Lolo
Well-Known Member
There have been some very strange goings on at Team Reggie Towers recently. We all know Smokes is a bit of a poncey pony, but the ever truculent Reg seems to have found his groove... And Al's voluntarily entering SJ competitions. We think there's been an alien invasion!
First up Al decided she needed to crack Reg's SJ, or die trying. They've got his dressage down to low 30s consistently, and he's an XC machine. 3 poles down is taking him from top 10 contender to the bottom of the pile and Al really wants this season to go well for him. Out hunting, she got chatting to the lady who backed Bee and Tango and was explaining the issues they were having, and it was suggested she tried him in a vulcanite pelham. One was duly sourced, and Reg threw all his toys out the pram and stopped speaking to Al for several days... He is a terrible sulk!
But... He's come round and seems to really like it. He's much more settled, Al has far more control and everything is going weirdly well! She had a lesson in it with the same lady, where he worked into the contact really happily and the giraffe impressions have scaled right back.
So here's where things have got a bit odd. In the past 2 weeks he's jumped 4 SJ rounds. And every single one has been clear. Like, properly clear. Not scraping round with lucky moments but actual established rounds where he listens to Al and makes a real effort for her...
[youtube]R9Ob0nxhsKs[/youtube]
85cm clear round class at Easton College
[youtube]hH03hrzKNvA[/youtube]
And the 90cm class at Forest Edge this weekend... He also did a lovely DC in the 80cm and even did a jump off turn. Boy's got skills! Al is over the moon with him, and we're all hoping and hoping this continues. She said this year he feels truly established, like he knows his job and will perform for her. Yay
And onto the small grey one... He's improving with every outing. Al did the 85cm clear round on him too, and in his first go round he was very green and wobbly but really tried for her. He's really understanding how to think before he leaps and consider his options, and looks much less like a crazed JA pony!
[youtube]0bPBbjDxy_g[/youtube]
First round, which is the biggest he's done with Al...
[youtube]17wdSnnNqKI[/youtube]
And he went back in for a second go and showed how clever he was to jump a really confident clear
Then, he went out poncing. Reg got a reprieve from this one! He warmed up really sweetly, but Al felt she rode the test very conservatively and has booked herself some lessons to be whipped back into test-riding shape. She felt she went safe rather than pushing him to really perform and risking him saying no. But despite her disappointment in herself the test was soft and calm and good enough for 2nd place on 68%, separated only by collectives (by Reg's mortal enemy, the pelham suggester!). 3rd place was on 63% so a considerable gap. He's got lots more to give which is exciting!
[video=youtube;svuyDycxY7o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svuyDycxY7o[/video]
And finally, he also did the 80cm and 90cm at Forest Edge this weekend. He came off the lorry completely wired, and every time someone went past him or tried to razz their horse up a bit more he got more and more whappy. In the end Al took him out of the warm up and went in without having jumped- too many children about to safely let him calm himself down.
[youtube]9eHu2Jo19x8[/youtube]
As you can see he was very fiery! But despite that, and his rocket-launching technique, he still made an effort to listen to Al and it doesn't look too bad. He calmed down a bit for the jump off and Al took it very steadily to try and help him keep the lid on it.
[youtube]CWKnDK83e20[/youtube]
Finally, he did the 90cm class and jumped really nicely. He was a bit tired at this stage but still pulled a nice clear out. He's improving a lot, and once Al can turn the buzzines into something productive rather than rodeo pony impressions he'll be much better. Lots of quiet outings needed, and once outdoor shows start again she can utilise the larger warm up spaces to let him calm down.
So yes, a very happy and busy Team Reggie report, and both boys are halo-polishing at the moment!
First up Al decided she needed to crack Reg's SJ, or die trying. They've got his dressage down to low 30s consistently, and he's an XC machine. 3 poles down is taking him from top 10 contender to the bottom of the pile and Al really wants this season to go well for him. Out hunting, she got chatting to the lady who backed Bee and Tango and was explaining the issues they were having, and it was suggested she tried him in a vulcanite pelham. One was duly sourced, and Reg threw all his toys out the pram and stopped speaking to Al for several days... He is a terrible sulk!
But... He's come round and seems to really like it. He's much more settled, Al has far more control and everything is going weirdly well! She had a lesson in it with the same lady, where he worked into the contact really happily and the giraffe impressions have scaled right back.
So here's where things have got a bit odd. In the past 2 weeks he's jumped 4 SJ rounds. And every single one has been clear. Like, properly clear. Not scraping round with lucky moments but actual established rounds where he listens to Al and makes a real effort for her...
[youtube]R9Ob0nxhsKs[/youtube]
85cm clear round class at Easton College
[youtube]hH03hrzKNvA[/youtube]
And the 90cm class at Forest Edge this weekend... He also did a lovely DC in the 80cm and even did a jump off turn. Boy's got skills! Al is over the moon with him, and we're all hoping and hoping this continues. She said this year he feels truly established, like he knows his job and will perform for her. Yay
And onto the small grey one... He's improving with every outing. Al did the 85cm clear round on him too, and in his first go round he was very green and wobbly but really tried for her. He's really understanding how to think before he leaps and consider his options, and looks much less like a crazed JA pony!
[youtube]0bPBbjDxy_g[/youtube]
First round, which is the biggest he's done with Al...
[youtube]17wdSnnNqKI[/youtube]
And he went back in for a second go and showed how clever he was to jump a really confident clear
Then, he went out poncing. Reg got a reprieve from this one! He warmed up really sweetly, but Al felt she rode the test very conservatively and has booked herself some lessons to be whipped back into test-riding shape. She felt she went safe rather than pushing him to really perform and risking him saying no. But despite her disappointment in herself the test was soft and calm and good enough for 2nd place on 68%, separated only by collectives (by Reg's mortal enemy, the pelham suggester!). 3rd place was on 63% so a considerable gap. He's got lots more to give which is exciting!
[video=youtube;svuyDycxY7o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svuyDycxY7o[/video]
And finally, he also did the 80cm and 90cm at Forest Edge this weekend. He came off the lorry completely wired, and every time someone went past him or tried to razz their horse up a bit more he got more and more whappy. In the end Al took him out of the warm up and went in without having jumped- too many children about to safely let him calm himself down.
[youtube]9eHu2Jo19x8[/youtube]
As you can see he was very fiery! But despite that, and his rocket-launching technique, he still made an effort to listen to Al and it doesn't look too bad. He calmed down a bit for the jump off and Al took it very steadily to try and help him keep the lid on it.
[youtube]CWKnDK83e20[/youtube]
Finally, he did the 90cm class and jumped really nicely. He was a bit tired at this stage but still pulled a nice clear out. He's improving a lot, and once Al can turn the buzzines into something productive rather than rodeo pony impressions he'll be much better. Lots of quiet outings needed, and once outdoor shows start again she can utilise the larger warm up spaces to let him calm down.
So yes, a very happy and busy Team Reggie report, and both boys are halo-polishing at the moment!
