Went for a hack up the ranges last night and picked a different route to avoid the madness pre-gallop hill. Picked a route with lots of different up and down hills. Worked on collecting the canter back up after letting him gallop, leg on, sit up and get the canter back - good practice for XC. He was pretty tired after our last long canter so mission achieved!
Schooling this afternoon and he was brilliant! After our last few sessions which have been a bit rubbish it was a relief! Making a note of what we did as he went so nicely so prob a good regime to follow. We started very long and low, concentrating on getting him swinging over his back and getting him forwards off my leg. Moved the trot on and back whilst keeping him swinging and it all felt lovely. Did this in trot and canter then a walk break. Next picked him up more and worked on lots of transitions on a 20m circle - direct ones and progressive ones. All the time working on not holding him in an outline, esp in the canter. He did some lovely walk to canter on the left rein and his best ones yet on the right rein. A couple of months ago we started the direct transitions and it was rubbish - he couldn't stay round in the trans and he wouldn't go direct but they're really coming on now. Good timing as realised N39 on Wed has walk to canter in it! We then did some pole work - I set out 2 lines of 3 poles - one line 2 strides apart so on a nice short bouncy stride for him and the other line on 3 strides which was a bit long for him at this stage. He couldn't quite lengthen that much without flattening and running which I dont want to encourage so wont put them quite so far apart next time. Worked on moving from one set to the other. After doing the short ones sat up round the corner and got a couple of nice canter to walk transitions. Finally did a bit of work in canter on the left rein on a 20m circle and managed to give away the reins and have him take the rein down and not stick his head up like a giraffe and bog off so that has got to be progress. :)
Schooled Llewi afterwards - not much fun. He felt stiff in canter although ok in trot. I really need to find him a new happy hacking home :(
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Monty GBEC unaff dressage 20-07-11
Took Monty to GBEC in the rain - fortunately it kept at a drizzle so we didn't get too wet.
Had some acrobatics above the ground getting him into the warmup - spin followed by huge leap and then buck, repeated twice! Lovely horse. Good as gold once in the warmup. Still finding him hard going on the right rein not helped by waking up this morning with a really painful right wrist for some reason.
1st test was P18 and the arena was really boggy with huge puddles in each corner and right on the 20m circle line at B/E which wasn't helpful. Of course being an eventer/hunter you'd think he'd be used to mud but he spent the whole test trying to climb the sides of the arena! We had the same judge who gave us 69.1% at BD last week and today we got 70.4%. Really unhelpful sheet though - straight 7's with an 8 for his final halt and one comment on his canter left trans saying "smooth trans". straight 7's for collectives "A smooth, very consistent, accurately ridden test - well done" 4th out of 20
Had a little walk around and then we were in for N34 in a different arena with a much nicer surface. I thought he did a really nice test for him but it still needs more impulsion and he needs to use his back end more. He tried a little something in the medium trot but it's still not quite there - I can feel the potential for it, just need to unlock it! V pleased to see he got 67.5% and was equal first with matching collectives. Unfortunately venue decided they didn't like equal first and to split us they would look at the marks for the first 3 movements and make the decision based on that. We had straight 7's but the other girl must have had an 8 so we lost out on first place, qualification for some championships and the £10 saddlery voucher. Not impressed. I am not a bad loser but I didn't lose - they just made up that rule on the spot. Why not look at the last 3 movements - I had an 8 there, might have won based on that, I mean what a ridiculous rule. If the marks and the collectives are the same then it's a draw! I tried to tell them it wasn't fair but they wouldn't have it and by this point it was gone 9pm so I grabbed sheet and the poxy blue rosette and legged it. Made it back to yard just before 10pm - yuck!
Am pleased with Montster though - he got straight 7's for the first 6 movements, then 6's for his medium canters, but 7's for the changes of leg through trot, 5's for his medium trot saying no difference, 7's for his stretchy trot and centre line and another 8 for his final halt. Collectives were 776 for paces, 76 for impulsion 77 for submission and 87 for my riding - I like getting 8's for my riding - that always cheers me up! COmments: " Lovely harmony between horse and rider, just ran out of steam for trot mediums, would like to see more push from hindquarters to encourage lift and more difference. Could be more through and supple in the canter work" Both judges list 6. Equal 1st out of about 10 I think.
