Weekend Roundup - Jump Training & Mechanical Horses

[Embo]

The weekend didn't get off to the best of starts, due to some issues at home... so no XC schooling for us. Instead, we had a jump lesson at home in the jumping field on Saturday. After the rain we had at the beginning of the week and then a top up overnight on Friday so the ground was lovely.

Started off well, practising a twisty turny course, everything off a turn & changing directions after every jump. Highlighted some weaknesses in the pair of us, Bowser loses confidence when the ground is uneven. And I get complacent and drop him in front of the fence, taking for granted that he will go... which he normally will, but if I drop him when he's lost confidence in the terrain, he will stop nothing terrible, but after 2 stops I really had to sort myself out and really wait until we were taking off. Which, as it turns out, is really difficult.

So no more stops, but the rest of it was really ugly. No points for style! Bowser reverts to chip strides when he's not 100% confident. But we kept going and eventually had some nice moments. The biggest achievement of the day was the jumps ranged from 70-85cm which is a big deal for me. With so much improvement in my confidence, there were talks of doing the 80cm ODE at Chilham in September instead of the 70cm... watch this space!

Sunday brought a lesson on a mechanical horse with the lovely Amelia Wilbourn. Highlighted many, many issues I hollow my back (badly, even though I thought I'd improved on this), my hips move way too much and my pelvis really want to collapse forward (see previous hollow back). My upper body also moves too much... my legs are OK, although I put too much weight into my ankles & heels.

Took away some tips to practice at home (in trot, sit one, rise for two - difficult!) and I think I will be going back again as it's great to be able to work 100% on me. I know I have lots of weaknesses and I really want to improve for the sake of my lovely horse.

Came home to ride my real horse, found putting the things I'd learned REALLY difficult (the mech horses remain at the same pace, don't spook, don't need to turn etc etc...). So loads to work on in the coming weeks.

Token photo of the chunky pest, because he never fails to put a smile on my face, even when things aren't going to plan. Hope the rest of you had a good weekend! Thanks for reading

 

[milliepops]

Well that all sounds like a really productive weekend, even if you didn't get to have 100% feel good experiences...

Well done on the jumping, now you've been able to identify what's happening when you both start to lose confidence, you can address that and you'll be flying Looking forward to your ODE report in the autumn...

The mechanical horse lesson sounds fascinating, what format did the lesson take? I've found similar problems when I've had just schoolmaster lessons and then come home to try and ride my horses the same.. easier said than done!

Lovely pic, he's got such a kind eye

 

[Embo]

Well that all sounds like a really productive weekend, even if you didn't get to have 100% feel good experiences...

Well done on the jumping, now you've been able to identify what's happening when you both start to lose confidence, you can address that and you'll be flying Looking forward to your ODE report in the autumn...

The mechanical horse lesson sounds fascinating, what format did the lesson take? I've found similar problems when I've had just schoolmaster lessons and then come home to try and ride my horses the same.. easier said than done!

Lovely pic, he's got such a kind eye

I'm definitely learning to take the positives where there may not seem to be any! It can't go well 100% of the time, you're either winning or you're learning... and I don't do much winning

So it was 2 of us in the one session, with 2 horses (one trotting simulator and one cantering). Started off on the floor with some simple exercises to determine any balance issues - standing on 2 sets of scales to see weight distribution etc (I'm heavier on my right and lean to the left...).

Then moved on to the horses - I started off on the trotter - then swapped halfway. She would set us up with an exercise to try, then leave you to practice whilst she worked on the other person. Rinse and repeat.

It was organised through a riding club but she does do private and semi-private sessions. I would like to go back either private or with a friend. I know I am weak through my core and try to work on it, but this one session really drove home to me just how important it is... It helps when you can just stare at yourself in the mirror from all sides!!

Thank you, he's got a huge heart and is so kind, genuine and generous - but he's a huge pain in the bum when he wants to be!!

 

[milliepops]

I'm definitely learning to take the positives where there may not seem to be any! It can't go well 100% of the time, you're either winning or you're learning...

Absolutely agree ^^ I used to find the hard times really really hard, like repeatedly kicking myself! until I learnt to see it like this
Lesson sounds fab.

 

[BarbieHorse]

Sounds like a very productive weekend - I love lessons where something clicks and you see the improvement immediately, sounds like you had that with your jumping. I have a terrible habit of dropping horses in front of a fence so I know how hard it is not to!
The mechanical horse sounds very interesting! I'd love to try that - off to google whether there's anything like that around these parts!

 

[Durhamchance]

Sounds like you've learnt a lot, It must be quite hard to take it all in

I had a mechanical horse session recently and it highlighted that I have a loose arm?! It randomly roves out on its own and I'd not noticed until I could concentrate on the mirrors. I'm quite aware of it now and try to keep it attached to my side, though it's not easy when you're flying around a course against the clock. I'd live another session, you learn so much.