XC schooling - pic heavy!!!

[loopiesteff]

Some of you may remember the fall I had at Isleham in the XC warm up. After a trip to hospital, it was found that I had a small skull fracture, had a week off work to recover from the whiplash and concussion. BD'd him 6 days after the fall (dedication/stupidity) winning both classes.

On a previous post, I posted these videos:

http://youtu.be/jdBPRNx65ec

http://youtu.be/Ry5eEp_2W1Q

This has been a daily occurrence as he's convinced it's time to go onto the summer fields!

Yesterday morning (7.30am!!!) we had a John Adams lesson which was a massive success, easily popping 1m-1.05 like it's nothing! John saw a massive improvement in us as a unit and said the confidence was massively improved.


Took Bob to Ely again today for another schooling session and to blow any cobwebs away of doubt in my mind, before an unaffiliated 90 at Solihull next Sunday, in preparation for Ascott and Poplar in April.

Bob is giving me more and more confidence day by day, so much so, that we jumped some of the Novice combinations today and gave me such a good feeling! There were definitely no cobwebs anywhere! Never once felt worried, even with the odd blooper that we had! (Photos to follow), and him almost reverse/rearing backwards down the sunken road complex because he got in a strop, all the while myself and BeckyC just laughed!

Novice log at the water:

He loves his ditches and jumps them with such gusto!

And the bloopers:

Could he get any closer to the fence? I think there was 1 blade of grass between the log and his hoof!

Part C of the Novice coffin: he decided to have a little sit down!

Then flew over the brush very energetically! Always either leaving me behind or pushing me ahead!

 

[Farcical1]

I'm amazed at how quick you're back up and at 'em! That's some impressive jumps.
Good luck with the next competition. Try and stay on board!

 

[loopiesteff]

Im pretty stubborn when it comes to things like being told "you can't ride" poo you, I'll ride if I want to!

I intend to stay on board as much as possible! Just glad today went well, given me even more of a boost!

 

[JFTDWS]

Im pretty stubborn when it comes to things like being told "you can't ride" poo you, I'll ride if I want to!

I intend to stay on board as much as possible! Just glad today went well, given me even more of a boost!

You are actually quite mad, you know... :eek3:

Not a criticism, just an observation!

 

[loopiesteff]

Oh I know! Doctors said that I could ride as/when I felt well enough to do so, but not to fall on my head anytime soon...

When I broke my collar bone and had 12 weeks no riding after surgery to pin and plate it, I got the green light on NYE. Went straight from the hospital to the yard, tacked up Penny, got on, and promptly fell off again. 3 months later it turns out that fall had dislodged the plate and bent it!

 

[JFTDWS]

I'm laughing even though that really shouldn't be funny

 

[loopiesteff]

Oh I laughed when I got told! Stopped laughing when he booked me in for surgery round 2 ASAP. humpf.

 

[JFTDWS]

Y'know what they say... If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same and all that!

 

[loopiesteff]

Lol very true x

 

[Jnhuk]

Im pretty stubborn when it comes to things like being told "you can't ride" poo you, I'll ride if I want to!

I intend to stay on board as much as possible! Just glad today went well, given me even more of a boost!

However, it is not always 'poo' and glad you are fine this time but however just listen to your body. We all push it at times and disregard advice. Most of the time, we get away with it. Head injuries are all different and funny things and they do take time to heal. You only have one head....

 

[loopiesteff]

Oh I know how serious it is, and when I rode for the first time after the fall, I could only do 15 minute before feeling funny, so got off again. Not going to push myself beyond my comfort limits!

 

[AliceCrail]

Fab pics! Well done x

 

[anna22]

Nice pictures, well done! He did get rather close to that log bless him… and talk about engaging the hocks at the end of the coffin!!! Take care and enjoy

 

[kerilli]

OP, I know that "if you can't say anything nice, say nothing" should be adhered to, but this is a dangerous business, as you've already discovered very recently. XC fences are totally unforgiving.
You have got him in horribly close to two of those fences (the third pic down, and the small log). That isn't funny, it's really dangerous. It's the rider's job to get the horse to a spot he can jump the fence easily from. It's not the horse's fault that you are in that close. Of course we all get it wrong sometimes, but it's never funny.
He's a very good horse and he's doing his absolute best, by the look of it.
Horses don't get into 'strops' like frustrated toddlers. They start thinking backwards, threatening to rear (and in a Sunken Road situation, that is particularly dangerous, obviously) because they are confused, or frightened, by what they are being asked to do. I am sorry to have to say this but that is NEVER funny either.
When he jumps, he needs much more freedom so he can use his head and neck in the air, so he can use his body better to clear the fences. This will increase his confidence. Can you see what you are doing in the photos? You have a lot of weight on his mouth in midair in 3 of them, he is clearly opening his mouth against the hard pull.
This is absolutely NOT supposed to slate you and make you feel awful, and I am genuinely, 100%, sorry if it comes across that way. It's supposed to give you a wake-up call that the things you think are amusing really are not, and that the right trainer will help you to make this all safer and more enjoyable for both of you.

 

[Gamebird]

So pleased that you've got over your injury with no apparent ill-effects and that your confidence seems to be in one piece - that's always the hardest thing to fix! He's a lovely, smart horse.

Please take this as it is intended - in a helpful fashion. I do not intend to be harsh but I do feel concerned by your pics - concerned enough to comment. In a lot of them you look very insecure - your lower leg slips back and your upper body tips forward. You also rotate over your hands which restricts his head and neck over a fence - he really needs them to balance and get himself out of trouble (his 'fifth leg'), but at the moment he can't. I think you're both very capable of BE90 from the look of the pics, but I'd want to consolidate my position first if it were me. He also looks to have a very deep take-off spot in a lot of them which is something I'd also address.

I've been there and done it with regards to my position and it's only the benefit of hindsight which lets me look back and realise how insecure I used to be and how many near-misses I was having which I couldn't see at the time. I'd work with a good XC coach for a few sessions (Tina Ure at Ely is great), and tell them what you want to concentrate on. Get lots of pics/vids along the way and be really consistent at making corrections. Leave the Nov stuff for now and practice, practice, practice over 90-ish stuff until you can keep your upper body back, your lower leg firm, give with your hands/reins over a fence and get him to a slightly longer spot. Stick a neck strap on and use it. It's horribly boring and repetitive but it will get you further long-term - and by the looks of your horse if you put the work in now you could definitely go places!

Again, please don't be offended. Someone told this to me, a lot less politely , about 10 years ago and I think it probably saved me from a nasty accident or two along the way. I only wish someone had said something sooner. Good luck with him whatever you do .

 

[dickybobx]

well done brill for you=] he can sure jump=]

 

[Gamebird]

...