Oh my days! First jump of 2015!!

[Queenbee]

so, benjamin has had time off from jumping, pretty much a good few months, I've been very lax in riding, work has been hectic! He was also very faffy and evasive with every bit I tried due to a retained shard of wolf tooth, not only did this make him awful to control, but also to bit, plus he ended up all uneven and tense. I didn't find out that he had the retained shard until a couple of months ago, when after thinking it was many other things it finally rose to the surface enough for my dentist to identify it. The dentist said that actually the shard was to negligible in both size and position that most horses would not have a problem with it remaining, but ben bless him is a pansy, so he had time off, a trial of a bomber bit and a decent sports massage.... My gods it's worked a treat! The massage has loosened everything back up, the bit is a Portuguese 2 1/2 ring with a curb type attachment which keeps its movement to a minimum. Ben is working perfectly now and after a month or so hacking out post massage we went in the school for a jump today... Don't get me wrong, the gremlin tooth is still coming out the plan is the end of this month, but it's so nice to feel him happy again!

I took him in the school and he was so bloody tense walking around... Stiff as anything... Just walking is boring to him! So it went a bit like this...
Ben: Shuffle, shuffle , shuffle - boing, boing, boing jogging towards the jump!
Me: No ben warm up first!
Ben: Shuffle, shuffle shuffle, boing,boing boing, shuffle shuffle shuffle, canter, boing, canter!

Well, in the end we did do a jump, Claire_r and her OH, took some snaps, and yes I'm embarrassed as hell! It seems a couple of months out of the saddle, dodgy stirrups I don't normally use and an effort to leave his mouth alone has hilighted all sorts of glaring issues with my seat... My lower leg has turned into something that resembles chicken wings, my body collapses and twists now he is straight, and for some unknown and bonkers reason I'm leaning forward way too soon! Lots to correct there! Lesson this week I think and no riding without my back brace for a while!!! But here are some snaps... As god awful as I look, I couldn't help but share, he was so happy to be doing his job!!

 

[JJS]

Aww, lovely to hear!

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

I like Ben reports, he's lovely good to see he enjoyed himself!

 

[Queenbee]

Aww I'm glad you like them, he was so funny! Walking like some kind of demented arthritic crab until he came close to a jump them bouncing around like a pogo stick on speed! Once he had been allowed to jump one jump he was so fluid. The wonderful thing about this session was that he didn't tank, didn't evade, had a lovely steady ride up to it, so we just need to find our synch, me my jumping legs again and get him to tuck those legs up a bit better, but my gods! It felt so damned good to be back jumping for both of us! Plus, I was super proud, we jumped a fair few times and not one knock.... His time off from jumping, massage and new bit has definitely worked wonders!

Next weekend, I will be out on a date with the most amazing, sexy, handsome, loving and talented man I know... We are going Valentine's Day jumping at our local riding club.... Just a little pootle around a couple of tiny courses, but I'm so excited! Can't think of a better way to spend the day

 

[Claire-R]

My snaps are much better than my OH

 

[Highlands]

He's fab!

 

[HighFive]

Great photo's! Looks like it's onwards and upwards from here

 

[Queenbee]

Pffft Claire, I'm not sure... I'm kinda loving the Tripple shot! But the motion one that focused only on ben and blurred the rest... Came to my phone as a normal pic :/ but... You both took some awesome pics xxx

 

[Queenbee]

He's fab!

Thank you!

