The way to heaven is on horseback

This morning I had to be up and ready to go out for 7:30, I would have an hour and a half to practice before I would have my driving test. I was fairly nervous but knew that I needed to relax and stay calm, we drove the 20minute drive to where I would be having my driving test and then spent an hour and 20 minutes. Here we practiced doing all the movements that I could be asked to do. When the time was right we then went to the test centre and parked up. We went in and the first thing that O had to do was an eye sight test, the next thing that I had to do was answer to 'show me/tell me' questions. Then the rest of the test began, fairly early on I had to do my movement which was the left reverse around the corner. I then had to do 10-15 minutes of 'independent driving' then after this I followed the instructions of where I would have to go until we eventually got back to the  test centre. Here I was told that I passed!!! :D  So this afternoon I drove myself to my l...

This morning I went up to the Stables to help with mucking out and turning the horses out, while it's a job that always makes me feel tired (early start) I always enjoy doing it and I know that it is building up my stomach muscles! While we were mucking out the horses were out in the field and Sam made me laugh. Sam likes to change fields he doesn't like to be where he's supposed to be. So some how he managed to change fields again, it doesn't matter what you do he still escapes but the funny thing is by the time to get the horses back in again he's back in his normal field. He certainly is a clever horse and I do really like him.   When I had finished there I went for a two hour driving lesson, it was good and I got to practice doing the things that I am more nervous about doing, I also got told some of the things that examiners will do in an attempt to trick you. I'm feeling confident that I will pass my test but only time will tell. After my driving less...

I am on a mission to get fit, I've been on a mission to lose weight for a while but only recently have I really wanted to start to get fit. Losing weight is always a good goal but getting fitter is an even better goal. Ever since last week I've been walking once a day with my dad, although we decided that we would have sundays off. I am also hoping that I can start swimming again soon.  Today I went for my usual walk with my dad and then spent some time reading my horse magazine that came in the post this morning. This afternoon/evening was my weekly Pony Club in two weeks we will have our Bronze Level 1 and 2 test evening. So today we were practicing for the test evening and we will do the same next week. We decided that even though the riding part of the test is simply that we would spend tonight practicing it. The  hardest part was that you have to be able to mount and dismount from the wrong side of the horse. The only other thing that you need to do was be able to wa...

Above you will find the video of Gatsby and I from yesterday, towards the end you will see that coming in to the smaller jump we approached in to canter. We were supposed to be staying in the trot but Gatbsy wanted to move in to the canter so we went with this. Fiona said that she could see in my mind that I was wondering whether to bring him back or go with it so she shouted with me to go with it and I'm glad that I did because it made me realise that I can jump from a canter and that when we are Gatsby isn't going to rush it. I chose the song 'Wild Horses' because it just seemed to fit, because when you're jumping it feels like you are 'free'.  Today I have spent some time started to get to know my iMovie software and that was how I was able to make this video it took a while but I think it is a good over view of my lesson on Saturday. I also went for a drive with my mum as my driving test is soon! Then when I got in I spent some time curled up with...

 Todays plans had a few changes in them but they were all for the best. As you will know I had a great time jumping Gatsby yesterday but I was knackered by the time I got in bed, I got in bed at 8 and went to sleep within about 5 minutes and slept through until about 10ish. When I got up mum told me that there was going to be a change of plans, instead of getting to the stables for 12:30 I got to the stables for 11:30. Fiona said that she would explain when we got there and when she did explain it made a lot more sense. With only having Gatsby and Rocky that we can use I was going to ride Gatsby early on my own and do some jumping I was all for this. In stead of riding for an hour I rode for 45 minutes but it was more consistent work and I wasn't being as lazy as I tend to be, I was working harder and trying to build my stamina up.  I got Gatsby ready to get on him at 12:15, we started warming him up and making sure that from the beginning he is active. Fiona told me not ...

First of all  I would like to say that if you haven't already you should head over and read Slow and Steady wins the race . I love reading Amy's blog and the adventures that she has with Steady! Her blog is great fun and when she reaches 100 followers is going to hold a contest, so head over there now!  Today I went out and did some driving practice around the area that I a going to be doing my test, as it is less than a month until I will be doing my test! In fact I think that it is only two weeks away. Time seems to be flying past so fast at the minute. Before I went for my drive I helped my mum to trim our dog. We have a lovely Shih Tzu called Angel and when she was a puppy we first took her to someone who was a dog groomer and we ended up leaving with Angel half done so ever since then my mum has been trimming the dog, the only problem is Angel just doesn't like it. So we have to bribe her to sit nicely for mum to do the job. Then I've spent the rest of the aft...

Today had been a day where I haven't done a lot but feel completely exhausted. This morning I woke up far too early for me, normally I sleep until later on but for some reason my brain had decided that this was not going to be the case today, so I got up and dressed and watched T.V. for a while. Around lunch time my brother and his friend got up and I drove them to the gym then I came home. Later on I went to pick them up from town and when I got in I took my dad for a drive. Now I LOVE driving but my Dad always said that he would only get in a car with me after I passed my test but this rule got ignored and he's been out with me twice and both times he gave me constructive criticism  that I think will help to improve my driving. It also helped because I was trying to get everything out so it was a bit like being on my driving test. When we got in the guy that was coming to look at our trees turned up (he only ended up being two and a half hours late). One of the trees tha...

