Took the orange one to Epsom Downs on Saturday with a friend hoping to give him some fast work but the ground was a bit hard in most places and he wasn't overly enthusiastic about bothering to go fast. He is such a lazy shite - when it suits him he'll happily gallop everywhere but if he cant be bothered then he wont put any effort in at all! Am missing taking him hunting this winter as that normally perks him up considerably.
Sunday went down to Sands Farm in the snow! He warmed up badly - putting in little extra strides, not thinking forwards at all. Tried to razz him up with some direct transitions like we did with Warren at BE JT on Thur but he just wasn't interested. Surface very deep in the warmup so that didn't help. Round one was only 80cm and just tried to keep a nice rhythm and keep him going forwards esp round the tight corners and did an ok job going clear and no real sticky jumps with nice strides in the double and the related distances. Cold wait until 2nd round, still warmed up crap. Jumps up to 85cm. Better round as had walked the course so knew which turns were tight and rode them properly then rode out of them and got a nice smooth clear.
So, double clear but not as nice as would have liked - would be nice if he showed a bit more enthusiasm! Dont want to up his feed energy really as suspect will have psycho horse on my hands next week come eventing but be nice if he wakes up a bit for combined training this Sunday or 100 will feel big!
Physio this morning - she was pleased with how he is muscling up and how he is looking now. Little tight base of RHS neck over his joint and the usual slight tightness right glutes. Small circle to the right less willing to step under and cross over. Tiny bit quarters right trotting in straight line. Generally all good though. Cont carrot stretches but let him hold head further out to the right so he doesn't tilt - concentrate on holding stretch to left to stretch out RHS. Also grab RH from LHS and stretch forward and under his body and hold. If possible get him to rest foot on ground in that position. See him again after first 3 events.
Monday, 25 February 2013
Saturday, 23 February 2013
BE Jump Training Wellington 21-02-13
Course walk for 90 class with Warren Lamperd - interesting really thinking about lines, riding off the corners, remembering the strides of the related distances on the way round so you can count them (all very well if you've actually got to walk the course which is unusual at BE!).
Warmup for 90 class with David Sheerin - he warmed up nicely enough - on the flat we did on and back in the canter trying to make sure he stayed up in front when asked to move on and didn't dive onto his forehand. Jumping wise he popped over everything fine so no great changes.
First round of the 90 class - wasn't great - I didn't really have him forwards enough and was hanging onto his front end and seeing some backwards strides - also felt was getting in front of the movement at times. Warren said actually it wasn't that bad at all but needed to up the tempo so next round got him more forwards and it really flowed - have to remember not to get stuck in the corners - make corners smooth, not squares. Surprisingly we came 3rd out of about 20. Improved style mark 4 marks between rounded and finished on 32. 6.5 then 7 for balance/rhythm, 6.5 then 7 for paces/quality of ump, 6 then 7 for riders ability to present horse correctly and ride accurate lines, 13 then 15 for riders position/balance. Comments "Stay upright through the shoulder on take off. Keep a good tempo, let the fence come to you and ride your line. Smooth your turns so you're not riding a corner then you can keep the canter and you dont have to do so much at the fence" So we qualified for champs at Solihull although dont think will go as day before Munstead 100 so bit much for him with Solihull so far away.
Course walk for 100 with David - again, all about the lines and what to look out for around the course that might affect your line.
Warmup with Warren. Popped over the little x-pole then had to do it again not nagging with legs every stride and he half died over it so we had to do some serious wake-up work. Halt and ask to go into walk and if not going forwards snappy enough then all the way up to gallop for a few strides then repeat. That did the trick and sharpened him up and he was then jumping really nicely and seeing some great onwards shots - made the corners tighter but kept the canter moving and he said could really see his back end coming up now and no reason why he couldn't make a really good shape over a fence.
100 course with David. Tried to remember what just been working on - let fence come to you, dont keep pulling on his mouth all the way to a fence when he's happily heading towards it in a good rhythm, soften the arms and let him jump. Keep the forwards rhythm and he flew round - fabulous clear, landed on correct leg after each fence - really pleased. David had nothing bad to say about it. 7.5 for balance/rhythm, 7 for paces&quality of jump, 7 for riders presentation to a fence and lines, 15/20 for riders position/balance. Total: 36.5. He said it was really hard to replicate a good round and we failed miserably. 2nd round he was too forwards and flat so didn't feel able to go off a long one and then kept chipping in which finally resulted in a pole down 1st part of final double. Interesting style mark didn't drop much. Got 7 for balance/rhythm, then all the same. Finished on 27.5 plus 4 faults so 31.5. Not sure on placing. Comments: "Basically good. Relaxed and Focused. Help him around the turns a little more. Hard to replicate a good round"
Warmup for 90 class with David Sheerin - he warmed up nicely enough - on the flat we did on and back in the canter trying to make sure he stayed up in front when asked to move on and didn't dive onto his forehand. Jumping wise he popped over everything fine so no great changes.