Onwards and upwards - we are off to BD again at Pachesham next Wed for N22 and N39 and I'm pretty sure 39 has a dreaded give and retake in canter. We might be pushing it a bit with these 2 tests but he has come on a lot recently. I just need to get some more impulsion from somewhere - he is a lazy git in the dressage. Bigger spurs dont help as he just gets tail swishy and arsy and you cant use the whip as he gets even more arsey! He is on a calmer to try and reduce the number of airs above the ground and spookiness in his general day to day life but I do think it makes him hard work to get enough energy for the schooling. I dont much like hacking him out even with the calmer though, so he's staying on it for now as I like to live!
Had some acrobatics above the ground getting him into the warmup - spin followed by huge leap and then buck, repeated twice! Lovely horse. Good as gold once in the warmup. Still finding him hard going on the right rein not helped by waking up this morning with a really painful right wrist for some reason.
1st test was P18 and the arena was really boggy with huge puddles in each corner and right on the 20m circle line at B/E which wasn't helpful. Of course being an eventer/hunter you'd think he'd be used to mud but he spent the whole test trying to climb the sides of the arena! We had the same judge who gave us 69.1% at BD last week and today we got 70.4%. Really unhelpful sheet though - straight 7's with an 8 for his final halt and one comment on his canter left trans saying "smooth trans". straight 7's for collectives "A smooth, very consistent, accurately ridden test - well done" 4th out of 20
Had a little walk around and then we were in for N34 in a different arena with a much nicer surface. I thought he did a really nice test for him but it still needs more impulsion and he needs to use his back end more. He tried a little something in the medium trot but it's still not quite there - I can feel the potential for it, just need to unlock it! V pleased to see he got 67.5% and was equal first with matching collectives. Unfortunately venue decided they didn't like equal first and to split us they would look at the marks for the first 3 movements and make the decision based on that. We had straight 7's but the other girl must have had an 8 so we lost out on first place, qualification for some championships and the £10 saddlery voucher. Not impressed. I am not a bad loser but I didn't lose - they just made up that rule on the spot. Why not look at the last 3 movements - I had an 8 there, might have won based on that, I mean what a ridiculous rule. If the marks and the collectives are the same then it's a draw! I tried to tell them it wasn't fair but they wouldn't have it and by this point it was gone 9pm so I grabbed sheet and the poxy blue rosette and legged it. Made it back to yard just before 10pm - yuck!
Am pleased with Montster though - he got straight 7's for the first 6 movements, then 6's for his medium canters, but 7's for the changes of leg through trot, 5's for his medium trot saying no difference, 7's for his stretchy trot and centre line and another 8 for his final halt. Collectives were 776 for paces, 76 for impulsion 77 for submission and 87 for my riding - I like getting 8's for my riding - that always cheers me up! COmments: " Lovely harmony between horse and rider, just ran out of steam for trot mediums, would like to see more push from hindquarters to encourage lift and more difference. Could be more through and supple in the canter work" Both judges list 6. Equal 1st out of about 10 I think.
Onwards and upwards - we are off to BD again at Pachesham next Wed for N22 and N39 and I'm pretty sure 39 has a dreaded give and retake in canter. We might be pushing it a bit with these 2 tests but he has come on a lot recently. I just need to get some more impulsion from somewhere - he is a lazy git in the dressage. Bigger spurs dont help as he just gets tail swishy and arsy and you cant use the whip as he gets even more arsey! He is on a calmer to try and reduce the number of airs above the ground and spookiness in his general day to day life but I do think it makes him hard work to get enough energy for the schooling. I dont much like hacking him out even with the calmer though, so he's staying on it for now as I like to live!
Monty RC SJ Farnham Town Showground (Wey Valley RC)
Was meant to have a dressage lesson Sat but it was cancelled due to the weather. Then ended up riding in glorious sunshine in the afternoon. Had a rubbish schooling session best not talked about - just cannot get him to hold himself in the canter so he is always on my hands which makes give and retake impossible!
