So, where to start. Last saturday I did some in hand work with V as have been neglecting it somewhat-could do with a top up level to see where to go next as we seem to have SI and LY pretty much sorted and V’s sort of ‘like, whatever, this is easy-when do we eat?). After we did some raised pole work both in a straight line and on a volte-bit stiffer on right rein as usual but stretched down and did the exercises well toward the end. Sunday I was working but went for a short hack in the evening.

The jumping lesson! S hasnt seen me ride since last year so I just started warming up as I normally would-she said that he was much more relaxed with better length through the neck and he and I looked ‘more together’. at this point we were trotting but as soon as she said ‘together’ Vico put in a massive spook *rolleyes*, wee git. S liked my upwards transitions (thanks Lisa!) and thinks the canter has improved. She also thinks its time to up the anti (where have I heard that before!) and that we have this nice rythmical thing going on, he’s relaxed in a good outline but that we both need pushing out of our comfort zone a bit. we worked on some SI and then some transitions within the gaits-even in canter which we managed without him going flat and bleurgh (she isnt into forward=speed)! we did have some kicking out on the right canter lead-I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt over that one and have the physio booked anyway-he doesnt feel like when he did last year when he was sore but it is his stiffer side.
Anyway, S knew I was terrified on the jumping, we started on some trotting poles and then raised poles which he’s an old hand at. After that a small cross pole was put up with placing poles either side which I trotted over on both reins-after each pass S rolled the barrels closer together so the cross pole got a bit bigger. eventually he was just popping over them properly-nice and calmly with me ‘with’ him (as opposed me clinging onto the neckstrap two foot above the saddle )
So I was chuffed, just what I wanted-a nice, calm reintroduction to jumping for me and a no fuss intro to ridden jumping for him. S is having an arena put in and I am getting transport so we can continue over the winter!
Rest of the week-hacking as ground too hard to school really. Have had to cancel the comps due to transport issues and having to work this sunday. still, its all good-trailer and Perry Wood clinic later this month & a dressage comp in september!

Early start for the endurance yesterday which was set in a stunning location-I must take Vico down there once I have the trailer! After photo editing as well I didnt feel like riding so long reined Nods who was a star bless him and then lunged Vico over some jumps. Got me some road cone jump cups so I had to erm, get some road cones *whistles* but it made a nice jump of about 2ft9 and what with the barrels at 3ft3 ish its enough to make him jump properly and make a good shape. Hopefully one day we’ll do it together *gulps*.

went to B&Q to get stuff to make paddock pillows-if you’ve not heard of them before you get some soft plastic plant support mesh, attach 3 sides using cable ties, stuff with hay and do the top up with twine. Its like a floor haynet basically and am hoping it will slow Noddy’s hay ration down. Not sure how long it would last with something with shoes-Vico had a go and ended up trying to kill it and Noddy straight away planted a foot on it and started troughing so not sure it will slow him down at all. will stick both hay and thistles etc in there tonight.still, even if it doesnt slow him down much at least I have a couple more giant haynets for winter!

Talking about winter, I need to sort out the guttering and get a water butt sorted out and also put some hardcore down at the end of the stable block-they like to stand there as its sheltered and I want them to have more dry/hard places to stand than last year-I moved in in December so its been a process of finding out what can be improved upon down there.

As I hadnt managed to sit on him for a few days I hacked in the morning, it was a gorgeous day and we had a nice wee gallop up the side of a hill. He cracks me up when he gallops-he does drop and gallop on but he’s still got that crazy luso knee action-very funny and he’s always so proud of himself afterwards.

In Scotland you can never count on the top of a hill being better drained than the bottom-in this case the mossy turf at the top was like a giant sodden sponge that Vico managed to cross with no more than one hoof on the ground at any one time!