First round of the 90 class - wasn't great - I didn't really have him forwards enough and was hanging onto his front end and seeing some backwards strides - also felt was getting in front of the movement at times. Warren said actually it wasn't that bad at all but needed to up the tempo so next round got him more forwards and it really flowed - have to remember not to get stuck in the corners - make corners smooth, not squares. Surprisingly we came 3rd out of about 20. Improved style mark 4 marks between rounded and finished on 32. 6.5 then 7 for balance/rhythm, 6.5 then 7 for paces/quality of ump, 6 then 7 for riders ability to present horse correctly and ride accurate lines, 13 then 15 for riders position/balance. Comments "Stay upright through the shoulder on take off. Keep a good tempo, let the fence come to you and ride your line. Smooth your turns so you're not riding a corner then you can keep the canter and you dont have to do so much at the fence" So we qualified for champs at Solihull although dont think will go as day before Munstead 100 so bit much for him with Solihull so far away.
Course walk for 100 with David - again, all about the lines and what to look out for around the course that might affect your line.
Warmup with Warren. Popped over the little x-pole then had to do it again not nagging with legs every stride and he half died over it so we had to do some serious wake-up work. Halt and ask to go into walk and if not going forwards snappy enough then all the way up to gallop for a few strides then repeat. That did the trick and sharpened him up and he was then jumping really nicely and seeing some great onwards shots - made the corners tighter but kept the canter moving and he said could really see his back end coming up now and no reason why he couldn't make a really good shape over a fence.
100 course with David. Tried to remember what just been working on - let fence come to you, dont keep pulling on his mouth all the way to a fence when he's happily heading towards it in a good rhythm, soften the arms and let him jump. Keep the forwards rhythm and he flew round - fabulous clear, landed on correct leg after each fence - really pleased. David had nothing bad to say about it. 7.5 for balance/rhythm, 7 for paces&quality of jump, 7 for riders presentation to a fence and lines, 15/20 for riders position/balance. Total: 36.5. He said it was really hard to replicate a good round and we failed miserably. 2nd round he was too forwards and flat so didn't feel able to go off a long one and then kept chipping in which finally resulted in a pole down 1st part of final double. Interesting style mark didn't drop much. Got 7 for balance/rhythm, then all the same. Finished on 27.5 plus 4 faults so 31.5. Not sure on placing. Comments: "Basically good. Relaxed and Focused. Help him around the turns a little more. Hard to replicate a good round"
Photos:
Sunday, 17 February 2013
A training round up
Wed 13th Feb - Lucy Thompson - Coombelands
Moved onto fence 5 a double then related distance to a vertical at 6 and had all sorts of issues. To get to 5 had to go along arena edge straight which put us straight in line with another fence so he was locking onto that, not listening to me and then falling out round the right hand bend to the double therefore leaving hindquarters in next county and making a mess of the double. At one point he literally put down right in front of it then somehow climbed over putting 2 strides in - not pretty at all and then kept making a hash of the line to fence 6. So we had him working on a circle at that end and got him listening to me not looking at a different fence and then he popped it nicely.
Semi-private lesson with Lucy in the outdoor arena at Coombelands where they had an arena eventing type course set up. Warmed up sweetly over couple of uprights and a XC type rustic affair. Then moved on to working on various bits of the course before putting the whole thing together. First time over first fence which was a good 100 oxer he crawled over it, flapped to the next fence, round a tricky right hand corner to an oxer with planks in front and then to a vertical. Think he'd gone to sleep after his warmup or was surprised to be asked to jump a big oxer but it wasn't too pretty. Gave him a bit of a wake-up and then cam round and jumped them again and got them spot on. Really concentrated on lines, and opening right rein after fence 2 to get straight onto correct leg for the tricky turn to 3 which he then met spot on.
Moved onto fence 5 a double then related distance to a vertical at 6 and had all sorts of issues. To get to 5 had to go along arena edge straight which put us straight in line with another fence so he was locking onto that, not listening to me and then falling out round the right hand bend to the double therefore leaving hindquarters in next county and making a mess of the double. At one point he literally put down right in front of it then somehow climbed over putting 2 strides in - not pretty at all and then kept making a hash of the line to fence 6. So we had him working on a circle at that end and got him listening to me not looking at a different fence and then he popped it nicely.
Sharp left hand bend after 6 to a rustic upright at 7 then dogleg to big rustic oxer at 8 and we got great shot at both then onto a water tray at 9 which he wanted to have a look at but just sat up, leg on and he popped it really nicely.