So, having missed going out on Sat I really wanted to go out Sunday and it wasn't raining when I left home or when I got to yard so thought we'd go. Got halfway to venue and it started chucking it down. Sat in car for a bit and it eased off so decided to go and enter the 90cm. They were doing 2 phase so I had to try and remember 14 jumps which is a lot for my little jumping brain. It chucked it down in the warmup and despite studs Monts was sliding all over the place and not happy to the point where I thought might be something wrong with him. Decided to take him in and see but obviously just the ground as he jumped a lovely clear over the first part of the course, had a little look at the water tray and then pinged it, so onto the jumpoff part of the course. Due to the ground I was not going to push him for speed or tight corners. Eventing is my priority so I wanted a nice rhythmic clear round and we got it lovely. Only had one sticky moment where got too close to the jump on a related 4 strides before the double so we were a bit off the first part of the double but he popped through no probs.
I really wanted to do the 1m class as he'd made the 90cm seem so easy but I didn't want to have to take him back in the warmup and I didn't want to push it on bad ground when he'd just jumped so well so we went home again.
fence1:
fence 2:
last fence:
part 1 of the jump off double
part 2 of the jumpoff double:
fence 11:
fence 2:
fence 3:
fence 4:
fence 9:
fence 12:
fence 6 the water tray
Yesterday we did more work on his canter - loads of loads of trot-canter, canter-trot transitions which I did feel made him carry himself a bit better but still trying to give and retake the reins results in him running off with his head in the air. 2.5wks till the champs - better hope the rest of the dressage test is good enough to make up for it! My stopwatch arrived last night - very exciting this roads and tracks and steeplechase thing. Aim for next year now is to do one of the BE100 3 day events (especially as they are direct qualifiers for Badminton and the XC phase is so his strength!)
Dressage tonight - P18 and N34 unaffiliated - prob his last unaff prelim but we had free entries to use up so thought we might as well. Currently umming about whether to do the BD Novices at Pachesham next Wed - have booked half day off to do it, but not sure he needs to go out again or whether we'd be better working at home. Saying that, he seems to work better at comps than at home so maybe we should just do it.
Lost all enthusiasm for riding Llewi at all. Sharer rode him both days at weekend. I spose I should ride him today, I just cant be bothered as I cant see the point :(
So, having missed going out on Sat I really wanted to go out Sunday and it wasn't raining when I left home or when I got to yard so thought we'd go. Got halfway to venue and it started chucking it down. Sat in car for a bit and it eased off so decided to go and enter the 90cm. They were doing 2 phase so I had to try and remember 14 jumps which is a lot for my little jumping brain. It chucked it down in the warmup and despite studs Monts was sliding all over the place and not happy to the point where I thought might be something wrong with him. Decided to take him in and see but obviously just the ground as he jumped a lovely clear over the first part of the course, had a little look at the water tray and then pinged it, so onto the jumpoff part of the course. Due to the ground I was not going to push him for speed or tight corners. Eventing is my priority so I wanted a nice rhythmic clear round and we got it lovely. Only had one sticky moment where got too close to the jump on a related 4 strides before the double so we were a bit off the first part of the double but he popped through no probs.
I really wanted to do the 1m class as he'd made the 90cm seem so easy but I didn't want to have to take him back in the warmup and I didn't want to push it on bad ground when he'd just jumped so well so we went home again.
fence1:
fence 2:
Yesterday we did more work on his canter - loads of loads of trot-canter, canter-trot transitions which I did feel made him carry himself a bit better but still trying to give and retake the reins results in him running off with his head in the air. 2.5wks till the champs - better hope the rest of the dressage test is good enough to make up for it! My stopwatch arrived last night - very exciting this roads and tracks and steeplechase thing. Aim for next year now is to do one of the BE100 3 day events (especially as they are direct qualifiers for Badminton and the XC phase is so his strength!)
Dressage tonight - P18 and N34 unaffiliated - prob his last unaff prelim but we had free entries to use up so thought we might as well. Currently umming about whether to do the BD Novices at Pachesham next Wed - have booked half day off to do it, but not sure he needs to go out again or whether we'd be better working at home. Saying that, he seems to work better at comps than at home so maybe we should just do it.
Lost all enthusiasm for riding Llewi at all. Sharer rode him both days at weekend. I spose I should ride him today, I just cant be bothered as I cant see the point :(
Monday, 11 July 2011
Monty Rackham RC Area Qualifier 10-07-11
So, onto the RC Areas. Test was HN1 which I only got a copy of on Thur and found it had give and retake the reins in canter which is not something I've worked on with him yet, I give the inside rein a lot but I haven't got his self carriage good enough to give both so that was a minor disaster which involved him sticking his nose to the sky and bogging off on both reins - I thought 5's were generous! Got a bloody 5 for his final halt as well when he decided he couldn't stand still in a straight line (got 8's in both tests at BD on Wed - grrr!) Still, the rest wasn't bad and we ended up on 36.4.
