2011 Review

DAN

Well, the yr didn't start too great with being chased down the steep hill on the ranges by a big, scary dog and straining his leg again.  he was quite lame for a while so had a couple of months off but that seemed to do the trick and since then he has been back hacking out again.  I haven't actually ridden him so no idea quite how sound he is but he seems to be having a whale of a time whenever I go out hacking with him and one of his sharers.  He lost a lot of wt this summer with the short grass and I got quite worried about him as then he started having trouble eating but dentist sorted out a few sharp edges and a move back to his old field in Normandy has sorted out the weight issue and he is now nice and round again.  The year ends with all good in Dan's world.

LLEWI

The year started with him just about to start trot work and it didn't really get an awful lot better.  He never felt quite right on a hard surface from the start.  The vet said to take it really slowly but push on and he got a little better but still not quite right.  Pushed on and got him fitter and it didn't get any worse.  He felt fine in the school and picked up schooling (and spooking) just where we left off once fit again.  We went out to some dressage competitions at Prelim/Novice and he was consistently placed or winning inc a DTM on over 75% despite spooking the whole way round.  We did a ridden showing class which left me fearing for my life as he bucked and cavorted around enjoying the chance to canter in company again.  I took him back to Liphook and he said he looked fine in the school.  Wasn't quite 100% on the lunge on the hard but otherwise looking good and unlikely to get any better (or worse) so to crack on.  And then we did a RC dressage test on grass and the judge pretty much said he was lame :(  Immediately lost all enthusiasm for riding him.  No matter whether schooling or hacking was just paranoid that I was asking a lame horse to do work and that wasn't right but couldn't leave him in the field to do nothing.  Ended up backing right off on his work which wasn't fair with him just in a tiny paddock.  Tried putting him out with Monty but they kicked the s**t out of each other so made the decision to try and put him out on loan.  After a few timewasters I found his current loaner and he moved away at the beginning of September.  He is still a naughty little monkey and I dont know how she puts up with his behaviour but I think he is liking his new relaxed life with plenty of friends and not much work so seems like all is well in Llewi world at the moment.

MONTY

His year started well with lots of hunting, indoor SJ at MW and indoor dr at MW with the flatwork never being easy but feeling like it was gradually improving.  April was first 80cm ODE at T/down - placed 6th with double clear and some time faults.  May was first 90cm at Mattingley - 2nd with double clear in the time.  End of May first BE90 at T/down -4 faults SJ, clear XC, time faults, not placed.  Week after BE90 at Borde Hill 2nd place and qualified for Regionals!  June - more clears XC BE90, dressage improving.  July - won the RC Nov Horse Trials Q.  Aug - long format 2 day event at the RC Champs - fab fun but first ever run out lost us 3rd place.  Sep - first BE100 at Munstead - double clear.  Oct - 2nd BE100 at Pulborough - 2nd runout of the season at a silly corner due to my rubbish riding.  Finished season with double clear at Intro Champs at T/down and 12th place with a really confident XC round and the final of several clear rounds in the SJ as feel like we really improved in that area during the season.  Went to a Rich Waygood clinic in Nov and ended up jumping 1m15 as part of a grid and not being terrified about it!  

Unfortunately dressage seemed to go downhill in the latter third of the season and started getting comments about him going down centre line with quarters right and being tight over the back.  He has always tended towards this way of going as was so crooked when I got him but it never showed up like this in our dressage tests.  Tried to work through it and he has been out to some BD tests and never score less than 60% at Novice.  Has won a prelim so half qualified for summer regionals but still something not right so have now had physio out and he has definitely got a sore back and is walking with quarters to the right so had some H-wave treatment and now got the saddler coming out next week followed by the physio coming back to treat him under sedation the week after.  He will then have some time off and some work in hand before potentially another session.  Physio said to carry on as normal but have tried schooling him and he feels horrible.  Thought things were coming on ok despite the crookedness but now he just feels yucky.  Hunted him though and he feels fab still - no hint of not wanting to jump, not going disunited or jumping awkwardly.  Jumped some huuuuuuge hedges back in November with the Kent and Surrey bloodhounds and he seemed to love it.  Bit confused really.  Desperately hope physio can sort him out and not that her treatment will straighten him and show up an actual lameness as always so paranoid about his right hind after what they said on the vetting.  It's not covered by insurance so will have to pay for any diagnostics/treatment needed so really hope he is going to be ok.  

Therefore am not going to talk about 2012 aims for him as dont want to jinx things.  Just hoping he is ok so we can pick up where we left off as so much more to do.  So, 2011 ends with all not quite right in Monty's world :(

3 days out in a row - BD Oldencraig, Simon lesson, hunting with the B&B drag

Nearly didn't end up going to Oldencraig on Friday as got to the yard and it was snowing heavily.  Venue said going ahead though and the snow stopped once I got Monty in so off we went.

Unfortunately Oldencraig is like a bog if they've had any rain.  Got parked in the horrid back car park which was disgustingly muddy.  Went off to the warmup arena and it was a revolting bog.  Monty didn't like going through the boggy bits and so our warmup was rather disasterous.  Went into the International arena for N39 and there was a lake down one side.  Pretty spooky arena and he was having a good gawp around.  First centre line felt v wobbly and he stuck his head up in the halt, nothing much happened in the medium trots, poked his nose in the FWLR but the canter work was nice except breaking after the G&R because of having to go through the puddle (shame as the G&R actually wasn't too bad for him).  Ended up 4th out of 5 on 62.75%.  Not an awful score considering the break which cost us a percent.  Anything over 60% at Novice BD still keeps me relatively happy.  He got 5's for his medium trots, 6's for most of the trot work. Pretty much straight 7's for the canter work which is v encouraging.  4 for the break in canter. 6 for the stretchy trot as he didn't consistently stretch - too busy being nosy - she said steadier hinds needed so can stretch more which I interpret as he was running.  7 for final centre line and 8 for final halt.  Collectives 677 for paces, 66 for impulsion, 65 for submission (straightness underlined), 77 for rider.  "A willing horse showing some promising rhythmical work.  Now needs to work from behind, over his back through to a more consistent contact"  Judge: Pauline Velten List 4

Took him back to trailer for 10min rest then had a quick 10min warmup before going in for music test.  1st time in the indoor for him - he didn't like the seating area much - he's nearly as bad as flipping Llewi with spooking!  Test went ok though - floorplan worked v well given I was adlibbing!  Didn't think he went too bad but judge wasn't impressed.  Have had her before and pretty sure she didn't have much nice to say about him then either.  Disappointed with 61.66%.  All 6's except 7 for FWLR and 8's for both halts.  His final halt was horrid - he yawed into it so dont know what she was watching by that point.  6's for all the artistic marks too - v unimaginative - I mean 2 of the marks are for choreography and music so even if you didn't like the horse they should get some decent marks given they always have before hand.  Just a couple of 7.5's which is normal for that music would have given us plus 65% and a qualifying score  :(  "Attractive horse but he needed a little more impulsion and softness over the topline"  Judge: Bridget Beresford-Wright, List 3

So, set off to Simon lesson on Sat with lots to work on.  Mainly his submission on the right rein as it's gone seriously tits up recently.  Explained about not being able to get medium trot which we established was due to the fact that he has gone very banana on the right rein and if not straight then no way can do medium trot.  Had to establish he wasn't lame as gone so crooked and tight but Simon happy he didn't look unsound in any way which has been playing on my mind.  Got physio on Wed for him anyway just to check him over esp after his tumble the other day.  We did an exercise first in walk, then in trot which he did fab when bent to the left but awfully resistant on the right.  Come round off the short side, change bend, leg yield to centre line, 1/2 10m circle back to track and shoulder-in.  Was really chuffed with how he did it in trot with left bend - really secure leg yield and then not a bad attempt at shoulder-in.  From the videos can see that he is tending to offer me too much angle but when I try and straighten a little he goes too much so just need to make sure not asking for too much.  Even on the right rein he was giving me the angle, just not the softness in the rein.  We then did some work pinging him round the school to try and establish that he could give us a medium trot which he did.  Didn't do any canter work as not really having problems there at the moment.  Went on to work on the large turn on the forehand exercise on a 10m circle which he did fine, wt bearing on the R hind no probs.  Also did some work half passing in from the big circle into a walk pirouette - be careful not to make the pirouette too small at this stage and lose the crossing ending up pivoting.  V clear on the video but also v easy to feel when doing it correctly.  V V easy on left but not v good on the right so need to work on that a bit more.  Then straighten, out onto big circle and into trot and not looking sore at all - Simon likened this exercise to a flexion so again happy he is not lame but has just gone really crooked and need to really work on straightening him over next few wks before next competition.  Trot ended up being much softer and less crooked. Instructions to do lots of longer, rounder work on the right rein, dont even think about bringing him up in front at this stage - just get him stretching over topline and working equally into both reins.  His reaction when he tenses is to completely solidify his lower neck muscles so he cant possibly submit.  Need to keep them softer by keeping him lower in front for a bit.

