Ruby Runs Riot Round Tweseldown!

[LeannePip]

Before i go much further the following photos are not for the feint hearted and not up for position criticism, these are posted in a light hearted manner and no horse was harmed in the taking of these images which were all taken under professional supervision! Anyone offering up unhelpful advise automatically enters themselves into a draw to take her schooling next time!

Went to a clinic at Tweseldown with Mark Corbett tonight and apart from that there is not a lot else to say, I think the pictures say it better!

warmed up in the schooling area brilliantly not spooky or looky at the fences or the tractor rolling the ground around us! First we warmed up nicely over a little log;

Then moved onto the next smallest thing in the field, a little boat. . . which should of course be avoided at all costs. We had a couple of baby steering mishaps and sailed straight past, then we almost jumped it and this happened;

we went from here . . .

to here . . .

And just to make sure I couldn't sit it out . . .

She then did what any teenager would do, and Hot tailed it back to the lorry! By some miracle she stopped as i shouted after her just before she climbed into the VIP tent so mum went running off after her as i tried to wrangle myself out of my air jacket . . . another £17 down!

When we were reunited she was a bit upset, and when she gets like this she just shuts down, not so much that you loose her completely but just enough that i loose all say over what direction and what speed we go at. Eventually after a few more attempts we got over, and then after doing a few laps of the field completely unable to stop, she finally settled down enough to relax and some sense crept back in but it was still a bit of an adrenaline filled ride!

The aim of the game was to now stay in the plate so Mark and I discussed the best place was to be was with a good contact and try and stay a bit behind her incase she decided to levitate sideways again!

After a few more dodgey attempts;

We did get over in a more conservative fashion;

We then moved onto a little gate and then finally onto a little house, where she was much more settled and not so 'air bourne'!

By this time she was much happier and settled and we headed down to the water, which she loves!;

And then we finished over a ditch, which she was happy to pop over!

But luckily it was all smiles to finish!

 

[Mike007]

OK , are you open to some (i hope) constructive criticism? Looking at the photos ,Basically you do ride well .BUT ,whilst you may have warmed your horse up wonderfully ,you were as stiff as a board at the start . Its not just about the horse , its also about you. Do some exercises before you get on. supple up. I can see what you look like once you are warmed up and it was good . PS your horse is a dude!

 

[LeannePip]

Always open to constructive criticism!

I completely agree r.e its being about us too, so try to keep my fitness on par with hers by going to the gym 5 days a week and am currently having sports massage once a fortnight to help limber up, actually had one this morning so was actually feeling pretty good!! I do wonder though at what point i was as stiff as a board especially in a still image? when i was hanging on for grim death or about to eat the floor! That is a genuine question though, i think photos and video footage are a brilliant aid to learning so if i can spot the signs of stiffness and when and where it creeps in, its something i can focus more on next time.

 

[Mike007]

I looked at the first photo and thought , she is too stiff. long before I looked at the other photos. And considering that it is a most common offence among riders I went with that opinion. I do not question your fitness . I like the way you ride ... once you have got your mojo. You need to warm up as well as your horse. Warming your horse up does not automatically warm you up. Hope this helps as it is intended to .

 

[nato]

No feedback from me, just to say your horse looks like she's going to be a real smasher to event, there's bucketloads of scope in there when she figures it all out

Well done for getting back up, I probably would have been even stiffer the second time round!

 

[Firewell]

She is absolutely gorgeous! Bless her baby face! She's trying to be so brave *wub*, I reckon she's going to be a cracker.
Well done you for sitting tight and giving her the confidence to overcome her fears, not easy after a spill. She obviously trusts you <3.
Also those little fences look quite narrow so I can imagine on a wobbly scopey spooky baby you may have had to ride her tighter and more together than you may prefer in order to keep her straight and going over! They aren't the most inviting jumps. Well done I think.

 

[silv]

Some great pictures there, I am sure you will look back on them in a few years and laugh. She certainly looks like she doesn't want to touch any of the fences. Well done for sticking with her and coming out the other side smiling. I imagine she has benefitted greatly from her outing and with more miles on the clock will be a cracker.

 

[PorkChop]

I love her facial expressions

She certainly looks like she has scope, I have a feeling that she could be a superstar for you

 

[star]

Cracking photos! Just to say they don't grow out of that high tailing it back to the lorry and Monty normally does it to me somewhere down by the water so I've got the furthest to go to get him back! Fortunately managed to stay in the plate there yesterday and had a fab time. Gutted to have missed your jumping display. She sure can jump!

 

[almostthere]

Lovely photos but most importantly love, love, love the fact you are smiling throughout. I am the worst offender at remembering this is about fun (as well as doing a good job) so well done you! Only thing I would add is (and I am by no means an expert but this was said to me by a very well known showjumping coach about my mare and it made sense) I can't see if you have a stud girth on or not? She is soo careful you might want to think about using one even without studs? Said coach said when they are that careful and with that action if they catch themselves even with her shoes it could frighten her into not tucking those lovely legs up again in the future. As I said it made sense to me I am aware views are divided on stud girths and looks like you are doing a great job anyway

 

[FfionWinnie]

All I can say is rather you than me. Did you hit the jump when you came off?

