Lucy Thompson EHOA clinic LMEQ 25-02-12

What a fab day!

Started with SJ this morning.  Was in a group with a BE100 horse, an intermediate horse and a horse who stopped at everything!  We had to leave her to work separately from us as we needed to crack on.  Very glad I had had Tuesday's lesson first as the fences today started at 90cm and got bigger rapidly!  First thing was 2 poles on a bounce stride then one stride to a road closed sign.  First time through he was a bit looky but kept leg on, hands up and light seat from Tuesday's lesson and he popped through - much more confident the 2nd and 3rd times.   Then we combined that with a big oxer (well, only 90cm square but looked big compared with what we've been jumping recently) then round to a 95cm upright trellis which he jumped all really well, confident forwards and nice strides.

Then she whacked up all the fences to between 1m and 1m05 including a treble with one stride from a wavy musical note fence to an upright then 2 strides to another upright which had me seriously wibbling.  There was also an oxer over a huge water tray.  Next course was to do trellis then parallel then round to the triple, trellis the other way then dog leg to the water tray.  I knew he'd find the distances long in the treble so got told I had to really generate the canter from 10strides out and keep on moving to the fence.  We messed up the right hand turn after the parallel and he was all disunited so circled but then moved on well and he almost made up too much ground through it, just clipped the final part at 1.05m and then jumped the huge water tray fine.

Final course was oxer to triple which now had a back bar on the final part then right handed round to an arrowhead at it's max height then round on the right rein again to 2 uprights on a 45degree angle to each other so had to aim to jump straight through them with 1 stride so taking each on the opposite angle.  Messed up our turn to the triple again so made another circle - this time he felt like he backed off a little on the way into fence 1 but kept leg on and he got a nice stride, just clipped the middle part but cleared the big oxer to finish.  Then round to the arrowhead, he saw what I was aiming at, wobbled a bit, I clapped legs on and he flew it.  Then right handed round to the angle, bit disunited again round the corner, not a clear line to the angled fences so he didn't read the question, jumped in a bit sticky so way off making one stride, tried to put 2 in but couldn't and slid into the front of the fence.  Fortunately he just stopped and didn't then spin round so I stayed in the plate although jarred my back a bit.  She put them down a fraction and we tried again - this time he had the idea and jumped through nicely if a bit green,  Third time he jumped it very nicely.  Was just a question he hadn't encountered before so not worried about the stop but something we can practice as normally only do one fence on the angle.

Then we had a 3hr break before XC.  Started by letting him open up round the field and he felt really up for it.  Warmed up with a large brush fence designed like a steeplechase fence with a board at the groundline.  He seemed a little surprised but jumped it well then over it again and right handed to a decent sized hanging log which he popped nicely.  Then moved onto jumping 2 brush fences on an angle with 2 long strides in between them.  He found it very long but as I wasn't holding and had leg on he absolutely flew the 2nd part.  Wasn't quite trusting of him to do it so was a fraction behind the movement and he jumped so huge I landed on his neck!  Came round again and again huge confident jump then powered over the tyres.  Moved on to doing 2 steps down, 2 big strides to a skinny wave type fence - decent height.  He popped down the steps in trot as I brought him back too much at the top but then really responded to my leg on, locked on to the skinny and flew it easily on 2 strides then popped over a ditch on the way back to the group.

Next challenge was to do log to step up, round the corner then through sunken road on 2 strides then the ground went uphill then downhill, 2 long strides to a skinny 1m thing - not sure how to describe it - some kind of house I think!  Killed the canter steadying to the drop down so he trotted then pushed on for the 2 canter strides in the road and then for the 2 strides after but he was a bit off so stuck in another short one despite me hanging on round his neck as thought he was gonna jump.  Came through again but kicked on to the sunken road and then he made the 2 strides out no probs.  Then we had to turn back round do the skinny the 2 strides into the sunken road then a bounce stride out to an even skinnier skinny.  Never done a XC bounce before so little apprehensive but he got a super stride to the skinny in so pushed on, 2 strides to the sunken road, 2 strides in the bottom, aimed at the out, leg on and he absolutely locked on and ballooned the skinny out.  Unfortunately he jumped me completely off!  Not sure quite what happened, think he jumped so big he jumped me a bit out of the saddle then I was planning on going left after but he went right (not able to go straight on).  Landed very heavily on my left hand side, really walloped my head on the ground, foot got momentarily stuck in stirrup but the leather pulled off the saddle and somehow in all of that I really bent up my right wrist.  Got up shaking my head a bit with my back seriously jarred.  Monty went for a trot round but easily caught.  Felt so bad for falling off him as he jumped it really well - was so proud of the way he locked on.  I underestimated how hard a bounce up a step to a large skinny was.  Bit above my ability levels really.  Hell, put another step bounce in and it was reminiscent of the similar fence at Burghley this yr!  So so pleased with superduper pony though.