Onto hunting today.  Frost on the ground this morning but hunting still ok to go ahead as ground good up on the downs at Kingsclere.  B&B drag today.  Few people there I knew which made it much nicer.  Stayed at the back with them on the first line, and just let him pop nicely over the little tyre jumps without interfering with him at all.  Then 2nd line moved up to the front and he jumped all the bigger tyre and log jumps really well - great stride to them all.  Then it went a bit wrong at a big upright going uphill when he took offence to me holding him, chucked his head in the air and only just made it over.  Then a long v steep uphill stretch where he felt really quite tired and wasn't entirely convinced he felt sound but found out later he had lost a shoe so probably explains that.  Got to the top and had to jump a massive tyre jump where we got striding a bit wrong and ended up putting in a short one and jumping v off to the right.  Flew the next one though - similar one to most of the ones on the top of the down - meaty upright hidden in some flimsy hedge so looks a bit like a hedge but really do need to clear them or the rail inside would catch them out - luckily he's not one for going through hedge.  3rd line was all the big tyre jumps then the rails/brush.  Jumped all on the way up well, missed out the bigger hedges at the top as he was tired from the climb up and just popped the little tyre jump alternatives then did a couple of bigger ones with open ditches in front of them to finish.  Final little line back was just a good gallop on the downs, popping a couple of tiny fences then a couple of rail/hedges to finish but he was def tired by this point so not jumping as fab as at the start.  Bounced all the way home and looked fit to go round again but his brain thinks he's fitter than he really is I think!  He's taken the shoe off with no damage to his foot luckily so should get that nailed back on in next couple of days - really need it back on for physio on Wed as sure she will want to see him trot up.



BD Jungle Book floorplan
halt at D
diagonal line off to the left hand track and into circle right 15m
change rein - 2 half 10m circles
circle left 15m
round track to walk
medium walk to free walk to medium walk on 3 loop serpentine
canter left
20m circle, 5m loop, 15m half circle and back to track, counter canter, change leg
medium canter on 1/2 20m circle
20m circle right, 5 loop, 15m half circle and back to track, counter canter, change leg if time.
back to trot, medium trot across diagonal.
3 loop serpentine
down centre line and halt

Arsey orange one - another schooling session.

late lunch at work today so nipped down to ride just as it was getting dark.  Started off by thinking about riding him forwards into a steady contact and not asking for flexion until we had connection.  I was really pleased with the way the warmup went on both reins.  I started with lots of lateral work in walk, gradually asking for more connection and incorporating the head to wall leg yield.  Picked up trot on left rein and continued same theme of forwards into steady contact but not letting him slop again.  Did some canter and then let him stretch right down. Repeated same on right rein and it all felt good.  Trot stretch was especially lovely but canter work also very pleasing - much softer in the neck than he has been.

Then gave him a walk break.  Picked him up again and it was like I hadn't warmed him up!  Got him back to how he was earlier on the left rein but when I changed to the right rein he was all arsey.  When I tried to ride forwards into a steady contact he just ignored me, if I asked more firmly he cantered.  Every time I brought him back to trot he went all hollow and yucky and refused to go forward off my leg into the contact.  Ugh - it was horrid!  Put him into canter which seemed to sort things which in itself is bloody ridiculous as right canter was always his absolute weakest thing ever and now I'm using it to fix problems in the trot.  Maybe that's what I need to do at the moment if he goes hollow - get him forwards in canter and then ride the trot forwards afterwards.  When he did soften it felt fine - it's all in his head!  It's not that he cant do, but he gets all silly about something and goes all tight.

We did some walk to canter on the left rein which was initially accompanied by bucking and farting but then calmed down.  Need to be careful not to use too strong leg aids as he is quite reactive to my leg at the moment and doesn't actually need a big aid.  Right rein not so good initally but got better.  I'm sure half the probs on the right rein are me.  left rein I pick up the walk and he does a nice medium walk.  Right rein we get quarters swinging all over the place!

Did a bit of medium canter on the circle which went well.  Tried some medium trot which went badly - am so rubbish at teaching medium trot it frustrates me hugely :(

Then did a bit of stuff with my music playing in the background.  Interestingly now the trot doesn't seem to fit that well but the canter has steadied and now fits pretty much spot on.  Will be interesting to see what the judge thinks on Friday.  I can probably alter the trot slightly to try and make it work.  No idea on my floor plan - am just going to ad lib!

Finished with some trot lateral work - the trot head to wall is really good for getting him into the outside rein esp on the left rein as it means I have right bend, riding into left rein but he cant escape.  He seemed to find it quite hard on the right rein which is interesting as I thought he'd find it easier as it involves stepping under with the left hind which is his better hind.  It very much helped the general connection though so that's definitely one to remember to use more often.  Finished with left trot feeling lovely - up and engaged and soft in the hand.  Right trot better than it was but nowhere near like left trot.  Must remember to use the trot leg yield in the warmup as it really engages him.  Can also use canter leg yield.  Finished with a really lovely loose trot on both reins.

Off to Olympia tomorrow!

Arse of an orange horse

The orange one has had 3 days off firstly due to weather and then due to work xmas party and Caroline's wedding.  So decided against hacking him out in the wind today and thought the school would be a safer option.

Wrong!

First 45mins going ok although still having issues changing from left to right bend and on the right rein in general - he is just not submissive at all no matter what techniques I try.  Dont know if it is something physical stopping him from stepping under with his right hind or just him.  Managed a flying change from right to left lead canter after leg yield from centre line to wall on the 2nd attempt to was pleased with that.  Canter work on the left rein no probs - doing some nice canter to walks and walk to canter, 10m circles in canter no probs.  Trot work after the canter work lovely - up in front, soft in the mouth, all ok.  Probs come when start to try and change onto right rein or just changes of bend in general - struggled with a 3 loop serpentine and 10m loops in from the track.

Then was just doing a bit of trot work to finish off, he was ignoring my leg so I gave him a sharper leg aid and all of a sudden he just stood right up.  I remember him going up, thinking oh shit he's going really high and then oh shit he's going over.  Fortunately I lost my balance off to the left, remember falling down pretty much flat on my back and just lying there helpless not really knowing what he was doing. Then saw his bum come down luckily to the right of my leg and he just rolled up onto my leg and then back off it.  Thank god it was a soft landing and I didn't lose balance off to the right and into the school fence.  He got straight up and trotting off round the school seemingly none the worse for wear.  Managed to tread on his reins and snap them at the buckle.  Caught him and he was freaking out as obviously expecting some kind of recourse of his actions.

Went and collected side reins and lunge gear and put him on the lunge.  He seemed quite comfortable so made him work in trot and canter for 15mins or so as do not want him thinking he can get away with that behaviour.  Hope he did actually scare himself a bit and will think twice before trying that one again.  Got back on him despite rather painful backside!  Left the side reins on but didn't really need to as he wasn't going to be naughty.  Just did some trotting round on both reins and then him stretch down.  He did probably the nicest trot stretch work he's ever done - typical!  By this point we'd been in the school about an hour and a half - not quite the plan for the afternoon!  He was not fussed by what he had done, nuzzling me for treats etc - horrid monster.

Getting v frustrated with him but always in the back of my mind wondering if it could be physical as was told on his vetting his right hind was possibly an issue.  Concerned about pushing him too far and breaking him by wanting him to really engage the right hind like he can the left.  Really cant see there can be that much of a problem given what he can jump though.  Going to get the physio and saddle fitter out to him anyway as want to make sure no physical excuse for his behaviour.  Just feel like we're still having the same issues that we had last winter.  I'm sure he has improved loads in some ways but I just wish he would be a bit more accepting of the contact - always end up with aching arms and it's driving me mad!

