A CHANGE OF PLAN....

After getting the times to ride at sykehouse we realised we wouldnt be able to get there so unfortunately we pulled out and moved on to a more local jumping competition at epworth, to jump 2 small classes seen as jayde and molly havent jumped since december.

Although the trailblazers dressage is all over for our family we carry on been positive anyway took jayde in first class and she was really good and we came 5th overall, and then in the next she jumped brill too and tapped a pole which came off the cup on one side and balanced on top of the pole below it so just four faults for that.

Anyway Leona then jumped Molly who was quite lazy but she got round and did fairly well in both classes. I think Leona is riding both Jayde and Mol in trailblazer jumping this sunday at Willerby however i won't be there as i'm off on the return visit of the belgium exchange, so for now take care.

Laura Salmon.

WILLERBY HILL 2ND ROUND COMPETITION.....

On Saturday we had an early start knowing that Leona was riding at 9.52am and i was at 10.06 am, so we had to be up to get ready for Willerby, and the atmosphere was good and everything was cleaned and carefully prepared.

Leona when we got there only had 15mins to warm up and was soon in arena one ready to perform the test prelim 16 but Molly was feelingg quite lazy and didnt give much impulsion and leona scored 54% and came 21st.

I was fairly worried how Jayde would go, as she had only been back in work 10 days and these competitions need much more time to practice than that. but in the warm up ring something clicked and she came good, in the arena i felt it went well but not well enough to have qualified as we had a couple of mistakes which didnt seem like big ones to the ordinary untrained eye but i knew they were, but we still got 63.5% and came 13th place.

No qualifications but for me and jayde quite a successful trip and we have sykehouse on sunday to try and make our last attempt to get through, wish us luck.

Laura Salmon x

MY LESSON WITH TRACY....

Last night after college i went down to the yard (which was very muddy) only to dsicover i had no jodpurs lol, so i had to ride in the jeans i was wearing which was mmmm different, especially trying to fit my chaps and spurs over them.

i was expecting Tracy at 6 so saddled Jayde up at quart to and got on to work her in and practice before she got here, but as normal she was late and didnt turn up til half 6, jayde was leaning on her left shoulder quite badly at first but to try and improve this we practiced turns on the haunches which helped with that a little bit, after settling her down in the canter we took Jayde through prelim 16 the test for the weekends regional finals and Tracy thought it went rather well apart from eveytime she struck off in right canter she was on the wrong lead so we spent the rest of the lesson practicing this, and Tracy advised we concentrated on this in training for the rest of the week until the competition. Overall we were all pleased with Jaydes behaviour in the lesson. And molly spent another relaxing night in her stable doing nothing as leona couldn't be bothered......

Laura x

Good morning,

i wasn't going to post this morning but i thought i would let you know how the weekend went.
On saturday Jayde was much better and seemed to enjoy going through Prelim 16, and we got quite far on with it especially seen as it rained heavily, as always.
And yesterday we managed to learn the test completely, and trained alongside Leona and Molly. Jaydes leaning in quite badly on her left shoulder, a result of her injury, however i'm hoping an hour with Tracy tonight at six, which will hopefully sort it out.

I'm really getting quite excited now, remembering how i love the show season spring - autumn. I would of liked a little more training time but it can't be helped and we're going to do our best. Will probably post once more before regionals, but don't hold your breath, i'm very busy.

Laura Salmon x

A QUICK UPDATE....

I got down on Wednesday night as you know and Jayde was really full of herself and i mean really, so put her on the lunge and that didnt manage to get it out of her Tracy is really busy so cant get her until next week, so we've almost cut out all of jaydes energy food, so shes on 75% bulk, to try and settle her.

i havent started learning prelim 16 yet, which is quite a worry, but i will definately start this weekend whether jayde is misbehaving or not, then i have to learn prelim 13, for the Sykehouse Regionals a week later, which hopefully we will be in better form.

I can't get down today but my grandad is putting her on the lunge for 20 mins and taking her out which will hopefully keep her well, until tomorrow when we are doing extensive training, 20 mins on lunge and at least 1 hour of practice and the same on sunday... if i dont have a hangover.

