YOU GOT WHAT?!

So finally, after much deliberation, I finally got a tattoo for my best girl of almost 7 years, Elsie May.
I've been wanting one for years but could not decide on a design or placement, I finally decided on a traditional style tattoo, nice and simple, but I'm so chuffed with the result, all thanks to my amazing boyfriend!! (I will have to add little Mattie's name at some point too.)

I think Elsie approved also!!

Meet the new kid on the block

At the beginning of 2015 I decided that I wanted to look into getting a 2nd horse, It wasnt something I wanted to rush into and I had some specific requirements for what I ideally would have liked in a 2nd horse, I had visions of me arriving back to the yard with a big 16hh+, chestnut, dressage horse with 4 perfect white socks in tow....

On the 16th September I met Matilda, then named Snippet, a 14hh, mud encrusted, dark bay Mare with unknown breeding and just one adorable white sock on her back left leg. She was 4 years old, soon to be 5 at the end of September and unbacked. She lived in a little paddock with the most lovely family and their 4 other horses, she was rescued by them and served as a companion pony to the others, so had little groundwork and education. That day I spent some time grooming her, walked her in-hand up the road and watched her float around the field with that ground-eating trot she always does.

I put a deposit down soon after and tried to visit as much as possible before she came home.

On the 5th November 2015,my little muddy, sweaty, teriffied, 14hh, dark bay mare with that one adorable white sock stepped off the lorry, my little love, Matilda, arrived home.

Its now the 17th January 2016 and looking back at photos of that little pony that first arrived, she's almost unrecognizable, now only in her weight and muscle gain but in all those little firsts we had too, first time being tied up on the yard, first time in the stable, first time being lunged, first time being free lunged (I could watch her trot all day!!) first time being long-reined, first time wearing a saddle and bridle, first time leaning over her. I can't wait for all the firsts we still have to come. Matilda is possibly the sweetest baby I have ever worked with, she genuinely has not had a single naughty moment since her arrival, which is more than I can say for her big sister, cough, Elsie, cough.

I am so incredibly happy with her progress so far and I hope you will enjoy following my journey with this special little pony.

Ariat Sunstopper Shirt Review

AKA the love of my life!!

Ive spoken about this Shirt in a few posts and in quite a few videos on my Youtube Channel also (and now, Im going to talk about it some more!!)

I ordered this Shirt a little over 2 months ago so Ive had some time to review it (although I will admit, I fell in love with it the first ride!) There were so many colours to choose from, I just thought this little dotty number was really smart. I ordered mine in a Small, a size up from my usual as the site recommended and it is the best fitting shirt I have ever owned.

Not only is this Shirt incredibly smart looking, it's also super practical too. There is a fine mesh material on the shoulder blades and from the armpit down to the wrists which although looks very discreet, is a heaven sent gift during those sticky hot summer days during a 45 minute dressage lesson on 1 particularly bratty pony.... This definitely helps to cool you down and keep you focused.

I think I'll even be wearing mine in Winter, its perfect as a base layer as it's so fitted and lightweight.



































I don't feel the need to ever buy any other brand or type of shirt because this one just ticks every box for me:

Its fitted
Its comfortable
Its smart
Its practical
Its stylish
Its lightweight
Its super stretchy and molds to your body shape
And, its frikkin adorable.

What more does a girl need?



This Shirt is a 10/10 for me and I can't wait to treat myself to more colours.

Thank you for reading
India and Elsie x

Dressage Training In Euro Star Matchy Matchy 16/08/2015

Had an interesting session today, to say the least!!
Elsie was in a such a 'typical mare' mood, looking for things to spook at, being uncooperative and a little backwards thinking.
Saying that, we did have some lovely moments,  dont think I'll ever get used to how sensitive and difficult this Pony is to ride, just hope I can someday do her justice and not ride like a potato.

I have been working very hard on improving my general position lately but today was all about practical riding rather than pretty riding.

We worked most on collection and extension in the trot, a little lateral work, some long and low and to finish, canter work, which I have no photo evidence of as it took atleast 8 circles round the arena for Elsie to have had her fun and for me, to be able to stop...ooops.

Started off in walk encouraging Elsie to stretch down and 'seek' the bit, popped in a lot of walk-halt, halt-walk transitions (as always!!) practiced a bit of shoulder in and leg yielding away from and toward the track before moving up to trot.












































































I always start with a fairly loose contact encouraging Elsie to stretch down and get her supple and relaxed but still working in a nice forward trot, I spend some time changing the bend through her neck, Elsie has a habit of hanging on the inside rein a little so I try to get a little flexion to the outside whilst keeping her body straight.

As you can see above, Elsie is not quite tracking up and will try to get away with not using her back end so I incorporate lots of half transitions in my trot work to make her hind end step underneath her more and push her up into the bridle which results in a much nicer trot as you can see below...

After warming up on both reins in a long and low frame, I ask Elsie to sit back on her bum, slow it down and collect the stride, Elsie finds collected trot quite difficult so I just ask for a few strides here and there, pushing her back into a working trot and collecting her back up again.

This is definitely something that I know needs a lot of work (must engage the hocks more and get her a little 'lighter') but I think as Elsie gets fitter, her muscles develop and with practice we'll improve!!

I then moved back into working trot before lengthening the stride out, asking for more impulsion and really engaging the hind end to produce a really lovely, dreamy, floaty trot, or, in more technical terms, a medium trot.

I really was so pleased with the steps she produced here, she really engaged her hind end and worked into the bridle, it was a little bit speedy but we'll work on slowing it down!! Big pats for chubby pony.

I then took Elsie into the field, this is where she feels most comfortable and you can feel a difference in her paces, she is much more relaxed!!

Just messed a round a little in the trot, again sneaking in some steps of leg yield and shoulder in and practicing making the trot bigger and smaller.

I absolutely love these photos of Elsie, she looks like a little pro!

clever, clever pony :)



Elsie wears: Euro Star Dressage pad in Rose blush, Euro Star bandages in Rose Blush, Le Mieux Dressage girth, Equiture Over reaches.
I wear: Ariat Sunstopper shirt, Premier Equine breeches, Sergio Grasso tall boots, Carrots Gloves.


Thankyou so much for reading.
India and Elsie-may x

Summer Photoshoot

My lovely friend Taylor James ( LIKE HER PHOTOGRAPHY PAGE HERE) came to do a photoshoot on Friday, what I really wanted was some photos of Elsie and I looking a little 'smart' and then the complete opposite aka being our usual goofy selves and best friends and I think Taylor captured this PERFECTLY. (as always!!)

I can't think of any words that adequately describe how much I adore these photos and this pony, I'm not even going to try, so, instead ill let you have a little look at some of my favourite photos.

Thank you so much to Taylor for these photos!!
What do you guys think?!

India and Elsie x