I_A_P
Well-Known Member
Have felt too down and tired to post this before! Sorry its going to be long!
Started off with a long drive and dragged him off the lorry when we got there and got down to the dressage.
Warmed up well (i was a bit firmer with him on the flat which seemed to work) as soon as i went off to do my test i could feel him starting to become a bit more awkward. Did a very average test- wibbly down the centre line (although it was v windy!) but overall was pretty accurate! Got 39.5 which was probably fair and actually not too bad in relation to my section!
Had a long wait and walked the SJ which was one of the biggest tracks he has done.
Took him in and he was nice and perky but not at all strong or silly...had a fab jump over the first and a amazingly easy round to finish clear- and only 1/4 of my section went clear so i was really pleased!! He pinged over everything and cleared them by miles!! really felt he would have jumped the Novice track!
Got some lovely pro photos of him in the sj which i will post when they are up.
Onto XC- now last time at MK i tried him in a loose ring snaffle which was better as he is not so fixed as the full cheek but as you may remember he was a bit looky so the steering was not great so put him back in the full cheek yesterday thinking at least i would have some steering.
The middle of the course was twisty and i planned to bring him right back and trot some combinations or circle to make the turns. In thinking i would need to make up for a bit of time i set off quite fast over the first 5.
Maybe this is where it all went wrong!
Flew the 1st but i had such a job to get him straight and round the corner to 2 and by the time i went to turn for fence 3 i knew my steering and totally failed and i really thought i would have to circle-but somehow manged it! Got a smack over fence 4 for looking at it then took the alternative of the corner over the double of rails (albeit too fast!)
Galloped (i have never felt him shift so fast!!) to the flower bed which we got on a lovely stride- then it all went wrong.
As i came to the water i really had trouble slowing him and we flew round and nearly missed the slope in...he kinda lurched in and i pulled him to get straight at the step out but i could just tell he was not concentrating on the barrells out and went on his long canter stride (i planned to trot!) and we ran straight past and nearly went through the tape at the side of the course. Jumped him back into the water and jumped it lovely from a nice trot the second time....then onto the step and skinny.
Well he leapt off the step and we didn't get anywhere near the "pimple" just swung left again- pulled me over the intro ditch backwards!! so managed to trot him round and actually got a line to it and jumped it lovely.
Then cantered down the back straight to the steeplechase but he pulled and pulled left and i could not steer him at all- somehow managed to get back on line but god knows how!
Jumped the next water fine but then took him up the back hill and again he was pulling left so hard and i could not get him on line to fence 14 so retired.
I feel completely devastated as everyone else makes it look so easy and although i think it was my fault for maybe pushing him a bit too much at the start we were not going stupidly fast- would probably be average for most people, i think he was just being a little s*d and i have no idea why he has started wanting to nap back to the lorries which is what it seems like! His mouth which had just healed has now re-split- so frustating.
I knew i had not got quite the perfect bit but up til now i have managed but he was definatly more keen yesterday and i think i am going to have to put something stronger in him to get a bit of respect so i can actually set him up....
i would really appreciate some suggestions! I have tried a waterford which he doesn't like he hates and a dutch gag makes him pull down.
Madhector kindly leant me a universal a few months ago so may give that another shot out xc schooling and practise a course with it but am open to suggestions....i think if i had a bit more control of his mouth i would have had more of a chance.
It really ruined a lovely sj round and the height of the fences was no problem so i just want to get the control sorted!!
here is a video of the sj!
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/fr...KeysoeBE100.flv
Courtsey of Horsepower Photography
Pro photos to follow and some stills if i can work out how to work our new camera!
Started off with a long drive and dragged him off the lorry when we got there and got down to the dressage.
Warmed up well (i was a bit firmer with him on the flat which seemed to work) as soon as i went off to do my test i could feel him starting to become a bit more awkward. Did a very average test- wibbly down the centre line (although it was v windy!) but overall was pretty accurate! Got 39.5 which was probably fair and actually not too bad in relation to my section!
Had a long wait and walked the SJ which was one of the biggest tracks he has done.
Took him in and he was nice and perky but not at all strong or silly...had a fab jump over the first and a amazingly easy round to finish clear- and only 1/4 of my section went clear so i was really pleased!! He pinged over everything and cleared them by miles!! really felt he would have jumped the Novice track!
Got some lovely pro photos of him in the sj which i will post when they are up.
Onto XC- now last time at MK i tried him in a loose ring snaffle which was better as he is not so fixed as the full cheek but as you may remember he was a bit looky so the steering was not great so put him back in the full cheek yesterday thinking at least i would have some steering.
The middle of the course was twisty and i planned to bring him right back and trot some combinations or circle to make the turns. In thinking i would need to make up for a bit of time i set off quite fast over the first 5.
Maybe this is where it all went wrong!
Flew the 1st but i had such a job to get him straight and round the corner to 2 and by the time i went to turn for fence 3 i knew my steering and totally failed and i really thought i would have to circle-but somehow manged it! Got a smack over fence 4 for looking at it then took the alternative of the corner over the double of rails (albeit too fast!)
Galloped (i have never felt him shift so fast!!) to the flower bed which we got on a lovely stride- then it all went wrong.
As i came to the water i really had trouble slowing him and we flew round and nearly missed the slope in...he kinda lurched in and i pulled him to get straight at the step out but i could just tell he was not concentrating on the barrells out and went on his long canter stride (i planned to trot!) and we ran straight past and nearly went through the tape at the side of the course. Jumped him back into the water and jumped it lovely from a nice trot the second time....then onto the step and skinny.
Well he leapt off the step and we didn't get anywhere near the "pimple" just swung left again- pulled me over the intro ditch backwards!! so managed to trot him round and actually got a line to it and jumped it lovely.
Then cantered down the back straight to the steeplechase but he pulled and pulled left and i could not steer him at all- somehow managed to get back on line but god knows how!
Jumped the next water fine but then took him up the back hill and again he was pulling left so hard and i could not get him on line to fence 14 so retired.
I feel completely devastated as everyone else makes it look so easy and although i think it was my fault for maybe pushing him a bit too much at the start we were not going stupidly fast- would probably be average for most people, i think he was just being a little s*d and i have no idea why he has started wanting to nap back to the lorries which is what it seems like! His mouth which had just healed has now re-split- so frustating.
I knew i had not got quite the perfect bit but up til now i have managed but he was definatly more keen yesterday and i think i am going to have to put something stronger in him to get a bit of respect so i can actually set him up....
i would really appreciate some suggestions! I have tried a waterford which he doesn't like he hates and a dutch gag makes him pull down.
Madhector kindly leant me a universal a few months ago so may give that another shot out xc schooling and practise a course with it but am open to suggestions....i think if i had a bit more control of his mouth i would have had more of a chance.
It really ruined a lovely sj round and the height of the fences was no problem so i just want to get the control sorted!!
here is a video of the sj!
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/fr...KeysoeBE100.flv
Courtsey of Horsepower Photography
![img217.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi7.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy268%2Ffran123t%2FDigby%2Fkeysoe1%252009%2Fimg217.jpg&hash=8c1cb220c8755c08dd22066ec947a2d7)
Pro photos to follow and some stills if i can work out how to work our new camera!