Blue is definitely playing mug with the same issue. On days I’ve already won an argument I get a gorgeous canter, on days he’s just generally being an ar*e I’ve had him tank off, bucking, point blank refusing to canter. It’s definitely a schooling issue because he has got away with it with other riders for years
Know how you feel. Though nobody has got the better of bob on this one .Miss ponyclub A test AKA A , tried and he took her half halt as a signal to turn on his haunches and jump out of the school. This didnt go to plan as spotting her now prostrate on the ground ,he panicked and reversed through the school fence he had so cleanly jumped. This resulted in undue strain on the lighting cables affixed to the top rail ,which brought two floodlights crashing to the ground .Our hero ,now realising that there would be questions to answer and some very angry folk ,tried to make his getaway by rushing over to me and trying to bury his head under my hi viz jacket. Horses ,youve just gota love them!
Ah you'll be fine. Kick on!
I know it’s not funny, but ...???
Well Bob has had a couple of days off and clearly gone a bit ferral. We did get some good stuff till his brain boiled over. Its so hard , I can only tolerate the pain from his canter for so many metres ,before I have to admit defeat. It bloody hurts. Not his fault . he didnt volunteer to have a 65 year old rider bless him. We went back to trying to get the good trot ,rather than the head up charge. Its 4 days and counting .I told A that its novice 13 ,she said oh thats good , the lower numbers are easier. Er ,I got it wrong , its something like 28 .Oh well Crashng an burning is just a matter of altitude. You hit the ground exactly the same.
I think you’re pushing yourself too hard too quickly. It may be a case of working on his canter for a few months before competing again. What does your instructor think?
This is interesting, it’s the Ride With Your Mind approach to canter.
It really looks helpful,thank you so much . But right now ,Sunday evening, I am so tired but full of pride for Bob ,that I dont have the energy to watch. The weather today was a gale and sheet rain , only fools and good horses were out today!And Bob was one of those few good horses that turned up. I liked our dressage judge , a lady called susie watson, She marked hard but fair, I recognised all our failings and our few sucesses. Our prelim warm up was our best test TBH. We got a 60% .OK not much to many but it is all relevant , you have to consider the distance you have come from. We wernt last,not thatI would have cared .Bob nailed the canter .He appeared to outsiders to be fighting thecanter but he wasnt ,I could have ridden it with one hand ,but he naturaly throws his head up. We can work on this. An hours wait before our Novice test .I did my best to keep Bob warm but seriously,the weather was appalling. Come the novice test ,Despite my worries ,we didnt run out of oxygen in the canters ,sadly poor Bob seemed to run out of energy. I screwed up despite my efforts to learn both tests fluently and went into FWLR instead of medium trot across the diagonal. MY Bad. But bOB WAS BRILLIANT , we went back to the canter and I was never for a moment in any doubt that he wouldnt just pick it up again and do his medium trot . Wer wernt last in good company and I am so proud of him.I would also like to thank all of you who have helped Bob nd I ,turn this corner.
I actually took some inspiration from the para riders (check out Stinna Tange) I tried to mentally ‘detach’ my legs (hope it doesn’t sound disrespectful) so as not to cramp up and get tight all over but focus on my seat, balance etc. Hands became a little bouncy, but that was practice as wellwould now not be a helpful time then to remind OP of para riders with one or no legs
Have you seen vides? Are you actually bouncing or does it feel like you are?