Another clinic with Lucy Thompson.
Unfortunately the ground was solid so couldn't do too much but it was still useful.
Warmed up over couple of tyre jumps and a roll top and he was backing off and sticky, chipping in extra ones. I do hate schooling him - totally different horse to the one at competitions. He did pop over the open ditch nice and neatly though.
So, we razzed him up a bit and popped through the water - down and up steps, still a bit sticky to start with and took a few goes to get him cantering nicely through the water with enough oomph to go up the bounce steps out but once we got there he then cantered on nicely down the ramp to the roll top. Then we went over to the 2 ditch palisades and again he was slightly sticky and had a little look but did jump them both ok.
So, a bit more razzing up and then we strung together a little course of water, bounce up, ramp down to roll top then opened him up on the way to an open oxer which he chipped in at and then onto a combination on a right hand curve - 3 lots of telegraph poles with 2 strides in between each part. Lucy advised to come at anything with a relatively rounded profile and on a curve at an angle to make the lines much easier and it worked fabulously - saw a nice forwards stride, he really locked on and flew through making the striding easy. Then flew on and got a super fabulous shot at the big log before turning right to the meaty corner which was flagged but no nice bordering trees or anything - easily pre novice size if not bigger. Slight wobble on the way to it but clapped my legs on and he flew it. Then on over a nice hanging log before anchoring him back to do a 3 stride related distance on a right hand curve between hanging tyres with simulated ditch underneath and a curved skinny hanging log. He came back to me quite nicely, angled the tyres and made the turn easy. Clever pony :) Jumped great once he was razzed up enough! He's just a lazy sod - cant be arsed if he doesn't have to be!
Quick rest then onto the bank complex. Started with step up, stride, step up, 2 strides, step down, stride, step down which he made so easy and then onto a chunky log which he really wobbled towards but managed to keep him straight and kept leg on and got a nice jump over it. Then we curved round to the right and came back up the ramp to the bank complex up a step, 1 stride, bounce down 2 steps and then curve right to a really narrow skinny sloping palisade type thing approx BE100 height. I was awful and hooked him back down the steps and then hooked and fiddled to the palisade plonking him right at the base of it at practically a standstill and yet still he picked up and jumped it for me. Bad bad rider. Carried on and jumped a roll top off a left bend nicely. Little debrief then came round again and just did the bank with the bounce steps down to skinny, remember to ride forwards and he jumped it lovely. Must trust my horse more, channel him forwards, not backwards.
So, conclusions (apart from that it takes Monty half an hour to wake up when it comes to schooling) are getting the right lines into combinations esp curved ones - angle if possible, look where you want to go and ride forwards. Always always ride forwards, even at water - legs wrapped around, sit up, shoulders back and go!
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Schooling 29-03-12
Well, schooling in a field of cows obviously did him good. He was lovely tonight :)
Warmed up with all sorts of lateral work in walk and from the start he was more settled in the contact than he usually is. Moved into trot for warming up and he was accepting the contact and did some lovely transitions. Managed trot-walk-trot on both reins forwards into the contact staying in a nice outline throughout. Did some canter work, on and back, in and out on the circle and some really nice, balanced downwards transitions into trot plus a couple of canter to walk.
Then a bit of sitting trot SI work then some rising trot stretching - he is now not running off when allowed to stretch but keeping the same rhythm and just taking his neck down. Picked him up again and did some figures of 8 in trot - still need to improve the change from left to right bend. Did some trot to halt and rein back on both reins which was good then rein back to canter on the left rein which he can do nicely. Wouldn't try that yet on the right - definitely still lopsided rein wise - we can do a lot more advanced stuff on the left rein than we can on the right. Mustn't fall into the trap of doing more on the left rein as it's easier. Generally he was fairly good off the leg. Felt the canter could be more forwards and have more jump still so more canter exercises needed but v pleased with the trot work. Remembering to keep hands up and out in front of me and ride forwards into the contact - dont pull back, use leg and upwards rein aid rather than backwards as this is what he resists against.
Warmed up with all sorts of lateral work in walk and from the start he was more settled in the contact than he usually is. Moved into trot for warming up and he was accepting the contact and did some lovely transitions. Managed trot-walk-trot on both reins forwards into the contact staying in a nice outline throughout. Did some canter work, on and back, in and out on the circle and some really nice, balanced downwards transitions into trot plus a couple of canter to walk.