Then moved onto a double of angled brushes on 2 strides followed by left hand dogleg to an arrowhead. Again off a right bend so not our favourite and it wasn't too pretty but we got through and just kept leg on to arrowhead so he knew he had to go for it.
Finally put the whole course together with the final jumps being a vertical with skinny rustic pole on top to be taken on the angle across the arena then over into the corner where there was an in and out, then left to a corner and left again to final upright.
Course started well, but fell to pieces a bit in the middle when the double didn't go so well again and then I got a bit hooky and was seeing backwards strides, kind of flapped to the water tray and forgot the sharp right turn to the angled double so made a hash of that but actually got straight just in time and jumped it nicely. Over to the in and out and he threw a paddy about some poles on the floor next to the jump and leapt sideways through his left shoulder. Got angry and pushed him back over to the right and made him jump it from a trot as only small - idiot of a horse. Fine over the out and then round to the corner - not the best shot but made it feel like no doubts he was going and over final fence. He didn't touch a pole but it wasn't the most stylish round! Really need to work on his concentration on me between fences but he wont come into an outline without a humongous argument so goes around with head stuck up in the air gawping at things - quite frustrating! Also need to work on my thinking forwards to next fence, opening rein so land on correct leg and planning ahead better. Tend to concentrate on fence in hand too much then no time to set up for next fence in a busy arena - not so bad out eventing SJ but definitely something to work on. He is so super careful though which is so helpful. Also think need to work more on combinations - I panic about them as if wrong to first part makes it hard to get 2nd part right and I then flap and kick or pull and upset our rhythm.
Sat 16th Feb - Simon Battram dressage lesson
Not seen Simon for nearly a year due to Monty's injury and snow meaning training cancelled. He was very impressed with the improvement in him. Requested to work on medium trot so we started with a walk exercise - SI on large circle then half pass in to a small circle then bringing the forehand round with the quarters in before getting out of it and trotting on a large circle. Then moved onto shoulder-in down the long side in walk collecting the walk slightly then moving it on again, making sure to get a snappy reaction from the hindleg when moving him on. We then did the same exercise in trot followed by trot-walk-halt to trot and then inc rein back. Once we had done all that and he was powering through we introduced the medium trot. It took a few goes and have to remember to sit up and ride the poll up a bit as otherwise he just plows onto his forehand but he got it and we got some fabulous strides in the end. Played with doing SI down first half long side then straighten into medium, medium across long diagonal and rein back into trot then pushing on into medium. Could really feel the gear change rather than just running but I think it still needs a lot of work before it's going to get decent marks. It felt like there was a super one in there waiting to come out though. :)
Moving onto canter work - walk to canter on the L rein followed by SI on the circle then half pass into a smaller circle asking for collection in the canter, keeping inside rein soft and guiding him round before leg yielding back out to the bigger circle. Super on this rein - really working towards sitting enough to be calling them working canter piris. R rein walk to canter slight hollowing but generally not a bad attempt for him on his more difficult rein (and mine!) Not able to get him onto quite such a small circle or as collected but he gave it a really good go. Totally dropped me in the canter-trot trans so made him repeat it and stay forwards and then finished there.
Super session - so pleased with his flatwork at the moment.
Sun 17th Feb - Rob Stevens XC - Tweseldown
Something about Tweseldown really winds him up and he didn't fail to show that today. Didn't really help that we were in a pair with someone who's horse got naughty if she had to wait and jump 2nd so we kept having to wait and jump 2nd which brought out his seriously naughty, nappy, spinning to the left and refusing to go right side. He was charging at the fences and not really listening to me which is a bit like he is in competition sometimes and especially there so not bad to have to deal with but slightly concerning as to how I'm going to hold him round there in a few weeks time. He was jumping everything super - corner, houses etc and then Rob asked us to jump over an unmade bit of ditch under some trees which didn't have a good run up to it and landing was lower than take-off so only saw it last minute and he threw in the towel. Last minute run out then full on napping and rearing about it - he doesn't like surprises! He did that when 2yrs ago I first tried to walk him at the open ditch further round the course but jumped fine from a canter. Dont think he likes to look at ditches esp deep open ones with water in the bottom. Had to get a lead over it in the other direction but he was seriously sticky. Other horse jumped fine. Interestingly later on jumped the dry ditch that is normally in the 90 and was slightly sticky but jumped and other horse said no big style. Strange creatures they are.