Great photo's! Looks like it's onwards and upwards from here

Cheers, well he credit for the snaps go to Claire and her oH! I'm sure it is onwards and upwards, although I want to work on keeping his confidence with a bit less of a contact... His royal pansy ass, behaves like he has his superman pants on when he has his comfort blanket. He is funny, if we are. On the flat and I drop the rein contact he will take me to a jump, but if he loses any contact anywhere near the jump he just looses his mojo! :/

 

[Queenbee]

Carrying on with Ben's jumping thread, we went out this weekend sj... Prior to that I had a bit of physio... I'm looking a lot less like a demented arthritic crab, although currently my right leg which was considerably shorter is angry at me because the muscles are elongating :/ I felt a huge difference out at the show, I did collapse a few times, but not all the time, for example this pic, he jumped it a lot bigger than planned and my core strength on my right hand side is shot to bits but we will get there, and I also felt far more balanced! Yay!! I'm following the physio with a massage from the sports massage chap who does ben on Wednesday. Anyhow, we did a teeny 18inch class because there is a new surface and rumor has it that most horses were spooking at it, but beast only had eyes for the jumps, we then did 2ft 3 and 2 ft 6, pretty sure this pic is the 2ft 6 class, we had a lovely time, but towards the end he became a bit tired, despite being pretty fit he has only just started jumping properly, if I'd have known how well he would react to the new surface I'd have skipped the 18inches class. Anyhow, we came home with a 4th, which was lovely, and he was so good, much more controllable and steady in his new bit, and with the new surface we could confidently canter the whole way round. After my session on Wednesday we will be starting our no-stirrups training! Next competition is on the 28th... Tres exciting

And of course, here is a token picture for all you beast fans! despite me collapsing, it is my favourite from the day.

 

[Queenbee]

A quick and positive update with regards to Ben - the ever enthusiastic beastie. We were out again on the 28th, the beast was a bit of a car crash all things considered - just far too enthusiastic which meant knock downs due to his rushing and battling all the way to the jumps, pulling my arms out and making it feel a bit like the wall of death on his back, it felt a bit more like ten pin bowling than showjumping but despite this we came home with a sixth - so it could have been worse! So the plan was to pull him back - try and steady things up a bit, focusing on flat work -in particular excitable tension and canter, to work on small jumps and schooling until going out this Wednesday coming. Well, during the week we had a couple of schooling sessions, a couple of lovely hacks to blast the cobwebs away and back to back lessons on thursday and friday with a bit of jumping incorporated at the end of each lesson,... wow, what a difference a week makes and someone on the ground to pick us up on our faults and issues...

So, here is a short but sweet video of us coming in much steadier during one of our lessons, as a result both the beastie and I are a hell of a lot more relaxed!

[video]https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=956124031064639&pnref=story[/video]

And a nice jumping pic from the lesson - well... its a little bit iffy... not sure what was going on with the camera but you get the idea...

so we were debating wednesdays jumping as there was also a competition today, now i never normally take him to so many shows in such quick succession, but YO suggested it may just be the tonic for him, especially since we had made such progress in our lessons this week. So a bit lastminute.com we booked a stable and place on the box and brushed off our travel boots and brand new lucky brogini's.

Damn those broginis are lucky! He was a million time better this week, still super enthusiastic and bouncy but not battling me, easier to set up for the jumps and bring back to trot when needed, newsflash... my arms dont feel like jelly!!!

We did three classes, deciding to keep everything small and chilled and focus on manners - basically use this as a schooling session... He got a double clear and second in the first class - the super Claire_R beat us to first. Second class we got clear and 4 faults in the jump off, so we had a funky special rosette, third round (same height as the second) we got 4 faults, but this is a huge improvement, he was so brilliant and I cant wait until wednesday, I think it may even be the same course. Then its a nice break until next month which will give us plenty of time for working on his schooling further.

A couple of snaps from the competition:

 

[Claire-R]

It was an awesome day xx

 

[Nannon]

Well done, sounds like you're both having great fun! I really want to try a little jump on my boy (normally ends in disaster!) seeing as we having tried in probably over 6 months :/ I'm having copious amounts of physio at the moment - did you find the massage helped with it?

 

[Queenbee]

Well done, sounds like you're both having great fun! I really want to try a little jump on my boy (normally ends in disaster!) seeing as we having tried in probably over 6 months :/ I'm having copious amounts of physio at the moment - did you find the massage helped with it?

