Moreton Morrell BE90 Regional Finals 27-09-14

2.5hr drive to a new venue for us.  We had entered these Regionals before we qualified for the BE100 Champs at Goring the other week.  I did debate withdrawing but thought it would do him good to have a nice confidence giving run after his last couple of BE100's.  No pressure, we didn't need to qualify (although it would have been nice to have a back-up plan) and BE90 is small to us now so managed to keep the nerves mostly under control.

Dressage first - warmed up a la William Fox-Pitt - following on from demo on Wed night I did lots of canter off his back and some sweeping leg yields to help supple him, followed by some shoulder-in in trot.  Sadly I didn't quite contain him in the test and just let him get a bit nose pokey at times and he was a bit resistant on the right rein in trot as I was a bit scared to use too much inside leg and make him pop up into canter which he can do when tense so I rode a safe, clear round kind of test,  Canter transitions were a bit naff, although trot was more forwards than last couple of tests which considering hot, muggy weather was an improvement.  He can do much better though.

Little break to go and learn the SJ course but no chance to walk the course which is always a shame as like to know the stridings.  Watched a few good ones though so went with theirs!  Warmed up for SJ ok after a few reminders behind the saddle a la Chris lesson on Wed to wake him up and get him taking me forwards.  After he managed to knock the front rail and then the back off an oxer as half asleep he did seem to wake up and start jumping.  Went in and didn't get quite it right to the first one but the next few went ok.  Bit of a surprise to find fence 5 was a triple bar as couldn't see that from where I was watching.  I then rode for my 4 strides and because hadn't walked it or registered the whole triple bar to vertical conundrum he got a bit forwards and tipped the top rail in front.  Very frustrating as tiny fences and was a bit lax on his behalf as was on good stride and could understand if it had been 1m20 but at all of 85-90cm he really should have picked up.  Frustrating to feel you finally ride a good, smooth round and he just gets complacent.  If I'd buried him into it he'd probably have cleared it!  Rest of round went nicely.  Very frustrating especially afterwards when I found out our dressage score was 28 and 3rd place.  Only 4 to qualify so knew the pole would be influential.

No time to dwell on it though.  Time for some fun on the XC.  Most of it looked like a breeze.  I just knew I'd need to give him time at the double steps down at 6 or we'd end up in the corn field and to ride on at the steps up at 13 or something like that as it was a bounce then a long one stride to a small brush coming uphill.  Only thing that concerned me slightly was a water complex not dissimilar to Farley in terms of jumping a boat before the water coming back towards the car park and the dressage warmup.  Fortunately all on his right so nothing to nap towards on the left which is his weak side.  We had another civilised start with lots of talking and stroking at the start and then he just flew round - barely broke rhythm the entire way round.  I let him trot down the steps, he just about made the bounce steps up with one loooong stride to the brush and he didn't even look at the water question.  Came home 21secs inside the time without even trying on a 5min54sec course (long!) - Badders was only a minute longer than that.

So, as predicted, the pole was influential and we dropped from 2nd to 7th so no qualification for us.  Figure it's fate though.  Destined to have to man up, grow a pair and go and tackle Badminton at BE100 - the nerves start when I just think about it so lots of training for us over winter!  Starting with hunting next weekend and as many ditches and anything coffin like, skinny or angled that I can find!  Final event for us will be the BE100 Plus at Coombelands in 2wks time - the SJ will look huge after today!  Got a 9 for our final halt in the dressage today and 8's for one of his trots, the FWLR, his paces and my riding :)  Judge said "3 promising and correct paces, medium walk could now be more active and forward but a pleasing and consistent test.  Looks ready to start to work more from behind to a more elastic and forward contact for the higher marks.  Carefully ridden"

Looking forwards to South of England tomorrow - chance to catch up with my fab sponsors, West Kent Saddles, who have been helping me to find a new jumping saddle and check out the new Prestige saddles they have in stock.  Fence judging in the afternoon which will be great as the OI is a who's who of eventing, including Chris on Nobilis who won the 2* at Barbury this year.

Full video of all 3 phases:

William Fox-Pitt demo at Merrist Wood 24-09-14

Just going to write the things I can remember in random order and may put it more logically once I've remembered everything!