So then moved onto a house and a small brush followed by big brush which he ballooned and then the sunken road which he has done a million times so thought he knew best. Had nice bouncy canter leading to step up but then he took charge, launched off the step down, took one big stride and then threw himself up the step up leaving behind his left hind and then cantered off feeling hopping lame - had sick feeling to pit of stomach as couldn't quite feel which leg lame and thought he had knackered his bad leg. Fortunately turned out he was just hopping as boot had torn in a big way and was stuck round his fetlock. He was fine once replaced it.
the knackered boot:
We then did triple brush which he popped first time no questions. Then we did the dry ditch followed by brush and then onto the open ditch which he popped both ways from canter a little looky but never not going. Built that up to doing ditch to 100 house followed by the full 100 coffin which he popped neatly and pleased he jumped houses well whether slightly close or a little off - he was confident to go.
the knackered boot:
We then did triple brush which he popped first time no questions. Then we did the dry ditch followed by brush and then onto the open ditch which he popped both ways from canter a little looky but never not going. Built that up to doing ditch to 100 house followed by the full 100 coffin which he popped neatly and pleased he jumped houses well whether slightly close or a little off - he was confident to go.
Onto the water and he happily trotted through there so then did trot through, pick up canter on exit and pop rolltop fine. So then turn round and do rolltop - leg on firmly as they sight water on takeoff, canter through water and got lovely stride to rolltop out. That is also a 100 combination and he made it feel easy.
Finished with popping through the 100 owl-hole which is tiny and then a chair to angled rail followed by 2 beefy upright skinnies on a right hand curve which he made feel easy peasy and then charge of the light brigade over the final 90 fence and then took off with me through the finish then had major nap attack so couldn't make him walk back to find Rob and other girl - had to sit there while he reared and spun with me - he knew he'd gone through finish and was damned if he was going back to start again! Funny old horse.
So, now am wondering why I entered the 90 as he would clearly be fine round the 100 and maybe the bigger fences would back him off a bit but then if he's going to take charge and be stupid perhaps the smaller course is better. Mind you, that's if we get in as ballot list not up yet :(
Another dressage lesson on Wed - this time with Tracey, then BE jump training on Thur - doing the 90 but wish had entered 100 as well now as he is jumping fab. Might take him for a blast round some gallops on Sat and then has got RC SJ Q on Sunday which at 80/85cm he is going to find tiny but we will work on rhythm and controllability and getting good turns and hopefully he'll bother to pick his feet up.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Sparsholt Combined Training 09-02-13
So, yesterday we headed off down to Sparsholt for some combined training using the BE tests - very good pre-season practice.
Set off in mild sleety rain which rapidly turned to rather wet snow the further south we went and then it even started settling on the fields. Mild panic we'd get there and find it cancelled but fortunately not!
So, first test was BE92. Have ridden this one rather a lot recently. He felt a bit backwards in the test - could have had a bit more sparkle and jogged in his final medium walk which was frustrating but overall it felt like a soft, compliant test. I'm awful at guessing what the judges will think of him though so put that bit behind me as needed to get changed quick for jumping.
Ran back down to the arena and watched a couple jump - straightforward figure of 8 course but with 10 jumps in a 20x60m arena it was pretty tight on space with some handbrake turns needed - my steering is not great at the best of times so could prove interesting! It also looked quite up to height - good job no time to walk course and actually get close to jumps! Quick warmup - razzed him up a bit and he was flying so in we went. Tried really hard to see forwards strides and not resort to strangling him on the approach in my attempts to see strides. It was a bit messy round some of the corners but clear round - yay!
Quick change back into dressage gear and got a more forwards warmup this time. Then had to go into a different arena which he's not been in before for BE106. Walked in and immediately his eyes came out on stalks because some guy was walking up the road that runs next to the arena with 2 dogs - except he wasn't really walking, just standing with his back to us with 2 dogs mooching in the hedge. We had 180degree spin then stand there and gawp. Finally got him moving forwards and he did this amazing massively elevated passage type trot with ears up my nose down the long side. Wrestled him into submission into a shoulder-in down next long side but then got another 180degree spin, stand and gawp at the judges end of the arena because stupid man still standing in same place. Not creating good first impression here. Wrestled back into some kind of submission - arms killing already - not good start! Down the centre line - head gradually creeping up but managed to keep him straight. Rest of test followed with me struggling to convey the appearance of graceful elegance whilst conducting a wrestling match with an orange giraffe. The catering van was banging around on one side of the arena, the mooching dogs mooched up the other side of the thin hedge that Monty could quite clearly see through and see movement but not quite what it was and then they reappeared again towards the end. Giraffe finally bubbled over in the walk to trot transition and did walk to canter bounce on the spot then trot followed by cantering over each centre line in the trot serpentine but got it back together for final centre line. Just about made it into halt when large tractor decided to drive down the road next to arena so the halt was rather brief! Probably the worst test I've ever done on the orange beastie. Sabotaged by dog walker - grrrr. Surprisingly it doesn't look that bad on the video - managed to hide the inner wrestling match quite well!
