Chris Burton XC clinic - Coombelands - 09-07-14

Today was the long awaited XC clinic with Chris at Coombelands.  Thought I hadn't done too badly with finding 11 people to fill the 12 slots we had available until they all started dropping like flies at the last minute!  Ended up doing some rather last minute rearranging late last night to slot the remaining baby horses into one group at 2.30pm.  Then just left me and Steph in the bigger group afterwards - more attention for us though and great that Chris knows both the horses so could crack on.  Really enjoyed watching him teach the baby group first - he wants to establish the basic principles from the word go - straightness, go when we say go, stop when we say stop and stay in a straight line unless told otherwise.  He jumped on a couple of them which was great to watch as well.  He is tough when they need to be told and then just sits so quietly and lets them do their job.  Really like the way he wants it like that right from the start.

So, onto our lesson.  Warmed up with some canter to halt, opening him up then getting him back again.  Popped over a couple of logs - saw nice forward strides, no nasty chipping in, feeling nice and positive.

Then moved onto the most innocuous log you've ever seen - totally natural, the sort of thing you'd pop over out hacking without even thinking about it, no flags or anything and he had a complete meltdown.  Leapt up in the air, spun sideways and got his knickers in a right knot.  Chris wanted me to just chill him out, breathe, walk calmly up the log, halt, pat him and then we came again and he was good as gold and jumped it no probs.  I don't understand what goes on in his head sometimes!  Moved on to a couple of hanging logs on 5 strides - put 6 in first time as landed a bit short after first one so had to go again and get a better stride to the first one and then ride forward for 5 which worked fine.

Next was a shaped hanging log that I got in too deep too followed by a brush topped palisade thing which he was looking at and I wasn't really riding great and then round to a skinny going slightly downhill - bit wobbly but managed it ok.

Move onto a couple of shaped brushes which were uphill on 4 strides.  Rode like a backwards muppet and fitted in 6 strides so had to go further away, get up a gallop and attack them and then we fitted 4 in, although it was a bit of a push!

Then onto the quarry complex - steps up, round to a brush, down into the quarry and up over a log.

Over a skinny which he charged at no probs

Then onto the water - splashed in following Steph so no chance for ifs and buts.  Then round in canter, down the step and out over the rolltop.  Rode like a pleb, he backed off going in but did go and then I didn't ride forwards so we climbed over the rolltop.  Kick up the bum, round again and we did it fine and then final time, in and out over the house no probs.

Onto the corners - first had to jump the log which kind of faces towards the trench that runs round the edge of the course and he didn't like that too much - saw a dodgy stride because he was backing off and was thinking he might run left but then did actually jump it - slightly hairy moment!  Then over the open arm of the corner no probs.  Back round for the corner and added a stride I totally didn't need to as by this point he was trying to take control and really taking on the fences.  More what he is like at competition.  Back round again and did it fine then onto the BE100 corner and he flew that no probs.  Just need to watch I get my line right.  Chris said he's really honest - if I get the rhythm and line he will definitely do the job for me.

Then onto the 2nd water. Canter through which he was ok with then some skinnies on a curved line followed by the triple brush.  Made that feel just awesome - attacked the skinnies and then saw a fab stride to the triple brush, he really locked on and flew.  Chris said to focus my eye on the centre line of brush which was interesting 

Then we did canter through the water one way, back round through the other way and out over the house.  Attacked the house and got a super stride.

Popped over a couple of easy fences back towards home then finished with a house, round to the BE100 brush and then on to the Novice corner to finish which quite frankly is horribly upright, skinny and acutely angled and I wasn't going to go any closer as I know what a Novice corner looks like close up and thought I might wuss out!  Well, he aced it, he never wobbled, kept true to his line and pinged it like it was a piece of cake.

He is a funny little horse - it took him till about halfway to kind of really get into it and start dragging me into the fences.  Until then he was feeling looky and unsure and the tantrum about the log was really unneccesary.  He jumped fantastically at the end though - felt like I could have asked him to jump absolutely anything.  Chris said it might be necessary on a course to even use the stick on him over the first couple of fences if he's feeling looky and just really get him taking me forwards.

