becca1305
Well-Known Member
I had a lovely new mare join my little band of miscreants a couple of weeks ago, and decided it was time to take her out to a jump lesson to get to know each other before eventing starts! Video evidence and my ramblings below for those interested .
Diva has been an absolute delight over the past couple of weeks at home not putting a hoof out of line. So we decided to take the next step and toddled off for a jump lesson, and she didn't disappoint! I let her down spectacularly at one fence (not on film!) and left her to sort it out (poor clever girlie) but I think as a whole we did alright! This would be the fourth time I've jumped her including her two trials pre purchase and the first time over a course.
Here is a few clips from our jump lesson..
http://youtu.be/pN8Y-7NpYaE
The lesson went well, some constructive criticism but overall very positive . I've got a few things I need to work on, she is very different jumping to my other mare who is more a whizzy overgrown pony type and I found this really showed in me sitting up too early over fences whilst Diva is still in the air as whizzy pony is so quick over them and quick to shoot off on the other side so I'm used to having to sit up sharpish! I also need to give more over a fence with her, and just need to work on keeping her a little softer round corners at times, but overall I'm really pleased and feel its just a case of practice and regular instruction to keep me on track! .
After giving her masses of cuddles and loads of praise, and fairly beaming I took her back to the lorry park where Diva finally lived up to her name and refused to get on the lorry . She'd been a little awkward leaving to come home to me from her old yard, and on the way out to the lesson, but hopped on with a bit of encouragement and travelled well so I didn't worry about it....but home bound she decided to live up to her name and turned her nose up at my nice little 7.5t having previously travelled in an 18t, though more to the point from what we can gather always with other horses. With help from one of the lovely mums from my pony club we happened to meet and her daughter she was eventually bribed, cajoled and manipulated up the ramp where we all breathed a huge sigh of relief! Lorry loading practice is now in progress, and since she loads nicely with my other mare on despite space available being a lot smaller for the big girl to turn round in, its safe to assume she's just not keen loading on her own so hopefully a bit of practice and patience should resolve it!
Aside from that she seems to be happy enough in her new life with me, she has settled well into the herd
(little and large!)
and I think being able to stuff her face with grass helped mollify her over the move , as the field conditions at her old yard were so bad she had been in for a couple of months.
She seems less impressed with all the new snazzy stuff she gets bought...
So fingers crossed everything will continue going well and we can look forward to the eventing season ahead .
Diva has been an absolute delight over the past couple of weeks at home not putting a hoof out of line. So we decided to take the next step and toddled off for a jump lesson, and she didn't disappoint! I let her down spectacularly at one fence (not on film!) and left her to sort it out (poor clever girlie) but I think as a whole we did alright! This would be the fourth time I've jumped her including her two trials pre purchase and the first time over a course.
Here is a few clips from our jump lesson..
http://youtu.be/pN8Y-7NpYaE
The lesson went well, some constructive criticism but overall very positive . I've got a few things I need to work on, she is very different jumping to my other mare who is more a whizzy overgrown pony type and I found this really showed in me sitting up too early over fences whilst Diva is still in the air as whizzy pony is so quick over them and quick to shoot off on the other side so I'm used to having to sit up sharpish! I also need to give more over a fence with her, and just need to work on keeping her a little softer round corners at times, but overall I'm really pleased and feel its just a case of practice and regular instruction to keep me on track! .
After giving her masses of cuddles and loads of praise, and fairly beaming I took her back to the lorry park where Diva finally lived up to her name and refused to get on the lorry . She'd been a little awkward leaving to come home to me from her old yard, and on the way out to the lesson, but hopped on with a bit of encouragement and travelled well so I didn't worry about it....but home bound she decided to live up to her name and turned her nose up at my nice little 7.5t having previously travelled in an 18t, though more to the point from what we can gather always with other horses. With help from one of the lovely mums from my pony club we happened to meet and her daughter she was eventually bribed, cajoled and manipulated up the ramp where we all breathed a huge sigh of relief! Lorry loading practice is now in progress, and since she loads nicely with my other mare on despite space available being a lot smaller for the big girl to turn round in, its safe to assume she's just not keen loading on her own so hopefully a bit of practice and patience should resolve it!
Aside from that she seems to be happy enough in her new life with me, she has settled well into the herd
(little and large!)
and I think being able to stuff her face with grass helped mollify her over the move , as the field conditions at her old yard were so bad she had been in for a couple of months.
She seems less impressed with all the new snazzy stuff she gets bought...
So fingers crossed everything will continue going well and we can look forward to the eventing season ahead .