Meet Sacha and Chester

Meet Sacha and Chester, Pink Equine's official sponsored combination.

Chester (Ches) - 16.3hh Warmblood - sire VDL Wellington (Grandsire Nimmedor) - 7 year old, rather a late starter in life, he is cheeky and is full of presence and ability. We are looking forward to hearing about all Sacha's trials and tribulations as she works to produce Chester for a career in Showjumping.

Sacha Kent, 21 based in Essex. Has been riding from a young age and enjoyed competing ponies over all manner of tracks, affiliated to the BSJA, progressing onto horses aged 14. Having ridden for owners for some 8 years she is now working full time and competes Ultimate Excess for her owner over British Novice and Discovery tracks whilst bringing on Chester with a view to BSJA classes late in 2009.

Week 8 - First Jump

This week has provided some high moments which I will never forget and am gutted there wasn't a camera around! BUT it also provided for some lows. Let me expand upon that point...

I began this week with more hacking, which Chester loves, he is really starting to relax and walk out which is fantastic. We had our first trot in the woods too which seems nothing more than trivial but I resembled much that of a Cheshire Cat for the rest of the day!

I also had a lesson at the beginning of the week. We had a new instructor, well new to Chester in any event, and I can honestly say I came away extremely positive. I really started to get that feeling I get out on a hack, in that he is starting to move away from the leg, shock horror, I even got some left bend on the left rein... which can only be described as our "gremlin" rein!
We even had a canter, which is something we haven't really done a lot of under saddle, so that, for me was just brilliant. We did a canter circle and it was so comfortable I just kept grinning but that was not all... we did some pole work in an effort to gain some variety in the trot, and what a lovely extended trot I got indeed! Although, we do need to work on collecting/shortening the trot... homework for this week...

However, as fun as the lesson was it wasn't until the pink Polyjump blocks come out that I realised that Chester and I were about to have our first jump!

We first tackled a cross pole in trot on both reins and Chester had such a sensible attitude it was extremely encouraging :) And... what pleased me more was that he actually jumped the obstacle rather than amble over it or jump excessively high! What's more was we even jumped the obstacle as an upright (albeit the grand sum of 2ft!) in canter no less! Cue more Cheshire Cat grins from proud Mummy on board, Chester seemed rather pleased with himself also.

Having had such a fantastic lesson, I decided to treat Chester to the following day off, save for lots of grooming and pampering of course!

My plan thereafter was to conclude the week with a mixture of hacking lunging and ridden work in the school/field. On Wednesday, Chester and I went out on a hack accompanied by his field mate Bertie and were going to go for a venture over to the common. Unfortunately, Chester slipped behind and his bottom disappeared underneath him and I disappeared out of the back door.

Unfortunately (for me), in Chester's attempts to get up, he managed to tread on my right arm and catch my back with one of his legs - OUCH!. Both myself and Chester are extremely lucky. I have no broken bones, just lots of bruising and swelling. Chester just had a small graze on his hock and a swollen cheek on his face, I think he must have caught it in his scramble to get up.
We could both have been a lot worse and I can honestly say that had I not have been wearing my back protector, things could have been a whole lot worse. I am also thankful that I religiously put boots on all fours. We have therefore just had to 'both' take the last couple days easy. I lunged Chester yesterday and he wasn't stiff at all which pleased me greatly. Unfortunately the weather has been less than desirable today so Chester has his wet weather gear on and has retired to his tree!

Never a dull day though, today's entertainment has come in the form of the little black and white cob breaking through the electric fencing and the others following having a jolly good old time on the resting grazing! Sadly Chester didn't choose to put in practice his newly acquired jumping skills - as - whilst I was trying to sort out the fencing and retrieve the unruly beasts, he was still standing the 'right' side of the electric fencing which was laying on the floor, puzzling just how exactly he was going to get the other side!

I emerged some 90 minutes later with electric fencing re-erected, said beasts in their rightful place and myself, I was soaked through and took a well earned HOT BATH!!

Until next week.

Sacha & Chester xxxxx

Week 7 - Scary Cyclist

Well, its been an interesting week this week to say the least.

