Spent a while working on the medium trot down the long side and across the diagonal working on keeping him soft and then asking for a bit more for just a few strides then back again before he started to run. Definitely much better when can keep the softness in front and therefore softness over his back. Need to remember to work on it as am rubbish at working on the things we are bad at at home!
Also worked on changes on the 3/4 line to work on his straightness and keeping the softness after each change to try and keep softness in the tempi changes. Keep hands up and sit up!
In the walk piris have to stop him stepping wide behind, esp to the right. Had to keep him doing a large walk piri around something on the ground and just get him to keep going - he was terrible about shifting my weight to the outside so really have to try and focus on keeping my weight down to the inside.
In the trot shoulder-in, work on the 3/4 line again for straightness, dont ask for too much angle, it really isn't that much. Keep the outside rein and be able to give away the inside rein. Did some lovely travers - he likes that. In the half pass keep the activity and don't ask for too much sideways - must go forwards as much as sideways and keep active. Don't let him take over.
Saturday 26 March 2016
Lucy Thompson XC clinic LMEQ 20-03-16
Mostly he was awesome. Needed reminding to ride forwards, not go all hooky. Always takes a little while to get into positive XC riding at the beginning of the season. Just had one mishap at the Badminton styled angled skinny brushes. Had to come off a tight right turn, lost his shoulders, went for a forwards long one and he nipped out the side. Must remember to get the hindlegs underneath him round the corner and keep him connected to a skinny - he must feel the contact or he can be naughty! He went through the half coffin first time though and jumped an awesome skinny, left turn to skinny so small I could hardly fit my feet through the flags. A little sticky down the step into water but fine over the jump before it. Nice and straight over all the wishing wells, through a combo of triple brushes and over the small corner both ways. Must go back before Badminton and practice the skinny brushes again - definitely our nemesis (along with corners!). He is great with skinnies if approached on a straight line but after a corner I easily lose his shoulder and then we're in trouble.
BD Priory 19-03-16
Two new tests for us - AM96 and AM98. Both of them very busy with multiple changes. Changes are his strong point though so a good challenge.
Started with AM96. Missed the final change after the extended canter and hence overshot the final centre line but otherwise quite pleased. Changes on the centre line came off and everything happened where it should. Encouraging comments and a reasonable mark of 63.5% despite a couple of 4's for a stuck walk piri and the missed change. Commented on needing to shift the balance to the back legs but well positioned lateral work and an attractive horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5eejc5_hhI&feature=youtu.be
Next was AM98, the Regionals test. Again managed to miss the final change at the end of the extended canter but otherwise it all came off, even if he was a stride ahead of my aids in both the right to left changes in the 4 loop serpentine. They were clean though! Every right to left change today that happened properly was clean. Progress! So chuffed with my little man. He scored a whopping 66.3%!!! Never thought we'd be scoring plus 65% at Advanced Medium! There are obviously still things we can improve on too especially when I become more familiar with the test as this was my first time even running through it thanks to only having a short arena at home. More comments about being well established in the lateral work and the changes. Nice to hear! Consistent 6.5's with 7's for all his changes and only dropping to 6's for medium/extended trot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1olXXnpkO_Q&feature=youtu.be
Started with AM96. Missed the final change after the extended canter and hence overshot the final centre line but otherwise quite pleased. Changes on the centre line came off and everything happened where it should. Encouraging comments and a reasonable mark of 63.5% despite a couple of 4's for a stuck walk piri and the missed change. Commented on needing to shift the balance to the back legs but well positioned lateral work and an attractive horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5eejc5_hhI&feature=youtu.be
Next was AM98, the Regionals test. Again managed to miss the final change at the end of the extended canter but otherwise it all came off, even if he was a stride ahead of my aids in both the right to left changes in the 4 loop serpentine. They were clean though! Every right to left change today that happened properly was clean. Progress! So chuffed with my little man. He scored a whopping 66.3%!!! Never thought we'd be scoring plus 65% at Advanced Medium! There are obviously still things we can improve on too especially when I become more familiar with the test as this was my first time even running through it thanks to only having a short arena at home. More comments about being well established in the lateral work and the changes. Nice to hear! Consistent 6.5's with 7's for all his changes and only dropping to 6's for medium/extended trot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1olXXnpkO_Q&feature=youtu.be
Sunday 13 March 2016
SJL lesson 11-03-16
Worked on running through AM96 and a first run through of an Advanced test - A102. Even wore the tailcoat just to test he was ok with it. Exciting times!
