ISH_lover
Well-Known Member
Yesterday Torin and I headed off to Howe to do our first combined training, we had entered the novice/80cm class. Much excitement as it was our first novice test and our first sj round since december. Very civil times of 14:45 and 15:30 meant pony was able to be polished and plaited in the morning and after getting so used to plaiting with thread for showing the past few months, bands just weren't cutting it for me *cue one tantrum over rubbish looking plaits*
We've really been knuckling down with the dressage at home getting him to be more accepting of my aids and more consistently from my inside leg to outside hand which over the past week we've really cracked with a few exercises from our fab instructor. Warmed up beautifully if a little sluggish which was bound to happen due to the heat, went into the ring for our test and all fell apart. He took major offence to the wh fillers being stored at the side of the ring which really unsettled him and made for a very interesting attempt at our first novice. It took a lot of strong outside leg to stop him nipping out between the boards and our medium trot (novice 28) essentially didn't happen, all in all it was a very very babyish test. We did however have some nice moments, our entry/CL received a 7.5 as did our free walk with the judge commenting 'fantastic ground coverage' and our final halt and a couple of trot moments receiving 7's. Overall good feedback, just needed to be more connected through bridle but some very quality work. He found the hard ground on the grass rather slippy and nearly lost his back end on the half 15m circles, he also done the same at fife a couple weeks ago on the slightly damp ground, should we be considering studs as we compete most of the summer on grass?
Popped back for a change of tack and my chance to walk the sj course, 14 fences, 11-14 were timed. Warmed up well, definitely happy to be back jumping and off we went. Very nearly didnt get over the first fence, think the poor horse was shocked that these poles were in fact coloured and my god was he expected to jump all of these?? Much encouragement and we scrambled over taking the pole, had another unlucky fence down in the timed section where I stopped paying attention and let him get too long and flat but finished full of confidence and the feeling that 80cm is definitely far too small for him!
Rather shocked for a 64.1% dressage, 2 down and a time of 31.5 sj meant we finished 6th at our first attempt!! Very pleased with the dressage score especially as it hadn't felt worthy of even 60%! Jesters first ever novice scored a 58% and our pb at novice was only 63%, needless to say I am very excited to see what kind of scores Torin could post with more work and experience
Sadly no photographer, instead have a picture of him looking pretty in his paddock
We've really been knuckling down with the dressage at home getting him to be more accepting of my aids and more consistently from my inside leg to outside hand which over the past week we've really cracked with a few exercises from our fab instructor. Warmed up beautifully if a little sluggish which was bound to happen due to the heat, went into the ring for our test and all fell apart. He took major offence to the wh fillers being stored at the side of the ring which really unsettled him and made for a very interesting attempt at our first novice. It took a lot of strong outside leg to stop him nipping out between the boards and our medium trot (novice 28) essentially didn't happen, all in all it was a very very babyish test. We did however have some nice moments, our entry/CL received a 7.5 as did our free walk with the judge commenting 'fantastic ground coverage' and our final halt and a couple of trot moments receiving 7's. Overall good feedback, just needed to be more connected through bridle but some very quality work. He found the hard ground on the grass rather slippy and nearly lost his back end on the half 15m circles, he also done the same at fife a couple weeks ago on the slightly damp ground, should we be considering studs as we compete most of the summer on grass?
Popped back for a change of tack and my chance to walk the sj course, 14 fences, 11-14 were timed. Warmed up well, definitely happy to be back jumping and off we went. Very nearly didnt get over the first fence, think the poor horse was shocked that these poles were in fact coloured and my god was he expected to jump all of these?? Much encouragement and we scrambled over taking the pole, had another unlucky fence down in the timed section where I stopped paying attention and let him get too long and flat but finished full of confidence and the feeling that 80cm is definitely far too small for him!
Rather shocked for a 64.1% dressage, 2 down and a time of 31.5 sj meant we finished 6th at our first attempt!! Very pleased with the dressage score especially as it hadn't felt worthy of even 60%! Jesters first ever novice scored a 58% and our pb at novice was only 63%, needless to say I am very excited to see what kind of scores Torin could post with more work and experience
Sadly no photographer, instead have a picture of him looking pretty in his paddock