So, cut to the lesson. L has seen me ride before at the Perry Wood clinic so was aware of my many issues. I wanted to start from the beginning so L assessed my position as I walked Vico around (paddock had dried out better that I had dared hope and was pretty decent). We shifter my position so I was sitting nearer to the pommel with my backside under me more and then worked on feeling when Vico’s belly was swinging away from my leg-coordination of this with leg aids is very important. This feeling of the movement and relaxation of my lower back enabled V to walk out more so I could concentrate on not nagging him with my legs! We then went on to halt by squeezing my butt muscles and altering the pace by using alternate butt muscles-as ever, V is very sensitive and if I over did it I would get halt I also have to be aware of my hands which are too low-bend those elbows and keep thumbs on top! Turning was next and we practised turns across the diagonal by simply advancing the inside hip-its very cool how that works and also how it positions you to prevent the horse falling out through the shoulder.
Trot work followed and L commented on how much better our rising trot was-this is due to Perry’s exercise which I practise every ride whether hacking or schooling, I can pick it up instantly now but figure practising doesnt hurt! So my balance is better and we concentrated on carrying my hands and the fact that I tend to slightly contract my leg in the ’sit’ part. We got some nice trot work out of him with L teaching the hand lift technique for the times he tends to go a bit deep and also worked on getting a springier transition just from sitting tall and lifting with my abdomen-another top tip, if your horse falls in, put yourself in shoulder fore position and it stops!(the falling in I mean )
Sitting trot next eep! We sometimes get a fabby trot out hacking but have found it more difficult (not impossible though) when schooling. L taught me how to feel the weight alternatively in each stirrup-this is an exaggerated movement to get the feel and when you have that, you tweak it by sitting tall, preferably stirrupless for a bit. However, as I practised, V offered his back and we had some lovely trot work-my horse really is splendid
The hour was over impossibly quickly but lots to take in and improve upon-looking forward to our next one, thanks L!
Today (sunday) we went for a nice long walking hack given the state of the tracks-we practised what we’d learned and I tried to concentrate on my hands, keeping my back soft and looking up! Can’t wait to school again as all inspired-maybe tomorrow the paddock might have dried out enough again.
The hack was followed by a lovely walk with Flynn and Nods, who judging from the bucking and squealing is in good form! I must admit the grass took me by surprise last week and they both put on weight-not so dangerous for Vico but afraid we lost some ground we’d made in weight loss with Nods. So, restricted grazing for him and I cut some thistles, nettles and branches for him to munch on during the day this week. First jumping lesson booked up soon-meep!

I must admit, apart from liking the idea in principle I had no experience of endurance prior to starting to photographing it! Hence this post being somewhat light on technical endurancey type information. My first gig was Abernethy 2008 for SERC Tayside and although I had helpfully been sent a map and directions as to where to stand, I wasn’t all that good at map reading back then *looks embarrassed*. So after a frantic journey in the car and a scramble up a grassy hill I was all set with a flask of coffee and a camera. I soon realised that a lot of coffee wasn’t a good idea when stuck out in the middle of a field with riders coming along at regular intervals, its even worse now that I tend to wear hi viz.

It looked like a lovely ride and I was jealous of the great turf they had to ride on and of the hills which are in short supply back home in East Lothian. I was also surprised at the variety of horses and ponies taking part, how everyone was smiling and posing for the camera (doesn’t happen that much in dressage tests!). There were Dales and Highlands, Haflingers and Welshies, arabs and cobs etc etc and something I still really enjoy is seeing fit horses and its great to see so many fit natives instead of the fatties you tend to see in the showring. I also love how you get all ages and lots of men taking part! Of course the downside of photographing it is not being able to take part in it!

Since then I’ve done a number of rides for both SERC Tayside and Lothian, including the Perth Championships in 2008 and 2009. It’s a lovely venue with some lovely spots for pictures although the light this year wasn’t so good for most of it. Seacliff was another that sticks in my mind as it was such a beautiful day and beach! Also this year the Lothian branch had 2 fabulous routes over a weekend (Broughton), completely stunning and again made me wish I could be riding but I’m so busy this time of year I’m afraid my own horse isn’t fit enough *ashamed*

So, in answer to some real and some imagined questions from riders as to what/why/how I do what I’m doing.

Why did you choose that location?