Anyway, onto the jumping. Nerves coming out a bit in the warmup and held onto him into a big parallel resulting in awkward jump - got my arse kicked by loyal friend/groom for the day and went into the arena determined not to hang onto his front end. Saw some interesting longish strides but he responded and went on them, got some much better corners and he flew - another clear round - yay!!!
Then Alexis appeared with a red rossie for our first test. Turns out we were 1st in a big class of 18 so well chuffed with that. We got 28.5 (71.5%) which is huuuuge for us! All 7's except 8's for entry and final centre line and his canter left to trot transition and a 6 for the slight jog in the walk. Also got an 8 for my riding and she said it was such a pleasure to judge - well done! On Cloud 9! Put Monty away and then went back to check on results for 2nd class. Somehow we still managed to come =3rd out of 11 on 33.5 (66.5%). We got a 4 for our disasterous final serpentine but I think she missed the walk to canter trot transition as got 7 for that. Got plenty of 7's with just a few 6's for some of the canter work and his free walk as not surprisingly he didn't really come through from behind - too busy gawping at hedge! Equal first was on 70% so we weren't that far behind given how awful it felt. He has come on so much in the last year - intriguing given he spent 6months of it out of work!
lovely boy with his red rossie:
Set off in mild sleety rain which rapidly turned to rather wet snow the further south we went and then it even started settling on the fields. Mild panic we'd get there and find it cancelled but fortunately not!
So, first test was BE92. Have ridden this one rather a lot recently. He felt a bit backwards in the test - could have had a bit more sparkle and jogged in his final medium walk which was frustrating but overall it felt like a soft, compliant test. I'm awful at guessing what the judges will think of him though so put that bit behind me as needed to get changed quick for jumping.
Ran back down to the arena and watched a couple jump - straightforward figure of 8 course but with 10 jumps in a 20x60m arena it was pretty tight on space with some handbrake turns needed - my steering is not great at the best of times so could prove interesting! It also looked quite up to height - good job no time to walk course and actually get close to jumps! Quick warmup - razzed him up a bit and he was flying so in we went. Tried really hard to see forwards strides and not resort to strangling him on the approach in my attempts to see strides. It was a bit messy round some of the corners but clear round - yay!
Quick change back into dressage gear and got a more forwards warmup this time. Then had to go into a different arena which he's not been in before for BE106. Walked in and immediately his eyes came out on stalks because some guy was walking up the road that runs next to the arena with 2 dogs - except he wasn't really walking, just standing with his back to us with 2 dogs mooching in the hedge. We had 180degree spin then stand there and gawp. Finally got him moving forwards and he did this amazing massively elevated passage type trot with ears up my nose down the long side. Wrestled him into submission into a shoulder-in down next long side but then got another 180degree spin, stand and gawp at the judges end of the arena because stupid man still standing in same place. Not creating good first impression here. Wrestled back into some kind of submission - arms killing already - not good start! Down the centre line - head gradually creeping up but managed to keep him straight. Rest of test followed with me struggling to convey the appearance of graceful elegance whilst conducting a wrestling match with an orange giraffe. The catering van was banging around on one side of the arena, the mooching dogs mooched up the other side of the thin hedge that Monty could quite clearly see through and see movement but not quite what it was and then they reappeared again towards the end. Giraffe finally bubbled over in the walk to trot transition and did walk to canter bounce on the spot then trot followed by cantering over each centre line in the trot serpentine but got it back together for final centre line. Just about made it into halt when large tractor decided to drive down the road next to arena so the halt was rather brief! Probably the worst test I've ever done on the orange beastie. Sabotaged by dog walker - grrrr. Surprisingly it doesn't look that bad on the video - managed to hide the inner wrestling match quite well!
Anyway, onto the jumping. Nerves coming out a bit in the warmup and held onto him into a big parallel resulting in awkward jump - got my arse kicked by loyal friend/groom for the day and went into the arena determined not to hang onto his front end. Saw some interesting longish strides but he responded and went on them, got some much better corners and he flew - another clear round - yay!!!
