Arrived at Boomerang at bang on 8.30 as per plan - amazing! On board at five to 9 and off down to the arena. Not silly enough to attempt to leave a strange car park by myself do latched onto someone else and off we went. Arena has open sides which were v scary so bit of spooking and tension but once we started jumping he was fab as usual!
Started with a small fence on a 20m circle, not letting them fall out, using outside aids to guide round the circle. Monty done this before so real pro at it. Then moved onto a long 4 stride distance from vertical to oxer. Told to really attack the first part and ride on for 4 strides and Monts did it good. Must remember to go straight after the fence though. Then we strung together a little course with those 2, the jump on the circle then round to a dog leg on 5 strides. Then added in another dog leg to make it a complete course. Remember to soften hands in last 3 strides and keep leg on, steer with legs not hands. Then we did the 2 starting fences of the dog leg, so over part one, 90 degree turn to part 2. Monts made it look and feel easy and it was on a right turn. He was connected and engaged and forwards into my hand. Richard said first thing to do is get him thinking forwards and powerful then can sit him back on his hocks and he can do the more technical stuff. Finished with jumping the same 2 dogleg fences on a straight line down the centre of the school so at an acute angle - fences angled like this : \......./ although at a slightly steeper angle than that and there was a fence on the circle alongside the run up to the first angled one. First time it took him totally by surprise and I used a bit too much hand but still managed to use enough leg to get over it. 2nd and 3rd times much easier, use legs to guide after getting a nice square turn. Good pony :)
Couple of hrs break to watch some others then onto XC. He was a complete and utter pro. Made it all feel so easy. Couple of small warmup fences, one a bright white house which made him look a bit but still jumped well. Then we jumped a log on top of a mound, so straight up over and down. Important to keep shoulders back as enables him to go on the slightly longer stride and not chip in. Then moved onto a combination of narrow tyres, 3 strides, bright red train on a slight angle, 3 strides, narrow tyres. First time round he tried to wobble at the train and I used too much hand but he did do it. Flew through it the next time. Then we moved onto some water and steps. He loves steps, esp down and was flying on and off giving everyone a lead. Cantered down the 2 bigger steps into the water then round and down the really big one which felt like coming off a cliff! Have to make sure to soften hands, sit back and leg on but he has no hesitations here. Then the others did the sunken road but he doesn't need to as he loves them. We just did the drop down through the road and up over the swan - leg on, perfect stride, flew it no probs. Then we tackled a real question - bright white sloping palisade seriously skinny - arrowhead width. First time I did the opposite of hooking and rode for a ridiculous long stride so he stuck in another and went anyway as I had leg on. 2nd time remembered to bring shoulders back and put leg on, keep hands soft and he flew it. Then onto the water - cantered round in it to start with, then in and out over steps. Jumped out up a step, up a steep mound, over a carrot jump on the top then down again. Repeated the other way and he was really boldly taking on the water without overjumping - real pro. Finished with jumping in over a small log, out over a hanging log, in down a step, up a step, 1 stride and jump over a small log with drop behind. Easy peasy :) last thing just made him walk over the ditches. No probs. He wasn't really happy to walk to them but took them at an easy jog and didn't even give the big one a 2nd glance. Clever clever pony :)
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