TheHairyOne
Well-Known Member
Well, what a good weekend i have had with both me and my lovely 6 year old horses at our first proper ode and the massive height of 80cms. Did 2 last year at 2'3", but they were smaller affairs in every way.
I set out with the goal of finishing...which i did all be it on a 3 figure score, but it wasnt the big E and i learnt loads!
Dressage he warmed up well, but we struggled to maintain balance in the arena so a deserved (if slighty disappointing score) of 41. Lesson learnt - ride more in the field at home!
SJing someone forgot to tell him what height it was, so we flew around for a lovely clear from him, and a fair bit of getting left behind from me! Lesson learnt- trust him a lot more to go! Legacy of my previous ride having a filthy stop.
The onto the XC and this is where any advice would be welcome. He jumped the fences brilliantly, got him in both waters which i thought might be a problem, and just had a hesitation at a drop and the ditch (which i rode very badly and had dropped my stick!). My problem is everything in between. If there was a fence in front of him he was forward straight and true. Getting to them he couldnt canter in a straight line, gawping at pedestrians, dogs, signs, change of colour on the ground, a water trough at the side of the field etc! It was exhausting! I am also at a loss on how to work on it? Hes great out hacking (though most of ours is private land so very quiet) and is normally the most unspooky horse ever. He did not care about the very busy sjing ring, but was so confussed about people being in fields. Is it just a case of practice makes perfect? He was so bold to the actual fences, and the fence judges in their cars didnt get a second glance, it just seems abit odd!
Loved my day though, onwards to the next one!!
I set out with the goal of finishing...which i did all be it on a 3 figure score, but it wasnt the big E and i learnt loads!
Dressage he warmed up well, but we struggled to maintain balance in the arena so a deserved (if slighty disappointing score) of 41. Lesson learnt - ride more in the field at home!
SJing someone forgot to tell him what height it was, so we flew around for a lovely clear from him, and a fair bit of getting left behind from me! Lesson learnt- trust him a lot more to go! Legacy of my previous ride having a filthy stop.
The onto the XC and this is where any advice would be welcome. He jumped the fences brilliantly, got him in both waters which i thought might be a problem, and just had a hesitation at a drop and the ditch (which i rode very badly and had dropped my stick!). My problem is everything in between. If there was a fence in front of him he was forward straight and true. Getting to them he couldnt canter in a straight line, gawping at pedestrians, dogs, signs, change of colour on the ground, a water trough at the side of the field etc! It was exhausting! I am also at a loss on how to work on it? Hes great out hacking (though most of ours is private land so very quiet) and is normally the most unspooky horse ever. He did not care about the very busy sjing ring, but was so confussed about people being in fields. Is it just a case of practice makes perfect? He was so bold to the actual fences, and the fence judges in their cars didnt get a second glance, it just seems abit odd!
Loved my day though, onwards to the next one!!