Monty BD Checkendon 07-12-11

Took Monty to Checkendon today.  Journey there was yucky - going through centre of Reading with a trailer not really knowing where I was going and what lane I needed to get in next wasn't much fun!

Put Monty back in the hanging cheek for today as had a feeling I might need it!  Last time I went there it was obviously summer as we parked in the field, warmed up outside and competing in quite nice outdoor arena.  Today we parked in a small yard, warmed up in a small indoor school and then competed in a little indoor next door.  Both school walls appeared to be lined with white plastic and it was rather windy today!  This made things rather interesting.  He was tense from the word go.  There were sunbeams on the floor which created a bit more tension and then the wall between the 2 schools wasn't full height so every now and then you got a head coming along towards you above the wall!!  On the first walk round he nearly took out the girl behind me as he spooked at the gap between the 2 schools and shot sideways.  Then he didn't want to go through the gap between the 2 schools to get into the competition arena although quite pleased that he did go with some encouragement and we had no rearing or spinning.

The competition arena was just a fraction longer than 20 x 40m so we had to go right up to the sides of the arena next to the flappy plastic.  You could just about see the horses in the car park above the walls and could hear them banging and whinnying.  He didn't think much of going anywhere near A at all.  It was almost reminiscent of competing Llewi - cannot imagine what he would have been like in that arena!  I mastered getting round on the left rein before the bell went but we had to tackle right rein during the test which was rather interesting!  Definitely not the best test we've done by far.  Came out thinking we'd be lucky to get 60%!

15min gap so allowed him to calm down and then picked him up again for a few more transitions.  Went in again and he was a bit more rideable.  Still a lot of tension though.  Found the 10m loops really hard as he wasn't soft in my hand at all so not able to bend him.  Pleased he offered something in the 1st medium trot although I wouldn't have said it was anything resembling proper medium, not so much happened in the 2nd.    The canter work was much better though.  Still cant do G&R but everything else was good.  Bird decided to take off outside the arena just as I was finishing my 20m circle in trot on a long rein and he v nearly pissed off across the arena - cue frantic grabbing at the reins and a messy final turn onto the centre line.  Very glad that was over!

Put him away quickly as it was flipping cold.  Went to get results and rather surprised to get given a red rosette and £17 prize money for the prelim.  We got 65.8% and so I guess that means we're half qualified for the summer regionals!  Think there was only 4 in the class though so not much competiton!  2nd on 64.1%, 3rd on 62.9%, 4th on 60%.  Novice also surprised to get 63.8%.  Again, only 5 in the class - one retired after the first few moves due to spookiness at the flappy plastic.  The open rider got 65%.  2 restricteds got 62.3% and 61.5% so we'd have won the restricted. Not really surprised there weren't many entries given the facilities.  Cant say I'd be back there in a hurry although maybe a good place to go if I want another win to finish qualification!!!

Journey home was even worse - nearly got crushed between a lorry and a bus on the narrow lanes going through Reading.  Seriously thought one of them was gonna hit me.

Read my sheets once home.  Same judge for both tests.  Linda Waller - List4.

P14 - Lots of 7's, 6's for right canter trans as it happened before scary A, 6 for G&R in trot, 6 for canter to trot and trot to walk as up at A, 6 for FWLR as he didn't seek rein down and 6 for trans up to trot as he tripped over.  8 for final centre line and halt.  7 for our entry so guessing my riding the outside rein round the corner worked as no quarters right comment on either centre line - must remember that!  7667 collectives.  "Much to like with this horse but needs to keep activity throughout for a more consistent contact"

N24 - not ridden this before.  Another 7 for entry.  6's for our 10m loops.  7's for the half figure of 8 with trot-walk-trot over X. 5 "hurrying" and 6 "above bit and tightening"" for medium trots.  7 for both bits of medium walk, 6 for FWLR.  6's for left canter circle and medium circle as too much inside bend then she said needed to lengthen frame more in the medium.  Got 7's for the half figure of 8 with change of leg through trot over X from left to right (his worse direction).  6's for G&R, stretchy trot ("needs to stretch consisently to contact") and final turn to halt "quarters drifting out". 7's for walk, trot and canter. 6's for impulsion and submission. 7 for correctness of my seat but 6 for effectiveness of aids.  "Charming horse, aiming to please - but at the moment rather inconsistent in the contact.  Needs to work over the back actively forwards throughout to develop a more consistent connection"

hunting and more schooling

Not much to say about hunting other than flipping amazing!  First couple of lines pretty boring but I knew there were some hedges to come.  3rd and 4th lines were the hedges.  Monty jumped every single one spot on.  We didn't get an awkward stride to one of them.  Had to get him sitting back on his hocks each time as we had to wait our turn and then just let him power on down to them and he made them all feel so easy.  It's a pleasure to hunt him.  I hate hacking him as so scared he's gonna ditch me with one of his spook and spins but hunting is just wonderful on him.  Just want to be a bit careful we dont overdo things as these are pretty big jumps and I dont want him jumping them every week.  2wks now till our next meet at Kingsclere.  Would rather go every few wks and jump fab hedges than jump little jumps every week though!

Schooling today.  The draw reins made their approximately monthly appearance as I needed to convince him he was quite capable of working in the correct outline on the right rein and shouldn't be such a resistant little git.  I am very aware when I use them to make sure they are only coming into action when he tries to come out of his box.  Did some nice basic work - just did some transitions, nothing fancy today.  Had 4 trotting poles at 5.5feet apart which got him extending but only over the poles.  I wonder what tomorrow's medium trot attempts will be like - awful probably!  I hate feeling like I'm not making progress with something.  Feel like we've been trying to get medium all year and still it's no better.  Grrrr.

Things to remember to work on:
Give with my hands more over jumps.  Was fine when jumping little things but now jumping bigger need to really make sure I give him enough freedom in his head.
Really need to activate his inside hind, mostly the right hind - lots of lateral work, leg yield on a circle etc.  Really get it engaged before I can expect him to stay soft and round.  Loads and loads of transitions really helps connect him.

more schooling

moved my trotting poles out by half a foot so 5.5feet between them but still not enough for him to really bother with extending over.

was a bit frustrated with right rein work today.  let him have longer down before i picked him up and he was quite happy down or in a kind of prelim outline but not happy about being picked up on the right rein.  fine on the left rein.  being annoyingly fussy in the contact when first picked up into trot from walk on a long rein on either rein.  did do some nice canter work on the right rein though.  glad that is improving but frustrated by the trot work at the moment.  I feel so un-ambidextrous it's untrue.  I get exactly the feeling I want on the left rein, but simply cant replicate it on the right rein.

remembered to think outside aids round the corner onto the centre line which helped keep him much straighter.

finished with running through P14/N24 ready for Wed.  Prelim went quite well - nothing he cant do nicely other than G&R in trot.  N24 all good except medium trot which was horrific - hollow and running - yuck, yuck, yuck.  Anticipating more 4's on Wed if it carries on like that.  Am trying to get him to associate the word big with the big trot over the poles so I can get it on the diagonal but at the moment it just seems to make him tense up and run more.  Must remember to rise bigger to see if I can get it then.  Will try on tue bringing the trot back and then on again on the circle as that helps him to spring into bigger trot and if I can do that a bit round the corner I might be able to get a bit of spring on the diagonal in the test.

Need to practice canter-trot-canter changes of rein a bit more as nothing like a bit of anticipation to help with that movement.  Today did a fair few trot strides to rebalance him but it did make for quite a nice change of leg bearing in mind striking off to right canter isn't his strongest point anyway.

Medium canter on a circle went quite well - remember to ride with hocks underneath him.  He came back to working canter really nicely from my seat so pleased with that.

G&R in canter on the right rein not great but he didn't hollow, just stretched his head and neck out so better than a giraffe impression.  Really tried to sit on my bum and just straighten arms rather than tipping forwards.

Remember on the final half circle on centre line to ride outside aids and then to half halt before asking for transition to halt so he doesn't gape onto my hands.

Hunting tomorrow with the Kent and Surrey bloodhounds again.  This time down at Coombelands.  Hopefully get to do some fun hedges again :)

Schooling tonight 02-12-11

He wasn't in the bestest of moods tonight.  He never schools as well in the evening when he wants his dinner.