Then a bit of sitting trot SI work then some rising trot stretching - he is now not running off when allowed to stretch but keeping the same rhythm and just taking his neck down. Picked him up again and did some figures of 8 in trot - still need to improve the change from left to right bend. Did some trot to halt and rein back on both reins which was good then rein back to canter on the left rein which he can do nicely. Wouldn't try that yet on the right - definitely still lopsided rein wise - we can do a lot more advanced stuff on the left rein than we can on the right. Mustn't fall into the trap of doing more on the left rein as it's easier. Generally he was fairly good off the leg. Felt the canter could be more forwards and have more jump still so more canter exercises needed but v pleased with the trot work. Remembering to keep hands up and out in front of me and ride forwards into the contact - dont pull back, use leg and upwards rein aid rather than backwards as this is what he resists against.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Schooling out hacking
Meant to have dressage lesson this afternoon but got halfway there and got txt to say it was cancelled so debated what to do but decided as pony on board might as well go somewhere different. Couldn't think of anywhere to go just to school and too nice really so went to Puttenham for a hack. Only had my dressage saddle with me so that was interesting as Monty's hacking trot is blinking fast for dressage length stirrups.
Halfway through the hack is the Hampton sponsored ride field - lovely springy turf and loads of room so settled down for a bit of schooling. Used a XC jump as the centre of my arena to keep me focused, had to dodge multiple piles of cow shit and Monty kept a wary eye on the cows in the distance but figured good practice for distractions at events.
Initially a bit resistant at being asked to work mid hack, but then settled down nicely and did some good work. He is definitely becoming more willing to submit when I ask him to now but I am having to work hard to keep riding him up and out into the contact and not letting him curl and go onto his forehand. Fix one problem and create another! We did lots of changes of bend, as always changing to the right not so easy but we got there. We did some leg yielding and SI in trot as plenty of room which was nice. We also did some LY in canter which he finds hard so that is good as means it is beneficial for him to do it. Did a couple of lovely centre lines and square halts staying soft and on the bit in the halt so very pleased with that. Checked rein back was still there which it was. G&R in canter still not there - need to remember to keep working on this with the RC qualifiers in mind as they always use tests with G&R in. Inside fine, outside fine, just not both together. We even did a bit of medium trot and he actually gave me something without hollowing - it was probably running a bit but at least he tried something.
Only did about 20mins altogether then went on with our hack, up the hill and over a couple of little jumps but he nearly jumped me off in the dressage saddle so gave that up pretty sharpish! Out for 90mins altogether and roasting hot so good work-out for him.
Halfway through the hack is the Hampton sponsored ride field - lovely springy turf and loads of room so settled down for a bit of schooling. Used a XC jump as the centre of my arena to keep me focused, had to dodge multiple piles of cow shit and Monty kept a wary eye on the cows in the distance but figured good practice for distractions at events.
Initially a bit resistant at being asked to work mid hack, but then settled down nicely and did some good work. He is definitely becoming more willing to submit when I ask him to now but I am having to work hard to keep riding him up and out into the contact and not letting him curl and go onto his forehand. Fix one problem and create another! We did lots of changes of bend, as always changing to the right not so easy but we got there. We did some leg yielding and SI in trot as plenty of room which was nice. We also did some LY in canter which he finds hard so that is good as means it is beneficial for him to do it. Did a couple of lovely centre lines and square halts staying soft and on the bit in the halt so very pleased with that. Checked rein back was still there which it was. G&R in canter still not there - need to remember to keep working on this with the RC qualifiers in mind as they always use tests with G&R in. Inside fine, outside fine, just not both together. We even did a bit of medium trot and he actually gave me something without hollowing - it was probably running a bit but at least he tried something.
Only did about 20mins altogether then went on with our hack, up the hill and over a couple of little jumps but he nearly jumped me off in the dressage saddle so gave that up pretty sharpish! Out for 90mins altogether and roasting hot so good work-out for him.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Schooling 25-03-12
More of the same really.
