nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
There was a mention of a lack of reports... Well, we're not back out competing yet! But we are making good progress with the boys training and thought I'd pop in todays efforts amidst takeaway and rubbish movies...
Today we hired the indoor with mirrors at Brooksby. Chose a good day for it, since it tipped it down as soon as we stepped inside!!!
Fig is off to Keysoe U25's for E59 and M75 early next year, and I just wanted a run through of both tests to test our weak spots. He warmed up really well, had a good look around in walk (nothing is scary if we go there to compete though
). I tried to really push him through from behind, and make him use his hips. Counter canter and travers on a circle really helped soften him.
E59 - keep my leg on, keep pushing him up and out, don't let him run flat. And don't let him make the trot too big! He went a little gobby in the walk, which is unusual for him as that bit of tests tend to settle him these days. Found the curb chain had twisted round after we finished - what a good boy to carry on, bless him! Did it up on link tighter and that seemed to solve it.
M75 - areas that stuck out as needing more work was the trot HP to med trot and the walk (piri) to canter transition. The HP is fine. The med trot is fine. It's the bit in between!!! Must get the neck straight, half halt UP and then push forward. Otherwise we wiggle forwards like an out of control worm! I'm pleased to report that my pony can do walk piri's! I just turn and keep kicking, he seems to know what he's doing But I must remember to ask for a slight inside bend and then be forwards (but soft) with the upwards transition to canter and keep my weight even. Else he thinks I'm prepping for another piri, realises I'm not, panics he's got it wrong and shoots off! Only gets it wrong when he tries too hard:
A somewhat over exuberant walk/canter!
Otherwise, pretty pleased in all honesty...
I feel like we've introduced the double at the right stage, and it's already helping to refine everything. My aids are more subtle but more precise. And being able to ask for a tiny bit more 'up' etc is really improving collected/med transitions and keeping the roundness in changes. Incidentally, had an awesome session with him the other and managed to get a few 4 time changes along the fence! And then my brain said no to anymore counting lol! When we start out competing, my plan is after the second test, just to pop him back in the warm up and ask for a few changes each way. Just sowing that seed that they really are just another 'thing' and nothing to get excited or worried about.
And CS...
We've been busy solidfying all the Inter 1 work, but it's difficult to fit in our (35x55) arena at home. Also wanted to run through our PSG freestyle plan (squee!!!) too. Music as follows...
Walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZkfEEl5Y4Y&app=desktop
Trot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltaVns40Cmc&app=desktop
Canter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-box383goM&app=desktop
At this point, it really does come down to the basics; how soft is he, how round is he, is he straight, is he even, taking me forwards etc etc as it really shows up when it isn't quite there at this level.
Everything comes up so so so quickly in the Inter 1, so we need to work on keeping the softness in the transitions and work on the general fluidity ie keeping the same tempo throughout. Especially is those ruddy trot HP's! He warmed up ok with them, did a few really smart ones. But as soon as they were asked for in a test sequence, he dropped me! Argh! I loosened his curb by one link, which although then (due to the shape of the mors l'hotte) allows the curb to swivel a fair bit, he does definitely take more of a pull. Fig has been going super duper in a NS Slimma, so I think I'll try CS in that and see how we get on. It'll be obvious if he hates it, anyway
I was pleased with how my floor plan rode - pulled off a decent set of one handed 3 time changes down the centre line
I think I might need to extend the walk by another marker, and possibly rethink part of the trot work so it flows more. But otherwise, really pleased. He can be tricky (understatement!) but has been fab lately, and I'm hoping we'll continue to turn corners once he's back out in the ring.
We're organising another Steph Croxford clinic for mid Feb, so both really looking forward to that.
Clever boyos:
We can't believe it's another year gone already... How time flies when you're having fun stressaging!
And now, back to our (amazingly) rubbish dvds! Just in time to count down the minutes! Have a good one everyone, and a fantastic day tomorrow. We're off to Cheltenham
Today we hired the indoor with mirrors at Brooksby. Chose a good day for it, since it tipped it down as soon as we stepped inside!!!
Fig is off to Keysoe U25's for E59 and M75 early next year, and I just wanted a run through of both tests to test our weak spots. He warmed up really well, had a good look around in walk (nothing is scary if we go there to compete though
). I tried to really push him through from behind, and make him use his hips. Counter canter and travers on a circle really helped soften him.E59 - keep my leg on, keep pushing him up and out, don't let him run flat. And don't let him make the trot too big! He went a little gobby in the walk, which is unusual for him as that bit of tests tend to settle him these days. Found the curb chain had twisted round after we finished - what a good boy to carry on, bless him! Did it up on link tighter and that seemed to solve it.
M75 - areas that stuck out as needing more work was the trot HP to med trot and the walk (piri) to canter transition. The HP is fine. The med trot is fine. It's the bit in between!!! Must get the neck straight, half halt UP and then push forward. Otherwise we wiggle forwards like an out of control worm! I'm pleased to report that my pony can do walk piri's! I just turn and keep kicking, he seems to know what he's doing
But I must remember to ask for a slight inside bend and then be forwards (but soft) with the upwards transition to canter and keep my weight even. Else he thinks I'm prepping for another piri, realises I'm not, panics he's got it wrong and shoots off! Only gets it wrong when he tries too hard:A somewhat over exuberant walk/canter!
Otherwise, pretty pleased in all honesty...
I feel like we've introduced the double at the right stage, and it's already helping to refine everything. My aids are more subtle but more precise. And being able to ask for a tiny bit more 'up' etc is really improving collected/med transitions and keeping the roundness in changes. Incidentally, had an awesome session with him the other and managed to get a few 4 time changes along the fence! And then my brain said no to anymore counting lol! When we start out competing, my plan is after the second test, just to pop him back in the warm up and ask for a few changes each way. Just sowing that seed that they really are just another 'thing' and nothing to get excited or worried about.
And CS...
We've been busy solidfying all the Inter 1 work, but it's difficult to fit in our (35x55) arena at home. Also wanted to run through our PSG freestyle plan (squee!!!) too. Music as follows...
Walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZkfEEl5Y4Y&app=desktop
Trot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltaVns40Cmc&app=desktop
Canter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-box383goM&app=desktop
At this point, it really does come down to the basics; how soft is he, how round is he, is he straight, is he even, taking me forwards etc etc as it really shows up when it isn't quite there at this level.
Everything comes up so so so quickly in the Inter 1, so we need to work on keeping the softness in the transitions and work on the general fluidity ie keeping the same tempo throughout. Especially is those ruddy trot HP's! He warmed up ok with them, did a few really smart ones. But as soon as they were asked for in a test sequence, he dropped me! Argh! I loosened his curb by one link, which although then (due to the shape of the mors l'hotte) allows the curb to swivel a fair bit, he does definitely take more of a pull. Fig has been going super duper in a NS Slimma, so I think I'll try CS in that and see how we get on. It'll be obvious if he hates it, anyway
I was pleased with how my floor plan rode - pulled off a decent set of one handed 3 time changes down the centre line
I think I might need to extend the walk by another marker, and possibly rethink part of the trot work so it flows more. But otherwise, really pleased. He can be tricky (understatement!) but has been fab lately, and I'm hoping we'll continue to turn corners once he's back out in the ring.
We're organising another Steph Croxford clinic for mid Feb, so both really looking forward to that.
Clever boyos:
We can't believe it's another year gone already... How time flies when you're having fun stressaging!
And now, back to our (amazingly) rubbish dvds! Just in time to count down the minutes! Have a good one everyone, and a fantastic day tomorrow. We're off to Cheltenham
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