Jumping Time

Over it.....

Went to Woodhill today for their Autumn SJ day. Just did the 80cm round.

And yes yet again I fell off.....as it was I was so nervous after falling off at the last two jumping comps I have been too. Asked Michelle to come into the middle of the ring and yell at me LOL! (Thanks Michelle - it helped!)

Anyway as I was saying yes fell off again. Second to last jump so I guess we are getting better...not sure what happened this time. Think he did a huge leap and then pissed off the to the left like he is tending to do if things aren't going right. Got straight back on and finished the course. Was going to do the 90 but we had to wait too long and I started to seize up so just flagged it and came home.

I am just about ready to flag the whole thing - its destroying what little confidence I do have left and I am sure it must be affecting him as well.

Photos (messy stuff....not our best day!)

I do like this photo...

Woodhill Sands Dressage Series Day One 19th April

First day of the Ungraded Winter Dressage Series at Woodhill Sands today. We had entered the Novice tests - purely to challenge ourselves. I don't think we are serious contenders at this level but with the frequent changes of pace & movements in the tests its good to keep Cobs thinking and keep me thinking ahead at all times etc.

First test was 2.1. Started off really well - got an awesome medium trot which was one of the first movements so was happy with that. However things didn't continue as they started.....Cobs had a major meltdown at the noise of some horses being loaded onto a truck. We were half way through our first canter so decided to just forfeit that movement and stayed trotting attempting to keep my cool & get him back to listening to me. Our next canter was pretty much straight away and he managed to do that okay. He did break in the canter so I just balanced him back up and asked for the canter again. He then settled down really well and the rest of the test was great.

I am so stoked with him as not long ago him having a meltdown would have meant the rest of the test was a write off so the fact that he came back to me and then worked nicely again is just great.

Second test was 2.3. He was SO good in this test. Tried his little heart out for me and I am very proud of him. I completely died in the canters though - totally ran out of steam and started to ride horrendously LOL! He kept trucking along though so that was great.

Ended up that we got 2nd in our second test - I knew our test was nice for us but definitely wasn't expecting to get placed.

Dad came along & took some photos as Mum was videoing. There was also a photographer there so can't wait to see how those have come out.

Photos of 2.3:

Dressage Lesson with Karley 15th April

Had a great lesson tonight - we have entered a dressage day this weekend so we went through the tests.

I am pretty happy with how we managed them - they are going to be full on so I just have to remember to be prepared in my transistions and think ahead etc and I think we will be fine.

Definitely not going out to win ribbons - just wanting to push myself & Cobs up a level & see how we cope with it. Its all about experience & having fun for us :)

Photos:

Lesson with Karley 13th April

Had a great lesson with Karley down at Raider Lodge today. We haven't done any gymnastic type exercises for ages so we did lots of those today and a few courses.

As usual I have forgotten how to do anything so most of the lesson was being reminded how to do things properly! How I miss weekly lessons!! Got our canter happening and then counting strides etc...you know the real basic stuff! Did lots of pole work & jump on a circle to help us both concentrate a bit better.

Tried out the new saddle today and it feels awesome. Cobs went well in it so fingers crossed he is happy with it.

Photos from today :

Shortening the canter:

Forward Canter:

Jump on the 20m circle:

Filler:

Tyres:

Update....

Nothing too exciting has been happening...I ended up having a CT scan after my second fall so wasn't allowed to jump for a few weeks. I have stuck to that but with it being Easter weekend I plan on doing a bit of it while I have some time off!

Went down to Woodhill Sands today to practice our dressage tests - we have entered a non-registered day for next weekend so just trying to suss out the movements & trying to stay straight :)

Cobs has been going well - as I have had lots of osteo I haven't been riding as much as I would have liked so spooky horse eating things appeared again LOL! But I know thats him so I am not too fussed about it. Can't always be perfect :)

Photos from today: