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!