The willerby entries are all filled in and are waiting on the kitchen side to be posted, which i will do tonight and then i have to get the sykehouse ones filled in, i've forgotten how busy Shows make you all through the week not just the day itself of the day before! i need to wash jaydes mane and tail and plait her up next friday....

Anyway so long...

Laura Salmon x

BACK ON THE BALL......


Finally yesterday i got back on a very hyperactive jayde, she was lovely in walk but her trot has somewhat to be desired, so i stuck her on the lunge to get rid of some of that excess energy, she had a really good buck lol. but settled down, when i got back on her she was lovely. then i hosed her leg down for the 2nd time she has ten mins twice a day before and after exercise.

The vet is giving her a check up today when she gives Molly her flu and tetanus jabs, and i'm catching the bus from school to the yard so i can give her some extra training to get as good as possible before the 3rd & 11th march, regionals. I'm also hoping to get a lesson with tracy on the next 3 fridays for additional help with jayde.

so i'll let you know how jayde is either tomorrow or friday.

Hasta Manana

Laura Salmon. xx

GOOD NEWS JAYDE HAS RECOVERED FROM HER INJURY...

it's been more than a month since i last posted but i've been so busy had my exchange student marie over before that and on a skiing trip for the last week so i didnt have the time, Jayde is fine and back into her training programme which is just as well seen as the regionals are only 2 weeks away, we are doing prelim 16 and we reallly need to get the entries off and learn it.

Jayde's leg is still slightly swollen but the vet said she's fine to resume into her normal training and she's wearing boots in the field for protection, shes definately full of energy and things will be back in full busy swing on tuesday.

i just can't wait i'm so excited 2 regionals in consecutive weeks before i head off to belgium the other way and when i return it will be already mid season, actually i think its going to be a good one.

Laura Salmon x

TODAY I THOUGHT I'D QUICKLY POST....

To let you all know how well Jayde is doing, the swelling has almost gone completely and the 26th doesn't seem impossible however due to a belgium exchange the competition on the 3rd of feb is off, however here's a tinkle into my schedule so far-

March 4th - regional finals at willerby

march 11th regional finals at sykehouse

April 15th- Hunter trials at bagmoor park

anyway i have to go because i have double english literature now, Take Care

Laura Salmon

x

UPDATE ON JAYDE'S INJURY....

Hi it's two days since i last updated this blog, well i went down to see Jayde yesterday and her leg was looking a bit better, the swelling has relieved slightly and she doesn't appear to be in pain anymore which is always good. she's taking her bute through a syringe and her antibiotics in her food, which has had to be cut down not forage but concentrates due to her lack of work, i think she will definately be back in by january 26th in flat work and possibly jumping by the middle of march. So it's looking Good.

Well i'm staying home today to get my College work done, and chill out, because i'm working later but i'll leave you with a pretty pic from us in october at Willerby in the 75cm Qualifier (above left)

Take Care

Laura Salmon x

VETINARY REPORTS FROM TODAY & TUESDAY...

As you know unfortunately my partner for the trailblazers jayde became injured recently and in the last week has made two trips to the vets. On tuesday Jaydes leg was still very swollen and she recieved a pain killing injection, antibiotics and but and booked in for a return appointment today. My grandparents made the trip with jayde because i was at school. The vet is pleased with the progress that she's made and has decided there is no tendon or serious damage which is a relief because when your best friend becomes ill everything goes through your mind, believe me, and she will stay on the antibiotics and but until the course runs out of course depending on how her leg is.

Tomorrow i will go up to the yard and see how she is, i'm hoping her recovery will not be one which drags on because i am already missing riding her even though i am riding some of the other horses.

I will keep you informed.

Laura Salmon x

HAPPY NEW YEAR...2007!

Well i hope everyone had a good xmas and a happy new year i did, but sadly i'm back at college now preparing for my AS levels.

