Weekend plans for last weekend in July

Same problem with no real excuse physically- I'm chasing a more active hind leg and better leg to hand connection. I have to be very disciplined with myself and very aware of keeping the leg at the girth more
 
Same problem with no real excuse physically- I'm chasing a more active hind leg and better leg to hand connection. I have to be very disciplined with myself and very aware of keeping the leg at the girth more

glad to meet another offender ? yes that’s exactly the same with me. We should start a club ?
 
Following HP's example.....

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Looking good Sheep ☺️, I can’t comment if swingy leg, new saddles helped me ?.

AE look at them go ?.

lol I’ve not long got my dressage saddle, so there are def no new ones on the horizon! I think I just need to remember my leg should stay underneath me, not flail away to somewhere in the next county ?
 
lol I’ve not long got my dressage saddle, so there are def no new ones on the horizon! I think I just need to remember my leg should stay underneath me, not flail away to somewhere in the next county ?

Other things that helped me really concentrate on still legs were wearing spurs (topaz can be sharp as lol ?), no stirrup work and my stiffened dressage boots.

Really, it will probably help to get a really quick reaction to your aids and then you won’t want to ‘over do’ the aid?
 
Other things that helped me really concentrate on still legs were wearing spurs (topaz can be sharp as lol ?), no stirrup work and my stiffened dressage boots.

Really, it will probably help to get a really quick reaction to your aids and then you won’t want to ‘over do’ the aid?

That’s it. He’s a laid back big horse anyway and likes to be told what to do. I need to ensure my aids are crystal clear so that I’m not nagging him constantly.
Maybe he just finds me boring lol, my friend jumped him today and he found it all very jolly indeed ?
 
That's how we all start Karran, cross poles and not dying, breathing is a bonus.
MP, that sounds promising- hope it works out better for you.
Went to eland, I get a bit stressed when I'm somewhere like that. I didnt know where to check in etc, no idea what the course is like, and I get a bit anxious that I wont ride well and my owner will be disappointed. It's hard sometimes as shes a bolder jockey than me in many ways and she sees us easily clearing 80s with scope but shes not feeling the (small) queries I get from him. Shes a good jockey and her feel isnt bad but she misses the nuances and is a bit inclined sometimes to just try and bully him a bit. I want him keen and confident. Working in was a bit shit as a result, I cantered once, jumped a knock down and the smallest solid and decided I'd be better off just going before I talked myself out of it.
However, I got on the course, jumped the first 50, the second 70, had a sticky moment at the smallest brush at 3, came back and jumped it twice more none of them especially well then cracked on. Almost all the rest I jumped the 80s, except the corner - never seen one before, popped the tiny 50 carried on to the 70 and had a run out - he literally got there and sort of went eek what's that! Came a second time and jumped it nicely.
Played a bit over the ditch and finished the full course so we popped back to the start and did 1 and 2 as 80 then the "small" brush, then jumped the next size up brush (70/80 so it's a 70 really) very nicely and popped the 80 roll top.
Basically any questions we had we jumped at least once more and were confident before riding on as we went. So having bobbed the brush again I finished us there and took him back to the box. Really pleased with him. Loved the ground at eland, so I've booked the 70 on 31st - should be a real confidence builder for us both i think
 
Also sorry for the double post, but having had the most expressive water jump award go to TheMule earlier, I thought we'd submit a contender for most economical jump in to water. He was getting a little tired by this point but I may have brought him back a tiny bit more than I really needed to ?
 
Wow, looks like lots of fun had by all.

HP love your post and your photos :)

Karran... you did higher than me! Well done :)

MP hope the plan comes together.

Yesterday I took some photos of my friend in our jump field (yes we have a field where jumps go all summer, it also has XC jumps in and horses grazing that pay no attention!). Then I went and tacked J up and went in the jump field as well. First time in there, with the mares he flirts with over the gate and he was such a good boy.

Just did poles on the ground and a few small raised poles and he was brilliant. He did stumble after some trotting poles onto his knees but saved us both and it didn't dent his confidence at all which I am really pleased with. When we had finished I said "I'm just going to have a little canter up the field"... my friend and OH looked quite surpised, but off we went and he seemed to enjoy it.

