LeannePip
Well-Known Member
After our exciting Tweseldown adventure the other week, i've decided we need to make it a bit more second nature and boring, not to kill the enthusiasm, because that's great, but so that we don't have to give everything such a violent reaction! So since then we've been on 'Bravery Boot Camp' we've been doing lots of poles, little grids, little bounces, cantering around the school in 2point and hacking on our own, in fact i haven't picked my dressage saddle up for nearly 2 weeks :O
So today we met up with Mark Corbett again at Tweseldown, sitting in the Lorry we weren't hopeful for a dry afternoon, but as we tacked up the rain cleared and off we went! The ground was understandably pretty wet but pretty good, and it defiantly didn't look like they'd had 100's of horses round the hunter Trial last week, so props to the team!
Warmed up nicely again and even nailed a little flying change, some thing else we've been introducing as and when it feels appropriate, and headed for the first fence a little roof top thing . . . It didn't start out that great with a major over jump/ twist which nearly had me eating dirt, but luckily, I managed to save myself £17 and hung on despite no stirrups or reins!
eventually settled over this and a log pile;
So we moved onto the next, a little hanging log, jumped that both ways happy enough, not too many amateur dramatics and then jumped a little gappy roll top a few times too!
Had a little play in the water . . . Ruby now loves the water and trots straight in and out without a problem pointing her toes like a little fairy!
We then moved onto our little friend, the blue boat, which caused so much chaos last time out!!
we had a little run out first time, i didn't ride as forward as i should have done and just let her slip out the side, so i turned her round, pulled up my socks and kicked on. . . Well she went over! And i almost ended up eating dirt, Again!
If i only took one thing away with me today, its when i think she's going to do a huge jump, i grip with my knees because it feels like a safe place to be, but i actually just need to stick my seatbelt on, anchor my heels down and sit it out . . . i also need to look up too . . . but that is the same for all my riding exploits, still a work in progress! We jumped it a couple more times from each direction and she was great, still not daring to get anywhere near it but she's also not pissing off after it which is a major achievement!
Then there was a couple of houses;
And then the heavens absolutely opened, the rain came from every direction, i swear it was even jumping back off the ground! We were now back at the start of the hunter trial and a little decorated house at 1, which she jumped really well, apparently it caused a few problems on HT day so i was glad she jumped it so nicely and then straight onto a little hanging log at 2 which again she jumped much more reservedly!
She was so wonderful and the rain was so horrific we called it a day, but before that we were allowed for a splash through the new water complex, it has a really cool little run up/ ramp which was fun!
Eventually the rain stopped, and we headed home and at some point my heart returned to a regular rhythm and then we had a lovely Easter roast dinner but i'm not touching an easter chocolate as i now really nee to get back to the gym and zap that under-bodyprotector-bulge that seems to have crept up on me!
I also wanted to say a massive thank you to everyones lovely comments on my last post, its a huge boost knowing that although the pictures can be a bit horrifying, we are just at the beginning of a huge journey and everything is a work in progress!
So today we met up with Mark Corbett again at Tweseldown, sitting in the Lorry we weren't hopeful for a dry afternoon, but as we tacked up the rain cleared and off we went! The ground was understandably pretty wet but pretty good, and it defiantly didn't look like they'd had 100's of horses round the hunter Trial last week, so props to the team!
Warmed up nicely again and even nailed a little flying change, some thing else we've been introducing as and when it feels appropriate, and headed for the first fence a little roof top thing . . . It didn't start out that great with a major over jump/ twist which nearly had me eating dirt, but luckily, I managed to save myself £17 and hung on despite no stirrups or reins!
eventually settled over this and a log pile;
So we moved onto the next, a little hanging log, jumped that both ways happy enough, not too many amateur dramatics and then jumped a little gappy roll top a few times too!
Had a little play in the water . . . Ruby now loves the water and trots straight in and out without a problem pointing her toes like a little fairy!
We then moved onto our little friend, the blue boat, which caused so much chaos last time out!!
we had a little run out first time, i didn't ride as forward as i should have done and just let her slip out the side, so i turned her round, pulled up my socks and kicked on. . . Well she went over! And i almost ended up eating dirt, Again!
If i only took one thing away with me today, its when i think she's going to do a huge jump, i grip with my knees because it feels like a safe place to be, but i actually just need to stick my seatbelt on, anchor my heels down and sit it out . . . i also need to look up too . . . but that is the same for all my riding exploits, still a work in progress! We jumped it a couple more times from each direction and she was great, still not daring to get anywhere near it but she's also not pissing off after it which is a major achievement!
Then there was a couple of houses;
And then the heavens absolutely opened, the rain came from every direction, i swear it was even jumping back off the ground! We were now back at the start of the hunter trial and a little decorated house at 1, which she jumped really well, apparently it caused a few problems on HT day so i was glad she jumped it so nicely and then straight onto a little hanging log at 2 which again she jumped much more reservedly!
She was so wonderful and the rain was so horrific we called it a day, but before that we were allowed for a splash through the new water complex, it has a really cool little run up/ ramp which was fun!
Eventually the rain stopped, and we headed home and at some point my heart returned to a regular rhythm and then we had a lovely Easter roast dinner but i'm not touching an easter chocolate as i now really nee to get back to the gym and zap that under-bodyprotector-bulge that seems to have crept up on me!
I also wanted to say a massive thank you to everyones lovely comments on my last post, its a huge boost knowing that although the pictures can be a bit horrifying, we are just at the beginning of a huge journey and everything is a work in progress!
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