The past few days have been a little bit hectic. On Tuesday at the Bakewell Show Equestrian Day I had seen a black Bridle that had pink padding on the brow band and nose band and diamante on the brow band too. I LOVED it. On the day I was going to buy it, but the man on the stall was in the middle of a conversation and I didn't want to interrupt it so I decided that it didn't matter and I wouldn't get it. The next day I was kicking myself for not getting it, so when I went out with Dean and Sue they said they would take me to the shop to pick one up. Well when we got there we were told that they had no full bridles the only one they had got was pony. On and Off on Thursday Dean, Sue and I looked for another one that was similar and we just couldn't find one, so my mum said that it just wasn't the right time or place and I wasn't meant to have it. This made perfect sense to me and I do agree with it, one day I'll find one that was similar that day just wasn...

Today has been a pretty average day, I decided early on in the day that I wasn't going to do a lot because I was really tired, the only thing that I needed to do was go to my physiotherapy appointment at 2:30.  I went with my mum and brother this morning for them to talk to a bike sales person about the next motorbike that my brother would like, that has a 125cc engine instead of a 50cc. When we got home my mum and I decided that we would do my driving practice and time it so that I arrived at the physio on time. When I got there she asked how I was feeling and I said better but that I was still aching and occasionally getting pins and needles. She felt the joint in my back and said that it feels like it's gone back in to  place. I'm to keep using my belt when I'm riding and see how it goes and then in a couple of weeks try riding with out it and if I have any problems between now and then just to let her know! When I got in I started reading a new book, and th...

So you might have noticed that there is a new blinkie on my page, at the top in the left hand column. I can't wait to tell you guys more about it but you're all going to have to wait a little bit longer for that bit of information sorry guys! I'll give you a hint though it is to do with scrapbooking and computer software!  This morning I had my driving lesson, I've had 5 lessons with this new teacher and he has helped me to come on in leaps and bounds, it is just over a month until I'm going to be doing my driving test and from now on we are going to be working on test roots that the driving test people use. I've done all of the movements that you need to do, and feel really prepared for my exam, I've been able to practice in my car but only in small amounts as it's got to go up to my local garage tomorrow. I haven't really done much for the rest of today as I've not been feeling well but I think this is to do with the thunderstorm atmos...

For the past few days it was thought that I would get my car back today, but I didn't want to blog about it incase I jinxed everything. My uncle and mum took me to get it and then when my uncle was driving back my mum and I drove back in my mini. We went the countryside root back and it was really nice. The car felt a million times better but then it should do after having £3200 roughly worth of work done to it. Tomorrow I will go in to more detail about the things that it's had done to it but for tonight I am just so happy to have it back. It took me two hours to drive it back from Stoke (should have only taken 1) then I went out again in it this evening for a couple of hours. The things that I noticed immediately was that the engine was a hell of a lot quieter, it was almost purring and sounded so nice. The steering was a lot lighter, and it all felt a lot smoother. The third thing that we noticed was that the brakes were a lot sharper, I literally tapped the brakes to ease ...

Today and last night we have had heavy rain, thunder and lightening. This is something that we tend to not get very often but has been needed for a few weeks as it's been a heavy, suffocating atmosphere. So after the storm we expected to have a nicer atmosphere but it's not changed it's still the same as it has been for the past few weeks.  This morning I had a driving lesson with my new teacher we worked on reversing around corners and doing turns in the road (there not allowed to be called three point turns because if you need to do it in more than three turns then that is okay). I have also got my driving test booked for Friday the 6th of September! I can't wait, tomorrow I will hopefully find out how my car is doing as it is needing even more new parts! Frustrating. After my driving lesson we took my dad to the hospital for him to have the x-rays that he needed doing and blood tests.  I then had a nap this afternoon as I have not been sleeping very well and...

Yesterday at Pony Club we were doing some practice towards our first badge night next week! The first badge that we will be doing is grooming. So yesterday with the sun shining and it being nice hot weather we got the sponges and shampoo out and started working on bathing the horses. Alice and I did Gatsby and first of all we made sure to brush him all over especially his tale which was particularly knotty. When we had done we started putting the horses to bed, making sure to put the hay nets u and top the water up. It was then time to go home but mum was running late so Fiona let me get Tabby out (one of the new kittens) so I got lots of cuddles with them. They are so cute and I love them, I'm looking forward to afternoons at the stables and cuddles with the kittens. This morning I had got my third driving lesson with my new driving teacher. We decided that we were going to work on doing emergency stops. We talked about how it was important not to stall when doing the emergency...