He was less forwards today but still worked hard. Followed the same plan as yesterday. Had his bungee on so he couldn't do complete giraffe impressions - it has no effect at all if he's anywhere near a normal outline but just stops him giraffing. We did all lateral work in walk to warm up - LY, SI, travers and HP then SI on a circle.
Followed that with a warmup trot and canter long and low feeling nice and soft.
Felt that his SI in trot on the L rein was better today - less curling up to the left, less bulging out through the outside shoulder. R rein he still finds hideously hard though - reluctant to trot properly - not helped by the fact I find sitting trot so hard.
After doing it though we moved onto a bit of canter work and really got him boinging up and forwards. Then we brought the canter right back then leg yielded out and moved it on again. On the L rein he finds this so easy and can almost bring the canter back to a pirouette type of canter. On the R rein he finds it so much harder. We did a couple of walk to canters and canters to walk which weren't too bad although he does tend to nose dive in the canter to walk so still plenty to work on there. Still, a yr ago there's no way he could do canter to walk so he is improving.
Did a little bit of counter canter on each rein as not done any for ages and he did it very well. We did a figure of 8 pattern and he kept a nice rhythm and balance around the short side on both reins so didn't worry about doing any more of that.
Finished with some trot work in a comp outline doing figures of 8 to persuade him to change the bend nicely from left to right - have to start changing it earlier than the other way and also be insistent about him flexing to the new direction as he would rather resist but he is quite capable of doing it nicely. Need to do lots of these as they make up a big chunk of marks in BE95.
Finished with super trot stretch on both reins.
Things to work on next session - more figures of 8, mustn't get stuck on a 20m circle in one direction. He needs to do lots of changes of direction. Also must re-install forwards. He gets a bit dead to my leg with all the lateral work - gonna have to do a bit of waking him up. We did one wake up aid today and he leapt off across the school in surprise. So definitely needs a bit of waking up next session and working on straight and forwards in basic transitions or he gets too hung up on going sideways and forgets how to go forwards.
He was less forwards today but still worked hard. Followed the same plan as yesterday. Had his bungee on so he couldn't do complete giraffe impressions - it has no effect at all if he's anywhere near a normal outline but just stops him giraffing. We did all lateral work in walk to warm up - LY, SI, travers and HP then SI on a circle.
Followed that with a warmup trot and canter long and low feeling nice and soft.
Felt that his SI in trot on the L rein was better today - less curling up to the left, less bulging out through the outside shoulder. R rein he still finds hideously hard though - reluctant to trot properly - not helped by the fact I find sitting trot so hard.
After doing it though we moved onto a bit of canter work and really got him boinging up and forwards. Then we brought the canter right back then leg yielded out and moved it on again. On the L rein he finds this so easy and can almost bring the canter back to a pirouette type of canter. On the R rein he finds it so much harder. We did a couple of walk to canters and canters to walk which weren't too bad although he does tend to nose dive in the canter to walk so still plenty to work on there. Still, a yr ago there's no way he could do canter to walk so he is improving.
Did a little bit of counter canter on each rein as not done any for ages and he did it very well. We did a figure of 8 pattern and he kept a nice rhythm and balance around the short side on both reins so didn't worry about doing any more of that.
Finished with some trot work in a comp outline doing figures of 8 to persuade him to change the bend nicely from left to right - have to start changing it earlier than the other way and also be insistent about him flexing to the new direction as he would rather resist but he is quite capable of doing it nicely. Need to do lots of these as they make up a big chunk of marks in BE95.
Finished with super trot stretch on both reins.
Things to work on next session - more figures of 8, mustn't get stuck on a 20m circle in one direction. He needs to do lots of changes of direction. Also must re-install forwards. He gets a bit dead to my leg with all the lateral work - gonna have to do a bit of waking him up. We did one wake up aid today and he leapt off across the school in surprise. So definitely needs a bit of waking up next session and working on straight and forwards in basic transitions or he gets too hung up on going sideways and forgets how to go forwards.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Schooling 24-03-12
More sideways stuff for the Montster.
He was pratting around in the field when I got there so obviously feeling full of spring grass. Marched around the school when I got on him - he has got such a huuuuge walk! Picked him up into a deeper stretch and we did some walk lateral work then a bit of trot and canter on each rein just keeping it all nice and relaxed.