Watching the videos, I still think I need to change my riding style a bit - I seem to be quite tense in my arms which is not easy to change when he's charging into fences and not listening to me.  Something I still need to discuss with Chris on how to improve.  Talked to him about how difficult I find to get him back to me so often we are still arguing on the way to a fence about him slowing down and he said to set up further away so I can sit and wait for the fence rather than fighting which will lead to a run out.  Does waste time but will just have to live with that for now and it will improve as he listens more.  I daren't put him in a stronger bit as I still have that tendency to hook and he is likely to stop.  We did some halting after fences which he was great at at the beginning and awful at the end so need to work on that as he has to listen when I say whoah.

We didn't practice jumping anything before water or steps or anything so that is still on the list of things to practice. Definitely will go to Coombelands again as such a huge variety of questions there for him and we didn't do half of them today.  Great lesson though - always learn so much with Chris.  So much still to learn!

Patchetts BD 06-07-14

Well, not quite as exciting a report as my usual eventing ones and rather lacking on photos as on my little ownsome today but have to say I still had rather a lovely day and pootled home in the lorry singing along to songs with a big grin on my face.  I get such a kick out of doing a good dressage test, it's almost as good as the post XC high!  It was also rather nice to have a lie in, not have a XC course to march round and not have any nerves buzzing around in my stomach.  Plus, I was back at the yard 5hrs after I left which included 2.5hrs of travelling - bonus!

So, we went off to Patchetts today.  One of my favourite venues yet I'm pretty sure Monty has never been which means it must be years since I last went with Llewi!  It's not top of my list of venues to go to thanks to the M25, although it was very kind to us today thankfully!  Have decided that I am done with Novices now and it's time to move onto Elementaries.  Aim of today was to qualify for Area Festivals with another couple of sheets over 62%.  His work has come on leaps and bounds recently and he's more than capable of Ele's now - they just need a bit of polish.  Due to eventing the last few weeks I had only had a chance to work on the tests this week and I only have a small arena so it was always going to be a bit rough around the edges!

First test was E43 - not one I've ever done before but seemed like a nice test.  He went really sweetly, did everything in the right place, even had a good bash at the medium trot and finished with a super halt.  Saluted and looked up to see judge grinning madly at me - thought that was a good sign!  Popped Monty back to the lorry and back to the score tent as scores go up so quick at Patchetts.  Nearly fell over when I saw 72.58%.  Had to double and triple check that really was next to my name - was half expecting them to come along and change it!  That is the best score I have ever had in 10yrs of BD on 3 different horses from Prelim to Elementary.  We ended up winning the Restricted section which I was a bit gobsmacked about as some seriously nice horses poncing round the warmup and was sure the last one to go would pip us but we stayed at the top by 2marks.  Unfortunately a couple of marks behind 2nd/3rd in the Open so the Open riders got all the prize money :(  Still, flipping over the moon with my little horse.  That's a snazzy 7 points towards Winter Regionals - only need 8 more before end of November.

Chuffed with 8's for his FWLR, trot-canter left and final halt.  Only dropped below 7 for his first half 10m trot circle and his leg yields.  7.5, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5 for collectives.  Just need to work on the leg yield and could score even higher!  Clever little orange horse.