Then we moved onto the water.  Cantered in to a little crocodile but he clocked the water beyond and slowed to a trot, popped in though and trotted through the water ok then out over another crocodile.  My fault he was a bit backwards as wasn't using leg enough.  Moved him on and popped over a nice roll top under the rugby posts no probs.  Then round to a skinny hedge, one stride and step down into water.  I used a tad too much hand on the way to the skinny hedge and he wobbled a bit but then remembered to put leg on and he popped it nicely and no probs down the step into water, cantered through and out over the hippo.

Then moved onto the coffin - brush, one stride to ditch, one stride to large skinny palisade.  Jumped huge over the ditch on the way over there, I was then too backwards to the coffin and he slipped in an extra stride in both elements.  We then went round, down a step into water, cantered through then out and round the field to a triple brush (must look at top of fence not into the bottom to keep them straight) - he locked on way out, kept leg on, kept moving and he didn't even think about running out - it was fab!  Made it feel easy.  Last time we tried a skinny brush it was at T/down this time last yr and it took me about 5 attempts to get over it!  Went back and repeated the coffin but I still was too backwards, not trusting him over the ditch so had to go and do it again.  This time, finally persuaded myself to ride forwards and he popped through no probs making the one stride distances seem easy.

Finished him there.  He didn't seem especially tired, hadn't even broken a sweat despite it being rather tired but he had jumped so well.  Being in a higher level group made me up my game in a good way, I rode like I meant it and he really really responded to it.  Never felt him so focused and genuine.  Totally in love with him, if a bit broken right now!  I would have ached anyway after 2 jumping sessions, let alone with the bad fall as well.  Stupid me forgot to take my point 2 air jacket which would definitely have softened my landing considerably.  Meant to be doing RC SJ tomorrow - be interesting to see how I feel in the morning!  More jumping not really what either of us need but will be good course practice after last couple of lessons and hopefully will look small after today!  Must remember to keep same attitude, ride forwards and positively but keeping the canter quality.

Exercise diary

Fri 24th Feb: 10mins walk, 3min jog, 2min walk, 3min jog, 2min walk, 4min jog, 10mins walk

Merrist Wood schooling

So, Tue was BE SJ training.  Wed morning did some interval training before work - 3 x 3min canter in the school with 90secs walking in between each set.  Warmed up with 10mins walk and 4mins trot then 1min walk before starting canter work.  After final set he recovered his breath in about 10mins (Ginny Leng book says recovering between 7mins and 14mins is fine)  It was bloody hard work on my legs and back and also got me out of breath so definitely something to do again but would rather do it in the field than small school and dodgy surface.  Would benefit from being a more forward going canter too.  I know he can easily canter a dressage canter for that long but need to get him going more XC speed to up fitness.

Thur went for a lovely hack in short sleeves and no gloves in lovely sunshine and pony actually broke a sweat from a 30min hack although we did rag it round a route that normally takes more like 40mins.