At least you've got Mike offering to show you how it's done while you get on with your warm up stretches tho

Must say I don't like the post thing sticking up at either end of the boat. Landing on that would bleeding hurt.

 

[LeannePip]

No feedback from me, just to say your horse looks like she's going to be a real smasher to event, there's bucketloads of scope in there when she figures it all out

Well done for getting back up, I probably would have been even stiffer the second time round!

Yes scope is one thing we aren't lacking, control on the other hand . . .

She is absolutely gorgeous! Bless her baby face! She's trying to be so brave *wub*, I reckon she's going to be a cracker.
Well done you for sitting tight and giving her the confidence to overcome her fears, not easy after a spill. She obviously trusts you <3.
Also those little fences look quite narrow so I can imagine on a wobbly scopey spooky baby you may have had to ride her tighter and more together than you may prefer in order to keep her straight and going over! They aren't the most inviting jumps. Well done I think.

She does try so hard which does go against her some times as she gets so upset and worried if she cant work it out quick enough, but Mark said that i'm approaching and riding it perfectly and quietly and not hassling her, the only thing i cant do is make her jump it but that she would eventually work it out and she did, and once she'd done that she settled right down and was much happier.

Yes the fences weren't ideal but all the nice ones are dotted around the course for the HT this weekend so we just had to make do, but i think it made it a much more useful session as we acctually had something to work on and i got loads out of the instruction. When she knows what shes doing and its easy shes such a goody two shoes that i often will have a flat lesson at home where one of my instructors just ends up stood in the middle chatting to me because shes just being easy, so as nice as it is, its almost a waste of money!

Some great pictures there, I am sure you will look back on them in a few years and laugh. She certainly looks like she doesn't want to touch any of the fences. Well done for sticking with her and coming out the other side smiling. I imagine she has benefitted greatly from her outing and with more miles on the clock will be a cracker.

Thank you! Mum and i were saying the same - they are a bit cringey now but once shes older and more established we'll be able to look back and see how far shes come!

I love her facial expressions

She certainly looks like she has scope, I have a feeling that she could be a superstar for you

Thank you, shes a little star and a really lovely person so her talent is a bonus, long road ahead first though!

Cracking photos! Just to say they don't grow out of that high tailing it back to the lorry and Monty normally does it to me somewhere down by the water so I've got the furthest to go to get him back! Fortunately managed to stay in the plate there yesterday and had a fab time. Gutted to have missed your jumping display. She sure can jump!

Best start getting used to the long walk back then! i was so shocked when she stopped as i called her, she never answers to her name!! Well done for staying in the plate, easier said than done sometimes! It was brilliant down there ground was so good such a shame they had to cancel last weekend!

Lovely photos but most importantly love, love, love the fact you are smiling throughout. I am the worst offender at remembering this is about fun (as well as doing a good job) so well done you! Only thing I would add is (and I am by no means an expert but this was said to me by a very well known showjumping coach about my mare and it made sense) I can't see if you have a stud girth on or not? She is soo careful you might want to think about using one even without studs? Said coach said when they are that careful and with that action if they catch themselves even with her shoes it could frighten her into not tucking those lovely legs up again in the future. As I said it made sense to me I am aware views are divided on stud girths and looks like you are doing a great job anyway

Thank you, i wasn't smiling whilst being carted round with completely out of control, that's for sure, it was more of a grimmace! but i just have to smile on her, she tries so hard and that's all i can ask! As for the stud girth no i dont have one on her at the moment as i'm really struggling with keeping the saddle stable, she has a really forward girth groove so everything flies forwards without a shaped an elastic girth, shes also really narrow between the legs so the ones i've tried have been too bulky, they've slipped forwards and then rubbed between the front legs. So if anyone has any ideas on ones to try i'd love to hear it as i'll need one soon enough!

 

[PaddyMonty]

Sorry but all the issues are down to the rider.
Now, does this qualify me to enter the draw?
If I make a few more unconstructive comments do I get entered multiple times?
Yes I am that desperate to go round an XC course again.

 

[LeannePip]

All I can say is rather you than me. Did you hit the jump when you came off?

At least you've got Mike offering to show you how it's done while you get on with your warm up stretches tho

Must say I don't like the post thing sticking up at either end of the boat. Landing on that would bleeding hurt.

No missed the jump luckily! Yes that little post did worry me:S

I can say that that air jacket has been worth every penny so far!

Sorry but all the issues are down to the rider.
Now, does this qualify me to enter the draw?
If I make a few more unconstructive comments do I get entered multiple times?
Yes I am that desperate to go round an XC course again.

Yes Paddy, you can enter as many times as you like! And if ever you are in the area and fancy an adrenaline filled ride, give me a call!

 

[HBII]

Oo so jealous of the XC jumping - but you can keep the falling off lol hope you aren't too sore. How flexible is she in that photo of her avoiding the boat? I think you did very well, they are quite intimidating fences and without the flags.

