Warren Lamperd Tweseldown XC 16-08-15

Tweseldown has been taken over by new management and they have put in loads of new jumps.  With the recent rain and it being on sand, plus the fact we have Firle Regionals in 2weeks and haven't jumped XC since end of June I thought it was a good plan to go and do some schooling.  Joined Warren on one of his horses and 2 others and we went for a play.  There are now loads of jumps in the first field next to the SJ arena which occupied us for a while - he was nice and straight over the corners in both directions and popped all the other jumps no probs.  Just have to make sure he focuses on the right jumps with so many to choose from and if he does wiggle then not to pull the opposite rein.  So if he wiggles left then instead of pulling right rein need to close left rein and use left leg to stop the wiggle rather than create a wiggle in the opposite direction.  Was riding in his usual pelham but without the curb chain guard as it's on my double bridle and he was definitely more sensitive so I'll put the guarded one back on for competition and keep the plain one for hacking where I need the control!

Moved on from here over a few more straightforward jumps.

 Then one with a roof which he was ok with as roof quite high so no ducking!

Popped over ditch fine.  Onto the water.  Cantered in boldly and then I aimed him at the duck on the way out and he went all green and spooky on me.  Slammed on the brakes 3 strides out with his eyes out on stalks.  Strange horse - it didn't look that spooky to me but he was not amused!  When he did jump it he cleared it by miles!  So we did it lots more times until he was definitely fine with it and then linked it in with the other duck off to the right of this one and did them both ways in and out of the water.

Then had a play round another field of jumps - did a chair and a log pile and a house and then this one which he gave a really nice feeling over:

Then onto a roll top to a skinny triple brush which I thought was a real question - they had the 90 and 100 versions up and the 100 was a decent sized brush and pretty narrow which you can't quite make out in the photo.  We started with the 90 and then the 100 and no probs.  He was fab through the 100 version - never faltered.  Glad they were right handed though - still hate left handed ones!

Finished with popping the open ditch a few times - always a spooky one as has water in the bottom.  He ballooned it.  Got told to make sure not to fold over it, just lift bum away from saddle and keep shoulders back and allow with hands as needed so don't pull him in the mouth on landing.

Generally very pleased with him for first XC session in a while.  Perhaps need to find some more ducks!