Buzz does matchy (with Nick Gaunlett)

[Twiglet]

Due to Buzz and I parting company at Pachesham two weeks ago, I'm still sporting a torn hamstring and a haematoma the size of Italy on my leg - so off jumping for a while. Nick Gauntlett was down for a two day clinic so offered to jump the ginger ninja for me while I'm off games, and I manned up for a flatwork lesson the next day.
The jumping was concentrating on improving the quality of the canter and straightness into doubles and skinnies (got a telling off for asking too much of our skinny questions at home!). Buzz seemed to find it quite difficult - to be ridden properly! - so was an educational session. Nick emphasised lots about a wide contact into questions and using canter poles to teach changes.

Next day (sorry for size of pics but am on phone and can't resize!), I had a flat lesson. Hadnt been in the saddle for a fortnight so wasn't expecting big things, but he came out with his dressage hat on and made things a bit easier than normal...work was all about consistency of the contact, particularly transitions, using medium canter along long side to collected canter on 7m circles to get him sitting down and using containing the outside shoulder to stop all the energy bogging off through the arena fence
He felt really awesome - the canter especially has come on loads in the last couple of months, and he got lots of positive comments from nick. Now find myself actually wanting to go out and do some dressage...what has happened?!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

Wow the pics look great! Sounds like a productive weekend

 

[Lolo]

Wow! He is gorgeous and I'm glad you're on the mend

 

[PorkChop]

He's looking fabulous :thumbup:

Hope your leg heals quickly, well done for doing a clinic so soon!

 

[Clare85]

What a gorgeous horse you have! Lovely pictures. Hoping you recover speedily and good luck with the dressage!

 

[tricksibell85]

Lovely )) hope u feel better soon!! X

 

[Pigeon]

Scrummy horse!!

 

[Twiglet]

Thankies He is looking a bit gorgeous at the moment....albeit on the porky side. Nick said he looks a bit like a cartoon character

Link to vid, not sure if this works?

 

[Ferdinase514]

Link works

Looks cracking. Is he back in good books?

 

[Twiglet]

He's on his way back to the good books....over the course of that lesson I decided to give up idea of eventing and concentrate on pure dressage, but swiflty got steered away by Nick and YO who insisted I have to event him ("but not showjump. He'll never make a showjumper")

 

[MTGG]

He looks lovely.

I used to have lessons with Nick a few years back. He got on my mare once and she looked beautiful but he was very 'firm' with his hands/her mouth and he tried to gt me to be the same but he was asking me to literally anchor her down and I couldn't do it/didn't want to! Did you notice that at all or does yours already have a consistent carriage like the pics?

 

[Twiglet]

I get the opposite from him actuallly - that I'm too strong/fixed in my arm, and it results in half a ton of fat Irish leaning on me So my homework is to be more relaxed in my arm and have him going forward to carry himself.

He looked to be riding him quite softly, was taking more of a contact in the outside to stop him running through the outside shoulder, but it wasn't what I'd call fixed. Pics aren't too great as light was going:

 

[MTGG]

Well I'm guilty of not always maintaining a consistent contact so probably just me! I always liked him as an instructor, he really pushed me jumping-wise, which I needed. The pics look good - but I honestly think he looks to be going better with you!

 

[Twiglet]

Yes, he doesn't really believe in small jumps does he?! He put up a 1.20m last time I had a jumping lesson, and tried to convince me it was 75cm and "absolutely fine"....as I approached it going decidedly green.

I think Buzz was probably just relieved to have me riding the next day...far less work with lazy owner on board - either that or he was trying to make amends for putting me through a fence last time I rode him?!