Lesson with Di Report....

NewHeights_SJ

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Joined
13 June 2007
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1,589
Location
Northamptonshire
www.newheights-showjumping.co.uk
I've not long got home and im absolutely knackered!!! But what a great day!!

It took us about an hour to get there and as we got close i could feel the nerves setting in, but Di got me a cup of tea and we had a quick chat about Fee and i have to say she is realy nice!
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This put me at ease and after tacking up she asked me to warm up as normal so she could see how we work together. A few transitions and circles later she gave me a quick assessment of my ride, ack!
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I think the word 'weak' was used! haha.... my position being very weak that is, so that i am not making Fee work in the canter and just looking pretty.

So we worked on the canter and after about 10mins i was out of puff!!
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I'm so unfit! But the bouncy canter i was achieving felt wonderful. We progressed to some poles on the ground, five strides apart and concentrating on getting the right line and canter. I have to say im rubbish at this exerise and whilst i mange to make the distance i am quite often off my first pole. Di was really good at helping me adjust things to get it right.

Up went a cross pole, which funnily enough was easier to ride than the poles, then onto some related distances and doubles, stringing the whole lot together at the end. Di is an amazing teacher and i have to say i've learnt SO much, not only that i need to get fitter!

Didnt really get any pictures, my groom for the day was sat in a bad place...

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This isn't a great shot, but i had to laugh at my face... i really was concentrating that much!!

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Thanks for reading!!
 
Prittstick - yeah LOADS to do at home, she was really good at giving me a few exercises to help, with the canter especially. I'm hoping to go back in two weeks!

KatB - I have to say, i was really worried she was going to be horrible, i dunno why.... but she was SO nice!! awww....thanks, i spent all yesterday afternoon scrubbing and trimming and worrying she'd look like a scruffbag!!
 
Lol! My trainer is really good friends with her, sogoes for weeks there and says she just spends all week laughing and drinking!
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Not helpful when i want new tips
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Well I thought he was but he started launching me out of the front door over (small) jumps (only jumped him once since I got the new saddle), got McTimone out who confirmeda bad back.
Saddler is hopefully talking to the McTimoney woman and I have saddler back out Saturday afternoon and McTimoney out a week tomorrow.
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Was that just a session that you booked with her? Wanted to get in touch but wasn't sure she was available to do "regular people". We've been fortunate to have Corrine Bracken come up for a jumping surgery at our yard but she's so busy and lives so far away its not a regular thing and I'd really like to find a good SJ trainer. Di is on my doorstep.
 
Sounds like you had a great lesson and learned quite a bit too. Your position looks fab in the jumping shot. Do you think you will go back for any more lessons or was it more of a one off? So glad you enjoyed it.
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I rang her up about 3 years ago and asked if she ever teaches 'regular muppets'. She laughed her head off and said, of course! She actually told me she prefers it in a way as you can see more improvement with the amateurs.

So, I've been going to her on a fairly regular basis (she's expensive, otherwise I'd be going every week!) and she's my favourite trainer ever. She's totally inspirational (eventer's beware - I no longer event, just do dressage and show jumping now!) and completely down to earth. She always remembers what you're up to, and takes a real interest in you and your horse.

And, best of all, she makes you a cuppa once you're done!
 
I still haven't got a date for my lesson - which is just as well as Jenny is lame! Just an abscess fortunately so she should be back up and running fairly quickly. The company that are making the bridle have been in touch though and I've had to supply them with measurements of Jenny's head to get the correct fit. They asked me if there were any dates I couldn't do for my lesson - like was i going on holiday etc and I told them that the lesson was my holiday! LOL! Hopefully I will hear something soon but I have a feeling it will just be 2pm on such and such a date and I won't get much say so as to when -which is fair enough and I'm lucky that they are fairly understanding at work and will let me get the time off when I hear.
 
That's great, you've given me the confidence to give her a call. I used to have Peter Richardson (remember him - Ryehill) years ago with my first horse and he made a huge difference in a short period of time so SJ coach is the way for me even though my flatwork coach is absolutely excellent !

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Well I also have an excellent flatwork instructor but also now have lessons off a BSJA accredited coach and it has made the world of difference to my jumping so I would say go for it. The lesson Fee Fee was asking me about is a seperate issue (I won a lesson with Robert Smith - just in case you are the only person on this forum I haven't mentioned it to LOL).
 
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