Geoff Update: RC Camp where we SORT THE JUMPING!!!!!

khalswitz · 3 June 2014

Picking up where out last report left off, Geoff was due a couple of weeks of light hacking after a busy six weeks of competing. He seemed to really gain a lot of confidence in the ring during his six weeks of going out at least once a week (and some weeks twice) to local low key comps and has really settled down and started to work in a party environment.

Gratuitous photo of Geoff looking ready to party:

However, rest periods don't seem to suit him so much!! He got two days off, then brought him in for a quiet hack, only to find him lame. Kept him in over night, and the thermographer on our yard gave him a quick scan the following morning just to see if there was an obvious problem. Scan looked very like an early abscess (not what I was expecting as he was only slightly lame in trot not hopping at all), so we got the farrier out and she dug in exactly the spot and got the pus coming out.

Scanned him again three days later to see all the heat of the foot, which was great. However, the shoe ended up only going back on TWO DAYS before we were due to go off to RC Camp... he seemed perfectly sound hacking out the two days before so decided to just go for it, and be prepared to take things easy if he seemed sore at all. Thankfully, he never did

We were also heading to camp with a NEW SADDLE. As some of you will know, we've been dithering about our saddle situation for a while. I have an SC event which I like, and which fits a very hard-to-fit Geoff pretty well, but my hip-to-knee is just too long for it which doesn't help when he stops. However, kind of by chance, my instructor was loaning a saddle to try on her horse, and she asked me what I thought, and I made an offhand comment that it would fit a horse like Geoff better as it was quite a curved tree... so we ended up trying it on Geoff. It's slightly wide, but he goes fab in his DR saddle which is too wide and padded up, so I do wonder if with his big shoulders he just likes the space. He was really picking up his back, which he doesn't normally do - but this saddle is designed to curve away from the lower back where he gets tense, so it does seem to suit him. Best of all, being secondhand it is less expensive than my current saddle, so I'm reasonably sure of being able to sell it and even taking a big loss on its value I can still afford to outright buy and ref lock this new one. So we took it along to camp to give it a thorough road test

We were going with two friends from my old yard, so we nipped Geoff over the hers and in a paddock to himself for the night before leaving, to make things a bit easier. Took advantage of their gorgeous hacking on a lovely evening:

And Geoff loved it when we found a lovely 1/4 mile stretch of grassy track where he could have the first good flat out run he's had in a few months. Both came home grinning

Camp itself was at a BE venue about 2 hrs away in the box. We went last year and had a fab time despite being very nervous about going, so with Geoff's improved social skills this year I was really excited rather than dreading being bucked off.

We got our lesson timetable, and I had a flatwork lesson on the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and then a SJ lesson Sat afternoon , XC Sunday morning and one more SJ lesson on Sunday afternoon. I was pleased with this as we'd get the concentration while he was still fresh in the flatwork and then the rest of the weekend to concentrate on jumping...

Settling in very happily:

Flatwork lessons went fab. He was a little looky to start, but settled in well and was carrying himself and getting the lateral suppleness which we've been working for. Instructor said that it's all there, I just need to be more consistent and disciplined and clear in what I want and it will come. He is generally pretty eager to please, with the odd disagreement about contact but generally he is trying to give what I ask him for which is lovely. It was also nice to, for once, be on the most established horse in the group!!

We worked lots on transitions, on changing gears within the paces, on using the canter to improve the suppleness in the trot, and on him taking us both forward without leaning on me. There is so much just under the surface with this horse, and whilst he's no flashy WB he feels like when we finally get the consistency he is going to look stunning all the same

khalswitz · 3 June 2014

Then, the jumping.

Our first SJ lesson started off with grid work. I explained to the instructor (who knows us and has taught us a handful of times before) that the stopping is a big problem at the moment, but doesn't seem to happen doing grid work. So we started off with grids, and Geoff was going great, really bouncing through and jumping nicely. The instructor told me we'd jumped 90cm which I was pretty shocked by as it felt like nothing!!

Photographer disappeared after the first ten mins but here are a couple of nice ones from early on:

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366138026&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

And my fave: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366138626&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

Then, near the end, he told us to jump throughout he grid and round up over three of the SJ fences with fillers. They weren't huge, maybe about 75cm or so, but the fillers were right underneath. Felt Geoff fall on the forehand after the last element of the grid, tried to pick him up and he got strong round the corner, then he backed right off as soon as he locked on, resulting in a boot from me and an awkward cat leap. Second fence the same thing, and the third he outright refused.