Then Alexis appeared with a red rossie for our first test. Turns out we were 1st in a big class of 18 so well chuffed with that. We got 28.5 (71.5%) which is huuuuge for us! All 7's except 8's for entry and final centre line and his canter left to trot transition and a 6 for the slight jog in the walk. Also got an 8 for my riding and she said it was such a pleasure to judge - well done! On Cloud 9! Put Monty away and then went back to check on results for 2nd class. Somehow we still managed to come =3rd out of 11 on 33.5 (66.5%). We got a 4 for our disasterous final serpentine but I think she missed the walk to canter trot transition as got 7 for that. Got plenty of 7's with just a few 6's for some of the canter work and his free walk as not surprisingly he didn't really come through from behind - too busy gawping at hedge! Equal first was on 70% so we weren't that far behind given how awful it felt. He has come on so much in the last year - intriguing given he spent 6months of it out of work!
lovely boy with his red rossie:
piccie from the 100 SJ:
BE92 results:
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Andrew Gould/Jock Paget demo Merrist Wood 06-02-13
First off Andrew started with a youngster who was a full sister to Toots and with Jazz in her bloodlines very hot. Slightly short in her neck conformation wise but he felt had the potential to go to Grand Prix. The consistent thing was to keep her deep and round. She wasn't ready to come up and carry herself so would just go hollow therefore it was better to have her deep and round and balanced. She didn't look like an easy ride but had fabulous paces, canter being the highlight. After an initial warmup he concentrated on transitions explaining she didn't know half halts yet so he would do a complete transition from trot-walk-trot as the initial step in teaching her the rebalancing of the half halt. Played with some leg yield and shoulder-in. He said he encouraged the young horse to escape through their shoulder in the leg yield as wanted them to keep going forwards and if you insisted too much on keeping them parallel they would struggle and back off. More important to keep forwards at this stage. Kept the circles nice and big, the transitions easy and relaxed and considering this was her first time away from home she coped very well.
Moved on to work with Jock and Clifton Lush on the flat. Totally different type. Skinny neck, much leaner with incredible hindlimb muscles (this is Lush we're talking about here, not Jock!) Orange horse which is of course the best sort and could happily have smuggled him away home. Apparently has an old injury which has dropped his withers and created the large hollow in front of his withers. Again, explained important to work him deeper initially. His paces to start with were very flat but as he warmed up and came through more from behind you uncovered a very nice horse with a super medium trot and some lovely straight flying changes. Jock said he felt he came up more in front quite naturally once he'd done the initial warmup and got him working through more. If he made a mistake he wouldn't get after him as he said he was a very genuine horse and they were just mistakes, nothing more. Just repeat the exercise and he will learn from his own mistakes.
Final dressage horse was Bellisimo - a horse who has needed a lot of reschooling as although apprently working at grand prix didn't have the basics fully established and wouldn't accept the contact. Currently competing small tour. He worked on the changes and explained that he had to sit and wait, then ride forwards through the change then to come back and sit and wait again. Cant remember much more about this one at the moment - brain fade.
Had a break then onto jumping with Jock. Started with 13yr old Clifton Lush and explained that it's all about rhythm - if you keep the rhythm you will be able to see your stride but more it's about creating the right canter for the fence and letting the fence come to you. He worked on a very useful exercise that he uses at home all the time combined with grid work. Today the fences were quite small but as the season goes on he makes them bigger and more difficult by using oil drums instead of normal fences. So we had 2 fences down each long side 7 strides apart and then a fence across the centre. He started with a couple of poles 5 strides apart and played with adding and taking away a stride. Just cantering in a relaxed fashion over the poles and making it all look very easy. He then played with the same thing with the fences down the long side. Moved on to taking the first fence on the long side then a curve to the centre fence followed by a curve in the opposite direction to the opposite fence on the long side. He did this on an easy 5 strides, on 6 strides that required riding quite a square corner and on 4 strides that required all 3 fences to be angles and quite a bit of trust. He explained at home he would ride it on 7, 6 and 5 strides but the arena was a bit narrow for that. Adjustability was the key. So then he varied it so he rode it 6 strides one way followed by 4 the next then back to 6. Clifton Lush was foot perfect with this exercise - made it all look easy.
Moved onto 10yr old Elvis who was clearly newer to the exercise and prone to getting a little excited and taking charge. He said he didn't mind him getting a bit excited after a fence as long as he came back when asked but if he tried to take charge on the way to a fence he would halt him. If he landed on the wrong leg in the curved line exercise he would halt him. It was all about discipline. His motto is "perfect practice makes perfect". Dont keep letting a horse do something that isn't correct and then expect them to do it correctly. If they do it wrong do it again correctly.
Really interesting demo. Will look forward to trying out the jumping exercise as soon as I can find an arena big enough and will try to be more focused on always asking for correctness and not accepting simple things like landing on the wrong leg that should be corrected if you want the horse to learn what's right.
