BD Crofton Manor 27-11-13

Schooled yesterday evening working on similar to last week - he's always a bit worse schooling first time after he's been jumping so initially was quite down on my hands in left canter but then moved onto working the right trot in sitting trot and it felt brilliant.  Moved onto right canter and he was awesome - so light in my hands but connected and through.  Went back to left canter and he was much better.  Sitting trot so much easier to ride these days - feel like it's all coming together :)  Jumping at the weekend opened up the little crack in the left corner of his mouth again so possibly that was affecting him taking the contact a bit though so must get that sorted.  Next step is to try my hanging cheek with the bit guards and see if that is any better.  Also thinking I might try a sheepskin noseband on him for jumping to see if it gets him to drop his head a bit.  Also going to get him a smaller bit for dressage - his is coming out of the sides of his mouth too much an I'm worried it's the central link catching the corner of his mouth.   Expensive bloody bit but should be able to sell the old one on ebay.

So, today we went off to Crofton Manor to do some BD - first time there - they were using indoor for warmup and huge outdoor arena for 2 long arena tests.  Quite spooky as lots of advertising boards on the fencing and full white dressage boards - great experience for championships for him.

He warmed up nicely thinking of all the work I've been doing to get him to lift his shoulders - leg yield, circles, etc.  Out to arena past car park and decided to have a napping, rearing effort as could see his way back to lorry and didn't fancy a dressage test.  Pushed him through it though and avoided needing to be led into arena - it was nothing like the protests we get at leaving a XC warmup.  Arena was spooky as predicted but he coped pretty well considering first centre line is straight towards scary judges box and lots of advertising boards.  Couple of random spooks at nothing which judge ignored thankfully.  It was a pretty safe test but wasn't expecting huge scores.  Pretty chuffed to win by a large margin on our highest score ever of 72.17%.  8's for canter to trot from right canter and 8 for 20m circle canter left and an 8 for my riding :)  Otherwise all 7's.  Final points for Regionals done :)  Collectives 7778 "A consistent and well presented test.  Well done"  Rosemary Ablitt

Half hour break then back on for the next warmup.  Really thought of working the shoulder fore this time which helps connect and engage him and he felt super.  Had him much better connected in the test but we did make some costly mistakes.  He went quarters-in in the rein back which was a shame as otherwise he was super soft and obedient and took lovely big strides back.  He then jogged 3 times in the FWLR which is a double marked movement and one he can get 8's for so that was pretty expensive!  His medium trots didn't happen anywhere near like they did in the warmup which was a shame but not unexpected as still a work in progress.  Medium canter was a bit naff and he felt really crooked although doesn't look too bad on video.  He somehow then got an 8 for his G&R over the centre line and another for the counter canter - he poked his nose in the G&R but she put "well shown" and I thought the line I took was terrible and didn't make it back to the track on time and then wobbled down the long side in counter canter.  He did do a nice transition to trot and back up into canter.  Got 6's for both 20m circles and told on the forehand which we really need to sort if we're going to move on to Elem successfully.  Then a 6 for 2nd G&R as he did a giraffe impersonation followed by another 8 for the CC which was much better (got a well done!) and an 8 for his final centre line and halt which was beautifully straight and square - all our hard work on square halts paying off!  Collectives 7668. "Super partnership - flowing, rhythmic moments but needing clearer work from behind especially in canter for better self carriage"  Angela Cardiff.  He won the Restricted section on 66.07% and was 4th overall.  The super stunners in the class got 70% so he really wasn't that far behind given the glaring mistakes.  If we gave him his usual marks instead of the mistakes he'd have been on about 69%.  Such a clever pony!  And that's the points we needed for Winter Regionals qualification sorted!