Oh, the massage made life a million times easier for both ben and I! First I had him done then after he was done it hilighted just how bad and uneven I was. Once I was done it was simply awesome and so much easier to ride him now that neither of us are battling with wonkiness or muscle tension. I've always been very much an advocate of sports massage on the horse, but normally I would have a hot rock massage, having the same person treat ben and I was really useful and one treatment and I can touch my toes for the first time in years!

 

[Bernster]

That's nice to hear, lovely how a good lesson and instructor and give you so much confidence. Well done. Is he 4 or 5 this year ? Have just bought a rising 5yo so thinking about the appropriate workload for him!

 

[Queenbee]

That's nice to hear, lovely how a good lesson and instructor and give you so much confidence. Well done. Is he 4 or 5 this year ? Have just bought a rising 5yo so thinking about the appropriate workload for him!

He is six this year... in June. He was backed when 3, hacked on for six months (didnt even see the inside of school). Year before last he did a couple of in hand shows - local and county level. plus started a little bit of jumping (in the autumn) Last year he did a local show and jumped on grass (think it was 2ft 3) and the odd bit in the school at home, Throughout this winter we have been jumping indoors, predominantly varying in heights from 18 inches to 2ft 3, we have done one 2ft 6-2ft 9 class and another couple of 2ft 6 classes. We do 2-3 classes a time depending on his frame of mind and fitness on the day and always start with either 18 inches or 2ft to ease him into the course. as of next month we will be aiming at approximately one outing every three weeks either jumping or jumping and showing, perhaps working up to a more consistent 2ft 6 to 2ft 9, then at the start of the hunting season a break from competing and a few days out hunting for a new experience.

Bearing in mind that every horse is different, ben was started a year earlier than planned, he needs to be doing something and cant stand to be idle... its been a constant juggling act between doing regular and testing enough work for him whilst bearing in mind his age and the need to not over work him. You must create a workplan that compliments your horse, their attitude, age, emotional and physiological development, fitness and what you want to do with them.

 

[Queenbee]

Our last update for a few weeks as Ben is having a short break until the 5th of April to focus on flatwork - especially canter, and some deserved fun exploring hacks.

We have had a ball so far this year and Ben's attitude has really developed and matured with regards to competing. We have had our issues, his difficulty to bit, physiological effects due to his retained shard of wolf tooth that needed sorting by his sports massage therapist, he got a tad sticky with loading at one point and at another got a bit of a confidence knock when we went into our final class one day and he just switched off - the next week he was hesitant at the smaller jumps and we needed to stoke the fire again and really get him attacking, whilst dropping back to the micro and mini classes. We had our over enthusiastic arm ripping stage, which caused out pole bashing course trashing stage, but with consistency, patience, bribery, lessons and repeat visits to our local riding club that really adores and understands Ben he was set to succeed, these last two sessions have proved how much he has matured, how he is developing consistency... I have thoroughly enjoyed it and could not be prouder. Up until this year we had a few rosettes, now we have a non too shabby stash... I still can't get him to stand them on his bridle yet but we will work on that!

This wednesday was Old Farts showjumping, open to 16+ yrs, Ben loaded on his box without hesitation, the key to this? The amazeballs treat called the sacred polo! Ben doesnt really ever get a treat you see, but on show days he gets a treat when he has loaded in the box... they say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach!

Arriving at chenhale we got settled in our stable - the use of their stables has been an absolute godsend, it keeps him so chilled, he has somewhere to have some down time between classes and he has the same one set aside for him every time we go by the riding club as he is 'special'

Next I have my wander around, say hi to the owners and helpers, have my ritual of a cup of tea and a bacon and egg bap which I got for free this wednesday - a really lovely gesture! Followed by a course walk and booking in. The course was the same as last saturday with just some of the pole colors changed and an upright replaced with an ascending spread.

There is a lovely little 15 min hack right on the doorstep of chenhale with a canter path, five of us got suited and booted and off we go on our horses to warm them up on the hack.

