Nats_uk
Well-Known Member
so after spending a few weeks settling Vegas in, getting saddle sorted etc I finally had my first SJ lesson.
Warmed up and instructor spotted straight away her tendency to rush in the trot. Worked on some small circles in sitting trot to get her to relax, accept the contact and bend round my inside leg - Vegas has a tendency to "encourage" the reins longer and longer, she is still learning to settle in to a shorter contact.
Instructor liked her canter - said she held herself similar to her father (Unbelievable Darco) - she holds herself quite "up" although I have to be careful she doesn't get too short and choppy because of this
Started off over cross pole and placing pole which she happily popped - she has a tendency to fall through in the turn so plenty of work in keeping her straight between leg and hand.
Moved it to a small upright which we did on both reins
Made fence a small spread and stuck a filler under it. The first time she attempted it the filler shocked her and she made the jump about 4 foot
Unfortunately no video of this but the next time was much calmer:
Then attempt a little brick wall - this was a case of third time lucky as the first couple of attempts I did not have enough leg on and she ducked out:
We then went round a little course - again the first time I kept letting my reins get too long which meant when I needed to adjust the canter she ran rather then going in to canter. The second round flowed much better when I kept my reins shorter (despite her being lazy through the small double):
Plenty to work on - got to spend time doing plenty of transitions getting her sharper off my leg but keeping my reins shorter so she learns to accept a contact. Also time to start slowly introducing flying changes too.
Have flatwork lesson tomorrow (which I am sadly very excited about) and hope to have another SJ lesson next week. Fingers crossed will start getting out and about from July - I can't wait
CC welcome - I can offer homemade dark chocolate torte for those that have got this far
Warmed up and instructor spotted straight away her tendency to rush in the trot. Worked on some small circles in sitting trot to get her to relax, accept the contact and bend round my inside leg - Vegas has a tendency to "encourage" the reins longer and longer, she is still learning to settle in to a shorter contact.
Instructor liked her canter - said she held herself similar to her father (Unbelievable Darco) - she holds herself quite "up" although I have to be careful she doesn't get too short and choppy because of this
Started off over cross pole and placing pole which she happily popped - she has a tendency to fall through in the turn so plenty of work in keeping her straight between leg and hand.
Moved it to a small upright which we did on both reins
Made fence a small spread and stuck a filler under it. The first time she attempted it the filler shocked her and she made the jump about 4 foot
Unfortunately no video of this but the next time was much calmer:Then attempt a little brick wall - this was a case of third time lucky as the first couple of attempts I did not have enough leg on and she ducked out:
We then went round a little course - again the first time I kept letting my reins get too long which meant when I needed to adjust the canter she ran rather then going in to canter. The second round flowed much better when I kept my reins shorter (despite her being lazy through the small double):
Plenty to work on - got to spend time doing plenty of transitions getting her sharper off my leg but keeping my reins shorter so she learns to accept a contact. Also time to start slowly introducing flying changes too.
Have flatwork lesson tomorrow (which I am sadly very excited about
) and hope to have another SJ lesson next week. Fingers crossed will start getting out and about from July - I can't waitCC welcome - I can offer homemade dark chocolate torte for those that have got this far