• before an event he would do fast work on Wed, jump Thur, flatwork Fri, hack Sat and event Sunday
• to try and get a better medium trot, get a good engaged canter then come back to trot and straight away ask for medium
• when you do shoulder in or any other movement, even if it wasn't great make sure you finish it obviously
• you don't need flash to do well in an eventing dressage test, just don't do anything wrong - everything correct and in the right place will get lots of marks
• he doesn't start them eventing too soon - they would do a few local shows and things at 4/5 but wouldn't event until 6.
• shoulder-in down the long side to the outside prevents them drifting across the school
• a good brain is the most important thing
• they hack out for 20-30mins before schooling for 30-50mins
• they either live in at night or during the day and will go on the walker once a day
• and good conformation - make sure they look comfy on their feet, stand equally over each limb etc
• jump from trot lots
• jump fences not always on the ideal line - ie. corners - you might not be on the exact line you walked in competition and horse needs to learn to deal with it
• don't need flags to practice skinnies - what if the flag had fallen down on the course - horse needs to learn to lock onto jump, not necessarily flags
• gridwork and exercises in winter, courses in summer
• good long holiday after season ends
• do lots of leg yield - really good suppling and relaxing exercise in trot and canter
• warm up in canter before trot and stay off the back in canter to let them come through and go forwards.
• in the extended walk the poll should be level with the withers and the nose out, keep the activity and when you come back to medium walk as well

Chris Burton SJ lesson 24-09-14

Warmed up then Chris jumped on him for me.  He immediately felt that he just wasn't taking him into the fences and several times he circled him away as he knew he wasn't going to end up on the right take off point as he just wasn't listening.  So swapped the short whip for a schooling whip and he got a few taps on the bum in the last few strides into the fence which woke him up rather a lot.  Given he's bucked me off at a standstill for smacking him on the bum before I don't think I'd ever have been that brave but Chris wasn't aware of that lol!  He soon had him motoring and got me to put the fences up.  Think the course was around 1m25 - it looked huge anyway and he flew!  Only knocked one down on a really tight turn off a corner.  Was brilliant to see him really operating and to know what talent he has with a good rider on him!

Then it was my turn.  Had to keep the schooling whip and see the really forwards strides.  Messed up a few to start with as just didn't trust him to take me on the longer one but he was on it by this point and when I started to realise that and trusted him to go we also flew!  We even took a stride out on a related 5 stride curving line which is totally unheard of!  Had to come round tight turns to big oxers and just keep him motoring and trust him to go and then actually found myself having to hold in the related distances.  We got the treble and the double right every time which is always a huge relief to me as prone to messing them up.  We also flew a 1m15 upright off a tight turn both times - just the short of thing I'd have held to before but he was really taking me and it was such a fab feeling!  Just a shame you have to literally put a rocket up his bum before he starts to really work!  It is coat change time at the moment which makes him extra sluggish but boy he can be frustrating as he's really got plenty of ability.

Chris is away for the next month now so I'm just going to have to try and keep reminding myself of the feeling he gave me in this lesson!

Chris Burton SJ lesson 17-09-14

Not much to say today as Monts wasn't in a very cooperative mood.  It was really muggy and he was dripping in sweat just after the warmup.  We warmed up over a fence on a circle which I always find hard so that was good practice.  Had to make a point not to keep adding strides though, just keep coming!  Then we did a course starting on the right rein - I had to flex him right round the corner, leg yield in off the track and then straighten and jump whilst opening the left rein - this really helped keep him straight for the jump so is definitely something we can play a bit more with.  Certainly just outside flexion and thinking of bringing the shoulders round helps to keep those shoulders underneath me as they are prone to escaping.  Finished round a course of just 1m-1.05m which he jumped ok but he really wasn't up for it today.  Try again next week.

Blenheim BE100 Eventers Challenge 14-09-14

Early start this morning to get the orange one looking smart for our trip to Blenheim International Horse Trials!!!  Have been to this event for the last couple of years to watch the BE100 Eventers Challenge and this year was our turn.  I knew the arena would be busy and surrounded by people and distractions so thought it would be perfect training for the spooky one.