Despite the day being mid week, the turnout was pretty good, about 15 in the first class(18 inches), 20 in the second(2ft-2ft3), 15 in the third (2ft-2ft3 members) and about 7 in the 2ft 3 to 2ft 6. Now normally I would not do more than three classes, but we ended up doing all four as a one off and im really glad we did. Having had his crisis of confidence a few weeks back, we had pulled back to 2ft 3 max using 18 inches to ease him into it, after last saturday with huge improvement from Ben in confidence, steadiness, controllability we again started with the 18 inches, we went clear but got a stupid 4 faults in the jump off and came 7th. I was however incredibly proud of him, he was forward without fighting, listened to me throughout and I could make a tight turn and floor the gas when needed in the jump off, if it hadnt been for the 4 faults our time would have been right up there!

As the day progressed we got four faults in both the 2ft 3 classes, but I found myself not minding in the slightest! iit was a day of faults and eliminations, the course that had ridden so well last week had tricksy knockdowns for the majority and in both the 2ft 3 classes of 20 and 15 only six came clear for a jump off. I was glad as I had found myself crossing my fingers that we would get enough clears to negate the 4 faulters having to jump off as I had my heart set on doing the 2ft 3- 2ft 6.

My reasoning for doing a fourth class was that we do absolutely no jumping warm up prior to going in to the ring, we used the 18 inches for that and come on... thats trotting poles for ben The deal I made with myself is if we didnt have to jump off in the 2ft 3 classes we would do the 2ft 6, it just felt like the right time, ben felt like he had all his eggs in the right basket and it would be a perfect way to leave it before the break.

There were 7 in the class, and to be honest it went much higher than the normal 2ft 3 - 2ft 6 class. Normally Most jumps would be 2ft 3 with a couple being 2ft 6. This was what they did in the 2ft - 2ft 3 class, but no, everything was 2ft 6, the fillers which would normally be pulled in by 1/3 rd of the wing with a gap in the middle were all the way across. The course was big, beefy and meaty... something we could really get our teeth into, but it would require more effort than I expected and ben had done three classes. Still, he felt good underneath me as we walked around the ring and didnt look at anything so we went for it.

There are those moment when your nose tingles and you feel your eyes mist a little... this was one of those, all the way around he was determined and bold but his canter was really bouncy and smooth, he was controllable, his take off was pretty bloody perfect most of the time, his scope made my heart soar he attacked the jumps and for the most part had confidence, on the odd time he didnt, he listened to me and went for it. we had a sticky moment at number three, a luminous yellow skinny jump with ducks on the wings and yellow fillers front and back to make it wider... he backed off, I put my leg on growled 'get on' and he got on! It was a bit ugly, I lost a stirrup, tipped forward as he jumped it like a stag, we clipped it and he had it down but I regained my seat told him ( or rather shouted 'good boy!!!' and we carried on, The double had us a bit, but it was my fault. It had been converted to a slightly wider first jump and I focused on getting past the fillers on part a, then I dropped my guard, took my leg off after the first and he ducked out of the second. We went straight around and took it again, to which his attitude was total commitment and he flew over the double but clipped the first. We clipped one other down, and im thinking it was jump number two because despite taking that clear numerous times last weekend we had repeated issues with it this weds, just catching it, but the thing is, we bloody did it, he attacked near as damn it everything, and when needed listened to me, the only time I wasnt there for him it really showed. It was a huge learning curve and showed me how very far we have come. Despite getting 16 faults in this class of 7, we still came fourth with only one clear in the class! A really positive ending to the day and fab way to start our three weeks off. He loaded like a pro, had his polo and huge hugs and kisses from his incredibly proud mum!

When we go back we wont be doing 18 inches anymore... gonna miss that little class x



Some pics from wednesday:

18 inches class

2ft-2ft3 class

2ft 3- 2ft 6 class (which was actually 2ft 6 all round)