Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
I usually do hunter trials and all jumping things with Finn, as his dressage has been questionable mostly due to being super tense and nervous. His jumping has really come on and as he's an XC machine and been jumping DCs I thought I'd brave the dressage bit too.
Warmed up well, used lots of advice from the other thread and didn't bother cantering at all in the warm up so he was just in 2nd gear until the give and retake was over (last time we did this he cantered off and was really upset and jittering about), been doing flatwork with no jumping all week at home though so hoped it would have worked some magic.
Luckily it did ! he went in the ring after warming up well, and although we were a bit wonky due to my weak left ankle (a lot of soft tissue damage with the broken/split open foot a few weeks ago) we managed a calm and respectable test with a pretty fab give and retake. I was a bit too pleased with the calm reaction so probably held the reins out for far too long, had to enjoy the moment
Ended up on 40 after dressage, which was pretty good as the others were mostly between 38 and 47 if I remember rightly. Went in SJ and just had a very unlucky pole at the first , we slipped on take off as it was downhill and he clipped the back rail but went clear the rest of the way. XC we stormed round clear and finished 7th out of about 20
Few photos...
nice relaxed Finn just going in to Dressage
He was far more excited by the jumps, my dad missed the SJ due to forgetful rider leaving her body protector at home ... poor dad had to go fetch it
Down the bank
clever horsey
Warmed up well, used lots of advice from the other thread and didn't bother cantering at all in the warm up so he was just in 2nd gear until the give and retake was over (last time we did this he cantered off and was really upset and jittering about), been doing flatwork with no jumping all week at home though so hoped it would have worked some magic.
Luckily it did ! he went in the ring after warming up well, and although we were a bit wonky due to my weak left ankle (a lot of soft tissue damage with the broken/split open foot a few weeks ago) we managed a calm and respectable test with a pretty fab give and retake. I was a bit too pleased with the calm reaction so probably held the reins out for far too long, had to enjoy the moment
Ended up on 40 after dressage, which was pretty good as the others were mostly between 38 and 47 if I remember rightly. Went in SJ and just had a very unlucky pole at the first , we slipped on take off as it was downhill and he clipped the back rail but went clear the rest of the way. XC we stormed round clear and finished 7th out of about 20
Few photos...
nice relaxed Finn just going in to Dressage
He was far more excited by the jumps, my dad missed the SJ due to forgetful rider leaving her body protector at home ... poor dad had to go fetch it
Down the bank
clever horsey