Moved on to work with Jock and Clifton Lush on the flat. Totally different type. Skinny neck, much leaner with incredible hindlimb muscles (this is Lush we're talking about here, not Jock!) Orange horse which is of course the best sort and could happily have smuggled him away home. Apparently has an old injury which has dropped his withers and created the large hollow in front of his withers. Again, explained important to work him deeper initially. His paces to start with were very flat but as he warmed up and came through more from behind you uncovered a very nice horse with a super medium trot and some lovely straight flying changes. Jock said he felt he came up more in front quite naturally once he'd done the initial warmup and got him working through more. If he made a mistake he wouldn't get after him as he said he was a very genuine horse and they were just mistakes, nothing more. Just repeat the exercise and he will learn from his own mistakes.
Final dressage horse was Bellisimo - a horse who has needed a lot of reschooling as although apprently working at grand prix didn't have the basics fully established and wouldn't accept the contact. Currently competing small tour. He worked on the changes and explained that he had to sit and wait, then ride forwards through the change then to come back and sit and wait again. Cant remember much more about this one at the moment - brain fade.
Had a break then onto jumping with Jock. Started with 13yr old Clifton Lush and explained that it's all about rhythm - if you keep the rhythm you will be able to see your stride but more it's about creating the right canter for the fence and letting the fence come to you. He worked on a very useful exercise that he uses at home all the time combined with grid work. Today the fences were quite small but as the season goes on he makes them bigger and more difficult by using oil drums instead of normal fences. So we had 2 fences down each long side 7 strides apart and then a fence across the centre. He started with a couple of poles 5 strides apart and played with adding and taking away a stride. Just cantering in a relaxed fashion over the poles and making it all look very easy. He then played with the same thing with the fences down the long side. Moved on to taking the first fence on the long side then a curve to the centre fence followed by a curve in the opposite direction to the opposite fence on the long side. He did this on an easy 5 strides, on 6 strides that required riding quite a square corner and on 4 strides that required all 3 fences to be angles and quite a bit of trust. He explained at home he would ride it on 7, 6 and 5 strides but the arena was a bit narrow for that. Adjustability was the key. So then he varied it so he rode it 6 strides one way followed by 4 the next then back to 6. Clifton Lush was foot perfect with this exercise - made it all look easy.
Moved onto 10yr old Elvis who was clearly newer to the exercise and prone to getting a little excited and taking charge. He said he didn't mind him getting a bit excited after a fence as long as he came back when asked but if he tried to take charge on the way to a fence he would halt him. If he landed on the wrong leg in the curved line exercise he would halt him. It was all about discipline. His motto is "perfect practice makes perfect". Dont keep letting a horse do something that isn't correct and then expect them to do it correctly. If they do it wrong do it again correctly.
Really interesting demo. Will look forward to trying out the jumping exercise as soon as I can find an arena big enough and will try to be more focused on always asking for correctness and not accepting simple things like landing on the wrong leg that should be corrected if you want the horse to learn what's right.
Lots of jumping!
Last blog was clear round last Wed.
Thur - day off
Fri- flatwork. Current regime of working on trot-walk-halt-trot as the first thing we do after quick warmup is fantastic for getting him engaged and soft in front - then adding in more direct transitions and incorporating rein back before some lateral work and then moving into canter. The canter-walk-canter on the same rein is really coming on and even managing some half decent simple changes now esp the ones done on the centre line after 1/2 10m circle. Just need to improve the walk to right canter as still proving difficult.
Sat - Lucy T SJ lesson at LMEQ. For whatever reason I reverted back into hooky mode a bit - not at everything but just some things - must not do it! We started with a little placing pole, xpole, placing pole which he popped ever so neatly and she said "He's back!" - love him! Built that up into a bounce followed by what should have been 3 strides to a vertical but stupid here kept making him put in 4 until she made it a double bounce of decent 2ft6 verticals and then he comfortably put in 2 strides to the final vertical. However, I had no probs riding to the large road closed oxer and met that fine every time.
We then did a line of a double followed by sharp right hand bend and I really didn't think we could do - first time got awful shot to double and sailed straight on. 2nd time made the turn but did my usual hooky thing because I cant see a stride on a bend and therefore feel the need to hang on tight - stupid! 3rd time got it spot on, rode forwards and he flew it. Turned it round to do angle then double on left rein and he made it easy. Clever pony.
Had lunch then popped out on the XC course for a play with Lizzie. He was on fire - whizzed over the beafy trakehners, the big coffin, sunken road, open ditch, big brushes, water, jumped in and out of water, all no probs at all and I was good and didn't hook at anything (well maybe the big brushes slightly, but generally not too bad!) Motto must be leg on!
Sunday - day of rest (well, not for me - I worked super hard all day as it was tres busy!)
Monday - schooling again - similar protocol to Friday and he went beautifully. Feels like so much power there I'm not sure what to do with it at times!
