_jetset_
Well-Known Member
She is back in the good books today after a horrible week with her!
I had a play with all the bits and tried her in the drop. I fitted it correctly but because she mouths up so much (really over the top) it rubbed all the side of her mouth raw
It was also compressing her very fleshy lips too much so there were some rubs in her mouth on Wednesday afternoon, and feeling a very bad Mummy I asked an AI to have a look and she said the drop just squashed her ample lips far too much!
So, I gave her Thursday off and gently rode her on Friday afternoon with the Sprenger back in, and just a cavesson
She settled very quickly, and yes she did play about trying to get her tongue over the bit so I just put it up one hole and she was much more consistent in her contact.
I didn't think we would be going this morning when I got up because it had snowed and was frozen. But, I went to the yard as if I was doing just in case
I phoned the organiser and she said it was going ahead, so Han was loaded up and off we went... it started belting down with snow as we left the lane
We got to the venue and Hannah had not even broken one bead of sweat (usually she is dripping in sweat) so it looks as though she has voted with her feet and prefers travelling in Doris
I checked times, got changed, tacked her up (with just the cavesson) and had about 15 mins to warm up because the traffic had been a bit slow due to the weather.
She warmed up really nicely... no faffing about in her mouth and she was working with me rather than against me. We went in and I felt she did a lovely test (N25), just needs to work on her medium work as she is still a bit stilted in it and won't stretch when she is out competing as much as she does at home. I have two lessons this coming week, so hoping to get some tips
She came 4th with 66% which I was over the moon with because she got almost 10% less last week
I untacked her, put her back in the box and she stood perfectly for an hour... she never usually eats her net, but today she completely finished it so I had to go and borrow some haylage for her homeward journey
I tacked her up for the second test (N28) and I overcooked her a little in the warm up by doing too long as she felt tired and a little flat going into the arena
But, she still worked with me and only at the end did she start playing a bit with the bit which I am putting down to having done enough. She still achieved 61.67% even feeling as flat as she did.
So when we have our medium work better in a competitive atmosphere, hopefully she will start getting some higher results
But, she has come away with 5 BD points to her name now
Sorry it is so long... a Seabreeze cocktail to all who have got this far!!!
I had a play with all the bits and tried her in the drop. I fitted it correctly but because she mouths up so much (really over the top) it rubbed all the side of her mouth raw
So, I gave her Thursday off and gently rode her on Friday afternoon with the Sprenger back in, and just a cavesson
I didn't think we would be going this morning when I got up because it had snowed and was frozen. But, I went to the yard as if I was doing just in case
We got to the venue and Hannah had not even broken one bead of sweat (usually she is dripping in sweat) so it looks as though she has voted with her feet and prefers travelling in Doris
She warmed up really nicely... no faffing about in her mouth and she was working with me rather than against me. We went in and I felt she did a lovely test (N25), just needs to work on her medium work as she is still a bit stilted in it and won't stretch when she is out competing as much as she does at home. I have two lessons this coming week, so hoping to get some tips
I untacked her, put her back in the box and she stood perfectly for an hour... she never usually eats her net, but today she completely finished it so I had to go and borrow some haylage for her homeward journey
I tacked her up for the second test (N28) and I overcooked her a little in the warm up by doing too long as she felt tired and a little flat going into the arena
So when we have our medium work better in a competitive atmosphere, hopefully she will start getting some higher results
But, she has come away with 5 BD points to her name now
Sorry it is so long... a Seabreeze cocktail to all who have got this far!!!
