milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Just got back from Gatcombe and although we had a bit of a rubbish final result I'm chuffed to bits with my little horse. It was a reversal of those '1 step forward, 2 steps back' days - we had 3 steps forward
but one almighty step back
Hey ho...
Shared a lift there so arrived with stacks of time, so I popped over to the tradestands first to get my saddler to reflock my saddle. Millie has wonky shoulders so the saddle had gone a bit lopsided - nice to have that fixed up for free
Did a really nice relaxed dressage, she is getting better and better at shows, although she felt like she was a bit unhappy with the hard ground. Just fluffed the last counter canter for 31, with a big stack of 7s and 8s and a 4 for the cc!
One step forward... her BE dressage is getting much more consistent and rideable.
Warmed up brilliantly for SJ which should have set the alarm bells ringing! I put my worries about the ground to one side as she seemed totally comfortable to jump. Went in the ring and turned into a total spook monster. She is the most confident and self assured little horse I've ever sat on, but she backed off the SJs so much
We went through 2 of them and came through the treble with washing line reins and hunting seat. I could either have spook and screech into fences, or gallop at them racehorse stylee. Last few times out she has been quiet and clear in the SJ - so one massive step back there
We had 4 down, it wasn't the poles down that bothered me, so much as the spooking and galloping. Where has our nice canter gone?
But I didn't cack myself
so I hope I'm waving goodbye to my showjumping demons completely now.
XC warm up was similarly wild, but this time she remembered how to pick her feet up and we had a fab clear round. We've been to 'on and back' boot camp since Cleobury and it seems to be working, she came back nicely with *power* when I asked her and was hunting the flags again today. Another step forward after the last 2 sticky outings.
A mixed bag all in all, but still pleased to have my happy xc pony back
Onwards and upwards.. just have to face the music over the SJ at my next lesson on Monday
Shared a lift there so arrived with stacks of time, so I popped over to the tradestands first to get my saddler to reflock my saddle. Millie has wonky shoulders so the saddle had gone a bit lopsided - nice to have that fixed up for free
Did a really nice relaxed dressage, she is getting better and better at shows, although she felt like she was a bit unhappy with the hard ground. Just fluffed the last counter canter for 31, with a big stack of 7s and 8s and a 4 for the cc!
Warmed up brilliantly for SJ which should have set the alarm bells ringing! I put my worries about the ground to one side as she seemed totally comfortable to jump. Went in the ring and turned into a total spook monster. She is the most confident and self assured little horse I've ever sat on, but she backed off the SJs so much
XC warm up was similarly wild, but this time she remembered how to pick her feet up and we had a fab clear round. We've been to 'on and back' boot camp since Cleobury and it seems to be working, she came back nicely with *power* when I asked her and was hunting the flags again today. Another step forward after the last 2 sticky outings.
A mixed bag all in all, but still pleased to have my happy xc pony back