Today had farrier this morning for first stud holes of the yr then took him to Merrist Wood this evening.  The arenas were set up for tomorrow's BD so two 20x40m arenas with solid white boards - fab for practising.  Started in the arena by the mirrors - I soooo wish I had mirrors - they really help you see what you're doing esp in the lateral work.  Warmed up in the same way as we started at the Simon clinic as it went so well.  So, leg yield into centre line, 1/2 circle to track and shoulder in then halts in the shoulder in.  Then half pass in from 20m circle to walk pirouette.  Into trot, intially getting him bit rounder and deeper to relax then picking him up.  Did get some nice trot and canter transitions on the right rein although they're still a bit intermittent for my liking.  Fortunately the new BE test (95) has no trot-walk-trots in it!  Then we moved down to the other end of the school to use the other arena.  Plan was just to trot in as if we were going to go straight into doing a test but got near the far end and he had a complete flid, head in the air, tense as anything.  Did manage to work through it though, had to be quite firm asking for inside flexion and moving him off my inside leg but it worked.  Then came round on the right rein and someone had left one of the letters from the wall leant up against the side of it facing the wrong way so just a rectangle of cardboard - v innocently sitting there.  I was in trot and he just suddenly launched into space!  Did imagine biting the dust but fortunately he just stopped and caught me!  So then we had to spend 5 mins trotting around establishing it wasn't going to kill him.  What I am really pleased with though is that he responded in the same way as on the left rein, he moved off my inside leg and responded to inside flexion.  This is huge progress.  Before he would always have resisted right flexion esp in a tense situation but today he was happy to submit.  He has been like this now for the last 3wks or so and I am loving it!  Cant wait to get my new dressage saddle and really crack on with the dressage.  Once we had finally settled him down we ran through BE95 which rides very nicely.  Felt like he did some really nice, straight centre lines.  Canter work is easy and we had nice transitions.  Need to improve the two 1/2 20m trot circles and keeping the softness on the change of rein across the diagonal so something to work on next couple of wks but otherwise v good.  We are riding this test next Sun in combined training and also on the Wed before T/down at MW so plenty of practice.  Then ran through the canter work in the other new test BE106.  Did a lovely soft trot serpentine to start with and then nice canter work.  Finished with stretchy trot on both reins - really pleased with him.  Looking forwards to jumping tomorrow!

BE jump lesson 21-02-12

Went over to Fairoak Grange near Kingsclere today to do a BE training day with Anne-Marie Taylor.

1st session started with pole work.  We had to count down the strides to the pole and I made it to 6 strides out spot on each time but couldn't manage 7.  Got a pat on the back for that.  Then we worked on putting 4 or 5 strides in a related distance.  We also worked on getting the canter much better, put stirrups up a hole, much more up in a 2 point seat, hold hands much higher and get him softer in the hand.  Dont fiddle and dont push him on, keep him in a rhythm, keep arse out of saddle and wait for the fence to come to us.  Did some work on and back in the canter by using body position and leg but keeping up out of the saddle. We popped over a couple of little fences without too many probs.

Lunch break then 2nd session.  Immediately the canter felt better from this morning's work.  Big, scary fillers came out and I did feel him backing off a little so lots of leg and got over them safely.  1st time through the related distance he got in deep and landed short so held for 5 strides which she said was the right hing to do if he lands short rather than pushing him flat.  Then we put them all together and jumped a short course at 90cm.  He met every fence spot on, cleared them all nicely and we got our 4 strides in the related distance as he jumped in nicely - I almost pushed him too close to the 2nd part as thought he'd struggle for the 4 strides but actually as he'd come in so nicely in a powerful canter he made the 4 strides spot on the 2nd time we did it.  The canter felt much better in between fences, he changed leg much more easily than normal rather than going disunited, I remembered to keep hands up and leg on and it all worked!

Lets hope I can keep that feeling now!

Simon lesson 19-02-12

Was hoping to show Simon how well Monty had been going in the last week and he didn't disappoint.

Started with a warmup trot and immediately he was soft on both reins.  We did the LY to centre line, 1/2 circle back to the track and then SI down the track and whereas before xmas (&physio) when we did this he was swinging his bum all over the place in the 1/2 circle right, today he was fab.  So then we did some work on trot-walk-trot transitions and what we could do to improve them.  We used SI on the circle in walk then we did SI down the long side with halt transitions still in SI positioning.  We did SI down the long side then a 10m circle in SI positioning.  Really seems to help get the inside hind engaged and get him to soften to the inside hand.  We also did outside bend, LY spiralling in on the 20m circle then HP back out and into trot.  All about having him soft and into both hands before the trot trans.  Not perfect but definitely not hopping as much as he can do.  Must make sure to always give clear trot aid so he doesn't get confused with a walk to canter aid.  All this also helped us get a really lovely trot.

Did some walk HP into a smaller circle then pirouette and for the 1st time he stayed soft on both reins and performed a correct working walk pirouette on both reins!  Also each time he really was just gagging to go into trot afterwards - it really engages his back end so well.

Then had a little play with the canter and it was fabulous.  Started on the right rein and immediately it felt so full of jump it was amazing!  We spiralled in to a smaller circle collecting the canter and then leg yielded out to the bigger circle before asking him to move on round the bigger circle then come back again which is very similar to what I was playing with yesterday.  He then did the most perfect canter-trot transition where I just breathed out, thought trot and he slipped back into a lovely, powerful trot :)  Repeated the same work on the left rein and it was just bliss!