Today has been another good but long day, I still didn't sleep well but I've been busy all day today so I am hoping that I will sleep better (although I do have an early start tomorrow). This morning I woke up and just watched tv and did some reading as I hadn't got any plans for the morning.  This afternoon was busy but fun. I had my first driving lesson with my new driving teacher and it went really well! He asked me what I knew how to do and I told him the things that I knew. We then started driving and he said that he wanted to do assess my driving. We had been driving for a little while and he said that what we were doing was too easy for me so we moved on to doing hill starts and things like that. It went really well, and he said that I can do my test soon, and I should only need 10 lessons. Then I can drive by myself and tomorrow I will be hearing more about how my car is doing, hopefully I will get it back towards the end of the week!  After this I went up ...

Well today was my pony club evening and the week that we did the first part of the bronze award ( for those of you that do not know there are three parts). I was really excited but at the same time I was really nervous. I didn't know why I was nervous because it was all things that I am able to do my sleep. But we will come back to that later.  I woke up this morning really early for me considering I'm on holidays for three months now! I watched Jeremy Kyle and just spent some time chilling I spent some time reading everyone's blogs and then curled up and watched some of the soaps that I enjoy that I had missed last week. It got to mid afternoon and I decided that I wanted something from Burger King,      I also offered to buy my brother some burger king to, as he'd spent all day in his room and I just thought it would be something nice to do. When we got home my dad was in from work so we took Angel for a quick walk up the hill and back, the heels quite steep s...

I love ponyclub I get to spend time with Gatsby and learn new things which is always great fun. Today we were working on handling we spent a while grooming. Gatsby liked this because it meant that he could get pampered and go to sleep! We spent quite a while doing it. We then had a break we liked this because it involved juice and cakes!! I like cakes.  When we had done this we moved on to doing handling. This was awesome it was like doing an in hand show. It was so fun and I cant wait to do more Gatsby reacted really well because of Gatsbys martingale we used the lunge bridle that had got vettie's bit in it. Fiona showed us how to check that the bridle would fit Gatsby and what to do to change it. Fiona asked if I had ever done in hand work and I said no.  I think that I picked it up really well. We started off just doing simple things like working on walking at a nice rhythm we then moved on to the trot for some reason I just found this really easy. So fiona suggested t...

I am finally curled up in bed watching tv with my ever so cuddly dog. Angel is funny she doesn't like people coming in the house and will bark for hours if someone different comes to the house. But when it's just us in the house she is so dopey and stuff shell curl up with us and give everyone cuddles she's a great little dog.  This morning I went to fetch a desk that i had reserved off argos' website. We picked it up and then came the fun part putting it together. Now DIY I am not very good at so I had to get my mum to help me put it together. So it is now up in my room.  Today I got to see my nephew and my sister again and he is starting to be one cheeky little fella. When he's doing something wrong he knows that he is and gets this looks on his face it is the same thing that happens when you tell him no. He knows the difference between being right or wrong, and he's really clever. Earlier he kept walking I'm to what was my nans part of the house ...

This morning I got to have a lie in, because the past week I haven't been sleeping well and I have been feeling tired 24/7 even though I have been sleeping quite a lot its strange. Today I went for a two hour drive my mum decided that the route I normally go on was becoming to easy for me to drive so she wanted to challenge me a bit more. I went to Matlock and on the way I remembered that today was the last day of the chatsworth horse trials. I thought that by driving through chatsworth I would be able to see the horses. Turns out that I couldn't as they were on the other side of the hall. It was so annoying. But I had a really good drive and the drive back was fun too. The route contained lots of bends and twists in it as well as lots of ups and downs, it really got me thinking about what gears I needed to be in and when I needed to change gear. I had a really good drive and enjoyed doing it.  When we got in my uncle was nearly and so was a family friend to see my mum. So...

I got to see Gatsby today and my uncle got to meet Gatsby. Today was my weekly lesson. When we got there it looked like the sun was going to come out, it had been raining earlier but there were blue skies and even a bit of sunshine. I groomed Gatsby and tacked him up and even got to get on him early. When I got on him he initially seemed to be quite lazy which we were expecting as he is now turned out at night. We spent some time warming up getting both Gatsby and me to stretch and loosen up. After the week I have had it felt so good to be back in the saddle. We spent quite a long time walking doing transitions. We then tried doing turn on the forehand and it went so well. For those of you that have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I tried doing this before but Gatsby kept backing up and me so we never successfully managed it. Well we did today he was great. Going to the right he was a bit stiffer to start with her just kept backing up. However when over exaggeratin...

Today hasn't been a long day but things tend to feel really surreal at the moment. I went to get my dress this morning and it now fits perfectly. So I have my prom dress sorted. I them went straight to school. My first lesson was textiles theory, the first half of the lessons I spent working on a past paper and the second half I saw the fashion show photos from last night. I thought insight regret not doing it but I am sure that it was the right thing to do. In my textiles I felt like I learned quote a lot and I am starting to feel more prepared for the exams that are coming up. It was then lunch time and i was supposed to do some work, then I would go to my English lessons, however much english lessons was cancelled because of moderation. So my mum came to pick me up and we went for my driving practice. I did the route that I normally do but this time I did it backwards now my mum was going to let me do the simpler route but I decided I didn't want to the only down side t...