I cant get over how much both of our confidence and trust in each other has grown since moving yards.

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I had a good lesson followed up by a really fun clinic. Continuing to work on walk,jog,halt,backup,ext jog combinations and transitions but doing so in a group with other horses loping past etc. Then similar in the afternoon but in a rain storm with thunder and lightning, then when settled we did some sidepass, turns on forehand and then some baby spins. She then stood happily for a good 10 mins with all sorts going on around us so thats when I hopped off and called it a day.
Photographic proof that she was standing happily at the end :)
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Not competing as not feeling the urge at present but had the most fabulous hack on Saturday - went exploring and found a new bridleway to try out and then went round a huge field which we are allowed to ride around - we do most of the fields we can access but haven't ever done this one before and it was brilliant - doesn't sound much but was just fab. Got soaked! Then did another nice hack yesterday a reverse of a route we have been doing but involved a nice canter up a hill. Stayed dry then got soaked when doing yard stuff afterwards.
 
Rose had a quieter week with Thursday and Friday off. Saturday, was was schooled for me, rather lazy initially but wen. but well eventually. I did wonder if I should have her blood tested as she looked really tired but it was a hot and humid day and my school is riding a bit deep ATM and she is never as enthusiastic at home. Sunday I did pole work, she was a little more forward and clearly loved the canter poles. It made me think about about perhaps taking her to a poles/mini jumping clinic, still thinking about that! Today we went to AM Dressage and she was fab. Justine rode her first, got her going beautifully and said she is improving each week. I thoroughly enjoyed riding her and got some good work. She is more reactive to my leg so the lateral work is much improved and we did S/I, L/Y and H/P without losing impulsion and I got a couple of Walk to canter trans that were clean and felt great. I was so elated I got off without unhooking my air jacket, fortunately I get off old lady slow and as I started to descend I realised, landed on tippy toe, hooked over the saddle and released myself. I am the source of great amusement at times, but it was quite funny!
 
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My leg does that too Sheep, although I’m able to really hoik my ankle right up there as well, which is quite a feat ? Its worse when he’s not on the aids and Im using my legs too much.

Since we are all sharing our pro photos, here is mine, featuring dodgy swingy leg!
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We went for a guided ride which I thought would be a quiet hack around the countryside. Turns out I was in the ‘preparing for the races’ group and instead we had lots of canters and a few gallops. Not all planned and not all under control. Fortunately finnegan’s a saint and behaved himself very well. A bit hairy for my friend on her 6yo doing their first group ride, but luckily hers behaved herself as well.

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Also sorry for the double post, but having had the most expressive water jump award go to TheMule earlier, I thought we'd submit a contender for most economical jump in to water. He was getting a little tired by this point but I may have brought him back a tiny bit more than I really needed to ?

Love it! I will play it to my dramatic mare ?
 
Home! And first shift at work nearly over so def back to reality.

Tense dressage
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Good XC
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And double clear cones :D
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Finished off 24th of 35 so actually the final placing was just about that middle 1/3 I was aiming for! Has really highlighted just how green we are as at team at that level but the reassuring thing is that even then we can compete.

Next stop British selection event in about 3 weeks,
Lottie has showing this coming weekend :)
 
Couple of beach pics, the weather wasn't too bad but was very windy! Buzz and his friends were all very well behaved so I'm very pleased. Not pleased about my lorry's indicators stopping working an hour from home ? luckily the roads were really quiet by that point! Add to that the nail I found in my car tyre yesterday I'm yet again down on my vehicle luck! Van garage today, car garage tomorrow ?

Anyway, here's a vid, and some pics (would recommend not having sound on!)

I was pleased because the pony next to us is really speedy and we never win in a race against her ?

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Glad to see lots of people having fun.

I missed my weekend lesson and due to winds didn’t get out much .
So having a flatwork lesson tonight instead. Hoping to do more shoulder in and canter figure 8s.

Also I’ve booked a lunge lesson on Friday on the beach. I live close to the beach but have a bit of a fear of riding on it due to a previous horse bucking me off plus mr H is a bit anxious / rude and bumptious on it! I need to overcome my issues and basically I need my hand holding before I can get back to riding on it.
 
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