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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