Set up 3 trotting poles with 5 feet between them but he found that too easy - couple of times felt him extend but mostly he just trotted through them with no extra effort at all!  Tried to link the word "big" to getting big trot over the poles in the hope I can use that as a key to getting medium in the arena.

Tried putting him in his box which works quite well on the left rein, but really doesn't work on the right.  Dont think it helps that I find it harder to ride properly on the right rein - my body is so one sided.  He just argued and got all tight through his back on the right rein.  Think must allow him to come up into his box a bit more gradually on the right rein.  Even once he's in it he feels like he's trying to get out all the time.  I know what I want it to feel like, it's just trying to get it to feel like that!

Anyway, we worked through it, got some nice canter on both reins and some nice basic trot.  Didn't try anything too complex as he just wasn't in the mood.  Got pissed off with him refusing to halt nicely coming down the centre line (anywhere else no probs!), gave him a dig in the side and he leapt in the air and spun round nearly losing me off the side.  Grrr.  Every time I let him stretch down in whatever pace he went off at warp speed.  Not the most successful schooling session ever!

Tracey lesson 30-11-11

Themes of today:
** control the shoulders - think outside leg to outside hand.  dont let the shoulders swing when change the bend as change the rein.  dont change the bend on the medium trot until after collected him back to working trot

** medium trot over poles to introduce the idea to him.  he has a big length of stride.  just need to give him the idea.

** he must work either up or down.  up meaning Elem type outline, connected and through or down - round and stretching.  none of this running flat on his shoulders all strung out.  He will argue about it but need to contain him in the box that I set.

** in trot leg yield he must not make me try and bring him over with the inside hand, he needs to get off the inside leg - if he doesn't react to it then reinforce the aid stronger.

we ran through the trot work of E59 as plan was to get us working at Elem as competing at Novice.  In general it wasn't too bad.  Obviously his mediums wouldn't pass muster at the moment.  But his initial trot and move off was good, the trot to halt to rein back to trot was lovely and the leg yields weren't too bad.  Quite encouraging really as I expect he wouldn't find the the canter work too bad as that has really improved so could probably have a not too bad attempt at the test.  Maybe next yr :)

Schooling session 29-11-11

Short session in high winds.  Definitely feel he is starting to set against the hanging cheek snaffle so going to change back to the loose ring Neue Schule for Tracey lesson tomorrow.

He was really nicely off my aids in the lateral walk work.  Did a few transitions and then a bit of canter work.  Decided to try exercise I read about on the BD forum for helping to get a flying change.  So half 10m circle in canter then leg yield back to the track, straighten and ride forward for the change onto the new lead.  First time from left to right he almost went to do it then didn't.  2nd time he changed in front then changed behind a stride later but even that is big progress compared to his normal nothing or just change in front then change back in front or continue disunited.  Then tried right to left (his better rein) and first time he did a kind of hop, skip and a jump through trot but at least getting the idea that I wanted a change.  2nd time he did a clean change!  woohoo!  was beginning to lose hope that he was able to do one at all.  It was not especially pretty and he leapt through it but he did it!  Huge pats and let him canter on a long rein for a rest.

Then one final thing, as he had appeared to find the canter leg yield rather easy (probably due to all our work with outside bend, bum in on a circle in canter) I decided to try and get canter half pass left and he did a really lovely first attempt, made it all the way from centre line to outside track in the length of the school and then did a lovely canter to walk transition so finished him there.  And, all this achieved in gale force winds - sounded like stable roof was about to blow off so v proud of him for concentrating so well.  So, only a 30min session but lots of good things achieved and lots of building blocks to really work on :)

Monty BD Merrist Wood 19-11-11, Simon lesson, hunting with the K&S bloodhounds and SJ lesson 27-11-11

Remembering back to last Sat - BD at Merrist Wood.  Staying with combination of hanging cheek snaffle and drop noseband.  Warmed up nicely, in front of leg and feeling quite soft and supple.  First test was P13.  He stayed quite forwards but I did feel he dropped my contact a bit, just tightened through the back and hovered on the vertical but slightly behind my contact.  This meant that on the video it looks like my reins are going baggy all the time.  I think I just needed to feel that a bit more and ride him more up into the contact when I sense him dropping off.  In general though, test was good.  He got 65%.  Judge was Mary Robley who is List 2.  He was 5th in the qualifier but just one more collective mark would have seen him rise to 3rd overall and only 6 marks off the winner so it was v close.

Off back out to the warmup for a chill out wander round for 15mins then picked him up again.  Practised our canter-trot-canter changes of rein over X and then in we went.  2nd test was N34 and judge was Debby Lush List One!  Generally again v pleased with him - felt he attempted some medium work and he felt better in my contact which video supports.  Ended up on 62.5% which was initially a little disappointed with but remembered that would still be 2 points and looked through Dan's old BD results and so far Monty is very much on a par with him with much more to come.  Went back later to look at results and found out came 7th out of 16 restricted, 14th out of 24 overall so actually really pleased with that.  Sheet was all 6's and 7's except for the medium trots where he got 4's which I thought was rather harsh - she said first one ran and 2nd one was hollow and crooked which is true but he didn't break and he tried something so I thought 4's was a bit on the mean side.  5's I would have happily accepted.  he got 6's for his medium canters and he didn't really do an awful lot there either looking at the video.  hey ho - that's judging for you.

MW BD pics

Had a Simon lesson on Sunday which went really well.  We worked on lateral work on a circle, starting in walk and then progressing to trot.  So it was leg yield head out round the big circle then shoulder-in then half-pass into smaller circle turning it into a pirouette.  In trot it was half pass into smaller circle then leg yield back out onto the bigger circle.  On and back in the trot, collecting it right back as far as possible then big trot forwards.  His ability to collect the trot is so much better than when we first started this exercise 6mths ago. Then did some canter work, aiming for a milder version of head out leg yield and then back into trot and his final trot was amazing - if I could have that trot all the time he would be getting 8's!

So, then onto Tue schooling session - felt he was getting a bit heavy and leany in my hand in the hanging cheek so am going to go back to the Neue Schule tranz angle loose ring with the drop noseband and see how he is in that.  Otherwise, worked on the same stuff - lots of lateral work in walk to start with, then the lateral work on the circle in trot and got a replica of the lovely big trot from the lesson.

Wed we went hunting with the Kent and Surrey bloodhounds for the first time.  Great day out - we were jumping hedges from the word go.  Think on the first line alone must have jumped about 5 of them and there were plenty more to come.  Monty was jumping really well until the last line when I think he got a little tired and was chipping in some short ones but in general v pleased with him.  My legs have been killing ever since - more fittening work needed for me I think!

hunting pics

Yesterday we hacked out and he was obviously not tired after Wed, but thriving after 2 days off in the field, bouncing out of his skin, really lovely forwards going springy trot down the byway when suddenly he grinds to a halt, props and threatens to spin nearly losing me out the front door.  All because there were some cycle tyre tracks across the path.  Stupid orange thing!  Then further down he tried it again and got a serious smack on the bum - talk about taking the mick!  He was just full of it the whole way round.  Was v grateful I had Kim and Dan's sharer with me for moral support - mental pony!  Dan also full of it, kept trying to overtake me in canter which didn't go down too well with Monty!