Onto the SJing, warmed up positively working on rhythm, cantered into the ring to avoid napping and he flew round for a fab clear round which is our first clear since May so very pleased with that, even if the height was nearer 80cm than 90cm, I was sure he would have cleared higher as our rhythm was so much better.
pro pics: SJing pro pics
video:
Onto the SJing, warmed up positively working on rhythm, cantered into the ring to avoid napping and he flew round for a fab clear round which is our first clear since May so very pleased with that, even if the height was nearer 80cm than 90cm, I was sure he would have cleared higher as our rhythm was so much better.
pro pics: SJing pro pics
video:
Onto the XC which was identical to the BE course 2wks ago - we were 25secs inside the time then so elected to go slightly steadier and really slow up through the bad ground in the woods which was even worse than 2wks ago.
fence 1-3:
Nearly ran over some people walking the course in the 1st woods as I wanted the outside line for better ground and they were stood right in the way! He looked at the fence out for some reason but no real probs. The ground at the bottom of the sunken road was forming holes when we walked the course so tried to stick right to avoid that then onto 2nd woods. Well, wasn't too impressed with the ground to fence 8 - Monty is a very good hunter and used to jumping out of mud, but this was a thick thick bog of woodchips and he floundered, got right underneath it, couldn't get his feet up, fell over it and I heard the wood crack as he went over it - lucky escape. I only watched one other horse jump it when we walked the course and he did the same thing so I'm pretty sure it should have been taken out but hey ho, we survived and he flew the rest of the course no probs.
fence 9-12:
fence 14-16:
So, we finished on our dressage score after 5hrs of waiting for them to sort the scores (snore) we discovered we were inside the time and had won our arena. Still, have no idea if I won overall as there were 4 arenas and they have to do some complicated equation to work out who was actually the best as there's some coefficient to apply to even out any bias from the different dressage arenas. As there were only 36 runners I have no idea why they didn't just put us all in one arena and then it wouldn't be an issue. To top it all off I then found out the champs are in 4wks time, entries close on Thursday, I still have no idea if I've qualified and I'm meant to be working on the Saturday and it's a 2day champs with dr/sj on the sat and 4 phases of XC on the Sun. Work is a nightmare to swap weekend days and I cant set about swapping until I know for def! I'd love to go and do the roads/tracks and steepchase but I've entered West Wilts Regionals 3days later so would have to withdraw from that and reroute to BCA and all the time I still have no idea if we've even qualified and they expect me to sort everything and enter by Thur if I have - rah! RC organisation is a nightmare! Would be great to go to the Nationals but just cant see it happening
Unfortunately our team didn't complete but we did have a fab day out. Here is the happy team and the miserable bunch of ponies!:
and my fave piccies courtesy of LRG photography:
way to fence 11:
fence 12:
water at 13:
out of the water:
__________________
Friday, 8 July 2011
Monty's first BD - Pachesham 06-07-11
Well, this was meant to be Llewi's competition but made a last minute substitution after Sunday to give me more chance to think about things with Llewi.
So, Monty had to stand up and he did so in great style with my best mark ever at BD Prelim!
First was P15 - it was blowing an absolute gale and he was a bit spooky as it's so blowy in that arena but he held it together to do a sweet little test. He got almost straight 7's. Just a 6 for canter right 20m circle (falling in) and the canter left to trot across diagonal (on forehand), then the final turn onto centre line (stiff on turn), 8 for final halt, straight 7's for collectives "An obedient, willing horse working in a pleasing outline, now needs to develop suppleness through back to get the really high marks" List 6 judge. He got 69.13% and was just one mark behind the winner who finished on 70%. So 2nd out of 6 in the qualifier and 3rd out of 12 alltogether. so, that's one sheet for area festivals and we won a tenner too!