I have hacked out with friends lots this week - Chester really enjoys his hacking and we are getting quite good at leg yielding across the road and I am, finally, starting to get a more consistent outline. I really feel that I have gotten somewhere this week, I think hacking will be very good for Chester, I am working on the theory "give him lots of new things to look at and he tends to concentrate more on my training" whereas at the moment in the menage he sees the same scary points and will be naughty just out of pure boredom. We had a lesson on Wednesday which wasn't particularly unsuccessful but was not one which I could cast as particularly successful either! Although it has to be said that Chester was not particularly naughty! The session did prompt a re-think.. a need for a different approach - hopefully I should be a little clearer on the exact approach next week. Horses are all about ups and downs and this cheeky 7 year old is intent on testing my ability to make sure things are never the same twice!

I have also been keen to do some lunging over fences to provide for a bit of variety for him and I am conscious that he doesn't see me arrive at the yard and think "oh no"! Chester enjoys his jumping sessions and is always keen but is proving very sensible which is very encouraging. I do like to see him jumping and I do like the fact that I see a happy horse jumping :D

We went out on one hack, and it didn't get off to the best of starts in that we met a cyclist and, having not met too many of those I politely requested said cyclist pause briefly in order that we may pass problem free. Unfortunately the cyclist clearly thought I was making a ludicrous request for the mere fun of halting him upon his journey.

Although, to the cyclists credit he did attempt to pass slowly. Chester was somewhat startled so I, again, requested for the cyclist to pause but again ignored my request. Chester didn't know what to do so we turned around and headed home rather more speedy than I perhaps would have liked. We paused on the driveway briefly to compose ourselves as I was rather startled by this time! Meanwhile, we had left our hacking partners to contend with the rude cyclist and then with his eyes on stalks Chester bravely made his way to the end of the drive and waited to be retrieved by our hacking partners.

We had a lovely hack, save for the heavy down pour followed by hailstones Chester was super. He wasn't particularly keen on the windscreen wipers and fortunately, unlike the cyclists, the few drivers that we did meet managed to decipher my waving arm as "please turn of windscreen wipers"! I was very grateful to them as Chester had been so very good throughout the downpour and was just super brave through all the puddles :D

Whilst relatively uneventful, the last few days out hacking have provided for somewhat of a breakthrough and I really think that Chester is starting to understand what it is that I intend for him and to me that's progress of every kind. I also think that the more we can get out hacking he won't resent the time spent being ridden in the school. I wouldn't, however have him any other way and I am just as sure of what we can achieve as the day I first sat on him... we might just have to take the longer route but that suits me just fine :D

xx

Week 6 - Killer Grass

Well this week has been rather sedentry in terms of work. Not wanting Chester to resent his time in the school I enlisted the help of Teddy and his rider Frankie, early in the week to accompany Chester and I out for a hack, having been out a couple of times on our own, I felt it was time for a "proper hack" beyond the end of the road. We also met up with a friend and her coloured show horse.

Teddy, being 13.2 is rather smaller than Chester but provided reassurance when needed. Part of our hack required a step up a little mound of grass as we went from the road to the common. Chester completely didn't get the idea and we very nearly landed in a heap, however with a bit of encouragement we both emerged on all fours unscathed!!!

The common itself though, was rather more scary being covered by rather long grass, whilst Teddy and Spider led the way Chester was taking rather a long time as every step began with a tap of the ground to check there were no monsters or holes that were going to eat him or swallow him up so with lots of "good boy" and "well done" we got the other side and made our way home...

My friend did question whether this was infact his first "proper hack" as he strolled home with no great urgency and we had to keep trotting to keep up with Teddy!!! The closer we got to home the closer his nose got to the floor!!! We have hacked out again and even trotted up the road, v proud moment for me... my boy trotting up the road listening to everything I was asking of him! He stood still as cars went by and didnt fidget an ounce.

We have also been lunging some more over fences and he just keeps impressing me more and more... he really does love him jumping. Which is just as well given my plans for him!!

I had a lesson again this week. Unfortunately it did not go as well as the last. Chester found the whole experience rather tedious so we had to keep thinking of new ways of keeping his overactive brain stimulated, but there were glimses of just how good he could be.