We got there in good time so plenty of time to watch a few go and learn the course. Then a quick course walk.  Looked a good test for us.  Twisty SJ course with a downhill double followed by an uphill planks then some nice XC jumps before a wiggly line to a skinny looking triple brush (wouldn't have been out of place in a Novice although did have nice trees either side), a nice angled line of brushes followed by a turnback to two lions which walked on 4 strides on a curving right hand line round a tree and then the final skinny joker SJ which carried 6 faults if you knocked it down.

Warmup was a bit crazy - fences were all to be jumped from one direction and placed rather close to that end so not much room to turn to them.  Went for the same technique as at Goring - jumping mostly off the right rein, bring the shoulders round and ride forwards.  Jumped a max dimension oxer before going in.

First fence I had a crappy canter round the corner, got in too deep and he rescued us - gave myself a kick up the bum and rode the rest of the round properly!  He was lucky at the planks as gave them a touch, not so lucky at the next fence - I was a bit keen and just pressed him a bit close to it and he gave it a good tap with his front legs on the way up.  Moved him on for the XC fences and he was absolutely awesome - flew them all, got a great shot to the triple brush, slightly deep to the first lion so ended up sticking in 5 strides but he was straight and on the ball, no hint of wanting to duck out.  Sat up, got him back and flew the joker fence.  Unlucky to have that rail but over the moon with him.  He didn't bat an eyelid at the atmosphere and all the people watching.  I think it helped that I wasn't stressed like I would be at a normal event as no pressure to achieve anything/qualify for anything, just went for the experience.

Couple of SJ lessons with Chris Burton coming up next then Moreton Morrell BE90 Regionals in 2wks time.  Weekend off next weekend for the fabby orange one.  No rest for the wicked as I shall be working all weekend!  Currently trying to decide whether to end season at Moreton Morrell or be brave and do the 100 Plus at Pulborough.  Gonna have to jump that height SJ at Badminton so might as well get practising!

fence 3:

the triple brush:

video:

hatcam:

Goring BE100 Regionals 06-09-14

Trying to keep the nerves under control today so split the day up into bits and concentrated on one bit at a time.

Started with the dressage.  I like dressage, we can do dressage, no reason to be nervous for dressage.  Warmed up ok, not as nice as he is on a surface, he just doesn't approve of working on grass but he seemed on side.  The test went nicely enough - it was what I would call a clear round - safe, transitions all where they were meant to be but he needed more impulsion, especially in the trot work.

Went off to walk the XC course and it was a bit of a step up from Aston!  Not dissimilar to Hambleden.  Less twisty but more hilly.  Few questions I thought needed careful riding aside from the fact the first 3 fences were flipping huge!

Fence 5 was a bench to a corner - I walked it on 5 strides although I saw some do it on 4.  Mostly I saw people mess it up!  We watched several through it and most of them had at least one refusal at the corner!  I saw one of the pros do it brilliantly aiming for the apex of the bench and 5 nice strides to the corner so decided I would try and copy him!

Then it was onto the trakehner before a pheasant feeder to brush on a curving 5 strides or you could angle it on 4.

Then a double of tyres on one stride.

Then a long gallop downhill before a step up to brush.  Again, watched a lot of people go through here using various routes until I watched Chris Burton go through choosing exactly the route I was thinking of and that confirmed in my mind I would take the left hand step and then have a wider turn to the skinny brush.

This is Chris doing it:

Up another hill to a chair and then an arrowhead

Then downhill to the water which I thought was a big question for him - full up rolltop, into the water then hang sharp left up a step and 2 bold strides to a wave.

Up a steep hill then last 2 fences straightforward.

Got back just in time to get a SJ course walk - this makes me very happy - I like to know my distances and walking the course really helps me remember the course as well!  So, then it was time to tack up.  Had managed to persuade Chris Burton to come and give me a hand as he was there with a couple of his and happened to have a gap at the right time!  Just his presence seems to make me ride better.  I don't think he really said an awful lot other than mostly getting me to come at the fences off the right rein because then I could concentrate on getting his shoulders round and having him straight then open my left rein over the fence so he landed straight.  He also made me jump a maximum height big wide square oxer right before we went in which made the fences in the ring look tiny!  They were calling me over as he made me jump the last fence so given Monty can be a nappy sod and quite often needs to canter into the ring I just kept cantering on in.  I got summoned to the judge's box afterwards and got a telling off from the SJ judge as stewards had complained about how I went in - oops.  Wasn't intending to do anything I shouldn't - realise now I should have told them I needed to canter him in.  Chris came with me to see them - felt like a naughty schoolgirl!  Meekly apologised and promised not to do it again.

