Its all been a bit quiet

Its all been a bit quiet on the blogging over the summer so please forgive me but you can stay in touch with whats been happening though My FB page and the Team page and also the LUFT page.

https://www.facebook.com/Orchardholding
https://www.facebook.com/gaelann
https://www.facebook.com/legupfortalent

My New website is https://gaelanneast.wixsite.com/mysite

Its all been a bit quiet on the blogging over the summer so please forgive me but you can stay in touch with whats been happening though My FB page and the Team page and also the LUFT page.

https://www.facebook.com/Orchardholding
https://www.facebook.com/gaelann
https://www.facebook.com/legupfortalent

First RoR Q of 2016

Clever ‪#‎exracer‬ getting a joint prelim 2nd with his ‪#‎WackyRacer‬ team mate and getting a rosette to match Kelly Equine ‪#‎ambassador‬ colours

Renapur and RenaSan Legupfortalent in action

First of all a bit thank you to everyone who has liked the Wacky Racers Team page and followed our ups and downs to date on Facebook. 

As always we need your continued support as we search for our perfect supporting partners 

The team is eager to get out there and go promo-tastic as well as raising brand awareness via social media.

Starting 2016 in style: 

Alfie entered his first BD DTM and competed in his first BD Winter Regionals. 

Closely followed by our first Wacky Racers Team Quest outing of 2016 and Alfie's first ever My Quest class.

8 months ago I started the page along with my Legupfortalent journey.

We drew the the Snuggy Hoods...for smart horses Travel Set Giveaway winner. 

Big Thanks to RenaSan / Renapur for supporting the Legupfortalent stars 

http://www.renasan.co.uk
http://www.renapur.com

Over the last three months I have been trying to gather up some pennies to help with my equine bills So the leather work had some Renapur TLC before posting out to the winning bidders  


My tack was looking very smart and super shiny for the BD Winter Regionals  
All the the rest of the tack has also had a much needed polish as well


My show boots and chaps got a shine as well 



The work boots and work chaps got a lovely polish before we headed off teaching for the afternoon. 









This is what happens when Nick East neglects the cats and doesnt feed them on time. 
Mrs East starkers after lovely warm shower admiring horrid spotty face in the bathroom mirror to suddenly feel deep pain as the black furry one miss times jumping up onto my shoulders for some attention....... I felt the claws get stuck into my side.. more ouchy 


Today's job for RenaSan was for a bullied chuck. Poor thing just 'cause she looks different !!

rescue the bridle rope

Decided to get the Ninja a spare bridle rope so we have one in the trailer ready for our travels

I need to rescue the bridle rope but I ain't putting my fingers anywhere near those claws.

Interesting Family History

My racing claim to fame
G Clancy was my Great Grandad

Position	Name	Jockey
01	Glenside	Jack Anthony
02	Rathnally	Robert Chadwick
03	Shady Girl	G Clancy

The 1911 Grand National was the 73rd official steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse 24 March 1911.

The only moving images of the race turned up in a London auction in 2007, found by Angus Loughran, and first shown to the public in a BBC documentary "THE BIG FLUTTER: THE GRAND NATIONAL ON FILM" in 2011. 

Torrential rain caused many riders to fall. Twenty two out of the twenty six runners failed to finish.

 Shady Girl with my Great Grandad came 3rd 

Check out the video 1911 Race

Cracking the Novice 22 Code

Feeling much more confident with Nov 22 for tomorrow.
Last weekend we were travelling to the show with headlights on this time we will coming back in the dark.
Good to see shows well attended, Hope Alfie wont mind getting his dinner late smile emoticon

Yesterday was a very good session. The arena we share was super busy, Alfie not only had to go round lots of jumps but also pass lots of others working. This is really good practice for him. It did take a while to get him out of tight back I am on a mission mode but he did soften in his overall frame eventually and didn't tighten his neck up at the start. Without the short choppy steps I could ride him more forward and stay quieter myself.

We had a head bobbing moment when he decided to try and test me and he almost got me fiddling ! It wasn't a head shaking episode just a bobbing away from the contact moment so we went into a bridge rein to allow me to hold my contact still and waited for him to settle/give him.

Last weekend I rode the two half 10m circles atrociously so that was the mission of the night. By jove we did get it and if i say so myself they were super !!! We even used the jumps as markers to ride round and Alfie stayed calm, although that may have been tired rather than calm !!