2nd test was E53 which I have ridden once before.  As is fairly usual with Monty, he was not overly impressed with being made to do more work after a 20min break, certainly not more work involving more dressage and a harder test.  I think he thought he should either be SJ or going home!  He didn't warm up as well and then the test arena was next to a hedge blowing in the wind which had a road behind it which some horses clattered down and there were some Monty eating banners on the fence next to the arena.  This all resulted in tension which does not make for a pretty picture or an easy test at that level.  First medium trot didn't happen at all, he anticipated a canter transition in the same place as in the other test and broke pace, his medium canters were all crooked, his extended walk involved chucking his head around and then he cantered in the final medium trot down the centre line and halted all wonky - I just had to laugh - he really is a doughnut sometimes.  You can't be cross at him - he tries his hardest, his brain is just wired up a bit doolally!  We were lying last when I left on a score of 63.76%.  He wasn't far off the others though - without the mistakes we'd have got a Regional qualifying score (>64%) and with a bit more practice it's a test he could score well in.  Still, another sheet for Area Festivals which is what I went for.  Ended up 5th out of 7 in the Restricted, 15th out of 17 overall - not our finest result!  We did score an 8 for our 10m canter circle left though which is pretty fab - he is so balanced now :)  We got 7's for trot-walk-trot's, counter canters, working trot, 10m trot circle right, collected trot, rein back and medium walk down centre line.  5 for leg yield right for too much left neck bend, 5 for cantering when we should be trotting and 4 for cantering when we should have been medium trotting.  Apparently our final halt was square though lol.  Medium canters were on the forehand and quarters in on R rein.  7667 collectives. "A lovely attitude to the work, needs to work more through from behind into a steadier acceptance of the bridle"

Yum yum dinner - that's all he really wanted all day!

Next outing for him will be XC clinic with Chris at Coombelands on Wednesday then a weekend off.

Eridge BE90 28-06-14

Bit of a last minute decision to go to Eridge to try and build on our positive XC round at Rackham last week.  Only got in off the waiting list on Tuesday evening.  Not done Eridge before - was meant to go in 2012 but Monty damaged his tendon a few weeks before so I just went to help a friend in the 100 instead.  The course was very hilly but the jumps were all friendly enough.  The only tough bit was a meaty square chair on the brow of an impossibly long, steep hill then swing out to the right, turn 90degrees left and go up a ditch/step then 2 strides to a skinny hanging roll top thing.  The alternative didn't take much longer as you just went a bit further up the track before tackling the step up which had the ditch filled in with a chair type thing and then a curved line to a wider hanging roll top thing.  No brainer really - never taken an alternative before but predicted I'd probably lose control a bit down the hill.  I thought he'd probably jump the direct route fine but we were out for a confidence giving round so no sense trying it.

direct route:

alternate:

Rather warm after marching round those hills in the sunshine!  Onwards to the dressage.  He did his typical nice, sweet test.  A really beautiful canter to trot on the right rein which we got an 8 for.  Rather random 6 for his FWLR despite a comment saying good stretch and some lengthening of stride.  Otherwise straight 7's.  Scored 30 which was a bit low considering what he's been getting recently but actually best in class was 25.5 then two on 29.5 then us so well up there.

Onto SJ - tried to make sure I had him energetic and focused in the warmup but we kept disagreeing on strides - I kept thinking short given what happened at Stratford and he was inclined to be going on silly long ones.  I wish he'd make up his mind what he likes to do! Arena was quite spooky being completely surrounded by trade stands and at the top end a display of wooden tables and benches so I took him straight up there nice and close so he could see.  Jumped the first 3 perfectly then sharp right turn to a downhill 1 stride double.  Well, we totally disagreed on strides, he went on a really long one, floundered over it, no idea how he cleared it, I just sat up and slipped reins then kept leg on and he was really honest to jump second part as I had no reins.  Then found ourselves careering towards the collecting ring with no reins and downhill so no control - rather hairy!  Collected up my knitting and got him round the sharp turnback right to no.5 and he jumped it brilliantly - gone are the days we couldn't turn right lol!  Forwards 8 strides up the hill to no.6 heading into the wooden bench display - I saw a lovely stride before he decided to totally back off, add 3 strides and catleap it from a standstill landing on the back bar.  Idiot horse.  He really is a numpty sometimes.  He has jumped hundreds of show jumping rounds in spooky arenas yet still he acts like the stands will jump into the arena and eat him alive!  He backed off the next 3 fences which had quite spooky fillers but I was ready for him, legs pinned on and he jumped them really well.  Lucky to finish on just 4 faults - I just despair of his spookiness sometimes - will he ever grow up?!