It would seem it takes more than the average to keep Chester interested, we are slowly discovering that you can't do the same thing twice in sucession as he will anticipate so lots of variety. We introduced poles into our lesson this week. The first trot over was rather an anticlimax with my grabbing a bit of mane and adopting a "self preservation" mode of riding only to come to a halt with the pole between his legs! Clearly Chester didn't feel it required any kind of effort!!! We introduced trotting poles one by one and it didnt phase him in the slightest, very encouraging!

So what have we learned this week, Chester has a rather overactive mind and variety would appear to be the key, schooling in the field lots of hacking and keep work in the school varied and short :D

We'll get there, it's not going to happen over night and as long as we do it in bitesize chunks then my horse will be happy and if he's happy so am I.

Until next week xxx

Week 5 - Menage a Deux

What a week it has been!!!

Chester has been having issues with our new menage so we decided to give him some company in the form of Bertie, yes Bertie being the brown and white pony who didn't much care for Chester's arrival in the beginning, although it would now appear that they have settled their differences and are frequently caught grooming each other!!!! Chester was super with a bit of company and we even introduced a little canter up the long side which could only be described as "all legs" - he did try hard though bless him, once up the long side was enough though. Bertie showed us both how it's done though :)

Tuesday saw my first trip south courtesy of Chester's back end!!! I think the situation was more of a misunderstanding than anything malicious! I asked for canter and got the most lovely extended trot, although not being quite what I had asked for, I asked again and Chester clearly thought that if it wasn't the aid for canter then it must be the aid for raise hind quarters as quickly as possible as Mum clearly would like to examine the surface a little closer!!! All was well and I got back on, Chester was a little perplexed at the whole event and proceeded as nothing had ever occurred!!!

This week also saw Chester meet his first jump on the lunge. He was extremely careful behind and very neat through his shoulder I am extremely encouraged. I will continue to introduce small obstacles on the lunge and I do hope he will continue to produce the WOW factor as we progress.

Our first lesson was had this week and proved to be extremely successful highlighting some development areas for us both individually and as a team as well as building on our strengths to help each other. I have been really encouraged with Chester's attitude to his work since arriving, he is keen to please but also just as keen to test your limits!!!!! Going right back to basics, starting with lesson number one "why do Mum's legs hang either side of me" - all is going well so far :D

Whilst this week has provided for some ups and downs (quite literally it would seem) it has also shown me, once again, why it was that I decided to take Chester on and just how good he could be.

xxx

Week 4 - The Menage is Ready

This week saw the finishing touches to the menage as well as some ups and downs for Chester and I.

We had the back lady out at the beginning of the week to complete Chester's health check which saw him get the all clear. He had a little tension over the left side of his rear but after a little bit of acupuncture, which he seemed to rather enjoy, all was well. Although, the back lady did refer to him as a spoiled Mummy's boy! Which I found rather comical!!! But rather true as Chester made as much noise as he possibly could in the stable next door while Mollie had her back seen to! He had a couple of chill out days following his back treatment.

Thursday saw his introduction to the new menage although he didn't share the same excitement as I did. He demonstrated his athleticism in protest of the A end of the school which provides for a fantastic view! Chester just can't see my enthusiasm! So the remainder of the week has seen the demise of yet another two bags of treats and miles walked on foot by myself with Chester in tow in an effort to convince him that he is unlikely to come to any harm whilst in the menage especially at the "road end" of the school. We had a successful lunging session which reassured me that the miles which had been walked around the school were not in vein.

We had a grooming session which went on for ages, I sat on the fence just chatting away to Chester, poor lad kept giving me looks of utter confusion at my ramblings!!! Although having run out of treat this session saw the demise of yet another packet of polo's! but I ended up climbing aboard him bareback from the fence :) it was great lots of cuddles and more brushing... a successful evening I feel.