So tomorrow I need to remember speed is not necessary.
Check out my next post to see how I will ride them

B – Half Circle Left 10 Metres Diameter to X
X – Half Circle Right 10 Metres Diameter to E

Master the 10m circle first then ride through the half 10m circles
Count the beats to help with the rhythm. I also like to say what I am riding in time with the striding for example Look sit up left bend X look sit up right bend.

I need to show the judge Alfie can stay soft in his back. Maintain rhythm through the turns
Softness shows relaxation.

My aim is to maintain lightness in my aids.
Use half halts in prep for every turn section.
Look where we are going. I need to know I am sure where I am going so Alfie knows where he is going

A little collection rather than speed without wobbly errors at X to give us time to prep for the second movement

Think about keeping mine and the horse’s shoulders level.
Inside leg to maintain the bend but also be ready to catch if he drifts out through the left shoulder.
Level hands are important this also helps me keep my elbows tidy
I must not collapse on the turn sections. I don't want my horse to mimic me

Good Luck everyone that has a test this weekend with this movement in it.
Why not share your stories with us and let us know how you get on.

Renapur polish

Just enough time to give the boots/chaps a clean and a Renapur polish before heading off to teach this afternoon 

Marching on

March started off rather damp

Coming in from the field it was time to change that drab wet face to the happy cheerful face thanks to our BoT rug.
The fabric reflects body heat in the form of infrared heat radiation.

With rain stopping play we did some more syringe therapy.

Old wormer syringe tied onto leadrope near headcollar.
Cant barge me, cant get away from it. Works a treat smile emoticon
Then came the carrots. He liked that bit

He soon stood still and let me fiddle with the tube next to his mouth.

Wacky Racers Feb Outings

21.02.16 Wacky Racers went off to Wellington Riding 

Alfie decided to roll in the muddiest patch possible in the morning so we couldnt get all the mud out of his mane. 

No worries he had winter hair length so time for a quick haircut and hope no one minds no plaits

He was tight through his back and a little unsettled in his contact using his old saddle. We had some teeth grinding in the tests but as always he tried his heart out in both N24 for the team and P12 for My Quest points

The main arena was fabulous to warm up in and I was really pleased with how Alfie went into the old indoor school and worked well. The old indoor has a spooky open corner where humans can suddenly popped up, luckily no pop ups to contend with in our tests but he still had a gd look over the wall as he went past just in case.

27.02.16 Wacky Racers went off to Checkendon EC

N24 again, not an easy one. Lots of movements to keep the mind busy and lots to concentrate on. 
What a difference a change of saddle makes. 
Much happier Alfie horse today, even if the cheeky monster anticipated his canter trot canter and only just about showed the judge trot steps.


I don't tend to go over to this centre in the winter as the warm up and car park areas are very tight on space. 

Luckily our team tests were on at the end of the day so after the few competitors in front of us were finished we had enough room in the warm up to push on and back through some working and medium exercises 

Second Open section with three riders so no drop score available. Well Done Team 

And now we have new Team Quest Colours from Kelly Equine to show off.
Mumaathel was sparkling his way round N24  

Sharon keeping an eye on Mumaathel's test whilst Lenny checks out the camera pointed at him.
Great pic from the Wacky Racers Quest Club BD outing today at the Checkendon Equestrian Centre
Pic taken by Elina Helenius

Saddles for Feb Dressage

We went off to meet our Saddler at Padbury. As I am not the straightest of humans I like to use one of my instructors when looking at changing or altering saddles. Because Louise rides everyday and rides many different horses she has a better feel than I do of what is going on underneath her. 
Three saddles and mine to have a look at. 
The Fairfax didn't sit well so we didn't try that one ridden. 
The Harry Dabbs was a reserve to try in case the Albion didnt work. 

We tried the Albion before we looked at adjusting my own Crown Saddle. It just look so much better on him we rode in that one first. Straight away Alfie lifted and stretched his shoulders with an impressive stride length.

We went back into my old my saddle just to make sure a new one was the right decision. A new saddle it was. Alfie looked uncomfortable and tight almost unsound on the right hind using his old saddle 


28.02.16 We went off to Threeways to join the Katie Johnston Clinic and to show off our new saddle
Hindsight is a marvelous thing. 
My poor boy has been trying to tell me something wasnt right. Over the last few weeks enough was enough, he was looking on/off lame and generally uncomfortable.
What a difference a saddle change makes.

The changes were too late for the Regionals but omg it just goes to show how much he tried his heart out on that day.
The day before the lesson we took Alfie to a show but we had a lot of teeth grinding, the only difference to the lesson was a very thin half pad. I thought I was doing the right thing using a half pad to soften the feel over his back whilst he was a little sore but he must like the closeness of the correctly fitting saddle.
In the lesson no half pad just simple saddle cloth and new saddle and he was a great; no grinding, no lameness, positively reactive and listening to the rider's aid and straight.

