BSJA Parwood 13-12-14

As is usual with BSJA - you either end up miles too early and waiting around for hours or late and in a mad rush!  Last time the former, this time the latter.  Missed the course walk for the Discovery which was not good as the second phase was seriously twisty with some tight turns I really could have done with walking.  A friend told me the course and the striding which helped and I just had time to watch 3 go.  Quick warmup.  He started trying to warm up in a poncy dressage canter and got a little reminder that we were SJing today and quickly became the gobby horse I know best.  Had him in his dressage bridle today - still experimenting what he jumps best in.  He was lovely and soft as long as I let him mooch along but once I upped the tempo and razzed him up a bit I don't think it would matter what bit he is in!

Very much enjoying jumping in my new Albion K2 Jump which my super sponsors West Kent Saddles have found me after months of searching for a saddle that fitted Monty and that I felt secure in.  It looks fabulous!

First class was Discovery running as single phase so get to jump the 2nd phase no matter what.  He jumped a fab round.  I held one stride too long at the castle and let him just get a bit flat to the penultimate fence which he had down (along with half the class) but I was really pleased with how he jumped, how easy he made the twisty turns in the 2nd phase and how smooth it all felt.  I also thought it looked quite small - never thought I'd say that about Discovery!

Actually turning in the air for the tricky tight turn to the next fence

If only he gave them all this much room!

Little break then back on for the 1.05m. Good, positive warmup and carried that through into the ring.  This class the 2nd phase looked huge but first phase was up to height yet still looking very doable which was nice.  It was 2 phase anyway so unlikely to get through to 2nd phase!!  He was really unlucky to breathe on the first part of the first double then gave the 2nd part a decent knock for good measure.  Shame as put him on a much better stride than in the first class.  Got a flyer to the 2nd double which has huuuuge oxer on the way in and he was great to respond and gave me a fab feeling.  He is just the most frustrating horse to SJ.  He has oodles of scope but just can't be bothered to pick up his feet those extra couple of millimetres over all the fences!  Most of them he gives them yards.  Still, just jumping smooth rounds over fences this size is huge progress for us!  I watched the Newcomers after and they only put it up a hole - definitely aiming for that next!

Off to Merrist Wood for dressage to music - first Medium level one next weekend then it's a bit of hacking and hunting for the clever orange one over Christmas before we pick up the dressage/SJ/arena evening again in the New Year.

Huuuuge oxer!  Lovely neat jump.

Beautiful jump

Sara Jane Lanning lesson 10-12-14

Aim of this lesson was to sort out a Medium choreography and do a bit with the flying changes.  Had him in the snaffle bridle today as don't want to be relying on the double all the time.  He was much softer than he has been in the past though.  Sara-Jane said often this will be the case - a little work in the double just helps to establish the softness.

Started with canter half pass into simple changes which seemed to work pretty well - kept the canter collected and the simple changes were nice so he is more than capable of us including this in our floorplan.  Canter half pass varied between being pretty good and quarters trailing.  Need more bend, softer to the bend (although he is way better than he was) and remember to half halt and use the inside leg.  To the right I need to watch my position as apparently it's very good to the left but because he finds it harder to go right I let my left shoulder creep forwards and get a bit wonky which blocks him a bit.  When we ran through the music I let his canter get too onwards bound which made the changes impossible so must remember to keep it collected (I think the music is too fast for his new collected canter so need to sort that asap!)  There is a way I can make the choreography a little easier by putting the change in a slightly different place so I can always do that if I feel the canter isn't good enough to get a good change as pointless having degree of difficulty marks if the quality of the basic compulsory movement isn't there.

The other thing I wanted to include was counter canter to counter canter via a simple change and he did this straight off both ways with no hesitation.  Just need to remember to do the downwards transition early enough so as not to be rushing him into the new canter and straight round a corner.