I usually ask the ride organisers for a good place to stand eg a canter spot, somewhere pretty with a good backdrop etc. Sometimes these or my first choice of spot isn’t suitable-could just be down to the sun being in the wrong place or a poor backdrop with some portaloos in the background that I hadn’t spotted before. A lot of rides take part on narrow tracks which means I have to shoot head on-this isn’t perfect and its not always the most flattering to the rider which is why sometimes I’ll be seen in a potato field up to my ankles in mud (Perth 2009), in a cornfield (Blairgowrie) but if the surrounding area is lower/too much higher than the track, that isn’t desirable or flattering either! I do also take pains wherever possible to be clearly visible so horses don’t only catch site of me at the last minute. I wear hi viz (also useful if I fall in a ditch for rescuers!). Of course, the only time people fell off near me was Broughton this year, when standing in the middle of a flat field in clear views of horse and rider for about 750 yards! Then of course sometimes you find a nice spot and loads of people go the wrong way and miss you-Perth 2008, the people who got lost in the start field at Perth 2009 and the fair few of you who went the wrong way at Hillhead 2009 disappearing over the bridge instead of riding underneath it..

Why don’t you put all the pictures of me up? You must have taken loads!

Well, several reasons. I put up all pictures I consider good enough both technically and from a compositional point of view. We aren’t a large outfit and have disc space considerations as well. Sometimes random dog walkers get in the shot (Hillhead 2009) There are various phases in a horse’s movement that rarely work on camera, sometimes the horse has his eyes shut, maybe the rider has their eyes shut, sometimes the light isn’t great etc etc For the first time at Broughton this year I had a camera malfunction for some reason after changing a battery and by the time I had changed over cameras I had missed a couple of you for which I apologise. My position at Broughton on the Sunday wasn’t my best choice (it was annoying that I wasn’t that pleased considering I nearly drove myself off of a cliff to get there but that’s another story). I am seriously considering using Noddy (my Exmoor) as a sort of hairy quad bike to carry me and my gear!
The previous year I had been up on the start of the ride but it was a very tricky position to get satisfactory side on shots. I was hoping the railway line would be more open but there was no way of taking side on shots there. Riders often don’t realise they must spread out at least 4 horses lengths apart a good fifty yards from me for me to get single shots-or ride abreast if they don’t mind sharing the frame . I’d get a sign but the horses would probably spook at it…

Where are my prints?!
We try very hard to get prints out within 10 working days. However, when we are very busy (eg now) it may take a little longer. For an event like Perth where I was there 2 days it takes another ½ day to get the pictures sorted, a couple of days to upload and then there’s printing on top. Both of us have full time jobs in addition to this, plus kids and horses that we occasionally have to see and throw food to.

Why do you charge what you do?

We like to think we are pretty competitive. We can’t and don’t pretend to offer the sort of service that the big boys can but then again our smallest size print is 25% cheaper and our bigger prints cheaper still. Some of them won’t even sell jpgs due to the subsequent loss of print sales. I’m don’t mean to make out that its all bad (although if you can imagine violins in the background it might help ) I can spend anything up to 5 hours a day taking pictures, plus travel, then another few hours sorting and editing. Then there’s the uploading, emails, printing etc. There’s website costs, equipment costs, income tax etc etc, etc
It’s true that the likes of Uncle Bob, who have got themselves a decent camera and who is no longer limited by film, can catch a lot of lucky shots and this has damaged the photography industry as has giving shots away to the press or giving up copyright too readily. This is why so many smaller shows/events no longer have a photographer-it simply is too hit and miss to be financially viable. However, going out and getting one fabulous shot out of 100 is completely different to getting shots good enough to sell of every rider. I’m not about to do it for nothing-afterall, if I want to do an expensive hobby that I enjoy I’ll go and ride my own horse instead.

Riding and doing the photography means I meet people of all horsey backgrounds and disciplines. Many of the more traditional of them can’t see past the colourful riding gear and synthetic tack. They are fairly horrified at treeless saddles and bitless bridles. (I take my hat off to anyone who’s schooled their horse sufficiently that its controllable in an open space, in company in a bosal ) I remember one awfully posh woman berating me at Kettlehill last year, saying it was appalling that some riders had cantered down a field and ‘there’s no way on God’s earth a BD rider would do such a thing’. ‘Probably madam’, I replied (I can do posh) ‘because none of them can ride outside of an arena…’

Anyway, I’d like to thank Fee Hall, Sheila Bruce and Evelyn Frame plus all of our customers. I’d also say that I know many of you by name now even though I’ve never spoken to most of you but that probably sounds slightly weird!

