Lesson with Jaime

Had the day off work today to take Cobs to the dentist so managed to fit in a lesson with Jaime.

Todays lesson was good but man I rode like a muppet. About half way through the lesson things just went totally wrong & I kept stuffing up so had to stop and regroup. Just over thinking things AGAIN (for something different to do...not).

Cobs tried really hard and when I rode him properly he was great. He was a little bit behind the leg today so I needed to ride him the last few strides before the jump - you know the habit I have been trying to get myself out of! I give up LOL!

But it was a reminder to me that I have to ride him differently depending on what mood he is in - not every ride is going to be the same & I have to adjust to that. Just when you think things are going better things just remind you that actually they aren't!

We did quite a few courses which is what I need to practice on so that was good. Also did a bounce everytime which I didn't freak out at so thats got to be a good thing!

We managed to get our strides right in a four stride line - Jaime told me when we had done it once that it was good that I managed to get the striding right as it was a really long four for him which he normally struggles with so at least something good came out of the lesson LOL!

SJ at Woodhill Sands

Woodhill had on one of their low key casual SJ/SH days so Jo & I organised to meet up for the day and have some fun!

I entered the 80 & 90. Need to do 90 as often as I can now.

Cobs was rather full of himself in the 80.....leaping round after the jumps which he hasn't done for the longest time & generally just being an egg LOL. He was going super until jump 7 where we had to go past the judges box....well he got sight of them & leapt sideways so then we missed our line for jump 7. Circled & represented and he was great. Did our first triple line too - four strides to a two stride. We nailed this both times we did it so I guess we got our canter right. YAY!! I am guessing thats why he was a bit pissy after the fences as he was out of his comfort canter LOL!

90 looked pretty big but was looking forward to giving it a go. Came round to the first fence and a wind tunnel full of leaves came shooting towards us so Cobs leapt sideways - can't say I blame him LOL! We had to circle and represent and then we took the rail which was sucks! The rest of the round was great - I froze to a few fences but on a whole was stoked with him. Again he tried really hard so can't complain!

Not sure what was wrong with the last fence of the course but both times he leapt over it LOL!

80cm round






90cm round

Dressage Lesson with Liz 6th January

Had a great lesson with Liz - a real pony club lesson. On the lunge with no hands or stirrups LOL!

It was a lesson where we really focused on what I was doing and how I was making him go. Was very interesting to see that as soon as I got on the lunge with no stirrups how my legs just hung in the right position however when I am riding they keep going backwards.

So lots to work on like normal - I could hardly walk afterwards I was so sore but man I actually really enjoyed it. Cobs was awesome - first time we have lunged him with me on him and he slowed his trot right down so I could do my stretches etc without falling off him.

Will try to do this once a week and see if it helps me out at all - I really want to get rid of these bad habits. As it is on our right rein because I draw my inside hand in so much he is compensating by swinging his quarters in which is now unfortunately a habit of his and is very hard work to get straight.

Never mind - that will be our aim for the rest of the season before he is turned out for a VERY well deserved break!

XC Lesson at Coatesville

I organised a lesson with Karley today & Vanessa VS came as well - man what fun we had!!

Started off doing some SJ with bounces, corners etc and then Karley made a SJ look like a trakenher & a pallisade so that was great practice.

When we went over to start the XC we warmed up over some nice roll tops and then a roll top onto a narrow fence. We started off doing the pre-training height fences but after a few times I felt confident enough to do the training ones. Cobs jumped great over these fences - was good to finally do some XC jumps at training height as we haven't done many before.

Then went & practiced a corner which was also good as the only times I have done them in XC is at a comp. Cobs did that really well & we got our line each time.

We then went & did a small pipe, cantered round to a log down hill and then up some banks. Was surprised at how well Cobs did this actually as he doesn't jump up banks very well but he did this combination quite nicely.

Went down to the water jump next which had no water in it so just practiced jumping in/out etc.

Then went down to the ditch....this ditch is yuck. Downhill, in the dark, not a very good line to it. Yuck. Cobs didn't want a bar of it at first but went over about the third attempt - by over it I mean he sproinged and landed on the other side on all four feet LOL! We decided to do it again and he just didn't want to go over it at all! Snot. Eventually he did it and we left it at that. Totally my fault as he did such a horrible jump over it the first time I think I just got a bit worried and by then it was an issue so we had to just get over it. Blurgh.

Then went onto some logs on a related line - we did the training ones of them too so that was good.

Off to the trakenher....I hate these jumps. Always have. I stopped riding the first time we came into it so Cobs stopped....funny that. Then I got my game face on and he did it really, really well after that. Was super happy with him. Didn't try the training one as it was u.g.l.y. I finished after that as Cobs was stuffed & the ground is so damn hard.

Super happy with him - its great that training doesn't terrify me as much as it did but I will leave him in pre-training for the rest of the season.