COVID has been and continues to be a really unusual and difficult period that many people are struggling with.
We wanted to do a little blog post about how we are coping with the pandemic, keeping the business going and managing our horses.
As well as sharing with you, our 4 brand ambassadors stories about how they are coping during this time.
Helen Hughes’s story
Since lockdown I have been keeping Lenny ticking over by hacking him out and keeping his fitness up. We have just started going in Arena for some canter work. I don't do much in the arena with Lenny as he can get silly and excited.
Im hoping to jump a small course at home in couple of weeks with him as well. I will also be bringing in 2 youngsters to start breaking and bringing on.
To start with, I coped well with not competing but now I am desperate to get out to shows and wanting to progress with Lenny this year.
I have been able to get so much done at the yard - lots of tidying up has been done, raked in Arena sides, creocoted all Arena fencing put up new post and rails on entrance to yard and now starting to post and rail paddocks.
I have started taking down the cupboards in my lorry living as I was suppose to be having my living arena redone and updated. So have started doing a few things myself before it goes off for its makeover
Sam Wood’s story
The horses have had a 6 week break during the lockdown period. My string of horses has changed a little since last year. I have waved goodbye to Mr Bumble who has gone to an amazing forever home and I have acquired a dun 15h 7 year old called Champagne Showers. My 4 year old Prince aka SD Flash King has gone to my friend Hannah Miller Burton to be broken. He is making amazing progress.
The 3 boys I have at home have gone onto 24 hour turnout. I do this with all my horses through the summer. I feel that it’s important for them to be all out together as in winter when it gets miserable, they stay inside a fair amount, which is not that fair on them.
I started bringing the boys back into work this week. I free lunged them the first day to let them have a good kick and buck about, with it being spring I thought it was the safest option.
I can’t really do a lot of hacking work at the moment as they don’t have shoes on. I chose over winter to leave them barefoot as they tend to pull off shoes in the mud. They will have shoes back on during the next farrier visit. I am not the greatest fan of hacking as the roads outside our yard have lots of blind bends...safety first!
Lexus who is the older advanced horse works on long reins when coming back into work. He’s really light in the hand when in full work as I can ride him sharper from the hind leg but as he’s not fit, I allow him to just relax and get fitter (he’s really heavy in the hand at this point-but that’s ok). I will start picking him up in the next few days and asking for a little more collection.
The 2 novice boys tend to be ridden up to the bridle from the off as they are still learning how to balance. These 2 are so different to ride- Ted aka Hermits Desert Thunder- is light in the hand and off the leg - a dream ride. Champagne Showers aka Kinty- is a little less supple and a little lazy. I haven’t had much time working with Kinty so he’s still developing the dressage basics. For them it’s transitions, transitions, transitions.
I have been out of competition for almost a year after having a baby. I was so eager to get out there this year but this little break does give me time to train all 3 boys to the next level. Before the short break, Lexus was establishing at PSG and I will continue that training with the hopes of competing at the level within 6 months.
The novice boys have not yet competed in a dressage test so I may dabble in some online dressage. Both these novices have amazing brains and will train up the levels really easy, so it’s just about getting them stronger and supple for now. I am so excited for their future.
These boys will both be shown at county level as well as dressage for the first few years with me. I find it’s important for them to do as it’s more exciting and exposes them to a more buzzy environment. I am hoping there will be some showing shows to take them to this year.
Our story - Top Of The Clops
Myself and my partner - Sam, have been keeping her cob called Benji in work during this period. He has been doing hacking and schooling. We have both been doing online dressage with him and taking part in some e-clinics as well. He is doing really well in his training and competing.
My own horse Tess, has been out of work for 2 months this time round, whilst she is undergoing treatment for multi-limb lameness. Some of her treatment was postponed but has now started again and she is now back in hacking work. Unsure what her future holds but taking each step at a time.
Keeping Top Of The Clops going during this period has been a priority.
We have been working with our wholesalers to ensure we have stock coming in and that customer orders are continuing to be dispatched as fast as possible despite this difficult time.
Managing to negotiate busy post offices to keep parcels going out to customers with little interruption has been a key factor for us.
Along with ensuring we keep in contact with any customers whose order is taking longer than normal to fulfil.
Lucy McKeown’s story
I’m incredibly lucky that we keep our horses at home, meaning that I could still see them every day. However, with fracturing my spine a few weeks back, I have only just been getting into it by doing mostly walk and a bit of trot.
In some ways it’s been hard to have an injury and lockdown at the same time (double whammy) but actually it’s given me more time than usual to reflect on what I really want to focus on in my training instead of rushing back to competing.
As I said in the previous question, competing hasn’t been on the agenda for a while, so COVID didn’t specifically affect this. My initial surge of emotions from my injury were definitely related to how long it would be before I would compete again. On the plus side I have been doing online pilates classes and really being honest with myself about my bad habits so when that I do compete, I will have ironed out the issues on a deeper level.
Due to lockdown and my injury I have been doing a lot of groundwork and really enjoying it. It started with just turn on the forehand, but we have since progressed to turn on the haunches and leg yield. It’s really helped Terry to move away from pressure rather than worrying about it.
I’ve also been lucky that my mum has ridden my horses when she could, so they are not coming back from a complete break. However, it’s not as frequent or as intense as the training would normally so I’m going to start off making my sessions more frequent but short. Lots of stretching and picking a few days to when to work on tougher suppling work like smaller circles, counter canter and lateral work. Then just gradually get it up to regular work as the good days become more frequent (hopefully!). If not, I’ll just take a step back and have a stretching long and low day- there is no shame at all in taking a step back. When you’ve had to have time away from something you love so much, it helps you to appreciate the small successes, no matter how small they may be!
Ruth Taylor’s story
I haven’t had any new liveries come in until this week which has meant I’ve had more time for my horses. I’ve had plenty of time to strengthen Adam up and build his fitness, and he’s feeling so much better for it. Morag is doing a day a week as she’s only just hitting 4 and Ruairi is working as usual. I’ve kept my risks to the minimum by choosing sensible riding options. Liz (my partner) comes out walking with me everyday when I hack too 😄
I’m gutted to not be competing this season as Ruairi is starting to really mature. Especially as we were going to be doing bigger shows and qualifiers this year...But a year off competing will probably do him some good!
Morag has been hacking, as has Adam. Ruairi has been doing a bit of everything!
I have revisited ground work exercises, grooming a lot more and generally feeling much more relaxed about their exercise.
We’ve done a lot of poo picking! I don’t usually have time for it and Harrow instead, but the paddocks had a hammering in the winter so I think they are appreciating it! We also jet washed and repainted the stables.
Also done lots and lots of gardening at home. I’m a bit of a plant freak and get very excited about garden centres 😂
