I was supposed to be going on Holiday to Scotland this week. But Campervan issues lead to that plan being abandoned.
I’ve been wondering for awhile whether Pod would really benefit from going to a camp, there were a few things that I needed to be able revisit in close succession, to really get a breakthrough, and I thought this might be the right environment to do it.
Thanks to some very helpful people on here, I knew where to look, and spotted a last minute place being advertised on the camp at Somerford this weekend. And off we went.
I knew he’d settle once he got his head round it all, but wasn’t too sure how he’d cope at first. Figured we were probably best to get him straight out round the farm ride and pop him to bed tired.
I did think I might need to sit tight to start with, but as soon as I was on, he took a deep breath and was with me. He was gaining confidence as we went and was enjoying popping some of the jumps on the way round.
We got a little carried away bowling along and found we had caught a couple of others up. We were at the river so I thought we might go and have a look at the river crossing and see what he thought. He wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t a hard no. So a little patient cajoling and well timed ‘clever boys’ and he tried wading. Thought he was the bravest Pod on the planet after that, and he happily marched in again for a second go. And after wading in a RIVER the jumps seemed really easy and he was happy to tow me into them - result!
We kicked off Saturday morning with XC schooling, he’s been a bit slow to get going in the past and I’ve felt that we were going back to the beginning a bit each time. But after his evening popping the jumps round the farm ride he really came out with a jolly attitude, much more in front of me and letting me sit behind him with my leg on, instead of needing to chase. I was also very proud of how well behaved he was. It’s no secret that he can be mega sharp, but he didn’t put a toe out of line. Stood like a saint, watched with interest and gamely picked back up when asked.
We did come up against an old issue at the water. He has never been keen to step into or jump into water. It’s always been a ‘no’ and whilst we have done it, always on a lunge line first and then under saddle, after a period of time I haven’t been able to revisit it quick enough and we end up restarting again the next time.
I vowed to return to the water with wellies and a lunge line in the evening after the session so as not to derail the session.
We snuck back out when everybody else had finished for the evening and set to work. We paddled, we trotted in. And out. And in. And out. We moved his feet on the bank. Backward. Sideways. Forwards. We jumped out up the steps, and round, and out and round and out. And then we went to a very inviting step, to slip in. And he went. Big celebration. And so he went round and in, and round and in. We did different steps, different waters, all the steps. And we did some jumping in the water too. I was very proud of him and he was proud of himself too, so we went for a pick of grass and I told him what clever, clever boy he was.
We also did some Show Jumping. I’ve struggled with the phase in the past. But Pod is really fun to jump. He’s so compact and has a lovely consistent rhythm and it makes it so much easier to ride positively. He really makes me smile.
He’s strengthening up well, and we’re getting much more consistent work now. We worked on some very nice exercises to help straighten and supple him in our flatwork lessons. I need to sit up and start riding him like a grown up horse though!
And finally a final soggy XC schooling session.
There were a lot of puddles which made the ditches extra tricky 🤣 But he was super generous and let me attack some trickier lines with a smile on his face.
We’d snuck out again in the morning to pop off the steps on the lunge line again, with success. And this afternoon he went confidently the first time under saddle. This was my main goal. To have the chance to really cement this.
I am over the moon with him. He didn’t put a toe of line for the whole weekend. Was a joy to be sat on and deal with. And has come away feeling like a much more grown up horse.
Few quiet days now and then pick up where we’ve left off. Really REALLY pleased my partner and parents wouldn’t let me be sensible. 😬❤️
