HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
Well, this forum is a bit riddled with aggressive posts and criticism at the moment (not all of them, obviously!) so I am going to brighten things up a little (and also bang on for a long while about progress with Belle because I'm pleased, sorry! 
). Feel free not to read it all and just to tell me/us how you are progressing with your own horse. I love to hear how you are all getting on. 
As for me and Belle, we are back in business and have had a few good lessons in a row now since our huge "My name's Belle and I'm a complete nutjob!" episode. A few lessons ago we worked on a 20m circle in the centre of the school, with 4 poles out, and I found this hugely valuable. When I first got Belle we could hardly manage a few strides of canter between us and this time we were cantering the circle with perfect strides between each pole. One of the poles then went up to a little cross pole and she took it really sensibly, this was only the third time we have jumped and previously she just went mad and charged at them.
We had a very sensible hack in between lessons where she didn't stop once (unless asked), was a dream with the traffic and also perfectly sensible to tack, untack, sponge down etc. Then on Wednesday we did a lot of work without stirrups which I previously found hugely traumatic!! This time we did 10m circles trotting in each corner with shallow loops down the long sides and I also had my first stirrupless canters.
Today we began working on getting Belle working in more of an outline. My instructor now said that I have more of an independent seat and hands and she is happy for me to take up the contact. We then progressed onto some more pole work and at the end we jumped our biggest yet, probably only about 2' or 2'3" but that is pretty exciting for me! She approached it in a really sensible trot each time (rushing was a huge problem before) and I didn't cock it up too much. 
She did run out to the side once but it was my fault.
I'm really pleased to be progressing and it has really shown me how flatwork helps with the jumping. It's as if by magic she has just decided not to charge at fences. I am also really excited to see her softening, accepting the contact and beginning to work in a better shape.
Now, tell me how you are getting on please.
*dishes out pimms and cupcakes*
). Feel free not to read it all and just to tell me/us how you are progressing with your own horse. I love to hear how you are all getting on. As for me and Belle, we are back in business and have had a few good lessons in a row now since our huge "My name's Belle and I'm a complete nutjob!" episode. A few lessons ago we worked on a 20m circle in the centre of the school, with 4 poles out, and I found this hugely valuable. When I first got Belle we could hardly manage a few strides of canter between us and this time we were cantering the circle with perfect strides between each pole. One of the poles then went up to a little cross pole and she took it really sensibly, this was only the third time we have jumped and previously she just went mad and charged at them.
We had a very sensible hack in between lessons where she didn't stop once (unless asked), was a dream with the traffic and also perfectly sensible to tack, untack, sponge down etc. Then on Wednesday we did a lot of work without stirrups which I previously found hugely traumatic!! This time we did 10m circles trotting in each corner with shallow loops down the long sides and I also had my first stirrupless canters.
Today we began working on getting Belle working in more of an outline. My instructor now said that I have more of an independent seat and hands and she is happy for me to take up the contact.
We then progressed onto some more pole work and at the end we jumped our biggest yet, probably only about 2' or 2'3" but that is pretty exciting for me! She approached it in a really sensible trot each time (rushing was a huge problem before) and I didn't cock it up too much. She did run out to the side once but it was my fault.I'm really pleased to be progressing and it has really shown me how flatwork helps with the jumping. It's as if by magic she has just decided not to charge at fences.
I am also really excited to see her softening, accepting the contact and beginning to work in a better shape.Now, tell me how you are getting on please.
*dishes out pimms and cupcakes*
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