 

[puppystitch]

I LOVE these photos - her face going 'over' the boat is brilliant. Well done you, looks like a great day out.

 

[JennBags]

Wow she's going to be super once she realises the jumps aren't going to eat her! What scope.

 

[hobo]

Wow she's going to be super once she realises the jumps aren't going to eat her! What scope.

As above and rather you than me but wow she can jump!!!

 

[Bernster]

Bless you for posting pics which aren't quite so glamorous! Sorry but they did make me smile, and she really does do the most bonkers jump sometimes doesn't she? I would have been out the back door I reckon. I just be under a false confidence at the moment but I actually really liked the look of those jumps!

 

[Bustermartin]

Brilliant pictures - reminds me of many a time on young horses - many, many years ago!! I love that first picture - your face and the mares are matching......

 

[LeannePip]

Oo so jealous of the XC jumping - but you can keep the falling off lol hope you aren't too sore. How flexible is she in that photo of her avoiding the boat? I think you did very well, they are quite intimidating fences and without the flags.

Haha! funny thats what most people have said! I have no idea or recollection of how or what happened, one second i thought yes we are over, next i was on the floor like a beetle, that'll teach me to count my chickens!

I did think the lack of flags might cause an issue, but whilst i want to make sure she's happy and comfortable with what I'm asking her, i also want her to be brave and confident so sometimes we have to do things outside of her comfort zone, i'm just glad we had Mark on the floor holding our hands!

I LOVE these photos - her face going 'over' the boat is brilliant. Well done you, looks like a great day out.

she's so expressive, thats her trying hard to be brave face!

Wow she's going to be super once she realises the jumps aren't going to eat her! What scope.

As above and rather you than me but wow she can jump!!!

I hope so, i have all the time in the world for her to be brilliant, i thought she would be special when i first sat on her as a just backed wobbly 4yo, but i didn't think she'd be this mega! I'm very lucky to have a great support network who are helping me work this funny creature out!

Bless you for posting pics which aren't quite so glamorous! Sorry but they did make me smile, and she really does do the most bonkers jump sometimes doesn't she? I would have been out the back door I reckon. I just be under a false confidence at the moment but I actually really liked the look of those jumps!

They make me smile too! I cant wait to look back at these when she's a big girl being amazing and think of the journey that got us there.

Brilliant pictures - reminds me of many a time on young horses - many, many years ago!! I love that first picture - your face and the mares are matching......

probably relief that we both made it to the other side!

 

[Nicnac]

Gorgeous mare and scope to burn. Hope you aren't too sore today. Love the first photo with her eyes closed - if I can't see it it won't eat me!

 

[leflynn]

Lovew the pics, remind me of my boy who likes to pull shapes over jumps he isn't keen on! She's fab and hope you aren't too sore!

 

[LouisCat]

I am sorry, but, I LOVE the sideways coming off photos! I've come off far too many times and there is never anyone there to get it on camera!

I actually think it's very good for her to learn to jump these fences without flags. Too many people rely on them!
She's going to be great when she's a bit older

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Not commented till now but fab pictures and great to see it's not just me who doesn't always look 'perfection' when jumping , you both did very well and as I've said before I love Ruby .

Though not sure they always learn to jump ditches sensibly, I've got a picture of Topaz being ridiculous over a ditch and she was probably about 10 at the time .

 

[LeannePip]

Gorgeous mare and scope to burn. Hope you aren't too sore today. Love the first photo with her eyes closed - if I can't see it it won't eat me!

Lovew the pics, remind me of my boy who likes to pull shapes over jumps he isn't keen on! She's fab and hope you aren't too sore!

Thank you, bit of head ache and stiff neck on Thursday, just thankful i had an air jacket on or i think i would have been a lot sorer! it was a very fast fall and i think i landed on my shoulder/ back

I am sorry, but, I LOVE the sideways coming off photos! I've come off far too many times and there is never anyone there to get it on camera!

I actually think it's very good for her to learn to jump these fences without flags. Too many people rely on them!
She's going to be great when she's a bit older

Excatly this is how i felt, she's more than capable of jumping the fence she just has to learn to rely on me and not the flags!

Not commented till now but fab pictures and great to see it's not just me who doesn't always look 'perfection' when jumping , you both did very well and as I've said before I love Ruby .

Though not sure they always learn to jump ditches sensibly, I've got a picture of Topaz being ridiculous over a ditch and she was probably about 10 at the time .

Haha! I think everyone has these moments they're just too good to show them! The ditches don't really worry me, she is happy to jump them and not backwards to them, just likes to make sure the tigers can't touch her! When we were at camp and doing ditches she did settle down eventually but we have to start again every time!

 

[Wizpop]

Well I have nothing but admiration for you! Amazing photography!! And what a lovely partnership&#128522;!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Some lovely images for the scrapbook, I found sticky bum joddies do the job!

 

[claracanter]

Lovely photos, made me smile. Well done you for getting back on and riding her through it. You are going to have such fun together in the future

 

[HotToTrot]

I don't think she is going to hit anything in front...!