Settling into Uni

Ah Fresher's Week... the time where most people go out and have a good time, unless you're a bit like me and prefer an early bed time.

This is my second weekend at university, and I've gone out in the evening once. Even then I stuck to my J2O! I'm not a massive fan of alcohol, and there has been so much to learn over the past fortnight that it didn't seem like a brilliant idea to dull the capabilities of my precious few brain cells. Alas, I am a terrible Fresher. Oh well, I'll just leave the partying for someone else!

Induction week was a blur of trying to figure out where things are, signing off risk assessments and being introduced to the staff who will be teaching/supporting me and my fellow students for the next three years. First year electives have been chosen, and those who wanted to have signed up for the college BUCS team. We also visited Cartmel Racecourse, which was interesting even if we did end up damaging a changing room - sorry again about the bench!

That was followed by first lectures, and visiting the partnering university for their Freshers' Fair. We've not been thrown in the deep end as such, but we certainly will be as of next week now that the introduction to all of our classes has been completed. I'm actually really looking forward to getting stuck in, even though I know it's going to be a lot of hard work. There's a lot I need to learn and brush up on just to be able to be at a level in which I can properly understand what's going on in my lectures, but I'm eager to get going so all will be well.

I've met some of the college horses, and I have to say there is a very handsome horse with a beautiful appaloosa markings who seems very sweet if a little mischievous, and yet more with fantastic stable names. Adjusting to yard procedure might take a little while, but getting to spend time with these guys makes it well worth it. One of the things I'm really excited about is getting to use the spa. It looks like a beast of a contraption, but it is really useful for the horses if they have injuries to their legs and stuff. Apparently there have only been a couple of horses that had to be taken off straight away because they absolutely hated being so closed in, so I'm hoping we don't find another one when we get around to using it - it sounds very stressful when that happens!

There's still a lot of skills I need to develop, but I honestly could not be happier with choosing my course. Whilst I would have enjoyed doing English at university, studying an equine-based subject is just so different and I think it'll really help me get to where I want to be in terms of my future career. If anyone is considering at equine course, please go to some open days. You never know, you may fall in love with a uni like I did.

Until next time

Final Pony Club Lesson

As the title suggests, this weekend saw the very last of my Pony Club lessons. It was a great lesson - there was jumping and racing and laughter - but at the same time, it was bittersweet leaving the stable yard that final time.

The reason for it being my last lesson is that next week I head off to university. Whilst this is a fantastic opportunity and everything, I know I'm going to miss the stables a lot. It seems really weird to think that I won't be seeing my favourite horses in a fortnight as I have done for the past few years, but I fully intend to go to the stables for a lesson whenever I'm back home from uni. My curiosity wouldn't have it any other way!

There are a lot of things I could write here, about how wonderful all the staff members were and how much fun I had with my riding groups over the years, but I honestly don't think it would sound as sincere as I would mean it to be. My riding has improved so much since being at that yard, and as I have every intention of returning I also don't want this blog post to turn into a fond farewell. Much like the sign off on my posts, it very much is a case of 'until the next time'.

Between the ears of one of my faves :3

One thing I do regret though, is that I don't have a lot of photos from my time there. I only realised this as I went to make this post and had a look through my things. 2014 is the last time my lessons were really recorded. My dad tried to film a few of of the show jumping rounds and dressage tests from competitions, but sadly the quality is really bad and I also think his SD card destroyed them recently anyway. The picture about, as well as a few others, are the most recent I have and I only took them because I knew it was my last time on the yard. Usually I leave my phone behind in the car or at home, but I made a special effort to get a few snaps this weekend.

I'm excited for university and meeting the college horses, but I don't think any will replace those I'm already in love with at this stables. This post really doesn't do justice to my final lesson, but I can't really find the words to express how I feel right now. All I can really say is this:

To everyone who has made Pony Club so special, thank you! I wish you all the best, and I hope to see what you get up to through social media. I'll be sure to see you all soon with tales of the horsey things I have learnt, so long as you fill me in with everything that has been happening down here! Good luck with the new horse, and have fun earning your badges x

Until next time...