Just to say...

Hamlet is now back to full work :) He is doing great on the flat and is discovering his dressage talent! All goes well he might do an Intro (or BE 90 as it is now called) this season! :) I go to see him now and then and was actually hoping to go last Monday but my broken tooth spoilt my plans! 

Anyway, all the best to Hammie and Jenny :)

And back into the field...

Hammie hasn't been right despite showing some periods of soundness back in August. He came back really lame from an RC camp and J. took him for an MRI scan to stop all the 'ifs' and finally get some answers. It showed lesions on the collateral ligament.
Looks like Hamlet has landed himself a very long holiday.

Hamlet is back in full work :)

I went to Kent for a little round around the fields on Hammie today. He looks VERY well (cue: too many grass cookies ;), has obviously lost a lot of fitness due to prolonged rest and slow come back to full work but he still is his cheeky old self :)
Shame my mobile/camera was stolen (!) as I would have taken some pictures of the big bellied boy ;)
He is not going to be back affiliated eventing any time soon but will have fun doing little events, hacking and doing a bit of schooling.
It was great to see him sound again, he is such a positive, energetic horse and a true cantering machine :)
I will definitely try to make some time to see him again maybe in a few weeks time.

Update - not good

Hammie had an osteopath treatment which was aimed at realigning his pelvis which in turn was the most likely cause of his stiffness/unsoundness. There are also some worrying results of flexion test... All in all, Hamlet is off and enjoys the buttercups for the moment and he will be re-assessed in a week time.

Definitely lame

Hamlet is definitely lame/uneven and the farrier didn't find anything of relevance today. Further investigation will be needed while we withdraw from Mattingley.

Hamlet IS lame :(

Well, today Hamlet is again showing signs of lameness on a circle :( The farrier is coming tomorrow to have a look whether it can be anything shoe related (as he- re shod Hamlet only on Friday and there is a suspicion it might be related). If not, then the vet will be called.
I can't believe it as he is such a sound boy normally - horses, eh!?
Finegers crossed it's nothing sinister and even if we have to withdraw from Mattingley he can still soon go out and about.
I am now thinking maybe I shouldn't have ridden on Mon & Tuesday and given him days off instead
Get well soon Hammie!

Monday & Tuesday

On Sunday Hamlet went out of his stable lame...just to be absolutely fine the next day!
On Monday afternoon I had a true eureka moment - I had cracked the downwards transitions! It was all due to timing in between my half-halt on the outside rein and inside leg/bend. I just couldn't believe it as he all of a sudden just became SO responsive to it and I could halt him immediately. Considering my previous various good moments and then their disappearance I don't expect it to get it right every time but now that I know what to search for I will continue in the timing lines.

On Tuesday morning I took hamlet up the fields for a long walk and some canter. He was very keen but I kept it slow just in case there was something brewing in his leg. His canter felt lovely and I am looking forward to Mattingley!