milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Thought it was time we had a little update from the spooky spaniard. Since the breed show at Hartpury he's had a quiet time. We missed the Area Festival at Burrows Court as he had gassy colic the day before, poor little mite. No idea what set that off, and he also had a frightning reaction to the drugs and his lips/sheath etc all swelled up and he came out in hives! Happily by the afternoon he was right as rain, chasing Millie around the field again. Frustratingly rubbish timing, but deeply relieved that he was all OK, and made a speedy recovery 
We had a lesson with Adam a couple of weeks ago and worked on putting everything back together. At the moment I'm having to hack to a friend's school to work him, and he finds it a very spooky environment so it's a challenge to get much sense from him. Adam wanted me to really press him for engagement during the lesson, as he settled quickly. He wasn't too keen on making much effort so blocked his back and neck up, giving me the feel of riding a jackhammer. However, it made me realise that I've been letting him off a bit at home- making allowances for the spooking, when perhaps it's the ideal time to use that tension and try to turn it into POWER!
Then on Friday we made our Medium BD debut. I got it into my head that we should try for a medium AF as well as elementary, for no reason other than match practice! With that in mind we had to get our skates on and enter something, so off we went to Allens Hill for Medium 61 and 73.
I was absolutely bowled over by how well he focussed. He worked in really sweetly with no trademark spooks or medium-canter-bolting. Into the test arena and again he did a really nice job, not even spooking at the big yellow cabin which usually saps about 3 marks every time we pass by it. He had a decent go at medium trot which was very pleasing, as I haven't really worked on it since the breed show. Very, very happy with him and a score of 65%
Video
http://youtu.be/dZ8-bgjjcNA
For the second test he was becoming a bit weary. We played with the walk pirouettes and simple changes in the warm up and he was still trying, but by the time we got into the arena he was pooped. He stayed with me though - usually when he's tired he stops making an effort and goes back to spooking mode. On the second canter circle he suddently felt very lumpy and I had a horrible moment thinking he was going to tie up, so I sort of sat there for a bit and the next movement fell apart. Fortunately he perked up and we did complete the test, albeit rather underpowered. I think he was just shattered from concentrating so hard (unlike me, for some reason I went the wrong way in the walk piros, duh)
Anyway, video, and he scored 63% so can't complain really.
http://youtu.be/QF8hB28XkzM
So all in all, a good first outing, and he's qualified just in time for the medium AF. There's a music class on the same day so we will do that as well
In other news, Millie is back in walk work under saddle and all was going swimmingly until she put her foot in the fence. I could have wept. Still, the leg has settled down again and we await the next scan. Kira (the new project) has been through the teenage tantrum napping phase and is now hacking out nicely.
She will start doing bits in the school in a few weeks. I think she's starting to slim down. You can see what Millie thinks of her here
I reckon when Millie is signed off for proper turnout again, she will give Kira plenty of exercise round the field!
That's it from my gang, lesson with Adam next week, then back for a 3 day clinic at the end of the month before the area festival.
We had a lesson with Adam a couple of weeks ago and worked on putting everything back together. At the moment I'm having to hack to a friend's school to work him, and he finds it a very spooky environment so it's a challenge to get much sense from him. Adam wanted me to really press him for engagement during the lesson, as he settled quickly. He wasn't too keen on making much effort so blocked his back and neck up, giving me the feel of riding a jackhammer. However, it made me realise that I've been letting him off a bit at home- making allowances for the spooking, when perhaps it's the ideal time to use that tension and try to turn it into POWER!
Then on Friday we made our Medium BD debut. I got it into my head that we should try for a medium AF as well as elementary, for no reason other than match practice! With that in mind we had to get our skates on and enter something, so off we went to Allens Hill for Medium 61 and 73.
I was absolutely bowled over by how well he focussed. He worked in really sweetly with no trademark spooks or medium-canter-bolting. Into the test arena and again he did a really nice job, not even spooking at the big yellow cabin which usually saps about 3 marks every time we pass by it. He had a decent go at medium trot which was very pleasing, as I haven't really worked on it since the breed show. Very, very happy with him and a score of 65%
Video
http://youtu.be/dZ8-bgjjcNA
For the second test he was becoming a bit weary. We played with the walk pirouettes and simple changes in the warm up and he was still trying, but by the time we got into the arena he was pooped. He stayed with me though - usually when he's tired he stops making an effort and goes back to spooking mode. On the second canter circle he suddently felt very lumpy and I had a horrible moment thinking he was going to tie up, so I sort of sat there for a bit and the next movement fell apart. Fortunately he perked up and we did complete the test, albeit rather underpowered. I think he was just shattered from concentrating so hard
(unlike me, for some reason I went the wrong way in the walk piros, duh)Anyway, video, and he scored 63% so can't complain really.
http://youtu.be/QF8hB28XkzM
So all in all, a good first outing, and he's qualified just in time for the medium AF. There's a music class on the same day so we will do that as well
In other news, Millie is back in walk work under saddle and all was going swimmingly until she put her foot in the fence. I could have wept. Still, the leg has settled down again and we await the next scan. Kira (the new project) has been through the teenage tantrum napping phase and is now hacking out nicely.
She will start doing bits in the school in a few weeks. I think she's starting to slim down. You can see what Millie thinks of her here
I reckon when Millie is signed off for proper turnout again, she will give Kira plenty of exercise round the field!
That's it from my gang, lesson with Adam next week, then back for a 3 day clinic at the end of the month before the area festival.