Wandered around for 20mins then picked him up again for N38 - quite a challenging one for him but was ever so pleased with him. Seriously spooky going round to start with and I lost the connection at the end of the first centre line so got a 5, another 5 for his first medium trot but otherwise all 6's and 7's with an 8 for his final halt! (have been seriously working on halts as he tends to halt with legs everywhere!) 7's for his canter right, his right counter canter but then no more 7's until his walk work and the trot down the centre line which was a little disappointing and he did another good counter canter left. More disappointed with collectives though. Only two 5's in the test but he got 5's for submission and impulsion :( 7 for his paces, 6 for my riding. "a steady test today, he now needs to develop greater swing over the back more consistently to your contact for better connection" List 5 judge. Finished on 60.96% which would have got us our first point if we weren't in training section so should be pleased with that as hard test for him at this stage. Just feel a bit disappointed as watched a couple of the people we beat in the prelim and one of them was all over the place - huge moving stunning horse but all her circles were the wrong size (not just inaccurate but she actually did them completely the wrong size, flying changed in the counter canter etc and she still managed to get 2% more than me! We were 6th out of 9 in total, 1st of 2 in the training section and ahead of one open and one restricted rider.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. Tempted to register him and let him start clocking up points but think we might just do a few more training section first. Next one is on the 27th - 2 Novices this time.
Eventing plans - Rackham this Sunday for the RC team, then a break until the Regionals at West Wilts on 10th Aug (one of the early ones but we cant really do the Sep ones at BCA so gonna be brave and go somewhere new - SJing is on a surface which I cant decide is a good thing or not and obviously XC will be brand new but he's good and consistent XC so we're going to really focus on improving the dr/SJ between now and then and have got lots of training planned starting with another John Smart gridwork clinic on Thur. There is dr at MW on Wed afternoon but cant be bothered to take him for rubbish judges - gonna stick mainly to affiliated now and venues that use decent judges. Not decided on next wkend yet - was gonna take Llewi to sponsored ride at Stratfield Saye but ruled that out now. There is SJ at Farnham Town showground so might take Monty there and do the 90 and 1m classes as not jumped a course that big in a while so would be good practice. Not taking him to a sp ride - since hunting he has turned into a loony in company!
So, Monty had to stand up and he did so in great style with my best mark ever at BD Prelim!
First was P15 - it was blowing an absolute gale and he was a bit spooky as it's so blowy in that arena but he held it together to do a sweet little test. He got almost straight 7's. Just a 6 for canter right 20m circle (falling in) and the canter left to trot across diagonal (on forehand), then the final turn onto centre line (stiff on turn), 8 for final halt, straight 7's for collectives "An obedient, willing horse working in a pleasing outline, now needs to develop suppleness through back to get the really high marks" List 6 judge. He got 69.13% and was just one mark behind the winner who finished on 70%. So 2nd out of 6 in the qualifier and 3rd out of 12 alltogether. so, that's one sheet for area festivals and we won a tenner too!
Wandered around for 20mins then picked him up again for N38 - quite a challenging one for him but was ever so pleased with him. Seriously spooky going round to start with and I lost the connection at the end of the first centre line so got a 5, another 5 for his first medium trot but otherwise all 6's and 7's with an 8 for his final halt! (have been seriously working on halts as he tends to halt with legs everywhere!) 7's for his canter right, his right counter canter but then no more 7's until his walk work and the trot down the centre line which was a little disappointing and he did another good counter canter left. More disappointed with collectives though. Only two 5's in the test but he got 5's for submission and impulsion :( 7 for his paces, 6 for my riding. "a steady test today, he now needs to develop greater swing over the back more consistently to your contact for better connection" List 5 judge. Finished on 60.96% which would have got us our first point if we weren't in training section so should be pleased with that as hard test for him at this stage. Just feel a bit disappointed as watched a couple of the people we beat in the prelim and one of them was all over the place - huge moving stunning horse but all her circles were the wrong size (not just inaccurate but she actually did them completely the wrong size, flying changed in the counter canter etc and she still managed to get 2% more than me! We were 6th out of 9 in total, 1st of 2 in the training section and ahead of one open and one restricted rider.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. Tempted to register him and let him start clocking up points but think we might just do a few more training section first. Next one is on the 27th - 2 Novices this time.