Instructor was so frustrated, he said I completely changed how I rode and got all defensive, and was essentially saying 'no' before we even got there. He also asked me why I was in a Waterford. I told him about Geoff's party trick of putting his head to the floor and tanking off (sometimes accompanied by rodeo bucking) after a fence, but he said he'd like to see me jump him in a snaffle tomorrow. We went through the grid a few more times to get him jumping nicely again but it didn't quite come back, and he wasn't stretching and using his back the way he had been. Me and instructor both left very frustrated.

So, I decided to put my big girl brave pants on for the following morning, and changed him into his hanging cheek snaffle for the XC. I was slightly sure I'd signed my own death warrant, but decided that we are both better XC than SJ, so if we were going to notice a difference it would be there.

So off we went. He started off refusing each fence first time, as he's started doing this year. However, after a few fences he seemed to realise he could take the contact and started to jump properly rather than deer leaping. As soon as he started that I started giving a bit more... and suddenly he started jumping first time and feeling, honestly, like a XC munching machine.

He stormed first time over the wall that last year he spent ten minutes having a tantrum about before jumping, jumped the coloured house, over the ditch with only a little peek (which for him is unheard of), and then straight over the HUGE bright green roll top on a slope downhill into the water, and out over another green roll top with brush!!! I think the roll tops were a be100 combination - I realised when approaching them that it was BLOOMING HUGE so I just took a deep breath and gave him plenty of rein as he jumped. It felt huge but equally he didn't even feel like he was having to try that hard!!!

Photos are of the first half of the course as photographer needed to nip off and start the next group.

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366776426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366781026&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366781426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

Getting a bit left behind: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366783026&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

A bit better: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366784026&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

Handsome: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366787626&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366790226&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366792226&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366792426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366796226&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366799226&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

Just came away absolutely buzzing - he felt like he could be REALLY good at this if we just did more of it. We definitely had a few out of control galloping moments where Geoff put his head to the floor and went for a hooley, but no bucking just enjoying going fast, so I'm prepared to endure that if he feels more confident about jumping

Then we went in for our last lesson with the SJ instructor again. WELL. Geoff was a different horse. He started a bit strong, and the instructor jumped on just to have a discussion on manners. With no Waterford, I didn;t actually need my spurs so off they came too. He flew round over the grid and he was jumping round all the fillers with no backing off, despite a few bad strides, but I just sat still, kept my leg there but without pushing for a stride and he sorted himself out. He was also STRETCHING over every fence, and for the first time in nearly 2 years I was actually able to FOLD and do a proper crest release. I just felt so WITH him, which we've never really felt before. It was awesome. Instructor was full of praise too - there's a lot to work on but now we've got the feeling and we both trust each other a little more I think. Unfortunately no photos of us jumping (except this one of instructor stealing my pony http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366319426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk ), but I was just buzzing so much afterwards that I don't really mind. SO CHUFFED.

So I'm determiend to do lots of jumping practice and just get us both really comfortable with each other, with the aim of maybe by the end of the month/start of next looking to try going out SJ again, and see if we can change around our SJ with a new saddle, new bit, and change of attitude

Such a fab weekend, it wasn't even marred by my awful sunburn, or Geoff's developing breasts for a day (one of the riders was a vet, took a look and said he had developed some oedema in front of his girth, possibly due to it catching it the heat, but it didn't seem to hurt and disappeared within 36 hours, so was a bit weird but not a problem). However the last two days have left me slightly unable to walk... my thigh muscles above my knee on either side HURT - I'm blaming all the jumping

So next plans are another flatwork lesson at our monthly clinic, and a BD outing at prelim and unaff novice next weekend. However I am checking dates for SJ and anything vaguely event-like as well now

Crispy M&M's, leftover chicken curry and sweet pancakes on offer for reading

And polos for Geoff for being good:

dianchi · 4 June 2014

Well done, good that the instructor spotted a good change to make!

khalswitz · 4 June 2014

dianchi said:
Well done, good that the instructor spotted a good change to make!

I can't believe the difference. But the switch to the snaffle at home for schooling on the flat a few months ago worked really well so it makes sense that it would work in the jumping too. I'm just so pleased that we've hopefully had our turning point as the jumping has been getting me down a bit. So full of enthusiasm for jump schooling now!!

