Kim Chapman’s blog: Fast forward to spring please

Horslyx Ambassador, Kim Chapman blogs about dressage, the weather and looking forward to spring…

“Well, since my last blog, the weather has really hindered any productive work at all – I think we managed a handful of lungeing sessions between the two dressage tests at the end of Jan, to 14th Feb!!!! Liz really doesn’t like the wind, so it’s even less productive trying to school her than just leaving it sometimes. However, there was major improvement in that we had no issues entering the ring at the second dressage competition and even managed 66%, so considering we’d done zero practice really – I can’t complain!”

“Liz however has enjoyed an easy couple of weeks – but now the weather seems to have calmed down – full steam ahead! We’ve finally managed to have a couple of nice hacks out, even ending up at the pub! Although we have a major main road to contend with straight from leaving the yard, it leads straight to a bridle path, which in turn leads to the pub! The horses were more than happy because as we got there, the owner brought them out a sack of carrots! Although we need to put some serious schooling sessions in before the next dressage test, it’s been nice to get out about enjoying the nicer weather!”

“We don’t have any more dressage until April now, so plenty of time to get some serious work in, weather permitting! We did manage to get out to a showing show last weekend (2nd March) – however that didn’t really go to plan! There were just too many other horses in the collecting ring before the ridden class and it just blew her little brain! But, she was impeccably behaved in the in-hand, with the steward commenting how well behaved she was – so at least there was a positive to be taken from it all! So, with spring now in sight, we just need to get the weather to play ball and we can crack on with some serious work!”