, umm difficult considering he is off to fish in Norway in a few days, nice gesture though and we may get a few sessions in before he goes.

Famous Horse quotations

Closeness, friendship, affection - keeping your own horse means all these things.

  - Bertrand Leclair 

Horse... if God made anything more beautiful,  he kept it for himself.

Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love. We call this stable management.

    - George H. Morris 

There comes a point in every rider's life when he wonders if it's all worth it. Then one look at the horse, and he realizes - it is.

 - Kelly Stewart 

To understand the soul of a horse is the closest we humans can come to knowing perfection. 

When God wanted to create the horse, he said to the South Wind, "I want to make a creature of you. Condense." And the Wind condensed.

  - Emir Abd-el-Kader 

When riding a horse, we leave our fear, troubles, and sadness behind on the ground.

  - Juli Carlson 

Famous Horse quotations

This ones for my dear friend Calypso who I was blessed to own for an amazing 22 years.

Nothing is more sacred as the bond between a horse and a rider. No other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on, because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, and the very existence dies also.

 - Stephanie M Thorn

Famous Horse quotations Cont..

Horses can't talk, but they can speak if you listen. 

Horses give us the wings we lack. 

I have often been asked why do I like horses so much. Look into one's eyes. There you will see generations of horses who have served the humans for thousands of years faithfully for nothing in return. Beaten horses, starved hoses, horses who no longer possess a spirit. They deserve to be loved and respected as much as humanly possible. Let them run free again. Let them no longer be a faithful beasts, but embrace them as you would a dear friend, for that is what they are. 

Nothing moves me more - when on the way to fetching in my mare in the morning - than the sound of her neighing to me as I open the gate. 

Famous Witty Horse quotations

My husband says, if I spend one more weekend at a horse-show, he'll leave me.  Darn - I'll miss him! 

My new horse was sold to me as a real gentleman to ride. He is. When we have to go over a fence, he insists on "ladies first". 

And finally, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, this is a very old saying that is not exactly true, because anybody that's ever been around horses would know if the horse didn't want to go to water then it wouldn't.

Famous Horse quotations

Here is a selection of famous quotes about Horses that will inspire you and make you think!

A horse is an angel without wings. 

A horse is like a violin. First it must be tuned, and when tuned, it must be accurately played. 

Feeling down? Saddle up, It is the only cure. 

He knows when you are happy. He knows when you are proud. He also knows when you have a carrot. 

Horses can't talk, but they can speak if you listen. 

How to ride a horse:

Step One - Mount the horse.

Step Two - Stay mounted. 

I have seen things so beautiful, that  they have brought tears to my eyes. Yet, none of them can match the gracefulness and beauty of a horse running free. 

BHS Exam Diary

The idea behind my exam diary blogs are to compile an online diary as I train towards my BHS instructor exams. 

Last month I turned 34 (oh boy I am approaching my mid thirties)!

I have ridden since the age of about five but slowly my priorities are changing as I enjoy teaching our little girl of four and a half to ride. I have heard it said that you can either teach or you can ride (professionally) and that you certainly cannot be excellent at both. How true this is I do not yet know.

I have owned three horses of my own over the past 24 years. A Shetland, my lovely Welsh Cob x Calypso who I recently lost after being blessed with 22 amazing years together, he was such fun and we really looked after each other all those years. I currently own Zassperella a stunning Appaloosa x Welsh who I have had since she was four months, she is now six years old. Zassy is a very different type of horse to Calypso and our temeperments often seem to clash. Calypso was a very laid back horse, however Zassy is a much more anxious and highly strung horse.

I have always been a confident (never over confident) steady sensible rider. However, since having our little girl I changed. It made me a much more cautious rider and over the past few years my confidence has been knocked on several occasions and I can now fully appreciate and understand what exactly confidence means when riding and the physical and mental affects of this when it is lost or knocked. And the importance of a good instructor in such situations.

I have a dream about teaching my little girl and other young children about the fun and enjoyment one experiences being around these lovely animals. The bond between horse and man is very great and can change peoples lifes and is a great thing during all walks and stages of life.

My exam training first started a few years ago I guess with my two day BHS First Aid Qualification (a course not for the faint hearted!).

This year I was recently awarded a BHS Approved Centre Qualification grant to help fund the cost of my exams, along with direct entry into stage two based on my years of experience. So, I set about having training locally from a BHS approved trainer and so far this summer I have successfully passed the BHS Riding and Road Safety Exam. After initially having to retake the simulated route, apparently this is not un-common for those who regularly ride on the road as everything is pretend! Imagine retaking your driving test years later, well that's a bit like how this felt, since the majority of my early riding was taught on the roads I really did not anticipate it being a problem. Basically I sped dangerously round a bend (a controlled trot round a grass bend, i'm used to schooling in a grass manage!!!) ho hum I had to learn the hard way).

I took my stage two exam at Trent Park Equestrian Centre, the horses were superb, a joy to ride (except for one which was like riding a charger into battle when you turned towards a jump). It was strange heading back into London for this exam having moved out to the COUNTRY six years ago! The weather was boiling, it was seriously summer in the city. I was very nervous the first half of the day which is very annoying as you look back. I must practice some yoga relaxation techniques. Anyway, I passed 7 out of the 9 sections which included the ridden flat work, not bad going. However, I do have to retake the jumping and anatomy. I have decided to use the sticky 'post it' technique to revise the anatomy and will be practising learning this in more depth over the coming weeks with my little girls rocking horse!

So, I have my stage to two sections to retake booked for September followed by my Stage 3 in October!

I will keep you posted x.

BHS Approval Commended

Pond House Livery has just passed it's annual inspection and our new rating certificate outlines the grades that have been awarded following the inspection. Our stabling has been awarded Commended!


Approval Rating Awarded July 2011


Customer Care - Approved
Working Procedures - Approved
Show Jumps - Approved
Stabling - Commended
Tack Room - Approved
Feed Room - Approved