SillySausage
Well-Known Member
Bit of background if you don't already know us! My horse Jacob is knocking on 20, and I've had him for two and a half years now since being given him for free due to his somewhat undesirable bucking habit. He lives at university with me so we hardly ever go competing! He's a jack of all trades though, and now a (mostly!) angel following a solid routine and a work load to keep his mind busy.
I managed to hitch a lift with a friend to a small dressage comp a few months back, and ended up qualifying for the Midland Winter Champs in Rodbaston this weekend just gone. My boyfriend passed his HGV licence in the summer so offered to drive us - lucky me!!!
So we've worked hard between then and now, with lessons up to twice a week. Due to his age (and the fact he's not flashy in the slightest) it's very, very hard to stop him from doing a horrible choppy trot and this has been our biggest nemesis. Majority of the problems lie with me however... I don't sit straight, I have a dire lower leg and naughty motorbike hands!
Anyway, so had a respectable time of 12.45pm and we left the yard at 8 am for the three hour journey to the venue.
It was horrible fog the whole way there, but just as we arrived the sun came out in all its glory! He warmed up the best I have ever felt him. Soft in my hands, swinging over his back and best of all not getting grumpy at the horses around him!
Quick brew and we were in!
The test overall was the best he has ever done. Unfortunatly, the judges decided I didn't do my give and retake (I did!) and he broke in my last canter. He's always been a very chatty type, but I was so pleased with him, as usually he throws his head around and screams good and proper! However, he managed to contain himself and just give some pathetic girly squeals as he went along
We got 69% overall and came 4th. Jacob managed to get an 8 for his paces... which probably doesn't sound that amazing, but for a horse whose trot is described as 'the grandad shuffle' it is fantastic!
Any CC is welcome! I know my faults (I think!) so any exercises to improve them are gratefully received. Jacob now believes he is far superior to any other horse on our DIY yard and the morning after escaped out of the back gate and had a mad 20 minutes in a field he shouldn't of been in. He was only caught when a feed bucket was produced and he cantered back to fill his belly - boys hey! He's so cheeky...
Had such a nice rosette and got a beautiful picture to match
Dairy milk and orange squash if you made it all the way through!!
I managed to hitch a lift with a friend to a small dressage comp a few months back, and ended up qualifying for the Midland Winter Champs in Rodbaston this weekend just gone. My boyfriend passed his HGV licence in the summer so offered to drive us - lucky me!!!
So we've worked hard between then and now, with lessons up to twice a week. Due to his age (and the fact he's not flashy in the slightest) it's very, very hard to stop him from doing a horrible choppy trot and this has been our biggest nemesis. Majority of the problems lie with me however... I don't sit straight, I have a dire lower leg and naughty motorbike hands!
Anyway, so had a respectable time of 12.45pm and we left the yard at 8 am for the three hour journey to the venue.
It was horrible fog the whole way there, but just as we arrived the sun came out in all its glory! He warmed up the best I have ever felt him. Soft in my hands, swinging over his back and best of all not getting grumpy at the horses around him!
Quick brew and we were in!
The test overall was the best he has ever done. Unfortunatly, the judges decided I didn't do my give and retake (I did!) and he broke in my last canter. He's always been a very chatty type, but I was so pleased with him, as usually he throws his head around and screams good and proper! However, he managed to contain himself and just give some pathetic girly squeals as he went along
We got 69% overall and came 4th. Jacob managed to get an 8 for his paces... which probably doesn't sound that amazing, but for a horse whose trot is described as 'the grandad shuffle' it is fantastic!
Any CC is welcome! I know my faults (I think!) so any exercises to improve them are gratefully received. Jacob now believes he is far superior to any other horse on our DIY yard and the morning after escaped out of the back gate and had a mad 20 minutes in a field he shouldn't of been in. He was only caught when a feed bucket was produced and he cantered back to fill his belly - boys hey! He's so cheeky...
Had such a nice rosette and got a beautiful picture to match
Dairy milk and orange squash if you made it all the way through!!