Anyway, back to the important stuff - we jumped a clear round - woohoo!  Made sure when I walked the course to think about regrouping points, so after each couple of fences I got him back underneath me and set off afresh and it worked!  He did rub a couple but they stayed up so stayed on my dressage score of 30.5.  Wasn't sure where this left me in terms of the rest of the section but given the technicality of the XC and our problems this year I just wanted to go clear.

Ran through the XC in my head, sure of my decisions about the more tricky fences, positive riding planned.  Got it sorted in the warmup - a good gallop, a good forwards shot at the warmup fence, a smack on the bum on the way over one of them - we mean business!  XC starters were great and totally distracted me until they basically said Go! so Monts stood quiet as a lamb while we all chatted and then I just shoved him into the box and off we went!  Epic hatcam fail though as totally didn't realise we were about to start.

Got a great shot to the first few big ones which gave me confidence.  Onto the tricky fence 5 - lots of people watching which freaked me out a bit but got my canter, got my line, got in a little close to first part but just sat quietly and waited for my 5 strides which worked perfectly and he flew the corner.  Fabby over the trakehner, then next angled question, the double of tyres, flew down the hill.  I was conscious to keep him moving as time can be difficult to get there and he isn't the fastest especially when I need to set him up for more complex stuff.  Got him back after the gallop to tackle the step which he was really bold up so was glad I'd given myself more room to then make the tight turn to the brush - leg on and he flew. Up the hill to the chair and arrowhead nice and positive then onto the water:

 Really pleased with him through here - I know I could be softer with my hands but it is difficult when you have doubts in your mind as to whether they will jump.  He was really bold though - he very rarely canters through water but he was off and I had to think quick to turn for the step up and wave.  Kicked on up the hill and onto the final two jumps.  Home and clear - awesome!  What a buzz.

Went over to check scores and we were 7th after dressage and 20secs under the optimum time (he is faster than I think when I ride positively!)  Thankfully two of those above us had SJ faults so we ended up in 5th place.  Top 6 qualified for Badminton so amazingly we have done it - after an uppy down kind of year I am so pleased with him.  I rode him positively and he really responded and made it feel easy peasy!

Dressage sheet confirmed what I thought - 8 for entry, mostly 7's other than 6 for going quarters in in medium walk and a dodgy final halt.  7's for collectives and comment of "Consistent test. More impulsion for the higher marks" Sally Price.  Need to work out a way of getting him to give me more expression on grass - he just doesn't love it.

So next stop for us is Blenheim Eventers Challenge next Sunday.  Then I need to decide what to do.  He is entered in the 90 Regionals at Moreton Morrell and I have another 90 Regional as well but having qualified at 100 I don't know if there is much point going.  It's an entry fee to lose but would save the diesel.  If I qualify for 90 and 100 which would I do?  Not sure really.  We didn't get round the 90 this year but then I'm convinced I ride more positively at 100.  He is more than capable of jumping the 1m10 show jumping at the finals and I think another winter of honing our skinnies/angles/corners etc and we should be able to give the 100 a good bash.  I think I'd rather the next challenge of the 100 than go again at 90 but I will think about it a bit longer!  We have done 10 events now this season and I would really like to give him a break.  He has been constantly out and about all year and I'm starting to get a bit weary of it so I'm sure he is too.  Hmmm, decisions!

Corinne Bracken SJ lesson - Parwood 05-09-14

Started with warming up making sure he was really listening to me, lots of trot-halt-trot, keeping him soft.  Then into canter, getting him moving on, coming back but keeping the hindleg quick - when he collects he wants to just slow down so really important to keep the hindleg moving and active so he has power out of the collection.  Razzed up the canter so he was thinking nicely forward.  We warmed up over a vertical then an oxer which we met nicely every time.  Moved onto some more verticals, planks, bigger oxer with a gate underneath and a double.  He jumped all of these really nicely.  Was really chuffed with myself for riding a good corner to a related 3 strides and rather than holding, I put my leg on round the corner, brought the shoulders round and got a lovely shot.