Straight onto XC.  Warmup was horrid - really long and narrow and he was napping the minute we went in.  Jumped the practice fence and he was a bit wild.  Over to the start and he was thinking about being silly but Polly had a word with the starter and he just came over to us in the box and stroked Monty on the neck and chatted to me and before I knew it he whispered ten secs, then five and I just turned round and we were off.

I wasn't going for the time - I didn't want to chase him, I wanted time to set up for the fences, it wasn't a course I knew well and I didn't think we were in with a chance of placings on a score of 34 anyway so I set off intending to let him run between fences but make sure I had him where I wanted for the fences themselves.  He was a bit looky at the first few but listening and then we came to the mushrooms

Loads of people standing watching - I have crowd phobia after Badminton, it looked rather like the hanging rail entrance of the coffin with a few mushrooms for added distraction and the ground dropped away after too.  I didn't do anything drastic though - I don't think he likes being chased and growled into fences.  Collected him up, saw a nice stride and just sat there with leg on and he popped it beautifully.  Down a narrow track and up a steep hill which he nearly fell off the side of spooking at something in the bushes and then we had to do the closest to a coffin he has done since Badminton - house followed by steep slope down and then back up again - no ditch in the 90 but there was one just next door for the 100.  I felt him hesitate just slightly at the house but he popped over sweetly, down and up over the brush.

Kicked on up the hill before steadying up and leg on for a hay cart and then a 2stride double of cylinders which you could angle on a straight line or curve between.  Aimed to take them straight and he jumped them well.  Kicked on down a gentle slope over a steeplechase fence and then had to really anchor him up to jump the square chair thing at the top of the hill.  He popped over sweetly and then we were committed to the steep hill - I sat up and closed my eyes - I don't like heights and that was flipping scary - the sort of hill I'd pick my way down in walk if out hacking!  Didn't even think about the direct route as it took me the slight uphill to the alternative to regain some control.  He popped the alternative nicely.  Onto another house and then had to sit him right back for a log pile followed by steep slope down, right turn, up a steep slope next to the Novice steps and then double back on yourself to the right.  All those sharp turns SJ with Chris really paid off, as I just sat him down with his hocks underneath him, saw a great stride and popped over the second part brilliantly.

Onwards over a blue chair, a ditch palisade, another ditch palisade and then a steep climb to the final fence and the finish!  Whoop!  Really happy with another confident round from him and he didn't seem to find the hills too much hard work either.

Went over to check scores and was gobsmacked to see we had come in only 3seconds over the time so 1.2 time pens which put us into 3rd place out of 42 starters!  Another Regional Final qualification and some much needed prize money too.  Although I promptly spent that on this lovely collage with a couple of nice ones from the SJ, the double of cylinders and the house before the coffin without a ditch.

Had a really lovely afternoon chatting with my sponsor West Kent Saddles who had their stand there, chatting and admiring some lovely jump saddles.

So, we head into our summer break from eventing with three Regionals at 90 and two at 100 to aim for.  Some serious diary planning needed to work out which events will be best for him and which ones don't clash with work, Petplan Areas or the Blenheim Eventers Challenge!  He really feels so happcy at 90 that I think we will aim for Badminton again at 90 and try to stay within his comfort zone until he tells me he is happy to aim higher and if that doesn't happen then so be it.  If he wants to be a 90 horse then he can be :)

Rackham BE90 22-06-14

Took my mind off the run up to Rackham with a wedding on Saturday evening which involved a lot of wine, a lot of dancing and a night camping in the horsebox!  Great way to banish the nerves.  Wasn't quite sure what made me feel so sick on Sunday though - hangover or nerves!  Didn't have the best prep as wasn't able to sit down for most of the week due to my fall at Stratford Hills last week and did wonder if I ought to be going at all.  I managed a very painful 30min gentle hack on Friday and a slightly less painful 30min schooling session on Saturday morning then dosed myself up on ibuprofen/paracetamol and climbed on board at Rackham.  Fortunately it wasn't too bad and although my position was slightly more perched than I would like I found I could ride reasonably effectively.  Monty warmed up quite argumentatively so I did think it could be an interesting test.  Fortunately he decided to cooperate when it mattered most and did a beautiful test, especially his left trot - he just floated.  I could have ridden it forever!  Beautiful halt to finish and a big pat - very happy with that.