So, today off to Farley Hall for SJ lesson with Richard Waygood.  In a group with Vicky Powley who I know has been competing Intermediate so bit scared the fences were gonna get huge.  Started with telling Richard what we had been up to and then cracked on with a gridwork session.  Started with 5 canter poles on the ground - Richard warned that distance would be long for Monty so I overrode it, sat too deep in the saddle and flattened him so he ran.  Suitable chastised I had to go lighter in the saddle and just keep a nice rhythm - low and behold he went through it lovely!  Idea was to go through one way, come back to walk in a straight line then pick up canter on the new rein and come back down.  Built up the poles to cross poles until we had 5 fences all on bounce strides and instead of coming back to walk were continuing in canter, doing a small circle to balance them, then a big circle on the new rein and then back down the grid.  Monty was ever so happy popping through the grid.  Popped them up a bit and he felt like he could do it all day!  Took out fences 2 and 4 and made fence 3 into an upright - no probs there.  Then he whacked up the height of fence 3 to 1.05m but we still managed that with no probs and he hadn't touched a fence by this point.  Then fence 3 got a back rail on it which wasn't a huge spread but back rail was at least 1.10m and I suspect somewhere nearer the 1m15 mark given how much higher it was than the front rail.  This rather panicked both me and Monty and also made the distance between the spread and fence 5 rather short.  Got told I had to create more energy in him and not let him be behind my leg but ended up coming in rather fast and flat, he took the back rail off the spread with his back feet, and then landed too far out to put in a stride before the final cross pole so attempted to bounce it which nearly resulted in us both eating dirt.  Not entirely sure what happened but I think he found a 5th leg from somewhere - I just employed the hunting seat, kept quiet, left his head alone, shut my eyes and prayed!  Somehow we both remained upright and went round to jump it again slightly more sensibly - he kept taking out the back rail though - I think it was just a little step too far so Richard put it down to somewhere between 1.05m and 1.10m and he cleared it lovely so we finished there.  Clever pony :)

SJ lesson pics

Monty Winter RC dressage qualifier. Merrist Wood. 13-11-11

So, Monty has been on his hols following our last event at Coombelands. He hasn't been in the school since a few days afterwards when we had our last lesson, he hunted a couple of times then had 12days in the field. Was meant to be bringing him back into work next week but midweek the RC got in contact and asked me to step up from reserve into the team for today's Winter Qualifier. So, Friday was spent reclipping the hairy beast and generally tidying him up a bit, then doing a bit of schooling. No time for riding yesterday as was at Your Horse Live shopping and more shopping!

Well, a lack of preparation is obviously the way to go. In the warmup he actually gave me shoulder-in in trot for the 1st time, and on both reins. 3wks ago he couldn't do that - must have been practising in the field lol! We have been consistently near the bottom in all our recent eventing dressage tests so wasn't expecting much. Have changed his bit to a hanging cheek and changed noseband from flash to drop which I think might have helped a bit although I'm sure it was the new bling browband that just dazzled the judge into give us big scores  

Managed a personal best of 71.67% with just one 6 and a nice smattering of 8's including one for his 2nd centre line. Not one comment about being crooked on the centre line (and there are 3 of them in P18) which makes a nice change and he did the most lovely, perfectly square final halt  All 7's for collectives. Judge said he was very willing but just need to work on suppleness to the right and that it was well presented  We ended up in 2nd place and our team came 4th so very good start!

Next step is BD on Saturday - trying N34 as well as P13 so fingers crossed he is feeling as nice!! 

Season round-up and conclusions

April
80cm unaff at Tweseldown - 39 dressage, clear SJ, 10.4 time pens but clear and a nice bold round to finish 6th.

May
- 90cm unaff at Mattingley - 34.5, double clear inside the time to finish 2nd - made the SJ feel so easy just jumping in a lovely rhythm.  Kept it up XC, stormed round no probs at all.  £55 prize money
- BE90 at Tweseldown -  35.5, 4 faults SJ and 7.2 time faults to finish 17th.  Thought we were going quite fast XC but the time there is tight and it's so twisty.  Nice, confident round though.
- BE90 at Borde Hill - 31.5, 4 faults SJ and finished bang on the optimum to end up 2nd - RF Q.  £33 prize money.

June
- BE90 at BCA - 34.5, 8 faults SJ and 14 TP XC.  It tipped it down with rain all morning, ground was slippery in the SJ and not great XC so took it nice and slow.  Finished 21st.
- BE90 at Rackham - 30.5, knocked the planks hard in the SJ, amazing clear round in the XC - 25secs inside the time.  7th place.

July
- RC Novice Q at Rackham - 1st after dressage and double clear.  Not sure on time but no time pens so must have been within 15secs of the optimum.  Qualified for the Nationals

August
- RC Nationals at Aston le Walls.  Lying 10th overnight after a half decent dressage test and clear SJ.  Within the time on phases A, B and C.  Recovered really well in the 10min box.  Came in at HR of 60, down to 42 after 5mins.  All going well until fence 7 when he napped back towards the 10min box and we had our 1st run out of the season :(  Carried on but took the long route at the nasty drop to corner.  Finished with a few time faults so likely would have finished on dressage score without runout and come 3rd.  Very disappointing.  Learning experience for us both.

- unaff 90cm at Borde Hill - 32 and a double clear to win!!!  £70 prize money and a free pro photo :)

September
Something went a bit wrong in Sep - failed to reproduce any of the dressage scores from the earlier half of the year despite jumping seeming to improve!
- unaff 90cm at Tweseldown - 37.5 and 4 faults SJ but finally clear XC within the time.  Finished 14th.
- 1st BE100 at Munstead - disappointing 39 but great double clear.  SJ was amazing - only one sticky getting in close moment when I held instead of kicking on out of a corner but they were big and wide and he made it feel easy.  Bit stickier XC but nice clear inside the time.  Only managed 14th though - v competitive section!
- BE90 RF's at BCA - horrendous dressage for 42 - totally lacking any impulsion - lying last after dressage which is a first I never wanted to see.  Fab double clear - made it feel easy yet again.  Only finished 29th though.

October
- 2nd BE100 at Pulborough - dressage still not our thing, more forwards but not connected.  39.5 disappointing.  Thought he deserved a bit better than that.  SJ was ok - bit sticky over the first few and very nearly stopped at the planks but then flew the rest for a clear.  XC never really got going, kept holding him, holding him and eventually held too much and he ran out at the scary corner which was big and solid and had a big scary pot of bright yellow flowers on top.  Jumped it fine 2nd time but then felt tired after and was backing off still.  I was still holding and although we got through the rest of the course ok it didn't feel pretty.
- final 90cm of the season - Tweseldown unaff champs.  Took him hunting a few days previously to try and brighten him up which worked far too well and he was mental in the dressage - like sitting on an unexploded bomb!  Just about contained things for 35 but I think that was generous.  Lovely clear SJ and then dragged me round the XC completely out of control - haring about, no real steering but showed how brave he can be as he just attacked everything I pointed him at and the only thing he even had a weeny 2nd thought at was going into the water which he's always a little suspicious of.  Finished well within the time.  Ended up 12th.  Shame not to get top 10 but v competitive and top 10 under 32, mostly under 30.

Winter dressage ahead of us - must sort it out as he has got so much potential - his jumping is fab and has come on so much.  Canter is so much stronger.  Flatwork has really progressed but still struggling with contact issues, acceptance and submission.

Simon lesson 22-10-11

Good pony today.  He was forwards from the start which just made everything soooooo much easier and more pleasurable!

Started with just doing a little bit of lateral work in walk whilst walking around waiting for Simon to finish previous lesson - just a bit of leg yield, shoulder-in, renvers.

Then moved into a warmup trot and it was lovely - really taking me forwards, it felt pingy, athletic and easy on both reins!  Wasn't worrying about head carriage at this stage.

We did some work on a 20m circle, leg yield head to the outside then shoulder-in getting a bit greedier gradually with the amount of angle first.  Anything involving right bend much harder for him but felt like he was trying.  Then picked up the trot into an outline and it felt lovely - soft contact and he was soft and supple.  Did lots of stretching down in trot in between exercises to encourage him to let go.  We did a bit of the same lateral work exercise in trot.  Then we did a bit of canter which felt pretty good.  Must remember to keep soft through elbows/shoulders.

Finished with the turn on the forehand exercise on both reins and then moved into trot on the right rein which wasn't so good - he was resisting the contact, possibly getting a bit tired as had worked hard so will forgive that.

Hunting tomorrow with the bloodhounds as hoping that will be a little less wearing on my back and also I fancy something different to the normal draghunting.  Probably little hack on Wed and then he's gonna have a bit of time off before we crack on again with some BD.

Pesky pony

Schooled him yesterday and he was resistant and horrible.  Started off ok with doing loads of lateral work in walk, getting him off my leg which worked ok - travers with head bend to the outside so much easier than true shoulder-in as the wall controls the shoulders.  As soon as we tried to work in an outline in trot/canter he was resisting and nose poking.  Ended up getting the draw reins out which doesn't happen v often but got fed up with fighting him. They worked well as stopped him fighting against me.  Kept them so they weren't acting if he went in a correct outline but if he started fighting then they put him back in his box.