Then I think he went to sleep a bit as we came to do a vertical then curve round to a double and I clearly didn't have the right canter round the corner as no distance appeared, I flapped and pushed for a long one and he chipped in.  Corinne said they will do that every time - if you lose the canter and let it get long they will chip in as they haven't got the power to go on the long one. You can only go on the long one if you have a good quality canter - if you find yourself not seeing a stride, flapping and pushing is the worst, think control the canter - supporting legs and lift the hands rather than pulling back and then it shouldn't matter if they get in a bit deep.  Flapping will lead to chipping in or flailing over a fence which could even bring them down, so concentrate on the rhythm, keep the quality of the canter round the corner, outside aids to bring the shoulder round and sit and wait. Quality of canter as ever is key.  She also said don't kick on the last stride as it just distracts the horse from the jump and causes them to have it down.  Supporting legs but no kicking.  Also when they get disunited again just keep them balanced and once round the corner they will change back in front and sort themselves out.  She also said to think about turning my toes out during the jump which helps to relax the knee.

We then jumped it all as a course and I managed to get in deep to too many of the verticals - was pleased with the related distance, the double, and the oxers but I lost the canter round the corners to the verticals and he was charging at the fences rather than sitting back and waiting.  She said it's important with a horse like him who tends to speed up during his round and the canter loses its quality that when I walk the course I must think about adding in regrouping points.  Think 2 or 3 fences then find a regroup point, sit him back on his hocks and start again.  Definitely something I will try and do as it seems whenever I jump 2-3 fences as part of a lesson I'm fine but when I string together a whole course I'm messing it up by halfway round so need to split it up into bits, get his attention back, get his hocks underneath him and then tackle the next section.  Sounds easy - bet it won't be in practice!

Goring BE100 Regionals tomorrow - hopefully Chris Burton is going to have time in between his horses to come and help us warm up which should be a big help as he knows my numpty tendencies well enough by now and he can really help me get the right canter which is so key.  Also I remember doing some lateral work in canter during my lessons with Carl over the winter really helped the quality of his canter so I might just try and do a little bit of that in the warmup, try and get that bum underneath him and working hard!

Wellington Area Festivals 02-09-14

Quite a warm day - I kept the first warmup quite short as I didn't want to overcook him with his Area Festival test to come second but that did mean he wasn't as focused and warmed up as he could have done with being for his Elementary Freestyle test.  He was being a plonker going round the arena spooking at the sunbeams on the floor which thankfully weren't in the competition arena itself.  He then struck off on the wrong leg ready for our canter into the arena which meant the canter wasn't as good as it could be before the halt but we managed a 7.  He dropped me in the first simple change so got a 6 for that.  Then he decided it would be good to stick in his version of a flying change before the medium canter which totally flumoxed me as it then left me on the wrong leg for the next bit of canter so didn't really ride it very well as knew I was going to have to change legs at the end - 6. Next bit of canter work was better - 7 for the simple change R-L.  7's for both his 15m circles.  Then I was ahead of my music again but not as far ahead as at Pachesham and couldn't decide what to do.  Ended up coming back to trot a whole short side later than I should do so stuck in a circle, only I couldn't decide what size it should be so ended up doing something like 12m which whilst doing I realised was a very bad idea when a compulsory movement is a 10m circle!  Medium trot I really felt like he gave me something but still got a 6 and hurried from the judge.  Something very weird must have gone on with my 10m circle left as got a 5 and the comment very large - I don't remember forgetting my geometry but must have done! 7 for his circle right though and 8's for both his leg yields - woweee!  What an improvement in a couple of months.  7's for his medium/FWLR and an 8 for a beautiful final halt.  6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5 for artistic. Judge was Linda Waller: "Promising work and some pleasing movements/use of the arena. Music well selected - perhaps walk not as harmonious".  Got 70% and finished 3rd overall out of 10, only a mark off 2nd place and always competitive at Wellington so pleased with that as without the mistakes he could easily have picked up an extra 4 or so technical marks and a few more artistics.  Saw the judge after and she commented that she really liked my canter floorplan so that was good as that was all my idea :)