My trot floorplan worked out well and he managed a counter change of hand in half pass with no dramas at all.  He also let me sit to his medium trot which is still nothing special but he tries hard and it actually felt less messy with me sitting than rising.  In the counter change of hand I need to think about staying just behind the imaginary diagonal line I am following then move the forehand back to straighten him so I can then create the new bend in front and start with the forehand leading.  If you try and change everything at once you end up with quarters leading which given that is his tendency in that direction I will have to be quite careful for that not to happen.  Never done changes of hand with him so will probably take some practice to polish that one but definitely capable of doing a good job eventually.

Walk is the easy bit as I can just alter that n various ways to make sure we end up in the right place for the final trot.

Just did a bit of work on the trot afterwards as running through the test he got very heavy in my hand which is what he did in the double bridle in our Mediums at Crofton.  Sara-Jane asked me how many times I half-halted him and there lay the obvious answer.  Er, none!  He leans on my hands for balance, I let him and down the poll goes.  We did a few half halts and suddenly a rather impressive trot outline appeared.  Must must not let the reins get too long and must remember how important the half halts are, even if at this stage he might give me a reaction that doesn't look so pretty it is better than him leaning on me and running onto his forehand.

We finished with some changes.  Every single left to right one was clean and soft and through and apparently worth 7's!!!  And yes, I did say left to right - given this was the way that initially he couldn't comprehend for love nor money it's quite amazing that he is now just flicking easily from one leg to the other with no drama at all!  Right to left weren't so great, quite often being late behind - sadly only worthy of 4's.  New things tend to go through phases like this though - one bit comes then another bit and the original bit goes.  I feel confident by next year we will have both of them for 7's!  Then it's Advanced Medium here we come!  To get the right to left better I need to half halt before the change and be careful not to block him.  Be quicker to bring my new inside leg forwards out of the way as soon as I change the bend and ask for the change.  I think my timing was a bit out on this rein which is odd as it was always the better one to start with but I think he anticipates more going this way which makes it harder to coordinate everything when you're just learning.  It's like the blind leading the blind but we do seem to be getting places slowly but surely.  Can't believe it was only February he was winning the Prelim Regionals!  Next weekend Medium Freestyle and next year Advanced Medium.  He is such a little cracker!

Arena eventing training and competition report 5th/6th Dec 2014

Friday evening I went down to Merrist Wood for a BE organised training clinic on arena eventing.  Having not jumped for a month I was expecting us both to be a bit rusty but was pleasantly surprised to find my eye appeared to be working just fine and Monts was well up for it.  Downside of Monts in that kind of mood is that any kind of softness goes out the window.  If you try and ask him to work over his back into an outline he just sticks his head even higher in the air and fights.  Still, at least he was going forwards although he was a bit looky at some of the fillers.  We did loads of skinnies, difficult turns, corners etc and he was great - no cheeky run outs and really locking on.  Got told to try and anchor my hands into the base of his neck on landing from a fence to stop him plunging onto his forehand and charging off with me which worked well so just have to try and remember to do that.  Something to practice as he needs to learn to land then immediately rebalance, not gallop round half the arena first!

Saturday evening I took him back to Merrist Wood for the 1m unaffiliated indoor SJ/XC.  There were 5 SJ's then 11 XC jumps against the clock, some were knockdowns, some rolltops etc - things moved round from the night before and I missed the course walk as they were running early so just had 4 people to watch to learn the course!

Quick warmup as I was basically last to go.  Jumping well although there wasn't anything big to jump  and no-one to help me so I started doing some angles instead.  Forgot about his nappy streak and put him on a steep left hand angle right by the gate and he naughtily nipped out the left side.  He got a smacked bum for that as he really needs to learn it's not acceptable now and I didn't put him on a bad line or stride - he just took advantage.  Jumped it a couple more times fine and then in we went.

We had a couple of lucky rattles but for once the poles stayed in their cups.  Totally missed my turn from 6 to 7 so had to do a handbrake turn to a very spooky jump but fortunately he was on the ball and we pulled off some other tight turns, I rode forwards and he really responded.  Then had to seriously anchor up for 2nd last fence followed by 90degree turn right on 4 strides to a skinny - worst nightmare as perfect for him to nip out to the left but he didn't think about it - maybe smacked bum in warmup paid off!  Nearly fell off when they announced we'd gone into the lead.  Given we were last in, that meant we won the class!!!  I've never even been placed in a SJ competition on him and anything against the clock normally sees us coming last but he was excellent and we were a bit lucky in places and for once it all came together for us - well chuffed!

pro pics - last page (and 3 on the previous page) - he makes them look like they're tiny and he just can't be bothered with them!