Today we went to a lesson with Tracey.  We did a lot in walk as my back playing up and also we needed to get him back in his box - all strung out, muscles doing nothing useful, not carrying himself at all.  Started with leg yield across the whole school - he needs to move when I take my leg away and not wait for the aid.  Tap tap tap with the stick just repeating the aid until he moves then he should move from the stick coming near, not wait for it to actually touch him.  Keep legs draped long.  At the other end do a turn on the forehand but with outside bend, not inside bend so a renvers turn, bum going round to the wall and then leg yield back across the diagonal.  then we did a figure of 8 about X with travers on the circle one way (must weight the inside and move the outside thigh back plus make sure have inside bend) and then renvers the other way so same positioning just circling in different directions.  On the travers on the right rein he tries to swing his quarters too far in but not bend right.  Travers left he's happy to bend left but doesn't want to bring the quarters in.

Moved into trot with shoulder-in down the long side turning into renvers at which point he mostly ground to a halt.  On the right rein really struggled to keep the outside rein contact in the renvers, much better on the left rein.  He found the renvers really hard but did some quite nice shoulder-in and the trot felt much more connected.  Played a little with the canter to finish.  Bit tight on the right rein but left rein quite nice.

I need to learn how to half halt with my upper body, bearing down and pushing his back end under and into my contact.  Need to be able to give away the inside rein in the travers.

Somehow need to get him into this consistent outside rein contact without him tightening over his back.  Renvers turn on the forehand definitely something to help control his evasion of bulging out through the shoulder when asked to step under with his hindleg.

All seemed a lot of hard work.  Really I just want to sit there and look pretty - getting him to work properly is a right mission!  Just dont feel like I'm a good enough rider to actually make him work properly.

Monty Tweseldown unaffiliated Intro Champs 16-10-11

Well, after last week's backwards XC I decided to take him hunting on Wed to rediscover his enthusiasm.  I think after today I could safely say we found it again.  He was great out hunting - stood when we stood, jumped and galloped fab - great day.  I on the other hand discovered that event fit is not hunt fit.  Spent the next 2days in agony as my calves seized up completely.  Rode him in the school yesterday and he was insane.  Getting in a right tiz about just doing a walk-trot transition.  Not good.

Walked the course for Tweseldown yesterday and all looked good.  They had changed the nasty combo at 6 from 2 big boxes on a curved 3 strides to 2 big box brushes on a 90degree angle with about 6 strides between them.  Right hand bends not my fave so thought this could be interesting.  They had moved the corner slightly and the most obvious line to it was going to be a problem as knew he'd spook at the jump you had to go past to get to it and then we'd end up on a left pointing line to a left corner on a horse who likes to run out to the left and with a rider who hates corners!  So, I designed myself a new line going up across the grass and round the left of the spare jump so even after a spook we could be pointing right at the corner!  Water was improved with a trip round to the other side, a house and then straight in and back out again the other side instead of wiggling through it twice. Last 3 fences same as ever.

This morning set off with a nice dressage time of 12.30.  Walked the SJ which was causing plenty of carnage. Nice planks, road closed jump and skinny bright thing to finish.  Nothing that should really trouble Montster on a good day though.

Warmed up for dressage and he was just like yesterday in the school.  Mental.  Seriously taking offence to my leg aids.  Kept getting walk to bounce, walk to canter, walk to hop in the air, anything but walk to trot.  Not good at all.  Perhaps hunting wasn't such a great idea after all!  Or maybe all the rocket fuel food was finally kicking in.  Either way it wasn't going to be pretty.  Took him and after what seemed hours trotting round the outside (daren't walk as feared we'd never get back into trot) and we managed to nurse our way round BE102 (using higher level test for the champs).  Was expecting 40 or worse as it was so tense it was ridiculous.  Damned dressage.  I used to love it, but recently it's become my nemesis.

Quick change to the SJ, got over there and found that play had been stopped for nearly an hour as someone as come off in a big way.  When I got over there they had her collar and boarded and were just loading her into the ambulance.  Cue major wibbles from me - I hate seeing people injured especially when I'm about to tackle what they were.  So I got a chance to actually walk the course although it doesn't really change what I do but it killed some time.  Hung around a bit longer and then they finally got going again and rattled through them.  Went in and jumped another lovely clear round.  4th eventing clear in a row now - feel like we're getting this SJ lark cracked finally.  The Champs section had an extra fence compared to the normal Intro sections - final rainbow skinny but he popped it lovely.  90 looks so small now we've been doing 100.  Never thought I'd say 3ft jumping looked small!  No video today as my youtube gone up the spout but v pleased with him.  They announced my dressage score on the way to fence 1 which was 35 so pretty chuffed with that.

Another quick change for XC before trekking half a mile round to the warmup.  We were last to arrive in the warmup so last to go round.  He was in firey mode and I sensed we might have fun today!  Fooled his naughtyness around the start box by walking him through it forwards and backwards which really confused him and we had no rearing.  Set off on a right mission, spooking at nothing on the way to fence 1.  Had all the advice from on here in my head - do not kill the canter, set up then ride forwards etc.  Made sure he knew I wasn't messing around today.  Had put my reins onto the top ring on my 2 ring snaffle as didn't want him backing off at all but it meant I had zero control!  We absolutely hared around the first half of the course.  He walloped the big box at 4, hooned around the corner to the house at 5 where I had seen loads refuse so made sure I rode that, took off with me across the grass while I frantically fought for some steeering in prep for the combo at 6.  Got right in deep which was due to us fighting but made a nice turn to part b.
pic of 6b

vid fences 5, 6ab and 7 XC


Ok over 7, spooking like mad round the corner to the skinny log at 8, did exactly as I predicted on the way to the corner at 9 so v glad to be coming at it on the line I'd chosen, jumped the wider part but no thinking about running out.  Regained small amount of control for the 2 skinny hanging logs on a turn at 10 and 11.  Launched through the sunken road taking a stride out, spooked his way to the box at 13, spooked a bit more on the way round to the back of the water, jumped the house fab, leapt into the water, jumped out well, fought for some control coming out of the woods to the hanging log to step down, failed but stopped myself from hooking and kicked on to the log and just absolutely flew down the big drop (normally I come at these things at a trot but I have no idea why as he clearly loves launching into space!).  Flew the chair and the last and managed to finish 9secs inside the time.  They had wheeled it a bit tighter than the last event given the route was pretty much identical and in every other section hardly anyone managed to get the time.  Obviously the champs was a bit more competitive and there were plenty of double clears.  We finished on our dressage score of 35.  Disappointingly not quite good enough to get placed but we managed 12th out of 31.  Out of the other 4 Intro sections only about 10 managed a double clear so pretty chuffed we did as have to remember we are only 6mths after I first wibbled my way round the 80cm course back in April and had no idea about riding SJ, XC or getting inside the time.  35 in any of the other sections would have got us 2nd place. In some sections people were in the top 10 with refusals so it definitely caused problems.

course pics:
course pics

So, this is our record for the season - missed out are our win at the RC Area Qualifier finishing on our dressage score and our round at the RC National champs.  Not bad for a first ever season's eventing I dont think.  A winter of dressage (and hunting) is ahead of us after he has a bit of a holiday and next yr we will crack the bloody dressage!

Date	Location	Cl	Horse	Rider	Dres sage	Show Jump	XC Time	XC Jump	Total	Place
15.10.11	Tweseldown UA 3	Int	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	35.0	0	0.0	0	35.0	12
8.10.11	Pulborough	100	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	39.5	0	10.4	20	69.9	17
27.9.11	BCA 2	90rf	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	42.0	0	0.0	0	42.0	29
18.9.11	Munstead 2	100	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	39.0	0	0.0	0	39.0	14
3.9.11	Tweseldown UA 2	ITO	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	37.5	4	0.0	0	41.5	14
20.8.11	Borde Hill UA	ITO	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	32.0	0	0.0	0	32.0	1
9.8.11	W Wilts 2	90rf	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	Withdrawn
25.6.11	Rackham	90	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	30.5	4	0.0	0	34.5	7
11.6.11	BCA 1	90	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	34.5	8	14.0	0	56.5	21
29.5.11	Borde Hill	90	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	31.5	4	0.0	0	35.5	2
Date	Location	Cl	Horse	Rider	Dres sage	Show Jump	XC Time	XC Jump	Total	Place
20.5.11	Tweseldown 2	90	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	35.5	4	7.2	0	46.7	17
7.5.11	Mattingley UA	ITO	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	34.5	0	0.0	0	34.5	2
15.4.11	Tweseldown UA 1	Pre	MARMALADE MONTY	Holehouse, Nicola	39.0	0	10.8	0	49.8	6

Monty Pulborough BE100 09-10-11

This week have been building on what we started with Simon last Sunday - forwards at all costs then submission with the walk lateral work and into nice forward, pingy trot.  2 fab schooling sessions where I didn't really want to get off and 2 hacks this week to keep him nice and fresh for today.