On to the SJ and I felt more sick after last week's mishap in the warm-up.  The warmup was quite chewed up surprisingly considering the ground everywhere else was really good.  Monty hates chewed up ground and told me so quite convincingly so I kept my warmup to an absolute minimum.  Jumped a x pole, a vertical and an oxer and then cantered into the ring.  Did a quick ride-by the troublesome line down the arena - related distance downhill from 4 to 5ab straight into the tradestands which was causing problems and off we went.  They did announce my dressage score but I didn't hear all of it - it ended in point five but that was all I or anyone else got.  Good thing really or it might have rather put me off my SJ!  He jumped a beautiful round.  He really sat back and waited beautifully on the tricky related distance to the double which I saw people do on 6 or 7 but 6 was quite forwards and then they were taking out the second part of the double so I made the decision to make him wait for 7 and he did it beautifully.  All our work with Chris on distances is paying off so well.  The other related distance was from 7 to 8 which was a forward 8 or a slightly holding 9 downhill so again sat back quickly, got him balanced and waited for 9 and he really listened.  Soooo chuffed with him.  Clear round - fab!

fence before the double:

1st part of the double:

No dressage score on the board so still none the wiser and time to get on with the most scary bit of the day.  I made a bit of a hash of the warmup.  Even jumped the practice fence the wrong way as in such a tizz.  Kept getting in deep.  Tried my hardest but just didn't seem to be able to see the forwards stride - argh.  Monty started being an idiot once we got close to being called and at 45seconds we were rearing up and going backwards round the warmup.  Have come to learn this is actually a good sign with him.  When he's like this he jumps brilliantly!  He didn't do it at Farley and it was really weird.  Led into the start box and off we went.  He was slightly looky at one but got a good stride, completely cocked up 2 - he went long when I thought he'd put in another, nice stride to 3

Completely cocked up 4 coming out of the woods by getting in far too deep and cat leaping it.  Friends were fence judging here and yelled at me to just kick on and it was just what I needed.  I gave him a kick and off we went.

Got a little close to the first part of the double at 5 but then kicked on to get my distance instead of wobbling and holding and it was fab from there.  Let him trot to the sunken road and then kicked on for distance out. Flew through the woods a bit spookily but the jump itself no probs and easy peasy through the half coffin - don't think he even noticed the ditch.  Round the field and up a small mound to a hanging log on the top - this gave me the wobbles when I walked it as post-Badminton I now have a phobia of any kind of hanging anything with a slope behind it.  I got him back into a lovely canter though and then rode forwards and he popped it no probs.

Up the 2 steps and kick on for the 4 strides to the brush.

Collected him up for the water - he was a bit looky but kept him thinking forwards and forwards to the jump out.

Didn't give the trakehner a second glance

Then onto a double of dog kennels which he met perfectly, the stick pile was brilliant

And then I noticed the final fence (didn't walk it as knew it was there!) and it was quite large and spooky and thought I better ride that one properly and not be complacent but he flew it.  Was so glad to have got round clear and apart from the initial few fences to have had a lovely smooth round.  Jumped off to hear the end of the commentator's spiel about us wanting to go back to Badminton and saying if we kept on like that we'd have a good chance as we'd just gone into the lead on a dressage score of 22.5!!!  Personal best at BE90 level!  Turns out we finished bang on the optimum time XC as well - my slowest BE90 for a long time but I wasn't chasing the clock, just wanted to make sure I took time to set him up and give him time to look at anything he needed to.  Didn't want him to feel hassled or stressed.  So, after time to get Monts cooled off and sorted went off to check the scoreboard and it was a good scoring section but the 21.5 had a rail SJ and the 14.5 (!!!!!) had a cricket score SJ so we won by 3 marks!  Totally not the aim of the day at all, but of course just what he is capable of if I don't mess him up.