I needn’t have worried-it was really low key and he was a star. I did put a red ribbon in his tail although really, he’s the horse least likely to kick so felt a bit guilty about that. He had a look about but was more interested in the field with the lorries rather than the horses in the warm up. I’d be lying if I said he was 100% attentive but he was calm and obedient-couldn’t ask for more than that!

He warmed up well, in we went and it was all going swimmingly (very proud of my first ‘down the centre line, it couldnt have been any straighter ) until it became apparent I had learned the wrong walk trot test! How stupid is that, I had entered 2 comps at the same time with the same RC, the next one is the test I learned for this one, d’oh!) A lovely woman came and read the right one, I could get used to having a caller! He felt a little wooden but there were some lovely bits, he was really obedient and did some nice transitions so was well chuffed. Oh, and I dont know where G is which is a shame as I was pretty accurate apart from that!

I am really pleased with how he behaved we came 4th with 77% (they were marking highly lol), his first test and my first since 1992 nice big green rosette to match his numnah although I may get him a dressage square now!

Well, it’s been a tricky month for riding what with all the work !  Weekends have been busy photography wise and I’m also flat out at the ‘proper’ job. Both ponies are well and have been lovely to do and exercise. I’ve been fairly inspired by the Exmoor ponies I’ve seen doing endurance and dearly want to get Nods fitter. Only having so much time and energy isn’t helping so have decided to try again and persevere a bit with the ride and lead. As Nods obviously hates a snaffle but I need to lead him in a bridle (he’s ridden in a Pelham) I have had a little side-pull arrangement made for him. Ride and lead would be so useful time wise and to get him a bit fitter before I start riding him more regularly. I think if I do get him a lot fitter I may have to get another saddle for him and me eventually but that’s a way off and I admit I quite like barrelling round the woods bareback on him!|

Vico is good, not bad weight wise but nowhere near as humungous as last year. Living out really seems to have strengthened him up and his legs look and feel great. We do a little more schooling these days although he doesn’t like the surface at the yard and goes much better on grass. The lack of rainfall however (lol-imagine saying that last summer!) means that the paddock is hard and slippy-a bit too hard for canter work so I decided last weekend to trailer him to a nearby arena for a proper workout and to give him more trailer experience.

He travelled alright, it was a hot day in an older trailer so he was a little sweaty. As soon as he was off he settled down-had a look around etc but was good to tack up-I always love the way he sticks his head into his bridle!  It’s a nice surface-looks deeper than it is and feels quite bouncy after riding on grass! I warmed up for 10/15 minutes in walk (very exciting for the OH who was videoing) doing some lateral work and walk pirouettes etc before moving into trot. He worked well although not quite as well as he had in the paddock earlier in the week where he had gone beautifully-just lacked a little oomph and we didn’t get the transitions as nicely as then either.

I tried to remember as much of what Perry Wood had said as possible-allowing him to lengthen the neck, to slow down the lateral work and to not be afraid of asking for more bend. Vico did some lovely shoulder in on both reins and leg yield along the wall-leg yield down ¾ or centre line isn’t so great although he is doing it-I think perhaps I need to slow it down again? I had feared that rein back was too quick so worked on not over-riding it and watching it back on the video-he’s diagonalising and it looks good. I was pleased with the canter considering we haven’t done much either out or schooling wise-he looks much stronger although I certainly wasn’t helping with a somewhat errant right hand when I’m on the left rein!

So some positives: he was very well behaved  although a bit reluctant to load on way home. RB and SI are good and canter is better. I was pleased with his halts – something we used to struggle with again mainly due to me over riding them. He’s looking freer in his shoulder and is moving well, maybe the oomph will come with better fitness (although it seems to be just ‘there’ when out hacking…. )

Not quite so positives: He lacked a bit of sparkle-maybe the weather although heat doesn’t generally affect him, maybe the trip or maybe he just needed to pee (as he did as soon as he was loaded). He and I both need to be fitter. I still over-ride him so need to be quieter, this has worked for the halt so need to remind myself of that! I need to carry my hands more, look up more and watch what I’m doing with my outside rein especially on the left rein. I need to lose a stone *sighs*

Update… ride and lead a big no no-ended up in complete disaster last night, maybe it’s not a good idea with field mates? Whatever, won’t be trying that again in a hurry….