jsr
Well-Known Member
Sigh. I've complained most of the winter that my cob wasn't fit and that I didn't have enough time..and it was horrible weather..and..and...and...
So got off my bum 6 weeks ago because have Riding club camp coming up in early April so knew he needed to be super fit to be able to do everything. Have the YO'ers daughter riding him twice a week for me and I'm doing 4 times so he gets 1 day off. She's been doing fast work with him, lots of trotting on the hills were lucky enough to have and I've done 2 days of schooling and 2 days of long hacks with lots of canter and gallop work.
Saturday...2 hour hack..took me 1 hour 15 minutes!! He trotted most of it, cantered everytime we hit grass and managed a 5 minute gallop through the fields, which for a heavy cob is quiet something!! Got back to the yard, he bogged off with me twice on the lead rope, then tried to join the TB's training in the big fields for racing!!!
He stood in his field snorting and stamping because he wanted to be with them!!
Sunday...1 hour schooling, I swear it was 30 minutes of wall of death around the school and he still came out bouncing and ready to go!!!
I'm now starting to dread the camp, how the hell I'm expected to hold on to him during XC because the moment he see's a jump he wants to take it...I wouldn't mind but I'm am a novice jumper, I've hacked out for most of my ridden life (30+ years) and only just started jumping 2 years ago!!! 2 friends have already asked if I don't do the full course could they borrow him cos he is so honest and fun!!! I'm starting to thing I might lend him to a more accomplished rider for the weekend and I'll watch..I'll still learn by watching and not have to be drunk in order to get brave enough to ride!!
Best bit is the YO'ers daughter who told me he needed to be fit...she said yesterday 'oh I'm not getting my lad too fit he'll be way too much to handle, I'm taking him half fit so he'll be tired'!! Oh great!!!
So got off my bum 6 weeks ago because have Riding club camp coming up in early April so knew he needed to be super fit to be able to do everything. Have the YO'ers daughter riding him twice a week for me and I'm doing 4 times so he gets 1 day off. She's been doing fast work with him, lots of trotting on the hills were lucky enough to have and I've done 2 days of schooling and 2 days of long hacks with lots of canter and gallop work.
Saturday...2 hour hack..took me 1 hour 15 minutes!! He trotted most of it, cantered everytime we hit grass and managed a 5 minute gallop through the fields, which for a heavy cob is quiet something!! Got back to the yard, he bogged off with me twice on the lead rope, then tried to join the TB's training in the big fields for racing!!!
He stood in his field snorting and stamping because he wanted to be with them!!Sunday...1 hour schooling, I swear it was 30 minutes of wall of death around the school and he still came out bouncing and ready to go!!!
I'm now starting to dread the camp, how the hell I'm expected to hold on to him during XC because the moment he see's a jump he wants to take it...I wouldn't mind but I'm am a novice jumper, I've hacked out for most of my ridden life (30+ years) and only just started jumping 2 years ago!!! 2 friends have already asked if I don't do the full course could they borrow him cos he is so honest and fun!!! I'm starting to thing I might lend him to a more accomplished rider for the weekend and I'll watch..I'll still learn by watching and not have to be drunk in order to get brave enough to ride!!
Best bit is the YO'ers daughter who told me he needed to be fit...she said yesterday 'oh I'm not getting my lad too fit he'll be way too much to handle, I'm taking him half fit so he'll be tired'!! Oh great!!!