Some would argue things have moved a little slowly whilst I feel that the building blocks of our partnership are being cemented which can only be a good thing going forward from now. Chester is a horse which I hold high hopes for and this is just the beginning of forever :)

We are having a lesson tomorrow so more to report on that next week... I am also itching to free-school Chester over some fences so maybe we can put those acrobatics into practice :)

Week 3 - First Trip on the Road

This week has been exciting because the vet paid a visit on Wednesday morning and did his teeth... he was a little confused and had a look which we added the caption "Mum, why has my head gone all fuzzy!!!" so his teeth are all done now and we are set to go :)

The menage where we are stabled is nearly finished so the real work will start then!!! I can't wait... all he wants to do is please and be around me and that is why I think he is going to be super!

We seemed to have developed a new game this week, Ches likes to paw the ground, only there is one problem, I HATE it!!! So I took to catching his leg when I was around at which point he would nod his head twice and put his leg down! And then he would do it again, much to the amusement of the others on the yard only for me to realise later that its just a game!!!

Chester's wounds are healing well... much of that is owed to the trusty purple spray and sudacrem! However Ches now has a rather purple nose as he is rather inquisitive as I was to find out when I introduced him to the little clippers!!! So much so that he is now whiskerless!!! !!!!

I decided that it was time for Chester to learn what is beyond the driveway and where all these cars who keep driving past the yard actually went to!!!!! The process started yesterday where it took some persuasion to leave the confines of the yard but after telling Chester just how much the showjumper he looked with all his gear on (complete with our new jumping saddle) he was only happy to oblige, especially when I told him about all the posh young fillies over the road, so we strutted up the road like he'd been doing it years!!! Until a horse-eating leaf blew across the road with only intention of eating him!!! However. once we emerged beyond the leaf unscathed we made a fair way before deciding we'd better conclude whilst the going was still good!!!

Sunday saw Chester venture all the way along the road, this time we did not meet any horse-eating leaves but asides from the odd car or two we met a lorry... which clearly meant we should turn around and go home!! however, after telling him that I'd treat him to an extra big dinner when we got back that seemed to be enough to persuade him!!!

However, little did I know that the lorry would be the least of my worries!!! we had the ford to contend with next! However, the ford proved to be extremely uneventful although we had to stop and paw the water and then spook at the splash it made!!!! - oh how worried I was that I was going to end up very wet!!! Then a car was traveling behind us, that didn't phase Ches but he would not stand still so we carried on walking until we got to a driveway where we watched the car pass and then turned around and made our way home... only the ford would prove a little more troublesome this time around, 15 minutes I spent trying to persuade him that this was the only way home, just as I was about to resign myself to walking home we were rescued by a 13.2 grey cobby :) we made it home in time for a well deserved bath which he thoroughly enjoyed. And I got very wet too as Ches likes to pick up the hose and soak me from head to toe!!!

Next week will see our first lesson and some proper work for Ches... until next time :)

Week 2 - Bumps and Bruises all round

Well, firstly, I can't believe that Chester arrived 2 weeks ago! It seems like he has been here forever, he is now feeling very at home! The Chester who has been known and loved since birth is starting to grace the yard! He is cheeky, inquisitive and most of all, he is extremely impatient! He cannot bear to think that he would have to wait for my affections neither does he see it fit that I should retrieve any other horse from the field other than himself, that only provides for a few extremely guilt provoking looks and what can only be described as noise!!!! However, I am just so pleased that he is now looking at this whole experience as home because I can assure you, I can't see myself parting with him!!!!

This week has been relatively uneventful in terms of any escapades! Chester came in mid-week with a nasty kick, deep enough to cause myself almighty worry but not quite serious enough to warrant any veterinary attention! Although, if a very good friend of mine hadn't talked some sense into me then I do ponder as to what my exact course of action would have been, vet down the road or ship him straight to Newmarket!!!! Ok, so the label of overprotective mummy could well be justified!!! There was no heat so, I resorted to some cold hosing together with separating a section of the field for him to go out on his own and ensure that it was likely to attract some electric current!! Thankfully the fence seems to have stayed where it was erected. The cut has started to heal well only for swelling to appear on the knee. Again, no heat so just lots of cold hosing for twice a day and lots of extra kisses and cuddles, which Chester does not seem to have had any objection to! In fact, it seems to have rather boosted his ego which, I have to admit, is quite large!

