Patches
Well-Known Member
What can I say....Oliver is a star.
When the DC comes over to you and swoons "That's a super pony you've got there" you know your daughter is sat on something that might just be a little bit special.
The instructor was called Jenny. Absolutely brilliant. Still rides in PC herself, although this is her last year.
Got Hannah to do things totally differently to what she's been being taught with her usual instructor, but Oliver seemed to respond really well. Admittedly Hannah was very nervous being in company (8 in total) and Oliver was a little excitable, which is understandable. Not only was he being ridden in company for the first time, but he was also indoors! To my knowledge he's never been indoors before.
Flatwork went well, but it was clear he was a baby. Instructor gave Hannah some wonderful pointers and commented on her needing to trust him more and allow him to stretch forwards without worrying that he'll run away with her. I agree with that point completely. She was noticeably tense compared to how she usually rides him.
They moved into the competition part of the indoor arena where there was a viewing stand too. All the fences were initially just poles on the floor and the whole ride trotted over them....apart from Oliver. He jumped the first one!
They moved on to raising one up to a cross pole. Oliver refused, or rather you could tell Hannah was the one stopping him! Jenny led him over it a couple of times and he jumped it. She then set up another cross on an angle down the arena. They trotted the first and cantered to the second. Oliver initially refused the first but cantered and leapt the second! Cue Hannah thinking "eeeek".
Next we had those two fences and then a double of crosses. Hannah was given a lead by another horse over the first and then cantered into the second, trotted around the arena to the first part of the double, kicked on and cantered the second part.
I'm so proud of them both! She had one sticky moment when he wanted to go left and she wanted to go right. He headed into the wall of the arena and did a very mini rear as he didn't know where on Earth to go, but she kicked on and away they went.
Instructor says she needs alot of help with him as he's a super pony and it would be a shame if he was spoilt. She didn't like how Hannah seems to have been taught to ride more hand to leg than leg to hand. She does lessons. We're going to call her this evening (is that too desperate though?) or tomorrow to see if she can fit her in.
She was lovely. I loved the way she was teaching and the encouragement she gave Hannah. It would be great for her to have some lessons with her, although she's a way off from where we live, so maybe not be every week, as Jenny will then know where they are at when the next rally comes along.
Pictures will be in the gallery shortly.
When the DC comes over to you and swoons "That's a super pony you've got there" you know your daughter is sat on something that might just be a little bit special.
The instructor was called Jenny. Absolutely brilliant. Still rides in PC herself, although this is her last year.
Got Hannah to do things totally differently to what she's been being taught with her usual instructor, but Oliver seemed to respond really well. Admittedly Hannah was very nervous being in company (8 in total) and Oliver was a little excitable, which is understandable. Not only was he being ridden in company for the first time, but he was also indoors! To my knowledge he's never been indoors before.
Flatwork went well, but it was clear he was a baby. Instructor gave Hannah some wonderful pointers and commented on her needing to trust him more and allow him to stretch forwards without worrying that he'll run away with her. I agree with that point completely. She was noticeably tense compared to how she usually rides him.
They moved into the competition part of the indoor arena where there was a viewing stand too. All the fences were initially just poles on the floor and the whole ride trotted over them....apart from Oliver. He jumped the first one!
They moved on to raising one up to a cross pole. Oliver refused, or rather you could tell Hannah was the one stopping him! Jenny led him over it a couple of times and he jumped it. She then set up another cross on an angle down the arena. They trotted the first and cantered to the second. Oliver initially refused the first but cantered and leapt the second! Cue Hannah thinking "eeeek".
Next we had those two fences and then a double of crosses. Hannah was given a lead by another horse over the first and then cantered into the second, trotted around the arena to the first part of the double, kicked on and cantered the second part.
I'm so proud of them both! She had one sticky moment when he wanted to go left and she wanted to go right. He headed into the wall of the arena and did a very mini rear as he didn't know where on Earth to go, but she kicked on and away they went.
Instructor says she needs alot of help with him as he's a super pony and it would be a shame if he was spoilt. She didn't like how Hannah seems to have been taught to ride more hand to leg than leg to hand. She does lessons. We're going to call her this evening (is that too desperate though?) or tomorrow to see if she can fit her in.
She was lovely. I loved the way she was teaching and the encouragement she gave Hannah. It would be great for her to have some lessons with her, although she's a way off from where we live, so maybe not be every week, as Jenny will then know where they are at when the next rally comes along.
Pictures will be in the gallery shortly.