Finished up with final bit of trot work, riding him a bit more up and together, bit of forwards, bit of more collected trot and when we changed the rein across the diagonal (remembering not to change the bend till the end as per last lesson) he felt like he wanted to give me medium - it just felt like there was so much power there waiting to come out.

So chuffed with how much more equal he felt and how much softer, esp on the right rein.  When I started the lesson 2wks ago I was despairing of him and the lack of softness and thinking we'd never get anywhere but today had me dreaming of Ele tests.

Still need to work on the basics lots - must improve those upwards transitions on the right rein and need to do some work on centre lines still.  Going to try and hire out Merrist Wood's arena sometime this week or next and get him happier in there and also enjoy having a lot more room to play with.

Today's only blips were still struggling to get him soft and listening when something upsets him.  At one point we were doing lovely soft forwards stretchy trot circle when something moved behind the hedge and he did a huge teleport spook and shot off across the school!   Then really struggled to get him to pay attention round that bit of the school.  And even at the end after all his good work when we were asked to go large up the long side with the hedge alongside it he was tense and above the bit, tight through the back like he can be at an event.  Need to work more on getting him to listen to me not gawp at everything else.  Also do need to do some more straight line work.  I do so much stuff on a circle it's some kind of novelty to go in a straight line!

this week

Hunting on Wed - was expecting nice, quiet meet as it was the Children's meet but it was just like a normal meet only less people. All the kids went with 2nd field master and me and Andrew went normal speed jumping all the normal fences.  Was generally a good day apart from Monty deciding to stop at about the 4th fence we jumped which caught me totally unawares as he never stops.  It was a 90degree right hand turn, one or two strides to a little tyre jump in a dip between 2 fields but he'd normally happy jump off a rubbish stride esp out hunting and he just didn't.  Smacked him, came round again and he stopped again.  Another smack and a growl and he went over it and jumped everything else fab.  Took Andrew's cue and rode him a bit more forwards into the fences instead of getting tempted to hook back and all was well.  Still slightly concerned about him stopping though.  That's a few too many stops in the past couple of months considering he's never even thought about it before.  I've had teeth, back, saddle, physio etc all checked though and most of the time he's going really well.  Just a bit off-putting really as I do not want a stopper. Must just remember to keep riding forwards.  2nd line was about 3.5miles long - we had a breather halfway through to let others catch up but Monty was proper knackered by the end.  3.5miles is about 2 normal XC courses though so although fitness could be a bit better I think he'll be ok for eventing in 3wks time.

Day off Thursday.  Lovely hack on Friday - he was really forwards, really stepping under from behind into canter transitions and coming back to me when I shifted my weight back - lovely! :)

Today we did some schooling in the rain.  Started with flatwork - deeper to start with in trot and canter to get him to relax a bit.  Then did some canter work - on and back, walk to canter and canter to walk with some 10m circles to help get him back.  Need to concentrate on keeping him round in the medium canter as he wants to stick his nose out.  Then did some nice trot work on both reins in a comp outline.  Need to work on keeping him in an outline during upwards transitions on the right rein but in general feeling good.

Then changed gear, slightly forwards seat and popped over the raised canter poles on each rein.  Then round and over the 2ft6 jump straight and then at an angle.  First few times stopped after and then similar aids so got him back by the time we turned the corner and had my nice powerful canter back again.  He went to be spooky at the jump first time as had put 2 jump blocks underneath but wearing nice, long spurs due to flatwork first so he got a timely reminder and jumped it really nicely.  Putting something spooky on the jump really helps him round over his back a bit better.  Then the rain really started hammering down!  We jumped the single barrel on its side with 2 guide rails.  Remembered not to hook, keep riding forwards,  first time he was trying to wave off line and stuck his head in the air but did jump.  2nd time again rode forwards, kept soft hands, nice stride and he really rounded over it.  Finished there - very pleased with him.  Is actually quite handy riding in the GP/jump saddle as enables me to do some flatwork then finish a session with a few jump having them set up in the other half of the school and can really mix up what we do and also jump more often than we were as do really need to pop over a few regularly to keep confidence up.

schooling 14-02-12

Another good one  :)

Not quite sure what has changed since before the Simon lesson 10days ago and this week but something obviously has clicked in either my mind or his!  For me it feels like I'm riding with more connection and that he's accepting it.  Feels like a more consistent contact and that he's working into it much better.  He feels softer and more flexible.

