Recent posts - The Daffy Diaries

14th September 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (56 days old)

Things seem to have calmed down a bit lately. We've been going out for our walks inhand (and the dry weather is a god send) and playing a little in the school. Daffy has a girlfriend; she's bigger … more

Busy month From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (99 days old)

Despite the fact that Daffy has been out of work for over a month now, time has flown. Retirement does not suit him, of that I am certain. It's also rather difficult to entertain a clever pony who … more

22nd June 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (140 days old)

I've been forced to retire Daffy, and it's a mixed blessing I think. We went through various lameness workups, he improved significantly to about 95% and we were given permission to get a saddle fi… more

22nd May 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (171 days old)

Daffy managed to hurt himself messing around on the road a couple of weeks ago. He was hopping on his right fore, on the right rein, in the school, but fine on the left rein and on harder ground, f… more

10th May 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (183 days old)

Daffy is feeling a little.. fresh? at the minute. He barged out of his stable last week, and proceeded to bomb out of the yard (I can run faster these days now my shoulder is sorted - hurrah!) and … more

18th April 09 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (205 days old)

I've just had an email saying I've not logged in for 30 days, but we really haven't done anything for 30 days! I'm still out of action, and to top it off, our tack was stolen at the start of April.… more

18th March 09 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (236 days old)

It's about to go quiet again.. Following a visit to the chiropractor yesterday, during which I was told I had the worst shoulders he'd seen in a long time and had to have my right shoulder relocate… more

16th March 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (238 days old)

It's all so quiet.. I've just had the month from hell workwise, and with the school being out out action, poor Daffy has been extremely bored. He had to resort to being a sod for YO to catch to mak… more

More Dressage From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (259 days old)

We did three dressage tests yesterday - Intro A, P1 and P10. Daffy was significantly easier to ride this week, although still needs an awful lot of work to get him up off his forehand and balanced … more

We survived! From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (266 days old)

We had a naughty hack on Saturday, during which I experienced brake failure in all three paces, a gallop from the pony which doesn't gallop, a "whoooppeeee!!!" buck and canter leg yield - nothing wron… more

2nd February From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (280 days old)

I hate this weather!!! Ok, Daffy really feels well when it's cold and not so damp, but how are you supposed to do anything with all the snow/ice? We're so lucky to be on a yard where he can go out … more

28th January From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (285 days old)

We don't have a school! Well we do, just can't use it as it's being resurfaced.Bit of a bummer when we have a few events lined up; 15th Feb - dressage (P10 and P14 possibly)22nd Feb - dressage (Intro… more

21st January 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (292 days old)

Managed to ride today and yesterday - I wouldn't have said he was as good as he has been this winter, but they weren't bad days either. I'm getting some nice trot work, although tonight he was really… more

18th January 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (295 days old)

Busy busy busy! We went out in the trailer with Sarah and Billy on the 6th, off for a group ride with the Calderdale Saddle Club. Both boys loaded well (Billy is used to travelling alone, and Daffy… more

1st January 2009 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (312 days old)

Happy New Year! I'm posting this simply to put down a few musings so I don't forget them before I ride again. To soften the jaw; gentle asks with alternate hands in time with the respective fore… more

28th December 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (316 days old)

So another year almost gone, and here's looking forward to a good 2009! Things have improved in leaps and bounds since my last post, literally at one point. We managed to get our lesson in with Ama… more

8th December 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (336 days old)

So I spent the week before last mostly longreining. He continued to stay reasonably forward, but the sessions were short, and perhaps not enough, as he has definate hollows behind his shoulders now, n… more

23rd November 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (351 days old)

It worked - Daffy is now more forward in the school. Still not right, but a significant improvement. He's also a bit easier to push on out hacking, although still stopping regularly. I rode on Mond… more

16th November 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (358 days old)

So... showing. Decided to go for it on Tuesday, cue fantic buying of new show jodhpurs (must give Dad his belt back, they kept falling down) and lots of "oh god look how muddy he is, fingers crosse… more

9th November 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (365 days old)

Tuesday went quite well. Daffy has gone from over compensating with his off side to over compensating with his near side, which meant that the saddle was slipping right quite a bit as his muscles on t… more

31st October 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (374 days old)

Happy Halloween! Just feels like a normal Friday to me, but thank god it is Friday. With the clocks going back last weekend even finishing work at 4 means I've not had daylight to ride in, so we've lu… more

12th October 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (393 days old)

Just realised it would've made more sense to post the mounting stuff in here (comments aren't easy to find!) so sorry Claire! We're making progress on the napping front. It was pointed out to me th… more

8th October 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (397 days old)

So, napping. I'm finding it extremely irritating now, but trying my best to be patient. Not only do we nap on the drive, we nap in the school too. Ended up waiting for him to move then rewarding him. … more

5th October 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (400 days old)

So physio on Wednesday - although Daffy feels stiff, he isn't actually tight anywhere (lateral stuff must be helping) he is just unevenly muscled from holding himself a certain way for so long. Prescr… more

30th September 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (405 days old)

I can't believe it's almost October already. Daffy is being clipped in just over a week, I think I blinked and missed summer! On Wednesday I had my equisimulator lesson. I was epxecting to feel lik… more

22nd September 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (413 days old)

I spent Saturday/Sunday watching two clinics with Becky Holden. The particular thing I brought home with me was the idea of opening the outside shoulder from the ground. Essentially you are in the wor… more

11th September 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (424 days old)

Well Daffy now has equal flexion in both hocks, so things are looking pretty good. He isn't really using himself, but as he's now back in work (!) that'll come. His lateral work has improved, I can… more

8th September 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (427 days old)

Another busy week or so. Daffy is settling well into his new yard, and hasn't caused the YO much trouble at all, if any. I even caught Daffy kissing YO once, so I think they get on rather well. ;) … more

30th August 2008 From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (436 days old)

We've had a couple of big days this week. I'll start with Tuesday. Daffy was fine after his fall, I can't even tell where that little cut was now. Vet sort of pulled a "that-isn't-good" face and sa… more

24th August 2008 (again) From DaffyDilly in The Daffy Diaries (442 days old)

Yet again I've screwed up and Daffy is hurt. This happens every couple of years, first it was leaving boots on him when I went away, Mum didn't notice and his legs got raw and infected, second it was … more