Eventing plans - Rackham this Sunday for the RC team, then a break until the Regionals at West Wilts on 10th Aug (one of the early ones but we cant really do the Sep ones at BCA so gonna be brave and go somewhere new - SJing is on a surface which I cant decide is a good thing or not and obviously XC will be brand new but he's good and consistent XC so we're going to really focus on improving the dr/SJ between now and then and have got lots of training planned starting with another John Smart gridwork clinic on Thur. There is dr at MW on Wed afternoon but cant be bothered to take him for rubbish judges - gonna stick mainly to affiliated now and venues that use decent judges. Not decided on next wkend yet - was gonna take Llewi to sponsored ride at Stratfield Saye but ruled that out now. There is SJ at Farnham Town showground so might take Monty there and do the 90 and 1m classes as not jumped a course that big in a while so would be good practice. Not taking him to a sp ride - since hunting he has turned into a loony in company!
RC National Qualifier - Newlands Corner 03-07-11
Started off with Monty in N28. He did a very sweet test for him, just spoilt it by snatching the rein into the free walk and again after we halted but generally very pleased with him. Only his 3rd Novice test. Bit disappointed with 62.92%. Bit confused by sheet as good equal mix of 6's and 7's for marks but only straight 6's for collectives. If she'd just given a couple of 7's then we would have been a place or 2 higher individually (we were 6th in our arena our of 14) and our team would probably have won instead of coming 3rd (we were equal score to 2nd, just split on collectives and only 1 place behind 1st). comment said "Pleasing partnership of horse and rider, just needs to work with more wt behind, well done" list 5 judge
Almost straight into N34 and it was really hot so that wasn't ideal. Again though he did a sweet obedient test, not great in his medium canters but a tough test for him. He got a 5 for his working canter right into medium canter and a 5 for his first medium trot, then a 5 for his trot down the centre line as he swung his quarters right. rest was a good mix of 6's and 7's though. collectives 777 for paces, 76 for impulsion, 56 for submission, 66 for rider. "attractive horse just needs to develop greater suppleness through the back to allow good paces and energy to work more consistently into the contact". Another list 5 judge. came 7th out of 14.
Then onto N28 with Llewi. He felt ok warming up and then I thought he did a really sweet test just ruined by him spooking at some people behind the hedge in the final halt. It was the calmest test he's done in a long time. Was really depressed to see score of 55.83% which has got to be one of his worst scores ever. Mix of 5's and 6's and a 4 for final halt. Comments all the way down are "stiff" but mostly for the canter work, his trot work got the 6's, canter the 5's. 6566 for collectives (which takes the piss as she gave Monty 6666 and he was way better than Llewi). "Kind horse, pleasing partnership, however some stiffness created loss of balance and running onto forehand - check hocks?" Gutted :( First time a judge has had a problem with him since his injury. Watched video and def doesn't look happy on right hind when its on the inside.
Did the riding test afterwards as had no idea about score/comments at this stage. Numpty rider forgot the test but as it happens didn't drop me a place anyway. Laura was fab and won her arena, but me and Karen 11th and 10th in our arena so team only placed 5th. Didn't feel like I rode that well - tired as 4th test of the day. Felt Llewi did another nice calm test though. I had given him a Magic calmer syringe for the first time before the first test so whether that helped him calm down dont know but he was definitely calmer than usual. Rubbish score of 58.5%, How can I have dropped 10% in a week? Girl I beat by a percent last week beat me by 15% - ridiculous! only got two 7's although then got straight 7's for my position at the end with 6's for empathy and effectiveness. "soft in seat, good use of lower leg, allowed movement well but needs to keep horse balanced on long rein" got a 5 for the 2nd G&R which said brief when the direction says 2-3 strides and i know i def counted 2 strides. grrrrr. i hate riding tests!
have got videos of everything but they take so long to upload so just put the one on.
trying to decide what to do with Llewi - not nice being crucified like that. perhaps he is just not happy to do dressage on grass. Come to the conclusion he is never going to be my dressage horse though - he doesn't have the temperament and after this injury there is just no point pushing him when he'll never be truly competitive as he's so silly. Just trying to decide what to do now. Either keep him but tone down my expectations - do the odd test at places he likes (good practice for me to ride tests but not sure what other benefit there is of doing this as never been one to just do things for the sake of it - always like to have things to aim for) and just hack and light schooling in between. Dont need another horse just doing not a lot though. He's expensive and time consuming. Try and get another sharer for him, loan him out, LWVTB to low key home where not so much expected of him. If cant do any of these, hunt him until he breaks - feels a bit harsh though. He needs to go to a nice low key home where he has a nice big field and just goes hacking and maybe the odd local bit of showing/dressage. My expectations dont fit with him physically or mentally :( Love him to absolute bits though - would miss him sooooooo much :(
Almost straight into N34 and it was really hot so that wasn't ideal. Again though he did a sweet obedient test, not great in his medium canters but a tough test for him. He got a 5 for his working canter right into medium canter and a 5 for his first medium trot, then a 5 for his trot down the centre line as he swung his quarters right. rest was a good mix of 6's and 7's though. collectives 777 for paces, 76 for impulsion, 56 for submission, 66 for rider. "attractive horse just needs to develop greater suppleness through the back to allow good paces and energy to work more consistently into the contact". Another list 5 judge. came 7th out of 14.
