awilliams
Well-Known Member
So I posted last year about how I had an accident I had and ended up recovering from a skull fracture and haemorrhage/haematoma, and wouldn't be riding for a long time. Luckily time has passed and I'm back on board!
Last weekend I entered myself into a dressage competition, put a late entry in as was putting it off as it seemed Ottie was going stale, but decided to surprise me 3 days before by going really well, and the leaning had disappeared into nowhere!
After a couple of runs through, Sunday came and we were back to plaiting and bathing, I'm not too sure if I missed that part, especially as I'd been to a ball the week before and fake nails on, trying to plait his forelock was one of the harder challenges I've had before with him!
Eventually I sorted him out, we looked the part at least! We warmed up in the indoor for 20 minutes where he warmed up nicely. But when I took him in the outdoor he hollow a little and started leaning, at that point I kept going but nothing was stopping him hanging on to the end of the rein, which I'm assuming was my bad for being nervous so he picked up on it. So I went into my first test, which was a prelim. Ottie is the type who always does a nicer second test than first. Just before the test started though, the hail came in hard and he stopped and turned round! (bearing in mind I ended up letting him as it was painful!) Eventually the hail stopped and the test began, by this point he was a little distracted and I was very cold, I felt like my test was all over the place and he kept coming atv and hollowing a little in his transitions. I gave him a pat and walked out a little disheartened because I had rode such a better test.
I went back to the warm up as there was little time between my next test, in which he settled a little, but still heavy. Luckily there was no hail, just wind! So I rode my novice and despite not feeling like there was a lack of self carriage, I was pretty pleased that it wasn't as bad as the last one and felt like I've really improved on showing my medium trot strides and the transitions were smoother and I was more accurate! Big pats all round again and came out with a much bigger smile.
So after putting him away and having a good think about where I went wrong and why I did, I went to get my results. I was gobsmacked to see 71%+ in my Prelim, of a class around 20 with some lovely horses and came in second (my friend showed me the video, and okay, it wasn't thaaaat bad!
) and a very pleasing 72% in my Novice with some great feedback and positive marks. After speaking to the judge, she said she could see a great improvement from past tests and I basically shouldn't be so hard on myself. A good end to the day even though I know we weren't at our best! We aren't particularly good at this dressage malarkey and he tends to go stale if I school a lot!
Then today I did my first XC/working hunter fence training day, to me it was a bit of an excuse to get some practice in with a BSJA course builder and to get some feedback. He warmed up fabulously in both an indoor, and a field and all in a snaffle!!! The fences were anywhere between 80-90, and we have schooled up to around 1.10 before but didn't want to over face myself, or him! So I rode into the arena and felt his nerved pick up, had a walk/trot/canter round and soon relaxed a little, until he saw the first fence and locked on. The first 8 fences went well (Working Hunter type fences) then came the 9th where I felt him go for far too long of a stride and I pulled, hard
We always hated a simple telegraph pole for some reason! But, looking back I know if I pull so hard he will lower his head and stop so my own fault, cantered a circle anyway and no problems, so was pleased. My first attempt was stop/starting, but very pleased as he didn't try to flat out gallop round. Anyway, after waiting long enough for the next class I decided I had to either pull out or go in the same on again as I had a mothers day meal to attend and was not allowed to be late, luckily the WH style fences were put up a little, and I had a much more consistent and smooth round, went to the course builder for some very quick feedback and advice and thanked her, and more pats for orange pony. I was really pleased though because I used to have a lot of trouble with him rushing far too much, and we are slowly finding our way back into the game 
I am really pleased with myself because before Christmas, I was ready to all give this up and throw in the towel, feeling like I couldn't get anything right and being nervous.
There is an XC next week but rumours are it will be on a surface, and if thats the case I will be going at a steady pace instead of on the field is a big gallop (because I have a lack of breaks and very giddy horse) but doing my first BSJA comp back come 2 weeks, time to get cracking!
Cookies and thank yous to anyone who read this
Last weekend I entered myself into a dressage competition, put a late entry in as was putting it off as it seemed Ottie was going stale, but decided to surprise me 3 days before by going really well, and the leaning had disappeared into nowhere!
After a couple of runs through, Sunday came and we were back to plaiting and bathing, I'm not too sure if I missed that part, especially as I'd been to a ball the week before and fake nails on, trying to plait his forelock was one of the harder challenges I've had before with him!
Eventually I sorted him out, we looked the part at least! We warmed up in the indoor for 20 minutes where he warmed up nicely. But when I took him in the outdoor he hollow a little and started leaning, at that point I kept going but nothing was stopping him hanging on to the end of the rein, which I'm assuming was my bad for being nervous so he picked up on it. So I went into my first test, which was a prelim. Ottie is the type who always does a nicer second test than first. Just before the test started though, the hail came in hard and he stopped and turned round! (bearing in mind I ended up letting him as it was painful!) Eventually the hail stopped and the test began, by this point he was a little distracted and I was very cold, I felt like my test was all over the place and he kept coming atv and hollowing a little in his transitions. I gave him a pat and walked out a little disheartened because I had rode such a better test.
I went back to the warm up as there was little time between my next test, in which he settled a little, but still heavy. Luckily there was no hail, just wind! So I rode my novice and despite not feeling like there was a lack of self carriage, I was pretty pleased that it wasn't as bad as the last one and felt like I've really improved on showing my medium trot strides and the transitions were smoother and I was more accurate! Big pats all round again and came out with a much bigger smile.
So after putting him away and having a good think about where I went wrong and why I did, I went to get my results. I was gobsmacked to see 71%+ in my Prelim, of a class around 20 with some lovely horses and came in second (my friend showed me the video, and okay, it wasn't thaaaat bad!
) and a very pleasing 72% in my Novice with some great feedback and positive marks. After speaking to the judge, she said she could see a great improvement from past tests and I basically shouldn't be so hard on myself. A good end to the day even though I know we weren't at our best! We aren't particularly good at this dressage malarkey and he tends to go stale if I school a lot!Then today I did my first XC/working hunter fence training day, to me it was a bit of an excuse to get some practice in with a BSJA course builder and to get some feedback. He warmed up fabulously in both an indoor, and a field and all in a snaffle!!! The fences were anywhere between 80-90, and we have schooled up to around 1.10 before but didn't want to over face myself, or him! So I rode into the arena and felt his nerved pick up, had a walk/trot/canter round and soon relaxed a little, until he saw the first fence and locked on. The first 8 fences went well (Working Hunter type fences) then came the 9th where I felt him go for far too long of a stride and I pulled, hard
We always hated a simple telegraph pole for some reason! But, looking back I know if I pull so hard he will lower his head and stop so my own fault, cantered a circle anyway and no problems, so was pleased. My first attempt was stop/starting, but very pleased as he didn't try to flat out gallop round. Anyway, after waiting long enough for the next class I decided I had to either pull out or go in the same on again as I had a mothers day meal to attend and was not allowed to be late, luckily the WH style fences were put up a little, and I had a much more consistent and smooth round, went to the course builder for some very quick feedback and advice and thanked her, and more pats for orange pony. I was really pleased though because I used to have a lot of trouble with him rushing far too much, and we are slowly finding our way back into the game I am really pleased with myself because before Christmas, I was ready to all give this up and throw in the towel, feeling like I couldn't get anything right and being nervous.
There is an XC next week but rumours are it will be on a surface, and if thats the case I will be going at a steady pace instead of on the field is a big gallop (because I have a lack of breaks and very giddy horse) but doing my first BSJA comp back come 2 weeks, time to get cracking!
Cookies and thank yous to anyone who read this