nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
4am start on the muggiest, stickiest day ever....yum 
Continued with the double warm up theme for Fig today; he was awesome during the first one. Really soft and concentrating. Did some back and forth in the trot and canter which got him waiting on me nicely
Got him back out second time round to a slightly busier warm up - he's not 100% confident around other horses just yet, but no point pussyfooting round it! Lots of sideways stuff and flexions to get him soft in the hand - at home we've been working on self carriage, getting him to hold the bend to the inside (half pass prep really) off my inside leg. In turn that's improved our leg yield and shoulder in ten fold 
All was fine, he was behaving superbly, until someone thought it a brilliant idea to walk/canter directly next to us whilst simultaneously yanking their horses head off, spurring it into next year and cracking it over the arse with a whip 
Fig did a small pogo of terror and was a little unsettled for the next few minutes, particularly in canter, but felt calm again just before we went in.
No looking at the gnome huts, judges cars, white boards or flowers Although I did circle in front of each just in case 
Test was lovely - really sweet and accurate. Circles all present and correct, left the markers/joined the track as per test, used my corners well. Centre lines both straight, halt square and today the trot work was F.A.B Really taking me forward, letting me half halt and push him up. Mediums were the best they've ever been in the ring. Our canter transitions were erm, fairly horrid!! Still a little too sharp to the leg due to warm up faff, so it was a delayed reaction and then an over reaction! Counter canter spot on, but I let him swing his quarters in the second one as we came back to trot. I should have tried harder to keep the ribs supple in the trot 15m circles, and I fluffed the free walk by more or less chucking the reins at him! So only mistakes were mine Very very chuffed with him - he was so chilled today, which is a massive improvement on the Regionals (our last big show).
Pics:
I bought a lovely pro pic from David Sellars which I am oh so proud of (Even dressage mad Pappy Turner approved!) but won't post on here for obvious reasons
Scores: 63.55% which left us 15th/26 (1st on 69 and 2nd-4th roughly on 67, followed by a 65 and a number of 64's). So out of the top 10 placings but judges not going mad on the %'s across the board. Sheet comments echo my own thoughts; promising (attractive!) horse who needs to be softer over through the back and neck to get higher marks. Big tired smile from me, as there's plenty more to come and I achieved exactly what I wanted - a solid confidence building outing
Regular BD outing for us in a fortnight, followed by Kingswood AF :squee:
Sunday Roast with extra cauliflower cheese and oversized glasses of rose on offer!
Continued with the double warm up theme for Fig today; he was awesome during the first one. Really soft and concentrating. Did some back and forth in the trot and canter which got him waiting on me nicely
Got him back out second time round to a slightly busier warm up - he's not 100% confident around other horses just yet, but no point pussyfooting round it! Lots of sideways stuff and flexions to get him soft in the hand - at home we've been working on self carriage, getting him to hold the bend to the inside (half pass prep really) off my inside leg. In turn that's improved our leg yield and shoulder in ten fold All was fine, he was behaving superbly, until someone thought it a brilliant idea to walk/canter directly next to us whilst simultaneously yanking their horses head off, spurring it into next year and cracking it over the arse with a whip Fig did a small pogo of terror and was a little unsettled for the next few minutes, particularly in canter, but felt calm again just before we went in. No looking at the gnome huts, judges cars, white boards or flowers
Although I did circle in front of each just in case Test was lovely - really sweet and accurate. Circles all present and correct, left the markers/joined the track as per test, used my corners well. Centre lines both straight, halt square and today the trot work was F.A.B Really taking me forward, letting me half halt and push him up. Mediums were the best they've ever been in the ring. Our canter transitions were erm, fairly horrid!! Still a little too sharp to the leg due to warm up faff, so it was a delayed reaction and then an over reaction! Counter canter spot on, but I let him swing his quarters in the second one as we came back to trot. I should have tried harder to keep the ribs supple in the trot 15m circles, and I fluffed the free walk by more or less chucking the reins at him! So only mistakes were mine Very very chuffed with him - he was so chilled today, which is a massive improvement on the Regionals (our last big show).Pics:
I bought a lovely pro pic from David Sellars which I am oh so proud of (Even dressage mad Pappy Turner approved!) but won't post on here for obvious reasons
Scores: 63.55% which left us 15th/26 (1st on 69 and 2nd-4th roughly on 67, followed by a 65 and a number of 64's). So out of the top 10 placings but judges not going mad on the %'s across the board. Sheet comments echo my own thoughts; promising (attractive!) horse who needs to be softer over through the back and neck to get higher marks. Big tired smile from me, as there's plenty more to come and I achieved exactly what I wanted - a solid confidence building outing
Regular BD outing for us in a fortnight, followed by Kingswood AF :squee:
Sunday Roast with extra cauliflower cheese and oversized glasses of rose on offer!
Fig is definitely maturing/becoming accustomed to a warm up situation though, even if he does get upset he is much easier to settle afterwards now than ever before!
Finger crossed!