Unfortunately Jayde is injured putting our training for the up coming 2nd rounds on march 4th & 11th back at least 2 weeks, she was taken to the vet today because she was in pain and her left foreleg was swolen round her fetlock joint, and the vet gave her a painkilling injection and some anti biotics to help the swelling go down, she said it is likely there is no serious damage or damage to tendons or ligaments and she has to go in again on friday for a check up,hopefully she will be back in work by January 26th, so keep your fingers crossed i can't deal with bad luck.

Molly is well and leona is putting a little more time and extra effort into training her until jayde is back in work i am riding other people from the yards horses which is always a nice change.

Well our first show will be at willerby hill on February 3rd, and i'm
hoping it will be a great opening and practice for what lies ahead of us in my last junior season.

Laura Salmon x

SUM UP OF WILLERBY & 2006.

We arrived safely at Willerby hill at 9.30 am last sunday ready for a day of competitive jumping however unfortunately it was not to be our day, we all had a great warm up and because i was working i did 75 in stead of 95cms and heres what happened, jayde started off nicely but then had 3 poles down knocking us out and molly wouldnt jump a second part of double at all :-( then we reframed our minds for 85cms and i was first to go, jayde started off beautifully but as we turned for jump 3 the jump wasnt up! so i had to stop and no one knew what was going on so i looked like an idiot finally the jump was up but not on properly and jayde lost her rythym and we caught it we also had a nother pole down when she stumbled in the middle of the double, i wasnt exactly unhappy with this performance though, infact pleased at her efforts. Molly just basically wouldnt jump a huge spread burning her out of the competiton....

Now the horses have a rest until 14th jan or maybe the 3rd of February pending and its a good time to train and get ready for next year and the upcoming trailblazer second rounds which are ever on my mind. The low of the year for me was definately
August where we got eliminated in both jumping phases of a ode and only got 43.5% in the dressage, my lowest ever and the high for me has been coming 2nd in junior and 4th overall in a trailblazer qual with 64.5% and getting to those second rounds and a step closer to the finals.

it's been quite an eventful year to us but as ever the road to the finals next august goes on and so does my riding, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy new Year! i hope 2007 brings you all the luck you want & need as for myself, See you next Year!!!!

Laura Salmon x

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU WHAT GETTING TO THE FINALS WOULD ME TO ME.....

If Jayde and I get through to the finals at Regionals in March, i would be exstatic, it would mean all the hard work we have put in has paid off and i would be so pleased, i would finally of accomplished a good thing in my junior dressage year and it would make me the happiest person alive and behind all of this would be me and Jayde. Proud.

BACK TO NOW...

It's the day before the final show of the year 2006 and i'm hoping it goes out with a bang as we hopefully get to regionals in jumping 85cms/95cms. Today i'm going to really work jayde to give us as much chance at willerby tomoro and Leona will be doing the same, wish us Luck!

Laura Salmon

RETURN TO RAINY DAYS....

it's afternoon on tuesday and it's rainy cancelling another training session with Jayde, so instead i thought i would come on here and update you about epworth club show, and about other bits and pieces.

Saturday 10th, Despite our concerns Molly was fine to go to Tickhill along with Jayde, It was a very icy and frosty morning and the wind was very chilly, so we had to go slower than anticipated, so it took us 2hrs + to get there meaning we missed the pairs relay. But we made it for our team with Elaine and Emma and Leona and I. Jayde jumped a lovely clean round and our team came 6th! and So i decided to Gymkhana which was funny, but jayde was a star and took everything in her stride, flags, posts, swinging letters, and our team came 3rd. Then we was awarded the prizes and selection boxes and we travelled home back to southdale in under 2 hrs.

Sunday, it was raining again, so leona and i just lunged Jayde and Molly and they both went well even if molly needed more encouragement to move and jayde less, it was cold and dark so we fed them and jayde went in for the night.

Well today it's raining, only just brightening up and i have been at colllege this morning, doing my work, in French, Biology and English, and i intended to ride but the weather was so horrid i decided against it, and watched my fave tv show ever Strictly come Dancing and it takes two.

I will update you later in the week before we go to willerby hill this weekend to close the year.
Laura Salmon x

first post of December!


This week i have been very busy with college work and reviews, not so much with work, but i've still been getting down to the yard often, as we have Epworth Club Christmas show at Tickhill arena tomorrow.