Then we did a bit of trot leg yield down the long side flexed to the outside which he seems to find quite hard - harder than leg yield across the school bizarrely. He just wants to scuttle sideways like a crab rather than actually step underneath himself. Tried to get him to slow down and step sideways properly.
Then we did his favourite exercise of SI on the 20m circle in trot - cue more scuttling sideways. Started on the left rein concentrating on trying not to have too much inside bend. Didn't do too much then tried to encourage him into a bigger, rounder stretchy trot although he seemed to just want to curl up and not stretch down, plus was losing him through his outside shoulder. Sorted that out then picked him up into canter and he felt a lot lighter in my hand and was going forwards nicely, brought him back into a lovely collected canter and then forwards into a bigger canter, then back into collected and a nice canter to walk. Large turn on the forehand then walk to canter on the right rein and again a couple of on and backs. Then canter to walk - not bad for right rein. Moving on to SI on the right rein - even more scuttling but I do find it easier to ride him on this rein. So we worked on an oval letting him do SI down the long side for a bit before asking again on a half circle as he finds it much easier on the straight line. He does find it really hard but it does seem to really help the work we do afterwards as he's stepping under better. Did some trot work where I felt he was escaping through his outside shoulder again so had to correct that again before getting some nice trot stretch where he felt like he was really working through rather than running onto his forehand.
Finished with a good walk stretch and then the lights went out all of a sudden so that was perfect timing. 55mins of schooling. More tomorrow and another lesson on Wed to check on progress.
He was pratting around in the field when I got there so obviously feeling full of spring grass. Marched around the school when I got on him - he has got such a huuuuge walk! Picked him up into a deeper stretch and we did some walk lateral work then a bit of trot and canter on each rein just keeping it all nice and relaxed.
Then we did a bit of trot leg yield down the long side flexed to the outside which he seems to find quite hard - harder than leg yield across the school bizarrely. He just wants to scuttle sideways like a crab rather than actually step underneath himself. Tried to get him to slow down and step sideways properly.
Then we did his favourite exercise of SI on the 20m circle in trot - cue more scuttling sideways. Started on the left rein concentrating on trying not to have too much inside bend. Didn't do too much then tried to encourage him into a bigger, rounder stretchy trot although he seemed to just want to curl up and not stretch down, plus was losing him through his outside shoulder. Sorted that out then picked him up into canter and he felt a lot lighter in my hand and was going forwards nicely, brought him back into a lovely collected canter and then forwards into a bigger canter, then back into collected and a nice canter to walk. Large turn on the forehand then walk to canter on the right rein and again a couple of on and backs. Then canter to walk - not bad for right rein. Moving on to SI on the right rein - even more scuttling but I do find it easier to ride him on this rein. So we worked on an oval letting him do SI down the long side for a bit before asking again on a half circle as he finds it much easier on the straight line. He does find it really hard but it does seem to really help the work we do afterwards as he's stepping under better. Did some trot work where I felt he was escaping through his outside shoulder again so had to correct that again before getting some nice trot stretch where he felt like he was really working through rather than running onto his forehand.
Finished with a good walk stretch and then the lights went out all of a sudden so that was perfect timing. 55mins of schooling. More tomorrow and another lesson on Wed to check on progress.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
schooling 20-03-12
Schooling session at lunchtime today.
Warmed up on a long rein in WTC. He started to come nicely into a round stretch in trot after having a canter so then had a walk break before picking up walk shoulder in on the circle. I think he hates all this sideways stuff - he seems to find it so hard.
So we did our walk SI then a bit of trot SI on the L rein - he just cant keep the power coming through from behind in the trot work and really seems to struggle to bring the inside hind underneath him - it's in both directions so not sure it's truely related to his iffy right hind or that he's just never been asked to carry himself like this before. We moved on to trot stretch deep and round, keeping it steady and not letting him fall onto his forehand and he seemed to do this nicely.
We then did some work on the canter, trying to get good, uphill transitions into the canter and then riding the canter forwards and uphill - harder to keep him round than when he's burying himself onto his forehand but need to keep working on this. Got some nice walk to canters and a good canter to walk. Then worked on trot-walk-trot transitions and he was driving me a bit nuts by resisting once he came back to walk so then being against the hand in the upwards transition. Need to practice these as riding BE92 at AUW and MK. Need to get him going straight and forwards into the contact in the walk-trot transitions. He wants to wiggle all over the place. Eventually got a nice one so let him rest for a bit.
