We started with just popping over a simple log and roll top. Jonathan wanted us to just let the horses suss it out rather than trying to manage their strides. They need to learn to work it out for themselves and if they run too fast and get too close they should learn and back off the next time. Bit alien for me as been working so hard on seeing a stride and riding for it but can see the logic behind it.
Moved on to cantering through the water which was pretty deep for little Monts - I got soaked! Popped a little jump on the edge before and after fine.
Then he upped the anti and had us canter up a hill and jump a log on top before cantering down the hill and into the water. The ground was deep and yucky and Monts left a leg and nearly catapaulted me out the front door first time!
Then we moved onto ditches - just walked and trotted and popped to start with then built in a roll top afterwards followed by one before as well. He seemed quite happy with this.
Then we built in the jump with a roof on it - he ducked and swung his legs out to the side which made for a very uncomfy jump! Still being told to let go of his mouth but don't trust him one bit to jump if I don't hold his hand the whole way! He's a cheeky sod and can nip out far too quickly.
Next we added in the trakehners including the one I sat there looking at thinking that looks rather big - no thank-you but with a decent amount of leg he pinged it.
Added in the ditch palisade and a skinny after the trakehner.
Finished with a very skinny big house (definitely Novice height) and then curving line, 2 strides to ditch and on to the other skinny house. I saw quite a bold stride into the house and he kind of hesitated last minute which made me adopt hunting safety seat which was useful given he then stumbled on landing before launching over the ditch and nicely over the skinny house. Definitely good work for his coffin dislikes.
After that we went back to the water and practised jumping in. He flew over a Novice hanging log in although did get rather grounded on landing by deep water! Then steps into water and finished up a mound and over a house - need powerful strrong canter as they don't like jumping where they can't see where they are landing.
Moved onto some corners. Started with left ones - not my favourite at the moment. Jumped the tiny BE90 one no questions, same with the BE100, saw a good positive stride to the Novice one and 2 strides out he just shot off to the left. Argh. Don't know if I didn't use enough right rein or left leg or if he's just a cheeky little sod but this is becoming an issue I really could do without! We came round and did it again and he was fine second time although probably jumped it a bit over the wider bit than ideal but at least got over it.
Needless to say he did the 2 bigger corners on a right hand curve without a second thought despite me aiming much more to the apex of the corner. Little sod.
After this we had a lovely gallop over a log pile, a mahoosive elephant trap - saw a good strong stride into it, felt him look down at the last minute but leg on and over we flew. Finished up with a nice BE100 type triple brush no hesitation.
Then onto a step down to brush, round to step up to brush
Then a challenge I didn't think we could do but he aced it - brush, one stride to step down, 4 strides on a curving line to a skinny Novice level triple brush. Definitely a Novice question, no hesitation, easy peasy. Why is a triple brush so much easier than a bloody corner which is surely just a fence on an angle. Grrr.
Finished with a double of chunky skinny right hand corners up hill on a left hand curve. Easy peasy.
So, more homework to do on left corners. 3 weeks until first event - that's going to go pretty quickly. Hoping for no meaty left corners. Everything else though feeling pretty good. More ditch schooling the better still but he felt pretty confident for first XC of the year.
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