Sheep · 4 June 2014

Sounds like a very productive couple of days indeed - looking forward to more reports! Lovely pictures too and what a handsome horse!

khalswitz · 4 June 2014

Sheep said:
Sounds like a very productive couple of days indeed - looking forward to more reports! Lovely pictures too and what a handsome horse!

Thanks - I think he's very handsome but I know I am biased

Lolo · 4 June 2014

He's such a looker! And it seems like he might have decided this eventing lark is actually a bit of fun after all

I hope so, as it looks like you'll be a fairly epic team!

It's funny how stepping down bit-wise can increase the control. I found that on my old horse- by having just a little bit too soft a bit I had more control. It was very unnerving at first though, felt like I was being carted everywhere but once we'd found out equilibrium again it felt lots better. The first course we did was a bit lairy though!

khalswitz · 4 June 2014

Lolo said:
He's such a looker! And it seems like he might have decided this eventing lark is actually a bit of fun after all I hope so, as it looks like you'll be a fairly epic team!

It's funny how stepping down bit-wise can increase the control. I found that on my old horse- by having just a little bit too soft a bit I had more control. It was very unnerving at first though, felt like I was being carted everywhere but once we'd found out equilibrium again it felt lots better. The first course we did was a bit lairy though!

I had just about given up on eventing him to be honest as he was just so inconsistent to jump and seemed to enjoy his dressage much more. He was obviously waiting til I gave up before deciding he quite enjoys it after all

we are going to work to get the jumping consistent like this at home in the meantime and maybe try a few small sjs on grass, with the aim of getting him to a couple of arena events and his first ode in August if all goes well and he doesn't decide against it again in the mean time!!

The control we can work on - before, when he charged off he tended to buck and send me flying, whereas we've moved past all that now so I'm not quite so worries about him getting strong now to be honest! The Waterford did it's job of giving me control when I needed it, but now I trust him a bit more I guess I need to let him trust me too by giving him a softer bit

Still buzzing though

hopefully one day he will turn out as awesome as Reg and Smokes!!

PorkChop · 4 June 2014

Lovely report and what a positive result, sounds like a great instructor.

Now the hard bit, to remember how you need to ride him, don't get frustrated if you can't replicate it every time, it will come!

khalswitz · 4 June 2014

LJR said:
Lovely report and what a positive result, sounds like a great instructor.

Now the hard bit, to remember how you need to ride him, don't get frustrated if you can't replicate it every time, it will come!

Yeah he is fab - won some coaching awards as well I believe. Definitely helped us

Yes, that is my big issue - I take things very to heart and if it doesn't go well I do get down (funnily enough not comps so much but in training definitely), so I will have to be prepared for it to be inconsistent to start with and build up the amount of 'good'

nikicb · 4 June 2014

Lucky you having a thermographer on the yard - great that the abscess was picked up so quickly. It sounds as though you had a great time at camp with masses of things to take away with you. Love this picture: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366792426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk

x

spookypony · 4 June 2014

Fantastic report!!

Where are you going for your next dressage outing?

khalswitz · 4 June 2014

nikicb said:
Lucky you having a thermographer on the yard - great that the abscess was picked up so quickly. It sounds as though you had a great time at camp with masses of things to take away with you. Love this picture: http://www.stephenhammondphotography.co.uk/?Action=VF&id=1366792426&ppp=0&ppwd=31497hpk x

Yeah it is super handy sometimes!!! I wouldn't have guessed it was an abscess otherwise - definitely helped us catch it in time to make it to camp

I love that pic too - he just looks like he's having so much fun

spookypony said:
Fantastic report!! Where are you going for your next dressage outing?

Thanks

we are heading to Tillyoch on Sunday for aff p15 and unaff n23, after that I haven't booked anything specific (was trying to sort a lift to the GDG champs the following weekend at cabin but haven't been able to do have ruled that one out). Need to check the BD schedules for the rest of June and early July to get organised

JFTDWS · 5 June 2014

Sounds like great fun and good for you too. Good luck at dressage

khalswitz · 5 June 2014

JFTD said:
Sounds like great fun and good for you too. Good luck at dressage

Thanks

We're off for a flatwork clinic today so fingers crossed we keep the momentum from the weekend going!!

Geoff Update: RC Camp where we SORT THE JUMPING!!!!!

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