Then onto the right rein - repeated the walk and trot work in SI then onto some canter work keeping him uphill, did a few trot-canter transitions trying to improve the uphillness and roundness in these. Then some trot-walk-trots which were better on this rein than the other! Finally let him have a good stretch on this rein and he did a lovely one, staying steady, not running onto his forehand, soft and flexible into the right rein.
He worked hard, nearly an hour and was sweaty at the end. He was very forwards today which was nice - gave me more to work with. Just a constant battle to get him to soften and submit - it gets so wearing ;(
Warmed up on a long rein in WTC. He started to come nicely into a round stretch in trot after having a canter so then had a walk break before picking up walk shoulder in on the circle. I think he hates all this sideways stuff - he seems to find it so hard.
So we did our walk SI then a bit of trot SI on the L rein - he just cant keep the power coming through from behind in the trot work and really seems to struggle to bring the inside hind underneath him - it's in both directions so not sure it's truely related to his iffy right hind or that he's just never been asked to carry himself like this before. We moved on to trot stretch deep and round, keeping it steady and not letting him fall onto his forehand and he seemed to do this nicely.
We then did some work on the canter, trying to get good, uphill transitions into the canter and then riding the canter forwards and uphill - harder to keep him round than when he's burying himself onto his forehand but need to keep working on this. Got some nice walk to canters and a good canter to walk. Then worked on trot-walk-trot transitions and he was driving me a bit nuts by resisting once he came back to walk so then being against the hand in the upwards transition. Need to practice these as riding BE92 at AUW and MK. Need to get him going straight and forwards into the contact in the walk-trot transitions. He wants to wiggle all over the place. Eventually got a nice one so let him rest for a bit.
Then onto the right rein - repeated the walk and trot work in SI then onto some canter work keeping him uphill, did a few trot-canter transitions trying to improve the uphillness and roundness in these. Then some trot-walk-trots which were better on this rein than the other! Finally let him have a good stretch on this rein and he did a lovely one, staying steady, not running onto his forehand, soft and flexible into the right rein.
He worked hard, nearly an hour and was sweaty at the end. He was very forwards today which was nice - gave me more to work with. Just a constant battle to get him to soften and submit - it gets so wearing ;(
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Swalcliffe BE90 17-03-12
What a fantastic event! Probably the best one I have been to so far. Everything really close together whilst still managing to keep dressage well away from XC, great ground, amazing XC courses, XC route all roped off - felt like being at a mini Badminton - really lovely! Even better, the weather held up for us too.
So, we started with a quick run round the combinations on the course. Otherwise didn't have time to walk it as it went on forever so just relied on him being fine to jump the individual fences.
Then off to dressage. He warmed up sweetly and I was really pleased with the test - he still needs to come off the forehand a bit but he was soft and willing and straight and I thought that was what judges were looking for at BE90 so was vaguely hopeful we might get sub 35. CC very welcome as I clearly know nothing about dressage given what we actually did score.
dressage warmup:
http://youtu.be/qu70kixFrWE
http://youtu.be/D0v-huL7IDs
warming up round the edge of the arena:
http://youtu.be/RiWi62TEI5Q
dressage test BE95:
http://youtu.be/_N4_Qvvjn4w
then we had a little gap so I watched a few SJ - looked a fairly nice course except tight line from oxer at 7, right hand turn to 8 then left hand turn to 9. He was half asleep tied up to the trailer despite it being next to the XC start but I got on him and he perked up so off we went to the warmup to find them running behind and 20 people still to jump so walked round for ages then picked him up and he absolutely pinged over the warmup fences - dragging me around - I only SJ in a snaffle and he felt ready to go XC! He did a nice enough round - backed off a bit at 3 in front of the commentary box and a really awful right turn to the planks at 8 but clear
Happy happy. Then they announced my dressage score. 38 
How awful. Really thought it was so much better than that. SJ I'm still struggling to get him to come a bit rounder in his outline and get better turns but he goes like a wooden plank at events - I can get it in lessons but he throws his toys out the pram if I try to establish any kind of nice outline at an event so I've taken to trying to just ride a nice rhythmical round, not hooking him and just keeping him coming to the fences and it seems to be working as he's now jumped clear at his last 6 ODE's and the 2 SJ outings we've also done.