A nice 9 for his final halt (did lot of practice this week with my sore bum and reluctance to go faster than walk!)  First time he's had straight 8's for collectives too!

Still feel like we have some confidence rebuilding to do as he wasn't quite the super confident horse he used to be and I wouldn't have wanted to be doing the 100 on him even though it was a lovely course as we just need to learn to trust each other a bit more again but a good start along that road.

Big thanks to Kim Nye for most of the XC photos and Spidge for the others.

And big thanks to Claire Miller for this super video of the whole day:

Just waiting to see if I get into Eridge this weekend now - last minute entry so ended up first on the waiting list and just hoping someone withdraws as that's another nice 90 course we could do with a trip round before our eventing summer break as the ground is starting to firm up and he doesn't much like that.

Chris Burton XC lesson - Parwood - 18-06-14

Today I was lucky enough to get a private lesson with Chris at Parwood, courtesy of Eventing magazine.  My first XC lesson with Chris and boy was it just what we needed.  He had the measure of our problems straight away and it helps that he knows us well now so knew exactly what we needed to get us both back on track, stop panicing and start jumping like he knows we can.

We started off just walking through the water which he did with no concerns at all.  Then went and popped over some of the littlies and already felt better than last week..  Moved back to the water and cantered over the log, straight through in canter with no hesitation, up the big step and then curved line to sheep feeder - foot perfect.  Felt like I'd been making up all our problems!  Then did the big pheasant feeder and round to a skinny roll top.  I successfully saw backwards strides to both of these and did horrid jumps over both.  Chris said he could see the problem we'd been having and where we'd lost faith in each other.  He sent me off to jump the hedge on a long rein and give him a smack on the bum on the way over and he didn't think too much of that, shot off afterwards and from then on turned into the mad Monty I know and love - boinging around, dragging me to the fences and seemed to be having loads of fun - he is such an odd horse - you have to wind him up like some kind of clockwork toy then let him go or he'll just bumble around half asleep making life much harder for himself.

hedge:

Went back to the pheasant feeder to roll top and did a much better job - lovely stride to both of them:

Then moved onto the table and corner - practised jumping the table centre then off to one side in preparation for the corner which he did brilliantly every time.  I don't have the corner issues I used to - I trust him to go as long as I kick!

We then did this huge oxer thing I've never done before and it was meant to be 5 strides to the skinny brush - I managed to hold for 6 but he did at least stay straight and true and not think about running out.  Did it again aiming for left side of skinny brush and again got 6 in but landed quite deep from the oxer so was the right decision to sit and wait that time.  He said I was still being a bit backwards as there was a much more forwards stride off the corner for the oxer but I held for one more and need to ride forwards more to a big oxer.  Turned it round and did the skinny brush and 5 strides to the oxer - he said to sit back and give him a smack on the bum  - it was the longest 5 strides ever and I didn't think we'd make it so forgot about the smack and just got ready to go with whatever happened and he flew it - he really isn't lacking in scope, just self-belief a lot of the time.  When he believes he can do it he can jump the moon!

Finished with jumping another more acute corner.  He put a guide rail on it just to make sure we ended on a good note.  He said it was always important to set them up for success when XC schooling and keep it all well within their ability limits.  He was leaping and bouncing and taking me to the fences again and felt so full of himself again it was fantastic. Did it 3 times and no doubt he was going to jump it each time.

I was just getting myself into a viscious circle of negativity but he has snapped us out of it and I feel so ready to crack on again now.  We have got Rackham BE90 this Sunday and I am really looking forward to having some fun now.