Jumped off Monts for a quick 15min breather then back on for Petplan test.  In the warmup we had a discussion about shoulder-in right in trot for a while and then he decided he could do it and did some nice work.  I was quite pleased with his test - his 10m circles in canter were about the worst attempt we've ever done so threw marks away there but apart from that it was nice and he stayed with me and no spooking which is a first in that big International arena!  His mediums felt the best ever - not as flashy as he has been trying to do them but much more in balance and not hurrying.  Judge at C (Joyce Head) still didn't like them though and gave both 5.5 with comments about clearer difference, more uphill etc.  Judge at B (James Burtwell) was slightly more generous with 6.5 (modest but fair rhythm) and 6 (lacking impulsion and ground cover).  Judge at C gave 7's for his entry and halt, the two medium walks and extended walk, the collected canter after the medium on both reins, the stretchy canter circle and the final trot movement and halt.  Judge at B gave 7's for the rein back, first medium walk, both collected canters after mediums, the change of leg through trot and the second medium canter.  Judge at C gave 6's for 10m circle right in trot, rein back, 10m circle left in canter and the change of leg through trot, otherwise all 6.5's.  Judge at B gave 6's for his entry (mouth open, against hand and not square - oops!), the trot serpentine, trot 10m circle right.  Marks noticeably picked up once we started cantering!  6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 7 from judge at C "Tried hard for you - could stay a little more in balance to enhance the paces.  6.5, 6.0, 6.0, 6.5 "Some fair work but needs to develop greater suppleness and self carriage for higher marks.  Needs to be rounder at times"

Finished on 65% and came 14th out of 35.  Just 3 more marks would have had us in top ten.  Not displeased with that.  Still a respectable result considering our lack of experience at this level.  With more schooling and specifically more practice of that test I'm sure he can do much better.  Looking at the photos I barely recognise him from the horse he was a year ago so fingers crossed can carry on improving.  Hopefully aiming to do Medium Area Festivals next year!  For now though, a break from pure dressage competitions.  Will do some more over the winter but he's done a lot recently and will concentrate on schooling again, the Medium movements and flying changes!

Nick Gauntlett eventing camp 29-31st October 2014

This could get long - my brain is whirring with all the things I need to remember!  Sadly there are no photos or videos though.

We arrived early Friday afternoon and had an hour to settle in before our first lesson.  The stables were lovely - all rubber matted, clean bedding and automatic waterers.  Had my suspicions Monty might have an epic fail with one of those though so made sure he had a bucket as well.

Watched the first group do their gridwork lesson and then it was our turn.  Started with generating that good, bouncy canter - I moved him on, brought him back and whizzed him up a bit.  Just got told I needed to soften my arms a bit - need to get him more in self carriage if that results in his head coming up but mustn't fight him - need nice, soft contact.  Monty is a bit of a pro at gridwork and made it all seem pretty easy even though I haven't done any with him for ages.  We had quite a grid by the end - pole, bounce, one stride, upright, one stride, upright, 2 strides, oxer.  Just tipped the back rail of the oxer first time - need to make sure I give him enough freedom with his head and neck over the wider fences.  So he altered the grid slightly to make the final oxer seriously wide but only 1m high and he took out the bounce at the beginning so just had x-pole, 1 stride, vertical, 2 strides, pole, 2 strides, big oxer.  Rode like a numpty to the first x-pole and held him back to nothing but he still cleared the grid fine.  Next time was much better and made sure to really give with my hands so he could use himself - because of the shape he makes over a jump I really have to throw my hands quite far forward which is a weird feeling but if I don't then he feels restricted and is likely to have fences down behind.

Settled Monts in for the night, cooked myself some dinner in the lorry and settled down to catch up on some WEG for the evening.  Went for some late night cuddles with Monty and he looked nice and settled so off to sleep for me - busy day ahead!

