Another hot weekend plans!

[iknowmyvalue]

We had a very busy weekend here, and Henry was a complete trooper for me in the heat! It really shows how much fitter and ready for work he is now, compared to previously. Saturday we had a hunter trial with clear round SJ. SJ was decent, but had a few poles, but he was going forwards and in a good rhythm so not too bothered. XC we had 2 stops (at some of the easiest jumps of course ), but they let us go again as a clear round and he did a lovely clear. Not the fastest of rounds, and it wasn't a very challenging course, but great to build confidence and experience.

Sunday I decided to go ahead and go to the eventers practice day I was booked into. Initially I wasn't going to go, but the ground wasn't too hard on saturday, Henry still felt full of running (or as full of running as Henry ever is ), and since it was only a practice day there was no pressure. I'm very glad I went, as it was a great experience! Again, SJ had a few poles, but nothing too much to worry about. XC had a few stops, but I'd say mostly due to rider error (either dodgy lines or rider not actually riding ). You could pick and mix the height of your jumps, and so we did mostly the 80cm jumps, but also quite a few of the 90cm jumps. It wasn't the most stylish or fastest round, but I feel like we are finally starting to trust each other.

I've currently got a micklem bridle on a months trial and this weekend was the first time I've ridden him in it. More trial rides needed, but he felt pretty good in it, and it might give him that bit of extra stability he likes to work into a consistent contact. Normally he's in a plain cavesson. Watch this space...

 

[Lexi_]

Did three days fence judging at Barbury and have just about recovered after multiple showers to wash off the layers of suncream, sweat and chalk dust Blimey, I am not cut out for this weather. Thank god for parasols because there was no shade anywhere out on course and it was HOT.

Share horse moved yards over the weekend so I’ll be down tomorrow to see him and have a play! He’s been getting used to the donkey...

 

[Wheels]

XC schooling was rather interesting. M started of very speedy and got even more so with every jump so he had to spend 15 mins trotting and popping over a small log until he calmed down a bit.

Then all went well, we had a blip last time we were there, step to one stride to step into water but today he went through that no issue.

Great fun but hopefully we'll be a bit slower next time lol

 

[AandK]

On Saturday, we went on our first outing since my boy had his left eye removed at the end of Feb. We did a Working Equitation clinic, it was great fun! They had bits of the obstacle course set up in the arena, I had to get off and lead him over the bridge before he would go over it with me on board, and he couldn't get the hang of going sideways along the pole (sideways with no pole is not a problem!) but everything else was no problem, even the bit where you use a long pole to get a hoop off the top of a cut out of a bull! I thought he'd be having none of that, but didn't bat an eye (the one he has left!) and it was on the side he could see. There is lots we can practice at home and will definitely be going again if I can.

Next outing for us is SJ clinic on 24th and XC on 26th!! :smile3:

 

[abbijay]

Well I have to say it was a huge success for me and the dressage Clydesdale. We knew we'd win our class as we were the only entry in Elementary 44 but that is only half the story. It was baking hot and indoors but we asked for permission to go without jackets and I was also told I could wear my sleeveless shirt. I also decided to plait him up as a heavy horse rather than with hunter ball plaits because it was much quicker but still showed effort and we always score better when plaited! As it's only a fun RC test we can be a little more relaxed on formal BD turn out.
I kept the warm up steady so as not to over cook him, lots of bending and lateral work to get him supple and listening. Just a few short stretches of canter, mostly to get his simple changes in his brain - our first canter to walk is ALWAYS horrid so better to get that out in the warm up.
In we went; just walked round the outside on a long rein to save our energy I have no idea what the judge must've thought of us! I collected him together did a few trot transitions and the bell went.
It wasn't perfect but he was with me all the way and it was relatively mistake free. We were a little short on power in our first medium trot and there were moments I had to remind him to stay over his back. I knew one of our 15m canter circles was probably 16m but I was so busy maintaining a really nice balanced canter that I didn't focus enough on steering. Last time we did this test he broke just before the simple change but this time I was able to maintain the canter well, then I put a bit of advice from horse camp into play and rode my corner like I was aiming for a 1/4 pirouette which got him back on his hocks and gave me a great downward transition!
We left the arena with a big smile on our faces (mine was also beetroot coloured by then) cooled off and went to untack. By the time I went to pick up my red rosette (which I am hugely proud of despite being unopposed) they had all packed away and left. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see I had been give 68%!!! There was an 8 for our halt and a 7 for our simple change. That score was way above what I thought I was capable of so we travelled home very proud of ourselves.
Sunday I ended up giving Alfie the day off but Monday we were back on it with a lesson. I have a long held ambition that 12 months ago I decided to do something about and make a reality, at the time we were just making a foray into Novice dressage and our canter was by far and away the weakest pace, I wanted to learn flying changes. So our lesson was going well when we decided to get some poles out and see if Alfie is ready to try a few. He started to get the idea very quickly! L to R he initially went for no reaction before giving us a change in front twice! Then we went R to L, first attempt he changed in front, 2nd attempt was a clean change!!! What a thoroughly clever pony! We left it there and went back to a bit of half pass to finish. Lots and lots to work on but we are getting there.
I have also realised that no one in my RC has attempted and Medium dressage tests this year so I'm wondering if I can steer round one in August or September and then we can win the end of year championship in that too! I ordered the test sheets off BD this weekend...