vikkiandmonica
Well-Known Member
(Also posted in CR)
Well, today I had a clinic with Kenneth Clawson. It had been a very stressful wait, as the day of it changed twice, meaning that the friend that was going to have a lesson with me, and take me, couldn't come. Very luckily, my dad was here, so could take me.
Set off from the house at about 8:15, so arrived at the stables with plenty of time, as the lesson was billed to start at 10:15, and the journey was about an hour. Tried to load Wings, and he straight out refused. We tried so many different ways of getting him in, but just couldn't get him in. Even resorted to running to the field, getting my pony in (his best friend), and putting her in first. This still didn't work. Eventually, he loaded, but it must have taken us the best part of an hour, and so were running very late.
The journey was pretty bad, and he travelled fairly badly, and after many failed attempts, managed to get through to Mistatiger (who had organised it), who told me Kenneth was running late, so we would be perfectly on time. I was really nervous for my lesson, as thought I would be all by myself, and be the worst in the lesson (there were 3 of us).
I really didn't need to be worried; Kenneth was very welcoming, and the advice he gave was very helpful. We started by just trotting around, trying to get the energy into the trot, so we were doing circles to get them off our inside legs, and then loops off the track for the same reason really. Everything he said made so much sense, and Wings was really listening to my leg and my aids.
We then went onto doing trotting poles on a circle, which Wings was fab at, wasn't rushing or stuttering, just trotting through them happily. Really felt he was listening, and showing off to the crowd and other horses.
We then moved onto the canter, working on getting a bigger canter, but with shorter strides, so bouncing upwards more with a lot more energy. We did this by shortening the strides down the long side, and counting how many strides we were doing. Again, felt Wings was really listening, and it was really positive to feel.
Did the poles again in canter, and again, he was pretty good. This moved onto doing the poles followed by a jump in from the track. Had a few near crashes, where the girl in my lesson bulged onto the track in her line (should've been enough space), but other than that was very good. He was listening to my aids, so not rushing too badly, and we were getting good strides and pretty good lines.
We then did a course, and he was really good, although he can run away from me fairly badly when doing a course, but was listening well. We did have one bad double where we got buried into the second part, but as usual, he got me out of trouble. Thought we may of had some problems with the fillers and two crosses as one jump (like, really close together so jumped them both at once), but he just jumped them a little bigger, and was really good. (Have videos that will upload tomorrow hopefully).
One downside, is the fact that I feel like I have motion sickness? Like, doing single jumps is fine, but as soon as we move onto courses, by the end of it I feel really, really sick. This has happened twice, one at a competition, and then today. Was all very strange, so if anyone has any advice, it would be very helpful.
Oh, and also, Wings is still fairly skinny, despite getting fed a fairly high calorie feed, and in a field with fairly good forage (out 24/7 as of the beginning of this week.) If anyone can suggest anything, it would be appreciated. He was in a heavy weight, but as the weather is so nice, has been out naked through the day today, and a medium weight on for tonight. (Teeth, vaccinations and worming all up to date).
Mississippi Mud Pie for anyone who got this far
Well, today I had a clinic with Kenneth Clawson. It had been a very stressful wait, as the day of it changed twice, meaning that the friend that was going to have a lesson with me, and take me, couldn't come. Very luckily, my dad was here, so could take me.
Set off from the house at about 8:15, so arrived at the stables with plenty of time, as the lesson was billed to start at 10:15, and the journey was about an hour. Tried to load Wings, and he straight out refused. We tried so many different ways of getting him in, but just couldn't get him in. Even resorted to running to the field, getting my pony in (his best friend), and putting her in first. This still didn't work. Eventually, he loaded, but it must have taken us the best part of an hour, and so were running very late.
The journey was pretty bad, and he travelled fairly badly, and after many failed attempts, managed to get through to Mistatiger (who had organised it), who told me Kenneth was running late, so we would be perfectly on time. I was really nervous for my lesson, as thought I would be all by myself, and be the worst in the lesson (there were 3 of us).
I really didn't need to be worried; Kenneth was very welcoming, and the advice he gave was very helpful. We started by just trotting around, trying to get the energy into the trot, so we were doing circles to get them off our inside legs, and then loops off the track for the same reason really. Everything he said made so much sense, and Wings was really listening to my leg and my aids.
We then went onto doing trotting poles on a circle, which Wings was fab at, wasn't rushing or stuttering, just trotting through them happily. Really felt he was listening, and showing off to the crowd and other horses.
We then moved onto the canter, working on getting a bigger canter, but with shorter strides, so bouncing upwards more with a lot more energy. We did this by shortening the strides down the long side, and counting how many strides we were doing. Again, felt Wings was really listening, and it was really positive to feel.
Did the poles again in canter, and again, he was pretty good. This moved onto doing the poles followed by a jump in from the track. Had a few near crashes, where the girl in my lesson bulged onto the track in her line (should've been enough space), but other than that was very good. He was listening to my aids, so not rushing too badly, and we were getting good strides and pretty good lines.
We then did a course, and he was really good, although he can run away from me fairly badly when doing a course, but was listening well. We did have one bad double where we got buried into the second part, but as usual, he got me out of trouble. Thought we may of had some problems with the fillers and two crosses as one jump (like, really close together so jumped them both at once), but he just jumped them a little bigger, and was really good. (Have videos that will upload tomorrow hopefully).
One downside, is the fact that I feel like I have motion sickness? Like, doing single jumps is fine, but as soon as we move onto courses, by the end of it I feel really, really sick. This has happened twice, one at a competition, and then today. Was all very strange, so if anyone has any advice, it would be very helpful.
Oh, and also, Wings is still fairly skinny, despite getting fed a fairly high calorie feed, and in a field with fairly good forage (out 24/7 as of the beginning of this week.) If anyone can suggest anything, it would be appreciated. He was in a heavy weight, but as the weather is so nice, has been out naked through the day today, and a medium weight on for tonight. (Teeth, vaccinations and worming all up to date).
Mississippi Mud Pie for anyone who got this far