SJ video:
http://youtu.be/K0fEcoTvSwI
XC course pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/...host=community
Anyway, on to the fun stuff. He warmed up sensibly which was nice after being completely off his trolley at Tweseldown. We walked over to the start box sensibly and started very sensibly (I think it's just T/down he hates!). Little sticky to no.1 as he was looking at stuff in the hedge then motored on to haycart no.2 and got a great shot at that, long gallop downhill and round a left hand bend to the house on the hill at 3 and he spooked wildly at something on the floor on the way which took me by surprise. Later realised he was spooking at the bits of gravel they'd used to fill in uneven areas of ground - there were a lot of these on the course and every time he'd fly sideways and piss off with me so that was entertaining. We got a lovely shot over no.3 though and then headed downhill again at the rate of knots, left turn to a combination of stone walls at 4 and 5 which jumped nicely then thankfully went uphill which allowed me to gather him up again before kicking on to the brush with a ditch before it at 6. Had heard the commentator saying all day it was causing trouble so made sure to ride it well and he flew it superbly. Right turn to the duck before the water which he trotted through then out over the boat which went well.
water jump:
http://youtu.be/hDy1cu9_knw
then long gallop around a field, onto some ploughed stubble which he wasn't too sure about then downhill through a narrow gateway followed by sharp left hand bend - no idea how we made it round the corner as he took offence to galloping on stubble esp downhill and pissed off with me. Regained control up the hill to fence 9 a log pile on top of the hill but then off he went again downhill to a double of logpiles and we had our sticky jumps of the day as he got in too close to both we me hauling to get back control.
galloping around - fences 9-10
http://youtu.be/VptvZf9oBus
on again and down another hill and yet again he took off with me flat out, just about made it round the corner and steadied him in time for the hanging log at 11, then bit more controlled through the woods left hand turn to house thing at 12 which he jumped lovely, through some more woods and then steadied right up to make the turn to the hanging log on a downhill slope, 4 strides to a ditch. Slightly concerned as ditch obviously newly built on fresh sand so ground changed from grass to sand 2 strides after the hanging log and this is just the type of thing likely to make him sit up and look but kept leg on and he flew the ditch in his stride. Then galloped on slightly more in control now as uphill, flyer over the brush with ditch, great stride to the lion at 15 and then nicely up the final hill and a great shot over the last.
I had listened to the commentator on people getting time faults and heard the course was 5.43mins long so made the decision to ride in a nice forwards rhythm from the start but he completely got away from me with all the spooking at gravel and downhill stretches so we ended up coming in way under time at 5.07mins. At least I know he could have made the BE100 time easily as that is the next aim. However, before then I really need to get him under control. Am using a pelham which he totally respects out hunting but so far this season I cant hold one side of him in it. Dont want to overbit him but concerned we're riding on the seat of our pants and it all feels a bit lacking in control. He'll jump what I point him at but it needs to be safely and when it comes to more complicated combinations I need him to come back to me. Any ideas?
last fence:
http://youtu.be/-gzADcWLKlQ
Anyway, we ended up finishing 9th. 1st got a ridiculous dressage score of 22, but no-one else got under 32 so not sure if dressage scoring was a little random. 38 bit disheartening when I thought he went well but onwards we go. 3wks till Larkhill.
So, we started with a quick run round the combinations on the course. Otherwise didn't have time to walk it as it went on forever so just relied on him being fine to jump the individual fences.
Then off to dressage. He warmed up sweetly and I was really pleased with the test - he still needs to come off the forehand a bit but he was soft and willing and straight and I thought that was what judges were looking for at BE90 so was vaguely hopeful we might get sub 35. CC very welcome as I clearly know nothing about dressage given what we actually did score.