Merrist Wood BSJA 09-11-14

In hindsight possibly an outing too many this week but as Merrist Wood is on our doorstep it seemed wrong not to enter as they don't hold much BSJA there and the indoor is huge and lovely.  Although Monts (and a lot of other horses) do seem to find it quite spooky.

Warmed up outdoors okish although he was a bit behind my leg (a bit like yesterday but not as bad).  First class was Discovery Qualifier with 120 odd in the class so I think they made it quite technical.  The oxers were certainly max width and everything looked up to height with lots of dog legs and turn backs.  I liked the second phase though and really hoped we could get through to it. He jumped the first 7 fences great.  I was really pleased with how well I thought out my dogleg lines as these have always been my nemesis, tending to cut corners and end up on half strides which to oxers this wide isn't a good idea but no probs today then we had a long 9 strides down to final skinny and he just got a bit flat and tipped it.  Argh!  Why is it he always has to have one fence down!

http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173942/browse/360/?w=800&h=468
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173942/browse/361/?w=800&h=468
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173942/browse/363/?w=800&h=468

Half hour break for him.  Walked the 1.05m and they hadn't really put the fences up much, maybe couple had gone up a hole but the course was pretty twisty as it was an open speed class - one round against the clock.  Don't think we'll enter another of those in a hurry!  Watched the first few go and 2 fell off and 2 got eliminated - great start!  We got the first fence ok but then made a complete mess of the turnback to fence 2 and demolished it - he hates doing that so we were also all wrong to the upright at 3 and demolished that too, shot off into the corner, made an awful turnback to the double with huge oxer going in (that we had made a super job of in the first class) and got right in the base of it - he levitated, landed on the back rail and put 2 strides in the double - what a mess.  Down to the skinny he'd had down in the Discovery and he got in a bit close but cleared it fine (why is that - put him on a good stride and he has things down, bury him to a vertical and he'll almost certainly clear it)  Round to an oxer to vertical on related 3 strides that he cleared nicely and then it was a nasty turnback to the planks.  He had hesitated slightly at these planks in the first class and I'd seen them cause a lot of problems before realising they were the ones that Dan chucked me off at 8yrs ago and put me in hospital with concussion and a broken wrist.  This wasn't a good thing to remember and consequently I rode them very hesitantly and not on a good line and he ran out.  Gave him a pat as really my fault, not his and came back round in a better canter and on a good line and he jumped them fine, rode a good dogleg to big oxer at 9 and good to the final one stride double.  I think after the first crash I just needed to stop and circle and get us back together but you can't do that in the middle of a round so it just got worse and worse.  He wasn't really believing me when I said for him to go forwards and take me - not sure if it was Merrist Wood syndrome as does make them back off in there as quite spooky or whether he was a bit tired from yesterday or a bit of both but you really need to both thinking positively forwards to be jumping that height (and especially width).

Getting in far too close to the skinny but clearing it:
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173943/browse/63/?w=800&h=468

Number 6 - making it look easy:
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173943/browse/64/?w=800&h=468

The dreaded planks:
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173943/browse/65/?w=800&h=468

Final double:
http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/mhphotos/albums/bsja_area_44/456327_173943/browse/66/?w=800&h=468

He's having 3wks off now to recharge his batteries as he's been a busy lad since his last break after Badminton.  Then it will be more and more SJ practice.  I'm going to let our BSJA membership go though as in a whole year we've been to all of about 8 shows and not managed to go clear, let alone win any money so I'll just jump on a ticket.  I wan't to keep doing BSJA rather than unaffiliated to get the extra level of technicality and the widths of the oxers though.  Would never have tackled a 1.05m at the beginning of this year so we have improved, just not our day today.

Crofton Manor BD 08-11-14

Not the ideal weather for our Medium debut - blowing an absolute gale but at least the rain stayed away.