Lazy start to the day.  Got there with loads of time so wandered off round the XC course.  Looked pretty nice - few things I was worried about were no.7 the trakehner (coz I hate them), no.9 a log with a kind of shallow ditch in front of it coz I knew he'd look at it, probably didn't worry enough about no.11 the corner with it's big pot of bright yellow flowers and other decorations.  no.13 the 2nd water was a decent step into muddy water and then after that should have been home dry.

Got ready for dressage, they were running early so short warmup - gave him a gallop around the huge open warmup and then bit of walk lateral work then picked up into trot nicely so in for our test.  I didn't have him connected enough in front but the aim of today was to establish forwards and softness and not have him all tight over the back.  I think aim was completed.  Bit disappointed to see 39.5 on the board as was hoping for a little better.  Sheet seems fair enough in most places though - thought his halt in the middle was nicely done and square so to get a 6 was a bit stingy.  Then he got a 5 for left canter trans which said above the bit which I cannot see on the vid, but otherwise much better than it has been so I think progress in the right direction.

Went to watch some SJ which seemed to be causing carnage for unknown reasons.  There were about 15 clears in all the Novice sections and course quite similar for the BE100 and also causing issues.  He warmed up nicely - whacked up a nice big parallel just before we went in which he knocked which isn't a bad thing before he goes in to jump as wakes him up a bit - jumping nicely and taking me forwards.  Went in and he promptly gawped at no.1

so kicked on to 2 which he gawped again so got a smack and onto the wall oxer at 3 which was ok, round to the bright planks at 4 and he nearly stopped - got a huge growl and kick and launched over amazingly clear.

Kicked onto the double as I know if I hold at all he wont make the 1 stride so really rode it and it jumped nicely.

Finished the rest of the course nicely for a very rare clear in the BE100 sections.  This is fence 7 and 8:

Changed and onto XC.  Warmed up ok, quite pingy which was a relief as he's been so quiet recently.  Round to the start box and just as about to go in he decided to stand on his back legs so we missed the cue to go and started several seconds after they said go - not a great start!
Jumped fence 1 and 2 no probs then had to come round to 3 and 4 which were 2 small hanging logs on an angle.  For some reason decided to just hold and hold for a non-existant stride into 3 so got in far too deep, much better over 4.  5 was a chunky log before the drop and again I held him back instead of kicking on so got in deep but popped off the drop ok.

Coming round and up the hill to 6 he was spooking at everything and not concentrating but jumped it ok then same on the approach to 7 the trakehner - looked in the ditch at the last minute and leapt then shot sideways afterwards nearly leaving me in space.  Onto the brush to sunken road (which was more of a sandpit) which I held to again (spotting a theme here?) and he skirted round the sandpit on the grass but inside the flags.  Next fence was the hanging log with the fake ditch in front so really kicked on and he jumped it fine then the into space which was ok then I got the wonkiest line to the corner and I didn't have my leg on - he baulked at it and all the flowers and I didn't have the forward momentum to get over it or just stop him running out the side.  1st 20pens on our BE record so v sad about that as sure it was mostly my fault for riding him so backwards all the way round :(   Anyway, onto the house before the water, still holding, still getting in deep, not learnt at all.  Up the step and onto the 2nd water.  Concerned about the step in so back to trot but he popped off ok, lost a bit of balance in the water but just about gathered up knitting to make the skinny brush out.  Long gallop to the big wide bar thing at 14 - he felt tired, but it was big so kept leg on and he jumped it really well, heard commentator say how nicely he'd jumped it.  Finally remembered I have legs for a reason and kicked on to the step up to brush and then onto another skinny brush and finally to the flower garden to finish.

Completely knackered.  Not used to having to kick him on between fences so much and I just buggered up his rhythm so much by holding into the fences it was much harder work than it needed to be.  Gutted about 20pens on his record.  Ended up with 10.4 time pens too as all that fiddling just slowed us down so much and it was a long old galloping course which would normally suit us.  Forutnately the vids wont upload so you dont get to see how much I screwed up fence 3 which was the theme of things to come. I reverted back to my old "if in doubt hold on to his mouth for dear life" instead of "kick on".  I did it when I first started the season and I've done it on both my BE100's at anything I've been worried about.  Totally a mental problem with me rather than him as know he's more than capable of jumping clear round 100.  Feeling chuffed we appear to have cracked the SJ but glad we are dropping back to 90 again for a bit so I can sort out my XC riding.

Just one event left now - unaff champs at Tweseldown next Sunday.  Going to change him back into the snaffle as feel he doesn't need the gag at this stage of this season and it's not helping with him backing off his fences.  Sure there's nothing wrong with him as he's SJing fab and I think it's all me XC.

full XC course pics here:
full course pics

Monty Simon lesson 02-10-11

Yesterday did some lunging with 2 reins for the first time.  Worked quite well for getting him forwards and into quite a nice outline - now why cant I get that on board??
Got on and did 10mins getting forwards no matter what.  Felt he worked quite well.  Ridiculously hot so went off for a half hour hack to cool down.  Has been on oats since Wed but was a good boy.

Simon lesson today - explained the recent problems.  So, we started on a loose contact establishing forwards, pinging off my leg and then maintaining his own forwardness - must not nag!  Must make him super reactive as his build is not conducive to me being able to contact his sides with my lower leg so I need him to be taking himself forwards not relying on me.  Did some walk to canter and he responded really quickly - Simon says that is because I use my seat in the canter trans but only my legs in the trot transition and he's not responsive to the legs.  Tried to use my seat more in the walk to trot transition and then once in the trot to really think about swinging hips forwards to create forwardness.

Once we had him pinging forward we did some work on the 10m circle - head to the middle, quarters out, really asking for the inside hind to step under.  Obviously much easier on the left rein as he loves to banana and fall out through the right shoulder.  Much much harder on the right rein.  Tended to either get flexion or sideways but very difficult to get both.  Each time after getting a few steps pinged him forwards to trot on the 20m circle.  Slowly working on picking up the contact, moving him on and back.  Must not get too much neck bend on the left rein - real, ongoing problem with both of us.  Did some work on shortening the walk almost to piaffe and then on into trot.  Same with the trot - bring him back almost to a walk and then ping him forwards.  Every now and then stretch the trot to the floor. Main problem we have created is getting him stuck/blocked and not able to lower the neck when asked - need to free him up.

With the FWLR must start to pick him up much earlier and more gradually so he doesn't hollow on the pick up.

Finally did a bit of canter which felt super, not really anything to do to it - it was soft and round and forwards.

Suggested warmup regime - canter off his back to get him forwards.  Bit of work on long rein getting forwards reaction.  Walk lat work - if possible use above exercise but if getting silly then can just do some leg yield.  Into trot, forwards from the seat, pick the neck up and put it down again and then in.  If necessary sacrifice this weekend's test to establish forwards and relaxation.

Watching vids from today he looks nice and loose and swingy, but not connected enough, just need to keep a slightly better contact.  What felt like very long and strung out doesn't look it - dont ask for too much!

Big things to think of - swinging forwards from the hips and forwards reaction from him.

Monty BCA BE90 Regional Finals 27-09-11

Yesterday had a lovely little 20min schooling session with him nicely swinging along, soft in the contact etc then went out for a quick 20min hack and he was quite happy and forwards so I thought nice preparation for today.

Up at 4.30am and down the yard by 5.15am.  Pony came galloping over at the sound of my voice - weird hearing galloping hooves coming towards you in the dark.  Got to BCA at 7am despite an attempt by the truck to foil us by trying to overheat 5mins from home.  Limped it there ok though.

He warmed up ok for the dressage, got him soft without rushing him.  Not sure what happened in the test but he stuck his nose out and wasn't in front of my leg at all.  Got told off in Sunday's test for rushing him out of his rhythm so tried not to push him on too much - it felt really slow and he just wasn't reacting to my leg aids.  Because he wasn't forwards he was hollow and it just wasn't very nice.  The canter felt a bit more forwards but still not round.  Not a good start for the Regionals.