Basically worked on the same stuff today as on Sunday.  10mins in walk starting on a long rein then a long stretch then picked him up and did a bit of shoulder in on the circle, straightening the neck but keeping the inside hind moving so no head nodding.  Am alert to the head nodding being a sign of disconnection so ready to flex and engage inside hind at the first sign.  Then into trot working nicely forwards but rounder than he would usually, encouraging softness to inside flexion and reaction to the leg.  Did some trot-walk-trot transitions to get the hindend working then some canter work.  Canter transitions not wonderful today, not as off the leg as he could be so need to work on that.

After that warmup we then did some work in canter on a 20m circle at B/E working slightly forward seat and good forward going canter and then as we came towards the long side bringing shoulders back, sitting down in the saddle and coming canter to walk to halt, sometimes staying in halt and sometimes rein back before back into canter again.  He really got the hang of the shoulders back meaning we're about to downwards trans and did some nice canter to walk.  Should be able to transfer that anticipation into more dressage styled canter to walk and also into him coming back to me on the XC course when I bring my shoulders back and the other thing I read recently was bringing the lower leg and the knee back so you can look down and see the stirrup leather when you want them to steady up.

Then we did a bit of canter over raised canter poles raised alternate ends.  Not so great on the left rein as school not really big enough to get straight before coming over them but did them spot on twice on the right rein.  Then we just popped over a 2ft6 upright a few times on the left rein.  Trying really hard to remember to create the good powerful canter, leg on round the corner then not to interfere in the last 3 strides.  He did rather dive at it on a long stride the 2nd time even though he has plenty of scope to jump it nicely off a longer stride - it's like he panics if he's on a long one.  3rd time jumped it nicely though.  Keeping it all quite small at the moment to make sure we get his confidence back and also as the school at home is rubbish!

Have got plenty of SJ/XC training booked in between now and the start of the event season so as long as the rubbish weather stays away we should be on track still.  Completely lost my nerve SJing - just thinking about it brings out the butterflies - but hoping it will come back as soon as I get out and jump a course as the couple of times I have taken him out this winter he has jumped really well - it's only at home it all goes wrong!  We are doing lots of work on strengthening his canter and creating a more powerful jumping canter so hopefully that will pay off.

Plan to introduce some interval training work in the arena over the next 4wks before Tweseldown.  Can do 10mins walk then a good trot on each rein then 3 canter sets starting at 2-3mins with 1min walk in between each set and changing the rein between each set.  Forward seat, dont worry about outline, treat them completely differently to a schooling session.  Will try and bring this in as an extra arena session from next week to up his fitness in time to start eventing.

Schooling 12-02-12

All we've managed to do this week has been a 40min then 30min walk and trot hack on Wed/Thur due to snow/ice.  Today was the first time I've been back in the school since my Simon lesson last Sat.  Wasn't expecting great things but he was fab!

Rode in the jump saddle so silly short stirrups but did mean my legs were in contact with his sides nicely.  Started in walk stretching down then picking him up making sure to keep the inside hind working and the connection going to avoid the head nodding.  Flexion inside and out to keep the neck free and a few strides of shoulder in then into trot.  Concentrating on keeping him forwards, working the inside hind and feeling him equal in both reins, neck a bit longer and fractionally deep, keeping the neck free to flex when asked.  Popped into canter and kept the same feeling.

Then did some work on walk to canter and canter poles which got the canter bouncing.  Then we popped over a 2ft6 upright a few times on each rein, keeping the bouncy canter, not fiddling and coming back to a halt afterwards.  In between it was walk to canter or rein back to canter to keep the canter good.  Then a bit more work on the canter itself which felt great, he was really working into the contact and willing to put his neck where I put it and not argue.  Finished with some stretchy trot on both reins.  Only did about 35-40mins inc warmup and cool down but as not done any work all week thought that was enough.

Really pleased with him - hope we can re-create that again!

Simon lesson 04-02-12

Mission today - get him softer into the contact.

Walk work first.  Tending to nod his head in the medium walk.  What happens is I pick up the contact, he tightens in front of the saddle, stops any connection and bobs his head.  Need to keep the back end engaged and stepping through.  Work on picking up much slower at home, notch 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 not 5 to 1 in one go.  Also do shoulder in on the circle then very gradually straighten not allowing the head to come up and keeping the throughness from inside hand to outside rein.