Need to be quicker to get him straight on the diagonal lines. He anticipates lateral work which hinders the start of the movement whether it's medium work or changes.
Ask for the change a stride before the corner marker after the medium canters in 96. Don't leave it too late as both are followed by turning down the centre line which comes up very quickly.
Work on getting the collection/expression in the trot work - he showed some glimpses of some amazing trot - just needs the strength to maintain it.
In the changes, esp the tempi's too much neck bend still - needs to be much straighter and respond better to leg aids.
Shoulder-in - not too much angle
HP - not too much angle, keep the activity with the inside leg
Use HP to SI to HP in warmup
Keep the hindleg active even in collected paces, don't just let him slow down
In the changes really need to work on being able to lift hands up but still keep him soft and work on feel so don't need to look down!
Canter to halt on the centre line needs to be much more direct. He must halt then can move a leg to square up but not canter to walk then halt.
Stretchy trot circle in AM96 must be sitting trot and a decent stretch
In the walk piris need to keep the inside hind more active - use schooling whip in training to tap it up
Extended walk - need to keep more of a contact and not let reins so long
Need to be quicker to get him straight on the diagonal lines. He anticipates lateral work which hinders the start of the movement whether it's medium work or changes.
Ask for the change a stride before the corner marker after the medium canters in 96. Don't leave it too late as both are followed by turning down the centre line which comes up very quickly.
Work on getting the collection/expression in the trot work - he showed some glimpses of some amazing trot - just needs the strength to maintain it.
In the changes, esp the tempi's too much neck bend still - needs to be much straighter and respond better to leg aids.
Shoulder-in - not too much angle
HP - not too much angle, keep the activity with the inside leg
Use HP to SI to HP in warmup
Keep the hindleg active even in collected paces, don't just let him slow down
In the changes really need to work on being able to lift hands up but still keep him soft and work on feel so don't need to look down!
Canter to halt on the centre line needs to be much more direct. He must halt then can move a leg to square up but not canter to walk then halt.
Stretchy trot circle in AM96 must be sitting trot and a decent stretch
In the walk piris need to keep the inside hind more active - use schooling whip in training to tap it up
Extended walk - need to keep more of a contact and not let reins so long
Wednesday 9 March 2016
Chris Burton SJ lesson 08-03-16
Points to remember - need to seriously rile him up so he is dragging me into fences. Start over a vertical and move up in height before moving onto small oxer. Give him a smack over a simple fence and get his blood up. Then keep him connected. He needs a long warmup - allow plenty of time to jump several small fences and fire him up. Chris got on him and got him going forward after an initial run past which took him totally by surprise as he just drifted past. He was very much sorted out after that. He booted out a large oxer with square rails on it which made him seriously pick up his feet after that. I then got back on and we flew round, strides coming no probs, did a treble with big wide oxer as middle part, lots of related distances on curves and straight lines and some decent size oxers, easily 1m10, no probs at all. He loves being on a surface and he needs to be riled up. Don't be tempted to run him if he's not taking me in the warmup. If he doesn't like the ground then don't run him.
Monday 7 March 2016
Munstead Combined Training 06-03-16
First dressage on grass of the year, first go at N112. Little bit more interesting than the usual BE100 tests. Bit of leg yield, medium trot, medium canter on a half circle and canter down the final centre line. Could be fun on grass! He was a superstar though. Really listening. Just dropped off my leg slightly before the canter-trot-canter over X (too many flying changes in the warmup) and went a bit wild down the final centre line so stuck his quarters left as I used too much outside leg to try and hold him. 6.5's for those movements otherwise all 7's, 7.5's and a couple of 8's! 7.5 for my riding and a comment about lovely partnership and well trained horse. Really pleased with him. Got 27.75 which is 72.25% and came 3rd after dressage out of 12 or so.