Rider now needs to learn how to ride in new saddle which is very straight cut with not a lot of knee roll. But it makes my legs look longer and makes me sit up and stay quieter.
Looking forward to next weeks competition .....
N22 here we come.

Brand Ambassador

Prefect Feb news

We have been selected as Brand Ambassadors for Kelly Equine

The Orchard Holding and Wacky Racers Adventures

I have been campaigning for support via the LUFT team scheme I belong to but I have to admit this month has been increasing frustrating with companies leaving me hanging for decisions. 
On a positive note they haven't said no. 

I am seeing all my lovely friends on the scheme gather momentum with their supporters and I have to admit to feeling a little left behind

Then came the message from Kelly Equine that we had been selected. 
Delighted is an understatement. I was jumping up and down like a kangaroo on hot coals. What a boost to my confidence. I can do this !

Let me introduce you to Kelly Equine
Kelly Equine was launched in 2014 with owner Esme at the tender age of 14 making stylish and top quality browbands 
Riders from all over the world are wearing these stunning browbands.
www.kellyequine.co.uk

I have also been on Google + and Pinterest and Sway for a while. I thought it was about time I started using Twitter and Instagram

Now we are Brand Ambassadors thought I would give it go.
I do love to talk so the character limit was a bit challenging to begin with but I am getting the hang of it now...
what do you think ?

Scruffy horse didn't want to come in from the field to be plaited. Saved by posh @KellyEquine browband

Turmeric + Spirulina = Team Quest coloured nose to match new browband tomorrow @KellyEquine ‪#‎bespoke‬ ‪#‎browband‬ 

Even the Ninja got himself a Twitter video and a few posts

Nice and relaxed with ‪#‎prokalm‬ looking forward to getting out and about

Looking better thanks to @Feedmark Sarvoid

Spring is getting closer

Spring is getting closer

Although the boys don't technically suffer from Laminitis I am always aware of the Ninja's sensitivities and footiness.  

Laminitis is an extremely common disease, and the consequences mustn't be ignored. Our old jumping mare was misdiagnosed a long time ago and unfortunately I have witnessed the pedal rotation and the pain it can cause. 

Laminitis has many triggers and the Ninja is on as close to a natural diet as I can get him onto. Being in light work he only has a small fibre based feed to mix in supplements. He is quite greedy so a lovely messy mash also slows him down.
The Ninja is also very insecure in himself and often gives the I am left out look so if his field mate gets a feed its good to be able to give him a small bucket to. 

I am always very aware that we have excess weight bearing, we are still looking a but too tubby even coming out of winter. Hopefully once the ground dries up work can restart our fitness together.

His feet do take in a lot of moisture when the ground is wet so he often looks unsteady on his feet until they dry out and harden off. The thing I have to be careful of is bruising, this often comes with a full pulse. We have Rebound and Field paste on hand  for when needed. The soft sole can lead to infection, but so far, so good, just some bruising.

We had a few good sessions round the roads before the rain came back and hopefully it looks like we are ready to travel again !!!! 
20.02.16 Despite the Feb weather we ventured out with the Ninja for a 2016 plod. What to expect I had no idea. Was this a bit crazy considering the wind/rain, yes probably, but glad we took the chance. 

Trying out a new calmer with very pleasing result. We met a flatbed trailer on gravel, flapping bag, dog in a bush, noises behind a fence, fast car, surprise front door opening as we passed. 

We had our human comforter with us and we didnt go far, no point pushing a good experience, plenty of time to go further another day. experience, plenty of time to go further another day. 

Interesting reading to share with you 
I need this just as much as the Ninja.
The fruit smoothies are lovely but they just aint working so well on my diet.
We will be going green together.

Affluent Malnutrition-EMS/obesity/laminitis

February 11 · 

ions to develop. There are so many links with poor health and carrying too much weight, the two most well known are EMS and I/R, then leading on to laminitis and Cushings. Though horse owners know to restrict the diet, soak the hay and feed less starchy feed, they should be equipped with knowledge on what can be added, rather than being taken away or restricted. 'Green' foods are important and must be included in the diet to allow the horse's body to rebalance, recover and renew itself. In Chapter 5 of the free pdf download you can read exactly how plants inteact with the horse to achieve a good BMI or morphometric score.
http://www.phytorigins.com/index.php/blog