Saturday
As predicted Monty had drained the water bucket dry and judging by the amount of hay in the waterer hadn't touched that - daft pony! Sorted him out then we got WEG set up on Nick's ipad and sat down to watch that and try and pay attention to the first group having a flatwork lesson.  Next it was our turn.  I was really pleased with the way Monty worked.  We did some work on the medium trot, making sure to really overly collect the trot in the corner and then ask for the bigger steps up the long side.  A lightbulb is definitely flickering in Monty's mind regarding this.  He really started to give some good medium strides - it's still a bit messy at the moment but he is definitely trying very hard.

We also did some work on his canter - at the moment when he collects, the hindleg slows so we need to establish that me using my leg doesn't always mean go faster, but can mean get snapppier with the hindleg.  We were on a 20m circle and had to ask him to do medium for a stride then back and repeat and really think of activating the hindleg.

I did some work on the canter leg yield which is really improving and then attempted some changes - he is changing in front when I ask but not behind for a few strides so Nick suggested that the leg yield is leaving his quarters trailing and we need to get them back underneath him for him to be able to give the change from the back end.  So, we asked for travers towards the new leading leg on the centre line - so right canter, left travers and he just popped in a completely clean change without me really asking for it.  Tried again and got the same thing - eureka!  Left it there for today as he'd worked really hard.

We then got served up the most amazing lunch in the farmhouse and settled down to watch the WEG XC for a few hours.  We even delayed our afternoon lesson a bit so we could watch it all!  We were all so sad to hear the news about Harry Meade's horse.  They are such fragile creatures :(

After WEG we went out and did some SJ, warmed up over a x-pole, then vertical, then oxer all fine.  We did a line of 2 verticals on a related 4 strides no problems.  Then put together a course where true to form I managed to mess it up.  I can't quite remember the first course we did but remember making it down a meaty treble combo on 1 stride, then 2 strides - vertical, vertical, big oxer and we did a good job of that.  It wasn't that big - 90cm or so so we got round that course ok.

Then the 2nd course involved the jumps going up to 1m-1.05m and jumping the treble combo back the other way off quite a tight turn.  He aced it and I think I got a bit carried away with that feeling, messed up the tight turn back to the verticals on 4 strides, buried him and then put in 5 strides.  Then I managed to seriously mess up the final line of oxer then curved line to vertical on 6 strides.  Just could not manage to persuade myself to ride forwards on the curved line and kept hooking him back and burying him - wanted to bang my head on a brick wall!  I had to ride it about 5 times before I made a good job of it.  The first time he jumped the oxer well but I overshot the turn to the next fence and there was another one in the way so I just totally missed it.  The second time I was concentrating too much on the second fence and didn't ride at the oxer at all so he stopped!  He very very very rarely stops at anything so that was just shameful.  Then I kept getting in deep to the oxer so definitely couldn't make 6 strides to the vertical.  Finally, I got a good stride to the oxer, kept riding forwards and made the 6 strides easily but god, what a palava.

My SJ has seriously suffered since my fall at Stratford Hills in the warmup where I trusted him to go on a long one and he didn't and I'm still in quite a bit of pain as a result.  I just don't seem to be able to get my head around just riding forwards to a fence in a good rhythm and letting him sort it out.  I really don't trust him to go off a decent stride.  I want to micro-manage it all and jump off these tiny nothingy strides which is fine at 80cm but not fine at 1m10.  Argh.  Everything was going so well SJ until then.  Clearly still have lots of work to do in this department.  Thank god Monty is a forgiving sort.  He really is the best schoolmaster ever.  Must must remember to generate the powerful canter and then just keep riding forwards - really shouldn't be that difficult.

Saturday evening we went down to the Italian in the village.  Nick's dad kindly drove us all down there.  There was Nick, his wife, his head girl and 5 of us.  Had a great time and lots of laughs.  Back for a late night check on Monts and then the head girl gave us a tour of the yard and we met all the horses including several of Chilli Morning's offspring and Nick's current top horses.