Then basically the same thing in trot, asking for shoulder fore on the circle, keeping the neck down a bit and getting inside flexion then gradually straighten but if head comes up then re-establish bend and softness before straightening again.  Work on reducing the trot almost back to walk then pushing on again, all the time needing to stay soft and engaging the inside hind.

When changing the rein across the diagonal keep the original bend until the last couple of strides then straighten then new bend and change diagonal in the corner.

Then we did a bit of canter, first on the right rein which felt simply lovely although the transition in was a little sticky then on the left rein where the transition was perfect but he was a little more resistant to keep the inside flexion.  I seem to have taught him that just moving my outside leg back slightly before I sit and ask for the transition with inside leg means I get a really direct canter transition from the inside leg aid as he knows what I'm going to ask for.  Not entirely sure it would be much use if we get to needing to do trot half pass but I feel this is unlikely to happen!  Still need to practice co-ordinating my aids on the right rein better.  I know I do something different which is partly why he comes up and back in the transition - just need to work out what!

Finished with some super trot, soft in my hand, really felt like he was letting go over the back and also in his mouth.  Now I just need to replicate it at home and then at a show - not too much to ask then!  Just a bit of tension creeping in and it all goes to pot!  And now we have snow - with 5wks till first event I do not need poxy snow!

MW evening eventers dressage 01-02-12

Flipping freezing!  Wrapped up in my normal layers for hunting in the hope that would keep me warm and it did work quite well.

1st test was BE92.  Worked him in at home for 20mins as not been ridden since jump lesson on Sunday.  He worked quite nicely so then did another 20mins when we got there and it was ok, but not really submitting on the right rein as per usual.  First test opposite end to mirrors, quite tense going round the outside, never really got him on side really.  Got 7's for first centre line, first TWT on R rein, 20m circle L in trot, 20m circle R in canter, canter to trot to walk on R rein and an 8 for the FWLR.  Rest got 6's.  7667 collectives.  Mostly comments about needing to be rounder.  He wasn't connected or submissive at all. "Some pleasing rhythm in trot but at times needs to stay into a more consistent outline, Lots to like"  64.5%, equal 2nd out of 8. Winner on 65%.

Walked round for 10mins then picked him up again and into the mirror arena for BE102. They had left a pile of white boards in the corner which were apparently far more scary than the ones marking out the arena so we had tension due to those.  It wasn't a great test.  He kicked out in the first canter transition although judge missed it and gave us a 7.  Then in the walk to trot after the FWLR he did a lovely walk to canter and took several strides to come back to trot which meant we missed the starting point for our 10m loop, handbrake turned and never made it to the centre line before having to come back again to the track and somehow the judge gave us a 7 for that too - utter madness (esp as she only gave us a 6 for our first loop which was far far better!)  Also got 7 for first TWT on the diagonal, the transition to canter R and the final 3 marks for the change of rein BE in trot, final centre line and halt.  Both centre lines commented on being straight.  Not so sure about her eyesight given previous marks but be nice to believe he was straight after all our quarters right issues.  Judge in other test also gave a 7 for centre line so fingers crossed they have improved.  More comments about needing to be rounder.  7666 "Attractive horse.  Very obedient and looks as if he listens to you (not quite what I think but anyway!) Could be a little rounder in outline and be more connected between your hand and leg for higher marks.  Well done"  64% and 6th out of 11.  Winner on 72.5%

Although 2nd and 6th doesn't sound too bad I'm pretty frustrated with how he went.  He was going so well when I had that dressage saddle on loan and it's gone all horrid again now I'm using the GP.  Not sure if it's because I was riding completely differently in the dressage saddle or he just felt most comfy and able to use himself properly in that but this total lack of submission is driving me nuts.  He's probably worse now than he was at the beginning of last season and I've had a whole year to work on it.  This winter was meant to sort it out and yet we're 5.5wks away from the beginning of the season and it's still utter pants.  Wish I hadn't caught the eventing bug so badly or would just keep him as a hunter and SJer but that's just not my cup of tea - have never been any kind of SJer.  I'm happy it's nothing physical as physio is happy that he looks sound and moving freely, saddler said the same so it's just the same old, he finds it hard and just doesn't want to play ball.  Grrrrrrr.