Then onto N28 with Llewi. He felt ok warming up and then I thought he did a really sweet test just ruined by him spooking at some people behind the hedge in the final halt. It was the calmest test he's done in a long time. Was really depressed to see score of 55.83% which has got to be one of his worst scores ever. Mix of 5's and 6's and a 4 for final halt. Comments all the way down are "stiff" but mostly for the canter work, his trot work got the 6's, canter the 5's. 6566 for collectives (which takes the piss as she gave Monty 6666 and he was way better than Llewi). "Kind horse, pleasing partnership, however some stiffness created loss of balance and running onto forehand - check hocks?" Gutted :( First time a judge has had a problem with him since his injury. Watched video and def doesn't look happy on right hind when its on the inside.
Did the riding test afterwards as had no idea about score/comments at this stage. Numpty rider forgot the test but as it happens didn't drop me a place anyway. Laura was fab and won her arena, but me and Karen 11th and 10th in our arena so team only placed 5th. Didn't feel like I rode that well - tired as 4th test of the day. Felt Llewi did another nice calm test though. I had given him a Magic calmer syringe for the first time before the first test so whether that helped him calm down dont know but he was definitely calmer than usual. Rubbish score of 58.5%, How can I have dropped 10% in a week? Girl I beat by a percent last week beat me by 15% - ridiculous! only got two 7's although then got straight 7's for my position at the end with 6's for empathy and effectiveness. "soft in seat, good use of lower leg, allowed movement well but needs to keep horse balanced on long rein" got a 5 for the 2nd G&R which said brief when the direction says 2-3 strides and i know i def counted 2 strides. grrrrr. i hate riding tests!
have got videos of everything but they take so long to upload so just put the one on.
trying to decide what to do with Llewi - not nice being crucified like that. perhaps he is just not happy to do dressage on grass. Come to the conclusion he is never going to be my dressage horse though - he doesn't have the temperament and after this injury there is just no point pushing him when he'll never be truly competitive as he's so silly. Just trying to decide what to do now. Either keep him but tone down my expectations - do the odd test at places he likes (good practice for me to ride tests but not sure what other benefit there is of doing this as never been one to just do things for the sake of it - always like to have things to aim for) and just hack and light schooling in between. Dont need another horse just doing not a lot though. He's expensive and time consuming. Try and get another sharer for him, loan him out, LWVTB to low key home where not so much expected of him. If cant do any of these, hunt him until he breaks - feels a bit harsh though. He needs to go to a nice low key home where he has a nice big field and just goes hacking and maybe the odd local bit of showing/dressage. My expectations dont fit with him physically or mentally :( Love him to absolute bits though - would miss him sooooooo much :(
Friday, 1 July 2011
Training report
Tue - orange ones have a punch up slightly upsetting plans for the week.
Wed - light hack on Monty who felt fine, raring to go and do more. Nasty wound on the front of his left hind cannon though. Llewi big fat swollen right hind, nasty deep cut to lat hock. Cold hosing, no work for him. Start abs for both of them.
Thur - light hack for Llewi, didn't feel 100% but v v footy (trimmed on Monday) so difficult to tell. More cold hosing. Monty - John Smart clinic at Pachesham, Meant to be group lesson of 4. One other bloke turned up and that was it. Unfortunately said bloke was obviously a fair beginner at jumping so not great - he kept demolishing the grid! We did have a good lesson though - v confidence building which we needed after last week and I think I'll go back again. We built up a grid until we were doing pole then jump x 3, trotting into it then picking up canter. then took out the poles in the middle and just kept the first placing pole, building up the last fence into an oxer with a cross in front of 2nd and 3rd jumps to keep straight. concentrate on keeping straight after the grid, keep going if correct lead otherwise back to trot before round the corner. Then we did a single jump with a pole in front of it, then took pole away and worked on cantering to it keeping the rhythm. We did it well with a short run up so he made us take a longer one but he did it spot on again - I just concentrated on sitting there keeping the rhythm, concentrate on the jump and dont fiddle. We then did that jump and then round to the final part of the grid with all the other bits taken away. I managed to just sit quietly and he popped it fab! John said couldn't see what the problem was with him - he had a great jump and shouldn't knock anything down! Probably means it's all me then!