Monty felt pretty flat as soon as we entered the warmup which didn't really bode well.  Had to do a lot of sharpening up and didn't really feel like he was taking me forwards which isn't a great feeling when you're about to do the hardest test of your life!  Made sure to do lots of sideways and lots of transitions and a bit of medium trot.

First test was M61 - bit of a spook at the boards down near the judge but a nice canter around the arena and then back to trot and down the centre line - super square halt and a good move off for a 7.5.  I could feel the tension in his trot though and it was making it flipping difficult to sit to.  Was definitely bouncing more than usual and struggling to keep my weight down in my stirrups as he was needing more leg than usual.  Still we managed 7's for both shoulder-ins and 7.5 for the two half 10m circles.  Medium/extended trots didn't really happen and 6's were generous.  Half passes were surprisingly good though and earned 7 for left and 7.5 for right!!  Sara Jane has been telling me they are good but have to confess I thought she might just be being nice!  Watching the video though he is really crossing over nicely.

Had a bit of a blip in the walk work because the arena next door rang their bell and in the wind I thought it was my bell and I'd gone wrong so I trotted down to the judge and she rang her bell and we had a bit of a discussion mid test about bells!  I did manage to convince her of my confusion though and that I knew where I was going and she didn't give me an error of course so that was nice.  She didn't seem very impressed with us at this point so I did lose a bit of focus and felt like giving up!  I didn't really ask for much in the extended walk so got a 6 but 7 for collected walk, 7 for the walk to canter and also the 10m circle.  Only a 5 for his HP which needed more suppleness to bend and also then he was on 3 tracks on the centre line.  7 for his medium canter across the diagonal though and no wanting to change so that was good.  6.5 for his trot to canter right and right canter 10m circle then after starting a nice canter HP right he just suddenly broke to trot and then had a complete hissy fit about going back into canter.  It's not unknown for him to have hissy fits but normally in the snaffle he just throws his head up and then settles again.  In the double when he chucks his head the curb catches him in the mouth so he had a full on tantrum in the middle of the test which got us a 3 - our first 3 lol!  Managed to get him going again and got 6.5 for extended canter across the diagonal and 6.5 for final halt.

7, 6, 6, 7 for collectives.  Judge was Joy West who said "Super horse with much to offer. Just needs to create more activity behind at times"  We were in the training section so score didn't count but we actually beat the 3 in the Restricted section and finished on 65%.  Over the moon with that for a first test.  We actually beat the horse who won the Medium Restricted Area Festivals at Wellington this year!  Video doesn't look as bad as it felt although is clear I am not sitting as soft as I can and he is tending to drop his poll so need to do more work in the double with him to get him used to it and get him up in front of me.  He is easier to flex and keep round in it but no good if he is dropping down on my hands.

Getting ready:

Nice square halt to start with:

Some trot:

Some half pass:

medium canter:

video:
M61

Half hour break then back on for a short warm up - just did a bit of travers, rein back, walk piris, counter canter and simple changes as these are the extras in M75.  At this stage hadn't seen sheet for M61 and had felt it hadn't gone great so wasn't sure if had bitten off more than I could chew with M75 being the Championship test but thought might as well give it  go!  Tried to have him more up and in front of me in the warmup and keep that for the test.

warmup video:
warmup

Got a nice canter round the outside of the arena bar a bit more spooking at the advertising boards by the judges box.  All ready to go down the centre line when he has a freak out at something just before A at which point I was committed to entering and entered amidst tempi changes and bunny hopping before screeching to a sideways halt somewhere to the left of X.  When I asked him to move he went backwards for 6 strides before finally deciding to go forwards.  Again, this would have been a reaction to him getting caught in the mouth with the curb when he chucked his head up to spook.  Not a lot I can do about that.  When his head comes up it totally changes the position of the bits and it's so sudden I can't loosen the rein immediately.  I'm sure he will learn it's not a sensible thing to do!  Anyway judge clearly wasn't paying much attention to the circus act or was feeling in a forgiving mood as we got a 5 and the comment "cautious in before X and quarters L in halt, stepped back" - ha ha!