He bounced back to the lorry like he was well aware this was eventing time and something exciting was coming up. Unfortunately the ground in the SJ wasn't to his liking. I really tried to warm him up like we did in our lesson a couple of weeks back thinking on and back and connection and initially it went ok but then aimed at a small oxer and I didn't see a forwards stride so he ducked out. He did that twice so lowered it to a vertical which jumped fine then back to a small oxer which he also jumped fine. The ground in the arena looked better than the warmup so I thought I should give it a go as height wise it looked fine to me. In hindsight should have known he wasn't happy after the warmup and entering the 1m10 as first outing of the year on grass probably wasn't the best idea. They took ages to ring the bell as jump fillers were blowing over, it was sleeting freezing rain on us and I just never quite switched on the canter enough. I felt a slight wobble at the first oxer fence but leg on and we were over nicely, onto the upright, just a bit close and took it out in front, ok to the next upright but took it out behind. He never has respected plastic poles but think the ground was just too sticky for him to get enough height. Round to a one stride double with a big oxer in to an upright out and then 5 strides to a spooky white oxer with plastic jump blocks under it. Got an ok stride to the oxer but looking at the video it was lacking a bit of power so he landed quite steeply. Rode for one stride to the next fence and he was probably a little off it but would usually have happily taken a flyer. Instead he put down then ducked out to the left and I jumped the jump by myself. Not sure if he just didn't trust the ground although he never felt like he was slipping, just sticking or perhaps he clocked the spooky jump fillers at the next fence but it was a bit uncalled for as he definitely could have tried. Elected not to continue my round and just popped a x pole in the warmup which he did fine.
He is a tricky customer. He doesn't like ground too hard, doesn't like it too soft either and at the moment if I give him even a hint of not riding forwards he is taking the opportunity to stop which isn't doing my confidence much good. I thought we were doing great after our last couple of lessons with Chris but now not so sure. Have another lesson tomorrow so will see how that goes but rapidly learning to distrust him and fed up of falling off. It hurts! Meant to be at Tweseldown on Thursday but suspect the ground will be similar so probably no point bothering. Will have to wait until April and hope the ground is better or at this rate it will be Badminton before we know it and won't have had any practice. Considering his future at the moment. Perhaps dressage is the way to go and a bit of SJ on a surface. He's clearly not a fan of anything other than perfect grass and that is very hard to find.
He bounced back to the lorry like he was well aware this was eventing time and something exciting was coming up. Unfortunately the ground in the SJ wasn't to his liking. I really tried to warm him up like we did in our lesson a couple of weeks back thinking on and back and connection and initially it went ok but then aimed at a small oxer and I didn't see a forwards stride so he ducked out. He did that twice so lowered it to a vertical which jumped fine then back to a small oxer which he also jumped fine. The ground in the arena looked better than the warmup so I thought I should give it a go as height wise it looked fine to me. In hindsight should have known he wasn't happy after the warmup and entering the 1m10 as first outing of the year on grass probably wasn't the best idea. They took ages to ring the bell as jump fillers were blowing over, it was sleeting freezing rain on us and I just never quite switched on the canter enough. I felt a slight wobble at the first oxer fence but leg on and we were over nicely, onto the upright, just a bit close and took it out in front, ok to the next upright but took it out behind. He never has respected plastic poles but think the ground was just too sticky for him to get enough height. Round to a one stride double with a big oxer in to an upright out and then 5 strides to a spooky white oxer with plastic jump blocks under it. Got an ok stride to the oxer but looking at the video it was lacking a bit of power so he landed quite steeply. Rode for one stride to the next fence and he was probably a little off it but would usually have happily taken a flyer. Instead he put down then ducked out to the left and I jumped the jump by myself. Not sure if he just didn't trust the ground although he never felt like he was slipping, just sticking or perhaps he clocked the spooky jump fillers at the next fence but it was a bit uncalled for as he definitely could have tried. Elected not to continue my round and just popped a x pole in the warmup which he did fine.
He is a tricky customer. He doesn't like ground too hard, doesn't like it too soft either and at the moment if I give him even a hint of not riding forwards he is taking the opportunity to stop which isn't doing my confidence much good. I thought we were doing great after our last couple of lessons with Chris but now not so sure. Have another lesson tomorrow so will see how that goes but rapidly learning to distrust him and fed up of falling off. It hurts! Meant to be at Tweseldown on Thursday but suspect the ground will be similar so probably no point bothering. Will have to wait until April and hope the ground is better or at this rate it will be Badminton before we know it and won't have had any practice. Considering his future at the moment. Perhaps dressage is the way to go and a bit of SJ on a surface. He's clearly not a fan of anything other than perfect grass and that is very hard to find.