Today - schooled Llewi - his leg seems fine and much less filled after working him although did some more cold hosing to be sure. Ran through N38 for next Wed and practised the 1/2 15m circles for N28 on Sunday. Need to work on keeping lower legs still for the riding test from last week's sheet. Tense as usual - he is such hard work. He has the potential to be great, but he just doesn't have the brain. Contemplating hunting him again this winter and if he stands up to it then loan/sell him as a hunter. He just doesn't enjoy dressage, it's all too stressful for him :(
Was gonna take Monty SJing at Langshot but couldn't be bothered with another late night with work tomorrow so just schooled him. Put the POW spurs on to try and get him a bit more forwards as he's so lazy at home! It did help although it also highlighted the lack of stability of my lower leg in trot-canter transitions as I could feel them coming into action when I didn't really need them to - must stretch leg down, not grip up and in. Did get some nice trot work though and we got our right canter transition without giraffe impression when I asked correctly. Ran through N34 for Sunday - changes of rein in canter through 2 1/2 20m circles not really our thing yet but the rest ok and the 1/2 15m circles and back to track in N28 went fine.
Hacking for Llewi with sharer tomorrow. More schooling for Monty.
Wed - light hack on Monty who felt fine, raring to go and do more. Nasty wound on the front of his left hind cannon though. Llewi big fat swollen right hind, nasty deep cut to lat hock. Cold hosing, no work for him. Start abs for both of them.
Thur - light hack for Llewi, didn't feel 100% but v v footy (trimmed on Monday) so difficult to tell. More cold hosing. Monty - John Smart clinic at Pachesham, Meant to be group lesson of 4. One other bloke turned up and that was it. Unfortunately said bloke was obviously a fair beginner at jumping so not great - he kept demolishing the grid! We did have a good lesson though - v confidence building which we needed after last week and I think I'll go back again. We built up a grid until we were doing pole then jump x 3, trotting into it then picking up canter. then took out the poles in the middle and just kept the first placing pole, building up the last fence into an oxer with a cross in front of 2nd and 3rd jumps to keep straight. concentrate on keeping straight after the grid, keep going if correct lead otherwise back to trot before round the corner. Then we did a single jump with a pole in front of it, then took pole away and worked on cantering to it keeping the rhythm. We did it well with a short run up so he made us take a longer one but he did it spot on again - I just concentrated on sitting there keeping the rhythm, concentrate on the jump and dont fiddle. We then did that jump and then round to the final part of the grid with all the other bits taken away. I managed to just sit quietly and he popped it fab! John said couldn't see what the problem was with him - he had a great jump and shouldn't knock anything down! Probably means it's all me then!
Today - schooled Llewi - his leg seems fine and much less filled after working him although did some more cold hosing to be sure. Ran through N38 for next Wed and practised the 1/2 15m circles for N28 on Sunday. Need to work on keeping lower legs still for the riding test from last week's sheet. Tense as usual - he is such hard work. He has the potential to be great, but he just doesn't have the brain. Contemplating hunting him again this winter and if he stands up to it then loan/sell him as a hunter. He just doesn't enjoy dressage, it's all too stressful for him :(
Was gonna take Monty SJing at Langshot but couldn't be bothered with another late night with work tomorrow so just schooled him. Put the POW spurs on to try and get him a bit more forwards as he's so lazy at home! It did help although it also highlighted the lack of stability of my lower leg in trot-canter transitions as I could feel them coming into action when I didn't really need them to - must stretch leg down, not grip up and in. Did get some nice trot work though and we got our right canter transition without giraffe impression when I asked correctly. Ran through N34 for Sunday - changes of rein in canter through 2 1/2 20m circles not really our thing yet but the rest ok and the 1/2 15m circles and back to track in N28 went fine.
Hacking for Llewi with sharer tomorrow. More schooling for Monty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)