4whitesocks
Well-Known Member
We're heading off to our first Hunter Trials on Monday - going to enter in the novice (which is about 90cm) and then pick my course - probably do some of the pre-novice course (70) dependinding how scarey the fences are....there's no point in me taking him in the pre-novice as it will be no work for him but the Novice will be a tad scarey for a nervous nellie like myself...
schooling today I found we were getting right in under the fences which makes for a rather unsettling cat jump up and over (to be honest however we meet a fence he'll clear it as long as I'm convinced) but YO/INstructor reckons it's because having introduced more brakes (three-ring) I'm taking too much of a hold coming into a fence & almost trying to ride like I'm show-jumping. I tried the last 3 or 4 with just leg-on and enough of a steady to get my bum back in the saddle which did make for a much more fluid up-and-over but was wondering if anyone had any tips for steadying that don't rely on the reins....should I try getting back into the saddle earlier than say, 5 or 6 strides out....or should I just relax & let him on as long as we have a good rhythm going?
Opinions welcome!
schooling today I found we were getting right in under the fences which makes for a rather unsettling cat jump up and over (to be honest however we meet a fence he'll clear it as long as I'm convinced) but YO/INstructor reckons it's because having introduced more brakes (three-ring) I'm taking too much of a hold coming into a fence & almost trying to ride like I'm show-jumping. I tried the last 3 or 4 with just leg-on and enough of a steady to get my bum back in the saddle which did make for a much more fluid up-and-over but was wondering if anyone had any tips for steadying that don't rely on the reins....should I try getting back into the saddle earlier than say, 5 or 6 strides out....or should I just relax & let him on as long as we have a good rhythm going?
Opinions welcome!