Sara-Jane Lanning lesson 04-03-16
Finally my back has decided to cooperate again and had a nice, pain free lesson. We had the whole of Merrist Wood's huge indoor at our disposal with not a white board in sight so made the most of the space and practiced the tempi changes on long lines and also doing trot HP to SI to HP to SI etc.
Trot HP need to make sure to not let him run sideways, use the inside leg to activate the trot and keep him up in front. He finds going sideways easy but need to keep the quality.
Canter HP make sure to really use the corner before to set him up.
Walk piris need to shorten the walk more and use legs alternately but esp the inside leg to activate and then just bring the shoulders round.
Flying changes - right to left were so much cleaner as have been working on being able to change the flexion and bend in the canter without getting a change which means he stays soft over his back and can do a clean change. Definitely still work in progress but huge improvements and so encouraging to see him doing such beautiful right to left changes. Need to just keep the softness and not let him bowl off after each change, keep the balance, esp important for the tempi changes. Still need to work on not having such an obvious change of bend as it makes him wobble and puts his weight on the wrong shoulder. Did manage a line of five 4 time changes worthy of a 7 though!
Did some squares with quarter canter piris - must remember to use inside leg round the corner and just outside leg for positioning but not trying to push him round with the outside leg.
Practised the canter HP to centre line to half 5m circle with quarters in, HP back to centre line and flying change that is in Adv 102 and it's definitely improving. Just need to keep the activity in the 5m circle and not let him back off and suck back at me. Then keep the forwards into the flying change and again not let him suck back at me and hollow. His changes were lovely and straight going straight towards the mirror though.
In the trot worked on using whip on shoulder and alternate legs to try and elevate the trot and get the forehand up moving the trot on and back - need to develop the gears that we have in the canter.
Overall he was much softer. Just need to keep that hindleg active.
Short term aim is to ride through the PSG test in a lesson and need to start looking for an Advanced 100/102 for him - eek!
Have probably forgotten something!
Trot HP need to make sure to not let him run sideways, use the inside leg to activate the trot and keep him up in front. He finds going sideways easy but need to keep the quality.
Canter HP make sure to really use the corner before to set him up.
Walk piris need to shorten the walk more and use legs alternately but esp the inside leg to activate and then just bring the shoulders round.
Flying changes - right to left were so much cleaner as have been working on being able to change the flexion and bend in the canter without getting a change which means he stays soft over his back and can do a clean change. Definitely still work in progress but huge improvements and so encouraging to see him doing such beautiful right to left changes. Need to just keep the softness and not let him bowl off after each change, keep the balance, esp important for the tempi changes. Still need to work on not having such an obvious change of bend as it makes him wobble and puts his weight on the wrong shoulder. Did manage a line of five 4 time changes worthy of a 7 though!
Did some squares with quarter canter piris - must remember to use inside leg round the corner and just outside leg for positioning but not trying to push him round with the outside leg.
Practised the canter HP to centre line to half 5m circle with quarters in, HP back to centre line and flying change that is in Adv 102 and it's definitely improving. Just need to keep the activity in the 5m circle and not let him back off and suck back at me. Then keep the forwards into the flying change and again not let him suck back at me and hollow. His changes were lovely and straight going straight towards the mirror though.
In the trot worked on using whip on shoulder and alternate legs to try and elevate the trot and get the forehand up moving the trot on and back - need to develop the gears that we have in the canter.
Overall he was much softer. Just need to keep that hindleg active.
Short term aim is to ride through the PSG test in a lesson and need to start looking for an Advanced 100/102 for him - eek!
Have probably forgotten something!
Merrist Wood Winter Regionals 23-02-16
Thanks to a lot of physio I was slightly more mobile and able to at least ride but it wasn't without pain and trot was the most painful.
First up was the Medium Restricted Freestyle. It went ok. I ended up balancing on my hands rather than absorbing the movement through my back, especially in the medium canter and I couldn't collect the canter enough for the simple changes so they weren't great. Disappointing having worked so hard. We ended up 13th out of 21 on 65.56% which was a shame as I know he could have managed top ten if I hadn't been so sore. Judge at C had us 20 marks below the other 2 judges which again was disappointing. One judge had us on over 69% and in 7th place which is a personal best by far at this level. He tried super hard though, definitely couldn't have asked for more from him.
