Jumping Lesson

Went up to Jaimes yesterday for a jumping lesson....got what I expected which was us not going well LOL!

He is just so hyped up at the moment with the amount of feed he is getting & lack of work so everything has gone out the window. It was good to work through it though with Jaimes help as I need to know what to do etc.

We just didn't really get it together - I was riding defensively and he ended up jumping like that as well so wasn't good!

However we did end up working through it & by the end we were doing okay. We are both so unfit though :( Today I took him to the forest for a two hour ride - hope to do that most weekends to just keep him going & giving him some variety.

Photos from Woodhill Dressage Day 4

Lovely photos from Marie Richards Photography of the last day at the Winter Dressage Series :)

Jumping Lesson on 8th July

Went up to Jamies for a jumping lesson - was a few weeks since we have had one & funnily enough I was a bit nervous....dumb!

Lesson was great - we really worked on him jumping straight and no more superman jumping. So what is happening is we are starting off the jump in the middle but he is veering to the left over the fence. Then he is getting in a bit deep and is throwing his legs out in front of him to get over the jump etc. Basically not using himself properly.

So we worked on me lots to try and stop him from jumping left - my left side is painted on (thanks Tracey for that analogy - is fabulous!). So when I am coming into the fence I have to counter flex him so that I am riding properly which in turn makes him jump better.

I SO WISH I COULD RIDE.

Then Cobs got all unsettled as there were lots of horses warming up for a clinic in the arena beside us. Jamie showed me what she would do when this happens and after about three attempts it finally worked & we got some more great work out the both of us.

I don't really know how to describe the lesson - I got so much out of it yet nothing significant happened. I guess there were a few lightbulb moments for me and thats why I feel like I got so much out of it. We didn't jump high - we know he can do more than what I am going to compete at so now its time to just sort me out and then I think we will be absolutely sweet.

Was going to do the SJ this weekend at Woodhill however Cobs has pulled a shoe and the weather forecast looks horrific so a quiet weekend at home for us.

Woodhill Sands Winter Dressage Series Day 4

Off to Woodhill today for the final day of the dressage series....have enjoyed it but must say I am glad that its over :)

Cobs was very unsettled today. Didn't get a great warm up as two people in front of me hadn't turned up so we went early. Not sure that would have made any difference though LOL!

We did 2.2 first. We got an 7 & 8 for our leg yielding YAHOO!! So happy with that. The test had moments of really nice work and then some crap stuff which was a shame. We had to halt at A for five seconds but he came into it all spooky so I circled and did the movement again. Meant we got a course error but I don't care. I wasn't happy with how he halted & wanted to correct it. As it was we got a 7 for that movement and I am positive we would have got a four for our first attempt so was well worth doing again. However we nailed the movement I was more concerned about so that is great.

We then did 2.6. Again moments of good work & some crap work. Our medium canters were great and our medium trot showed good progress too. His tension spoilt the overall look however if I look at how far we have come since the series started I can't really be disapointed.

I think we ended up fourth overall in the accumulator. Who would have thought! Never expected to even get placed but we got two seconds so I am very happy with him.

Mum & Dad were there so Mum videoed & Dad took some photos :)

Update

Had another great lesson with Liz down at Woodhill on the 1st July. Worked on our leg yielding again (still suck at it!) and our walk to canters as these are in our next test. Looking forward to seeing how we go this weekend at the dressage - focusing on our trot still so be interesting to see what marks/comments we get.

Went down to Raider with a friend and practiced some canter serpentines etc....we are not going to ace this movement but at least I feel way more prepared than I did.

So we will hopefully have a full on July. Got things planned for the next three weekends all going well - provided I find a job to fund them :)