Onto the SJing - he knocked the vertical once in the warmup which was good as it always sharpens him up a bit once he knocks one.  He then jumped it and the oxer fine so in we went and he jumped a super clear.  It looked tiny compared to the 100 at Munstead last week!  Made mincemeat of the nasty line of oxer to skinny planks at 6 and 7, popped through the double on one stride as I remembered to ride forwards at it although surprised I did as they took that opportune moment to announce my hideous dressage score of 42.  Worst ever score eventing by far.  Previous worst at 90 was 37.5,  My dressage mojo has seriously got up and left!  We got 32 at Borde Hill end of August but since then they've been getting worse!  We had 37.5 at T/down, 39 at Pulborough and now 42!!!  I've had him back checked, changed his saddle to one that I know fits him better, clipped him and changed his feed from slug mix and calmer to rocket fuel and propell plus and ditched the calmer.  He warms up nicely, he schools well at home and then we go in the arena and he dies and goes all backwards on me.  Wondering about trying a different warmup regime at Pulborough - might just take him for a gallop then only do a very short warmup so he doesn't use up all his nice, forwards good work in the warmup!  Got a lesson on Sunday so will see if we can ride through a test and work out what's happening.  Very disappointing.  Wish I'd gone to the Regionals at WW in Aug now as things were going well then!  So, 42 left us last after dressage - I've never been last before - not something I want to repeat!

XC perked him up - he even had a naughty moment outside the start box which he hasn't done for a while as a horse came flying through the finish.  He set off well, jumped everything no probs, made it feel easy, definitely ready to move up to 100 jumping wise.  We were 15secs inside the time which is fine by me as that's about 100 speed which is what we've got used to working at now.  Funny to think when we did BCA in June we were 50secs slower and got a whole stack of time faults (it was torrential rain in my defence!) but have learnt a lot about speed control and not wasting time setting up/riding away from fences since then.

Finally finished 29th out of 35. :(

Gonna give him a few days off now then lesson on Sunday and concentrate on flatwork and forwardness this week before Pulborough next weekend.  It is the end of a long season and he's now done 12 events and lots of training and other bits and bobs so he might be getting a bit jaded but he seems absolutely fine about the jumping, just no energy or willingness for the flatwork.  He's having his teeth done tomorrow and I'm toying with running some blds on him just to put my mind at rest with regards to anything physical but then I think I've checked everything out I can!  Perhaps he just needs a holiday now.  Might take him hunting after Pulborough - that will no doubt recharge his batteries - he loves his hunting!

Lesson/schooling

Lesson with Laura on Thursday evening - have basically blocked him by concentrating too much on his front end and arguing with him so lost the throughness completely.  We worked on quite a long rein for a while just concentrating on my position - shortened my stirrups and worked on keeping my lower leg stiller and underneath me without swinging my knee in and out, bum more underneath me and upper body back.  Then Laura got on him and had a few arguments with him to unblock him.  I got back on him and could feel his back was swinging much better and he was much free-er.

Today schooled him and just concentrated on keeping him soft in front.  Started reluctant to stretch down but then got him to start stretching out and down and then more round and then picked him up a little but let him keep quite a soft, relaxed, slightly lower outline.  Did some nice trot-walk-trot transitions over X on the diagonal line.

Then we did some jumping - worked on getting him in a nice forward canter and riding forwards for a stride - pleased as only got it wrong once and that was when then jump was tiny.  Built up size and width of the jump and ended up with front bar top of the red wings which is 1.05m (3ft6) and the back bar was 3rd hole down from the top of the wings -about 3ft8.  Spread was a good 3ft and had the ground poles set out in front and behind so good base spread.  He jumped to the right a couple of times when approaching the smaller jump off the left rein, but managed to straighten him out and then he jumped well.

Camp report

Bright and early Wed morning we set off down to Three Maids Chasers near Winchester for a 2day residential camp.  Settled Monty into his stable and met our instructor for the 2days who fortunately was an eventer who has competed to Intermediate.

We started off by heading out onto the XC course - did a little bit of flat to warm them up - got told to put stirrups up a hole to help stabilise lower leg and then we went to play with some fences.  He started off pretty sticky which is quite normal for him but we got him going.  Then he tried to do a huge nap on the way to a scary haycart type fence and bogged off sideways back towards the group.  Full cheek snaffles not always the best for horses that do this as they just set against them.  Anyway, got back on with it and kicked on over the scary fence.  We played with the water and then did a skinny coming up a step out of the water then few strides then skinny which he did well.  Unfortunately couldn't play with jumping into water as too deep.  We then did big drop down to a roll top which he did very genuinely and stayed nice and straight.  Then gave everyone a lead over the ditch on the way home.

In the afternoon we went and did some SJing.  When the jumps were around 80cm he was super happy just popping them in a really steady canter and we got a great stride to every jump.  That canter doesn't have the power to jump the bigger fences though.  We worked on using a single barrel as a jump and he did run out the left when we took the guide poles away so just stuck with the guide poles for this session as a new exercise for him.  then we made it into a double of single blue barrels with guide poles and 2 strides in between which he jumped well.  We did an upright and then a choice of doglegs, left to planks or right to another upright and then made it all into a course.  Then for me he put them all up to 1m-1.05m and we popped round them but still in our little canter which meant we couldn't make the related distances and he knocked them all down.  So, then we had to make a bigger more forwards canter, see a bigger stride and open him up which then meant we could make the related distances and he jumped clear.

The next morning we went back out on the XC, this time with instructor riding as well so we could go round the whole UKChasers course.  First of all we strung together a little course of our own choice.  Avoided the napping back to the group but made the mistake of cantering through the water to the skinny and he ducked out the left so trotted back through and he jumped it fine.  If in doubt - trot!  Then we moved on round the course - started with a combination through some woods which is similar to the one at Munstead so v good practice.  Started by popping over rails then down a step, back up a step and over a skinny log - got told we did it far too steady and managed to fit 5 strides in a 3 stride distance from step to log and to go back and ride it!  So we did and got the 3 strides and told that's how to do it!  Then we did a bigger rails in, step down then really steep hill up, over log then back down and out over another log.  Really unbalancing all those hills but v good practice for Munstead.  Onwards to a ditch which Monty gave a good lead over and then we had a lovely canter up the hill and considering most of them overtook him he was very good.  Jumped the trakehner no probs then onto a bank complex with some little skinny chairs after.  Let 2 of them go ahead and we popped off the step, several strides then skinny then opened him up and flew the big PN height corner followed by PN height and width big box fence.  Back to the bank complex and did step up, step down and much closer skinny chair and he never felt like wavering so v pleased with that.  Finished with a big table and then a skinny arrowhead and big pats :)

Afternoon involved a dressage test which he was pooped for but it wasn't bad.  Bit lacking sparkle but he did everything where it should be and tried to give me a bit of decent medium trot.  Got 8 for 1st centre line and also for the canter-trot-canter trans on the 20m circle right rein.  Rest 6's and 7's.  Felt like he was swinging his quarters a lot and generally against the hand and again, couldn't get a nice still final halt.  We then worked on getting him straighter on the left rein by using outside flexion but he was kinda knackered by this point - so much so he was just ignoring me completely when I asked for trot.  Basically conclusion is I dont have control of his shoulders which is why the quarters are swinging and we are getting far too much neck bend on the left rein and losing the right shoulder.

Really pleased with how he coped with being away - he ate well and seemed really settled in his temporary stable compared to how he was at the RC Nationals which was obviously a huge atmosphere.  Good for him to go away and it be a lot more chilled.

Had a great time and learnt loads!

Monty SJing Sparsholt 11-09-11

Class 1:95cm - not a bad round - bit tight in that size school as we're not great at turning and jumping and lack power out of the corners but did ok for just one fence down.

Class 2 was the 1m and suddenly they looked huuuuuge and v scary!  Amazing what a difference 10cm makes.  I hooked him back far far too much, panicing every time I couldn't see a stride and he ended up launching himself into orbit to clear the fences.  Terrible riding.  Did amazing just to have one down.  Plus silly judge gave us a refusal at the first fence as I circled to get my canter going in the tiny space but didn't cross the start finish - will make sure to be careful about that in future.

this is my fave one:

2 strides in a 1 stride double is not comfortable!