Bit of a break then back on for the Elem Open Freestyle. Was secretly hoping for a top ten as he's so established at Elem now but wasn't sure given it was the Open and I know the standard is usually super high. Back still sore but weirdly sitting trot more comfy than rising so decided to do it all in sitting. Again, he went as well as he possibly could. Couple of things I could have ridden a bit better had I not been in pain but really I doubt I could have squeezed many more marks from him. Very happy with 68.78% and 8th place. We beat a lot of pros and their super duper horses. He is such a little superstar!
Some piccies - waiting for the pro ones to arrive.
First up was the Medium Restricted Freestyle. It went ok. I ended up balancing on my hands rather than absorbing the movement through my back, especially in the medium canter and I couldn't collect the canter enough for the simple changes so they weren't great. Disappointing having worked so hard. We ended up 13th out of 21 on 65.56% which was a shame as I know he could have managed top ten if I hadn't been so sore. Judge at C had us 20 marks below the other 2 judges which again was disappointing. One judge had us on over 69% and in 7th place which is a personal best by far at this level. He tried super hard though, definitely couldn't have asked for more from him.
Bit of a break then back on for the Elem Open Freestyle. Was secretly hoping for a top ten as he's so established at Elem now but wasn't sure given it was the Open and I know the standard is usually super high. Back still sore but weirdly sitting trot more comfy than rising so decided to do it all in sitting. Again, he went as well as he possibly could. Couple of things I could have ridden a bit better had I not been in pain but really I doubt I could have squeezed many more marks from him. Very happy with 68.78% and 8th place. We beat a lot of pros and their super duper horses. He is such a little superstar!
Some piccies - waiting for the pro ones to arrive.
Damian Hallam lesson 21-02-16
Not the best lesson ever thanks to my very sore back following on from jumping amazing jumps a few days previously. We had to stick to walk or canter only as trot was just a no-go. Not great two days before the Regionals!
Main things we did were canter half pass - think about positioning the forehand in the direction of travel, having the bend in the ribcage not the neck and then getting him to take me forwards across the diagonal. Don't try and have the body too parallel. Use the inside leg to activate the canter.
Also, in the free walk sponge the reins out and then back in again and take them back in bigger chunks so have him back in medium walk quicker and then insist on medium walk being soft and taking me forwards straight away.
Keep the softness in the walk at all times, must be ready to trot or canter on demand. Must go straight into an active trot/canter. Don't waste time checking diagonal, get forwards first then check.
Always thinking of softness in trot/canter. Use the leg to activate the hindleg and the outside rein to increase the softness. Keep working on the jump and the softness in the canter.
Be able to give and retake the reins in the canter at any time.
Shorten the canter before asking for the walk transition.
Think HP in the counter canter which allows me to ride him forwards in the counter canter rather than letting it suck back and stiffen.
Don't accept quite soft, needs to be the softest I can make him. Always ask could he be softer? Good is not good enough, needs to be very good.
Probably the most painful lesson I've ever had but some important learning points noted!
Main things we did were canter half pass - think about positioning the forehand in the direction of travel, having the bend in the ribcage not the neck and then getting him to take me forwards across the diagonal. Don't try and have the body too parallel. Use the inside leg to activate the canter.
Also, in the free walk sponge the reins out and then back in again and take them back in bigger chunks so have him back in medium walk quicker and then insist on medium walk being soft and taking me forwards straight away.
Keep the softness in the walk at all times, must be ready to trot or canter on demand. Must go straight into an active trot/canter. Don't waste time checking diagonal, get forwards first then check.
Always thinking of softness in trot/canter. Use the leg to activate the hindleg and the outside rein to increase the softness. Keep working on the jump and the softness in the canter.
Be able to give and retake the reins in the canter at any time.
Shorten the canter before asking for the walk transition.
Think HP in the counter canter which allows me to ride him forwards in the counter canter rather than letting it suck back and stiffen.
Don't accept quite soft, needs to be the softest I can make him. Always ask could he be softer? Good is not good enough, needs to be very good.
Probably the most painful lesson I've ever had but some important learning points noted!
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