catembi
Well-Known Member
Well, Adrian & I stepped back a gear from bsja to try to 'bond' a bit better. That's been going okay, & we've done a few unaff with increasing confidence, so the plan was to go trailblazers tonight at Lordsbridge to set us up for bsja on Sunday...
We've been having bitting issues. French link snaffle = no brakes or steering, kimblewick = won't jump, 3 ring dutch gag french link = head as high as he can get it & upside down...
After a rather uncontrollable unaff last time out, we started off in the kimblewick. Warmed up okay, everyone was milling about & watching me cos I was the only one warming up while the course was being altered, I ride at a 2 ft 3 max upright...and stop!!!
HOW embarrassing!!!!
O/h took A back to the lorry to swap the kimblewick for the snaffle while I walk the course. I start warming up again, & now the engine's well & truly running. Can't really slow down, can't really steer, but we're now def up for it...
So I decide to put my number down instead of going home, & we go & do our round. 85 cm which is an improvement as last time we jumped here a month ago we did CR & 75 cm, & 2 weeks ago we did a 75 cm at Shuttleworth. First is a // not that far off the short side, & we're flying. No 2 is planks, no 3 is a //. We're really enjoying ourselves now, so A does a HUGE jump, so big that he nearly lands on his nose. We have the first part of no 4 down cos we couldn't recover in time. No 5 is a //, no worries, no 6 is planks, no 7 another double, can't rem what 8 was, & no 9's a // with a wall at the front. Somewhere along the way we had another one down for no good reason.
Overall a pleasing round. As usual, no fillers phase him in the slightest. Hewas also 1,000% up for it. Altho we were having steering issues, once I'd got him pointed the other way he'd quite happily go for the jump.
I just need a *tiny* bit more in the way of brakes so I can sit quietly & guide him round instead of it being a tug of war. I was getting worried that after losing Cat, I might not be able to form another sj partnership, so it's a great relief that we seem to be gelling.
So it's off to The College on Sun for CR & if that goes ok, BN. Wish us luck!!
We've been having bitting issues. French link snaffle = no brakes or steering, kimblewick = won't jump, 3 ring dutch gag french link = head as high as he can get it & upside down...
After a rather uncontrollable unaff last time out, we started off in the kimblewick. Warmed up okay, everyone was milling about & watching me cos I was the only one warming up while the course was being altered, I ride at a 2 ft 3 max upright...and stop!!!
O/h took A back to the lorry to swap the kimblewick for the snaffle while I walk the course. I start warming up again, & now the engine's well & truly running. Can't really slow down, can't really steer, but we're now def up for it...
So I decide to put my number down instead of going home, & we go & do our round. 85 cm which is an improvement as last time we jumped here a month ago we did CR & 75 cm, & 2 weeks ago we did a 75 cm at Shuttleworth. First is a // not that far off the short side, & we're flying. No 2 is planks, no 3 is a //. We're really enjoying ourselves now, so A does a HUGE jump, so big that he nearly lands on his nose. We have the first part of no 4 down cos we couldn't recover in time. No 5 is a //, no worries, no 6 is planks, no 7 another double, can't rem what 8 was, & no 9's a // with a wall at the front. Somewhere along the way we had another one down for no good reason.
Overall a pleasing round. As usual, no fillers phase him in the slightest. Hewas also 1,000% up for it. Altho we were having steering issues, once I'd got him pointed the other way he'd quite happily go for the jump.
I just need a *tiny* bit more in the way of brakes so I can sit quietly & guide him round instead of it being a tug of war. I was getting worried that after losing Cat, I might not be able to form another sj partnership, so it's a great relief that we seem to be gelling.
So it's off to The College on Sun for CR & if that goes ok, BN. Wish us luck!!
