ISH_lover
Well-Known Member
Since introducing Torin at the tail end of the year we really haven't been up to much hence lack of updates! After team SJ at beginning of December, Torin essentially had a quiet start to the new year especially with the disgusting weather we had 
First aim of the year was local dressage in February for prelim 4 and prelim 18 and after starting up lessons again we were feeling quietly confident that it would go well. Warmed up beautifully, taking contact forward and working through the back......that all went down the drain as soon as he set foot in the test arena. Llama pony made a reappearance and he completely lost focus although a very accurate test. I felt a bit deflated as he had warmed up so well and very nearly decided to put him back on the lorry and call it a day. When his attention goes, there's nothing I can do to win it back without causing a huge argument which ultimately makes things worse. Wondergroom mum convinced me it would be a good idea to go back in for the second test as we were first to go in the class which was possibly a good thing as he had little time to switch off. Test was much more settled, flowing, if even still a little pokey and inconsistent to the contact, and there was some nice moments in the right canter when he almost relaxed. Somehow he earned a 66.95& for prelim 4 (6th) and just under 68% in prelim 18 (3rd), which are actually his personal bests!
Onto today, xc lesson and Torin was just super! His first (I assume) time going xc and my first time in about 3 years! Came off the lorry super chilled, stood to be tacked and booted up, hacked up the hill in a group of 5 other horses, warmed up on grass with said horses and really just didn't bother about any of it. Not even when we all went for individual fast canters, probably could have walked him on a long rein whilst the others all fired off. It actually took some encouragement to get him in gear and open up. The only areas we had 'serious' issues at were the single ditch on its own and the step into the water which ultimately was hugely just inexperience and me not riding forward enough. Started putting a few fences together to get a rhythm going which he loved. Moved onto a rail-ditch-rail combo and after the problems we had at the single ditch looking for the monsters at the bottom of it, I was slightly apprehensive.....I didn't need to be! I just had to make sure he was forward enough to make the 1 stride distances! Then came the water, bit hesitant to go in at first but then happily trotting and cantering through. Popped up and down the steps happily enough, except from a moment when he put the handbrake on at the edge of the bigger step and then decided it was actually okay but he better leap far enough in so the steps wouldn't eat him. Finished up putting together a few more fences and he just got better and better
Little clip of the rail & ditch combo, although not sure if its playing correctly
Torin showing you all that ditches are not to be trusted (i do need to give more, its something I am working on)
Plans for the rest of the month: regular lessons, dressage on the 20th which also happens to be the last of a winter league which we have quite a few points for! Into April and its all systems go for Showing!
Thank you for reading if you made it through all my rambling!
First aim of the year was local dressage in February for prelim 4 and prelim 18 and after starting up lessons again we were feeling quietly confident that it would go well. Warmed up beautifully, taking contact forward and working through the back......that all went down the drain as soon as he set foot in the test arena. Llama pony made a reappearance and he completely lost focus although a very accurate test. I felt a bit deflated as he had warmed up so well and very nearly decided to put him back on the lorry and call it a day. When his attention goes, there's nothing I can do to win it back without causing a huge argument which ultimately makes things worse. Wondergroom mum convinced me it would be a good idea to go back in for the second test as we were first to go in the class which was possibly a good thing as he had little time to switch off. Test was much more settled, flowing, if even still a little pokey and inconsistent to the contact, and there was some nice moments in the right canter when he almost relaxed. Somehow he earned a 66.95& for prelim 4 (6th) and just under 68% in prelim 18 (3rd), which are actually his personal bests!
Onto today, xc lesson and Torin was just super! His first (I assume) time going xc and my first time in about 3 years! Came off the lorry super chilled, stood to be tacked and booted up, hacked up the hill in a group of 5 other horses, warmed up on grass with said horses and really just didn't bother about any of it. Not even when we all went for individual fast canters, probably could have walked him on a long rein whilst the others all fired off. It actually took some encouragement to get him in gear and open up. The only areas we had 'serious' issues at were the single ditch on its own and the step into the water which ultimately was hugely just inexperience and me not riding forward enough. Started putting a few fences together to get a rhythm going which he loved. Moved onto a rail-ditch-rail combo and after the problems we had at the single ditch looking for the monsters at the bottom of it, I was slightly apprehensive.....I didn't need to be! I just had to make sure he was forward enough to make the 1 stride distances! Then came the water, bit hesitant to go in at first but then happily trotting and cantering through. Popped up and down the steps happily enough, except from a moment when he put the handbrake on at the edge of the bigger step and then decided it was actually okay but he better leap far enough in so the steps wouldn't eat him. Finished up putting together a few more fences and he just got better and better
Little clip of the rail & ditch combo, although not sure if its playing correctly
Torin showing you all that ditches are not to be trusted (i do need to give more, its something I am working on)
Plans for the rest of the month: regular lessons, dressage on the 20th which also happens to be the last of a winter league which we have quite a few points for! Into April and its all systems go for Showing!
Thank you for reading if you made it through all my rambling!
