khalswitz
Well-Known Member
So, After our lightbulb moment in our lesson two weeks ago, Geoff and I have been on a mission. I've been velcroing my stirrups to my girth, riding with tea towels under my arms, and have started doing a core strength circuits course four times a week to try and strengthen up. Geoff has been feeling fab - more forward, less resistant and generally more powerful, although accuracy in transitions has been ditched for CORRECTNESS a bit in the meantime...
So our first outing post REVELATION regarding my core was SJ. Historically, this is our weak point... Neither of us are very confident, him because he's green, me because he tends to stop pretty dirtily and drop his shoulders when he's feeling a bit unsure.
We nipped along to our RC final winter SJ, and just went into the 60, as we know we can step over everything. He popped round clear, unexpectedly, and although forward I made myself keep my leg on and not over tighten with my hands. He was a star!!
Jump off, however, I suddenly felt a bit pressured. We were in with a chance now. So obviously I rode like a spanner.
Tight hands, no leg, and generally an idiot. First jump was lovely into a super tight jump off turn of 270 degrees which he aced, but the easy lines into the next few fences encouraged him to run on, me to tighten up, and then him to deer leap. We finished with 8 faults, and well out of the league runnings... But I still came out smiling as we had no refusals and better yet no tumbles!!
Again it hit me that my problems noted on the flat are causing me trouble in the SJ - the lack of core strength and tendency to hold him with my wrists and not use enough leg. So at least we have things to work on.
I am however starting to think that maybe SJ really isn't our cup of tea, and whilst he enjoys his jumping, and we can aim to try for a few small events this season, in thinking both of us enjoy our dressage so much that maybe we should concentrate on that and take the pressure off of both of us jumping wise - he may not event like I wanted, but he still might if I stop getting so angsty about it and just chill, and in the meantime he's turning into a lovely dressage pony
No photos, but did finally get the video of our last AWFUL round where we deer leaped and refused a LOT, so here are some humourous stills for you to peruse
And some pics of my sis having a jump on him at home and succeeding much better
Then, last night, almost two weeks of practicing NOT riding like a spanner later, we went and did some dressage. It was an unaffiliated evening compat a new venue, with OUTDOOR tests for the first time, and also our first attempt just doing prelim (no sneaky intros). However the same venue where we have our BD debut in a fortnight so good practice...
He warmed up BRILLIANTLY, really listening, feeling powerful but also soft and controllable. Transitions were sweet, I was really sitting in in the canter, generally lovely.
First test was P4, and it wasn't so hot. I had spanner syndrome again, he was having a look (understandable at new venue/first outdoor) and I reacted my collapsing my core and tightening my hands, and backing off the leg. Of course, this resulted in tension, resistance, falling on the forehand and appalling hollow, late transitions - and even briefly straddling the white boards. Despite feeling pretty bad they marked very generously with 66.6 and fifth place - I was pleased with the score but not so much with the test!!
Second test was P15, a long arena test (which we like), and one we've done not too long ago. WELL. He felt super! He was soft, I put my leg on and kept my wrists soft, and USED MY CORE, and properly rode my transitions felt fab. We scored 68.9, a new PB, and WON our first win at dressage
Comments were the opposite of what they have been - lovely test, lovely movement, mostly engaged and LOVELY transitions, just commented on accuracy. Accuracy was previously spot on whilst everything else a bit meh, so we just need to keep the niceness and get accurate again with it.
So a nice wee prep for our first BD test in a fortnight!!
A friend videoed a short piece of the first test, so a few stills - gutted not to see the lovely second test but at least an idea
So all still improving, and getting excited for the next few weeks - BD debut, riding club camp and team sj all to report back on over the next fortnight. And hopefully more improvement from me to let him perform!!
Tea and biscuits for all
So our first outing post REVELATION regarding my core was SJ. Historically, this is our weak point... Neither of us are very confident, him because he's green, me because he tends to stop pretty dirtily and drop his shoulders when he's feeling a bit unsure.
We nipped along to our RC final winter SJ, and just went into the 60, as we know we can step over everything. He popped round clear, unexpectedly, and although forward I made myself keep my leg on and not over tighten with my hands. He was a star!!
Jump off, however, I suddenly felt a bit pressured. We were in with a chance now. So obviously I rode like a spanner.
Tight hands, no leg, and generally an idiot. First jump was lovely into a super tight jump off turn of 270 degrees which he aced, but the easy lines into the next few fences encouraged him to run on, me to tighten up, and then him to deer leap. We finished with 8 faults, and well out of the league runnings... But I still came out smiling as we had no refusals and better yet no tumbles!!
Again it hit me that my problems noted on the flat are causing me trouble in the SJ - the lack of core strength and tendency to hold him with my wrists and not use enough leg. So at least we have things to work on.
I am however starting to think that maybe SJ really isn't our cup of tea, and whilst he enjoys his jumping, and we can aim to try for a few small events this season, in thinking both of us enjoy our dressage so much that maybe we should concentrate on that and take the pressure off of both of us jumping wise - he may not event like I wanted, but he still might if I stop getting so angsty about it and just chill, and in the meantime he's turning into a lovely dressage pony
No photos, but did finally get the video of our last AWFUL round where we deer leaped and refused a LOT, so here are some humourous stills for you to peruse
And some pics of my sis having a jump on him at home and succeeding much better
Then, last night, almost two weeks of practicing NOT riding like a spanner later, we went and did some dressage. It was an unaffiliated evening compat a new venue, with OUTDOOR tests for the first time, and also our first attempt just doing prelim (no sneaky intros). However the same venue where we have our BD debut in a fortnight so good practice...
He warmed up BRILLIANTLY, really listening, feeling powerful but also soft and controllable. Transitions were sweet, I was really sitting in in the canter, generally lovely.
First test was P4, and it wasn't so hot. I had spanner syndrome again, he was having a look (understandable at new venue/first outdoor) and I reacted my collapsing my core and tightening my hands, and backing off the leg. Of course, this resulted in tension, resistance, falling on the forehand and appalling hollow, late transitions - and even briefly straddling the white boards. Despite feeling pretty bad they marked very generously with 66.6 and fifth place - I was pleased with the score but not so much with the test!!
Second test was P15, a long arena test (which we like), and one we've done not too long ago. WELL. He felt super! He was soft, I put my leg on and kept my wrists soft, and USED MY CORE, and properly rode my transitions
felt fab. We scored 68.9, a new PB, and WON our first win at dressage Comments were the opposite of what they have been - lovely test, lovely movement, mostly engaged and LOVELY transitions, just commented on accuracy. Accuracy was previously spot on whilst everything else a bit meh, so we just need to keep the niceness and get accurate again with it.
So a nice wee prep for our first BD test in a fortnight!!
A friend videoed a short piece of the first test, so a few stills - gutted not to see the lovely second test but at least an idea
So all still improving, and getting excited for the next few weeks - BD debut, riding club camp and team sj all to report back on over the next fortnight. And hopefully more improvement from me to let him perform!!
Tea and biscuits for all
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