dressage warmup:
http://youtu.be/qu70kixFrWE
http://youtu.be/D0v-huL7IDs
warming up round the edge of the arena:
http://youtu.be/RiWi62TEI5Q
dressage test BE95:
http://youtu.be/_N4_Qvvjn4w
then we had a little gap so I watched a few SJ - looked a fairly nice course except tight line from oxer at 7, right hand turn to 8 then left hand turn to 9. He was half asleep tied up to the trailer despite it being next to the XC start but I got on him and he perked up so off we went to the warmup to find them running behind and 20 people still to jump so walked round for ages then picked him up and he absolutely pinged over the warmup fences - dragging me around - I only SJ in a snaffle and he felt ready to go XC! He did a nice enough round - backed off a bit at 3 in front of the commentary box and a really awful right turn to the planks at 8 but clear
Happy happy. Then they announced my dressage score. 38 How awful. Really thought it was so much better than that. SJ I'm still struggling to get him to come a bit rounder in his outline and get better turns but he goes like a wooden plank at events - I can get it in lessons but he throws his toys out the pram if I try to establish any kind of nice outline at an event so I've taken to trying to just ride a nice rhythmical round, not hooking him and just keeping him coming to the fences and it seems to be working as he's now jumped clear at his last 6 ODE's and the 2 SJ outings we've also done.SJ video:
http://youtu.be/K0fEcoTvSwI
XC course pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/...host=community
Anyway, on to the fun stuff. He warmed up sensibly which was nice after being completely off his trolley at Tweseldown. We walked over to the start box sensibly and started very sensibly (I think it's just T/down he hates!). Little sticky to no.1 as he was looking at stuff in the hedge then motored on to haycart no.2 and got a great shot at that, long gallop downhill and round a left hand bend to the house on the hill at 3 and he spooked wildly at something on the floor on the way which took me by surprise. Later realised he was spooking at the bits of gravel they'd used to fill in uneven areas of ground - there were a lot of these on the course and every time he'd fly sideways and piss off with me so that was entertaining. We got a lovely shot over no.3 though and then headed downhill again at the rate of knots, left turn to a combination of stone walls at 4 and 5 which jumped nicely then thankfully went uphill which allowed me to gather him up again before kicking on to the brush with a ditch before it at 6. Had heard the commentator saying all day it was causing trouble so made sure to ride it well and he flew it superbly. Right turn to the duck before the water which he trotted through then out over the boat which went well.
water jump:
http://youtu.be/hDy1cu9_knw
then long gallop around a field, onto some ploughed stubble which he wasn't too sure about then downhill through a narrow gateway followed by sharp left hand bend - no idea how we made it round the corner as he took offence to galloping on stubble esp downhill and pissed off with me. Regained control up the hill to fence 9 a log pile on top of the hill but then off he went again downhill to a double of logpiles and we had our sticky jumps of the day as he got in too close to both we me hauling to get back control.
galloping around - fences 9-10
http://youtu.be/VptvZf9oBus
on again and down another hill and yet again he took off with me flat out, just about made it round the corner and steadied him in time for the hanging log at 11, then bit more controlled through the woods left hand turn to house thing at 12 which he jumped lovely, through some more woods and then steadied right up to make the turn to the hanging log on a downhill slope, 4 strides to a ditch. Slightly concerned as ditch obviously newly built on fresh sand so ground changed from grass to sand 2 strides after the hanging log and this is just the type of thing likely to make him sit up and look but kept leg on and he flew the ditch in his stride. Then galloped on slightly more in control now as uphill, flyer over the brush with ditch, great stride to the lion at 15 and then nicely up the final hill and a great shot over the last.
I had listened to the commentator on people getting time faults and heard the course was 5.43mins long so made the decision to ride in a nice forwards rhythm from the start but he completely got away from me with all the spooking at gravel and downhill stretches so we ended up coming in way under time at 5.07mins. At least I know he could have made the BE100 time easily as that is the next aim. However, before then I really need to get him under control. Am using a pelham which he totally respects out hunting but so far this season I cant hold one side of him in it. Dont want to overbit him but concerned we're riding on the seat of our pants and it all feels a bit lacking in control. He'll jump what I point him at but it needs to be safely and when it comes to more complicated combinations I need him to come back to me. Any ideas?
last fence:
http://youtu.be/-gzADcWLKlQ
Anyway, we ended up finishing 9th. 1st got a ridiculous dressage score of 22, but no-one else got under 32 so not sure if dressage scoring was a little random. 38 bit disheartening when I thought he went well but onwards we go. 3wks till Larkhill.
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