Aintree Outing!

[HufflyPuffly]

I appear to have missed out on updating on our first AF! The short version is we had a nice day, got a nice picture and no one died... Myerscough though is a touch too scary for young Topaz's .
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153654709244925&set=a.10150982533839925.441136.738889924&type=1&theater

With this in mind I had second thoughts about our second chance AF, Aintree, not known for being a relaxing venue... However as most other AFs were miles away, a plan was hatched! Today was part A of our three part plan. Visit the venue for the first time and see what the black beast thinks!

My fabulous instructor came as eyes on the ground in our warm up, and we did have a breakthrough, and that is Topaz needs her hand holding . As soon as I picked her up and gave her a steady contact to work into she was much more rideable. Both tests were tense, but hugely better than I would normally have achieved on my own at a spooky venue. Both around the 64% mark, so frustratingly close to the winter regional qual score, though with it being her first time at Aintree I can't be too greedy . Managed to get second in the first test and third in the second so very pleased!
Bring on part B if the plan!

Thanks for reading x x

 

[Mince Pie]

I do like this horse - look at that canter photo!! Huge congrats and hopefully now you know what to do at the next outing you will hit that qualifying score x

 

[PorkChop]

I do love a plan

Fab pictures as always

Looking forward to reading about part b

 

[PaddyMonty]

.., and we did have a breakthrough, and that is Topaz needs her hand holding . As soon as I picked her up and gave her a steady contact to work into she was much more rideable.

Congrats on successful implementation of plan A and great pics.
Your break through is not uncommon. So often I see tense anxious horses in warm ups where the rider is trying to sit as quiet as possible and do very little when a simple upping of the expectation and kinda saying to the horse "I'm here, all you need to do is focus on is me" will reassure the horse.
Good luck for part B of the master plan.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I do like this horse - look at that canter photo!! Huge congrats and hopefully now you know what to do at the next outing you will hit that qualifying score x

Thank you, we love her too (well when she's not being naughty!), surprisingly we don't often get 'need more jump' or 'needs to be more uphill' for canter . A mid 60% score is not to be sniffed at so I'm trying not to think of the 'oh so nearly'! We missed summer regionals so I would love to get her qualified for Winters instead.

I do love a plan

Fab pictures as always

Looking forward to reading about part b

Haha I'm much more relaxed when I have a plan of action! Part C may have to change a little as the venue have had to make an amendment, but hopefully I can come up with a cunning alternative

Congrats on successful implementation of plan A and great pics.
Your break through is not uncommon. So often I see tense anxious horses in warm ups where the rider is trying to sit as quiet as possible and do very little when a simple upping of the expectation and kinda saying to the horse "I'm here, all you need to do is focus on is me" will reassure the horse.
Good luck for part B of the master plan.

Yes exactly, she is such a tense horse I'm always trying to get her to stretch and take a nice long rein, when actually when I took a firm contact and told her to man up and get on with it she felt much more reassured. It's the balance of making her more tense and restricting her and keeping her on the aids! But I certainly feel I have more tools in the box to deal with her anxiety (and new apparent fear of fire extinguishers ).
Plan B will be acted out on Thursday, so will hopefully report back with another glowing report .

x x

 

[mudmonkey17]

Lovely pics and well done on the outings. Myerscough is my nearest venue and funnily don't find it scary. Love the canter on your horse x

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Lovely pics and well done on the outings. Myerscough is my nearest venue and funnily don't find it scary. Love the canter on your horse x

Thank you, Myerscough was an odd one for Topaz! She found the warm up more terrifying than the actual arena, was super relaxed in the arena walk and then found the actual test a little too much... I think it's more atmosphere with her, and the positives were that I could ride her through the tension rather than her completely shutting off the aids! She is generally a bit funny with indoors, so it's always hit and miss with new venues if she will like them or not.

Funny that her canter is getting lots of positives as its her weakest pace , carriage bred horses are not bred to canter , though lovely that some of work must be paying off!

x x