It's a 2 hr drive to Tickhill and Molly has come down with a cough but we are keeping our fingers crossed that she is fine to go and also that jayde doesnt come down with it too, it should be a great show with a good atmosphere.

I've got to get a map as we have never been there before but that adds to the pre show build up! My Grandma and i are off to lunch to discuss the plans and packing for tomorrow, she is checking molly out this morning and lunge jayde to keep her calm and fit.

well i'll update you all on sunday after the show.

bye for now,
Laura Salmon x

WILLERBY HILL CHRISTMAS DRESSAGE SHOW & TRAILBLAZER QUALS....

Fridays session went not so well and i was very anxious about this mornings performance,in the warm up jayde was very welled tuned and listening for once and i felt really good about nailing prelim 10, i went in and smiled most of the time jayde was fab and we scooped a fantastic 64.54% and took 2nd in the junior section and 4th in the combined section, i won a medal, a rosette and of course my much wanted qualification...regional finals here i come yay! the rossette is red and white and gorgeous and says mey xmas on it lol.

prelim 14, molly went lovely and they looked great and leona got 58.52% and cruised in at 6th place and jayde not so polished this time got 56.54% and took 8th place, and those score cards and rossettes are in the post...

overall it's been a wonderful day and things are looking up for us....

Laura Salmon x

TUESDAYS LESSON....IT DIDNT COMPLETELY RAIN FOR ONCE!

So, tuesday had arived time for some tuition once again.... and in our arena new flood lights have been put up so i expected her to be a bit shy aswell as afte having mondaY off but for the first 35mins she was unpredictable one minute she was complying the next she was going mental, and tracy took me through one of the tests but jayde was just messing around so TRacy got on her for ten mins to give her the business, when i got back on she was much better and we finished on a positive note. Tracy advised i cut her feed down and lunged her the days i couldnt ride...

So today my Gran is going to lunge her with side reins on for 45 mins, as i'm woking tonight all though it would appear i have caught a bug maybe the flu and am having the day off college, work is undecided...

On Friday i intend to ride her for 1h 30mins or until she settles down, so she is good and ready for saturdays competition at Willerby hill.

Laura Salmon x

THE WEEKEND RIDING SESSIONS... SAT & SUN,

On saturday and sunday Jayde was much better behaved and i manged to run through the tests a couple of times which went relatively well, on saturday her canter was like a dream and she went fabulously well,
Hopefully the road for us is clear !!!!!!!

Laura x

FRIDAYS LESSON WITH TRACY....

Well the weather disliked us again yesterday and in our lesson with tracy it rained and the wind blew but we carried on.

Having missed my tuesday riding spot with jayde due to obscene hours of working Jayde had a little too much energy and took ages to settle down.

By the end of the lesson she had calmed down and now we are focusing on the WH quals for dressage on the 25th Nov. We've sent our entries off today and i am doing prelim 10 and prelim 14 and leona just 14.

Today i am hacking her out before practicing dressage so it wont all get to her head too much, she has to remember she has her winter break coming up soon, so i need all the training and practice now for the 3 last competitions this year accumalating in christmas SJ.

Thats all for now

Laura Salmon x

ROUND UP OF JUMPING AT WH....


On Sunday ~Morning we were up bright and early for trailblazers quals at WH, leaving the yard at 08.30 am, not really much to pack as we'd packed the car in the nights before. When we arrived after 1hr's drive, we went straight and entered. Molly in 75cms as a main class and Jayde in 75cms as a warm up. Molly went fairly well until she did a dead stop at the water tray and Leona managed to slip off. Jayde on the other hand flew round nicely but caught the rail on number 6! No quals there. Leona took Jayde in 85cms to get some experience of bigger classes and again Jayde had one rail down :-(. After that i went for my main class 95cms and Jayde jumped lovely over the first 4 jumps but then stopped at some wall fillers which was daft because she'd already jumped them and i ended up on her neck which knocked her confidence. After that she would jump it and it was the end of the road for us.

Not too disheartened we travelled safely home to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead of us.

Laura Salmon x