Sunday
Two buckets later and Monty has still not learnt to drink from the automatic waterer - doh!  No coughing though - 2 nights in a normal stable and not one cough.  Have had him on Maxavita Maxabreathe for the last week so maybe that was helping or it was the nice airy stable with clean beeding and rubber matting but really happy to see no snotty nose and no coughing.  Took him for a graze in-hand and watched Nick school one of his Chilli Morning youngsters.  Then went to watch the other group do their arena XC.  Then it was our turn!  Started with an oxer that we had to pretend was a log and come at it in XC canter.  Still failing to see a forward stride Nick asked if I did that to a XC fence and I had to shamefully admit that I most certainly could.  Got told to just keep riding forwards and forget about everything else and he flew it but it felt like I was miles off it only to be told it was perfect. Really need to stop strangling my horse - so frustrated with myself at the moment.  Did the same to the wooden house so had to come round and do that again. Then we did a skinny vertical and I actually managed to ride this well - got a nice, forwards but contained canter round the corner, saw a forwards stride and went with it and there was no hesitation so Nick made it seriously skinny - could only just fit through the wings and he aced that too.  We did a wooden chair too - the curvy type like they had at Badminton - started with pole wings then took them away and he was nice and straight to that.  Flew the little arrowhead no probs.  Then we did the corner left handed and he was perfect first time so we made it more acute and I just failed to see a stride, had no commitment and he ran out - totally deserved that but very annoyed with myself for letting it happen.  Came round again and did it fine.

Then we put it together into a course - started with the oxer pretend log, then round to the house on an angle and then the chair - I think it was meant to be 3 strides but we managed 4 as I just wasn't riding as forwards as I needed to be so let him put in the 4th.  Round to the skinny and then 90degrees right hand turn to the left sided corner - I rode the skinny well but in typical Monty fashion he was then off and I did have to hoik him round to the corner.  Thankfully I remembered to let go of his head and use my legs in time to get a lovely stride and he flew it - I know if I'd pulled he'd have run out so was pleased I remembered I had legs.  Then we had to come round and do the arrowhead and then 2 strides on an angle to this impossibly skinny pole - we all thought it was an impossible question but he just locked on and pinged it no probs.  As a final exercise I asked if we could do corner to skinny coming the other way as it's left turns I seem to lose him on.  Nick whacked the pretend log up a bit bigger and told me to ride at it proper XC style then collect up and control for the corner.  I did ride it forwards, although Monts shortened himself slightly to get a good stride Nick said that was fine as I was still saying go.  We then got a good canter for the corner which he jumped nicely, sat up, used my legs and body to turn and flew the skinny.  Clever horse.  Pleased with some of the questions he answered there.  I just HAVE to remember to bloody well ride forwards.  I don't know why I have such a mental block about it - it is so frustrating.

We were served up another amazing lunch in the farmhouse afterwards, watched the first few SJ at WEG then went out for final flatwork lesson.

Thought Monty might be tired but he actually came out with good energy levels so we worked some more on what we'd done the day before.  I put on him Maxavita Maxapower a week ago so maybe it's having some effect.  I was really pleased with all his lateral work, especially the half pass.  Having the huge 60x30m arena and mirrors was brilliant.  Checked my walk pirouettes and could really make sure he wasn't sticking and that his halts were square - so useful.  Made sure the canter was active.  We didn't quite manage any clean changes which was a bit disappointing but it is pretty hard work for him and very new so it's something we'll need to go away and work on some more.  Got some more good medium trot but Nick said his normal working trot afterwards was then looking a bit disappointing after the nice medium.  I need to be braver and ask for more, same in the canter.  It's very safe and nice but it's not good enough for the higher marks.  He is more than capable of producing some very good work but he's not going to give it to me unless I ask for it.  We got his trot much more punchy and up and together and he looked pretty wow in the mirrors.

Finished up with watching the final few SJ and see GB get their silver medal then packed everything up and set off for home.  I really didn't want to leave.  The horses were all so relaxed on the yard.  Monty settled in straight away and worked really well all weekend.  The facilities were fab with amazing school, gallops, horse walker, horse spa etc etc.  I could quite happily be based on a yard like that and be in absolute heaven.  Nick and his family were really welcoming all weekend and everyone there was so friendly.  So lovely to see a yard full of happy horses.

So, we have Goring BE100 Regionals this weekend and my mission is to make sure I have him forwards and off my leg in all 3 phases.  I am going to do my absolute utmost best to make sure I do not strangle him into jumps and we will give it our best shot to get him the result he deserves.  I had this all sorted back in March so I know I can get back there again.