Tuesday - lunging in draw reins - I love this technique - he goes so well in them. They are just tight enough to stop him going hollow but he knows they are there and they rarely come into contact - he just pops himself in a lovely stretchy outline and really works through. We did some poles on a fan and then raised the middle one - got some fabulous elevation and hock flexion over them - must do that more - not done it before but think can increase from 3 to 5 poles and really get him working over his back.
Today - hired out Parwood with Lizzie for an hour over the show jumps. Mojo and confidence definitely back. Started nice and simple over a x-pole then some little 2ft6 uprights. Then put the course up to around 90cm with a couple a bit bigger and he popped round in an absolutely fabulous rhythm not touching a pole. Then did a real skinny pole between 2 polyblocks as some skinny practice - he was a little wobbly but resisted the temptation to hook and just kept channeling forwards with my legs trusting him to jump and he did every time. Then we put the course up so was a good 95cm-1m. Got some fabulous jumps and some not quite so fabulous ones. I think I let the rhythm alter a bit once they'd gone up - bit of inner wibbling coming to the fore. I dont know why I dont just shut up and let him get on with it all. Doesn't matter what stride he gets there on he sorts himself out - if he gets close he just jumps higher, if he's off it he just jumps wider. He hates touching poles and didn't knock one fence all session! Really pleased with him.
Combined training on Sat - have entered BE90 and BE100 class so fingers crossed can remember all the good work we've been putting in in both phases and give it our best shot.
Thur - day off
Fri- flatwork. Current regime of working on trot-walk-halt-trot as the first thing we do after quick warmup is fantastic for getting him engaged and soft in front - then adding in more direct transitions and incorporating rein back before some lateral work and then moving into canter. The canter-walk-canter on the same rein is really coming on and even managing some half decent simple changes now esp the ones done on the centre line after 1/2 10m circle. Just need to improve the walk to right canter as still proving difficult.
Sat - Lucy T SJ lesson at LMEQ. For whatever reason I reverted back into hooky mode a bit - not at everything but just some things - must not do it! We started with a little placing pole, xpole, placing pole which he popped ever so neatly and she said "He's back!" - love him! Built that up into a bounce followed by what should have been 3 strides to a vertical but stupid here kept making him put in 4 until she made it a double bounce of decent 2ft6 verticals and then he comfortably put in 2 strides to the final vertical. However, I had no probs riding to the large road closed oxer and met that fine every time.
We then did a line of a double followed by sharp right hand bend and I really didn't think we could do - first time got awful shot to double and sailed straight on. 2nd time made the turn but did my usual hooky thing because I cant see a stride on a bend and therefore feel the need to hang on tight - stupid! 3rd time got it spot on, rode forwards and he flew it. Turned it round to do angle then double on left rein and he made it easy. Clever pony.
Had lunch then popped out on the XC course for a play with Lizzie. He was on fire - whizzed over the beafy trakehners, the big coffin, sunken road, open ditch, big brushes, water, jumped in and out of water, all no probs at all and I was good and didn't hook at anything (well maybe the big brushes slightly, but generally not too bad!) Motto must be leg on!
Sunday - day of rest (well, not for me - I worked super hard all day as it was tres busy!)
Monday - schooling again - similar protocol to Friday and he went beautifully. Feels like so much power there I'm not sure what to do with it at times!
Tuesday - lunging in draw reins - I love this technique - he goes so well in them. They are just tight enough to stop him going hollow but he knows they are there and they rarely come into contact - he just pops himself in a lovely stretchy outline and really works through. We did some poles on a fan and then raised the middle one - got some fabulous elevation and hock flexion over them - must do that more - not done it before but think can increase from 3 to 5 poles and really get him working over his back.
Today - hired out Parwood with Lizzie for an hour over the show jumps. Mojo and confidence definitely back. Started nice and simple over a x-pole then some little 2ft6 uprights. Then put the course up to around 90cm with a couple a bit bigger and he popped round in an absolutely fabulous rhythm not touching a pole. Then did a real skinny pole between 2 polyblocks as some skinny practice - he was a little wobbly but resisted the temptation to hook and just kept channeling forwards with my legs trusting him to jump and he did every time. Then we put the course up so was a good 95cm-1m. Got some fabulous jumps and some not quite so fabulous ones. I think I let the rhythm alter a bit once they'd gone up - bit of inner wibbling coming to the fore. I dont know why I dont just shut up and let him get on with it all. Doesn't matter what stride he gets there on he sorts himself out - if he gets close he just jumps higher, if he's off it he just jumps wider. He hates touching poles and didn't knock one fence all session! Really pleased with him.
Combined training on Sat - have entered BE90 and BE100 class so fingers crossed can remember all the good work we've been putting in in both phases and give it our best shot.
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