He has had a relatively easy week this week to allow for the swelling and the cut to settle. However, what work he has done, he has been a dream, like he has been doing it for years which has made me even more the proud mommy!!! I am pleased to say that I have found a mounting block that isn't the fence it's a garden chair… and the only alternative I can find at this time! I have set my Father the task of constructing a suitable mounting block! I have even progressed to getting on without having lunged him first… which was not at all eventful as one would have expected! I'm sure I will be graced with Chester's acrobatics at some time or other!

One would have to mention Chester's introduction to the hose, well more that he felt that it was I who needed the introduction; he picked it up and soaked me and then proceeded to turn my trying to retrieve said hose into a game of tug of war!!! I was most grateful… not! And then there was my trip across the yard courtesy of Chester… he was merely displaying his dissatisfaction that head rubs are few and far between (he just does not realize quite how big he is!) he managed to catch me with my back to him and just nudge me across the yard!!! Once I had regained all orientation I did find the incident quite funny and Chester's expression was just priceless and can only be described as "…oops!"

So… back lady Tuesday and vet Wednesday to do teeth (with sedation!) and ménage nearly completed, I think we could be all set… providing that the swelling continues to decrease and the cut does not decide to announce itself as troublesome!

Sacha & Chester x

Week 1 - Chester Arrives

WOW, what a week... When Chester, potential superstar showjumper!, arrived, he demonstrated just why I fell for him a month or so ago having made the 3 hour (or so!) journey to meet him. He walked casually to the base of the ramp and provided me with a brief moment for that first cuddle before proceeding to snort at his new surroundings!

Standing in his stable still trying to work out quite what exactly was going on having lived a life of relative peace and tranquility for the best part of 7 years!

To add to his confusion he was lead to a new field with some rather strange looking mates. Three of which, after an amount of squealing and raised heels, seem to rather accept his arrival. However, the remaining one, a relatively new arrival himself, seems rather more put out by Chester's arrival only Chester is dealing with any signs of disatifaction by retreating to "his tree" sleeping!!!

Monday saw my excitement and impatience get the better of me and I retrieved my new arrival from the field to spend rather an extended amount of time grooming him (going through two packets of Lincoln Horse Treats in the process) and proceeded to fetch his rather new looking set of kit! Starting with his boots... some funny moments were demonstrated and we proceeded to make several attempts in placing the bridle in its rightful place, only for Chester to demonstrate just how tall he really is... although I did succeed in the end! I lunged him in a small grass paddock. I expected there to be a bit of excitement with him being in a new environment and all, how disappointed I was! Chester was more interested in coming to say "hi"!!! Although he did, again, demonstrate the power which I had felt when I sat on him for the first time - I did have to smile to myself now that he was finally home. All was well however there was disatisfaction at the presence of some thistles in his path and he proceeded to rather obviously step round them or demonstrate the jumping ability which we all hope he will fulfill!

To sit on him for the first time at home was a feeling in itself, having tried and failed to find a mounting block tall enough for me to climb aboard, I resorted to using the fence which only added to Chester's confused minndset regarding the events of the last 48 hours! However, despite being rather confused at my request I was aboard what a feeling, my horse was home, my horse was happy and I was on board... what a day!

We have had a visit from the farrier this week, Chester was a very good boy and really did do his "look at me routine" although quickly got bored of posing and resorted to entertaining himself by attempting to remove my poor farrier's chaps!

In terms of training this week has been very much a "get to know each other" week and progress seems to have been made with Chester now following me like a dog, esecially if he thinks there are sweeties in it for him! I have continued to lunge him and get on him briefly (literally just walks and a little bit of a trot round).

He was due to be attended to by the dentist but we will require a visit from the vet before any further work can be done, all was well but the rasping proved a little much and not wanting to create any negative experiences for him it was decided that it was best left for dopey time!!! But very proud of the way he has coped with the events of this week and would be delighted if we could continue as we have begun. We will carry on as we have been until the dentist has attended to his teeth fully.

Until next time,

Sacha & Chester xx

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