Putting that behind us the rest of the test went really well!  He got 6's for his SI and travers as I didn't have quite as much bend as in the first test, we were probably both a bit tired at this point.  HP got 7 for right and 6.5 for left though so that is really encouraging.  I feel his lateral work has real potential to score good marks.  6.5 for both 10m circles as he was dropping his poll again.  6's for the mediums as he hurried.  6.5 for rein back - nice square halt and obedient but dropped his poll.  7 for extended walk.  6.5 and 5 for walk piris - she said he stuck in the 2nd one although video shows him continuing to step so not sure what she was looking at!  Nicely into canter and medium canter although only got 6.5 and 6 for this as she wanted more ground cover in the medium.  6.5 for his HP left, 6 for CC as wanted more uphill then a 7 for his simple change which he did really nicely.  Just really have to watch the quarters don't swing.  5.5 for canter HP right as quarters were trailing a bit, doesn't look too bad on video though - definite potential.  Lost a bit of balance in the CC this way as was definitely anticipating a change but still managed an ok simple change for a 6.  6.5 for a nice extended canter into counter canter, 6 for extended trot as hurried but he did show some difference.  5.5 for final halt as he took the tiniest step back.  6, 6.5, 6.5, 6 for collectives.  Judge was Sue Russell and she said "Obedient horse, some nice transitions but needs to develop a little more lateral suppleness and bend for higher marks"  Finished on 62.16% and ended up 6th out of 7 in the Restricted but it was quite close and he's definitely got potential to gain quite a few more marks in that test with a bit more polish.  Really pleased with him coping with the wind without too many hysterics and achieving our ambition of points at Medium level, not just one but 5 of them (ok, theoretical points as we were in Training sections but that doesn't make a difference to the marks)  Loads for us to work on but definitely no reason not to keep taking him out at Medium level and improving!  Definite aim for Advanced Medium next year.  Trainer thinks we can do it so we shall go for it!

Nice trot photo:

Video:
M75

Sara Jane Lanning lesson - Merrist Wood - 07-11-14

First lesson in the double bridle and he seemed to accept it well.  He did object when the curb chain was done to correct tightness though so had to have it looser and just watch not to use too much and end up with horizontal curb.  Will need to get a curb guard for it.

Have to make sure to not let reins get too long as he tends to just sneak out the contact.  Watch the amount of bend in the lateral work and make sure the shoulders lead in the HP, esp in canter.  Need to get more inside bend before starting the canter HP as then he moves across much better.  In the simple changes keep the walk collected, he get long and strung out then finds it hard to step back up to canter.  In the canter down the centre line think shoulder-fore.  Do lots of LY and HP in the warmup rather than too many circles to get him supple and thinking sideways.

In general she said we were doing really well and especially the HP has come on loads.  Given how well his changes are coming on we should be aiming for Advanced Medium next year - pretty chuffed with that!

XC clinic LMEQ with Chris Burton 01-11-14

Had a lovely warmup canter round the gallops before heading out onto the XC course.  Chatted to Chris at the beginning of the session and agreed today wasn't the day to be jumping huge fences or over-challenging him.  A nice, confidence giving end of season outing to end on a high was what was needed.  Warmed up getting forwards canter then collect on a circle before moving on again making sure to keep the connection.  Tried to make sure to ride positively to the fences and really soften my hands over the fence and he jumped brilliantly.  Piccies here from our two warmup jumps which he flew - no stickiness at all which set the theme for the session.  Clipped him the day before as he just so sweaty in our SJ lesson on Wednesday which I'm sure helped.  He was forwards to all his fences which in turn meant he was straight.  No wobbles at the skinnies.  Got in a bit close to the corner first time but because I was riding forwards still he didn't think about a run out.  Discussed with Chris whether to attempt the meaty Novice corner but the fact Chris didn't sound sure about it was enough for me to decline - save that for next season I think!

warming up:

Skinny to steps up

warming up:                                                                Playing in the water:

Finished with flying over the trakehners and through the owlhole.  No hesitations.  Super duper horse.  Well chuffed with him.  Great way to end the season and can't wait to get back out there again next season!