only_me
Well-Known Member
right, first off, il start with monday night
As some of you know, I have been teaching Merlin to play polocrosse for fun. What some of you dont know, is that the ulterior motive is that hopefully it will teach him to move off my leg a lot quicker
but went along with my friend on Monday night to the polocrosse practice, and we played in half a polo pitch (we wanted to play full, but trainer wouldnt let us
)
Merlin was absolutely fantastic with the actual playing part he really got into it and started to ride off the other horses, and had no problem whatsoever with me bouncing the ball around/being hit at etc. the best bit is that when I was being tackled he didnt get headshy once
and at the end he started to really gallop when I asked, although we arent really quick enough off the leg yet to play competitively. Line outs (think rugby) are going to need a bit of practice Merlin doesnt quite get the whole turn out quickly and gallop straight away concept
But I am going to a friendly match on Sunday, which should be good craic
and it can be assured that I will be on the biggest horse there 16.2hh is a lot of horse to turn and gallop on
and the good thing is there is a lot to work on
Then tonight I was at a lesson with (nearly Olympic
) eventer, (who thinks merlin is a cracker
lol ).I was getting the lesson to get ready for my first novice on Saturday, and he gave me loads of tips. We started off over a bounce which got Merlin a bit more neater in front (in his words hes being a bit TOO laid back
) and then moved on to a course. All set at 1m, which Merlin did VERY easily
but Merlin has a very unique style of jumping, which one might call odd
so it isnt often the easiest to sit to
Then he whacked them all up to 1.20 and one at 1.30
and included 3 VERY skinny skinnies, one was a triple brush arrowhead thingymober, 4 strides to a skinny . Merlin seems to really adore spreads he jumped the 1.30 spread out of his stride the one he would normally jump 1m in
he made it feel very easy, although its hard keeping the impulsion up
but eventer commentated that Merlin was jumping about 20cm above
which explains why I kept landing in a heap
but he LOVES jumping spreads he just tucks up and goes!! He is very enthusiastic with them
I was a bit too cautious the first time jumping the skinnies, and slowed right down to a collected canter, but he jumped all of them first time
looks like our skinny jumping training at home is working
) and these were just over 3 foot wide
so the next time I jumped them I attacked them and got a much more positive feel and fluency over them, so on the xc I have to pretend that there is no option of running out and that the fence is blocked in hence I have to attack
so lots to think about for Saturday, and Im really pleased that I have stuff to work on
Sorry for long post, just feel pleased with how lesson went and the progress that we have made together he isnt the most easy horse to ride and is tricky to jump, but he does have bags of talent which I just have to harness so that he uses it when I want to, and not when he wants to
Sorry for pointless post
(and self indulgent
)
ohh and any tips for not landing in a heap after the jump? I dont do it xc, but its ovioulsy not helped by him jumping so big
any tips?

As some of you know, I have been teaching Merlin to play polocrosse for fun. What some of you dont know, is that the ulterior motive is that hopefully it will teach him to move off my leg a lot quicker


Merlin was absolutely fantastic with the actual playing part he really got into it and started to ride off the other horses, and had no problem whatsoever with me bouncing the ball around/being hit at etc. the best bit is that when I was being tackled he didnt get headshy once


But I am going to a friendly match on Sunday, which should be good craic



Then tonight I was at a lesson with (nearly Olympic






Then he whacked them all up to 1.20 and one at 1.30







I was a bit too cautious the first time jumping the skinnies, and slowed right down to a collected canter, but he jumped all of them first time





Sorry for long post, just feel pleased with how lesson went and the progress that we have made together he isnt the most easy horse to ride and is tricky to jump, but he does have bags of talent which I just have to harness so that he uses it when I want to, and not when he wants to

Sorry for pointless post


ohh and any tips for not landing in a heap after the jump? I dont do it xc, but its ovioulsy not helped by him jumping so big
